Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Early summer.

Deep into the night, stars shimmered across the sky, and all was still except for occasional barks of dogs that seemed muffled by the darkness, faintly reaching the ears of those in slumber.

Awakened from a daze by the barking, Gu Lan opened his eyes, feeling weightless as if in a dream. It wasn't until he saw the unfamiliar figure before him that reality began to set in.

He tried to call out, but no sound escaped his lips despite his efforts, leaving him frustrated as he watched Lin Jinpeng walk towards the yard without hesitation. Without thinking, Gu Lan followed.

This pursuit led him down a rabbit hole. In his dream, he was rendered speechless, forced to witness Lin Jinpeng's infidelity. As Lin Jinpeng's fortune grew, he became more brazen, completely ignoring Gu Lan's existence while accumulating mistresses.

Fuming, Gu Lan pointed an accusing finger at Lin Jinpeng, but his throat felt constricted, rendering him unable to utter a single word. His hatred boiled over, and with clenched teeth, he lunged at the man in a fit of rage.

Startled awake by a missed kick, Gu Lan found himself drenched in sweat. He had been clutching the corner of his blanket, his stomach and legs exposed due to his restless sleep.

Living near the mountains and a river, nights were colder. A draft blew in through the slightly open window before he fully regained consciousness.

Shivering from the sudden chill, he quickly pulled the covers tight, rolled over, and shut his eyes. Recalling his inability to speak in the dream, he realized it had been a silent nightmare.

Hearing the mumbled mutterings of Zhu Ge, who was sleeping inside, Gu Lan wondered if he too had been caught in a dream.

His body still damp with sweat, Gu Lan shivered, vaguely pondering before he drifted back to sleep: Why this dream again? It's truly an omen of misfortune.

*

Rain had fallen a couple of days prior, and some puddles in the mountain hollows had yet to dry up. Twigs and leaves clung to the mud on his shoes, making each step heavier as he walked.

Carrying his bamboo basket, Gu Lan picked his way along higher ground to avoid getting his shoes wet.

The forest was abundant with trees - tall and straight, their canopies forming giant umbrellas that shielded them from above. Upon entering, even the light seemed to turn a lush green, less bright than down in the valley.

"Zhu Ge, don't wander off. Stay here," he called out behind him.

Gu Lan, who was crouching to push aside a cluster of grass with a branch, didn't lift his head but responded, "Got it."

Only then did Gu Lan proceed forward. After climbing a small hill and turning right, he soon reached the edge of a cliff. Exiting the woods, the sun illuminated his path, revealing a breathtaking view.

Here grew a few spiky trees whose tender sprouts remained untouched. He hurried closer, stretching on tiptoe to pluck each one individually.

The spiky trees were bare, covered in wooden thorns, save for a few sprouts at the tips. Zhu Ge was only ten, too short to reach these spiky shoots. Moreover, the tree was riddled with sharp spikes; a single prick would be painful. Thus, Gu Lan assigned him to search for mushrooms and wild herbs in the woods.

The green sprouts were no longer than his thumb, plump and tender, brimming with moisture. When they were snapped off, they made a delightful "popping" sound.

This was the best time to enjoy the sprouts. After blanching them, they could be stir-fried with either meat or eggs, resulting in an incredibly delectable dish. Before he left, his mother had mentioned that if there were any sprouts, she would cook them with meat for them to enjoy.

Gu Lan carefully avoided the thorns as he steadily harvested the sprouts, one by one, from several spiky trees. Satisfied with the half-filled basket, he hoisted it onto his back and turned to head back.

Spotting his younger brother still searching in the woods, he called out, "Brother Zhuge, have you found any?"

Gu Lanzhú straightened up, holding up a blade of grass with a smile. "Brother Lan Shi, look! I found some wild raspberries hiding in the grass."

On the branch were five or six red raspberries, quite large in size, looking succulent and sweet.

Gu Lanshi also smiled and said, "Our luck is good today. No one else has been here, so all these sprouts belong to us."

"There were only two mushrooms, nothing more. But we've got plenty of wild mugwort," Brother Zhuge mentioned, retrieving a handkerchief from his chest pocket. He carefully picked the raspberries one by one and wrapped them up in the cloth, ready to wash and share them once they returned home.

"Alright, if there aren't any more, digging some wild mugwort will do," Gu Lanshi agreed. Feeling a bit weighed down, he leaned against a tree for support, using a branch to scrape the mud off his shoes.

There was an abundance of wild mugwort in the forest, and the two of them collected many fresh sprigs, filling Gu Lan's bamboo basket to the brim. On their way back, they came across a patch of purslane, discarding the overgrown ones. They filled Brother Zhuge's smaller bamboo basket too, which wouldn't be too heavy for him to carry due to his young age.

Descending the mountain, a winding dirt path, trodden by footsteps, gradually came into view.

The trees grew sparser, and as Gu Lan walked, he lifted his head to gaze at the sky. It was not yet noon, but thick clouds obscured the sun, casting a gloomy hue over the surroundings. The southwest appeared particularly dreary, and judging by the wind's direction, it seemed that the storm was headed their way.

Early summer was known for its unpredictable weather, and in the mountains, the sky could change its mood at any moment. They still had a distance to go before reaching the village, so Gu Lan turned to Bamboo Boy, who was using a branch to part the grass, and urged, "Hurry up. We must be cautious; the rain might arrive soon."

Bamboo Boy, still hoping to find mushrooms, promptly dropped the branch and hastened to catch up.

