MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 57

At the end of autumn, the mountainside was covered with yellow and green vegetation. Wild vegetables had become scarce, and mushrooms were nowhere to be found. Along the way, Qiao Suiman spotted only three bamboo shoots, which he cut and placed into Lu Dongqing’s bamboo basket.

 

He and Qin Yu had come primarily to gather camellias and blackberries, carrying only baskets instead of bamboo hampers for easier movement.

 

Camellias are everywhere on the mountain, but there are not many in each place, so you have to walk a little further. The chestnut and hazelnut groves lay deeper in the woods, where Lu Dongqing, his younger brother, and Qiao Ruifeng ventured with the dog, while Miao Lianhua stayed with Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu to pick flowers and berries.

 

Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu were very familiar with this mountain area. They knew which places had more camellias and which places had more blackberries. Miao Lianhua actually gained a lot of knowledge by following them.

 

“Back home, we had mountains too, but by winter, they’d turn bare. You could hardly spot a bird, unlike here, where there are still such novel wild fruits,” Miao Lianhua remarked as she plucked blackberries.

 

When they had first arrived last winter, they often scoured these very hills for food. Thankfully, these mountains had sustained them.

 

She often came with the children to dig for wild vegetables. Lu Xuesong hunted pheasants and wild birds, and Lu Dongqing foraged for herbs, gathered mushrooms, and cut bamboo and timber to craft furniture. It was how they had survived those difficult days.

 

“Mn, you live by the mountain, you live off the mountain,” Qiao Suiman added.

 

He added, “Everyone in the village says this is a blessed mountain. In spring and summer, wild vegetables and mushrooms thrive, and there are many wild flowers and fruits. In the deeper parts, there are also large wild animals. Some hunters bring dogs and, if lucky enough to catch a deer, it can sell for over ten taels.”

 

However, hunting is dangerous after all. When he was poor and struggling to make ends meet, Qiao Ruifeng also considered going deep into the mountains to hunt. But he had never trained under a master, and the martial arts he knew were all learned from fighting with others. How could he compare to a seasoned hunter?

 

Even experienced hunters could meet misfortune. A few years prior, a hunter from Shanghe Village was bitten by a snake and nearly lost his life. Thus, when Qiao Ruifeng first brought up the idea, both Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu immediately rejected it.

 

Wildflowers and tea leaves were plentiful at the foot and hillsides of the mountains. Turning them into drinks to sell was safer. They weren’t living as hard as they used to, so there was even less reason to take risks.

 

As Qin Yu picked berries, he chatted with Miao Lianhua about village gossip. Miao Lianhua often visited other women and fulang to embroider and exchange news, so she knew much of the happenings in the village. Once she and Qin Yu started talking, the conversation flowed endlessly.

 

Qiao Suiman focused on gathering camellias a few zhang away from them. This area was often visited by villagers, and there were others digging for grass roots nearby. Even if he wandered off a bit, he was still within Qin Yu’s sight.

 

He nodded and smiled at the two women digging the grass roots. They were all from the same village, so it was inevitable that they would meet each other. Greeting each other was the most basic thing to do when meeting someone.

 

They had already dug up a basket full of fresh grass and grass roots. It was obvious that they were going to feed the pigs, chickens, and ducks; otherwise, they wouldn’t need so much. Qiao Suiman didn’t know these women well but recalled they also owned a donkey, which would require even more fodder.

 

The thought of soon raising poultry at home lifted Qiao Suiman’s spirits. At the very least, they wouldn’t have to worry about eggs once they had more chickens and ducks. With enough savings, they might even raise pigs or goats. However, since both he and Lu Dongqing had other work, the care of the livestock would likely fall to Lu Xuesong.

 

He had discussed it with Lu Dongqing. Lu Xuesong had been busy working on the family farmland, and it was likely that he would continue to take care of it in the future. The money for purchasing livestock would be provided by the two of them, and whatever profits were made would go to Lu Xuesong. Until then, household expenses wouldn’t be his concern.

