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The next day.
After breakfast, Wan Changsheng looked at his son. “Ping’an, you’re now seven and a half, and you’ll turn eight in August. Your mother and I want to send you to school. The nearest private school is Hejia Academy in your maternal grandmother’s village, and there’s also one in the town. However, the town is quite a distance away—over ten miles. Even by horse cart, it would take half an hour. After discussing it with your mother, we’ve decided that Hejia Academy is the better choice.”
Ping’an glanced at his mother and then at his father, lowering his gaze. “Father, it’s already the end of March. The farming break is at the end of June. Wouldn’t it be better to start school in early August? I can practice writing at home for the next few months and occasionally accompany you to the mountains to collect herbs.”
Wan Changsheng was taken aback. “Collect herbs? No, no! You’re too small to go to the mountains. Besides, there are many snakes and insects in the spring; it’s not safe.”
Ping’an replied, “It should be fine to go to the foothills. I can bring some medicine for snakes and insects. I just feel weak and want to practice. Otherwise, if I grow up without a strong body, I won’t achieve anything.”
Meiniang understood her son’s stubbornness. Once he had made up his mind about something, it was hard to sway him, especially since he had already agreed to start school in early August.
“Husband, let him be. I’ll go with you both. There are many things to gather in the spring mountains; it won’t hurt to stock up.”
Seeing his wife signaling him, Wan Changsheng agreed. “Alright, then we’ll go to school in early August. For these next few months, I’ll teach you how to collect herbs and set traps. Whatever you gather will be half yours. The weather is nice today; let’s take a trip to the foothills in the morning, and we need to plant the fields in the afternoon.”
His one mu of land was already plowed, and they would be able to sow seeds in a day or two.
Now that the family had grown, one mu of land was hardly enough. With the village’s good farmland hard to come by, they needed to plant more sweet potatoes and wheat.
When he was alone, it didn’t matter how he spent his money, but now that he was preparing to send his child to school, he couldn’t afford to waste a single coin.
This child was intelligent. If he did well in school, he couldn’t just study for a year or two and then come home. Fifty taels of silver, in front of an educated person, really wasn’t much. It would only last a few years, and a family needed to keep some savings for emergencies. After all, people needed to eat.
Ping’an watched as his stepfather tied up his pants securely, ensuring that snakes and insects couldn’t get in.
He also hung a small sachet around his neck, filled with snake and insect medicine.
It was a common herbal pill; there were plenty of the herbs in the mountains, and he would need to replace them in a few days, or the medicine would lose its potency.
Wan Changsheng also prepared a water pouch filled with warm water. The family only had one pouch, and he would have to be resolute and buy a couple more soon, as summer was coming, and going out without one wouldn’t do.
“Wife, I’ll take our child to the foothills; you can gather some wild vegetables by the slope.”
Meiniang nodded. “I’ll see what else can be planted in the field. It can’t remain empty. Ping’an, you need to pay attention.”
Their home was at the foot of the southern mountain. Once they left the courtyard, it didn’t take long to reach the slope along a mountain path. At the foot of the slope was the land that Changsheng had opened up later, and Meiniang separated from them here, as women and children were already gathering wild vegetables in small groups.
Wan Changsheng walked ahead, occasionally looking back at the child. In just one day, he had grown fond of him, as if he were his own.
Perhaps this was fate.
Ping’an was a bit breathless, carrying a small basket on his back that he had brought from home.
In fact, when he was in Changjia Village, he often accompanied his mother to the fields. He couldn’t bear to let her go out alone, and she didn’t want to leave him home alone either. However, they usually only gathered firewood near the foot of the mountain and didn’t venture too far.
Over the years, his maternal uncle had brought his cousin over to chop firewood for a few days, enough for the two of them. They would collect kindling themselves.
He had never ventured into the real mountains.
Even so, he was quite lucky; whenever he went out, he always seemed to find more than others.
For example, right now, along the path about ten feet away, he could faintly see the leaves of Sanqi. This herb was the best for treating wounds and was quite valuable.
But as a child, he couldn’t claim to recognize it, yet he couldn’t just ignore it.
“Father, wait! I see some pretty leaves, and they even have flowers. I’m going to pick some!”
Wan Changsheng suddenly heard the child’s cheerful voice and felt a surge of happiness. This child had many good qualities, though he was a bit too mature for his age. It seemed that taking him to the mountains might not be a bad idea after all.
“What flowers?” Before he could finish his question, he froze. “Ping’an, don’t move! That’s medicine; let Father help you.”
In a few moments, they reached the large stone.
Wan Changsheng was a bit shocked to see six or seven Sanqi plants, which were at least three or four years old. Such herbs were rare, and these few could sell for at least eight to ten taels.
He often walked this mountain path but had never noticed that side. A large rock had obscured the herbs from view, making them easy to miss.
“Ping’an, look closely. This is Sanqi, the best herb for treating wounds. It’s hard to find. These plants are basically four to six years old. Selling this at the county’s Baicaotang might fetch ten taels or more. We’re going to make a fortune today!”
Ping’an grinned widely, knowing he would get half of the ten taels. At this time, ten taels could even buy a wife; this was his first stash of private money, and it was quite a bit.
Fortunately, he had made a pact with his stepfather beforehand.
The father and son carefully dug out the herbs, and they had already spent more than half an hour doing so.
Wan Changsheng wrapped the herbs in large leaves, then in a cloth, and placed them in his basket, happily saying, “If we sell these, I’ll give you half. Today, I’ve made a fortune alongside my son.”
Ping’an smiled brightly. “Alright! I’ll find even better herbs in the future.”
Wan Changsheng grinned, not contradicting him. In the foothills, this was likely the best herb they could find. Anything better, like ginseng, would be hard to find in deep mountains.
He wouldn’t venture into the deep mountains himself; his skills weren’t that great, and he didn’t want to risk his life, especially while bringing a child.
They walked slowly, and whenever they encountered medicinal herbs, Wan Changsheng would carefully explain them to his son, collecting what they could and leaving what they couldn’t for now.
By the end of the morning, Ping’an realized that his father didn’t know many of the medicinal herbs. Among them were several that were quite valuable.
He would have to go to the county one day and see if he could buy a medical book.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to mention it.
Slowly, they made their way down the mountain, and Wan Changsheng also gathered a bundle of dry firewood to take back. They had quite a good haul today. After noon had passed, if they didn’t head back, Meiniang would start to worry.
Ping’an felt his legs tremble a little. He wondered if his stepfather had learned any skills in the military. If he had, it would be best to practice with him.
They only found a small rabbit in one of the traps, weighing about two pounds—not worth much. Wan Changsheng tied it to the firewood, planning to take it back for Meiniang to cook.
Meiniang had been looking around the field anxiously. When she finally saw the two of them coming out, she sighed in relief.
Her son was still too young; he shouldn’t rush to the mountains for herbs. She was afraid he didn’t want to rely entirely on his husband.
Meiniang smiled as she watched the two, but her heart felt bittersweet.
Her son could have grown up happily, but instead, he was forced to become a little adult too soon.