Chapter 12

Chapter 12

At the foot of the barren mountain, wild vegetables grew in patch after patch, providing the surrounding villagers with something to eat so they wouldn’t actually starve to death.

The villagers rose before dawn to dig up the freshest, most tender wild vegetables. After cleaning them, they could be made into wild vegetable porridge or steamed vegetable cakes—both good options to stave off hunger.

At this time, the wild vegetables were still tender and easy to eat. Digging more to dry into vegetable jerky meant they could be soaked in water later, mixed with a bit of salt, and served as a proper dish to entertain friends and relatives.

This method preserved the vegetables for a long time, and they could also be taken to the county town or nearby small markets to trade for grain.

Shen Dong and Shen Xi carried baskets almost as tall as they were, squatting at the foot of the mountain, huffing and puffing as they dug for wild vegetables.

At this time of year, wild vegetables changed day by day, growing increasingly fibrous.

Overly tough wild vegetables were hard to chew, difficult to cook, and tasted like tree bark, making them nearly impossible to swallow.

Since the vegetables were still fresh and tender, they aimed to dig up as many as possible.

During the day, people were needed in the fields, so those who came to dig wild vegetables were mostly children and the elderly who couldn’t work the land.

Shen Dong dug quickly, having gained experience. He angled his small shovel into the soil, pried it up, and unearthed a wild vegetable plant.

He soon filled half his basket and noticed Shen Xi was no longer nearby. He looked up and spotted him squatting next to Niu Dan not far away, then lowered his head and continued digging.

Wild vegetables were most succulent in the early morning. Everyone rushed to dig as much as possible during this time. By noon, the sun would be scorching, wilting the vegetables, and they had to hurry back to cook for their families.

Nearby, Shen Xi leaned close to a dark-skinned, sturdy-looking child. “Niu Dan, smell me. Do I smell good? My big brother gave me a bath yesterday, and I’m really clean now. I think I smell nice, not stinky at all.”

Niu Dan was Village Chief Liu’s grandson. His formal name was Liu Dan, but his nickname was Niu Dan.

In the village, aside from being illiterate and unsure what names to choose, it was believed that lowly names made children easier to raise.

Generally, formal names carried hopes for the child.

Village Chief Liu hoped his grandson could eat eggs and never lack them.

Those who never lacked eggs to eat were wealthy and lived long lives.

Niu Dan scooted away, keeping his distance from Shen Xi. “I don’t smell anything on you.”

Shen Xi moved closer. “How come? My big brother bathed me himself. My hair doesn’t even itch now. You must not have smelled carefully.”

“Stay away from me. Brother Liushu told us not to play with you.” Niu Dan nervously glanced at the tall, thin teenager not far away. “If he sees me, he’ll beat me.”

Hearing this, Shen Xi shrank back. He was also afraid of Brother Liushu, who looked terrifying when he scowled.

On the way back, Shen Xi carried the large basket on his back, his small body hunched over.

He sighed heavily and said to Shen Dong, “Second Brother, Brother Liushu told Niu Dan and the others not to play with us anymore. Why does Brother Liushu hate us?”

Shen Dong shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Then I’ll ask Big Brother.”

“Big Brother is tired every day. Don’t bother him.”

Shen Xi didn’t listen. “But Big Brother said we can ask him anything.”

Shen Dong fell silent for a moment. “If Big Brother gets too tired, he might not like us anymore.”

If he didn’t like them, he might abandon them.

Just like Shen Liushu’s big brother had done.

Shen Xi didn’t dare ask anymore.

The two brothers silently carried the wild vegetables home, tidying the house inside and out to make things easier for their big brother.

Shen Yuan, working in the county town, was unaware of what had happened at home. Today, he was still in the backyard.

Ji Xingwang said that once his clothes were ready, he could start working out front.

At noon, the teahouse served millet rice. Shen Yuan ate one bowl and saved another bowl’s worth in the ceramic bowl he had brought, planning to take it back for the children to try.

He had other plans for the evening meal.

In the afternoon, Shen Yuan followed Ji Xingwang to learn how to prepare tea.

The scalding hot water turned his fingertips red, much to the aunties' distress. Auntie Sanhua took out her treasured ointment to apply to Shen Yuan’s hands.

Her son had bought it for her when she first started pan-firing tea, as her hands were often accidentally burned by the high heat.

