Chapter 7

“Mother, aren’t we going to take a look?” Seeing that her mother not only didn’t step forward but was even pulling the donkey back, Xu Wanchun grew anxious.

Xu Hehua shot her daughter a look. “What’s there to look at? Look at how far you’re craning your neck—pull it back in, quick.”

Having to completely give up on her fun, Xu Wanchun sighed. “I was just a little curious.”

“What’s there to be curious about? It has nothing to do with us.” To be meeting in a place like this, it definitely meant something unpleasant. Either the family disapproved, or the bride price negotiations had fallen apart. As an elder, it wouldn’t be proper for her to run over and eavesdrop on the younger generation’s matters, would it?

Especially since her relationship with her elder sister-in-law wasn’t anything special. Naturally, she couldn’t be bothered to meddle in her nephew’s personal affairs. And of course, she wasn’t about to gossip behind their backs either. Thinking of this, Xu Hehua turned to her daughter again and reminded her: “Pretend you didn’t see a thing, and don’t you go telling anyone, understand?”

“Got it!” Xu Wanchun wasn’t stupid—she just felt life was too dull and wanted a little gossip to spice it up.

The mother and daughter lingered there for half an hour. Once daylight fully broke, they mounted the donkey and continued on their way.

When they passed by the local Earth God temple, Xu Hehua led her daughter inside to sweep it clean, inside and out, and then offered two large white steamed buns as tribute.

As they were leaving, Xu Wanchun asked the question that had been on her mind: “Mother, do you believe in gods and Buddhas?” Those were two white flour buns after all—her foster mother usually couldn’t even bear to eat them herself… But in a few years, it seemed the movement to “Smash the Four Olds” would begin, and by then this weathered old temple probably wouldn’t survive.

Xu Hehua instinctively turned her head, gazing directly at the solemn statue riddled with cracks. She didn’t say she believed, nor that she didn’t—she only said softly: “Your mother is just here to repay a vow.”

Although Xu Wanchun was curious what kind of vow her foster mother had made, she didn’t ask. Instead, she lifted her small hand and slipped it into her mother’s calloused palm. When the woman lowered her eyes to look at her, Xu Wanchun gave her a radiant smile.

Smiles are contagious. At once, the bleakness in Xu Hehua’s heart was swept away, replaced by a sudden lightness and joy…

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The back mountain of Xujiatun bordered Lijiatun.

It covered quite a large area, though it had no particularly special scenery, and it bore a most ordinary name—Qingshan (“Green Mountain”).

Yet it was precisely such an unremarkable mountain range that, in times of hardship, sustained the villagers within dozens of li around.

And in May, when the frozen earth had just thawed and the spring rains had soaked the mountains, it became not only the granary of the common people, but also a treasure trove for medicinal herb gatherers.

After just an hour in the mountains, Xu Hehua had already harvested a great deal—bracken, aralia sprouts, cloud ear fungus, hazel mushrooms—her basket was nearly full. She even came across a raspberry bush, the kind that would ripen by the end of the month.

But Xu Wanchun, who had set out brimming with confidence and intent on gathering herbs, wasn’t so lucky. Her basket was only thinly covered at the bottom.

The main reason was that she didn’t recognize many medicinal plants, and those suitable for harvesting in May were even fewer.

For instance, just a moment ago she had come across a whole patch of honeysuckle, but the stamens—

The honeysuckle hadn’t yet bloomed—it would take at least another half a month before it could be harvested.

She only hoped no one else would beat her to it in the meantime. That whole patch alone would be worth at least two yuan…

Of course, if someone did gather it early, Xu Wanchun would feel regretful only for a few breaths.

After all, such a vast mountain range was still waiting for her to “conquer”~

So, though the medicinal herbs she managed to collect were far fewer than she had expected, Xu Wanchun wasn’t discouraged.

Herbal medicine had to be learned slowly. If she could recognize a dozen plants, then she could eventually recognize hundreds. As for studying medicine, she had patience to spare.

On the other hand, Xu Hehua was worried her daughter might feel disheartened, so she kept glancing over from time to time to check on her.

Perhaps the mountain god was satisfied with Xu Wanchun’s steady mindset, because by noon, when the mother and daughter found a spot to eat lunch, they stumbled upon a patch of pulsatilla in full bloom.

