Chapter 34

Gu Qinghuan had a pleasant morning after eating a big melon and returned to her small courtyard in a good mood.

As she was nearing home, she secretly let a wild chicken out from the space, threw a stone at it, knocking it unconscious. Since she was in a good mood today, she decided to stew it as a celebration.

This was one of the benefits of living on the mountainside—no one bothered her, except for a grandfather and grandson duo in the nearby Cattle Shed, but they were of little significance and could be ignored.

Carrying the wild chicken back home, she stunned Zhong Zijun and the two little ones.

Gu Qinghuan had already thought of an explanation.

“I just picked it up on the side of the road when I came back.”

Zhong Zijun found it hard to believe; it wasn’t like a stone, and wild chickens weren’t everywhere on the roadside. But she didn’t think too much about it—there was no reason to push away the meat she had just gotten.

“I’ll make you guys a small chicken stew with mushrooms for lunch today. I noticed that the little hazel mushrooms on the side are almost dried up, so it’s perfect to stew with the chicken.” Zhong Zijun immediately made the plan clear.

In these times, collective matters were a big deal. If they didn’t eat it quickly, someone might discover it, and there would be a need for an explanation.

The two little ones naturally had no objections, as Grandma’s word was law.

Gu Qinghuan was beyond pleased. Since she had come to the seventies, her stomach had often been so hungry that her front and back were almost touching. Every time she heard about something oily, she couldn’t help but salivate.

Breakfast was taken care of in the east room, to accommodate Xu Huai’an.

He had gotten up early this morning, still drowsy, not speaking or acknowledging anyone, lost in his own thoughts.

However, he cooperated when it came to washing his face and hands.

It was truly strange. The whole night, Xu Huai’an’s hands hadn’t been tied up, and she hadn’t seen him go into a mad rage or hit anyone.

Gu Qinghuan decided to leave things as they were for now.

If he showed any signs of wanting to hurt someone later, she would tie him up again.

Long-term restraint affected blood circulation, which had a significant impact on his health. His hands weren’t very nimble now and would need some time to recover.

Breakfast was a bowl of coarse porridge with a boiled egg for each person.

Gu Qinghuan had originally planned to fry an egg because fried eggs smelled so good. But Zhong Zijun said it would waste oil, and that boiling a couple of eggs for the children to supplement their nutrition would be enough. The adults didn’t need to eat any—living frugally was better.

Gu Qinghuan had to give up the idea of frying eggs but ended up boiling five eggs, one for each person.

Zhong Zijun immediately scolded her.

“You, child, why have you been causing more trouble lately? You’re going to make chicken stew with mushrooms at noon, but why do you have to eat eggs in the morning? With this way of living, no amount of food will be enough.”

Zhong Zijun was worried that her daughter wouldn’t be able to manage life. Once married, she wasn’t a little girl anymore; she had to manage the household.

Now, the whole family was relying on her son-in-law’s pension to survive, so they couldn’t afford to eat like this. No amount of money would be enough.

“Ah, Mom, I know. But look, besides me, who doesn’t need to replenish their health? Just listen to me—good food and drink will help heal the injuries faster, which is better than anything.”

Xu Huai’an was so thin that even a gust of wind could blow him away, so he needed to eat better.

Gu Qinghuan couldn’t exactly tell her mother that she had money to spend, so she could only “humbly accept” her criticism while continuing to live her own way.

In the space, there were still more than two thousand left, and the pension was four hundred. She had earned four thousand by selling a watch, plus there were still four bottles of Maotai liquor to be dealt with.

The Maotai from the seventies would easily sell for fifty thousand in later years. If she calculated it, she could earn at least five hundred per bottle.

Four bottles would bring in a little over two thousand.

Altogether, she had nearly nine thousand in savings, so eating meat every day was no problem.

But Zhong Zijun didn’t know that.

She watched her daughter with worry, and even the food in her mouth didn’t taste good.

Da Bao, eating his meal, suddenly remembered something and asked: “Mom, where did the wild vegetables I picked go?”

This morning, the two little ones had wanted to show off the wild vegetables they picked to Grandma, but they searched the kitchen and couldn’t find them.

Gu Qinghuan paused for a moment and then answered without missing a beat: “I took them to the county town and sold them yesterday morning.”

