Chapter 134

Chapter 134

Upon returning home with the pheasant, Big Dog and Little Dog were instantly captivated by its colorful feathers. Dahei was relatively calm, but the two puppies rushed over, repeatedly lifting their heads to catch a whiff of the bird.

Since it was food for humans, Pei Yan held it high out of reach, preventing them from sniffing or biting at it recklessly.

After setting down the basket, Gu Lanshi noticed the puppies barking and decided to pluck two colorful feathers from the pheasant's tail. Waving them around in his hand, he captured the puppies' undivided attention before they pounced on the feathers.

Seeing that the puppies had seized the feathers, he released his grip, allowing them to play with their new toys as he laughed and began sorting through the contents of the baskets and baskets with Pei Yan.

He picked out the black fungus and placed it on a bamboo tray, saying, "We should keep a few of the prettiest feathers. Later, we can attach them to our shuttlecocks; they'll look splendid."

"Mm, when we pluck the feathers later, we'll set some aside," Pei Yan responded as he squatted beside him, separating the ground lichen and mushrooms from the bamboo basket. They would all need washing soon.

Once the fungus was sorted out of the basket, Gu Lanshi stood up and headed toward the kitchen, announcing, "I'll start heating up some water."

Pei Yan asked, "Are you going to add mushrooms to the chicken stew?"

Gu Lanshi replied while walking, "Yes, a few will do. It adds flavor to the broth, making it more savory. We can save the rest for dinner tonight; there should be enough for a bowlful."

"Alright," Pei Yan agreed, carrying several bamboo trays closer to the kitchen entrance before following inside. He scooped half a basin of water and sat under the eaves near the door to wash the vegetables.

Cleaning the mushrooms was straightforward; all he needed to do was rinse off the mud clinging to them. He started with the mushrooms and then carefully washed the black fungus in the relatively clean water, scrubbing each piece meticulously.

This was a time-consuming task, but ensuring they were thoroughly cleaned before drying meant they wouldn't be gritty when consumed later.

Gu Lanshi added firewood to the stove and, upon seeing Pei Yan washing the vegetables, pulled over a tree stump to sit on. He began peeling bamboo shoots beside Pei Yan, saying, "We should search for some tinder grass along the riverbank another day, or dig up some pine needles from the mountain. Our supply of kindling is running low."

Tinder grass was what farmers called it. Once dried, its stems and leaves became soft and fluffy, perfect for igniting fires.

They still had two stacks of firewood at home: one made of wheat straw and the other of rice stalks. Both were soft woods suitable for starting fires, but they also served as fodder for livestock. They had to prioritize feeding the donkey with dry grass, so burning too much wood would be unfair to the animals.

Pei Yan rubbed a large piece of black fungus between his thumb and index finger as he said, "Tomorrow isn't busy. Let's take a walk by the river."

"Good idea," Gu Lanshi agreed, placing the peeled bamboo shoots on the bamboo tray where the fungus was kept to avoid contamination from the ground.

Glancing at the sky, he added, "It's getting warmer. The water isn't as cold now. Tomorrow, let's dig for some earthworms and collect snails. If possible, we'll set up nets to catch fish and shrimp for eating."

"Sounds good," Pei Yan readily agreed. Setting up nets wasn't a difficult task.

After peeling six or seven bamboo shoots, Gu Lanshi added more firewood to the stove. As the water heated up, Pei Yan was outside, scalding the chicken to remove its feathers, while Gu Lanshi sat and washed the ground lichen.

The scent of blood attracted the puppies, who were quickly shooed away by Pei Yan's stern rebuke to prevent them from licking the blood. Dahei, accustomed to the sight of chickens being slaughtered, merely lay nearby, waiting patiently.

The sun was blinding, so Gu Lanshi placed the washed ground lichen on a bamboo tray. Looking up at the featherless pheasant, he chuckled, "It's indeed quite plump."

The pheasant was sizable, with thick meat. Pei Yan slit open its belly with a knife and removed its innards, commenting, "Yes, it's quite fatty. The fat is comparable to that of a domesticated chicken."

Hearing this, Gu Lanshi swallowed hard. A chicken like this would produce a rich, fragrant broth, a real treat to savor.

Pei Yan saved the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys of the chicken, discarding the rest into a pile of feathers. Although small, these organs would make a suitable treat for the dogs once cooked. As for the meat, they hadn't enjoyed chicken in a long time, and this bird would be perfect for satisfying their cravings.

Seeing that Pei Yan had finished slaughtering the chicken and was heading into the kitchen with it, Gu Lanshi continued washing the second batch of ground lichen, saying, "Just chop it into pieces. Then slice the bamboo shoots, keeping half a bowlful. Blanch the rest and set it out to dry."

"Alright," Pei Yan responded, entering the kitchen to begin his tasks. He would use the water from boiling the bamboo shoots to cook the chicken's organs until they were tender, then let them cool before giving them to Dahei and the puppies.