Since its reproduction method was similar to dandelions—seeds drifting wherever the wind carried them—pulsatilla usually grew scattered or in small clusters.

Xu Wanchun was rather lucky: what she found was indeed a small patch.

After carefully confirming that it was really pulsatilla and not a lookalike wild cotton plant, Xu Wanchun, having barely finished her lunch, couldn’t even bother to rest. She grabbed a breathable coarse cloth sack and began harvesting.

Considering that the pulsatilla was nearly past its peak bloom, she spent most of the remaining half-day focused on picking it.

By the time they descended the mountain, she had gathered five to six jin of pulsatilla alone.

Together with the scattered herbs she had collected, her day’s work could fetch four to five mao.

It didn’t sound like much, but at that time, it was enough to buy more than a jin of pork.

The first step was always the hardest—thinking about it that way, it didn’t seem so bad after all.

---

She had gone up the mountain full of expectation.

She had picked herbs with boundless energy.

But on the way back, Xu Wanchun was completely drained.

She had overestimated her stamina. Though she looked a bit plumper on the outside, her foundation was still very weak.

Sure enough, by the time she barely managed to hold on until they got home, she fell asleep right away on the donkey’s back.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already the next morning.

Her whole body ached, her throat burned, her mouth was bitter…she had exhausted herself into catching a cold.

She stared blankly at the roof for quite a while before she tried sitting up.

After putting on her shoes and moving around a little, she felt relieved.

It wasn’t too serious—resting for two days should be enough to recover.

What worried her was that her foster mother might forbid her from gathering herbs again. At that thought, Xu Wanchun grew restless and quickly walked out of the bedroom.

“You’re awake? Come here, let me check if you still have a fever.” Xu Hehua was sitting by the stove cooking breakfast. The moment she saw her daughter, she waved her over in worry.

Xu Wanchun ran over with quick little steps. When her foster mother’s hand pressed against her forehead and she was sure the woman wasn’t angry, she rasped hoarsely, “Do I still have a fever?”

She had no memory of it at all.

Although Xu Hehua didn’t feel much heat on her, she still wasn’t at ease. “Mm, you had a fever last night. Doctor Cao prescribed medicine. After breakfast, I’ll take you next door to have him check again.”

Well, there went a whole day’s work, probably not even enough to cover the medical fees. Xu Wanchun sighed. “Alright then, Mother. Until I recover, I’ll only go pick herbs for half a day each time.”

These words immediately choked back the lecture Xu Hehua had been about to give. She only reached out to rub the prickly short hair on her little girl’s head. “As long as you know your limits.”

Since her mother wasn’t opposing her continuing to earn money, everything was negotiable. Xu Wanchun felt her strength return at once. She picked up the coarse cloth she used for cleaning her teeth, dipped it in salt water, and while scrubbing she mumbled, “Mother, where’s the medicine I brought back yesterday?”

Xu Hehua lifted her chin toward the top of the cupboard. “It’s spread out in the winnowing basket up there.”

Xu Wanchun followed her gaze, saw it was well-ventilated, and finally felt reassured. “This can’t be stored too long. After we eat, let’s sort it out—pick out the dead leaves and dirt… oh, and we need to wash it quickly too.”

For once, Xu Hehua put on a stern face. “After breakfast, we go next door first. If your Uncle Cao says you’re fine, then I’ll help you with it.”

Xu Wanchun really wanted to say she was fine, but when she met her mother’s fierce glare, she wisely pulled her head back. “…Oh.”

---

After the meal.

Worried about her daughter’s health, Xu Hehua quickly tidied up the dishes and prepared to head next door.

But before she even stepped out of the kitchen, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Seeing who it was, Xu Hehua felt displeased, though she didn’t show it on her face. She only asked flatly, “What brings you here, Sister-in-law?”

Hu Yangmiao, Xu Hehua’s elder sister-in-law, was a thin woman who wore her hair slicked tightly against her scalp in a bun, exposing her whole forehead. Combined with her long, narrow face, it made her look much older than she really was—even though she wasn’t yet forty.

