Chapter 80 – Going to the Mountain to Collect Herbs
Ms. Zhong retrieved a carrying basket and a sickle. As she was leaving, she reminded Yan Xiaosi, “Xiaosi, don’t forget to turn over the bedding and continue drying it later. Your third sister’s leg wound hasn’t healed yet, so don’t bother her. There’s still some noodle soup in the pot. If your Big Sister, Second Sister, and I can’t make it back in time for lunch, you and your Third Sister can heat up the noodle soup in the pot and eat it.”
“Mom, I know. I won’t forget.”
Yan Xiaosi urged Ms. Zhong, Yan Shuqin, and Yan Shuxue to leave, because only after the three of them left could she go to the Tian family to meet Tian Dazhuang and go together to collect herbs on the Big Sister Peak of the Four Sisters Mountain.
Yan Shuyun was sitting in the open space in front of the broken temple, holding a ball of yarn and sewing.
About half an hour after Ms. Zhong, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuqin left, Yan Xiaosi walked up to her with a smile, “Third Sister, watch the house for me, I’m going to Dazhuang’s house.”
“Go ahead, just remember to come back at noon.”
She often went to Tian Dazhuang’s house to play, so Yan Shuyun didn’t suspect anything and readily agreed.
“I know, Third Sister, I’ll definitely be back at noon.”
Yan Xiaosi replied to Yan Shuyun and quickly left the broken temple, heading towards Tian Dazhuang’s house.
Tian Dazhuang and his mother, Ms. Wang, had just finished breakfast. Yan Xiaosi arrived at the door of the Tian family and shouted, “Dazhuang, have you had breakfast? I’m here!”
Hearing Yan Xiaosi’s voice, Ms. Wang hurriedly hid the unfinished noodles in her bowl and then asked Tian Dazhuang, “Dazhuang, what does that little bastard Yan Xiaosi want from you?”
Tian Dazhuang said, “Mom, don’t call Xiaosi a little bastard.”
Ms. Wang rolled her eyes and said, “What’s wrong with me calling him that? Isn’t he a little bastard for threatening me?”
“Ms. Tian, who are you calling a little bastard?”
Yan Xiaosi burst in without waiting for Tian Dazhuang to come out and headed straight for the Tian family’s kitchen.
Ms. Wang was startled by her sudden appearance and frowned, “Yan Xiaosi, don’t lead my Dazhuang into trouble.”
After saying this, she busied herself cleaning up the dining table, not having time to deal with Yan Xiaosi anymore.
Yan Xiaosi didn’t bother arguing with Ms. Wang and pulled Tian Dazhuang outside to talk.
“Dazhuang, did you discuss the matter I mentioned to you last night with Ms. Tian?”
Tian Dazhuang pretended not to understand and asked, “What… what matter?”
Yan Xiaosi said, “The Dragon Phoenix Soup matter. I’m telling you, that black-tailed snake has been fattened up by me, just waiting for your family’s chicken.”
At this moment, Ms. Wang was coming out with food scraps to feed the chickens.
Seeing how much Ms. Wang cherished those chickens, Tian Dazhuang felt a little uncertain, “Not… not yet, I came back late last night.”
Yan Xiaosi whispered, “Brother Dazhuang, you need to hurry up, or the black-tailed snake will grow too fat and won’t taste good.”
“Uh… okay.”
Tian Dazhuang couldn’t refuse Yan Xiaosi, and he was also a bit tempted by the Dragon Phoenix Soup, so he foolishly nodded his head.
Having finished talking about one thing, Yan Xiaosi brought up another, even more important matter.
“Brother Dazhuang, the sky is clear today. Let’s go hunting on the Big Sister Peak of the Four Sisters Mountain.”
After the rain, the mud in the fields had been softened by the rainwater. Tian Dazhuang originally planned to plow the fields with his old ox today, but seeing Yan Xiaosi’s enthusiasm for hunting on Big Sister Peak, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“Xiaosi, wait here for a moment. I’ll go inside to let my mom know and grab the hunting bow and arrows.”
Yan Xiaosi said, “Brother Dazhuang, bring a carrying basket too.”
