Chapter 137: Personal Sentiments

Time seemed to slow down in the valley. After the fields were tilled, work became less strenuous, allowing Sang Luo to carve four wooden basins for various uses, including washing faces and feet.

Another major change was that Shen An and the other children now had time to gather under the trees to read and study when not working.

There was no gazebo, desk, or chairs, but that didn’t matter. The kids just gathered some stones and wooden stakes to sit around and read together, enjoying themselves.

The children’s requirements were modest; they were accustomed to such simple settings.

Even the three Xu siblings adapted well to these rustic reading conditions, experiencing a sense of freedom and novelty they couldn't find in a formal study.

When Sang Luo visited, she saw the children divided into three groups: Shen An with the children from Shi Li Village reading the Thousand Character Classic, Xu Wen Yin with Shen Ning among this group. Wang Yun Zheng and Xu Wen Bo, being at different academic levels, studied separately without disturbing each other.

Without heavy physical work, Sang Luo switched their meals from three to two times a day, like the other families. During meals, Shen An shared about the books the Xu siblings were reading.

“Yun Zheng and Wen Bo showed me their books. They’re written with brush on smooth, white silk, rolled up and stored in wooden boxes. Yun Zheng carries his in the bundle he always wears,” Shen An explained excitedly.

“Silk manuscripts,” Sang Luo nodded, not surprised, knowing that books at this time were handwritten. She asked Shen An what titles they had brought.

Shen An replied that they had the Thousand Character Classic and Rapid Literacy Primers for beginners, followed by classics like Confucius’ Analects and the Book of Rites for advanced study. “They said I could borrow the books one after the other as I progress,” he added brightly.

Shen An’s eyes shone at the prospect of borrowing those books.

Sang Luo smiled gently, “Make sure to thank them, and remember this kindness. Nowadays, such books are rare and treasured possessions, hard to purchase.”

Sang Luo herself hadn’t fully learned all the Chinese classics and had forgotten much over the years. The Thousand Character Classic was vivid in her memory, but creating more texts for the children would be challenging.

Shen An nodded earnestly, understanding the value of these books.

Sang Luo didn’t worry much about their moral qualities and asked Shen An how far he had progressed with the Thousand Character Classic.

Shen An bashfully admitted that he could recite it thanks to Sang Luo’s teaching, but could only recognize and write about 170 characters without looking at the text.

Sang Luo praised him, “That’s impressive, considering you’ve only been studying it for just over three months amidst other tasks like hunting and foraging.”

She then turned to Shen Ning, “And you, Ah Ning?”

Shen Ning spoke softly, a bit embarrassed: "I was just tested by my second brother today. I’m not as clever as he is, often missing strokes in characters. I can only recite about seventy words without errors."

Sang Luo smiled, understanding that it wasn’t a matter of intelligence, but more about effort. Shen An diligently practiced even in the mountains, muttering words under his breath every night. Only he and Wang Yun Zheng were this devoted.

After offering some encouragement, Sang Luo served the porridge along with the stewed soybeans and a mixed bean sprout dish for dinner.

Eating her meal, Shen Ning seemed to recall something, tilting her head and counting the days, "Sister-in-law, has it been six or seven days since big brother and the others left?"

Sang Luo paused, realizing she wasn’t sure about the exact number of days. Since their retreat to the mountains, her sense of time had become blurred. The days, initially filled with danger and then fulfillment, had settled into peaceful routine, making her lose track of time.

She knew they fled in the middle of the second day of February, but was it now the end of February or early March? Which exact day was it in March?

Sang Luo found she didn’t know.

Pausing with her chopsticks, she finally said, “It’s the seventh day. They should return in another two or three days if all goes well.”

She didn't dwell on this lapse but made a mental note of it. After dinner, she asked Qin Fang Nian while doing the dishes.

Qin Fang Nian chuckled, "It's the second day of March. I don’t remember either, but my parents and Village Head Zhou keep track of it for farming purposes."

Sang Luo let out a long sigh of relief, grateful that someone still kept track of time.

She worried about losing track of the years in the mountains and living in a daze.

