Chapter 54 Mountain Home Hearth 54

Chapter 54: A Mountain Family's Meal 54

A large pot of sour radish and aged duck soup was prepared using a Muscovy duck, purchased from a village family specializing in duck farming—the ideal choice for stewing. The broth shimmered with a clear, yellowish hue, a thin layer of golden oil glistening on its surface. The duck meat was stewed to tender perfection, and the fragrant blend of sour radish and rich meat filled every corner of the room.

Pickled long beans were finely minced, and a piece of pork belly, equally marbled with fat and lean meat, was chopped. In a hot wok with oil, the prepared scallions, ginger, and garlic were stir-fried until fragrant. Then, the minced pork and pickled long beans were added and stir-fried. Finally, a handful of crushed red chilies and fresh green scallions were tossed in, releasing an explosion of aroma.

Two meat dishes were ample; a plate of stir-fried foraged greens would complete the meal.

"Dinner's ready!"

Liu Guyu called from the kitchen, ladling duck soup into bowls as he spoke.

The duck soup was still warm, subtly sour yet gentle on the stomach, leaving a refreshing sensation with every spoonful.

Cui Lanfang seized the moment to scrub the pot clean and used the remaining firewood to heat water for washing dishes and evening ablutions.

Qin Rongshi and his sister, Qin Banban, entered, carrying dishes and chopsticks. Soon, the family gathered around the table and began their meal.

Before eating, each person enjoyed a bowl of sour radish and aged duck soup. Qin Banban was famished; dinner was later than usual today because they waited for Qin Rongshi, and her stomach had been rumbling for a while.

After gulping down two mouthfuls of duck soup, she scooped a generous helping of rice from the rice container and added a spoonful of minced pickled long beans and meat.

The savory, spicy, and meaty flavors, mixed with rice, grew more delightful with every bite.

"Since Erlang is back, come with me to Xiahe Village tomorrow to buy chicks," Liu Guyu said to Qin Rongshi after finishing his duck soup.

Hearing Liu Guyu call his name, Qin Rongshi quickly looked up and nodded before fully comprehending the words.

Cui Lanfang also nodded, adding, "The Yang family in Xiahe Village raises chickens. They have over two hundred chickens on their mountain, and everyone nearby buys chicks from them. Our family has always bought from them too."

The Yang family was considered a prominent household in Xiahe Village. They had prospered from chicken farming and were among the first in the village to live in a blue-brick house with a tiled roof, even employing full-time and seasonal help.

With the matter settled, the family finished their meal, washed up early, and retired for the night.

The next day, Cui Lanfang prepared noodles, using the leftover duck soup as the broth. She blanched a few vibrant green vegetables and sprinkled a handful of scallions, creating a bowl of duck noodle soup whose enticing aroma filled the entire room.

Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi ate the warm noodles before setting out with their baskets. Just as they were leaving, it began to rain again. Though not heavy, the persistent drizzle dampened the muddy road.

They shared an umbrella, walking shoulder to shoulder. Liu Guyu, being slightly taller, naturally held the umbrella.

In such close proximity, Qin Rongshi couldn't help but notice the faint scent of soapberry on Liu Guyu. He had changed into clean clothes, freshly washed with soapberries, and the scent was so subtle that Qin Rongshi wouldn't have detected it if they weren't so close.

Qin Rongshi stole a glance at him, then another, and another…

"Why do you keep staring at me?" Liu Guyu suddenly turned his head to look at him.

Qin Rongshi: "...I wasn't staring at you. I was looking at the canola flowers by the ridge over there."

Liu Guyu raised an eyebrow and followed his gaze.

There was a field of golden canola flowers, just beginning to bloom this season. Washed by the rain, the yellow petals looked pristine and fresh, emitting a clean, invigorating fragrance. The flowers clustered closely, blossom by blossom, and when the wind blew, they swayed like a golden wave.

Liu Guyu smiled and asked, "Want to eat some?"

Qin Rongshi: "...No."

Liu Guyu: "Alright, no!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he grasped Qin Rongshi’s wrist, pulling him back after he had subtly shifted half a step away. Their shoulders bumped, bringing them even closer.

Qin Rongshi’s ears flushed red with embarrassment and annoyance. "What are you doing?!" he demanded.

Liu Guyu said seriously, "Stay under the umbrella. Your sleeve is already wet."

He paused, then added, "Who told you to come back without an umbrella? There’s only one umbrella at home, so you’ll have to put up with sharing it with me."