Dahei, resting on the ground, sprang up the moment he saw Pei Yan emerge with something in hand. He ran faster than the puppies, clearly having been eagerly awaiting his share.

By noon, the meal was ready, and the sun was blazing overhead.

Gu Lanshi and Pei Yan sat in the main room, a pot of fragrant chicken soup before them. The meal was simple: while the soup simmered, they had prepared a few flatbreads in another pot. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, perfectly complementing each sip of soup.

The chicken was cooked to tender perfection, the broth neither too salty nor too bland. The bamboo shoots and mushrooms added an exquisite aroma to the dish. They were so engrossed in their meal that conversation was put on hold.

By the end, not a morsel remained. The meat and vegetables were devoured, and the soup was drained. Pei Yan even used half a flatbread to wipe the last traces of oil from the pot, finishing it off in just a few bites.

Gu Lanshi felt full, sitting on the stool, hesitant to move. He had eaten too much today, feeling uncomfortable yet content.

Unfastening his waistband and laying his sweat towel aside, his belly no longer constricted, he chuckled foolishly, "It's been a while since I've eaten like this. I ate enough for two meals."

Pei Yan was fine; he had always had a big appetite. Laughing, he said, "Take it easy. You just drank too much soup. You'll feel better in a bit."

*

They had set up their nets midday, planning to retrieve them the next morning, and they caught quite a haul.

Knowing Gu Lanshi craved river shrimp, Pei Yan had chosen a finer mesh net, ensuring none of the shrimp could escape through the larger gaps.

Dragging the net ashore, they squatted by the riverbank, picking through their catch. Whenever they found a small fish, Gu Lanshi tossed it back into the river, allowing it to grow bigger before catching it again, ensuring more meat for consumption.

As for the small fish intended for the chickens and ducks, they were slightly shorter than his palm. There were also two carp and two grass carp. One of the grass carp was particularly large, thrashing its tail vigorously after being pulled onto land. This delighted Gu Lanshi, knowing that just this one fish could yield a generous serving of fish slices.

In addition to the fish, they caught about a dozen river shrimp of various sizes. Though not a large number, Gu Lanshi scooped up the lively shrimp into a fish basket, smiling and saying, "Enough for a plateful. It'll be enough for both of us."

The fish basket was newly woven, replacing the old one that had been used to carry earthworms and loaches. Loaches were less problematic, but earthworms were dirtier, often covered in wet mud, leaving the basket looking unclean. Thus, a new basket was crafted.

As the weather grew warmer, more villagers began setting up nets, making their catch even more impressive. After placing the fish in the basket, Pei Yan tidied up the fishing net while Gu Lanshi assisted, suggesting, "Let's give one of the grass carp to the family and a crucian carp to Grandma. She can make a fish soup to nourish her body."

"Alright," Pei Yan agreed, neatly stacking the fishing nets together and hoisting them onto his shoulder.

Gu Lanshi slung the fish basket over his shoulder, and they walked home together. The basket rattled as the fish inside wriggled about, still alive despite being out of water for some time.

Arriving home, Gu Lanshi emptied the contents of the fish basket into a basin. Concerned that the larger fish might eat the shrimp, he reached into the water to scoop out the shrimp first, transferring them to a bucket.

Pei Yan spread out the fishing net to dry on the wooden beams in the threshing area. By the time he returned, Gu Lanshi was already in the process of cleaning the fish. Since Grandma was elderly, it would be easier for her if he delivered the fish pre-cleaned. Since he was already handling the task, he decided to clean all four fish, reserving the innards to chop up for the chickens and ducks.

After cleaning the fish, Gu Lanshi threaded two of them through their mouths using a straw, then carried them outside, explaining that he was delivering them and would chat for a bit.

Pei Yan stopped him, saying, "I plan to go out and gather some pig feed. Take the key with you, just in case I'm not back when you return."

With the key safely tucked away, Gu Lanshi left with a smile.

When Gu Tieshan entered his home, he found Gu Tieshan chopping firewood in the courtyard while Miao Qiulian was washing vegetables at the kitchen entrance; they were talking about something.

"Mom, here's the freshly caught fish," said Gu Lanshi as he placed the carp in the kitchen and then asked upon exiting, "Talking about the dowry?"

He had overheard part of their conversation earlier, but Miao Qiulian's voice was low, making it hard for him to catch all the details.

Miao Qiulian replied, "Indeed we were, discussing your Aunt Jinfeng. Your father and I were considering how much would be appropriate."

Gu Lanshi, unable to make a decision on this matter, didn't pry further. Instead, he mentioned the crucian carp in his hand, "I'll deliver this to Grandma, I'll be back shortly."

"Alright," Miao Qiulian agreed, resuming her serious discussion with Gu Tieshan.

The topic of money made both of them more solemn than usual, unlike their light-hearted banter.

Before reaching the ancestral home, Gu Lanshi saw his grandmother sitting under a tree at the village entrance, chatting idly with someone. He called out, prompting Fang Honghua to quickly return with her stool.