“It’s fine. I’ll just soak them in cold water. The ointment is precious—you should keep it for yourself, Auntie.” Anything that could heal was costly, and Shen Yuan didn’t dare use it.

His hands were really fine; he’d get used to it once he learned.

Auntie Sanhua knew Shen Yuan was too polite to use it, so she simply scooped some out with a bamboo sliver and spread it on his hands. “Medicine is meant to be used. Healing sooner means less suffering. Don’t worry about saving it for me. If it makes you feel better, that’s what matters.”

Unable to refuse, Shen Yuan repeatedly thanked her, took the small bamboo sliver, and evenly applied the ointment to his fingers.

Auntie Sanhua pushed the remaining ointment into Shen Yuan’s hands. “Take it and use it. I don’t need it anymore.”

“Auntie, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it.” Shen Yuan hurriedly tried to return it.

Suddenly, Auntie Chun interjected, “Xiao Yuan, that’s your Auntie Sanhua’s heartfelt gesture. You should accept it.”

Shen Yuan looked at her, then at Auntie Sanhua. Their expressions seemed off, and he sensed there might be a hidden story, so he reluctantly accepted it for now.

“Thank you for your concern, Auntie.”

Auntie Sanhua nodded, then turned away. “Ah, I need to get back to pan-firing tea. I’ve already delayed.”

While Auntie Sanhua was busy, Auntie Chun whispered to Shen Yuan, “Auntie Sanhua has had a hard life. Several of her children passed away in infancy. The only son who survived got into a fight over water rights for the landlord’s family and was beaten to death. That year, he was the same age as you.”

“She works year-round in the backyard and rarely sees young men your age. She often wonders what her son would have been like if he were still alive. Xiao Yuan, since you arrived these past couple of days, Auntie Sanhua has been smiling more. Last night, she told me that if her Shitou were alive, he’d be as capable and kind-hearted as you. It’s just that Shitou wasn’t talkative and didn’t smile much.”

“She just misses her son. Don’t be frightened by her.”

Shen Yuan tightened his grip on the ceramic ointment jar in his hand and looked at Auntie Sanhua’s back as she worked. “No, I’m not frightened at all.”

…

In the evening, the teahouse served steamed millet flour buns. Freshly steamed, they tasted decent—two per person.

They were paired with soybean paste, salty and flavorful enough. Each person only got a small spoonful of the paste, and Shen Yuan didn’t eat any of his, saving it all.

Dongdong and the others had never tasted it before.

Auntie Sanhua gave Shen Yuan a piece of clean coarse cloth to wrap the ceramic bowl.

He placed the millet buns on the very top.

After finishing work in the evening, Shen Yuan went to the city gate and saw Wang Sanhu.

Guihua Village was right on their way back, so it was a convenient detour.

Thus, they went directly to Guihua Village first to find Xu Dagui.

The Xu place was quite easy to find, being the second house at the entrance of the village.

The house had a wooden fence that was rather high; one had to stand on tiptoe to see inside clearly.

The fence was neat and sturdy, making it easy to see that the person who built it possessed excellent craftsmanship.

Wang Sanhu raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door. "Is Brother Dagui home? We've come to ask you to make something."

Not long after he spoke, the sound of a door opening was heard.

Shen Yuan looked up and saw a man who was quite tall; judging by the standards of his previous life, the man was over six feet tall. Although his face looked haggard and he was unshaven, his physique was still clearly robust. Following his gaze downward, Shen Yuan saw that the man’s left hand was gone.

The newcomer was indeed Xu Dagui.

"Wang Sanhu?" Xu Dagui then looked at Shen Yuan, who immediately greeted him, "Hello, Brother Dagui."

Xu Dagui was stunned by Shen Yuan's reaction. This was the first time they had met, wasn't it? Since they didn't know each other, why the polite greeting?

However, you can't stay mad at a smiling face. Xu Dagui nodded to Shen Yuan and then raised his left arm. "If you don't mind my stump, then tell me what you want made."

Wang Sanhu quickly looked away, not daring to stare at all. Shen Yuan took a glance and then said, "Brother Dagui, can you make a table? I want one big enough for five people to eat at. It doesn't need to be too large or very exquisite, just sturdy, because I don't have much money."

Xu Dagui was stunned again upon hearing Shen Yuan's last sentence. He had seen many people who put on a front despite being broke, but it was rare to see someone state their predicament so bluntly.

