Chapter 186: Yam/Unexpected Change

When Shen Lie came over and saw what Sang Luo was holding, he made a soft exclamation. "This exists?"

Sang Luo looked at him. "Do you know what it is?"

Shen Lie shook his head. "I saw it on my way back last year. We were deep in the mountains for a long time with no food, so we relied on hunting and foraging. We roasted a few of these and fed them to the young wild boars we caught in our traps. After observing that they were fine for two days, we picked a lot more. We ate quite a bit during that period, and they tasted pretty good. I didn't expect to find them here in Qiyang."

Everyone was already standing close by, and upon hearing their conversation, they realized that something new had been discovered. They gathered around.

Chen Dashan and Lu Erlang smiled when they saw what was in Sang Luo's hands. "This is delicious. We have it here too?"

As they spoke, they looked towards the shrubs behind Sang Luo.

Xu Shopkeeper asked, "Madam Sang, do you recognize this?"

Sang Luo nodded and was about to say "yam beans" but remembered that yam was a term from the future. She changed her words. "They're called 'zero surplus seeds.' They can be used as medicine or as food. They're great, but the best part isn't this. The real treasure lies in the tubers."

Her response left Shen Lie and the others confused.

"Like taro that grows in the soil?"

No, if it grows in the ground, how can there be fruits hanging from it? Weren't they a bit foolish last year, wasting so much food?

Sang Luo could tell from their expressions and chuckled. "Yes, but not yet. Get to know this vine. You can harvest the yam beans first. Removing them helps the underground yams grow better. It'll be about a month before they're ready for digging."

In the Great Qian Dynasty, there were indeed yams, but they weren't widely cultivated. They were harvested as wild medicinal herbs, and the wealthy used them in medicinal dishes for dietary supplements. The original owner had knowledge of yams, having seen them on dining tables, but was unaware of yam beans.

Upon hearing Sang Luo mention yams, Manager Xu looked astonished and pulled the vine beside him for a closer inspection. "This is the yam?"

Their East Fortune Hall also had medicinal herbs, but Manager Xu had only seen the yam that was delivered from the main branch; he had no idea what it looked like when it grew in the ground. Moreover, in Qiyang County, he had never received any mountain folk selling this item; most of their supply still relied on the main branch of East Fortune Hall.

Sanluo nodded, and Manager Xu's face lit up. "If there are yams in these mountains, we might be able to save quite a bit of food this year."

Chen Youtian was a farmer and cared most about this matter. He approached Manager Xu and asked, "Does this crop yield a high harvest?"

His eyes couldn't help but wander towards the roots of the vines.

Manager Xu wasn't too sure, but he ventured, "It should be decent. Our East Fortune Hall receives some from the main branch each year. These yams grow quite long – some can even reach half a person's height."

The crowd's eyes lit up at the revelation. They were all farmers who relied on the land for their livelihoods.

Sang Luo listened attentively and thought to herself that in modern times, there were indeed varieties that could grow up to half a person's height. However, those had likely been cultivated over many generations. For wild plants, half a person's height might already be considered a fine specimen. She suggested, "We'll only know for sure if we dig them up. Actually, this plant can grow in mountainous forests too. Next spring, we can try planting some ourselves without necessarily clearing new land. We can cultivate them in the mountains where we live."

Knowing that there was a high-yielding mountain produce that could serve as food and could be cultivated, everyone's motivation soared. Chen Youtian rubbed his hands excitedly. Normally not very talkative, he unusually sought Sang Luo's opinion. "A' Luo, when we go out searching for mountain goods in the future, why don't you come along more often? I think you recognize a lot of things. Today, if it weren't for you, we would've either chopped the yam vines for firewood or just picked a few fruits before leaving. We wouldn't have known that the underground tubers were edible."

Reading really was beneficial. He planned to give his second son a stern lecture when he returned home. No, he would also include Big Mountain. Among the family, Xiao Ya was the most enthusiastic about learning to read. The two older siblings lagged far behind.

