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Wang San was a little bewildered.
“Aren’t those just wild herbs? They can stop bleeding?”
Wang Man nodded and replied casually,
“They can, but only if the wound’s not too big.
If it is, you’d need Sanqi powder to stop the bleeding.”
“What’s Sanqi?
Manniang, you actually know medicinal herbs?”
Wang San was genuinely surprised.
Wang Man’s eyes flickered slightly, then she shifted the topic.
“Do you think there are any rare herbs on this mountain?
Like ginseng, lingzhi, or fo-ti root?”
Wang San nodded with certainty.
“There are. I heard that Wang Yuehai’s grandfather’s grandfather once dug up a wild ginseng root.
He sold it for a lot of silver.
After that, many folks went up the mountain hoping to strike it lucky.
But that mountain’s no joke. Regular people like us have no business going up there.
One time, over a dozen people went up looking for ginseng, but instead, they ran into a pack of wolves.
Only a few made it back, and all of them were seriously injured. The ones who were dragged off—there wasn’t even a bone left to bury.
Since then, no one’s dared to go back.”
Wang Man searched her memory for any such incident. There was nothing. She figured Wang San was probably making it up.
“Who told you that? How come I’ve never heard of it?”
Seeing her skepticism, Wang San nearly swore an oath.
“It’s true! Why would I lie to you?
Wang Yuehai said it himself. My big uncle was there too—he didn’t deny it, so that proves it’s true.”
Wang Man looked toward the direction of Xianfeng Mountain, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
If that was the case, the resources on the mountain must be rich.
But the danger was just as real.
Seeing the glint in Wang Man’s eyes, Wang San felt a chill down his spine.
“Manniang, let’s just head back. It’s getting late.”
As if to confirm his words, a strange howl rang out from the distance.
Wang San grew even more frightened and quickly pulled Wang Man along to pick up his bundle of firewood.
When Aunt Ma saw Wang San’s injured hand, she called out worriedly,
“Manya, maybe you should get a physician to check San’s hand?”
Her eyesight wasn’t great, so she couldn’t tell how bad it was.
Wang Man glanced at Wang San and asked,
“Is it serious?
Do you want to call a physician?”
Wang San: …
Was that your tone when offering to call a physician?
More like a threat, wasn’t it?
He quickly shook his head.
“No need. Just a scratch. It’ll be fine tomorrow.”
Hearing that, Aunt Ma Liu let out a sigh of relief.
“I’ve already made dinner. Why don’t you two eat, then get some rest?
You’ve had a long day—might as well turn in early.”
Wang Man glanced at the dusky sky, lips twitching slightly, but said nothing.
As soon as she set down her bowl, Wang San announced,
“My hand hurts. I’m going to bed early.”
Wang Man ignored him. It was still too early to sleep, so she found some straw and began twisting rope.
Thinking of the firewood piled up in the shed, she looked around while she worked, considering where best to put up a lean-to.
Not long after, Wang San came back outside.
Wang Man looked at him, puzzled.
“Didn’t you go to bed? How are you up so soon?”
“Manniang, my hand really hurts. Could you give me some silver? I’ll go into town tomorrow and see a physician.
I think the bone might be hurt.”
Wang San looked at her pitifully.
Wang Man: …
I’d believe you if I were an idiot. You’re just itching to go gamble again.
But she didn’t say a word. She just nodded.
“Sure. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”
Wang San’s eyes flicked sideways, and he spoke in a reassuring tone.
“Manniang, don’t worry!
It’s just a little wound. Nothing serious.
I can go by myself.”
Wang Man nodded again.
“Mm, I’m not worried. Not in the slightest.
I’m not concerned about your hand—I just want to buy a new hatchet.
The one we have is chipped and hard to use.”
Wang San blurted out,
“You still want to chop firewood? We have so much already…”
He almost said they had enough for the whole winter, but then remembered what Wang Man had said about stockpiling before the cold months hit.
He gave up with a groan and turned around.
“Do whatever you want!”
Wang Man watched his retreating back and couldn’t help but smile.
So, a few days of being obedient was all he could manage?
The night passed uneventfully.
The next morning, Wang Man woke Wang San early, and the two headed toward town on foot.
Just outside the village, they ran into Old Man Wang who drove an ox cart ferrying people to town.
Wang Man figured the earlier they reached town, the sooner she could buy clothing, quilts, and grain.
So she stopped him and decided to ride the ox cart.
It only cost a single coin per person—well within her means.
Just as she climbed up and sat down, a sharp, mocking voice rang out:
“Oh my, so Wang Man has money now? Even riding an ox cart, huh?”
Wang Man turned her head and saw Wang Jiaojiao, the daughter of her Stepmother, already on board.
With her were two other village girls.
The three of them were known to be close. Every few days, they’d head to town to hang around.
Not anywhere interesting, though.
They’d just loiter outside the academy.
The reason was obvious: they were hoping to run into a wealthy young man or a scholar. Maybe one of them would take a fancy to them.
Wang Man ignored her, as if she didn’t exist.
Wang Jiaojiao wasn’t offended. She plastered on a fake smile and asked,
“Manya, I heard you killed a giant snake the other day. How much silver did you get for it?”
Wang Man rolled her eyes.
“None of your damn business.”
“Hey now, what kind of tone is that?
I’m your elder sister. Just asking out of concern—what’s so wrong with that?”
A flash of disgust crossed Wang Jiaojiao’s eyes.
The other two girls stayed silent, not daring to chime in.
They were both surnamed Wang as well, and technically had to call Wang San Uncle.
And since Wang San was known to be a rogue, they were a little afraid of him.
Had he not been around, they definitely would’ve joined in on Wang Jiaojiao’s taunts.
Wang Man snorted.
“Elder sister?
Isn’t that a bit awkward for you?
If you’re my Stepmother’s daughter, how come you look just like my Father?
If you’re my Father’s daughter, why were you brought here by my Stepmother?
It’s all so… confusing, don’t you think?”
“Wang Manman, what nonsense are you spouting?
Say one more word and I’ll tell Father!”
Wang Jiaojiao’s face flushed red with anger.
Didn’t people say you’re supposed to keep unpleasant truths to yourself?
Why did this wretched girl have to blurt it out?
Wang Yue-ni and Wang Xiao-tao—the two girls who had been sitting with Wang Jiaojiao—exchanged glances and turned away, barely suppressing their laughter.
This was an open secret in the village. Everyone knew, but no one ever said it out loud.
Today, Wang Man had aired the family’s dirty laundry right in public.
But Wang Man didn’t flinch at all.
“Go ahead, tell him. Who’s stopping you?
Everyone knows what’s going on.
Some people have no shame doing certain things, yet they can’t bear to be talked about.
Isn’t that the biggest joke of all?
What’s that phrase again? Oh right—plugging your ears while stealing a bell.”
“Wang Manya, you little brat! You’re asking for it—shut up!”
Wang Jiaojiao lunged forward to grab Wang Man.
But before she could lay a finger on her, Wang San, who had been resting with his eyes closed, gave her a swift kick that sent her tumbling off the ox cart.
Wang Xiao-tao and Wang Yue-ni screamed in shock.
The two older women seated nearby turned pale with fright.
Old Man Wang quickly pulled the reins to stop the cart.
“Jiao-ya, are you alright?”