Chapter 9 Gains From The Mountain Expedition
Chapter 9 Gains From The Mountain Expedition
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In ancient times, commoners were not allowed to casually discuss the royal family, and typical families avoided such topics altogether.
It seemed she would have to wait several years to learn more.
This area had crops like planted rice and corn, suggesting that these were the staple foods. In modern terms, this would be the southern regions like Yunling Chuan and Xinggang City, where white rice and corn were the primary staples. In ancient times, these places were known as Cuihua County, Rongze Province, and Zilan City.
She would come to understand all this as she grew older.
Watching Zhang Yingyue eat heartily, Song Shuying also began to feel hungry.
Zhang Yingyue’s vitality had improved significantly compared to the previous day. Although still thin, her complexion had started to brighten.
When Song Zhenyu entered to collect the bowls, he was visibly pleased to see this. He smiled and said, “Once the medicine is warm, Ruying will bring it to you. I’ll take Tianqi and Tianheng into the mountains to put the traps and gather some firewood. In a few days, I’ll go into town to ask around and see if any wealthy families want to buy firewood. Then I’ll cut some to sell.”
-Song Zhenyu explained his plan in detail to reassure Zhang Yingyue about their livelihood. He wanted her to know that he was young and strong, so he would find ways to ensure the family had enough to eat.
Zhang Yingyue understood his intentions and smiled, nodding. “Zhenyu, take some rice balls with you and be careful.”
Song Shuying looked at Song Zhenyu and smiled, cooing softly, “Ah oo ah…”
She was greeting him in her baby way.
Song Zhenyu’s expression softened as he gazed tenderly at her. “Ah, my dear Shuying. Be a good girl, and I will come back to see you later.”
Without wasting any time, Song Zhenyu gave instructions to Song Ruying and then headed into the mountains with Song Tianqi and Song Tianheng.
Living at the foot of the mountain had its conveniences despite the remote location.
At this time of year, most villagers were busy with the fall harvest, gathering their own grain and leaving no time to venture into the mountains.
-As Song Zhenyu was driven out by his parents, he didnt have to work the fields and thus had time to enter
the mountains.
After he left, Song Ruying dutifully warmed the medicine for Zhang Yingyue.
She also helped Zhang Yingyue change Song Shuying’s diapers.
Song Shuying only cried when she pooped. If she just peed, she would cry after three pees, as she could
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wed,
Chapter 9 Gains From The Mountain Expedition
tolerate that much.
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Baby pee wasn’t much, but if the diaper became too wet, it would cause discomfort and possibly lead to
rashes.
Changing the diaper promptly after three pees allowed Zhang Yingyue to recover in peace, and she wouldn’t have to worry about diaper rashes.
After eating her fill, Song Shuying would sleep.
Eating and sleeping were her main survival goals at
the
Meanwhile, Song Ruying kept busy, digging earthworms in the yard to feed the two chickens at home. At noon, she warmed up more food for Zhang Yingyue.
Thanks to the spiritual spring water, Zhang
Jue was able t
get out of bed on her own that day.
She wanted to tidy up the house, but every time she tried to
the house, but every time she tried to step out, Song Shuying would start crying.
chores. Overexertion was a leading cause of With her body still weak, it wasn’t the right time for her to do chores. Overexertion was a leading cause of early death.
Song Shuying cried so loudly and heartbreakingly that Zhang Yingyue had no choice but to return to bed to comfort her. After several attempts, she noticed that Song Shuying’s face was streaked with tears. Feeling a pang of softness in her heart, Zhang Yingyue wiped the tears away and sighed. “Shuying, are you afraid of being away from Mommy? Don’t worry, Mommy’s here.”
Song Shuying pouted and whimpered, “Wah…”
If her body was in poor condition, why bother with housework? One month of rest wouldn’t make much difference.
She didn’t need to think twice to know that her sharp–tongued grandmother had likely never allowed Zhang Yingyue to rest during her previous confinement periods.