Chen Dashan was still unaware that he would soon join Shen Lie in studying the Thousand Character Classic. Still grinning, he recognized the vine but didn't linger. Instead, he returned to his work, pounding away at the wooden stakes with loud thuds.

Hearing Chen Youtian's words, Shopkeeper Xu echoed, "Yes, Lady Sang is indeed knowledgeable in this aspect."

In the short few months last year, she had whipped up quite a number of dishes. Besides the tofu and sauce sold at the East and West Markets, they had also collaborated on vegetarian tripe with other shops in the county.

Before, he had already thought her capable despite not knowing much about the Shen family's circumstances. Now, with a clear understanding of the Shen family's previous situation, how had Sang Luo managed to produce the items she sold in the county?

Apart from the tofu, whose main ingredient was likely soybeans, he couldn't guess the origins of the others. Even now, he still couldn't figure out what the vegetarian tripe was made of.

"Alright then."

She had assumed it would be a routine gathering trip, much like any other. Sangluo enjoyed venturing out, and with safety guaranteed, it was an opportunity to improve her family's circumstances and enjoy some fresh air. She agreed without hesitation.

Unexpectedly, on the sixth day, as Sangluo, Shen Ning, and Shi Erlang's wife were reveling in another delightful surprise—the abundance of chestnuts they had gathered—a hurried group led by Shen Lie returned after only a couple of hours. Their faces were grim.

"There are outsiders in the inner perimeter, over ten of them."

Sangluo was surprised. Those capable of entering should have done so before, so why now? The outer perimeter likely had everything that could be found within the inner one. There was only one plausible explanation.

"Has something chaotic happened outside again?"

Shen Lie shook his head. "No clue. We were planning to ask when we saw them from afar on the mountain, but by the time we descended, they were nowhere to be found. We decided to come back and meet up with you first."

A fence might suffice for protection against animals, but it wouldn't be enough to deter humans. There weren't enough able-bodied men left in Sangluo's group to defend the place.

Zhou Lazi was originally left behind to guard the area. Upon hearing that someone had entered the inner perimeter, he grew anxious. His family consisted only of his wife and children, and the one who could truly protect them was his eldest son.

Zhou Lazi wasn't the only one worried; everyone here had their loved ones to think about.

Jin Lie and Chen Dashan's group had already discussed this outside. They promptly turned around, figuring that their harvest over the past few days was decent enough. After removing the spiky outer shells, each household should have at least half a sack of chestnuts. Coupled with smoked meat, dodder seeds, and other miscellaneous mountain goods, their bags and baskets, though not fully packed, were still quite substantial.

"Let's pack up and head back."

Most of the dried items were already bagged, and those still being tended to could be swiftly gathered. Within less than two quarters of an hour, they were ready to depart, closing the wooden fence gate behind them as they began their journey home.

The trip from their campsite to the Zhou residence took nearly three hours, yet they encountered two groups of people within just over an hour. The first group had veered away upon seeing them, while the second consisted of a dozen individuals, a mix of young and old, with a few bearing injuries that appeared to be from beast attacks. As they were traveling with injured members, their pace was slow, and they couldn't avoid crossing paths with Shen Lie's group. Chen Youtian and Zhou Laizi stopped them to inquire about the situation.

Observing that Shen Lie's party carried numerous belongings, including women and children among them, the other group's initial wariness subsided. The elderly leader spoke, "Qiyang County no longer exists. Rumor has it that a large imperial force came to quell the chaos, slaughtering many rebel bandits along the way. The bandits who had occupied Qiyang County took those they wanted and killed the rest before setting fire to the entire place. Many former bandits fled into the mountains. It's too chaotic out there now – pillaging for food is the least of our worries. We dared not stay, so we ventured deeper in here. Last night, we encountered wolves; we lost two able-bodied men and had three more injured."

