Xu Ning filled the water jar and, seeing that the sun was about to come out, decided to have an early lunch and then head up the mountain in the afternoon. For lunch, they had steamed rice, a stew of cabbage, pork, and vermicelli. After they had eaten, Xu An washed the dishes.

Xu Ning then carried the basket on her back and went up the mountain. As the sun came out in the afternoon, more people began to head up the mountain.

Xu Ning and Xu An had previously found a spot with a lot of pine cones. Xu Ning planned to collect all of them. She intended to knit some sweaters in the next few days and send them to Xu Yang. She also wanted to update him on their situation so that he wouldn’t worry too much. After all, he was just a 17-year-old boy and dealing with such changes at home would surely be a heavy burden.

When Xu Ning arrived at the spot, she saw that many pine cones remained uncollected. She looked around and saw no one, so she decided to put them into her basket.

Once she had finished collecting everything, she was about to head down the mountain when she heard a clucking sound from the grass, like a chicken. She quickly set down her basket and, moving quietly, approached the sound. There, in the grass, she saw a wild chicken crouching. She rushed over, grabbed the chicken that was trying to fly away, and tied its two legs with some grass she had pulled from the side. Excited, she placed the chicken into her basket, covering it with more grass.

She thought to herself, “Today’s luck is really good. I’ve collected so many pine cones and even caught a wild chicken. This is the first time I’ve caught a wild chicken since coming here.”

As Xu Ning hummed a tune and walked down the mountain, she kept her head lowered and did not notice the people coming from the opposite direction. It was only when she saw the road blocked that she looked up. To her surprise, the leading figure was a tall man, distinguished and graceful. Behind him was another man with a commanding presence. Following them were Lin Miao, the original book’s female lead, and a delicate, charming beauty with red lips and white teeth. The beauty was no less impressive than Lin Miao as they stood together.

The charming and lovely beauty, with a tone that was anything but sweet, said to Xu Ning, “Didn’t you see people? Move aside, you have no sense.”

Xu Ning’s good mood vanished instantly. She rolled her eyes at her in the ugliest way possible (something she had practiced countless times in front of the mirror and deemed the most unattractive).

She replied, “Oh, whose dog is this? Didn’t you teach it manners before letting it out? You should take it back and train it properly so it knows that a good dog doesn’t block the way and doesn’t bark at people.”

The charming and lovely beauty pointed angrily at Xu Ning and said, “Who do you think you’re calling a dog?”

Xu Ning retorted, “Whoever feels it’s them must be the dog.”

Fuming, the beauty looked like she was about to scratch Xu Ning, but one of the men beside her stopped her and said, “Gu Wenjing, stop making a scene.” After giving Xu Ning a glance, he led the woman named Gu Wenjing up the mountain. Lin Miao turned to Xu Ning and said, “Xu Zhiqing, we’re leaving now!” The other male youth nodded at Xu Ning, and the two of them followed the pair up the mountain.

Gu Wenjing—wasn’t she the cousin of the male lead, Gu Wenping? According to the book, she wasn’t supposed to come to Yushu Village until a year after the male lead’s arrival. Why was she here now?

Xu Ning pondered this as she walked down the mountain. When she reached the foot of the mountain, she couldn’t think of any plot in the book that mentioned her coming to Yushu Village at this time.

Oh well, if she couldn’t figure it out, she decided not to worry about it. It was better to keep her distance from them in the future, and it would be best if they never had to meet again.

Xu Ning first took the wild chicken out and killed it when she got home. She planned to make wild chicken soup for dinner. Since wild chicken tends to be tough, it needed to be simmered for a longer time, so she put it in the pot early to stew.

Xu An built a fire while Xu Mo sat beside him. Both of them were salivating at the aroma coming from the pot. Xu Ning added peeled chestnuts and a handful of mushrooms into the pot, letting it simmer slowly on a low flame. She placed a ring of dough around the edge of the pot and, just before it was done, added a few chopped potatoes. The two eager kids stood up and peered into the pot, and Xu Ning served each of them a bowl to start eating.

