Chapter 237

Chapter 237

Knock, knock, knock—

The sound of chopping vegetables came from the kitchen and continued for a while before stopping.

A large pile of sliced bamboo shoots lay on the cutting board. Gu Lanshi put down the knife and used a wooden basin to catch the slices at the edge of the board, then pushed all the slices into the basin with his hands.

After filling the basin twice, it was now full and heavy. He steadied it with one hand and supported it with his leg underneath, then lifted it with both hands and walked to the stove, pouring all the bamboo shoots into a large pot of boiling water.

Two baskets of unpeeled bamboo shoots still sat by the kitchen door. Yesterday afternoon, Pei Yan and two laborers had gone to the bamboo grove twice to dig up some shoots, taking advantage of the good weather to dry more slices.

Although the bamboo shoots in this season were not as tender and delicious as those in spring and autumn, autumn had yet to arrive, and no one knew how much rain there would be. If it rained heavily, even if they dug up the shoots, there wouldn’t be enough time to dry them. If it rained continuously, they could easily get damp and moldy.

Therefore, even though summer bamboo shoots weren’t great, many families, like theirs, took advantage of the sunny days to dry more. In winter, when food was scarce, anything that could fill their bellies would taste good, regardless of its flavor.

Once the stove was lit, the kitchen quickly became sweltering, making anyone who stayed inside sweat profusely, even wetting their hair. Even adults couldn’t bear it for long and had to go outside for fresh air, let alone children.

In the main room,

Dahei lay next to the cradle, panting with his tongue out.

Inside the cradle, Xingxing sat, touching and patting everything around him. The rattle drum he had thrown aside was covered in drool, and an empty milk fruit lay beside his legs. He made little sounds, his chubby body moving, and his small hands reached for his toes.

After a while, he picked up the milk fruit again, biting and sucking on it, playing contentedly by himself.

Gu Lanshi stirred the bamboo shoots in the pot with a large spoon, added another piece of firewood to the stove, and, drenched in sweat, hurriedly stepped outside, standing in the shade under the eaves to cool off.

He peeked into the main room and saw Xingxing in the cradle, playing with the milk fruit without crying or fussing. His little chubby hands held it well.

Dahei watched over the child loyally, which reassured him. If anything happened, Dahei would surely bark.

He hadn’t put anything else in the cradle, not even the octagonal windmill. A few days ago, Xingxing had chewed on the windmill, soaking the colorful paper with his saliva, and even bit off pieces of paper.

When he noticed, he quickly removed the paper bits from Xingxing’s mouth, but Xingxing didn’t like it and turned his head away, eventually bursting into tears.

It was a good opportunity to check if there were any more paper bits in his mouth, so he didn’t comfort him right away, letting him cry for a bit. Xingxing got angry and refused to be held, clinging to Pei Yan’s shoulder until he forgot about the incident.

That morning, he chewed on the windmill, and in the afternoon, he chewed on the rattle drum. Gu Lanshi checked the rattle drum; the surface and stick were fine, but the small drumsticks were a concern.

Fortunately, the ropes binding the drumsticks were sturdy, and Xingxing’s few tiny teeth couldn’t break them or swallow them.

Glancing at the child once more, Gu Lanshi returned to the kitchen. After blanching the bamboo shoots, he scooped them out with a large strainer and placed them in a wooden basin filled with cold water. After soaking, he lifted them out and carried the basin to the courtyard.

Eight large bamboo trays were placed on two wooden racks, all filled with drying bamboo slices. Another bamboo mat was laid out in the courtyard. He poured the slices onto the mat and squatted down to spread them evenly.

By mid-morning, the sun was already strong. After spreading the slices, he quickly returned to the kitchen, sitting in the shade to peel and chop the remaining two baskets of bamboo shoots.

With one more person to feed this winter, Pei Yan would also have Zhou Dalang help gather wild vegetables and other goods. Every day, they needed to dry some vegetables and other items, gradually increasing their stock.

Last winter, they had stored plenty of dried vegetables, even selling some. The three adults had enough to last through early spring.

During the transition between winter and spring, when food was scarce, they were fortunate to have prepared well and did not lack vegetables or grain.

While busy with his work, Huīhuī, covered in grass seeds and dirt, ran back and stood at the kitchen door, barking at him.

Gu Lanshi understood and filled the three dog bowls with clean water. Huīhuī drank eagerly, clearly thirsty.

Gu Lanshi returned to peeling the bamboo shoots.

As for where Huīzai was, he didn’t bother looking. Their three dogs were smart and usually didn’t wander far. At most, they went to play with other dogs in the village and would return when hungry or thirsty. The other day, he found Huīzai playing with Èrhei in the courtyard, and his father had even fed him. Today, he might be there again.

The water buffalo went out to graze and bathe on its own. Initially, Gu Lanshi and Pei Yan worried it might be taken away, but later discovered that the buffalo recognized them. They, along with Liu Dagé and Zhou Dalang, could lead it out. When Gu Tieshan and Gu Lanyu visited, they jokingly tried to pull the rope, but the buffalo stood firm.

Such a large male water buffalo, with big horns, would deter outsiders from trying to take it. If angered, being gored would be serious.

Thus, when they were busy and couldn’t spare someone to tend to the buffalo, it would go to the river to cool off and could be found in the afternoon, free from restraint.

Dahei and the others gradually stopped watching the buffalo. In the afternoon or evening, when someone went to fetch it, they would run ahead, find the buffalo in the river, and bark proudly by the riverbank, especially Huīhuī and Huīzai.

