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Chapter 10.2 Homecoming
The next day, when Wanqing woke up and stepped into the kitchen, she was greeted by the sight of a brand-new small stove!
Wasting no time, she placed the clay pot on top, lit a small fire, and brought the water to a boil.
She then took out the cleaned pig intestines from last night, blanched them in hot water, and then cut them into bite-sized pieces before letting them simmer in the pot.
After giving her eldest sister, Wanru, a quick heads-up, Wanqing joined her brothers on another trip to the mountains.
Zhiqin, ever the optimist, suggested, “Let’s check our old rabbit trap! Maybe we’ll be lucky again.”
Zhiwen agreed, “It’s worth a try. If we catch another rabbit, we can sell it for even more money!”
The temptation of silver coins was simply too strong.
Wanqing, walking behind them with a playful smile, teased, “Who knows? Maybe we will! These mountain rabbits seem to be pretty dumb.”
Zhiqin immediately defended the rabbits, “They’re not dumb! They’re actually really hard to catch!”
She giggled, **“Alright, alright. You’re right. The rabbits aren’t dumb—we’re just lucky!”
Zhiwen and Zhiqin thought about it for a second and then nodded in agreement.
“Yes! We’re just lucky!”
“Haha, and our luck is only going to get better!”
The three siblings chatted and laughed as they made their way to their trap site.
When they finally peeled back the branches and leaves covering the pit, they were met with disappointment—the trap was completely empty.
“Aw, man! No rabbits today.” Zhiqin sighed.
Wanqing, ever resourceful, suggested, “Why don’t we reset the trap? I’ll go gather some fresh grass.”
Zhiwen nodded in agreement, “Good idea. Let’s try again.”
Wanqing secretly washed the grass in her spiritual spring water before placing it into the trap.
Zhiwen then carefully camouflaged the pit again using dry branches and fallen leaves, making sure it blended perfectly into the surroundings.
Satisfied with their work, the three of them moved on, continuing their journey deeper into the forest.
As they walked, Wanqing suddenly stopped in her tracks, eyes shining with excitement.
Not far from the path, she spotted several spiky green balls scattered on the ground.
Wait… could it be?
She hurried over, pried one open, and—sure enough!
Chestnuts!
Bursting with excitement, she waved her hands frantically at her brothers.
“Come here! I found something delicious!”
Zhiwen and Zhiqin rushed over, confused.
Wanqing proudly held up a handful of glossy brown chestnuts, grinning from ear to ear.
They had stumbled upon a hidden treasure in the mountains!
Everyone in the village knew about chestnuts, and there were indeed a few chestnut trees scattered across the mountains. However, this particular hillside was rarely visited.
“Wait… there’s a chestnut tree here too?”
Zhiwen and Zhiqin looked up and, sure enough, spotted a tall chestnut tree with its branches heavy with spiky green husks.
Excited, the three siblings quickly got to work, gathering the fallen chestnuts from the ground.
Wanqing used a rock to crack open the husks, peeling away the tough outer shells so they could fit more into their baskets.
While her brothers were busy picking up chestnuts, Wanqing secretly stored a handful into her personal space, ensuring they had extra for later.
Once their baskets were full, they happily headed back down the mountain.
As soon as they arrived, they poured the chestnuts onto the ground.
Big sister Wanru washed a portion and tossed them into a pot to boil.
Meanwhile, the braised pig intestines had finished simmering.
“If only we had soy sauce,” Wanru mused aloud.
Unable to resist, she turned to their mother, “Mom, do you know if anyone in the village has soy sauce?”
Their mother, Madam Li, thought for a moment before shaking her head.
“No, soy sauce is too expensive. Only wealthy families can afford it. But Aunt Liu has some fermented soybean paste—her family sent it over from town. I don’t know if she still has any left.”
Aunt Liu was the mother of Huzi, one of Zhiwen’s best friends. She and Madam Li had a close bond—they were married into the village in the same year and had children around the same time.
Wanru offered, “I can go ask her.”
But Wanqing shook her head with a smile, “No need, I was just asking. Salt is good enough.”
That evening, the family gathered around the table, feasting on chestnuts and braised intestines.
The once smelly pig intestines had transformed into a delicious delicacy, making everyone’s mouths water.
As she watched her children devour their meal with joy, Madam Li felt a surge of happiness and relief.
She thought back to the difficult days before they separated from the extended family. Life had been so restrictive, so exhausting…
Now, every day was filled with laughter.
Her husband worked hard to earn wages, her children were industrious, and even her eldest daughter, Wanru, took care of the household without complaint.
Madam Li clenched her fists—she couldn’t let herself fall behind. Her health was improving, and she needed to start contributing to the family’s livelihood.
After dinner, the family sat together, chatting about their plans.
Zhiwen mentioned, “Tomorrow, I want to invite Huzi to come with us.”
Wanqing nodded immediately. Chestnuts weren’t theirs alone—anyone could gather them. Besides, Huzi was like family to them.
“Of course! Let’s bring him along,” she agreed.
Big sister Wanru had been feeling a bit envious of their daily adventures in the mountains. She hesitated before asking, “Can I come too?”
She wasn’t sure if they would agree, but she figured more hands meant more chestnuts.
Madam Li, noticing her eldest daughter’s rare enthusiasm, immediately encouraged her.
“Go! It’s good for you to go out. Don’t worry about the house—my health is much better now. I can handle the chores.”
Wanqing looked up at the bright, glowing moon and smiled.
Tomorrow was going to be another exciting day.