Xu Ning then took a stroll near the cow shed and saw that the three people who had been stacking the beds had already left, and there was no one around.

Returning home, Xu Ning took a ceramic jar, filled it with about half its capacity, enough for the five of them, and planned to take it to the cow shed. She placed the jar into Xu An’s small basket and carried it to the shed. At the entrance, she called out to Grandpa Qi. When he came out, she said, “Grandpa Qi, I caught a wild chicken while collecting mountain goods today. I’ve stewed it. I brought this for you to try.” She handed the jar to Grandpa Qi, who took it and said, “Good. Head back soon, and I’ll have your parents bring the jar back later.”

After dinner, Xu Ning continued knitting sweaters while Xu An and Xu Mo sorted through the pine cones she had picked from the mountain earlier that day. Xu An asked, “Sister, when should we send the things to Eldest Brother?”

Xu Ning replied, “In a couple of days. I plan to finish this sweater, and since we have so much pork at home, I’ll make some dried meat as well. I’ll send everything to him together. I won’t go up the mountain these days; I’ll just stay at home and knit.”

Xu An said, “Sister, I’ll go up the mountain tomorrow. You stay here with Xiao Mo. There are still some mountain goods to be picked. I’ll make a few more trips. Don’t worry, I’ll stay on the outer areas and won’t go too far inside.”

Xu Ning thought about it and decided that since many people from the village went up the mountain daily for firewood and it wasn’t very dangerous, she agreed. She also discussed with Xu An the importance of continuing his studies.

Xu An said, “Sister, I want to go back to school next year. I’ve finished reviewing the third-grade material and have started on the fourth-grade books. I’d like to go straight into fourth grade next year.”

Xu Ning replied, “Then ask Mom and Dad about it tonight.”

When their parents came home in the evening and they all sat on the heated bed to talk, Xu Ning brought up Xu An’s schooling.

Father Xu was surprised and asked, “Can Xiao An go back to school? Will the village agree?”

Xu Ning said, “I’ll ask the village head. Xiao An’s current job is cutting pigweed, and he cuts four baskets a day for two work points. He can cut two baskets in the morning before school and two more in the afternoon after school, so it won’t interfere with his work.”

Father Xu was pleased and said, “Then go ahead and ask. If he can continue his education, that would be great.” He then inquired about how Xu Ning had caught the wild chicken. “You don’t know, but the jar of food you brought was completely eaten by the five of us. Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu said it was the best meal they’ve had since coming here. They haven’t had such good food even during the New Year. Grandpa Qi praised your cooking skills too.”

Mother Xu also chimed in, “Even when we were in the city, it was rare to get such good food.”

Xu Ning, while knitting and smiling, said, “Mom and Dad, all of this was gathered from the mountain. There are plenty of chestnuts and mushrooms up there. Xiao An and I gathered enough to last us through the winter. Today I also picked a lot of pine nuts on the mountain. I caught that wild chicken while gathering the pine nuts. Once I finish knitting the sweaters and woolen pants, I’ll send them to Eldest Brother, along with some pine nuts and hazelnuts. I want him to see how well we’re doing here. The mountains are full of wild fruits.”

Mother Xu said, “Also mention in the letter that both your dad and I are settled here, so he doesn’t need to worry about the family.” Then she called out to Xiao Mo, “Xiao Mo, come and try on these shoes to see if they fit.”

Xu Ning saw the pair of shoes her mother had made for Xiao Mo and asked, “Mom, you finished a pair of shoes so quickly?”

Mother Xu replied, “Your Aunt Lu helped make them during the day. You still had quite a bit of leftover scraps and cotton from when you went to the supply and marketing cooperative. I had your Aunt Lu make two more pairs. Her and Uncle Lu’s shoes are also quite thin and have been worn for years.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ning immediately got off the bed, went to her room, and brought out two sets of cotton clothing and pants, saying, “Mom, these are the defective items I bought last time at the supply and marketing cooperative. I bought a total of four sets—two for you and Dad, and these two are for Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu. I also brought four pairs of woolen socks; they can wear those in the cold weather.”

