Chapter 36

Zhangjia Village is located at the foot of a mountain. If you walk uphill, you’ll find endless rice paddies and cornfields. Further downhill, there’s a large riverbank, covered with tall reeds and aquatic plants. The mountain breeze blows directly at you, making the reeds sway and creating a cool feeling.

The water near the riverbank is particularly deep, reportedly two or three meters. The older villagers don’t allow their children to swim in the river. Instead, the kids play in the shallow areas, catching yellow eels, river clams, and small fish and shrimp.

Lin Yao and the others were quite lucky. As soon as they reached the riverbank, a few crucian carp swam towards them.

This made Gu Shidong, Zhang’s little cousin, and the other kids excited, shouting with joy.

Lin Yao was also eager. She imitated the other children, took off her sandals, and placed them on a smooth stone by the riverbank. She was about to step into the river with her bare white feet.

But before she could enter the water, Gu Shi’an wrapped his arm around her slender waist and lifted her up.

“The water’s cold in the summer. You’ll get sick if you go in,” he said in a deep voice, still holding her tightly.

Lin Yao didn’t believe him and swatted his hand away angrily. “I’m not a three-year-old! Who are you trying to fool?”

This man just didn’t want her to play in the water!

She couldn’t help but shoot him a glare, mentally deciding that he would be sleeping on the floor tonight as punishment for not letting her swim.

In truth, Gu Shi’an was just looking out for her. The summer heat makes it tempting to cool off with cold water, but going in would inevitably lead to a water fight, splashing around, alternating between hot and cold. It was easy for cold air to enter the body, which could cause a cold or fever.

Zhang’s little cousin had just been punished with a few days of butt shots at home for a similar reason.

After hearing this, the group obediently put their shoes back on and climbed out of the water.

But Lin Yao, having caught a string of crucian carp from the river, was overjoyed. She chirped and smiled at Gu Shi’an, no longer fuming as she had been earlier.

Zhang’s little cousin, Mao Dan, scratched his head and secretly whispered to Gu Shidong.

“Why is my cousin-in-law so angry just now, and now she’s laughing again?”

Gu Shidong glanced at him sideways, wearing a “you don’t understand” look.

“Don’t worry about it, little brat. Ask what you should ask and don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask. I’m thirsty. Give me a sip of your water.”

Mao Dan, the good-natured little guy, just nodded.

“Oh.”

Gu Shidong, the mischievous one, had been bullying Mao Dan along the way, making him carry a bamboo basket and fetch water.

Lin Yao couldn’t stand it anymore. She grabbed the little brat by the ear and scolded, “What’s wrong with you, huh? You, as an older brother, don’t even know how to take care of your little brother? The good qualities of respecting elders and loving the young are all forgotten? You’re just like those mischievous kids from outside, bullying your younger brother. You’ve got some nerve!”

Gu Shidong cried out, “Aiya, sister-in-law, I was wrong. Let’s just deal with this at home, okay?”

Mao Dan and Xiao Ni were watching nearby, realizing just how shameless their older brother was.

When Gu Chunmei came back from getting water, she saw Gu Shidong with his head down. After asking, she found out what happened. With a few words, she shook her head and didn’t bother further.

Fortunately, Gu Shi’an had gone to the wild fruit grove to pick some mulberries and blackberries, otherwise, the little troublemaker would still be in trouble.

The large mountain behind Zhangjia Village had been standing for over a hundred years. The towering trees covered the entire mountain, and if you took a step in, you’d walk for a long time and not see the end. Wild rabbits and pheasants ran all over the mountain. Unless you were an experienced old hunter, villagers generally avoided the mountain, as it was home to bears, wild boars, killer bees, and even mountain leopards.

Only those with a death wish would run up there.

However, a few brave young boys, around twelve or thirteen years old, decided to take advantage of the fact that the production team was busy and snuck into the back mountain to steal beehives.

At the foot of the mountain, there was a wild fruit forest near the deep mountains. Gu Shi’an was worried about the safety of the children, so he didn’t allow them to climb the trees.

He climbed up by himself, picked some thick branches with mulberries, and threw them down. Gu Shidong and Mao Dan eagerly caught them and put them into their baskets.

Gu Chunmei was supervising them, making sure the two little troublemakers didn’t run off.

Not far away, under a big tree, Lin Yao had laid out a piece of coarse cloth she brought from home. Sitting cross-legged with Xiao Ni, she took out some hawthorn cakes and peanut candy wrapped in oiled paper and handed several pieces to Xiao Ni. She also ate some herself.