She needed a carrying basket for collecting herbs, but all the baskets at home had been taken by Ms. Zhong, Yan Shuqin, and Yan Shuxue to chop wood.
“Alright.”
Tian Dazhuang knew that Yan Xiaosi’s real purpose for going to Big Sister Peak was to collect herbs, and he readily agreed to get her a carrying basket. Then he went to Ms. Wang to let her know.
Seeing her son approaching, Ms. Wang poured all the food scraps in her hands onto the ground for the chickens to eat, then raised her head and asked, “Dazhuang, you’ve been talking to that little bastard Yan Xiaosi for so long, what are you talking about?”
Tian Dazhuang glanced at the chickens pecking at the food scraps. He originally wanted to discuss the Dragon Phoenix Soup with Ms. Wang, but as the words reached the tip of his tongue, he didn’t have the courage to say them and swallowed them back.
“Mom, don’t make any assumptions. Xiaosi and I didn’t talk about anything.”
Ms. Wang’s mouth twitched, clearly not believing Tian Dazhuang’s words.
“That kid is very cunning, Dazhuang. Be careful and don’t fall for his tricks.”
In her two encounters with Yan Xiaosi, she thought Yan Xiaosi was as slippery as an eel.
Tian Dazhuang didn’t take Ms. Wang’s warning to heart and said, “Mom, I won’t plow the fields today. I’m going with Xiaosi to hunt on the Big Sister Peak of the Four Sisters Mountain.”
In the past, whenever Tian Dazhuang went hunting on Big Sister Peak of the Four Sisters Mountain, he would always catch a few wild chickens and rabbits to feast on. When he said he would not plow the fields today and would go hunting instead. Ms. Wang didn’t object.
“Go ahead, just come back early.”
“Alright, mom.”
Tian Dazhuang agreed and strode into his room to fetch his bow and arrows hanging inside. Then he fetched the carrying basket that Ms. Wang usually used for chopping wood and cutting grass.
Seeing him come out of the main room with the carrying basket on his back, Ms. Wang curiously asked, “Dazhuang, what are you doing with a carrying basket when you’re going hunting?”
Afraid that Ms. Wang would not agree if she knew the basket was for Yan Xiaosi, Tian Dazhuang thought quickly and found an excuse to answer, “The carrying basket is for carrying the hunted game.”
After hearing this, Ms. Wang was delighted, “Son, then bring back more game. We can sell whatever we can’t eat in town.”
Before Ms. Wang finished talking, Yan Xiaosi anxiously pulled Tian Dazhuang away from the Tian family.
She had kept the matter of collecting herbs on Big Sister Peak a secret from Ms. Zhong, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun, so she needed to get the herbs and return early.
“Auntie Tian, take your time feeding the chickens. I’m leaving with Brother Dazhuang.”
“Yan Xiaosi, don’t bully my Dazhuang.”
Seeing her leaving with Tian Dazhuang, Ms. Wang chased after them while talking.
Yan Xiaosi couldn’t be bothered to pay her any more attention and walked even faster with Tian Dazhuang.
After leaving the Tian family’s courtyard, Yan Xiaosi let go of Tian Dazhuang’s arm and said, “Brother Dazhuang, let’s take a detour to the mountain.”
The closest path to the Four Sisters Mountain passed by the broken grass temple at the edge of the village. Yan Xiaosi didn’t dare to take Tian Dazhuang there, fearing that Yan Shuyun would find out and prevent her from going to Big Sister Peak to collect herbs.
Tian Dazhuang knew what she was thinking and nodded, “Alright.”
The two took a detour to the mountain. Although it was a bit further, the road was relatively easy to walk, and they reached the mountain in no time.
Once they entered the mountain, Tian Dazhuang led the way.
Tian Dazhuang guided Yan Xiaosi, avoiding Ms. Zhong, Yan Shuqin, and Yan Shuxue who were still chopping wood in the mountain, and headed towards Big Sister Peak. As they approached Big Sister Peak, the path under their feet became very rugged, and the surrounding weeds and trees had noticeably increased.
