Chapter 10: The Hong in Yin Hongxue

Chapter 10: The "Hong" in Yin Hongxue

The pretty wild mushrooms had made it into the basket, and Gu Muan was all smiles on the way back.

Sunlight filtered down through the treetops, and the dirt-brown basket bobbed along with bright red wild mushrooms dotted with white spots.

Gu Muan, carrying the basket, was held in Chen Youyan's arms, gibbering excitedly: "Gah-gwa... ah-chee... chee!"

Chen Qing and his son, who had come up the mountain with them, were still up there. They'd brought bigger baskets to haul to town and sell for cash.

Chen Youyan had originally planned to find more as well, to have Gu Wen take them to town to sell, but since he had three kids in tow, the focus was on having fun.

Especially the little chubster in his arms—the mushrooms he'd picked later were more toxic than the one before.

When they returned, Wang Xiuxiu had already straightened up the house and fed the chickens, and was getting ready to take the ducks for a swim.

From way off, Wang Xiuxiu could already spot her little grandson's chubby, beaming face.

A gaggle of fluffy white ducks clustered around Wang Xiuxiu. When she stopped, they looked up at her, then at the group of Gu family members ahead, and quacked impatiently.

But Wang Xiuxiu had no time for them—she was too busy fussing over her sweet little grandson who'd worked so hard foraging for mushrooms.

Gu Muan also spotted Wang Xiuxiu and waved his arms excitedly, yelling a jumble of "Ah-na, Ah-nai." He was eager for Wang Xiuxiu to see the beautiful wild mushrooms in his basket and praise him for being so capable.

He wriggled around so much that Chen Youyan could barely hold him, so with an exasperated pat on his butt, he just set him down.

The morning dew was thick, and it had rained the day before, so the mountain trails were muddy and slick. Their straw sandals were soaked and caked with mud, clinging to their feet and feeling awful. Gu Chaoning took Yin Hongxue's hand, said hi to Grandma, and headed into the yard to wash their feet.

In the front yard, over to the west, there was a well, with a square patch of flat ground paved in bluestone bricks around it, connecting to the bluestone path in the yard.

That flat ground around the well hadn't always been there.

One time, after a rain, Wang Xiuxiu came to draw water, and the mud around the well was slick. She slipped and fell while carrying the bucket. The next day, Gu Daniu went and bought the bluestone bricks and paved a flat area around the well.

Now, on that flat ground sat two big wooden basins full of water—water Wang Xiuxiu had drawn that morning to let the sun warm up.

Yin Hongxue squatted down and dipped his hand in the water. It must've been drawn not long ago—even with the sun out, it was still a bit chilly.

But it was summer, and after hiking down the mountain, his body was all heated up, so the water didn't feel all that cold to him.

He cupped water in his hands to wash his face and hands, feeling a whole lot better, then glanced over at Gu Chaoning next to him.

Gu Chaoning first set the mushrooms aside, then unhurriedly tucked his clothes in, then crouched down and washed his hands and face the same way Yin Hongxue had.

The cool well water hit his face, so refreshing it felt like even the air had turned crisp.

Yin Hongxue watched him quietly, thinking Chaoning Ge moved differently from everyone else—just... just really nice to watch.

It was like he wasn't washing mud off his hands and feet at all, but rather like he had ink on his hands and was about to wash up before going to read.

Yin Hongxue kept watching quietly, slowing his own movements to copy him.

Once they'd washed their feet too, Chen Youyan came in, still holding Gu Muan's basket.

Seeing them like that, he said without thinking, "Go put on some fresh straw sandals."

The washed sandals were sopping wet, and as they walked on the bluestone path, they went "squish squish," water squirting out.

Gu Chaoning grunted in acknowledgment and took Yin Hongxue to change shoes, and grabbed a fresh pair for Chen Youyan too.

As for the wet sandals, they just left them on the flat ground by the well—the sun was strong, so they'd dry in no time.

Gu Chaoning went back to his room to read, while Yin Hongxue went to the kitchen to fetch a basin and a small stool, preparing to wash the wild mushrooms.

Chen Youyan watched him and seemed to suddenly remember something, saying, "Xue Geer, while An Geer is off with your grandmother driving the ducks, let's pick out his poisonous mushrooms, and I'll go toss them in a bit."

He didn't dare let Yin Hongxue throw them away—he'd do it himself, and he'd toss them far enough that Gu Muan couldn't find them.

"No need to toss them," Gu Chaoning said, pushing open the window and raising his voice. A sly smile curled at the corners of his mouth. "I'll talk to my little brother later. Tossing them outright would just make him cry and fuss."

That made sense, so Chen Youyan nodded, changed into fresh straw sandals, sat down beside Yin Hongxue, and left Gu Muan's poisonous mushrooms in the basket untouched while the two of them washed the rest.

They hadn't seemed like much in the basket, but once dumped out, they looked like a decent haul.

After washing, they'd have some for lunch, and the rest could be dried into dried mushrooms.

As Chen Youyan thought about it, he asked Yin Hongxue, "Xue Geer, what do you want for lunch? Stir-fry the mushrooms with chives? Want some tofu? I'll go buy some."

Neither Gu Daniu nor Gu Wen would be back for lunch—the work site provided meals, and since the wage earners weren't home, Chen Youyan and Wang Xiuxiu would keep lunch simple.

At the thought of the mushrooms' flavor, Yin Hongxue secretly licked his lips and gave a small nod.

He thought he was being discreet, but Chen Youyan saw it clearly, his beautiful eyes curving with warmth, his heart softening.

Xue Geer was usually so well-behaved and sensible, but he was secretly a little foodie too.

