Chapter 13: Finding Many Bamboo Shoots and Mushrooms

“You’re absolutely right. From head to toe, you’re no match for him! You’re not even worthy of carrying his shoes!” Huang Yuelan answered Sun Gousheng definitively.

In terms of appearance, although Sun Gousheng wasn’t bad-looking either, and was once considered one of the best-looking in the production team, now he could only rank second. With Wang Jianguo around, he could never be number one. Compared to Wang Jianguo, he still fell short. Wang Jianguo was handsome, dashing, with striking eyebrows and bright eyes; a truly outstanding man, a beautiful sight wherever he went.

In terms of character, there’s even less to say. Sun Gousheng was a fence-sitter, following the wind wherever it blew. When others said his wife was unchaste, he abandoned her, showing a complete lack of resolve. Wang Jianguo was completely different. He didn’t believe gossip, and instead shielded his wife from rumors, actively protecting her and forbidding others from speaking ill of her, showing the utmost tenderness and consideration.

In short, Sun Gousheng wasn’t even worthy of carrying Wang Jianguo’s shoes!

Sun Gousheng was furious. He couldn’t believe that in her eyes, he was inferior even to a savage. This was a profound insult. Enraged and ashamed, Sun Gousheng lost his initial patience.

“I think you can only be with him; no one else will want you. So, are you deliberately trying to anger me?” Sun Gousheng asked.

Huang Yuelan was displeased. What did he mean, “only be with Wang Jianguo”?

It sounded like Wang Jianguo was inferior, and like she was unmarriageable.

“What do you mean by that? Do you look down on Wang Jianguo or me? Let me tell you, Wang Jianguo is a hundred times better than you. You’re nothing to me.” Huang Yuelan retorted.

Hearing Huang Yuelan insult him again—he had intended to reconcile with her, but she refused to listen, and even insulted him—Sun Gousheng couldn’t control his anger.

“You shameless woman! You got married to another man so quickly. Were you already secretly seeing him?” Sun Gousheng pointed at Huang Yuelan.

Huang Yuelan said, “You’re desperate and lashing out, making false accusations. You have no proof.”

“You’re asking for a beating.” After saying this, Sun Gousheng lunged forward to attack Huang Yuelan, intending to subdue her with violence.

Huang Yuelan picked up her hoe. Before she could throw it, a figure flashed past, and Sun Gousheng was knocked to the ground.

“Jianguo!” Huang Yuelan thought Wang Jianguo’s arrival was perfectly timed. A minute later, she might have been beaten by Sun Gousheng. Although she had a hoe, she wasn’t physically strong enough.

Wang Jianguo embraced and protected Huang Yuelan, gently saying, “Don’t be afraid, Huang Yuelan, I’m here.”

Wang Jianguo had been chopping wood on another mountain when he saw Sun Gousheng secretly following his wife. He immediately suspected the man had bad intentions, so he left his wood and rushed over.

As he suspected, the scoundrel not only had bad intentions, intending to steal his wife, but also tried to beat her.

Sun Gousheng raised his head and wiped the blood from his mouth. His cheek felt burning; Wang Jianguo had hit him hard. Fortunately, it wasn’t the back of his head, otherwise he would have been killed instantly. He was still a savage, even if he’d grown a bit.

“Sun Gousheng, I warn you, stay away from Huang Yuelan. If you ever bully her again, I’ll kill you.” Wang Jianguo said angrily.

Sun Gousheng got up. Seeing Wang Jianguo’s appearance, he felt a surge of jealousy. The previously unkempt savage, after a makeover, had become quite handsome.

Wang Jianguo’s words frightened Sun Gousheng. Wang Jianguo was notorious in the surrounding villages, known for his violence and fighting prowess. He could easily defeat eight or ten men.

A wise man doesn’t fight a losing battle. Sun Gousheng turned and walked down the mountain. He wasn’t sure if Wang Jianguo would attack him again; the best course of action was to leave before he got another beating.

After Sun Gousheng left, Wang Jianguo asked Huang Yuelan, “Huang Yuelan, are you alright?”

Huang Yuelan smiled, “I’m fine, thank goodness you came in time.”

“Let me carry the basket; let’s go home.” Wang Jianguo took his wife’s basket and discovered her bounty: several tender bamboo shoots and many large red mushrooms.

Wang Jianguo frequently went into the mountains, but finding this much in a morning was unusual.

In these times of scarcity, these bamboo shoots and mushrooms were a gift from heaven. Everyone searched the mountains for them, so finding this much was rare.

“My wife is amazing; you found so much in one morning.” Wang Jianguo praised.

Huang Yuelan smiled, “I was lucky today. I found two bamboo groves that no one had been to.”