She then took out two coats similar to the ones her parents were wearing and said, ‘These coats will keep others from seeing what’s underneath. Mom, can you ask Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu what their shoe sizes are tomorrow? Sister Hongying told me last time that another batch of defective items will be available soon, and I’ll buy a few more pairs then.”

Mother Xu looked at Xu Ning with satisfaction and said, “Tomorrow, I’ll take these to your Aunt Lu. Your Uncle Lu saved your and Xiao An’s lives. From now on, treat Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu the same way you treat your dad and me, understand?”

Xu An and Xu Ning, the siblings, both replied, “Understood.”

Father Xu said to Xu Ning, “Xiao Ning, the kang over there has been built up, and tonight Uncle Lu will light it. He said it will be dry by morning. Starting tomorrow, we will spend the night over there. It wouldn’t be good if someone with ill intentions saw that we’re not staying there. Xiao Mo is just a child and won’t attract much attention, so if he wants to stay here, let him stay with you.”

Xu Ning nodded in agreement. It was indeed inconvenient to travel back and forth, but since the places were close, they could manage any issues that arose.

After Mother Xu finished making shoes for Xiao Mo, she began knitting woolen pants. One of them worked on sweaters while the other worked on pants, making the process much quicker. This way, they could send the items to Xu Yang sooner.

The next morning, after breakfast, Xu An went up the mountain carrying a basket. Xiao Mo wanted to go too, but he was too young, and with the cold weather, Xu Ning decided to keep him at home.

When Xu An returned, the basket contained only half a basket of chestnuts, with some firewood on top. Xu Ning quickly made a bowl of milk for him. Xu An said, “Sis, mountain goods are becoming scarcer. I went to several places and only found half a basket.”

Xu Ning comforted him, “Xiao An, this half basket will last us quite a while. We have stored several hundred pounds already, and we have no more space for them. This is enough for now. In the afternoon, just stay home and play with Xiao Mo.”

In the evening, their parents stayed in the cow shed. After dinner, Xu Ning planned to take some quilts over to them, but before she could leave, Father Xu and Mother Xu came in. Xu Ning hurriedly welcomed them inside and got them settled on the kang.

After sitting down, Mother Xu placed a stack of money on the table and said, “Today I gave the items to Aunt Lu. At first, they refused to accept them, but after your dad and I persuaded them, they finally accepted. However, they insisted on giving us a hundred yuan. Your dad told them that you have connections at the supply and marketing cooperative, that these are defective items, and that they don’t come with a receipt and are cheap. At first, they didn’t believe it, but after I showed them the defective parts, they finally did. Nevertheless, they wouldn’t take back the hundred yuan.”

Xu Ning glanced at her dad and asked, “Dad, what should we do with this money?”

Father Xu said, “Xiao Ning, just keep the money here. Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu need a lot of things. If you get a chance, help them buy some food and other items. If you can find more cotton clothes like mine, see if you can buy a set for them. Your Grandpa Qi is a good man; he hasn’t changed his cotton clothes for many years, and they only have two old blankets on the bed that are who-knows-how-many years old.”

Xu Ning replied, “Dad, I should still be able to find cotton clothes and blankets. I’ll bring them back when I go into the city in a few days. I’ll also keep an eye out for other things they need.”

The sweater for Xu Yang was already finished. Xu Ning was now roasting pork slices. She cut the pork into large pieces, marinated them with sauce, and then dried them in the pan.

From five pounds of pork, she ended up with over three pounds of dried meat. She saved a little for Xu An and Xiao Mo, then wrapped the rest in greaseproof paper, planning to send it to Xu Yang when she went into the city the next day. She also packed pine nuts, hazelnuts, three pounds of dried meat, two pounds of White Rabbit milk candy, three pounds of cookies (which she had taken out of packaging from her space), four pairs of cotton socks, two pairs of cotton shoes, two pairs of cotton gloves, and a thick hat. Xu Ning also took out a thick cotton coat and a set of knitted sweater and pants from her space. She sewed a large pocket from a thick piece of cloth to fit everything inside.