Xiao Ni was Second Uncle Zhang’s daughter, only six years old. Second Uncle Zhang and his wife, who were in their thirties, had long waited for a child, and Xiao Ni was their precious little girl. She was the apple of their eyes.

Xiao Ni didn’t look like her rough father, Second Uncle Zhang, but took after her mother, who was naturally cheerful. Her little face was round, and when she smiled, her eyes turned into crescent moons. She was a sweet little girl, fair-skinned and cute.

Lin Yao really liked this little girl. She hugged her and kissed her, making Xiao Ni’s round face blush, looking as adorable as a red apple.

Lin Yao gave her some peanut candy. Xiao Ni blinked her big, watery eyes and said in a sweet voice, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

It made Lin Yao melt with affection.

Gu Chunmei, who was watching from the side, smiled meaningfully and said, “You really like her, huh? Why don’t you have one of your own?”

Lin Yao waved her hand, signaling for her to go away and not interfere with her time enjoying the little treasure.

What a joke! She could have one child, a little girl as obedient and sweet as this one would be fine. But if she were to give birth to a little troublemaker… Then her later years would be filled with chaos and no peace at all.

Lin Yao was teasing the little girl on this side, while on the other side, Gu Shi’an quickly jumped down from the bayberry tree.

There were about ten bayberry trees in the area, but the fruit on them ripened late. The berries were sour and a bit astringent, so most people didn’t bother picking them.

There were also plenty of mulberries in the wild fruit grove. Gu Chunmei and a few others didn’t like them, but Lin Yao liked them. Gu Shi’an picked a whole basket, but mulberries were soft and juicy, not something that could be easily carried home.

Gu Shi’an cleaned the mulberries and handed them to Lin Yao as a snack.

After finishing the mulberries, Lin Yao heard Dongzi ahead calling out about raspberries. She immediately clapped her hands and ran over to join in the fun.

Raspberries were perfect for making jam at home.

The little girl abandoned her brother, Mao Dan, and with small steps, ran after her.

The group of adults and children enthusiastically went to pick raspberries. Gu Shi’an smiled and was about to follow when he suddenly froze, his expression changing. He stopped in his tracks.

Gu Chunmei called for her brother to come help.

Lin Yao, who was happily picking raspberries, also froze, puzzled. “I think I just heard a child calling for help?”

Gu Chunmei laughed at her. “Impossible. This big mountain valley is dozens of miles away from any human settlement. Unless we’ve encountered a wild animal.”

As soon as she spoke, a loud cry for help and the sound of a wild animal breathing heavily came from deep within the mountain, followed by the sound of branches snapping.

Gu Shi’an’s dark eyes suddenly sharpened. He drew a gun from his waist and told Lin Yao and the others not to wander around the back mountain where they had found an empty cave earlier. With swift movements, his tall figure disappeared up the slope.

Not far away, there was the sound of a powerful roar shaking the ground, followed by a few children, covered in cuts and bruises, running toward them, crying.

Lin Yao and Gu Chunmei quickly ran over and grabbed the two children, rushing them toward the back mountain cave.

Gu Shidong was protecting Mao Dan and the little girl, pacing anxiously in the cave.

Just as Lin Yao and the others returned to the cave, a black wild boar with a green face and sharp tusks suddenly appeared at the edge of the forest. It seemed to have caught the scent of strangers in the cave. The boar dug its hooves into the ground, let out a fierce roar, and charged toward the cave, ready to tear them apart.

The child next to Lin Yao was about to cry. She quickly covered his mouth with her hand and held Mao Dan and the little girl, holding her breath. At that critical moment, a sharpened wooden stake suddenly pierced the wild boar’s neck from behind.

Then, two gunshots rang out. The once ferocious wild boar collapsed to the ground, its neck pierced by the half-split wood, blood gushing from the wound.

Lin Yao’s body, which had been tense, finally relaxed. The boy in her arms cried out loudly.

Gu Shidong jumped out angrily and shouted, “Stop crying! The wild boar is dead!”

The boy immediately stopped crying but sniffled softly, wiping his tears.

Gu Chunmei was also shaken, her legs weak, and she couldn’t stand up for a long time.

Mao Dan and the little girl, however, were fine. They remained calm in Lin Yao’s arms, their eyes filled with tears, but they didn’t cry.

Lin Yao quickly comforted them.

“Our little girl is amazing. She’s such a brave little girl.”

“Mao Dan is also a brave little man, just like the soldiers of the Liberation Army.”

