Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Early in the morning, Gu Lan Shi returned with a basket full of pig grass. He then picked up his bamboo basket and small hoe, leading six ducks towards the river.

For chickens and ducks to grow well, just eating grass and bran wasn't enough. Insects like crickets, grasshoppers, earthworms from the soil, and various small snails from the river were considered delicacies for them. These were beneficial to their health, even venomous creatures like centipedes and scorpions were no exception – chickens could eat those too.

The little ducks had grown a bit over the past few days. Upon reaching the river, they no longer needed to be chased into the water as they instinctively knew how to forage for food, requiring minimal supervision.

Gu Lan Shi squatted by the riverbank, digging for earthworms in the damp mud, his forearms covered in mud but he paid it no mind.

Pei Yan had risen early to inspect the paddy field. Planting rice could wait until the next day. Thus, he carried his basket and headed for the mountains to collect stones. The construction of the pigsty was still incomplete, so he needed more stones.

When he turned over the damp soil, numerous earthworms were found beneath the lush grass roots, intertwined and wriggling together in a cluster.

Upon seeing this large group of earthworms, Gu Lan Shi's arm hair stood on end. There was quite a bit of mud, so he bent down by the riverbank, scooping a few handfuls of water to rinse the earthworms, removing some of the dirt.

He then scavenged for branches nearby, using them along with his hoe to clumsily pick the earthworms and place them into the bamboo basket.

Many earthworms fell out, but his hands were still more efficient. However, he dared not touch them directly, so he picked up a few large leaves from the ground, wrapping them around the worms before finally managing to put them all into the basket.

Glancing up at the swimming ducklings, Gu Lan clapped his hands and called out to them. Ducks naturally recognize their owners; without a mother duck, ducklings would follow behind humans. He had been feeding them all day, so they were familiar with him. The six little ducks paddled back ashore, noticing he hadn't gone far, and then ventured into the water in a group once more.

Grasshoppers and crickets might hop around in the grass, but catching earthworms was a quicker endeavor. After searching along the riverbank and under the trees, Gu Lan filled half of a bamboo basket with his findings, its weight heavy with worms.

Washing his hands and arms by the river, he noticed mud on his sandals and submerged them to clean them. Taking the opportunity, he also flipped over a few stones.

Finding only five green snails, he didn't mind the small number and tossed them into the basket, planning to crush them later as feed for the chickens.

It was almost late morning, and the sun would soon grow hotter. Gu Lan picked up the bamboo basket, waved at the swimming ducklings in the river, and started walking ahead. Before long, the ducks that had just landed ashore ran to follow behind him.

The courtyard gate was locked, indicating that Pei Yan had yet to return. Gu Lan unlocked it and entered, leaving the door ajar. Big Black took this chance to run out, but Gu Lan didn't bother with it.

Big Black didn't often venture into the village. When bored of guarding the yard, it would run to the river or the woods. Occasionally, it would even dig up mole holes to catch voles for food.

In the past, when Pei Yan didn't feed it much, the dog survived by doing just this. Some villagers, too reluctant to feed their dogs adequately, would see their pets digging like Big Black when hungry. Some dogs would even venture into the mountains in search of sustenance.

Gu Lan emptied some earthworms from the basket. Since the chicks were still young, and Pei Yan had taken the machete, he fetched a short axe instead. Carefully chopping the worms into segments, he wrapped them in leaves before tossing them into the chicken coop.

A dozen chicks hurriedly gathered, each one competing to eat more than the other.

In the duck coop nearby, the ducklings quacked twice. Since the ducks had already foraged in the water and he was afraid they might overeat and die of hunger, he had fed them less.

Glancing at the remaining earthworms in the basket, there were still quite a few left. Gu Lan Shi decided not to feed them to the chickens and ducks anymore, saving them for the afternoon instead.

He scooped half a bucket of water and carried it to the backyard. The piglet was sleeping in its fenced area. He fed it three times a day: early morning, noon, and evening. After eating, the piglet would go back to sleep. Worried that it might get thirsty quickly in the heat, he replenished the water more frequently. Occasionally, he would also chop grass to give it an extra meal.

