Chapter 17: Entering the Mountain

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

When Xiao Lin arrived home, the Xiao family was about to eat when the door shouted, “Brother, sister, look, this is loach soup. It’s smells so good!”

Xiao Sheng took the bowl and placed it on the table. He asked curiously, “Didn’t you go to exchange candies? Did someone from the dormitory give it to you?”

“Yes, Sister Yu gave it to me.”

Xiao Li was fed a mouthful and said in surprise, “It’s so tasty! Brother, Second Brother, try it.”

The two of them took turns drinking it and realized that it was indeed tasty. The families that were slightly more well-off would occasionally fry them to eat. There were once people who wanted to make soup, but there were too many bones and too little meat, and the fishy taste was too strong. Other than during the famine in the past, no one would take the initiative to eat it if they had a choice.

Xiao Sheng suddenly had a thought and asked, “Do you know who made this loach soup?”

Xiao Lin stuffed sweet potatoes into his mouth and replied, “Sister Yu made it. She’s in charge of cooking in the dormitory.”

Xiao Sheng immediately thought of the girl he had met twice. “Is it the girl who is a little pale and very thin?”

Xiao Lin nodded.

Xiao Sheng thought about his plan and decided to observe first.

After another 10 days, the harvesting finally ended. The village gave everyone two days of leave.

The few people in the dormitory couldn’t help but rejoice. When they came, they had already reached the latter half of the harvesting process. If they participated the entire time, they would probably shed a few layers of skin.

However, because Yu Bing fed them a healthy diet and her culinary skills were good, although everyone felt tired, they were still in good spirits.

At this moment, there was already a large basin of conchs that had been saved for half a month. The soil in the conchs had also been spat out. Yu Bing suggested that while they were resting tomorrow, everyone should go to the back of the mountain to take a walk. They would pluck some purple conch leaves to stir-fry the meat and see what food there was in the forest.

The next day, everyone woke up naturally. Because Yu Yan had left early in the morning, everyone was happy that they didn’t have to travel with her.

After everyone in the dormitory woke up, they ate some sweet potatoes together and set off for the mountain. The bottled up emotions from when they were busy for half a month were vented during the climb.

Yu Bing had seen people from the village picking purple root leaves on the mountain, so she suggested it. However, after everyone walked around for more than half an hour, they didn’t see any. Instead, they harvested some wild apples that were sour and sweet.

After everyone picked dozens of apples, they accidentally discovered a huge hornet’s nest on another tree branch. They were instantly excited.

In this era, sugar was valuable, and honey was even more valuable. Those who had honey couldn’t bear to eat it themselves. They would only take it out to brew a cup of honey water for their guests when there were guests at home.

Therefore, even though they knew that it was very dangerous to poke a hornet’s nest, they still didn’t want to give up. Yu Bing felt that it was too dangerous, but she couldn’t dissuade everyone, so she let them fiddle around while she walked around to see if she could find purple leaves.

Yu Bing walked further and further away and discovered a small patch of purple perilla. She pulled out a large bunch of it by the roots and planned to transplant it into the ground of the dormitory. However, when she walked back, she realized that she was lost. After wandering around for more than ten minutes, she still couldn’t find her way back. She felt a little flustered.

At this moment, there was a rustle not far away. Yu Bing followed the sound and walked over. She didn’t expect to meet Xiao Sheng, who was untying a rabbit. The two of them looked at each other.

Xiao Sheng’s eyes flashed, and when Yu Bing saw the rabbit in Xiao Sheng’s hand, she couldn’t help but lament her bad luck.

In the era of collectiveism, prey could be eaten or sold by one’s own family. The premise was that they weren’t discovered. Once they were discovered and reported, they would be captured, beaten, and insulted at the village meeting. The person who reported them would be honored for his glorious deed.

At this moment, many thoughts flashed across Xiao Sheng’s mind. Would this girl who had just arrived in the countryside report him for meritorious service? However, he couldn’t be arrested. Otherwise, what would happen to his siblings? Would he have to kill her to silence her or frame her?

Yu Bing looked at Xiao Sheng’s sharp gaze and felt a little afraid. The difference in strength between the two was too great. There was definitely no need to think about fighting. She immediately made her intentions clear. She had to make the other party believe that she wouldn’t report him for so-called meritorious service.

Yu Bing forced a smile on her stiff face. “Hello, I almost fell a while ago. Thank you for helping me. I didn’t have the time to thank you last time.”

Seeing that Xiao Sheng didn’t speak and only stared at her as he walked over, Yu Bing hurriedly said, “Don’t worry, I’m very tight-lipped. This time, just take it as… take it as me repaying you for saving my life last time.”