Chapter 40

After ensuring no dangerous animals were around, Sang Luo squeezed through the dense shrubs and crouched to pick up a fruit, placing it in her basket.

She dusted it off, peeled the skin, and her mouth started watering uncontrollably at the sight of the flesh. She couldn’t help herself.

Biting into it, the initial sweetness gave way to an increasingly sour taste, causing her entire face to pucker up.

Ah, the sour thrill!

She finished the fruit, overcoming its tartness, and tossed the remains back to the ground, giving back to nature.

The village of Shili truly didn't lack for mountains. Every family had several hills around the village. Deeper in, where few ventured, the sour dates ripened undisturbed and fell to the ground, ignored. She gathered ten, though three were already spoiled.

It wasn't a waste; Sang Luo simply cast aside the spoiled fruits, returning them to nature.

The best sour dates were naturally fallen ones, ripe and delicious. The ground was strewn with them, sparing her the need to shake the branches.

She selectively picked the good ones, discarding the rotten, quickly gathering half a basketful.

Continuing her search, Sang Luo found another tree and only stopped when her basket was nearly full, satisfied with her harvest.

On her way back, she casually gathered wild greens, covering the top of her basket.

The mountain paths were tough to navigate. Approaching her mountain, she met Chen Lao Han and his group carrying a processed tree trunk. Seeing her basket, Chen Lao Han asked cheerfully, "Just back from the mountain?"

Old farmers naturally appreciate hard workers.

Sang Luo replied with a smile, "Yes, picking wild greens to sell tomorrow. You all must have worked hard today."

During their brief chat, Shi Er Lang and others eyed her basket, curious about the full load of ferns.

Not daring to inquire directly, they waited until Sang Luo had finished talking. Once she stepped aside, Shi Er Lang asked Chen You Tian in a low voice, "Does your wife and Ai Lie's wife really go to the county to sell ferns? Do people actually buy them?"

Chen You Tian, always honest, replied, "Some people in the county buy them since there are no mountains there. A few handfuls for one coin, some are willing to try."

Remembering his mother and wife’s instructions not to disclose too much about Sang Luo's business, he added, "But not many buy them. They aren't as tasty as regular vegetables, and the costs of entering the city and market fees reduce profits. We don't sell many and earn little."

His statement was true; not all the collected wild greens were sold. Earning a few coins was considered good.

Shi Er Lang found it odd why Sang Luo collected so much when they were not easy to sell.

Knowing Chen You Tian's honesty for decades, Shi Er Lang wondered if a 'handful' might be quite large.

Pondering over the quantity, he found it hard to believe they sold for just one coin for two handfuls. The mountains were abundant with them, easily gathered in half a round.

Shi Er Lang, thinking this way, felt he had unintentionally helped Chen You Tian cover up any potential lie.

Upon reaching the grass hut and unloading the felled tree, Chen Lao Han said to Sang Luo, who was following behind, "Ai Lie's wife, please mark out the specifics of the house's size and what will be built where, so we know how to proceed tomorrow when bringing back mud for bricks. We can also start clearing the ground, digging out stones, and dealing with roots to prepare for the foundation."

Eagerly, Sang Luo responded, "Alright, I'll just put my basket inside and come right out."

Shi Er Lang and others rested while waiting to understand better the house they were helping to build; having a clear idea was crucial.

Sang Luo returned quickly, leading the work group to the left of her current hut. "Let's build the bathroom here. In my hometown, we emphasize the importance of toilets and kitchens. Toilets are usually located in the northeast corner of the yard. This bathroom will be convenient here."

It would make bathing and night visits easier, avoiding a long, dark walk, especially in winter when it's bitterly cold.

Chen Lao Han, already aware that Sang Luo's 'toilet' involved using a chamber pot promptly cleaned daily, nodded in agreement, seeing no issue with its proximity to the main house.

Shi Er Lang and the others were confused. What exactly did she mean by a 'bathroom' and 'toilet'? Isn't a toilet meant to be in an outhouse? How does it relate to a bathroom?

In rural areas, it's uncommon to have a separate bathing space. Men usually bathe in the river, and in summer, they use a basin indoors, later disposing of the water outside. Why the need for a separate bathroom?

Not well-acquainted with Sang Luo, they hesitated to ask directly, keeping their queries to themselves to discuss later with the Chen family.

Chen You Tian, observing Sang Luo's gestures, momentarily stepped aside to the area behind the hut where the children were clearing land. He selected some smaller stones from those the children had dug up and piled aside, then called them over to help transport them to the marked area.