“Do people in the city still eat wild vegetables?”

“How much did you sell them for?”

Zhong Zijun and the two little ones eagerly looked at her.

Gu Qinghuan held up two fingers.

“Two cents? That’s a lot! I’m going to go up the mountain again this afternoon to pick more wild vegetables, pick a lot and sell them for money!” Da Bao seemed to have discovered a new world, and his whole body exuded a newfound energy.

At such a young age, he already understood the importance of making money. With money, Grandma wouldn’t have to hold back from eating eggs, Dad could go to the doctor, and they would have clothes to wear and food to eat.

“I’m going too!” Bei Bei quickly lifted his head from the bowl and raised his hand high.

Zhong Zijun also thought that selling wild vegetables for two cents was not bad at all; at least it was some income.

She just wasn’t sure, though—did people in the city really buy wild vegetables?

Gu Qinghuan had originally planned to say two yuan, but seeing their reactions, she decided not to mention it, letting it be two cents so as not to scare them.

These past few days, she had been busy, and the two children had stayed at home without going out, so they must have been getting bored. Since she had nothing planned today, it would be good to take them out for a walk.

“Alright then, you two finish eating quickly, and after that, I’ll take you up the mountain for a stroll.”

In the autumn mountains, there were surprises everywhere: picking up a bundle of firewood, gathering two baskets of mushrooms, picking a bag of hazelnuts, harvesting some persimmons, and collecting a basket of chestnuts—all to prepare for winter.

The two children quickly lowered their heads and started drinking their porridge.

Xu Huai’an sat silently in the corner like a transparent person, quietly battling with the porridge in his bowl, not acknowledging them.

At least now he didn’t need anyone to feed him, which was a big improvement.

Gu Qinghuan had almost forgotten, but she remembered now—she hadn’t yet dealt with the persimmons and chestnuts from the trees she had moved into the space.

They definitely wouldn’t be able to finish all of them at home.

She planned to keep some for winter and then sell the rest in the Vending Machine.

These were all pure, natural, wild chestnuts and persimmons.

After breakfast, she gave Xu Huai’an his medicine and, as usual, gave everyone a cup of spiritual spring water.

The two children washed the dishes, and Gu Qinghuan processed the wild chicken, stewing it in the iron pot while Zhong Zijun helped keep an eye on the heat.

Such a good dish definitely needed to be paired with some steamed rice.

“Mom, I’m taking the two kids for a walk. When it’s about eleven, you can steam a pot of rice, it’s in the cupboard under the bowls.”

Zhong Zijun definitely wouldn’t be happy with doing nothing but watching the heat; she wouldn’t mind handling that with one hand.

“What? Steamed rice? Gu Qinghuan, are you telling me you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket, can’t spend it fast enough? Just make some three-combination noodles or steamed buns, why waste good rice?”

Zhong Zijun nearly wanted to yank her daughter’s ear and scold her for being reckless with her spending. Didn’t she know how to live frugally?

Da Bao and Bei Bei hid behind Zhong Zijun, giggling. They weren’t going to tell Grandma that the family had already made a few meals of white rice, and it smelled amazing.

Seeing Zhong Zijun, who normally took the gentle approach, getting more and more irritated, Gu Qinghuan couldn’t help but find it funny.

“I don’t care, I’m having white rice for lunch today.” she declared, throwing a tantrum.

The two little ones hadn’t expected their mom and Grandma to interact like this and burst into laughter.

Zhong Zijun gritted her teeth and said: “Fine, I’ll make it for you!” She could make white rice for them, and just eat some flatbread herself. She could always save a little that way.

Just as they were about to leave, Gu Qinghuan suddenly popped her head through the doorframe and said: “Mom, remember to make enough for five people. If you make one less portion, I won’t eat lunch today.”

“Fine, don’t eat then!”

Fuming, Zhong Zijun stormed around the courtyard looking for something to vent her frustration on. This girl really knew how to push her buttons.

But Gu Qinghuan’s tactic worked. Worried that her daughter really wouldn’t eat, Zhong Zijun gritted her teeth and steamed five portions of white rice.

Gu Qinghuan, with the two kids in tow, carrying baskets and sacks, leisurely headed up the mountain.