Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Zhao Xuehai knew the way like the back of his hand, leading the three adults through winding mountain trails. After about half an hour of winding around, they managed to reach the hillside without encountering a single person, and slipped into a cave hidden behind some bushes and weeds.

Inside the cave, firewood and dry grass were piled against the wall, along with a half-broken small vat filled with water. Next to it was a small, lidded, broken pot that surprisingly contained over a dozen sweet potatoes.

The three adults exchanged a look, their expressions complicated. This really was a secret base, one they used all the time.

Shen Wenyi couldn't help blurting out, "Hold up, you kids have been sneaking up this mountain a lot, haven't you? You're practically settling down here! You've got some guts. I was gonna say earlier—that wild boar was right there. Weren't you scared you wouldn't kill it and it'd come charging at you? And the way you shot those arrows, you've been practicing a ton, huh?"

Since none of the sharp cookies were around, Zhao Xuehai, though clever, was naturally carefree. He just grinned, not seeing the big deal: "We usually practice climbing trees and shooting arrows. Sometimes when we're hungry, we roast sweet potatoes in the cave, or rabbits and pheasants. Like the saying goes, 'A horse won't get fat without a midnight snack.' If I didn't sneak food, would I have gotten this tall?"

Shen Guoqiang frowned and asked, "Sneaking up the mountain like this, aren't you scared of getting hurt?"

Zhao Xuehai waved a hand, brushing it off: "What's there to be scared of? We've got Xiao Yue. Haven't you noticed? She's been getting stronger and faster. I'm not bragging, but all three of you together probably couldn't take her."

The three adults' mouths twitched, thinking, why the heck would we want to beat her?

Shen Guoqiang just shook his head: "That doesn't mean it's totally safe. You still need to be careful."

Shen Guoqing had a pretty weird take on it: "You really should be careful up there. What if you run into something bad? I've always thought that Educated Youth Hu might've run into something like that. Otherwise, why's she always acting so weird?"

Shen Guoqiang just felt a headache coming. The kids were bold and reckless, and the grown-up couldn't let go of his superstitious nonsense. He sometimes worried his brother might spout that stuff at the factory, which could cost him his job, or worse, get him sent to reeducation through labor.

He glared at Shen Guoqing: "You're a grown man, how can you still talk like that?!"

Shen Guoqing wanted to argue, but after one look at his brother's face, he wisely shut up.

After stashing the wild boar, Zhao Xuehai led them down a side path. They waited at a fork in the trail, and soon Shen Banyue and the others came down.

This trip up the mountain felt way too "quick and dirty." They hadn't even looked around much before bagging a wild boar. So after hiding it, the whole group came down the mountain with empty baskets. When they ran into commune members on the way, everyone was puzzled, wondering if they'd just gone up and come right back down, or if they hadn't found a thing.

The thing was, after catching a big wild boar, nobody felt like messing around in the mountains anymore.

At the bottom of the mountain, they ran into Hu Huaihua. Ever since that whole thing at Shen Guoqing's wedding, she'd unilaterally "cut ties" with Shen Guoqiang and Shen Guoqing, pretending she didn't see them on the road. But today, out of the blue, she actually smiled at Shen Guoqing.

Shen Guoqing felt a chill go down his spine. He turned to Shen Guoqiang and whispered, "You think she's possessed?"

Shen Guoqiang was speechless: "..."

I think you're the one who's cursed.

Shen Guoqiang, being a good-hearted guy, took the initiative to say hi since she'd shown goodwill first. But Hu Huaihua ignored him, rolled her eyes, turned her head, and walked off.

Shen Guoqiang was baffled, while Shen Guoqing muttered, dead serious, "I told you she's possessed."

Shen Guoqiang was speechless.

When they got home, Wang Guizhi was squatting by the wall, gutting fish. Seeing them all come back empty-handed, she said in surprise, "No way, you didn't even find a single mushroom?"

Xiao Dizi immediately ran over, crouched beside the old lady, cupped her hands around her mouth, and whispered mysteriously, "Grandma, big sis and big bro caught a huge wild boar. It was black and went 'oink oink.' It was so scary, slurp."

Wang Guizhi couldn't help but laugh. Oh my, how terrifying—it even made the little one drool.