The elder paused, surveying the vast mountain range with a somber expression. "We've taken refuge deep in these mountains, but how long we can survive or how many of us will make it through intact, only heaven knows."

When Shen Lie and his companions heard that Qiyang County had been burned to the ground, they were all in a state of disbelief for a long while, especially Shopkeeper Xu, who had many longtime employees in the county – accountants, head chefs, and servants...

He dared not dwell on the thought: Were they among those taken away, or were they among those slaughtered? He stood there, stunned into silence.

Chen Youtian, however, noticed the faint sheen of tears in the old man's eyes, and seeing that many of them were elderly and weak, with only a few unharmed young men remaining, he felt a pang of sympathy. Recalling that the last safe haven they established wasn't too far away, he turned to whisper to Shen Lie and Chen Dashan for their opinions.

Having encountered them on the road, both men were agreeable to offering assistance; they nodded in unison.

Chen Youtian then asked the old man, "Where are you headed, sir? Are you still planning to venture deeper?"

He observed the three injured young men, and their condition didn't seem promising.

The elder also hesitated and suggested, "Let's find a cave to shelter in before nightfall."

Chen Youtian proposed, "If you trust us, we can backtrack a bit to a spot where we usually rest during our hunting trips. You can rest there first. We've built wooden fences, and if you want added safety, you can surround it with stones too. At least, it'll give those youngsters a chance to recover from their injuries."

As for whether they would return the place later, this wasn't a time of peace when houses mattered. If they didn't offer it to this elder and his family, someone else would soon occupy it. Life was hard enough, and people had no energy to quibble over such matters.

Remembering something, he added, "There might be quite a few people entering the mountains. I wonder if that place is already occupied."

Upon hearing about a secure place to stay, the elder felt a surge of emotion. However, with women and children in his care, he also feared encountering bandits. His expression shifted several times as he assessed Chen Youtian and his group. Seeing their kind faces and the rolled wolf skins on some of them, as well as the women and children's relaxed demeanor, he finally relaxed. He repeatedly said, "I trust you, I trust you. It's great that we have a place for the kids to recover. Thank you very much."

He then bowed.

"Please, don't." Chen Youtian quickly stepped aside and said, "Let's go then. It's not too far."

Taking them to this spot was merely a detour on their way. It would only add half an hour to their journey, but seeing the elderly and young in the family, as well as the injured adults, he couldn't bear to simply pass by without helping.

They led the family to the safe area where they usually rested during their hunting trips. Apparently, the outer perimeter was still being evacuated, so no one had reached this place yet.

The family was deeply moved by the sturdy wooden fence with a gate and the shelters within that provided protection from wind and rain, especially with the thick straw mats covering them, essential for the frequent night rains in the mountains. They were at a loss for words to express their gratitude.

Chen Youtian, however, declined their thanks, insisting that he had to continue on his journey. With a farewell wish for their safety, the group quickly departed.

The elder watched them go until they were out of sight, then turned to his family and said, "We've met some truly kind people."

He promptly instructed his family, "Hurry up and pack. Gather some firewood and stones nearby to settle in."

...

Helping others was a casual act for Chen Youtian and his companions. Once they had moved on, they no longer dwelled on it, instead thinking about Zhou Lazi's family.

The Zhou family was doing well, but their dwelling was still a considerable distance from the valley, a half-hour walk away. Living alone in such isolation carried its own risks.

When Shen Lie and his companions initially left, they didn't anticipate such rapid changes outside. Now, they were somewhat hesitant.

There were still small caves near the outskirts of the village, but when they had chosen their own cave, they had rejected those spots because they couldn't keep an eye on the entrances. If they couldn't see them, neither could others. However, the Zhou family knew the original number of people in their group, and any deviation from that would undoubtedly seem suspicious.