"I can do it."

Shen Yuan had previously learned about the prices from Wang Sanhu and confirmed them with Xu Dagui. For the table Shen Yuan needed, it would normally cost fifty wen even if he provided his own wood.

Xu Dagui was currently only charging twenty-five wen.

Shen Yuan smiled and said, "I need to take these buns home with me today. If you don't mind, Brother Dagui, I'll come by again tomorrow. I'm not sure what food I'll bring yet, but I'll show it to you then. If you like it, we can use it to offset the cost."

Looking at the way Shen Yuan treated him like an equal and actually consulted him, Xu Dagui felt a momentary daze.

In the past, many people used to speak to him like this.

Now, that was gone.

People either avoided him like the plague, pretended not to see him, or sighed in pity for him...

In short, no one spoke to him normally like the youth before him anymore.

Xu Dagui really wanted to ask him: Did you not see that my left hand was cut off? Don't you think my work is jinxed, or do you not believe that I can build things well with only one hand?

Why speak to me like this? Why not mock me or doubt me?

Xu Dagui's chest heaved as he stared intently at Shen Yuan. The youth simply maintained a kind smile, and in the end, Xu Dagui only managed one sentence: "Alright, bring it tomorrow and I'll take a look."

The two also agreed to use Xu Dagui's spare wood first. When Shen Yuan went to the mountains to gather firewood early next month, he would cut some timber to replace what he used.

This kind of arrangement was common in the village. Since they knew where he lived and he couldn't run away, Xu Dagui nodded directly in agreement.

Returning to Dashu Village, Shen Yuan followed Wang Sanhu home; he needed to go to Auntie Ping to get his clothes.

Seeing Shen Yuan arrive, Auntie Ping turned and went into the house. She brought out the folded coarse tunics and spread them out for Shen Yuan to try on, to see if anything needed altering.

Villagers were used to making clothes a bit larger so they could be worn for a long time.

The fabric Shen Yuan bought was enough for one set of clothes, but because he was so thin and Auntie Ping was so skilled, there was no wasted fabric at all. Almost everything was used, leaving only a few tiny scraps.

The clothes felt quite loose on him, and Shen Yuan was very satisfied. This way, he could wear them through autumn and winter as well.

"Auntie Ping, your craftsmanship is truly wonderful! The stitching is so fine and dense! You made these so quickly and well; you've really worked hard, Auntie!"

Auntie Ping cleared her throat, looking a bit flustered. "It was nothing, don't worry about it. Hurry on home now."

Shen Yuan took off the new clothes and refolded them. He took out the two millet buns and quickly stuffed them into Auntie Ping's hands. "These are millet buns just steamed today. They smell very fragrant to me. Auntie, try them and see if they're tasty. I'm going home now, Dongdong and the others are still waiting for me!"

As he spoke, Shen Yuan ran toward home, fearing she might chase after him to give the buns back.

Wang Sanhu was stunned, then realized, "He didn't give the buns to Dagui today because he was saving them for you, Mother!"

Auntie Ping held the buns and looked at her son. "What do you mean?"

Wang Sanhu briefly explained what happened at the Xu house. Auntie Ping looked down at the buns, then back up at her son.

"Sanhu, from now on, no matter how you help Shen Yuan, Mother won't stop you anymore."

The boy had been reluctant to eat them himself and brought them all the way back. Even when he could have used them to pay a debt, he didn't; he had his heart set on saving them just for her.

Auntie Ping was incredibly moved; someone actually remembered her hard work. All the day's weariness from rushing to finish the clothes seemed to melt away.

When Shen Yuan returned home, he hugged Dongdong and the others as usual. He asked with a smile how the children's day had been and placed the millet rice he brought back on the stove.

Shen Yuan had put the soybean paste at the bottom of the bowl and covered it with the millet rice so the sauce wouldn't leak through the cloth wrap.

Dongdong and the others had never tasted soybean paste. When Shen Yuan used chopsticks to pick up some millet rice dipped in soybean paste and fed it into each child's mouth, he was rewarded with three little "hamsters" holding their cheeks in delight.

They were simply too cute; Shen Yuan couldn't help but feed them another round.

Beibei was too small and couldn't eat soybean paste for the time being. Shen Yuan thought about looking for someone selling goat's milk later so he could buy some for Beibei to drink.

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