She seemed not to notice her sister-in-law’s coldness. With a forced smile, she walked straight in. “Third Sister, what are you saying? We gathered a lot of wild greens at home, and I figured the vegetables you planted haven’t grown yet, so I brought some over for you.”

Xu Hehua glanced at the basket in her hands, saw the wild greens inside, and rolled her eyes inwardly. “No need. I went up the mountain yesterday and picked a whole basket full.”

Bringing wild greens was clearly just an excuse. Hu Yangmiao didn’t care whether her sister-in-law needed them or not. She sat herself down on the stone bench in the courtyard. “It’s fine. Since I’ve brought them already, you just keep them and eat.”

Xu Hehua, still intent on taking her daughter to the doctor, had no patience left. “Taohua is sick. I need to take her to see the doctor. If you’ve nothing else, Sister-in-law, you should head back.”

That was as good as telling her to leave.

Hu Yangmiao slanted a glance at the bean-sprout-like little girl, and her expression shifted into surprise.

She had always firmly opposed her in-laws’ idea of marrying Taohua off as a child bride to Tiezhu.

She thought this girl’s fate was far too harsh—her parents had both been “overcome” and died, and she had even been abandoned at a graveyard. Truly inauspicious.

And if being ugly wasn’t bad enough, she was as skinny as a little chick—how could she ever bear children in the future?

Her own Tiezhu was so sturdy; how could this Taohua ever be a match for him?

But who would have thought—after just twenty-some days, this girl was no longer ugly. She was even somewhat pretty, with delicate features.

Looking again now, she was just about barely worthy of her family’s Tiezhu.

After all… those three spacious tiled houses were dazzling.

If her sister-in-law refused to remarry, then in the end, wouldn’t those houses all belong to Taohua?

And once Taohua married into her family as Tiezhu’s wife, wouldn’t that mean the three tiled houses would be hers as well?

The more Hu Yangmiao turned this over in her mind, the more her gaze toward Taohua shifted from picky disdain to gentle affection. This matter… deserved some careful planning.

Suddenly being stared at like a piece of meat, Xu Wanchun instinctively shrank back behind her foster mother. Not out of fear—but annoyance.

Sensing her daughter’s movement, Xu Hehua immediately grew displeased. “Sister-in-law, what are you staring at Taohua for? If you’ve got nothing else, then head on back.”

Chased off again, Hu Yangmiao’s expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly explained her purpose: “Your eldest nephew, Shuigen, is about to get married.”

At these words, mother and daughter exchanged a glance at once, both recalling the scene they had witnessed the previous morning.

Though she disliked her sister-in-law, Xu Hehua bore no grudge against her nephew. Of course, she hadn’t seen him more than a few times, so there was no particular closeness either. “When’s the date? I’ll bring Taohua along.”

Hu Yangmiao’s eyes rolled, and she put on a troubled look. “It hasn’t been set yet…”

Xu Hehua: “Then what are you here for?”

With something to ask of her, Hu Yangmiao forced herself to ignore her sister-in-law’s attitude. “The bride is from Lijiatun. She’s good-looking, and her family’s conditions are higher…”

At this, she gave her sister-in-law a glance, waiting for her to ask the obvious question.

But after waiting quite a while, her “good Third Sister” still kept her face cold and said nothing.

Cursing inwardly, Hu Yangmiao finally swallowed her irritation and went on: “The bride’s family dislikes that our house is made of mud and straw. They insist it must be rebuilt. At the very least, it has to be a tiled wall house, otherwise she won’t marry in.”

Hiding behind her foster mother, Xu Wanchun could barely hold back her laughter. She guessed what her cheap aunt-in-law was after, and so she turned and quickly slipped out the courtyard gate.

Xu Hehua glanced back, saw her daughter had gone next door, then turned around again, replying mildly: “Oh, so Sister-in-law wants to build a house? That’s good.”

She hadn’t expected that kind of reaction. Hu Yangmiao nearly lost her temper then and there. “Building even a single-wall tiled house will cost at least a few silver dollars. Where could our family get that much money?”

In truth, if they squeezed, they could still come up with it. But why bother, when her little sister-in-law had money?