 

Qiao Suiman once asked Lu Dongqing why Lu Xuesong hadn’t learned a craft. Lu Dongqing chuckled before answering.

 

It turned out both brothers had initially apprenticed under the village’s old bamboo craftsman. The old craftsman’s youngest grandson was taught to read and write by Lu Lai’an, who waived the tuition fees for the old craftsman’s grandson in exchange for the opportunity for his two sons to learn the craft.

 

Although Lu Dongqing was a bit of a troublemaker as a child, he was already fourteen when he began learning the craft. At that time, Lu Lai’an’s health was already declining, so Lu Dongqing knew he had to take on the responsibility of supporting his family. He followed the old bamboo craftsman as an apprentice every day, rain or shine, never missing a day.

 

However, Lu Xuesong was a person who could not sit still. Moreover, he was young and playful at that time. For him, sitting there for a whole day felt like torture. He was scolded countless times by the old bamboo craftsman and was eventually sent back.

 

Qiao Suiman had laughed heartily at the story. Considering how Lu Xuesong could chatter endlessly, it was hard to imagine him enduring the silent, meticulous work that suited someone like Lu Dongqing.

 

As for why he didn’t continue studying to pass the imperial examinations, no one knows his sons better than their father. Lu Lai’an knew very well that neither of his sons was cut out for studying. They could read and write, but as soon as he asked them to memorize and take exams, they would bury their heads in the ground.

 

He only hoped they would learn enough to understand principles and master a craft, ensuring a stable life.

 

Upon hearing this, Qiao Suiman felt a mixture of emotions. Anyone could see Lu Lai’an’s good intentions, but unfortunately, he passed away too soon.

 

Fortunately, both Lu Dongqing and Lu Xuesong were now capable men with honest livelihoods. Even though they left their hometown, they settled into this new life. Qiao Suiman knew they would want to return one day to relocate Lu Lai’an’s grave, ensuring he wouldn’t be left without offerings during the festivals.

 

Once they had picked all the camellias and blackberries in the area, they moved to another spot. By noon, they paused to eat a few steamed buns with water before resuming their work. It wasn’t until the wei shi[mfn]未时 : 1-3 PM[/mfn] did they finally filled their large baskets.

 

This haul would be enough for the drink stall all the way through the end of the year.

 

Around the time they had agreed to meet, Qiao Suiman and the others returned to the foothills where they had parted ways earlier, waiting for the others to descend.

 

Today, the Qiao household wouldn’t be cooking. Qiao Ruifeng and Qin Yu were eating in the western part of the village. It is always more lively with more people around.

 

They didn’t have to wait long before they heard Heijin’s barking in the distance, signaling that the others were close behind. The dog dashed out from the forest, showing no signs of fatigue after a full day of running. Instead, he circled Qiao Suiman and the others with a proud, expectant look.

 

However, it was the men carrying heavy bamboo baskets on their backs who were panting heavily as they tried to catch up with it.

 

“You gathered so much!” Qiao Suiman exclaimed.

 

All three of their baskets were packed full, and anything that didn’t fit was wrapped in large leaves and carried by hand.

 

Qiao Suiman took the hefty bundle of chestnuts from Lu Dongqing, then noticed the half-dead pheasant in his other hand. “And this?”

 

“Caught it with Heijin’s help,” Lu Dongqing replied, panting heavily. Though exhausted, his face was radiant with satisfaction.

 

Lu Xuesong wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned. “Xiao Man-ge, Heijin is really clever! He spotted the pheasant and quietly led us over, then helped us surround it. That’s how we caught it.”

 

“Really?” Qin Yu asked while patting Heijin’s head. “What a smart dog!”

 

Qiao Ruifeng added, “It’s true. Pity the bird panicked and crashed into a rock. I’m afraid it won’t live much longer.”

 

“What’s there to pity? Let’s just kill it now and have chestnut chicken stew for dinner!” Miao Lianhua clapped her hands. “It’s settled then!”

 

“Sounds perfect,” Lu Xuesong agreed immediately.