Sometimes, Gu Lanshi wondered how these dogs understood human words and actions.

After peeling a dozen bamboo shoots, Xingxing suddenly started crying. Gu Lanshi dropped his work and hurried to check on the child. It turned out that Xingxing had dropped the milk fruit outside the cradle and hit his head while trying to stand up by grabbing the edge.

Seeing his son’s tearful face, Gu Lanshi laughed and picked him up to soothe him.

*

The washed apricots in the bowl were yellow with a hint of red, soft and sweet.

Gu Lanshi stopped Xingxing’s reaching hand, and Xingxing pouted, slapping the table and making sounds to urge him.

"Little glutton." Gu Lanshi smiled, peeled an apricot, and gave half the flesh to his son, letting him hold it and eat. Dirty hands and clothes could be washed, but chasing after him to feed every bite would be exhausting.

Xingxing rarely fussed over food and ate well. Only when he was hungry and drooling did he need to be fed.

Thinking of his son’s tiny teeth, Gu Lanshi ate the other half of the apricot and put the pit in another bowl. "Ah—open your mouth so Ahmu can see your teeth."

Xingxing understood the meaning of "ah," opened his mouth, and then giggled, stuffing the mashed apricot into his mouth and closing it to avoid inspection.

"Good job," Gu Lanshi teased.

Two more baby teeth had emerged, and recently, perhaps due to teething discomfort, Xingxing often cried and bit arms and shoulders when held. Pei Yan bought a few cinnamon wood teething sticks when he went to town to deliver goods, for Xingxing to chew on.

When Xingxing grows a bit more, he’ll be able to chew on steamed buns.

Gu Lanshi picked up another apricot to eat, not needing to peel it as the skin was no longer sour.

Xingxing sat in the chair, a chubby little figure leaning back against the chair back. After finishing the apricot, he made sounds to urge Ahmu to peel another one.

Their home-grown fruits were picked and eaten fresh. These past few days, as the apricots softened, family members visiting would head straight to the apricot tree, picking and eating a couple without even washing them.

Gu Lansi had Doggie pick half a basket especially for Hua Xishuang to eat. As for Brother Bamboo, he could eat whenever he came by, and he was sensible enough not to covet what belonged to his sister-in-law.

The older and the younger both enjoyed eating apricots. Before long, Pei Yan returned.

He handed over the money as usual. Today, he made another trip to the prefectural city. Hua Chengfang, the minor steward at the Zheng residence, held his position steadily. Apart from eggs, he also took some fresh mountain goods and game to the kitchen, which allowed him to earn a bit more.

There are channels for selling goods, so the monthly income is steady. Adding everything up, there is more than an ounce this month.

Gu Lansi put away the money and came out, only to see Pei Yan standing in front of the chair where Xingxing was sitting, peeling apricots for his son.

He was too tall, so Xingxing tilted her head back to stare at Xingrou.

Gu Lansi smiled and said, "One more bite, then take it away. You can go eat in the kitchen. You've already had several helpings. Even if the apricot meat is soft, it's not good for him to eat too much."

"Alright, I understand." Pei Yan peeled the apricot, removed the pit, and gave the flesh to Xingxing.

Xingxing was delighted, his little hands mashing the apricot flesh, squeezing it beyond recognition, and smacking his lips as he babbled at Father, incomprehensible to everyone.

*

The sun was obscured by clouds, and dark clouds seemed to be gathering on the distant horizon.

Gu Lansi heated some water and, taking advantage of the warmth that still lingered in the late afternoon, gave Xingxing a bath. There's no need to mention the chubby hands; the apricot flesh had made both his chest and legs sticky.

Each time they bathed their son, both of them would smile warmly. Xingxing, chubby and plump, sitting in the bathtub, was simply adorable.

Taking advantage of the water in the pot and the absence of the laborer, Gu Lansi and Pei Yan both washed their hair and took a bath. After their hair dried, they felt refreshed all over.

Xingxing crawls on the kang, getting better at it recently. Using both her hands and feet, she scurries along, crawling either into Mama's or Baba's arms. Praise her a couple of times, and she giggles with joy, even letting out excited squeals.

After having children, the house rarely knew tranquility again.

Gu Lansi and Pei Yan sometimes felt a buzzing in their ears, but they never found Xingxing annoying. Children were like this, after all. Besides, Xingxing played quietly and slept soundly at times, which truly made them cherish him from the bottom of their hearts.

The night was soft, the moonlight not particularly bright.

After Gu Lansi put the child to sleep, she turned over to speak to Pei Yan, who was sleeping on the outer side.

"Mother says we will visit the eldest sister the day after tomorrow. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I will go along too. Father will drive the oxcart, which is slow, and I will bring Xingxing with me."

"Alright." Pei Yan responded softly.

The voice was deep and pleasant, as if something was brushing against the tip of her heart, making it itch.

Gu Lansi couldn't quite describe the feeling, but he found himself smiling slightly, involuntarily leaning into Pei Yan. He wrapped his arms around him and pressed his ear against Pei Yan's chest to listen to his steady heartbeat.

He forgot when he first realized it, but every time he heard it, his heart felt at ease, as if all unease and danger were kept at bay.

Occasionally, when nightmares wake him in the night, as long as he can touch Pei Yan beside him, the darkness brought by the nightmares dissipates, no longer troubling him.

Pei Yan was gentle and compliant, never pushing Gu Lansi away. He cherished the dependence his husband had on him, holding Gu Lansi close.

This is the only thing he possesses, and he is grateful that he managed to grasp it — by the skin of his teeth.

Almost missed it.