Xu Hehua wasn’t stupid. She naturally heard the implication behind her sister-in-law’s words. Tugging at the patched hem of her jacket, she rolled her eyes. “And you come to ask me, a divorced—”

“A married-out woman giving money? I have none.”

Hu Yangmiao grew angry. “How could you have no money? If you’re broke, how did you build such a big house? If you’re broke, how does that wretched girl of yours wear such nice clothes? Shuigen is your own nephew, the boy who’ll smash the basin at your funeral! A boy!!! He’s getting married, and as his aunt, how can you not give money?”

“What money? Xu Hehua, you have money?” Before she could snap back, a familiar female voice cut in. Xu Hehua instinctively turned around…

It really was Sister Nan. She froze a little. “Sister Nan, how come you’re here?”

Su Nan first gave Hu Yangmiao a faint glance. After staring long enough to make the woman squirm with unease, she finally spoke softly: “Just coincidence. I was passing by your courtyard gate, and heard Sister Hu saying you had money? In that case… that two silver dollars you still owe my family, is it time to repay?”

Su Nan was beautiful. Though she wasn’t dressed in silks, the clothes she wore were the finest anyone in the village had seen. She was the very picture of a refined young lady. With just a calm look, the usually overbearing Hu Yangmiao felt so inferior she buried her head, not knowing where to put her hands and feet.

But hearing that she was here to collect a debt from her sister-in-law, she forced herself to bear the discomfort, wanting to see if it was true.

By now, Xu Hehua realized what was going on—Sister Nan must have been brought in as reinforcements by Taohua. She was secretly proud of her daughter’s cleverness, though outwardly she put on a mournful face: “Sister Nan, you misheard. I really don’t have it on hand. Could you give me a few more days?”

This Lotus sister is amusing. Su Nan hid her smile, wearing instead an expression of cold impatience and aristocratic aloofness: “It’s already been nearly a month…”

“……”

Outside the courtyard, after listening for a while and confirming her cheap aunt-in-law wasn’t very smart, Xu Wanchun was finally reassured. She turned and headed off to the neighbor’s house.

Inside, while packaging herbs, Cao Xiu spotted the little girl coming in. A faint smile lifted his face, making him look even younger and more handsome. He beckoned to her: “Come, let Uncle take your pulse.”

That was exactly why Xu Wanchun had come back. She hurried over, deftly stretched out her wrist, and asked curiously: “Uncle Cao, what’s a ‘single-wall tile house’?”

As his fingertips pressed against her pulse, Cao Xiu explained: “It means the front wall is built with bricks and tiles, while the other three sides are still made of mud and straw.”

It could be done that way? Xu Wanchun was genuinely shocked.

Cao Xiu, unconcerned with who was or wasn’t building houses, asked instead: “Were you disappointed with yesterday’s herb gathering? Was it very bitter?”

Xu Wanchun blinked and countered with her own question: “You saw the herbs I gathered?”

What a clever child. Cao Xiu’s smile deepened. “Your mother brought them to show me. She said you worked the whole day and only found that little bit, but that you weren’t disappointed at all… Truly not disappointed?”

Before she’d gone out to gather herbs, he had known she was in for hardship and disappointment. Most likely, she would come back empty-handed.

Becoming a herb-gatherer was never easy.

She had no experience, recognized only a handful of plants, and this season had very few medicinal herbs ready for harvest.

He had expected her to be discouraged, even throw a tantrum. But instead, she had shown surprising steadiness.

Learning medicine was a long road, and with her grown-up mind inside a child’s body, Xu Wanchun was especially calm: “It was tough, yes, but not disappointing. I’m not in a rush anyway. Step by step—I’ll only get better and better at it.”

He hadn’t expected a little girl to say such words. No wonder her foster mother had praised her so much to him and his wife. Cao Xiu withdrew his hand and, after a long silence, finally said: “Your body is still quite weak. Take two more doses of medicine.”

At the thought of bitter decoctions, the little medicine jar that was Xu Wanchun pulled a face immediately, sighing weakly: “Okay~”

Cao Xiu laughed, amused. Wanting to observe her more closely, he suggested: “In a few days I’ll be going up the mountain to gather herbs. Come along with me.”

Was he going to teach her to gather herbs?! Xu Wanchun’s whole face lit up. “Yes!”