Once inside the courtyard, Fang Honghua placed the fish in a basin outside the kitchen, smiling as she said, "I'll clean it and start stewing it soon. Has my son-in-law not come yet?"

Gu Lanshi pulled up a stool and sat down in the yard, saying, "He went to gather grass."

Fang Honghua, who liked Pei Yan more and more, praised, "My son-in-law is indeed diligent."

The major event recently was arranging a marriage for Dog'er, and when she brought it up, she revealed that the girl's family wanted a six-tael dowry.

Upon hearing this, Gu Lanshi understood what his parents had been discussing earlier.

Fang Honghua brought out a plate of pastries from the house, saying, "Well, it's just talk. Five taels will definitely suffice. Where did the six-tael rule come from? Arranging marriages involves a lot of negotiation, and such verbal sparring is inevitable."

It was true, Gu Lanshi nodded. In the countryside, a good son could fetch three taels, and a good daughter five taels, rarely exceeding these amounts.

After exchanging pleasantries, Gu Lanshi took a pastry to eat.

Fang Honghua remembered the idle chatter she had heard earlier and said, "There's also news from the Pei family. According to your great-grandmother, Pei Huazi wants to marry a husband, so Fang Yun has arranged for next spring. After all, Pei Xingwang died less than a year ago, and by custom, they should wait three years before marrying again. However, they claim they're observing a short mourning period, which will be sufficient by next year."

Gu Lanshi listened without much comment. A short mourning period of a hundred days was enough. Birth, aging, sickness, and death were common occurrences, and sometimes, the older one got, the harder it became to find a spouse. Observing a hundred-day mourning period was actually quite common.

Fang Honghua sighed, saying, "I remember their youngest isn't very old yet."

Gu Lanshi spoke up, "He's the same age as Brother Zhu, two months younger. He's thirteen this year."

"Well, he'll be fourteen next year, not too young," Fang Honghua said with narrowed eyes, then added after some thought, "I heard that Pei Sheng's mother isn't happy. She feels that her husband has only been dead for a year, but now the eldest daughter-in-law is in charge. No matter what, she doesn't dare argue with her."

The village gossip passed by, and if it were about another family, they might have discussed it further, but because of Pei Yan, Gu Lanshi didn't want to get too involved with the Peis.

After chatting with his grandmother for a while, he didn't stay long, returning home to ask his mother about the progress of Dog'er's marriage.

*

At the Pei residence,

Ye Jinrong was picking wild vegetables in the courtyard, her peripheral vision catching someone passing by the gate. Looking up, she saw it was Gu Lanshi.

She paused, her gaunt face revealing nothing, before resuming her work.

The exchange marriage had secured a husband for Pei Huazi, to be married next year, which filled her heart with joy. However, during the past half-year, she had been under Fang Yun's control, and she no longer had a say in household matters, causing her some discomfort.

Even the bolts of cloth intended for Pei Chunyan were beyond her reach; Fang Yun hadn't even let her see them. It was only when Pei Chunyan was making clothes that Ye Jinrong caught a glimpse.

When she heard Fang Yun and her sons discussing the wedding dates, she used the excuse of the mourning period not being over to cause a scene, hoping to remind the younger generation that she, their elder, still existed.

However, Pei Sheng had lost patience with her and wasn't willing to listen to her complaints. Feeling guilty and timid, she didn't dare argue loudly as she used to. As for Pei Huazi, his mind was solely on marrying a husband, and he wouldn't listen to her either, so her attempt to stir up trouble failed.

The hens in the backyard crowed, but collecting eggs was no longer her responsibility, let alone eating them.

Ye Jinrong continued working, knowing that wild vegetables were unpalatable but could at least fill her stomach. Suddenly, she recalled the villagers' talk about Gu Lanshi following Pei Yan and enjoying eggs every day.

Last year, they raised over a dozen hens, and this year, they bought an additional forty to fifty. In the future, there would be more eggs than they could consume, to the point of getting tired of them.

Perhaps due to the intense sunlight, she slightly closed her eyes, her complex emotions ultimately turning into a barely audible sigh, making her face appear even more aged and worn.

*

After returning home, Pei Yan came back shortly with a basket of grass. Gu Lanshi was drinking tea in the courtyard and hurriedly fetched water for him to wash his hands upon seeing him enter.

Pei Yan spread out the pig feed to dry in the courtyard and squatted down to wash his hands. Unexpectedly, Gu Lanshi suddenly climbed onto his back from behind.

Pei Yan remained still, rubbing a wild soap nut in his palm as he asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"

"Ahh—" Gu Lanshi sighed deeply, venting all the inexplicable frustration in his heart.

His chest pressed against Pei Yan's back, warm and comforting. His mood instantly improved, and he said with a smile, "Nothing, I just wanted to lean on you."

After Pei Yan finished washing his hands, without a word, he suddenly stood up.

Gu Lanshi's body suddenly lifted off the ground, startling him. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around Pei Yan's neck and his legs around his waist, clinging tightly to him.

Only when he heard Pei Yan's laughter did he realize it was intentional.