As he carried the empty bucket through the passageway, Gu Lan Shi heard some noise from the front yard. It was Pei Yan who had returned.

Sure enough, in the courtyard, Pei Yan had unloaded the bamboo basket, revealing two heavy rectangular stone blocks. Upon seeing him, Pei Yan said, "I found a spot with plenty of rocks. There are many stones of suitable size. I'll make another trip."

With the bamboo basket, he could carry only two or three stones at most, otherwise, the basket wouldn't be able to handle the weight. The mountain path was challenging, and no other method seemed appropriate. Thus, this was the only way.

Gu Lan Shi thought for a moment and suggested, "Why don't I come with you? It's still early. We can cook after we return."

Pei Yan headed for the main room to get a drink of water while walking. "The stones are heavy," he said.

Gu Lan Shi chuckled. "I can carry one. That way, you'll have one less to carry. Save your energy; there's still a lot of work to do in the fields later."

"Chatting along the way will help pass the time, and there's no other work to do at home. If nothing else, you can carry stones while I search for wild goods, perhaps dry some black mushrooms. If we find any mushrooms, I'll cook them for you tomorrow – it'll give you strength for working in the fields."

It had been a long time since Gu Lan had ventured into the mountains; his parents forbade it. But now that he was married and had crossed that threshold, and with Pei Yan by his side, he knew there was nothing to fear.

He had already taken stock of their supplies; aside from dried wild vegetables, they had very few mountain goods. Even if they didn't sell them, it would be nice to have something different to eat.

Let's go together.

Pei Yan sipped a bowl of warm tea, his gaze lowered in thought.

Gu Lan continued talking, saying, "We've both been busy lately, and I don't dare venture into the mountains alone. If we pass by the bamboo grove, maybe we can pull out a few shoots – it's been a while since we had them."

"Alright." Pei Yan set down his bowl.

Gu Lan smiled and asked, "Are you hungry now? We could have a light snack before we start, and dinner will likely be later than usual."

"Okay." Pei Yan poured himself half a bowl of water.

Gu Lan went to the kitchen and grabbed three rough, homemade buns. Looking around, he regretted not having picked up some pickles on his way home. He sliced one of the two salted duck eggs he had requested yesterday, but couldn't bring himself to consume the whole thing, settling for just half. Noticing red oil on the knife, he wiped it off with a bun.

The two finished half a salted duck egg with their steamed buns. As they locked the courtyard gate, Gu Lan Shi smiled and suggested, "When we get back, let's cook some thick rice porridge and mix it with the duck egg. It'll be salty and fragrant."

Pei Yan naturally agreed. Compared to going up the mountain alone in the morning, he was in a much better mood now. His usually stern expression seemed to be softened by a hint of a smile, and the long scar on his left cheek appeared less menacing.

Carrying the basket on his back, Gu Lan Shi walked along, chatting, "It hasn't rained recently. I wonder if there are any wood ears around. If we find some, we can make dumplings."

Pei Yan glanced at the sky and replied, "It's too sunny out. It might be difficult to spot them."

Gu Lan Shi, enthusiastic about foraging, light-heartedly responded, "In that case, we can look for something else."

"Mm-hmm." Pei Yan walked on his left, attentively listening to every word.

In places where rocks abound, Gu Lan Shi was unfamiliar with the area, and he didn't inquire on the way. He simply followed Pei Yan without question.

He was either looking up at the trees for black fungus or scouring the ground for mushrooms. Upon spotting wild wolfberry bushes, he plucked some tender shoots. When they came across wild tea trees, he and Pei Yan harvested a considerable amount together.

Country folk mostly brew robust hillside teas, unburdened by intricate processing methods. Here, they typically lightly pan-fry the leaves and then air-dry them; a hint of tea aroma is considered a delight.

Pei Yan was in no hurry at all, leisurely accompanying the person strolling along.

The forest was lush and dense, filtering the sunlight into a faint blue hue. The mountain was home to a variety of birds whose melodious calls filled the air.