Xiao Dizi quickly started dropping hints, asking if the wild boar would be made into braised pork, cured into bacon, or turned into pancakes... She listed all the dishes she wanted to eat, then realized the boar was still on the mountain and couldn't be eaten yet. So she started asking Wang Guizhi where the fish came from and whether it would be made into fish soup or braised fish.

Wang Guizhi was amused by the little foodie. She lowered her voice and said the fish was a gift from Nie Yuanbai, then added that she had already traded for a piece of tofu. She planned to make two dishes: fish head stewed with tofu and braised fish body.

Xiao Dizi's eyes lit up. She trotted around on her short legs, determined to watch the fish being cooked.

After coming down the mountain, Zhou Yaoyao seemed a bit listless and rested in the house for a while.

At lunch, Shen Guoqing brought her a bowl of fish soup. As soon as he set it in front of her, she covered her mouth and dry-heaved. Shen Guoqing was worried and suggested taking her to the commune health clinic after lunch to see Dr. Fang. Wang Guizhi thought for a moment and told him to ride his bike to the neighboring brigade to fetch the barefoot doctor.

The barefoot doctor from the neighboring brigade came from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. His grandfather had been skilled in medicine, and he had studied under him for a few years as a child. He was fully capable of treating common ailments like headaches, fevers, and even stabilizing pregnancies.

The doctor, surnamed Xu, took Zhou Yaoyao's pulse, raised an eyebrow, and said with a smile, "It's good news."

Even though Wang Guizhi had suspected as much, hearing the doctor confirm it filled her with joy: "She's really pregnant?"

Doctor Xu nodded: "Just under two months. The mother's constitution is good. Just ensure proper nutrition and rest. No need for medication."

Shen Guoqing was stunned. When he came to his senses, he grabbed Doctor Xu's hand, nearly pulling the thin, middle-aged man off his chair. Fortunately, Shen Banyue reacted quickly and steadied him, allowing Doctor Xu to barely keep his footing.

Unaware of his near mishap, Shen Guoqing held the doctor tightly and asked loudly, "Really? Yaoyao is pregnant? I'm going to be a father?!"

Doctor Xu, apparently used to such emotional family members, remained calm despite nearly falling. He nodded gently: "Yes, I'm quite accurate with pregnancy pulses. But if you want to be sure, you can go to the county hospital for a check-up. The health clinic might not have the equipment."

Shen Guoqing probably only heard the "yes." The rest likely didn't register. He muttered ecstatically, "I'm going to be a father, I'm going to be a father..."

It was Zhou Yaoyao who couldn't stand it anymore. She slapped him on the back and said, "Let go of Doctor Xu!"

Shen Guoqing nodded repeatedly: "I'll let go, I'll let go. Whatever you say, I'll do it."

Wang Guizhi fetched some red paper from the house, wrapped three yuan in it, and gave it to Doctor Xu. The amount far exceeded the consultation fee, but since it was a happy occasion, Doctor Xu accepted it with thanks.

Wang Guizhi and Shen Guoqiang saw Doctor Xu out. Shen Guoqing helped Zhou Yaoyao back to the room as if she were a precious treasure. Xiao Dizi followed, curiously leaning on the bed, and asked Zhou Yaoyao, "Auntie, are you going to have a baby? That means I won't be the youngest in the family anymore, right? I'll be a big sister too, won't I?"

Zhou Yaoyao smiled and patted the little one's head: "Yes, from now on, Xiao Dizi will be a big sister too." Her periods had always been irregular, so even though she was over half a month late, she hadn't thought much of it. Over the past two or three years, she had experienced this bittersweet hope too many times.

In truth, she wasn't unaware of how others gossiped about their marriage. Not to mention others, Ma Guangrong and Hu Caidie had had a child soon after their wedding and were now pregnant with a second. Every time they talked about children in front of her, they would indirectly mock her, calling her a "barren hen."

As a medical worker herself, she naturally didn't blame herself for not conceiving, unlike the village women. She and Shen Guoqing had been checked at the county hospital. Both were fine. The doctor said some people conceive easily, while others don't, and it's all normal. Besides, they were living apart. The doctor advised them to relax and assured them that children would come.

But it's easy to stay relaxed for a year or two. After three or four years, even someone as cheerful and outspoken as Zhou Yaoyao found it hard to endure.

