Chapter 8: Unearthing Ginseng

Mu Nanhe stood frozen in place, watching Yang Qingyan’s slender figure disappear completely at the end of the winding mountain road. Only when there was no trace of her left did he finally come back to his senses, as if waking from a long daze. He lifted his heavy feet slightly and walked toward the military camp with a despondent expression.

Sunlight dappled the ground through the trees, but he had no heart to admire it. His mind kept replaying Yang Qingyan’s distant gaze and stubborn words, making his mood grow heavier with every step.

Before long, he arrived in front of his comrade He Zhengping’s office and raised his hand to knock. The sound of “knock, knock, knock” echoed in the slightly noisy corridor. Outside, the rhythmic chants of soldiers in training could be heard—it was the middle of the day, after all.

The door opened, and when He Zhengping saw Mu Nanhe standing there, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes. “What are you doing here in broad daylight?” he asked.

Mu Nanhe didn’t respond. He simply walked inside with his head down, sat in a chair without a word, and let out a silent sigh. His face was filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

Seeing this, He Zhengping quickly grasped the situation. Instead of asking further, he quietly waited for Mu Nanhe to gather himself.

After a while, noticing that Mu Nanhe’s emotions had slightly settled, He Zhengping finally broke the silence. “Had a fight with your wife?”

Mu Nanhe let out a bitter chuckle. His smile was full of self-mockery and frustration. Shaking his head, he replied, “It wasn’t a fight. She didn’t argue with me at all—she just keeps her distance. It feels like there’s an insurmountable gap between us.”

He Zhengping furrowed his brows slightly, deep in thought. “She must have suffered too much hardship at home before. That day, I saw it with my own eyes—her body is so weak, yet she didn’t hesitate for a second to save Xiaohu. In the end, she was so exhausted that she fainted. She’s a kindhearted girl, no doubt about that. But tell me, what do you really think of her?”

Mu Nanhe fell silent. It was as if he had been pulled into memories from long ago. After a pause, he finally spoke, his voice low and steady. “Back then, she climbed into my bed, and I had no choice but to marry her. But since things turned out this way, I’ll take responsibility for her for the rest of my life.”

Hearing this, He Zhengping sighed lightly. His tone carried a sense of earnest advice. “Marriage isn’t just about providing food and shelter, you know. There’s more to it—it requires emotional connection and effort. You need to truly get to know her, care about her, and walk into her heart. Besides, I heard that your place in the family quarters has already been set up. You should move in soon. Only by living together—seeing each other every day—can your relationship actually grow. If you keep living apart like this, how can that distance between you two ever disappear?”

Mu Nanhe looked up and gazed at the vast blue sky outside the window, feeling lost. He thought of Yang Qingyan’s frail yet determined figure heading up the mountain alone, then recalled her distant attitude. His heart was a mess of emotions.

He knew He Zhengping was right. He couldn’t keep drifting along aimlessly like this. It was time to seriously consider how he should handle this marriage, how he should treat Yang Qingyan—not just as a wife in name, but as a real partner. How could he make their life together a little warmer, a little less hopeless?

After a long while, Mu Nanhe stood up, his expression more resolute. He nodded to He Zhengping. “I understand. Thanks, Zhengping.”

Then, without hesitation, he turned and strode out of the office, heading straight for his dormitory.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting bright patches of light on the floor. The glow reflected off his slightly lonely figure.

Looking around at the simple furnishings and daily necessities in his room, a complex emotion surged within him. This space had been his retreat for so long, a place where he had spent countless days alone. But now, in order to bridge the gap between him and Yang Qingyan, he had to make a change.

With that thought in mind, he resolutely began packing his belongings.

He moved swiftly and efficiently. Before long, he had packed up his clothes, toiletries, and other essentials into a few bundles. Then, lifting them up, he strode resolutely toward the family housing area.

Yang Qingyan had spent a long time alone on the mountain. By the time she slowly made her way down the winding path, the sky had already been painted a deep orange-red by the setting sun—it was nearly evening. In her hands, she tightly held a cloth-wrapped bundle of wild vegetables and ginseng. She thought she should also express her gratitude to her neighbor, Liang Huantao, who had helped her a lot when she first arrived.

Before long, she reached Liang Huantao’s door and gently knocked. The crisp knocking sound echoed in the quiet evening, accompanied by her soft voice: “Sister-in-law, are you home?”

With a creak, the door opened. The moment Liang Huantao saw Yang Qingyan, her face lit up with a warm smile as she enthusiastically welcomed her inside. “Come in, little sister! You must be tired from the trip.”

Yang Qingyan shook her head slightly and stepped into the house with a smile. Placing the cloth bundle on the table, she slowly unwrapped it. “Sister-in-law, I went up the mountain today and gathered some wild vegetables. I can’t finish them all on my own, so I thought I’d bring some for you.”

As she spoke, she carefully took out a ginseng root. “Also, I was lucky enough to dig up some ginseng. This is good for nourishment, so I split it in half. Take it, wash it, and keep it. You can cook it for Xiaohu—it’ll help with his recovery.”

Liang Huantao’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at the ginseng. Startled, she quickly waved her hands in refusal. “Oh, no, no, little sister! I can take the wild vegetables, and I truly appreciate your kindness, but ginseng is far too valuable. How could I possibly accept it? We’re neighbors—we should help each other out, but you don’t have to be so formal.”

Yang Qingyan stepped forward and gently held Liang Huantao’s hand, her eyes sincere and earnest. “Sister-in-law, please take it. I know ginseng is precious, but Xiaohu’s health isn’t good. This will really help his recovery, and it’ll take some burden off your shoulders. Besides, you’ve helped me so much—bringing me food and even lending me bed sheets and blankets. I remember all of it.”

Liang Huantao’s eyes turned slightly red, still hesitating. “But those were just small things, nothing compared to this ginseng.”

Yet Yang Qingyan was firm in her decision, insisting that she accept it. Unable to refuse any longer, Liang Huantao finally accepted the ginseng, full of gratitude.

When Yang Qingyan got up to leave, Liang Huantao hurried into the inner room. Moments later, she returned with several steaming hot corn cakes and stuffed them into Yang Qingyan’s hands without giving her a chance to refuse. “Take these, little sister. You must be hungry after spending the whole day in the mountains—eat these to fill your stomach.”

Seeing no way to decline, Yang Qingyan accepted the cakes. She looked down at the warm food in her hands, then back at Liang Huantao, her heart full of gratitude. “Thank you, sister-in-law. I’ll be going now—call me if you ever need anything.”

“Of course! Take care, little sister.”

Liang Huantao stood at the doorway, watching as Yang Qingyan’s figure gradually disappeared into the darkening sky. Her heart swelled with gratitude. She thought to herself—she must take even better care of Yang Qingyan in the future. Not only had she given her something to help Xiaohu recover, but she had also shared such a precious treasure with her.