As Sang Luo explained, he used the stones to mark out lines, creating a clear visual representation of where the walls, doors, and windows would be, consulting with her on each detail.

The younger children found this task amusing and treated it like a game, excitedly carrying stones to the marked spots. Shen An, more thoughtful due to his own house construction experience, quietly assisted and listened in.

Sang Luo found using stones for marking convenient. Holding a few stones handed to her by Shen An, she moved a few steps to her left front and said, “Let's build the kitchen here. I want a bigger kitchen...”

As she spoke and arranged the stones, indicating the positions of the kitchen walls, door, and windows, Shi Er Lang and the others watched in amazement. Since this wasn't a sensitive topic like bathing or toilets, they felt comfortable asking, “Isn’t this kitchen a bit large?”

It seemed about half the size larger than their own kitchens, almost comparable to a typical living room.

Sang Luo smiled and replied, “Yes, it’s larger, but since I don’t have farmland, I’m planning to prepare food for sale in the future. That’s why I need two stoves inside, and space for water buckets and wooden basins for convenience.”

In fact, she intended to install a stone mill for tofu-making inside the kitchen. Placing it outside would be inconvenient, especially during rain, so a spacious kitchen was necessary.

Upon hearing her plan to install two large stoves for food preparation, although unsure what food she intended to sell, they understood given the Shen family’s lack of farmland, and the necessity for her daily trips to the county to sell wild greens. They all nodded in understanding.

Chen Lao Han and Chen You Tian assumed she was referring to selling her 'divine tofu' and understood that their help with the kitchen construction was to facilitate her food preparation.

Once the kitchen's location was decided, they moved on to determining the position of the courtyard walls and the main gate. After Sang Luo finished marking most of it, Chen Lao Han thought they were done, but she stopped placing stones when they reached the right side of the courtyard wall near the grass hut.

Sang Luo pointed towards the rear of the grass hut, explaining, “Elder Chen, I want to enclose a backyard here. The land behind where we're farming won’t be touched, but I’d like to build a wall around this part near the house to conveniently dry things.”

She then indicated her current position and said, “Between where I'm standing and the west wall, right next to this grass hut, I plan to install a door, serving as the gateway between the front and back courtyards. Do you think that’s feasible?”

Chen Lao Han looked at Sang Luo upon hearing this.

In rural homes, it’s more common to have several rooms enclosed by a single courtyard wall. Having a separate backyard, let alone one divided by a door, was virtually unheard of.

However, considering Sang Luo’s unique tofu preparation, which might require a private space, he didn’t object. Nodding, he said, “It’s doable. Chen You Tian can handle basic carpentry. Though not the finest in appearance, the doors he crafts are solid and functional, and we have the wood. We'll have him work on both courtyard doors and the kitchen door.”

Delighted by this unexpected offer, Sang Luo eagerly thanked Chen You Tian, saying, “Uncle You Tian, I really appreciate your help.”

Chen You Tian humbly waved it off, “It's no trouble at all, as long as you don’t mind the rough craftsmanship.”

Remembering that Sang Luo didn’t receive any household items during the Shen family’s separation, he added, “While we’re at it, think about anything else you might need. I can make them all for you. Do you need tables and chairs?”

“Actually, we do need those,” Sang Luo admitted. “We've been either standing or squatting to eat. If you could help with that, and maybe a small bed too, I’d be grateful. Once the kitchen is built, we won’t need the makeshift one inside. I plan to partition the interior with reed mats for separate sleeping areas, and Shen An can have his own space.”

Given Shen An's age, nearly nine by lunar count, it wasn’t appropriate for him to share a bed with his sister-in-law and sister anymore. In the countryside, these nuances were often overlooked due to hardship, but better living conditions were desirable when possible.

Thus, Sang Luo requested Chen You Tian's help to make a bed, an offer he readily agreed to.

Sang Luo was pleased with the arrangement. While she didn’t strictly adhere to the traditional belief of gender separation after a certain age, she certainly aimed for better living conditions where feasible.

"Sleeping on such a narrow bed, all three of us crammed together, it's impossible to turn without risk of falling off. You wake up with every bone in your body aching."

"As for Shen An's accommodation once he grows older, I don’t plan to wait long. Next year, I aim to extend our house to the lower ground in the west. We can move the western wall outward and add a new wing with two small rooms, giving the siblings their own space."

"But for now, I won’t push it. The farming season is near, and I'm already grateful for the help from the Chen, Shi, and Lu families in building the kitchen and the wall. It would be unreasonable to ask for more, especially when expanding the ground for future construction is no small feat."