During the day at the health clinic, she could shut down Ma Guangrong and Hu Caidie's provocations. But at night, she couldn't help feeling lost and frustrated, wondering why having a child was so easy for others but so hard for her.

Unexpectedly, the child had come quietly.

Zhou Yaoyao couldn't help but recall what Shen Guoqing had said—that the two little girls at home were little fairy children who brought good luck. She smiled. Maybe it was true. She hadn't been back for months, and now she had received such good news.

Shen Banyue thought about going up the mountain again at night to bring the boar back. Wouldn't that mean they couldn't eat fresh meat today? While Xiao Dizi was busy asking Zhou Yaoyao questions, she called Lin Mian. Each carrying a bamboo basket and a machete, they went up the mountain again.

The cave was filled with a pungent smell of blood. Shen Banyue took out a bag of lime powder she had bought from the commune and poured it at the hidden entrance. The strong smell would help drive away wild animals.

Then she and Lin Mian entered the cave. They circled the wild boar, discussing which parts to cut and bring back.

"Cutting off a leg shouldn't cause too much blood loss," Lin Mian said, frowning as he approached the problem with the seriousness of studying a physics puzzle.

Shen Banyue was much more casual. As soon as Lin Mian finished speaking, she swung her machete and chopped off one of the boar's hind legs. With a deft twist of the blade between bone and flesh, the leg "left home" from the body.

Lin Mian asked eagerly, "Sister Yue, how are you so skilled at deboning? Do you have any special techniques?"

Shen Banyue sharpened her blade for the second leg, chopping as she spoke: "I watched Uncle Wang when they butchered the New Year's pig. Hehe, I learned by stealth."

Lin Mian didn't find it odd at all that a child would watch someone butcher a pig to learn. He nodded seriously, thinking to himself that he hadn't been observant enough in daily life. He hadn't even realized Sister Yue had already learned how to butcher a pig. Truly, knowledge is everywhere in life.

As he thought, he carefully wrapped the severed leg in dry grass and placed it into his bamboo basket.

After cutting off all four legs of the wild boar, Shen Banyue took a look at its now "missing limbs" form and then sliced off its ears and tail.

The wild boar's tail was a bit short, but it was better than nothing—she'd stew it later for Xiao Dizi to chew on.

Each carrying two pig legs on their backs, the two of them left the cave, reapplying the camouflage as they went. After walking a stretch, they casually cut some firewood and brush to cover the bamboo baskets, and that was that—time to head home.

There was no need to deliver any to Shen Wenyi and Zhao Xuehai's homes; they'd just give them a few catties of wild boar meat later quietly. Otherwise, it'd be too obvious, and Shen Zhenxing and Zhao Yongjun might find it hard to turn a blind eye even if they wanted to. They smoothly delivered one pig leg to Shen Wendong's house, then carried the remaining three legs back home.

Xiao Dizi was still chattering away with Zhou Yaoyao, and Shen Guoqing was also still in the house. The old couple and Shen Guoqiang had probably gone to the private plot—no one was in sight.

Shen Banyue just pulled Lin Mian over to process the three pig legs. The wild boar's bristles were rock-hard; they had to singe them over a fire first, then scrape them clean with a knife. Splitting along the hoof cracks with a chop, they hacked the two trotters into small pieces with loud thuds.

Lin Mian tended the fire while Shen Banyue did the cooking. They quickly got the trotters stewing, throwing in a handful of dried mushrooms that had been soaked in boiling water, along with some star anise they'd traded from Sister Li.

Before long, the whole yard was filled with a rich, mouthwatering aroma of braised meat.

The two adults and one kid inside finally snapped out of it and came running out.

Zhou Yaoyao, who was dry-heaving all through lunch, felt her mouth started watering at the smell of the meat. Following Shen Guoqing into the kitchen, she couldn't help leaning in for a look when he lifted the lid. Wow, the meat was cleaned perfectly, and the scent was even stronger up close.

"You guys hauled the wild boar back? When did you go? And it's already stewed?" Shen Guoqing was totally stunned. Not only were these kids bold, but they worked incredibly fast!

Shen Banyue explained that they'd only brought back the four legs, then added, "We gave one to Shen Wendong, stewed two, and kept the last one for Auntie to take back home."