The two little ones were immediately thrilled by the praise, standing up straight and grinning from ear to ear.

Lin Yao carefully protected the children, but when she tried to stand up, she stumbled due to kneeling too long and almost fell.

“Yao Yao!”

“Sister-in-law!”

Two voices of surprise rang out. Lin Yao didn’t fall to the ground, but instead was tightly embraced by Gu Shi’an.

The warmth from his body came through the fabric, and she could clearly feel his broad and strong shoulders and his tall, sturdy body shielding her tightly.

When she looked up, she met his familiar black eyes, and his voice trembled as he asked, “Are you hurt?”

Lin Yao slightly lifted her head, feeling as though she had found support. At that moment, the tears in her eyes fell, and she playfully said, “My finger’s all red. It hurts so much.”

Beside them, Gu Chunmei and her brother looked at each other in silence, thinking, “Can we not have any more ‘dog food’ right now?”

……

Zhangjia Village, Old Zhang Family

At this time, the villagers were all busy harvesting rice and corn. The two aunts of the Zhang family had finished work for the day.

There were still relatives at home. It’s said that dumplings are for welcoming guests, and noodles are for sending them off.

It was Grandma Zhang’s birthday, and she had eaten a bowl of longevity noodles in the morning.

For dinner in the afternoon, the eldest aunt came back to heat water and take a bath. She changed her clothes and soaked in a wooden tub. Then, she went to the stove, scooped two big ladles of sweet potato flour, and mixed them with cornmeal to make dough for noodles.

She shared her idea with the second aunt.

The second aunt smiled cheerfully. “Sure, it’s not easy for Cuilan’s family to come back, so we should at least have a meal of noodles.”

Saying that, the second aunt rolled up her sleeves and went to the garden to pick beans for the sauce.

The eldest aunt handed her a piece of soap.

The second aunt was delighted. “Sister-in-law, where did this soap come from? It smells amazing, like flowers from outside.”

There was no supply store in the village, only in the town. It took several hours of mountain roads to get to town. The second aunt had never used such good soap before and couldn’t stop admiring it in her hands.

“Cuilan brought it. She said Yao Yao bought it. There are four pieces in total. We’ll split them between our two families.”

“Ah, Yao Yao is such a good child, not keeping anything for herself.”

“That’s right.”

The two sisters-in-law were busy, but they didn’t forget to peek inside the house to check on Grandma Zhang.

Today, the old lady was in a good mood. She had been wearing new clothes and a wool vest, walking around the village for most of the day. By now, she was already lying down in the house, snoring softly.

Half an hour later, it was getting dark. Eldest Uncle Zhang and SecondUncle Zhang came home. Gu Mancang and his wife who had gone to help in the fields also came back. The group of young people had not returned yet.

Zhang Cuilan glanced outside, seeing the darkening sky, and thought it might rain. She asked Gu Mancang, “What time is it?”

The Gu family had an old pocket watch, which Old Man Gu had taken from a Japanese soldier during the war.

Gu Mancang checked the time on the watch. “It’s 7:30.”

“It’s already 7:30, and the kids aren’t home yet. What could be taking them so long?”

They might have run into trouble in the mountains.

Eldest Uncle Zhang was hanging mushrooms under the eaves, while the second uncle, was crouching by the well, watching river clams spit out sand. The two brothers also looked outside.

Second Uncle Zhang stood up and grabbed his coat. “I’ll go out and take a look.”

Eldest Uncle Zhang reminded him to wear the conical hat, so he wouldn’t get wet if it rained.

Second Uncle Zhang grabbed it without looking and stuffed it under his arm, making Second Aunt scold him, “A dog biting Lu Dongbin doesn’t know a good deed when it sees one. Big brother is just trying to help, and you go and act like this.”

Zhang Cuilan, who was chopping pigweed with a sickle, tried to calm her sister-in-law. “Second sister-in-law, don’t worry. We’ve always been taken care of by Big Brother. We know how Second Brother is, and sometimes he just blurts out things he shouldn’t!”

It would be better if he kept quiet.

As soon as these words were out, the whole family burst into laughter.

Second Uncle Zhang grinned, laughing the hardest. He put the conical hat on his head and was about to leave when suddenly, Dongzi, that mischievous kid, came running over, panting and shouting.

“Uncles, uncles! There’s meat to eat! There’s meat! My brother was killed by a wild boar in the back mountain!”

What in the world!

Zhang Cuilan’s hand trembled, nearly missing Gu Mancang with the sickle as it shook.