Qin Rongshi didn’t respond but glanced at him secretly again.

This time, Liu Guyu didn’t notice. Instead, he tilted his head to look at the vegetable field and said, "It’s already February. In another month, it’ll be time to transplant rice shoots. Our land should be put to use soon."

…

When they arrived at the Yang family’s house, they exchanged a few words with the host before explaining their purpose. Hearing they were there to buy chicks, the Yang family warmly led them to the shed to make their selection.

In the end, they bought twenty chicks—twelve hens and eight roosters.

"It’s raining, and these chicks are still small. They can’t handle the cold. Here, take this straw mat to cover the basket and shield them," said a member of the Yang family.

Though the Yang family was wealthy, they never looked down on villagers, speaking and acting in a friendly and natural manner.

As he spoke, he pulled out a small straw mat and placed it over the basket. Then he turned to Qin Rongshi and asked with a smile, "Young Qin, I heard you’ve been admitted to Luming Academy?"

The Yang family man had a casual acquaintance with Qin Rongshi’s father in the past, and they could still exchange a few words when they met.

However, after Qin’s father passed away, the Qin family fell on hard times and stopped coming to Xiahe Village to buy chicks. They were seldom seen, and the already shallow connection grew even more distant.

Still, the Yang family man was something of a businessman—a smooth talker, so he didn’t find it awkward to strike up a conversation.

Qin Rongshi nodded in response.

The Yang family man patted Qin Rongshi’s shoulder and continued, "That’s wonderful. I always knew you were a promising child. Old Qin would be relieved to know this."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi left the Yang family’s home.

On the way there, the empty basket had been carried by Liu Guyu, but on the return trip, it was slung over Qin Rongshi’s shoulder.

The rain grew heavier, and the two didn’t speak much on the way back, quickening their pace to hurry home.

When they reached the entrance of Shanghe Village, they saw a familiar figure.

It was Chen Sanxi, wearing a heavy straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, holding a half-dead rabbit in his hand. He seemed to be heading out of the village.

Liu Guyu paused for a moment and called out, "Little Brother Chen, where are you going?"

Hearing the voice, Chen Sanxi stopped and turned to look at Liu Guyu. Though he was wearing a raincoat and hat, a few strands of hair on his forehead were already soaked, and his pant legs were wet and stained with muddy water.

He stood expressionless in the rain, then raised the rabbit in his hand and said, "Going to town to sell the rabbit."

Liu Guyu quickly asked, "Your pant legs are soaked. Why didn’t you bring an umbrella?"

Without hesitation or thought, Chen Sanxi replied frankly, "I don’t have one."

Liu Guyu: "..."

Liu Guyu was taken aback, feeling a belated sense of awkwardness.

Oil-paper umbrellas, made of paper coated with tung oil, were not cheap. Many households in the village didn't own an umbrella; it was an expensive and delicate item, not exactly a household necessity. When working in the fields on rainy days, wearing a raincoat was far more convenient than holding an umbrella.

Liu Guyu then realized his words sounded a bit like "why not eat meat porridge."

As he stood there dazed, Chen Sanxi gave a nod to them in greeting, then turned and continued on his way with the rabbit.

Chen Sanxi was raised by a hunter, but the hunter died young and didn't teach him much about hunting. He learned bits and pieces; with good luck, he could set traps to catch small game like wild rabbits or pheasants.

He was an orphan, taken in and raised by an old hunter in the village.

After the old hunter passed away, he lived alone at the foot of the mountain, fending for himself. When luck was on his side, he'd hunt some game to sell in town, or catch fish and shrimp from the stream to trade for money or vegetables. During busy farming seasons, he'd help villagers with fieldwork in exchange for a meal.

He scraped by, living hand to mouth.

Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi continued heading home. Halfway there, Liu Guyu suddenly said, "No one in our family knows how to farm. We talked before about hiring someone to do it... What do you think of Chen Sanxi?"

Qin Rongshi listened, lowered his eyes thoughtfully for a moment, and finally nodded. "Not bad."

Qin Rongshi was already a quiet type, but Chen Sanxi was even more reserved. The village women and men often remarked that the boy kept to himself and was unsociable, walking with his head lowered and never greeting anyone, like he was mute.

But most just said he had an odd character; few spoke ill of him.

Chen Sanxi was independent, diligent, and brave. Though introverted, he had a good heart and was a good kid.

