Chapter 39: A Secret Cave for Storing Eggs

Jiang Tongshui’s words left Jiang Tongmu silent.

What a good younger brother!

Back then, he should’ve secretly tossed him into the mountains to be fed to the wolves while he was still a child.

He glanced at his little brother, curled his lip, and said faintly:

“Fine, since you all want to go, then let’s go. Xiaoshui, Xiaohuo, Xiaotu—you three take care of Xiaojí and Xiaoxiang. I’ll carry Fubao. Remember, if there’s danger, run immediately. Don’t stop. I can handle it.”

Though he disliked his brother inwardly—

if danger really came, he’d rather shoulder it himself than see his siblings harmed.

Soon.

The seven of them headed toward the inner mountains.

Along the way they occasionally spotted green shoots.

It had rained a while ago. Though it hadn’t been long, the long-awaited moisture made tender greens sprout again. Still just tiny shoots—too early for villagers to pick, they let them grow more first.

After about half an hour, they reached the outer rim of the inner mountains.

At once, Jiang Fubao’s ears became noisy.

Voices of plants and animals mixed together.

She concentrated hard, distinguishing the movements of insects. After about a minute,

she pointed at a pile of small rocks:

“There! Brothers, there are bugs there.”

Once his little sister spoke, Jiang Tongmu rushed over immediately. The others followed quickly.

They crouched and flipped over rocks one by one.

Plump yellow grubs wriggled into view.

As thick as a pinky finger, fat and slippery.

“So fat! Our hens are going to feast today. Little sister, you’re amazing. How did you know there were bugs here?”

Jiang Tongtu was deeply impressed.

“Grandma said I’m a fairy from the heavens. Of course I know where the bugs are.”

Jiang Fubao stuck her hands on her hips, looking smug.

Her round belly only added to the comical effect.

“Alright, alright, you’re a fairy. But fairies shouldn’t be catching bugs. Fubao, sit nicely under that tree and rest. Let your brothers catch them.”

Jiang Tongmu held a bamboo basket, grabbing the worms with his bare hands, tossing them in one by one.

He didn’t even lift his head while speaking, afraid that if he wasn’t careful, a few would escape.

“Okay, second brother.”

Seeing how focused they were, Fubao pretended to agree.

But quietly slipped away.

She walked about ten meters, ducked into a patch of weeds, and parted them.

Just earlier, she’d overheard a squirrel’s thoughts—it complained about a pit here and nearly falling into it.

It happened to be perfect. Her space was overflowing with eggs.

She needed a storage spot.

This area was in the inner mountains.

Villagers rarely came here.

If the hole was big enough, she could stash all the eggs inside.

Bending down, she picked up a branch and searched through the weeds.

The rustle scared away many insects.

After a minute—

she found the pit.

The opening was about the size of a washbasin.

Not very deep, just a meter or so.

She grabbed a pile of weeds, tossed them in, and checked around to make sure her brothers weren’t near.

Then she dumped in all the chicken eggs from her space.

Her movements were too rough—several cracked.

When only quail eggs were left in her space, she covered the pit with dry branches and grass.

“Fubao—!”

“Little sister—!”

“Where are you—!”

“Waaah, little sister, where are you—”

The next moment, her brothers’ shouts came.

She even faintly heard her second brother crying.

Fubao hurriedly stood.

She moved five meters away.

Pulled out the quail eggs from her space—along with fifty catties of rice.

The sack was made of plastic, not from this world.

It had printed letters and a date.

She couldn’t take it out directly.

But she had craved rice for so long.

With all her strength, she dumped the rice onto the ground.

Then quickly put the sack back in her space.

So what if it was dirty—Grandma could just wash it several times.

She wasn’t worried about being exposed. These little kids were easy to fool anyway.

Done with everything, Fubao walked out of the grass and waved her hand, shouting loudly:

“Fubao’s here! Second brother, third brother, fourth brother, fifth brother, sixth brother, seventh brother—!”

She called each of them once, not missing a single one.

Luckily the eldest brother wasn’t here.

Otherwise, it really would’ve been like the Calabash Brothers.

Then wouldn’t she be the grandpa?

Fubao muttered in her heart.

“Fubao! Didn’t I tell you not to run around? You scared me to death!”

Jiang Tongmu rushed over first, his bamboo basket forgotten somewhere. His face was pale with panic—her disappearance had nearly shattered his nerves.

“Second brother, look, eggs! I found them!” Fubao stuck out her tongue, feeling a little guilty.

“Eggs?” Relieved that his sister was fine, Jiang Tongmu let out a breath.

He pushed aside the grass and stepped in.

Whoa.

Before him was a mountain of eggs.

Next to it was a mountain of rice.

It was like a dream.

Eyes wide, Jiang Tongmu froze in place.

Soon, the other brothers came running.

When they saw the quail eggs and rice,

their mouths fell open in unison.

“So many eggs!”

“Whoa—there’s even rice!”

“Fubao, you’re incredible. You even found rice! You really are a fairy descended to earth, just like Grandma said.” Jiang Tongtu was so excited he stamped his feet.

“Quick, get the baskets and the bamboo creel!” Their voices snapped Jiang Tongmu out of his daze. Luckily, before leaving home, he’d thought to bring a creel for firewood—otherwise, they’d have nothing to carry the rice in.

The rice was finely milled, pure white.

Even before they got close, the fragrance drifted out.

Jiang Tongtu, who had eaten rice a few years back, couldn’t help but drool.

“There’s still plenty on the ground—we need to gather it all. Don’t waste any.”

When their creel and baskets were full, they saw rice scattered on the ground.

Being children from a poor family, their hearts ached to leave any behind.

They knelt on the ground, picking up grains one by one.

Even those stuck in the mud weren’t spared.

Not until every last grain was collected did they leave the thicket.

Fubao saw it all, and her heart felt heavy.

“Let’s go. Forget about the bugs. We should hurry home.” Jiang Tongmu carried Fubao and called to his brothers.

The seven of them started down the mountain in order.

Jiang Tongmu carried his little sister, Jiang Tongshui shouldered the creel, Jiang Tonghuo carried the basket.

Jiang Tongtu looked after little brothers Jixiang and Xiaoxiang.

The bugs they’d caught earlier were now piled with the quail eggs.

Some had been crushed.

Pitiful.

Meanwhile, in Zhou Village—

Two families were discussing betrothal gifts.

“Our family isn’t asking much—just the usual, two taels will do. But let me be clear about the dowry. We can’t provide much. You know, my grandson is about to get engaged. That girl’s family is from town, and their bride price was five taels!

Times are hard for everyone. For now, our Yuanyuan will just have to accept the shortfall. Don’t worry, though. We’re reasonable people. When the day comes that we’re better off, once Yuanyuan has a baby, on the child’s full month, I’ll definitely gift a peace-lock to make it up.”