Chapter 7: Gathering Herbs

Just as they were about to get on the bike at the town entrance, Ye Xin tried to take back the heavy basket, but Shen Zhuo refused to let her.

“Give me the basket,” Ye Xin urged, “you’re the one pedaling the bike. It’ll make it harder for you.”

“It won’t affect my pedaling,” Shen Zhuo insisted.

Ye Xin frowned. “How could it not? You’re already carrying me; with the basket too, you’ll run out of strength!”

Shen Zhuo pressed his lips together in silence, but his grip on the basket remained firm.

Today, she had paid to fix his bike, bought meat buns for both of them, and even purchased tools and seeds that he’d benefit from too. He hadn’t spent a single cent, yet he was receiving all these things. Even though she offered everything so generously, it only made him feel more acutely aware of his poverty and helplessness.

His pride wouldn’t allow him to let her carry the burden. The basket was heavy, filled with supplies, and watching her small frame struggle under its weight made him feel less of a man.

Suddenly, Ye Xin said softly, “If you carry the basket, I won’t be able to hold on to you.”

Shen Zhuo’s face flushed red in an instant. “C-can’t you just hold onto the seat?”

Ye Xin mumbled, equally embarrassed, “Do you think I want to hold on to you? The roads are too bumpy. You think I won’t fall if I just grab the seat?”

As they were arguing, a group of people from Liangshuitang walked by and greeted them. Among them was Huang Yuemei, someone Ye Xin had seen before. She spoke cheerfully, “Ye Zhiqing! Shen Zhuo! Heading back already?”

“Yes,” Ye Xin quickly replied, “We’ve finished our errands.”

Huang Yuemei eyed their bicycle and sighed, “Having a bike is so convenient! Saves time and effort.”

Ye Xin didn’t know how to respond, but Huang Yuemei waved them off before she could think of anything to say. “Hurry on home then! We’re heading into town.”

The rest of the group gave them quick glances, noting the basket, but said nothing as they continued on their way.

As soon as they passed, Ye Xin snatched the basket back and whispered, “Stop arguing. People are watching.”

Shen Zhuo held back his thoughts—Weren’t you just saying you didn’t care about what others think? But with the sun growing hotter by the minute, and the delay, he decided not to fight it. He got on the bike and waited for her to hop on.

Ye Xin slung the basket over her back, its straps digging painfully into her shoulders.

It’s so heavy!

She took a deep breath and climbed onto the back of the bike. Instinctively, her hands wrapped around Shen Zhuo’s waist, and when she realized it made things easier, she shifted closer, clasping her hands together in front of him for extra support.

Shen Zhuo stiffened.

Face flushed, he kept his eyes straight ahead and pedaled away from the bustling town.

But the ride back wasn’t nearly as breezy as the morning trip. The sun beat down relentlessly, making their heads feel like they were on fire. Sweat poured from their bodies.

Ye Xin regretted not bringing her old straw hat. The morning coolness had made her forget it, and now she felt the full heat of the day. Not only was she uncomfortable, but she could feel Shen Zhuo’s body radiating heat. Worried he was struggling, she loosened her grip slightly but didn’t dare let go.

Shen Zhuo, on the other hand, said nothing. He just pedaled faster, eager to get home.

Ye Xin, however, was preoccupied with the meat in her basket. She wanted him to speed up, afraid the heat would spoil it, but she didn’t want to wear him out. When she saw the sweat soaking through his shirt, she decided to let him take his time.

When they reached a steep incline, she quickly hopped off to walk beside the bike. The basket straps dug into her shoulders, painfully pressing against her bones.

Life is really tough. Everything depends on human strength these days!

She glanced around and noticed a smooth boulder under a tree, clearly a resting spot for travelers. “Want to take a break? There’s a good place to sit over there.”

Shen Zhuo thought she was tired and pushed the bike under the shade. When he turned back, she was already taking off the basket and massaging her aching shoulders.

A complex emotion stirred inside him. The girl who had once refused to suffer any hardship was now willing to bear the burden without a word of complaint.

The shade provided some relief from the sun, but without a breeze or water, the heat still clung to them. After a short rest, Ye Xin placed some leaves over the basket for shade, and they set off again.

This time, Shen Zhuo moved quicker, taking the basket from her before she could protest. He slung it over his chest and said, “It’s easier for me to carry it up front. Besides, it won’t get in your way.”

Ye Xin, shoulders aching, finally relented and let him carry it for a while.

But when they reached another steep hill, she took the basket back and said firmly, “We’ll take turns. You can’t do all the work.”

Shen Zhuo didn’t argue.

At long last, they returned to Liangshuitang, facing one final incline. Ye Xin set the basket on the bike’s rear rack, and together, they pushed it up the hill, refusing to let either of them shoulder the load alone.

Finally inside the courtyard, they both exhaled in relief.

Ye Xin didn’t even stop for water. She hurried into the house with the basket, anxious to unpack. The wilting leaves on top worried her, but thankfully, the meat was still good. She sighed with relief, happy that her prized purchase hadn’t spoiled.

