Chapter 13: Searching for Wild Vegetables

Unexpectedly, the Jiang family used only bamboo pieces.

When dirty, they washed them; once cleaned, they were used again. Dozens of bamboo strips were stained with yellow marks, as if the grime had been absorbed over time.

Jiang Fubao couldn’t handle it. She took some tissue from her space, wiped them clean, and didn’t forget to dig a small hole next to the fence to bury the used tissue smeared with excrement.

After handling that, she went outside the kitchen to wash her hands and then returned to sleep.

The surrounding vegetation was dense.

Whenever unnecessary, Jiang Fubao muted the sounds her golden finger produced—otherwise, it would be far too noisy.

Rising once in the night meant that by the time Jiang Fubao woke up, the sun was already high.

Sunlight streamed through the window, warming her bottom.

Jiang Fubao never lingered in bed, probably out of habit formed in the orphanage. Every morning, when the bell rang, she had to quickly dress, wash her face, and brush her teeth; otherwise, the other children would grab all the breakfast, leaving her to starve until noon.

It was unpleasant.

Years of habit couldn’t be easily broken.

Within fifteen minutes, Jiang Fubao was holding her small bowl, sitting in the yard, eating breakfast.

Today, it was still brown rice porridge mixed with glutinous millet and small segments of salted tender sprouts, washed three times.

The five-member labor group had already set out before dawn.

Grandfather Jiang Shoujia also took the three cousins to work in the fields.

Now, only four women preparing to go up the mountain, Jiang Fubao, and her two elder brothers stacking firewood remained at home.

“Granny, when are we going to the mountain?” Jiang Fubao asked Zhang Jinlan, looking up.

“Once Fubao finishes eating, we’ll go.” After her husband’s pillow talk all night, Zhang Jinlan had already given in.

Her grandson was right. At worst, they could earn a bit more money and later find a husband for Fubao.

Being right under their watchful eyes, no one would dare bully Fubao.

If she married elsewhere, Zhang Jinlan could never rest easy.

Having learned from her daughter’s fate, she would never let her granddaughter suffer the same way.

After breakfast, the five set off.

The brothers stayed home to guard.

This time, they didn’t encounter their neighbor Ma Chunxia.

When they reached the spot where they had collected tender sprouts yesterday, the ground was already stripped bare.

Not a trace of green remained.

The five had no choice but to continue deeper into the mountains.

Jiang Fubao silently listened to the surrounding sounds.

[Squeak squeak, where’s my nest? Why can’t I see it?]
[Squeak squeak, this tiger lady got lost again. If I weren’t ugly, why would I end up with such a stupid woman who can’t even remember the way home?]
[Wow, the sun is so strong today. It feels so nice and warm.]
[Annoying, here come five humans again, trampling the grass hurts so much.]
[So thirsty! When will it rain? If it doesn’t rain soon, I’ll die of thirst.]

The noise was overwhelming.

After listening for a while, Jiang Fubao still didn’t hear anything useful.

“Mom, if we can’t find any more tender sprouts, let’s stop here and enter the inner part of the mountain later. There are wolves in there; they’re timid but scary,” said Sun Pingmei, stopping and looking ahead with some fear.

During her years married into the Jiang family village, she had often heard wolves howling at night.

She knew that wolf packs lived deep inside the mountain and didn’t dare go in.

“Ah, in past years, at this season, the mountains were full of tender sprouts. No one even bothered to eat them. Now, with the drought, they’re gone. Here’s the plan: I’ll take Fubao and Yan Zi to the left, you and your sister-in-law go right. If you find some, dig them up; if not, just go home. Don’t come searching for us—it’s a waste of effort if we stay together.”

Zhang Jinlan finished instructing.

The five split into two groups, heading left and right to search for the sprouts.

“Mom, I’ll carry Fubao.”

The mountain was full of thick undergrowth, and Jiang Fubao was too young to walk far without falling.

So her grandmother carried her most of the way.

“Fine, I am indeed tired. Give me the basket; I’ll carry it.” Zhang Jinlan panted and handed her granddaughter to her daughter-in-law.

She then took the bamboo basket.

On her back were a sickle and a small shovel for digging wild vegetables—not very heavy.

[Squeak squeak squeak, I heard there’s a hidden spring ahead. I want to drink there. I won’t have to fight other animals at the stream anymore.]

Suddenly, Jiang Fubao heard a sound approaching from a distance.

A hidden spring?

What was that? Underground water?

Her big eyes sparkled.

Where there’s underground water, the soil is moist, allowing all kinds of wild vegetables to grow. There must be tender sprouts there.

“Granny, Mom, let’s go this way.” Jiang Fubao pointed toward the sound.

She expected that she’d need to explain in detail for them to agree.

To her surprise, her grandmother and mother didn’t even ask—they changed direction immediately.

“Fine, we’ll go this way. Fubao’s lucky; maybe there’s a whole patch of tender sprouts there,” Zhang Jinlan joked.

After about half an hour, the three arrived at a dense forest.

The trees were lush, as if they had never lacked water.

“Mom, this is the inner area. Do we really want to go in?” Zhang Yan Zi hesitated, pulling on her mother-in-law’s arm.

“Fubao, do you think we should go in?” Zhang Jinlan surprisingly asked her three-year-old granddaughter.

Jiang Fubao nodded. “Let’s go.”

She hadn’t heard any sounds of dangerous beasts, only plants rustling, and the small animal that mentioned the spring had disappeared.

Judging by the sound, it was probably a rodent.

So it should be safe.

Might as well take the risk.

If danger arose, she could take her grandmother and mother into her space and claim she had met an immortal when she fell into the water, who gifted her this pocket space for being cute. They’d probably believe her.

If not, she could leave some food for the Jiang family and hide in the mountains until she grew up, then roam the world.

Of course, this was just a thought—she wouldn’t reveal her space unless truly necessary.

“Okay, let’s go in, but not too deep—just explore the outer layer of the forest,” Zhang Jinlan agreed, still worried.

Everyone in the village knew about the wild animals in the deep mountain.

After years living in Jiang Village, she had heard various wild animal cries.

Wolves were survivable—they rarely eat people if not starving and can’t climb trees.

It was bears and tigers that were truly dangerous.

She shuddered at the thought of a grizzly, which could eat a person alive.

Shaking her head, she tried not to dwell on it.

They entered the dense forest. In less than half an hour, Jiang Fubao heard the little animal’s voice again.

[Squeak squeak squeak, the hidden spring’s water is so sweet and tasty! But the grass here is so tall, it took me ages to find it.]

“Mom, I want to get down and walk myself.” Jiang Fubao wriggled out of Zhang Yan Zi’s arms.

She couldn’t point the way too many times—it would arouse suspicion.

Once her feet touched the muddy ground, she felt a sense of relief.