Though pig legs had a lot of bone, around here, they're seen as a fancier gift than just plain pork. Zhou Yaoyao usually stayed at her family's home, and while it was still her own home, she was married off. She often had to bring stuff to cover her food and rent, so giving her a pig leg was the best choice.

Shen Guoqiang and Xiao Dizi can just take meat back—less bone, lighter, so they can carry more.

Even though they hadn't given pig legs to Shen Wenyi and Zhao Xuehai, they'd definitely call them over for a meal later. When they cured the meat, they'd save some for them too, so they could occasionally find an excuse to take some meat home.

Zhou Yaoyao felt awkward hanging around the kitchen waiting for the meat, so after a few words, she came out with Shen Guoqing.

The rich meat smell was so comforting that she no longer felt queasy. As Shen Guoqing grabbed a stool to chop firewood, she sat nearby in the sun and sighed, "Xiao Yue already has the vibe of the head of the household."

They'd been married for years, so Shen Guoqing knew she didn't mean anything by it—just an observation. He glanced toward the kitchen door and whispered, "You know, ever since Xiao Yue came here, I've felt she's meant for big things."

Zhou Yaoyao laughed, leaned in and whispered back, "Funny, I think so too."

The couple exchanged smiles.

Shen Banyue, the one meant for big things, once the meat was nearly done, scooped out a small bowlful and gave two pieces to Xiao Dizi, who'd been staring at the pot, pretending to help Lin Mian with the fire. After the little one finished eating, she sent her to call everyone from the Zhao and Shen homes for dinner, while she continued cooking the rest of the dishes.

By the time dinner was over, it was dark. This time, the kids didn't have to lift a finger. Shen Guoqiang, Shen Guoqing, Shen Wenyi, and Shen Zhenhua, who had just finished his shift, hauled back the "half-tailed" wild boar in no time.

But once the boar was brought in, the four adults were clueless—none of them knew how to butcher a pig.

In the end, Shen Banyue showed off her half-baked "butchering" skills, thanks to her strength, fast knife work... and a ton of experience hacking zombies. Not only did she quickly and neatly break down the boar, but she also kept the yard from getting all bloody and messy.

The adults were dumbfounded all over again, and started wondering if they'd been too neglectful of this kid.

Look at all the random stuff she'd picked up over the years!

After dividing the pork, Shen Banyue grabbed a lunchbox full of stewed trotters and a chunk of raw meat, about two or three catties, then headed out.

Under the cover of darkness, she ran to the back of the cowshed and whistled toward it. Before long, Nie Yuanbai came running over from the other end.

"Why are you out here so late at night?" Nie Yuanbai slipped into the weeds and crouched beside Shen Banyue.

Though the girl was strong and could handle most people, she was still a child, and going out at night always raised concerns about safety.

But Nie Yuanbai figured it out as soon as he asked—he caught the tempting smell of meat in the air and grinned right away. "Ah, so you brought me some meat."

Shen Banyue handed him the lunchbox and the raw meat, which was casually wrapped in a rotten cabbage leaf. "The lunchbox has trotters, still warm—you can have them as a late-night snack. Don't salt the raw meat, just eat it in a few days. We have more at home, and I'll bring you some after it's cured."

Nie Yuanbai chuckled. "Auntie Wang said this morning you guys went up the mountain. You didn't bag a whole wild boar, did you?"

Shen Banyue grinned. "Lucky, real lucky."

Nie Yuanbai shook his head and smiled wryly. Wild boars weren't something just anyone could take down—it took real skill.

Shen Banyue beamed. "Bringing you meat is just a side thing. I mainly came to tell you that Uncle Guoqiang and my uncle have agreed to help us find old tractor parts. Comrade Nie Yuanbai, it's all on you now!"

Nie Yuanbai snorted. "On me? What can these old bones do? It's mainly up to you all. You'd better take the chance to learn more about the principles and knowledge!"

Shen Banyue stood up from the weeds, dusting off her pant legs. "Comrade Nie Yuanbai, you're far from being old bones. My grandma doesn't even admit she's old bones—if someone says she's too old to work, she'll argue with them. You're in your forties, the prime of life for striving. Keep it up!"