"Want some stewed chicken? Mushroom stewed chicken is the best," he said, not waiting for Yin Hongxue's answer, getting more and more excited until he finally declared with finality,

"Perfect—there's a rooster that's always bullying the others for food. We'll eat him tonight. Mushroom stewed chicken, with steamed rice. So fragrant your dad can eat five bowls every time."

Yin Hongxue paused, a bit confused, wondering how it had gotten to mushroom stewed chicken.

But... if mushrooms were that delicious, then stewed with chicken, how much better would that be?

Chen Youyan couldn't help but chuckle at him, then got up and walked to the rack where dried vegetables were airing, grabbing an empty bamboo tray.

"Alright, there are peanuts in the main hall. Go grab some and eat them with your Chaoning Ge. Shell a good amount—we'll make some roasted peanuts tonight too."

Roasted peanuts were made by shelling the peanuts and dry-roasting them in an iron wok over low heat, slowly drying out the moisture.

The roasted peanuts had slightly charred red skins that rubbed off with a flick of the finger, revealing pale yellow kernels with a toasted golden edge—crispy and fragrant, perfect as a snack or with wine.

As he spoke, Chen Youyan scooped the washed wild mushrooms onto the bamboo tray with his large, quick hands, cleaning them all in a few swift motions.

Yin Hongxue took a small step back to avoid the splashing water landing on his feet, his eyes as lively as a little sparrow perched on a branch.

He agreed and walked briskly toward the room where the grain was stored.

"Should I shell the same amount as last time, Dad?"

Summer humidity was high, so roasted peanuts stayed crisp for two days at most—by the third, they'd lose their crunch. Chen Youyan only ever made enough for a day or two at a time.

Yin Hongxue asked, but he first scooped out the same amount as last time.

He perked up his ears, and upon hearing Chen Youyan's affirmative reply, his face lit up with a grin as he scooped out a bit more to snack on while shelling, then trotted off toward Gu Chaoning's room.

Gu Chaoning had already heard his father's words, so when Yin Hongxue arrived with his little basket full of peanuts, the door happened to open just as he reached it.

Gu Muan used to visit Gu Chaoning's room often, so for his convenience, Gu Chaoning's room had a small chair reserved for Gu Muan. Later, when Yin Hongxue joined, another small chair was added—one exclusively for Yin Hongxue.

Yin Hongxue walked in with the peanuts and only then noticed that Chaoning Ge had already pulled out his chair.

Yin Hongxue set the peanuts on the table first, then turned and sat down on the chair.

The chair was made to match his height—though it fit him well, it sat a bit lower than the table.

Yin Hongxue reached out and took a peanut from the bamboo basket, shelling the first one and giving one to himself and one to Chaoning Ge.

But Gu Chaoning was reading, which suited Yin Hongxue just fine. He stayed quiet, simply placing the shelled peanuts by Gu Chaoning's hand—if he wanted them, he'd take them himself.

Today would have been just like any other day. Yin Hongxue was chewing on a peanut and pulling his hand back to shell another when Gu Chaoning's voice suddenly came from above him.

"At the beginning of human life?"

"Human nature is inherently good." Yin Hongxue answered without thinking.

"People's natures are similar?" Gu Chaoning didn't give Yin Hongxue time to react, immediately following up.

"But habits make them diverge." Yin Hongxue answered reflexively again.

A subtle, satisfied curve touched Gu Chaoning's usually level brows. He asked again: "Heaven and earth are dark and yellow?"

Again? This time, Yin Hongxue caught on.

The peanut slipped from his fingers and fell back into the basket.

Yin Hongxue had gone with Gu Muan to the village school to pick up Gu Chaoning before, and he'd seen the village teacher quiz students and smack their palms with a ruler.

At the mention of academics, Yin Hongxue's mind flashed to the teacher's stern face.

He nervously straightened his back, rubbing his peanut-greasy hands on his clothes, as if that might help him relax a bit.

Why was Chaoning Ge suddenly asking him questions? He just came here to eat peanuts!

But even as he thought this, on the surface he still sat up straight, hands and feet neatly tucked in, and after a moment's thought, said: "The universe is vast and boundless."

This time, Gu Chaoning's brows curved into a clearly pleased smile.

Yin Hongxue sat perfectly straight, but his eyes rolled upward, stealing a glance at Gu Chaoning. Seeing him smile, Yin Hongxue's lips curved into a grin and he finally relaxed a—

"Do you know how to write the character 'hong'?"

Yin Hongxue's sigh of relief was only half out before Gu Chaoning's next question cut it off.

Why does he keep asking! How would I know how to write! Yin Hongxue scrunched up his face without realizing it.

He could recite these because he'd picked them up while playing in Chaoning Ge's room, listening to him study. But he'd never learned to write!

Gu Chaoning let out a soft laugh at him, wondering if Yin Hongxue had picked up pouting from spending so much time with Gu Muan.

Hearing Gu Chaoning laugh, Yin Hongxue felt a wave of embarrassment and annoyance. He quietly glanced up and, when Gu Chaoning wasn't paying attention, shot him a dirty look.

Gu Chaoning pretended not to notice. He turned, picked up a piece of paper from the table, and held it in front of Yin Hongxue.

"Xue Geer, look—this is the 'hong' from 'yu zhou hong huang,'" Yin Hongxue stared wide-eyed at the complex strokes on the paper, his head spinning just from looking at it. Gu Chaoning continued, "And this is also the 'hong' in Yin Hongxue's name."

Yin Hongxue suddenly jolted with alertness, his already wide eyes growing even wider.