Luckily, Luckily, She Smelled the Meat and It Was Still Good.

The Shen family’s house had four rooms. The one on the far east was Shen Zhuo’s bedroom, next to it was his father’s room, which was now empty since his father had passed. Moving along, there was the main living room, and the westernmost room, which had originally been used for storing miscellaneous items, was now Ye Xin’s room after being tidied up.

Normally, they kept the bike in Shen Zhuo’s father’s room, and today was no exception.

After putting the bike away, Shen Zhuo stepped out, just as Ye Xin asked, “Should we cook the meat now?”

He paused, “Aren’t we saving it for dinner?”

Though they had taken breaks on the way back, with the bike, they made good time. It was still only around 10 a.m. – too early for lunch, and in the countryside, lunch was usually light. No one really ate meat at this time of day.

Besides, they had already eaten a meat bun on the way back, so neither of them was particularly hungry.

Ye Xin considered this, “But I’m worried it’ll spoil by tonight, the heat is so bad.”

She had been talking about the meat spoiling ever since they bought it, and Shen Zhuo couldn’t help but feel a little exasperated. “It’s hanging in the well. It won’t go bad.”

Hearing this, Ye Xin immediately handed him the meat. “Then you go put it in the well.”

Shen Zhuo took it and headed to the kitchen. There, he gathered some rope, a basket, a plate, and a long stick that could reach over the well. He tied one end of the rope to the basket’s handle and the other to the stick. Since the meat was wrapped in leaves but not sealed tightly, he first placed it on a plate and then into the basket to avoid any blood dripping into the well and contaminating the water.

Carefully lowering the basket into the well, the stick held it in place at the edge, while the basket floated just above the water’s surface, keeping the meat cool. This was how they’d always stored meat or watermelon during the summer.

Meanwhile, Ye Xin rushed back to her room with the seeds, eager to start. She soaked the seeds that needed it, hoping to plant them as soon as possible for an early harvest.

She was already looking forward to improving her meals!

But Shen Zhuo was still outside, so she didn’t linger long. After soaking the seeds in the well water, she quickly went back outside to continue unpacking. She put the clay pots away for now, placing them in the living room. The eggs were fine, none broken, so she placed them in the kitchen.

Seeing that Shen Zhuo had finished putting the meat in the well, she handed him a new enamel mug. “Here, this is for you.”

Shen Zhuo frowned. “Why are you giving this to me? You should use it.”

Ye Xin shrugged, “Well, I’ve been using yours, and now you don’t even have one. This new one is for you, and I’ll just keep using the old one.”

Shen Zhuo shook his head, refusing. “Just give me back mine. You keep the new one.”

Ye Xin sighed. “It’s such a hassle to switch. It’s not that I don’t want to use the new one, but the old one has been mine for so long. If I give it back now, it feels a bit awkward.” She tried to playfully explain, “Look, I even bought this one with bamboo patterns, just for you!”

Most cups at the time were enamel and had lids, decorated with designs like blooming flowers, magpies on branches, or goldfish at the bottom of lotus flowers—symbols of prosperity in bright reds and greens. It was rare to find one that was simple and green, and she had specifically chosen it for him.

Shen Zhuo was fed up. “Enough! Just give me back my old cup. If not, I won’t take either.”

Ye Xin gave in with a small murmur, “Fine, if you don’t mind that I’ve used it.”

Shen Zhuo heard her and muttered, “If you don’t mind, why should I?”

Ye Xin felt slightly embarrassed too.

This era was so poor that even something as simple as a cup caused so much back-and-forth. If she’d known, she would’ve just bought two new ones.

She took the new cup back to her room, returning the old one to him.

Later, she sat down in her room, sorting out the money and tickets she had left over from today’s shopping.

After buying everything, they had spent a total of 13 yuan and 48 cents, leaving them with 28 yuan and 17 cents.

Ah, broke again.

Following the habits of the previous owner, she wrapped the remaining money and tickets in cloth and tucked them into the crevice of the cotton blanket in the cabinet.

Just as she was about to close the cabinet, she heard the sound of the courtyard gate creaking open. She went outside and saw Shen Zhuo, holding a basket and a hoe, as if preparing to leave.

She hurriedly asked, “Where are you going?”

Shen Zhuo replied, “I’m going into the mountains to gather herbs.”

He had had enough of feeling poor and embarrassed. He was determined to earn some money.

In these times, it wasn’t easy to make money, but after thinking it over, gathering and selling herbs was his best option. He had grown up watching his father collect and dry herbs, and he knew how to identify many of them. Since he’d taken a break from work today, he decided it was a good time to go.

Unexpectedly, Ye Xin said, “I’m going with you!”

He frowned. “What are you going for?”

Ye Xin said matter-of-factly, “To gather herbs with you!”

Shen Zhuo fell silent for a moment before saying, “There are a lot of mosquitoes in the mountains, and herb picking can be dangerous. You should stay home.”

Ye Xin quickly retorted, “That’s exactly why I should go. It’s better to have someone there to watch out for each other!”