“I haven’t had stir-fried bamboo shoots in a long time. I’m looking forward to it.” Wang Jianguo said.

Huang Yuelan replied, “I’ll make it for you when we get home.”

Stir-fried bamboo shoots and mushrooms are easy to make, requiring few ingredients and seasonings, yet the taste is delicious.

The couple happily headed home, leaving Sun Gousheng’s incident behind. They focused on their lives, looking forward.

Besides, after this beating, Sun Gousheng would learn his lesson. Unlike Wang Jianguo, who was strong and had years of hunting experience, Sun Gousheng had never done any hard labor. He was weak, couldn’t even lift a gun, and was a coward. He wouldn’t dare bother them again.

On the way home, Wang Jianguo was happy. He’d heard his wife’s conversation with Sun Gousheng. She said Sun Gousheng wasn’t worthy of carrying his shoes, and that he was perfect. His high standing in his wife’s eyes made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Upon returning home, Huang Yuelan took out the bamboo shoots and red mushrooms.

Three large bamboo shoots and half a basket of red mushrooms—enough for a day.

She sliced the bamboo shoots, cleaned and sliced the mushrooms, and prepared the scallions, ginger, and garlic.

Wang Jianguo washed the wok and fetched firewood from the outdoor kitchen to start the fire.

He blanched the bamboo shoots, then heated oil in the wok, added the scallions and garlic, sautéed until fragrant, then added the sliced bamboo shoots and stir-fried…

Bamboo shoots are not only delicious but also have many health benefits: they invigorate the stomach, clear heat and phlegm, lower blood lipids, and promote urination. They are plentiful and free in the mountains.

The red mushrooms were also easy to cook and fragrant. In a short time, both dishes were ready, filling two wooden plates.

Because bowls were in short supply at the supply and marketing cooperative, Wang Jianguo had made his own bowls and plates from bamboo, along with stools.

Though not as beautiful as the ceramic bowls from the cooperative, the wooden bowls and plates were not hot to the touch, unbreakable, and environmentally friendly, with a faint bamboo scent.

Yueqiang and his brother arrived home at mealtime, rushing to the kitchen, where the aroma of bamboo shoots and mushrooms filled the air.

“Stir-fried bamboo shoots and mushrooms made by Sister? Amazing!”

“Wow, Sister, you’re amazing! You found so many mushrooms and bamboo shoots. I remember Grandma and the aunts couldn’t find this much even when they went together!”

Back at the Huang family’s old house, Grandma and the others would go to the mountains to collect mushrooms after rain, and they also liked to pick bamboo shoots for stir-frying, but the whole family searching for half a day wouldn’t find half as much as their sister.

Yueqiang and his brother admired their sister.

Although the two dishes were meatless, they were delicious and the brothers ate a lot.

Wang Jianguo tasted his wife’s cooking and marveled at her improving culinary skills. Each time, it was better than the last.

His wife was perfect in every way, and he found her more beautiful each day.

That afternoon, Huang Yuelan didn’t go out. She took a hoe and planned to cultivate a small plot of land outside the yard to plant scallions, ginger, garlic, and vegetables.

She thought, although Wang Jianguo wasn’t short of money, saving was important. Growing their own seasonal vegetables would save a lot of money.

The saying goes, “Poverty isn’t from eating or wearing, but from poor planning.” They needed to be thrifty.

Seeing his wife hoeing in front of the house, Wang Jianguo put down his hatchet and asked, “Wife, what are you doing?”

“I want to make a small vegetable patch here, to plant some cabbage, radishes, sweet potatoes, and some scallions, ginger, and garlic. This way, we can save a lot on daily expenses and not have to buy them from the supply and marketing cooperative or the market,” Huang Yuelan explained.

Wang Jianguo thought his wife was thrifty and virtuous. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also good at saving money.

He didn’t mind her spending money; as long as she was happy, he would happily buy her meat every day. He never thought she was extravagant, but now that she wanted to make a small vegetable patch, he was happy to help.

“Leave the hard work to me. I may not have much, but I have plenty of strength.” Wang Jianguo said, taking the hoe and starting to dig.

Wang Jianguo dug much faster than Huang Yuelan. She found that digging was quicker than cultivating new land. The soil was hard, with many rocks and weeds. One slip could damage the hoe. After digging, she had to remove the rocks and weeds.

This was only the first step. Next, she needed to level the soil and build a stone border to prevent rainwater from washing away the topsoil.

Huang Yuelan watched Wang Jianguo dig effortlessly, swinging the hoe continuously. In a short time, he had dug a large area. Huang Yuelan kept busy picking up rocks and weeds.