"Moreover, I can’t afford to prolong the building period. Our daily earnings are limited and expenses are many. I must save for autumn and winter provisions, and there's the matter of clothing and bedding for the three of us. Expenses are endless."

"Once all the markings were set, it was just in time as Qin Fang Nian came up the mountain, calling everyone down for dinner."

"By late afternoon, everyone, having worked all day, was famished. After a quick wash at the spring, they all hurried down the mountain. I didn’t rush, choosing to return home first. I’ll go down to wash and eat after the others have left."

"Chen Er Shan and Xiao Ya went down with their mother. The three Shen brothers were still excited, hopping around the stone-marked areas."

Shen Jin, while wandering around, expressed his envy, "Shen An, this is how your house will look? Your sister-in-law treats you so well, even getting Uncle You Tian to make a bed just for you."

Shen An's lips curved into a smile, then quickly shifted to wariness, "I know my sister-in-law is good to me, no need for you to tell me."

"I’m not oblivious. You just have your eyes on the food my sister-in-law brings home, craving the meat and pancakes."

Disdainfully glancing at Shen Jin, he retorted, "The way you speak, it's as if your parents don’t provide you a bed."

Shen Jin raised his voice, "That’s different. The four of us siblings are squeezed together, and little Tian often wets the bed. You having your own bed is far better."

Thinking of Tian, who could wet the bed twice a night, Shen An closed his mouth and said no more.

"But Shen Jin's just typical, always thinking the grass is greener on the other side. True, his aunt can be harsh, but generally, she's kind to them. I always envied Shen Jin and his siblings for having parents who cared for them."

"Lost in thought, I hardly noticed Shen Jin had already circled around the kitchen, bath, and courtyards, returning to me with sparkling eyes, 'Shen An, how long will it take to build your house? About a month?'"

The hopefulness in his expression was palpable.

Shen An: …

"So, you're just hoping for daily meat, huh?" Shen An rolled his eyes and pushed away Shen Jin's head, which was too close for comfort, "Dream on, get back home for dinner. We also need to eat."

"I told you not to come, but you wouldn't listen. If your mother finds out you brought Shen Yin and Shen Tie here to help me, you'll see if you get a beating."

Shen Jin pouted, still annoyed about the morning's spanking, "Can't I run away? You think I’m dumb enough to stand still and take a beating? This morning was a fluke; she caught me off guard. Just watch, she won’t be able to lay a finger on me next time."

Shen An found his defiance somewhat amusing.

Quickly reverting to the main topic, Shen Jin looked unwilling to accept the reality, "Really, no meat every day? When Er Niu was building his house, my dad said they had meat every day."

Shen An honestly replied, "I don’t know. If we do get meat, it certainly won't be large portions every day."

"Just a few small slices in the dish. Kids like us might not even get a piece each. Who could afford to give away a whole piece?"

Slightly disappointed, Shen Jin insisted, "Remember, if there's meat, save me a bite. I’ll help you out every day."

Then, remembering the pancakes, he drooled, "And if your sister-in-law buys you pancakes, save a bite for me, too. I’ve never tried them."

Shen Ning interjected with a scoff, "Ungrateful. You've had them before. When big brother bought them in the past, he shared with me and Er Ge. Xiao Tie was too young to eat them, but you and Xiao Yin got your share."

Shen Jin and Shen Yin, who were playing with mud on the side, looked utterly baffled.

Shen Jin: "Really? I don’t remember that."

Shen Ning pouted, "You’re never short of food, how could you remember anything?"

An alarm immediately went off in Shen Jin’s mind as he sensed the resentment from his cousin. Reflecting on the past at home, where he and his siblings had treats that Shen An and Shen Ning didn’t, he instantly felt guilty and backed down.

“I’m younger than you, after all. Mom says little kids don’t remember much, and that was years ago. How could I, a few years old then, be expected to remember?”

Then, trying to appease, “I’ll share my treats with you from now on. I’ve checked our oil jar, and there’s not much left, honestly. Next time my mom makes oil residue, I’ll bring some for you and Shen An. I mean it.”

This prompted Shen Yin and Shen Tie, who were playing in the mud, to also eagerly promise, “We’ll share ours with sister and Er Ge too.”

Sang Luo, overhearing this from inside the grass hut, struggled to contain her laughter.

This was her first time finding Shen Jin, the mischievous little rascal, so amusing. All this effort for a bite of food, going so far as to butter up Shen Ning and make such promising bribes.

“This rascal digs in the soil for hours each day,” she thought. “Maybe tomorrow I should buy a pancake to share with these little hard workers?”

After all, their efforts deserve some reward. They’re quite determined, a little treat to appreciate their hard work seems fair, right?