Despite this, they trusted the Zhou family, especially since the Zhou's relied on them for hunting and gathering in the mountains, ensuring they lacked nothing to eat or drink. It was highly unlikely that they would entertain any malicious intentions.

He inquired about Zhou Lazi and his son's intentions, asking whether they should lock the entrance and move temporarily to a smaller cave closer to them.

Zhou Lazi, however, didn't immediately respond. He simply said, "Let's observe the situation for now."

By the time they reached Zhou's house, it was almost noon. On their way out, they encountered another group of people, but seeing that they were mostly young and strong, they wisely avoided them.

The Zhou family's wooden door was firmly shut. Zhou Lazi called out from outside, and Zhou DaLang hastily rushed over to open it. The Zhou mother and daughter also emerged, though they didn't venture too far out, remaining within the courtyard.

Zhou DaLang's expression held a hint of tension. "Father, did you know that there were people from the mountains here?"

Explaining that he had spotted some footprints while they were reinforcing the outer wall with mud and stones earlier that day, he continued, "There were around twenty or thirty of them, looking like a large family. They stood and watched our yard for a while but didn't say anything. They left quickly."

Zhou Lazi's heart tightened. "Could you tell if they had ill intentions?"

Zhou DaLang shook his head. "I don't think so. It seemed more like they were curious about how we built such a high wall."

Zhou Lazi breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, the wicked would dare to stay in the outskirts where there were more people, and in autumn, plenty of mountain goods could be found, ensuring they wouldn't starve immediately. It was those terrified by the wicked who would risk being devoured by tigers and wolves and flee deeper into the mountains.

It was fortunate for those who had made it into the inner area now; at least this part had been cleared by Shen Lie and his group. Those who had truly braved the outer barrier zone and entered this relatively peaceful corner would encounter fierce beasts, but not overwhelmingly so.

However, they needed to be more cautious from now on. At the very least, they couldn't all sleep soundly at night. He and his two sons would have to take turns keeping watch.

Chen Youtian looked at him and asked, "Are you sure you're not coming over to our place? The cave is smaller, but we're closer, so if anything happens, we can come to your aid."

Zhou Lai shook his head. "No need. The walls are high enough, and we have many family members. Besides, those coming into the inner area now seem to be escaping the ill-intentioned people outside. In the end, they should be similar to us. There's no need to be overly anxious. If chaos really breaks out, we'll seek your help then."

Chen Youtian didn't know what to say after seeing Zhou Lai decline.

Chen Dashan, on the other hand, asked Chen Youtian for permission and took out the bow and arrow that his father usually carried but seldom used. He handed it to Zhou Lai and said, "Uncle Zhou, keep it for protection. Set up a target in the courtyard and practice your accuracy regularly. Chop some bamboo arrows. I'll use animal hides to make two more strings and bows, which I'll bring over tomorrow. Then, I'll teach you how to use them."

Zhou Lai was moved when Chen Dashan gave him a bow and arrow. Many sections of the wall were designed as lookout points, and a bow and arrow were the best weapons for defense. He took the arrow and stroked it. "Alright, thank you. With this, we'll be even safer."

Chen Dashan nodded. He actually had a vial of poison for arrows in his sleeve, but the situation hadn't reached that point. Moreover, although the medicine belonged to his family, giving it away would mean entrusting his back to others. It was better to let the Zhou family move to a location closer to them where they could provide assistance without directly overlooking the entrance to the valley. Thus, he suppressed this thought for now.

After Shen Lie's group left, the Zhou family closed their gate and secured it with several heavy bolts. Only then did Erlang ask, "Father, are we really not going to live near Shen Lie and the others?"

Zhou Lai shook his head. "We'll avoid it if we can."

"Why, though?"

Zhou Laizi looked at his wife. The reason she had refused was actually because, during an idle chat with her not long ago, they had discussed where Shen Lie and the others were living. Influenced by her words, he had declined twice today.

He wasn't particularly clever. When his son asked him, he instinctively looked to his wife for an answer.