Prompted by this, she sought a few bamboo pieces from Chen You Tian. At home, she sliced them into strips and fetched a sewing basket from the storage shelf Shen Lie had made. She then used an awl, typically used for shoemaking, to carve the current date into a bamboo strip.

From then on, she marked a new line for each passing day, periodically carving specific dates, ensuring she wouldn't lose track of time again.

Shen Lie and his group didn't return until the 6th of March, a day or two later than expected.

The first day’s delay was manageable, but by the second day, despite no outward expression of concern, the valley's residents grew worried, fearing mishaps on the journey. By early morning on the 6th, children took turns watching the valley entrance, only feeling relieved upon hearing the rhythmic knocking of stones, signaling the grain carriers’ return.

Some eagerly awaited their return, while others hurried into the valley to inform their families.

When Sang Luo heard the news and rushed to the valley entrance, the blocking stones had already been moved. Shen Lie, emerging from the narrow path with a bag of grain, seemed unharmed. She was reassured, ready to help with moving grain, but Shen Lie stopped her.

“These are big bags, too heavy for you. You don’t need to come; we can make a couple more trips.”

The bags, weighing 120 pounds each, were indeed too heavy for Sang Luo, so she didn’t insist and stepped aside.

Thinking that only big bags of grain were left indicated that even the Lu family's supply, ranked just after the Xu family’s, was transported, suggesting that not much grain was left to move.

Sang Luo guessed correctly. After Shen Lie and his group transported everything inside and securely blocked the entrance to the valley, he informed her, “The remaining grain, along with the guards, should be enough for one last trip. So, for the task of transporting grain, we only need to go out once more.”

Sang Luo observed that the guards had changed this time. It made sense - constant vigilance in the forest was perilous, and prolonged confinement in the dimly lit narrow cave was no better. Rotating shifts was beneficial for everyone.

It was only after everything was moved that Sang Luo realized Shen Lie's group had brought back more than just grain.

Each able-bodied man who ventured out had gathered forest produce, carrying small baskets woven from willow branches, two per person, filled with various mushrooms and other wild vegetables.

Those coming to greet their family members were either daughters-in-law or mothers, all delighted at the sight of fresh goods, just in time for meal preparation. They hurried away, baskets in hand, to prepare food.

Shen Lie, trailing behind, proudly showed Sang Luo what he had gathered, saying, “Considering you might not have fresh vegetables in the valley, I've collected a lot of wild greens and mushrooms. These are all recognizable and edible. Have a look; enjoy them fresh for a few meals, and we can dry the rest.”

Sang Luo’s eyes sparkled at the sight. Lately, her diet had been limited to rehydrated dried vegetables and soybeans. The sight of two baskets full of mushrooms was indeed a delightful surprise.

She leaned closer to Shen Lie, quietly expressing her frustration while holding one of the baskets, “Exactly, everything is fine here except for the inability to venture outside for all the bounties of the forest.”

Shen Lie chuckled, “After the last grain transport, I’ll work on creating a shelter at the higher cave entrance. From there, we can safely monitor the outside without being easily seen. While it's still secluded in the mountains, I’ll take you and a few of the women for a walk in the woods. You’ve become quite adept at climbing trees; we can manage by ourselves.”

Remembering the elevated cave's location, he inquired, “Are you brave enough to climb up to that high cave? There are footholds, and I’ll secure you with a rope. It’s safe and is the least noticeable entry point, difficult for outsiders to detect.”

Sang Luo thought about the similarity to rock climbing and hesitated at the height, but nodded, “Not yet, but with some practice, I’ll be brave enough.”

Shen Lie’s smile, still lingering, brightened further at her response.

Sang Luo, indeed, can be seen as a delicate lady, but at times she exhibits remarkable bravery. Whether it's mastering archery or fending off attackers from a treehouse, she’s often a main force. Just like now, faced with a nearly ninety-foot high perilous peak, she’s willing to take it on.

"Alright, just bear with it a bit longer. I’ll go out again after transplanting the seedlings, in no more than ten days. Then I'll take you out with me."

Chen Dashan, walking a few steps ahead of the pair, overheard Shen Lie’s murmuring conversation with Sang Luo. He could tell, even without looking, that Shen Lie was smiling throughout the talk.