With that, she turned and sauntered off without looking back.

Nie Yuanbai crouched in the half-dry weeds for a while longer, then suddenly laughed out loud.

What did she mean by "forties being the prime of life"? This girl always had the oddest phrases.

The next morning, Wang Guizhi got up early to make the pancakes Xiao Dizi had been craving. Shen Guoqiang also rose early, finishing a round of chores—filling every water vat in the house—before heading into the kitchen to talk to Wang Guizhi.

"I've been meaning to mention this for a couple of days. One family in our compound has been transferred, and I've already submitted an application to the factory. I reckon they'll approve a housing swap for us, so we'll have more space. How about you, Dad, and the kids—Xiao Yue and Xiao Mian—come to Jiangcheng?"

Wang Guizhi kneaded the dough as she replied, "When we split the family property, it was agreed that your dad and I would stay with Guoqing. Have you forgotten?"

Shen Guoqiang waved it off. "Back then, I thought Guoqing could look after you in the village. But now he's in the county, and Xiao Zhou will likely go there too if she gets the chance. So there's no need for Guoqing to support you in your old age. Wouldn't it be better to come to Jiangcheng instead of the county?"

"We're not going anywhere. I've seen your factory compound—even if you swap houses, it's just moving from a sparrow's nest to a chicken coop, still cramped enough to bump into each other. And what would the four of us—old and young—eat in Jiangcheng? Could we get by on you and your wife's rations?"

Wang Guizhi thought his idea was completely unworkable. "Besides, look at us these past few years—we've been doing fine. Sure, your dad and I work the fields and earn work points, but most of the household chores are handled by the kids. They're actually the ones taking care of us! Don't worry about us overworking. The four of us—grandparents and grandchildren—are living well."

Shen Guoqiang frowned. "Mom, but this will hold Xiao Yue and Xiao Mian back. You don't want them spending their days just catching fish and pigs, do you? And as they grow up, they'll be harder to manage. What if something happens up the mountain..."

He paused, then said, "In the city, at least they won't be exposed to dangerous things."

Wang Guizhi was silent for a long time. Having escaped from the jaws of death herself, she was open-minded about many things and rarely restricted the kids.

His words didn't sit well with her—it felt like he was implying that any danger the kids might face was due to her indulgence. But after thinking it over, she sighed softly. Her second son was a kind, conscientious man who worried too much, and his concerns weren't entirely baseless.

"Let me think about it," she finally said.

Their argument didn't disturb anyone. Once the porridge was cooked and the pancakes were ready, Shen Guoqiang went to wake everyone else.

After breakfast, the two brothers each took their wives and children back to the city. Shen Banyue and Lin Mian saw them off at the village entrance. Xiao Dizi pouted as she said goodbye, her eyes red but holding back tears, clutching Shen Banyue's sleeve and saying she'd be back in a few days.

Back at the factory, Shen Guoqiang and Shen Guoqing immediately started asking around about old tractors.

The Luoyang Tractor Factory, known as the First Tractor Factory, was enormous. The person Shen Guoqing knew happened to be in the technical workshop. When he heard that a bunch of half-grown kids wanted to build their own tractor, he thought it was a bit far-fetched.

Still, he was heartened by the kids' enthusiasm for tractors. His factory naturally had no scrap machines, but he offered to send over some basic, non-confidential materials.

Shen Guoqiang had better luck. The state-owned farm under Jiangcheng's jurisdiction did have old, unused tractors—more than one, in fact. These old clunkers were unusable and unrepairable, but too valuable to throw away, so they'd been piled up in a storage warehouse.

When Director Liao of the state farm heard that Shen Guoqiang wanted to buy them, he was overjoyed. But as a fellow state enterprise, his conscience pricked him, so he honestly said over the phone:

"They're just a pile of scrap metal. Getting them working again would take a lot of effort and money—it's not worth it, or we wouldn't have left them sitting. But even as scrap, they're heavy, so selling them as scrap iron would still fetch a decent price. Plus, they cost a fortune when new, so we can't sell them cheap. If you want to buy, I'm happy to sell, but it's really not a good deal."

Shen Guoqiang paused for a few seconds, then said, "That's fine. I have money."

Director Liao: "..."

So he was volunteering to be a sucker.