His wife took over the conversation. "It's just not suitable."

Seeing the confused expressions on her brothers-in-law's faces, she asked, "How have Shen Lie, Dashan, and the other families treated us?"

Zhou Daolang replied, "There's nothing to complain about. They led us into the mountains, helped us settle down, and even when hunting, they've been looking out for us by heading in this direction."

Zhou Erlang nodded in agreement. "They've been incredibly kind, considering everything for us."

Zhou Laizi's wife continued, "Exactly. From the beginning, when they brought us into the mountains, they've gone out of their way to take care of us. But as you just heard, there are caves near where they live. So why didn't they bring us to live near them from the start?"

The Zhou brothers were stumped.

Zhou Ge ventured, "Maybe it's because it would be inconvenient for them?"

Zhou Lazi's wife nodded. "That's it. Though we're unsure of the exact reason, it must be something inconvenient. Our neighbors have helped us plenty. We shouldn't burden them further unless it's an extremely urgent situation."

In the end, one must stand tall in this world, forge ahead on one's own. Those who hold themselves upright will find others willing to lend a hand when faced with obstacles; relying solely on others' support for too long will weary anyone.

The Zhou brothers nodded repeatedly as they listened.

Only now did Zhou Laizi's wife speak up, saying, "Very well, you father and sons should do as Da Shan suggested and set up a few targets to practice on. Give that bow and arrow a good workout; mastering it is indeed a skill. Should the day come when you must rely on others for assistance, we won't be entirely useless."

The voice was soft, yet it stirred their sons with a surge of fervor. Second and Third Brother Zhou promptly answered and rushed to gather dry grass to make targets.

Wuzhailao's wife smiled and finally looked at the bags and baskets that her husband and son had brought back. "What did you manage to get this time?"

Wuzhailao's voice was soft but filled with joy. "Over thirty pounds of meat, more than half a sack of chestnuts, and something called 'zeruyu.' A'lie's wife recognized it. She said it's a medicinal herb, delicious when steamed. Also, in about a month and a half, we can dig up more from the root of the vine that bears zeruyu; it can serve as food. We'll have reserves now."

"Right, A'lie's wife mentioned that zeruyu, along with the tubers we'll harvest later called yam, are good for the body. She suggested you eat some every day; it's beneficial to your health."

"Can it really nourish the body?"

"Yes, she said it's a gentle tonic. I don't fully understand, but if it's good, I'll find more. We won't eat much of it; it's all for you, so you can strengthen your body."

The couple's faces were beaming with joy, and Zhou Ge, standing by, couldn't help but smile. She went back to the house, fetched the new large round basket they had made, and placed it on the drying rack. Together with her father and elder brother, they continued to spread out the items they had brought back to dry.

Author's Note:

Yam, originally known as Shanyao, underwent two name changes in ancient China to avoid royal taboos, eventually becoming the name we know today. Its earliest recorded mention can be found in the pre-Qin geographic chronicle "Shanhaijing," dating from 770 BCE to 256 BCE. The first record of its consumption is attributed to King Wei of the State of Wei during the Spring and Autumn period. It was a tribute item offered to the Zhou royal court from Huaiqing Prefecture (present-day Jiaozuo, Henan). However, at that time, it might have been wild rather than cultivated, with more documentation appearing in medicinal texts. The earliest record of artificial cultivation is seen in the Western Jin work "Nanjing Caomu Zhuang" (304 CE), while the Northern Wei's "Qimin Yaoshu" mentioned it but classified it as a non-native product. In the late Tang dynasty, the "Sishi Zongyao" referenced Daoist Wang Min's "Mountain Dwelling Techniques," detailing methods for planting yams and making flour, indicating that yam domestication began in the south. Yam cultivation then spread to the north during the Sui and Tang dynasties. From there on, its cultivation became more widespread in China. ——The above information is sourced from the internet.