And the subject of their conversation! Suggesting he could go alone, as if the rest were a nuisance to him.

Finding it unbearable to listen any longer, Chen Dashan quickened his pace to distance himself from Shen Lie.

Glancing skyward, he mused about his own situation. At twenty-one, he was older than nineteen-year-old Shen Lie, yet it was Shen Lie who married first. Clearly, marrying isn’t about age, but fate.

He pondered how long it would be before his turn came, especially if the outside world remained in turmoil. What if Shen Lie’s child starts buying soy sauce while he still hasn’t found a wife?

With that thought, Chen Dashan walked even faster, deciding to see and hear less, sparing himself the sour feelings.

As Chen Dashan sped up, Shen Lie and Sang Luo were left behind, oblivious to his thoughts.

Sang Luo, recalling an important matter, asked Shen Lie, “You were delayed by a day or two. Did you encounter any issues on the road?”

Shen Lie nodded, “I went to the cave we had agreed upon with Xu Zhanggui. Along the way, we noticed signs of human activity in several places. Concerned about the safety of our food storage and the few guards left behind, we moved everything to a more hidden location overnight.”

“I see. Are there many people taking refuge in the mountains now?”

Before answering, Shen Lie pulled out a small bamboo tube from his sleeve and handed it to Sang Luo, “This is a letter from Xu Zhanggui hidden in the cave. According to the letter, after the conscription and grain levies, a third of the villagers from various towns fled. He advised us to be cautious in the mountains. Also, Henan Dao has fallen, and someone there has declared himself emperor.”

"Henan Dao, where most of the granaries of the Great Qian Dynasty are located."

"With the chaos of this world inevitable, I find myself wishing it to end sooner. Only after destruction can there be reconstruction, offering the suffering populace a chance at a new dawn."

Sang Luo uncorked the small bamboo tube and pulled out the letter inside. She skimmed through it quickly, understanding the gist of Shen Lie's explanation. The note also included news of Shen Jin and others - living in hardship, but safe.

Relieved, Sang Luo rolled the letter back into the tube, then heard Shen Lie calling her, “Ah Luo.”

Turning towards him, she responded, “Hmm?”

Shen Lie’s fingers by his side tensely curled slightly as he tentatively asked, “Can you teach me to read?”

Sang Luo's eyebrows quirked, "You want to learn to read?"

Nodding, Shen Lie said, “This time, we were lucky Wei Qinghe was with us. If no one in our group could read, even receiving the letter would have been pointless. I’d have had to come back and ask you to read it.”

His eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing the unease and inferiority in his eyes before he looked up at Sang Luo, “Can you teach me?”

“Of course, why not?” Sang Luo's lips curled slightly, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she looked at him, “I always thought you’d prefer to learn with Shen An.”

Caught off guard by her teasing gaze, Shen Lie felt his face warm up instantly.

In truth, he had been secretly following along with Shen An’s reading lessons. But with his limited time, he only got to listen quietly at night after Shen An had finished his daily tutoring with others in the village.

He thought his actions were secretive, not realizing Sang Luo was aware.

Feeling somewhat abashed, with a fine layer of sweat forming in his palms, he admitted, “Back then, I didn’t dare to bother you.”

"I didn't speak up because I feared I might learn too slowly and embarrass myself."

Seeing the blush spreading to Shen Lie's ears, Sang Luo laughed, "So, you don't think it's a bother to ask me now?"

"Now?"

"Now, I have a bit of a selfish motive."

Shen Lie's throat moved slightly with nervousness, "Now Shen An is busy teaching the other children during the day, so naturally, he doesn’t have time to teach me. And it would be odd for me to join a group of kids, right?"

"At night, it's too dark and could strain the eyes. So, I thought I’d learn from you. I'll follow along with Shen An's recitations, but I need your help to check my writing and point out any mistakes, okay?"

Sang Luo, having only teased him a bit, saw no issue in teaching one more student. Smiling, she agreed and continued walking with the small basket in her arms.

Glancing sideways, she saw Shen Lie smiling happily, trying to contain it occasionally, only for it to resurface more brightly.

His dimples played hide and seek on his cheeks.

"Is he this happy just because I agreed to teach him to read?"