Chapter 43: Instructions

Chapter 43: A Word of Advice

Zhou Ye’s expression hinted at helplessness as he explained to Lin Shu, "That’s not the case. Chopping firewood is just a secondary task."

Lin Shu stopped teasing him and asked, "You’re already carrying a full basket of mushrooms. Do you still plan to chop a large bundle of firewood? Will you be able to carry it all?"

Zhou Ye replied, "It’s no trouble. I’ll carry the basket in front and tie the firewood on my back. That way, the mushrooms won’t be crushed."

Lin Xiaopu, who had already settled beside Lin Shu, piped up, "Sis, you’re underestimating Brother A Ye. He could not only carry a large bundle of firewood but even carry both of us, one in each arm, without any problem!"

Hearing this, Lin Shu’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she teased, "Brother A Ye, since Xiao Pu and I are both tired, why not carry us down the mountain, one in each hand, when we head back?"

Lin Xiaopu covered her mouth, giggling uncontrollably.

If she and her sister were truly carried down the mountain by Brother A Ye in broad daylight, the news would surely spread throughout Sweetwater Village within a day.

And even if her sister dared to suggest it, Brother A Ye would never actually do it.

Though Lin Shu’s words were clearly meant in jest, Zhou Ye shook his head seriously and said, "If your feet are truly too sore to walk, you can hold onto my arm for support on the way down."

Lin Shu’s eyes, limpid like spring water, gazed at Zhou Ye. Her delicate eyebrows lifted playfully, adding a touch of vibrant charm to her delicate and pitiable expression. "Brother A Ye, why only let me hold your arm? Can’t you just carry me on your back? Why not skip chopping firewood and carry a basket of mushrooms in front and a full-grown person on your back instead?"

Zhou Ye paused abruptly, giving her a strange look. "No. There are many people gathering mushrooms on the mountain. If they see us and word gets out, those who love to gossip will surely spread rumors about you."

Lin Shu fought to keep a straight face, forcing back her laughter as she nodded obediently. "Brother A Ye, you’re absolutely right. I’ll listen to you and only hold your arm for support on the way down. I won’t ask you to carry me."

Zhou Ye fell silent for a moment before hesitantly adding, "If you’re truly exhausted, you can lean most of your weight on my arm and just barely touch the ground with your toes while walking. That way, no one will notice."

Lin Shu had only been teasing him, but this straightforward man had come up with a sly workaround. She immediately agreed, "Really? Then I’ll truly take you up on that!"

Zhou Ye nodded, crouching to steady the basket. "Wait here for a moment. I’ll be back soon."

Lin Shu sat on the rock, leisurely rotating her ankles with a relaxed demeanor. "Wait, are you really going to chop firewood? It just rained, so the wood up here is damp. The firewood you chop will be wet and unusable. You’ll have to dry it in the yard anyway. Why not wait until the branches in the forest are sun-dried before chopping them?"

Then, her eyes lit up with a mischievous glint, and a bright smile spread across her lips. "Brother A Ye, if you really want to bring something back, why not chop some bamboo instead?"

Hearing this, Zhou Ye turned to look at her. "Sister A Shu, what do you plan to do with the bamboo? Is it for the fence around the fish pond?"

"Not just the fence for the fish pond—I have so many ideas! For larger items, I’d like bamboo stools, chairs, and even a bamboo reclining chair. I’m not sure how many bamboo mats we have at home, but they’re still holding up for now. In another month, though, I won’t be able to sleep without one because of the heat, so we’ll definitely need a bamboo mat. For smaller items, I’d like to cut a few bamboo sections to make pen holders and small flowerpots for plants. Xiao Pu doesn’t have many toys, so I’d also like to make her some bamboo toys, like bamboo dragonflies, wind chimes, and small woven balls."

Lin Xiaopu let out an excited "Wow!"

Lin Shu tapped her little sister’s nose and continued, "We could also make a long-handled bamboo ladle. Sometimes, it’s more convenient than a gourd dipper. And we should make a bamboo scrub brush for washing pots—the one Mother is using is already worn out…"

Zhou Ye listened attentively and nodded. "Alright, I’ll chop some bamboo then. But if we’re making all these things, it’ll cost quite a bit of money. Besides, Grandpa Gao has been busy lately. It’ll probably take quite some time to finish everything."

Lin Shu smiled brightly at him, her eyes curving into crescents. "We won’t ask Grandpa Gao. Brother A Ye, you can make them."

Zhou Ye was taken aback. "I’m just a rough man. I don’t know how to do bamboo crafting."

Lin Shu replied, "If you don’t know how, I do."

In her previous life, the southwestern base where she lived lacked many things, but bamboo was never in short supply. The bamboo nearby was often harvested to make bamboo items, and she had personally made most of the items she mentioned to Zhou Ye. Now, although she had lost her extraordinary strength, an ordinary farmer in this world possessed the same strange power. If she, a woman, could do it, then Zhou Ye, a grown man, should have no problem.

However, since her original self had been a young lady who had never done any manual labor before coming to Sweetwater Village, Lin Shu made up an excuse: "When I was in the marquis’s estate, I loved bamboo dearly. Just as Su Shi said, 'I would rather eat without meat than live without bamboo.' But my appreciation was different from others'. Scholars paint bamboo, poets write odes to bamboo, but me—I loved studying bamboo crafts."

Without batting an eye, Lin Shu continued fabricating her story, "So, I studied all kinds of bamboo items in the estate. Although I never made them myself, I learned how they were crafted by asking the experienced artisans at the bambooware shops. Complicated items, like those requiring a dozen weaving techniques, are beyond me. But simpler things, like bamboo mats, stools, chairs, and beds that don’t require splitting bamboo strips—I understand their construction quite well."

Hearing this, Zhou Ye was quite surprised. He never expected that, despite her previous life as a young lady, she had taken an interest in the work of bamboo artisans.

Lin Xiaopu was so excited that she jumped up from the rock. "Sister, does that mean our family can make our own bamboo stools, chairs, and even beds?"

Lin Shu’s ankles twisted even more cheerfully as she nodded with a smile. "Brother A Ye is a practical person. With my guidance, he’ll surely learn after a few tries."

Zhou Ye seemed to want to say something but held back. Though Lin Shu spoke with certainty, he felt unsure.

Seeing his reaction, Lin Shu couldn’t hold back her laughter. "Pfft, haha... Zhou Ye, do you know your face looks like it’s saying four words: 'My life is over'? Haha..."

After laughing heartily, Lin Shu wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes with her fingertip. "Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to make something complicated like a bamboo mat. Bamboo crafting is difficult, especially the splitting process. Without years of practice and skilled knife work, it’s impossible to split bamboo strips evenly. Otherwise, wouldn’t everyone in Sweetwater Village be a bamboo artisan? Grandpa Gao has been the only one here for years. For our first attempt, we’ll start with something simple like bamboo stools and chairs, not anything too challenging."

Zhou Ye remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I’ll go chop some bamboo first. You two stay here and don’t wander off."

Lin Shu gazed at him, a hidden smile in her eyes as she hinted, "My feet and legs are sore. How could I wander off? Unless someone is willing to carry me down the mountain, I could sit here until the cows come home."

Zhou Ye had no response. He picked up his axe and, with his long strides, disappeared from sight in just a few steps.

He always walked with such large steps, but this time, there was a hint of a hasty retreat in his pace.

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Author's Note: "I would rather eat without meat than live without bamboo." —Su Shi, "Inscription on the Green Bamboo Studio of Monk Yuqian"