As a result, Zhang Yingyue’s health was extremely poor. Even though the spiritual spring water provided some nourishment, true recovery would take time and care.
Without even checking her pulse, Song Shuying could tell that Zhang Yingyue’s health was fragile.
Thus, whenever Zhang Yingyue tried to do housework Song Shuying would cry.
Sighing, Zhang Yingyue soothed Song Shuying to sleep and called in Song Ruying. “Ruying, lie down with Shuying and keep her company while I tidy up the house.”
Although she couldn’t handle heavy labor, she wanted to at least clean the old well so that Song Zhenyu would have clean water to drink when he returned from a long day of work, sparing him the need to fetch water from afar.
Obediently, Song Ruying lay down with Song Shuying
When Zhang Yingyue tried to leave, Song Shuying pouted again and cried.
Ruying scrambled to soothe her. “Don’t cry, don’t cry, Shuying. I’m here. Be a good girl.”
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Chapter 9 Gains From The Mountain Expedition
Song Shuying thought to herself, I’m not listening. I’ll just keep crying.
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Her piercing, heart–wrenching cries made Zhang Yingyue’s heart ache, forcing her to give up on tidying
and return to bed.
The sobs continued.
Being a baby wasn’t easy.
Seeing that Shuying had stopped crying, Zhang Yingyue sighed. After several attempts, she realized that her youngest daughter had grown attached to her.
As Zhang Yingyue stayed with Song Shuying, Song Ruying went back outside to catch more bugs.
In the afternoon, Song Zhenyu returned with Song Tianqi and Song Tianheng, carrying several kilograms of wild chestnuts.
Song Tianqi and Song Tianheng immediately called for Song Ruying.
“Ruying, Ruying, come here. We have something for you!”
Song Tianqi pulled out two chestnuts, handling them carefully as if they were treasures. Worried that Song Ruying wouldn’t be able to crack them open, he bit into them himself and handed her the slobber- covered nuts.
Song Ruying didn’t mind. After taking the chestnuts, she wiped them casually and began peeling them to
eat.
The three squatted in the yard, happily munching away
Song Zhenyu entered the house, smiling as he told Zhang Yingyue, “Yingyue, don’t you think I’m lucky? I went into the mountains with Tianqi and Tianheng and found a wild chestnut tree. In most years, we wouldn’t have gotten any. But since everyone’s busy with the fall harvest now, the tree is all ours. I didn’t bring a basket today, so I managed to gather around two and a half kilograms. I estimate there are at least more than five kilograms left on the tree.”
Song Zhenyu was delighted. His good fortune had led him to the wild chestnut tree after he set up the traps. Normally, after the autumn harvest but before the snow, villagers would go into the mountains to gather firewood and other resources.
Chestnuts like these were rare, and anyone who came across them would gather as many as they could. But this year, with everyone busy harvesting, the chestnuts were theirs.
Zhang Yingyue was also pleased, but she gently reminded him, “Zhenyu, please be careful. Don’t climb too high, and stay safe.”
Song Zhenyu nodded with a smile. “I know. Tomorrow, I’ll bring them all back–some for us to eat and
some to sell.”
When they separated from his parents, they hadn’t received a single coin. They would also need to prepare their own winter clothes this year.
Wild chestnuts were considered a rare commodity. The ones tha
weren’t too good could be kept for
themselves, while the better ones could be sold.
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Chapter 9 Gains From The Mountain Expedition
Zhang Yingyue nodded. “Okay.”
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The good news brought joy to the whole family. Zhang Yingyue felt as though the heavens were looking favorably upon her family.
Song Zhenyu looked at Song Shuying, who was wide awake, and asked, “Was Shuying a good girl today?”
Song Shuying immediately pouted and looked pitifully at Song Zhenyu.
She whimpered a few times, glanced at Zhang Yingyue, and then back at Song Zhenyu.
She was silently tattling on her mother.