Although the front mountain was relatively lower, the terrain was undulating, with constant inclines and declines underfoot. Gu Lan adjusted the bamboo basket's strap on his shoulder. Once they emerged from the woods and descended the upcoming slope, they would reach a vast open plain, far easier to navigate than the mountain trails.

From the hilltop, one could see the nearby Small River Village. The wind rustled through the leaves, and before they could descend, they were hailed.

Gu Lan recognized the voice instantly. As they turned around, Lin Jinpeng, carrying a load of firewood on his shoulders, was striding briskly towards them.

"Shi," Lin Jinpeng called out. With an ax hanging at his waist, he was tall and lanky, and his few years of education gave him a refined appearance. His features were well-proportioned and handsome, undoubtedly attractive.

"I thought I was mistaken, but it's really you two." His almond-shaped eyes held a smile as they scanned Gu Lan even before he reached them, inspecting him from head to toe with a hint of satisfaction.

Gu Lan's cheeks flushed, and his eyes sparkled momentarily. Though their marriage was not yet settled, his family, including himself, had taken a liking to Lin Jinpeng.

Who wouldn't want to spend their days with an attractive man, simply gazing at his face would bring joy each day.

Brother Zhu didn't respond, instead he covered his mouth and chuckled softly beside them.

"Off to chop wood?" Gu Lan asked, initiating conversation even when there was none.

"Mm," Lin Jinpeng nodded. He removed a small cloth pouch from his waist and, lifting his gaze, smiled as he handed it to Gu Lan, saying, "Ground berries, I found them while chopping wood. Take them, share them with Brother Zhu on your way back home."

Upon hearing the mention of ground berries, Brother Zhu's eyes lit up. These were hard to come by; usually hidden in the soil alongside tree vines, they were merely wild fruits that could only satisfy one's cravings but not fill one's belly. With adults busy working, they rarely had the time to take the children into the mountains to dig them out.

Gu Lan was quite delighted, but due to the propriety expected between boys and men, coupled with his parents' teachings, he hesitated momentarily, unsure if he should accept the offering.

Seeing his hesitation, Lin Jinpeng extended his hand further. Before he could say anything, sounds came from a distance, catching his attention. Turning his head, he saw Lin Dong, his own clan uncle, who also carried a load of firewood. "Uncle Dong," he called out.

"I wondered why you looked familiar, turns out it's Jinpeng boy," said Lin Dong. Advanced in age, he had a slight hump on his back, and a tobacco pipe hung from his waist. A few steps behind him was his wife, Tian Guifang.

"Did Auntie venture into the mountains too?" Lin Jinpeng asked with a smile.

Plump Tian Guifen carried a basket of wild vegetables on her arm, puffing and panting as she walked. Seeing them ahead, she grinned, her round face squishing her eyes together, and said, "Brother Lan, Jinpeng, what's this?"

Being from the same village, Gu Lan couldn't help but call out, "Uncle, Auntie," even if he felt embarrassed.

Bamboo Boy followed suit, both boys quite obedient.

"Only a few fruits for Brother Lan to take home and enjoy," Lin Jinpeng said frankly and generously.

Wild fruits in the mountains weren't worth much. If you went up regularly, you could find them easily. Tian Guifen's mind was elsewhere, so she didn't inquire further. Instead, she teased Gu Lan, "Brother Lan, just accept it. It's not anything precious. Besides, we'll be family soon."

Her laughter at the end made Gu Lan feel even more awkward.

Hearing this, Lin Jinpeng's face was filled with amusement. If Gu Lan hadn't been good-looking, he wouldn't have asked his family to propose. The fair-skinned, bright-eyed Double had a slender waist and long legs, with a red mark between her brows like a flower tattoo. Its vibrant color indicated that she would be easy to raise. Her current bashfulness flushed her cheeks with a rosy blush, revealing her docile nature. Judging by her appearance alone, she would be pleasing to look at at home and presentable in public.

Just as they were talking, a sudden gust of wind swirled through the woods, stirring up dust. Lin Dong glanced at the sky and said, "Let's hurry. The weather's about to change."

Taking advantage of the situation, Lin Jinpeng stepped forward and stuffed the cloth bag into Gu Lan's hands. Their fingers brushed, but he maintained a serious expression, urging, "Go home quickly. You don't want to get caught in the rain."

Gu Lan held onto the small cloth bag, muttering an inarticulate response under Tian Guifen's mischievous gaze. He then led Bamboo Boy down the slope. As an unmarried Double, his modesty was more sensitive, and the sound of Tian Guifen's laughter behind him turned his face crimson with embarrassment.

He hurried along, but Bamboo Boy's legs weren't as long, causing him to stumble as he was pulled along. He quickly called out, "Big Brother Lan Shi, slow down, I can't keep up."

Gu Lan Shi released Bamboo Boy and clutched the small cloth bag in his other hand. Though embarrassed, he was also a little delighted. Seeing his brother's crumpled face, looking as if he had been wronged, he smiled and said, "When we get back, I'll give you some jujubes to eat."

Bamboo Boy immediately ceased feeling wronged. Picking up his pace, he said, "Alright, then I'll eat plenty."

"Sure thing." Gu Lan Shi ruffled his head.

No sooner had they taken a few steps than raindrops began to fall, though the rain was still light. Many villagers rushed home, and the two of them were no exception. Fortunately, their house was situated towards the back of the village; they only had to dash past four courtyard gates before arriving.