As Gu Lan searched for mushrooms with his gaze lifted, he spotted a large-tailed squirrel scurrying up a branch, hidden behind the foliage.

Pei Yan had brought a slingshot when he left the house and had gathered some small stones along the way. With excellent eyesight, he found a spot with many great titmice and instructed Gu Lan to stay behind a tree, not moving a muscle.

Fixing his aim on a particularly large bird perched at the top, Pei Yan pulled back the slingshot. From his hiding spot, Gu Lan poked his head out, but before he could hear any sound, a dark shadow plummeted from the tree.

The other birds, startled, took flight in all directions with a flutter of wings.

Pei Yan retrieved the bird, which was slightly larger than the others, offering more meat. He motioned for Gu Lan to stay put and retreated behind the tree with the bird. Once the birds settled back onto their branches, he launched another stone, hitting his target, causing it to fall to the ground.

Two would suffice.

Seeing Pei Yan glance his way, Gu Lan understood and eagerly approached with two bamboo baskets. His eyes shimmered with admiration as he looked up at Pei Yan with awe.

Pei Yan's accuracy was uncanny; he hit his mark with every shot.

Those eyes seemed to speak volumes, making Pei Yan instantly understand what was on his mind.

Having never received praise since he was young, let alone such a gaze, Pei Yan tried to maintain composure, but the corners of his lips involuntarily curled upward. He attempted to avert his gaze, but his eyes couldn't help drifting back to Gu Lan's face.

Seeing the genuine smile, Gu Lan was surprised but mostly delighted. He wasn't sure why, but his limbs seemed to have a mind of their own, spinning him around in place as he flailed his arms, unsure how to express himself.

"You," he said, so overwhelmed with joy that he couldn't form complete sentences. The pent-up happiness within him sought an outlet, leaving him at a loss, until he impulsively crashed into Pei Yan's embrace, pressing the top of his head against Pei Yan's chest and rubbing it a few times.

Pei Yan was caught off guard, stepping back half a step before regaining his balance from the sudden impact.

By the time Gu Lan realized his inappropriate action, his face flushed red with embarrassment, preventing him from even lifting his head. Paralyzed with shame, he dared not move, even taking shallow breaths, afraid that the slightest sound might give him away.

In a self-deceptive attempt to convince himself that Pei Yan couldn't see him, he began to inch backward stealthily.

Before his steps could fully land, Gu Lan found himself embraced by strong, long arms wrapped tightly around his waist, forcing him into an intimate proximity with Pei Yan.

The burning heat transmitted through their clothes left Gu Lan disoriented, unsure of what was happening. Memories of being carried down the mountain by Pei Yan flashed through his mind – he had known Pei Yan to be warm, but today, the heat seemed more intense.

Perhaps it was just the sweltering heat of the day.

By the time he dimly realized something was amiss, Pei Yan had already released him.

A breeze blew, and Gu Lan's senses sharpened slightly. His cheeks and ears were flushed red as his eyes darted up, down, and to the sides, but he dared not look at Pei Yan.

Pei Yan, in turn, lowered his gaze, his jawline tense. He turned away, intending to explain, but then he opened his mouth only to clench it shut again. The more he tried to clarify, the murkier the situation would become; there was no clear way to explain it.

"You..." Gu Lan whispered, his gaze fixed on a leaf on the ground.

Pei Yan, with his back to Gu Lan, fell into a brief silence before finally finding his voice, his throat hoarse. "It'll be fine in a moment."

Neither of them spoke. It seemed that all the birds had flown away, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the mountain wind.

After an indeterminate period, Gu Lan snapped out of his embarrassed reverie upon hearing a sound.

Pei Yan returned to his silence, wordlessly placing the two thrushes in the bamboo basket. Carrying one basket on his back and holding the other, he led the way forward.

The incident was too awkward to confront directly. Knowing that Pei Yan's silence wasn't a sign of anger, Gu Lan remained quiet as well, rubbing his heated cheeks before following behind.

Upon their return, laden with their catch, they tacitly avoided any mention of the incident during dinner. As they discussed the plan for rice planting the next day, things gradually returned to normal.