 

The six of them headed home, some carrying baskets on their backs, others with baskets in hand, all loaded with bounty. They drew plenty of attention along the way. They even ran into Chen Xuesheng and Wang Qi, who were returning from town. Qiao Suiman stopped to chat.

 

“So many chestnuts and hazelnuts. Did you go deep into the mountains?” Chen Xuesheng asked, eyeing their laden group.

 

“We did. The three of them went deeper in. Mother, Qin Yu-ge, and I picked flowers and fruit outside,” Qiao Suiman replied, his eyes sparkling in the golden light of the setting sun.

 

“Where are you two coming back from?” he asked Chen Xuesheng.

 

“Delivered pigs to the neighboring village and bought two jars of wine on the way,” Chen Xuesheng said, shaking the jars in his hands.

 

Butcher Wang enjoyed drinking with the village elders when he had nothing to do. Now, he is slowly letting Wang Qi take over the family business. Today, he delivered live pigs to several households.

 

Both had tasks awaiting them, so the conversation was brief, but their spirits were equally high. They were happy with their own lives, their friends were happy with theirs, and their family and friends were close by. What could be better than that?

 

After returning home, Qin Yu and Miao Lianhua started slaughtering the pheasant, while Qiao Suiman was peeling chestnuts. The thorns on the outside were very sharp, so he had to be careful.

 

Qiao Ruifeng and the others rested in the courtyard, where Lu Dongqing showed off the wooden barrel he had plastered the day before. The conversation soon meandered into other topics.

 

Meat alone wouldn’t suffice, so Qiao Suiman plucked two large cabbages from the front yard’s vegetable patch. Stir-fried with chili peppers, they would leave everyone warm and satisfied.

 

Apart from the wedding day, this was the first time Qiao Ruifeng and Qin Yu were dining at the Lu household. Qiao Suiman was extremely happy and busy running around.

 

Once rested, Lu Dongqing helped peel chestnuts. He saw no issue with it. He wasn’t a scholar bound by the notion that a gentleman should stay clear of the kitchen. If he did more himself, his fulang would have to do less, so why not?

 

They were both experienced cooks, and in less than half an hour, the two dishes were ready. When they were brought into the main room, they were still steaming hot and looked very appetizing.

 

Heijin circled them eagerly, clearly craving a share. He was the main contributor. Before Qiao Suiman could finish his meal, Lu Xuesong picked up a few pieces of meat with bones, cooled them down, and put them in his bowl, along with a steamed bun.

 

After a busy day, they finally sat down to eat. The steamed buns they had eaten at noon had long since been digested, and the hungry group buried their heads in their food.

 

The wild pheasant meat is chewy and has a hint of chestnut aroma. It is so delicious that it makes your eyebrows drop. The chestnuts are stewed until soft and tender, and when you take a bite, you can taste the aroma of chicken fat. Drizzling the broth over a steamed bun made for an unbeatable combination.

 

The cabbage was sweet and spicy, and Qiao Suiman ate until sweat beaded on his forehead. Eating such a meal on such a cold day swept away all the fatigue of the day.

 

In the end, they drank every last drop of soup, leaving nothing behind. After dinner, they chatted for a while under the moonlight, then Qiao Ruifeng carried a basket of chestnuts and walked home with Qin Yu.

 

Qiao Suiman saw them off, watching until their figures disappeared before closing the gate.

 

Lu Dongqing, who was beside him, took his hand and said, “We’ll see them again in a couple of days.”

 

“Mm, I know. I’ve never seen Da-ge and Qin Yu-ge like this before.”

 

Qiao Suiman leaned his head against Lu Dongqing’s chest as he spoke. With so many people around when they arrived, their figures seemed even more lonely as they left. Ah, at least he married nearby, so he could visit often and do business together.

 

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Author [陳皮皮梅]: Tonight, they enjoyed chestnut chicken!

 

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Translator [LUNE]: I didn’t notice before, but it turns out I scheduled both chapter 55 and 56 to be posted yesterday. (˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ ) Make sure to check it out in case you missed it.

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