Liu Guyu still remembered when he first transmigrated. Qin Banban had gone into Wolf's Mouth Mountain to dig for herbs and hadn't returned for a long time. Wolf's Mouth Mountain was far more dangerous than Little Stream Mountain; even the village men avoided going there unless necessary. Back then, it was Chen Sanxi who volunteered to lead them into the mountain to search for her.

Hearing Qin Rongshi's response, Liu Guyu nodded and continued, "Though he's young, he's strong and every bit as strong as a grown man. He's hardworking too; I've heard he often helps villagers during busy farming seasons, and no one's had a bad word about his work. I'm sure he'd be good with crops. I have a method to enrich the soil, but I need someone to put it into practice. I think he'd be perfect."

Besides... Chen Sanxi was struggling. Helping him would also help others—killing two birds with one stone.

But Qin Rongshi only caught the phrase "enrich the soil." He shot Liu Guyu a knowing, teasing look and asked, "That 'fertilizing method' you read in Mr. Liu's book?"

Liu Guyu: "..."

Liu Guyu turned to look at him, meeting Qin Rongshi's lightly smiling phoenix eyes, deep and piercing, as if seeing right through him.

"Whoa, the rain's coming down harder. Let's hurry back!"

He pulled Qin Rongshi along toward home, where Cui Lanfang and Qin Banban were waiting.

Seeing them return, Cui Lanfang hurried over, holding a fairly new umbrella.

She said to Qin Rongshi, "Erlang, you said you didn't bring an umbrella back! But I found one in your room!"

It had rained yesterday; how could Qin Rongshi have returned to the village without an umbrella? Cui Lanfang only remembered this after they had left. She went into his room to look and, sure enough, found one.

Qin Rongshi was silent for a moment, then answered without blushing or skipping a beat, "...I forgot."

After saying this, he quickly changed the subject. "We bought the chicks. Mom, come take a look."

Cui Lanfang had wanted to raise chickens since last year. Now that her health had improved, she could take on more work.

The small yard behind the kitchen had long been prepared with a chicken coop and a shed—everything was ready, just waiting for the chicks to arrive.

"Peep, peep... peep..."

The chicks had been chirping nonstop on the way, their small yellow beaks opening and closing, pecking at the bamboo of the backpack.

Liu Guyu placed them one by one into the coop. Twenty chicks stood together like fluffy little yellow pom-poms. The little ones were timid, scared in this unfamiliar place, huddling together fearfully, yellow fuzz snuggled against yellow fuzz—utterly adorable.

Lucky had never seen chickens before and found them fascinating. Wagging his tail, he lunged at the bamboo fence of the coop, barking incessantly. When the chicks scattered in fright, he barked even more excitedly, quite mischievous.

In the end, Banban smacked the pup's head and scolded, "Lucky, don't scare the chicks."

She gave Lucky a light slap and shooed him away, making the puppy bark even louder in frustration.

Cui Lanfang was also delighted. She went inside, grabbed a handful of wheat bran, and tossed it into the coop, watching as the fluffy little chicks gathered around and pecked at it.

Once the chicks had eaten their fill, they grew less afraid, wobbling around to inspect their new territory, leaving tiny tracks like bamboo leaves in the muddy ground.

The day passed quickly. As dusk fell, smoke was already rising from the kitchen chimney.

Tomorrow, Qin Rongshi would return to the academy. Liu Guyu fried two jars of meat sauce and made a packet of orange candy and a packet of honey pomelo candy for him to take back.

After preparing these, he started cooking dinner. There was leftover duck soup from yesterday, and with two additional dishes, it would be enough.

In early spring, the toon trees sprouted tender buds, purplish-red tinged with green, so fresh they seemed to drip with moisture. Plucking a handful to stir-fry with eggs was perfect.

Two local eggs were cracked into a bowl, beaten with chopped toon leaves. The oil heated in the wok, and the egg mixture was poured in. Golden egg curds wrapped around red and green, sizzling and crisping in the oil, releasing an immediate aroma.

Another dish was simple stir-fried field mustard greens. Dried chilies were used to fragrance the wok, then minced garlic was added and stir-fried until aromatic. The cleaned field mustard greens were tossed in, stir-fried and seasoned. The spatula flipped twice in the wok, and the dish was ready to be plated.

Liu Guyu carried the two dishes, tilting his head toward Qin Rongshi, who sat by the stove, and called out, "Erlang, didn't you want to try the field mustard greens? Come taste them!"

He looked at Qin Rongshi, beaming with a smile.

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Author's note: Two hundred thousand words in, and my son is still a minor.