In just over ten minutes, Chen Xiaolin had dug up the ginseng. Looking at the massive root in front of her—thicker than her own arm—she was extremely pleased.
Usually, where there’s ginseng, there’s more nearby. Chen Xiaolin searched around for a while and, sure enough, found six smaller ones.
The smaller ones were even easier to dig up. In less than half an hour, Chen Xiaolin had unearthed them with roots and soil intact.
She placed all the ginseng into her space, planning to plant them in the fertile black soil there when she returned.
After digging up the ginseng, Chen Xiaolin prepared to head back. She was now deep into the central area of the mountains, and it would take over an hour to get out from here.
She checked her watch and realized it was almost noon, so she hurried along.
To avoid raising suspicion, she carried two bundles of firewood with her. Coming down the mountain empty-handed would have looked strange.
Grandma Chen had deliberately stayed home from work today to take Chen Xiaolin around Da Qingshan Village. But after finishing the house chores and coming over, she found that Chen Xiaolin was nowhere to be seen.
At first, she thought Chen Xiaolin had gone out to play, but as it neared lunchtime and her granddaughter still hadn’t returned, she began to worry.
Grandma Chen went to the brigade office to find Uncle Chen, asking him to take Chen Mu and search for her.
Uncle Chen told Chen Mu to go up the mountain while he searched the village.
Chen Mu walked along the main road toward the mountain and happened to see Daya and Gouwa returning from cutting pig fodder. He decided to ask if they had seen Chen Xiaolin today.
“Daya, did you see a pretty girl heading up the mountain while you were cutting pig grass?”
“I saw her—a girl in a floral shirt and black pants went up the mountain from here,” Gouwa quickly answered before Daya could respond.
“Thanks! Gouwa, you two go home for lunch!” Chen Mu now had information and headed up the mountain in the direction Gouwa indicated.
Just as Chen Mu reached a fork in the path, unsure which way to go, Chen Xiaolin emerged from the deep mountains and spotted him going the other way.
“Big brother, where are you going?”
Hearing Chen Xiaolin’s voice, Chen Mu turned around quickly. “Xiaolin, you went to chop firewood? Why were you gone so long? Grandma was worried sick.”
“I just wanted to catch a wild chicken for lunch. Who knew I’d get lost?” Chen Xiaolin slyly showed Chen Mu the wild chicken hidden among the firewood.
“Let’s go back first. Otherwise, Grandma will climb the mountain looking for you. Don’t think just because you’ve learned some skills from Dad, you can boldly go deep into the mountains. There are not only wild boars but also tigers and bears in the deep mountains,” Chen Mu warned, fearing Chen Xiaolin’s boldness.
“Big brother, don’t worry! I value my life. I’ll just stay around the outer part of the mountains,” Chen Xiaolin reassured him. Although she had her space, she had no intention of going into the deep inner mountains—just wandering around the central area.
“Even in the outer mountains, be careful. If you meet a wild boar, climb a tree,” Chen Mu said. Knowing she had trained with her father, he didn’t oppose her wandering in the outer mountains.
During the famine years, large animals had retreated deeper into the mountains, so the inner central area wasn’t particularly dangerous.
Chen Mu took the firewood from Chen Xiaolin’s shoulders, and the two headed home.
When they returned, Uncle Chen was also back. Seeing Chen Xiaolin looking fine behind Chen Mu, he finally relaxed.
“Xiaolin, why are you up the mountain again? If you needed firewood, your big brother could have helped after work.” Uncle Chen worried that Chen Xiaolin wanted to do everything herself and not rely on the family. He couldn’t bear to see his only niece suffer.
“I had some free time! Look what I brought back,” Chen Xiaolin said, pulling the wild chicken from the middle of the firewood.
“Xiaolin, you’re amazing. Tonight I’ll have Auntie make you chicken soup,” Uncle Chen said proudly, remembering how much his niece loved the chicken soup his wife made.
“I had chicken soup yesterday. Today I want braised chicken with extra potatoes and mushrooms,” Chen Xiaolin said, already drooling thinking about it.
“All right, if that’s what you want, I’ll have Auntie cook it. I’ll take the chicken inside; you open the door so your big brother can put in the firewood,” Uncle Chen said, taking the wild chicken to prepare it before evening chores, as it would be too late to cook otherwise.
Just as Uncle Chen went inside, Grandma Chen hurried out of her room.
“Da Guo, has Xiaolin come back? I thought I just heard her voice.”
“Yes, look—Xiaolin caught this wild chicken with stones. She wants braised chicken tonight, and I still need to kill it,” Uncle Chen said, proudly showing the chicken to Grandma Chen.
“It’s Xiaolin who caught it, not you. Why are you so proud?” Grandma Chen ignored her foolish son and went outside to check if Chen Xiaolin had been hurt. That girl had a lot of courage, going up the mountain alone.
Back at home, Chen Xiaolin organized the items she planned to give Uncle Chen’s family. She was bringing them today since she forgot yesterday.
She planned to bring two of Chen Dazhu’s military coats for Uncle Chen and Grandpa Chen—one each. Though not brand new, they hadn’t been worn much.
Chen Xiaolin also planned to give part of Chen Dazhu’s pension to Grandpa and Grandma Chen—they were his parents, and this was theirs by right.
From her space, she took out 2,000 yuan to give to Grandma Chen.
She also took a length of army green cloth and a length of black cloth, planning to give twenty feet of each to Liu Hua.
As for Liu Xiaojuan, she decided not to give anything—after yesterday’s comment, she wasn’t going to pretend to be saintly and let it go.
Chen Xiaolin took out a military uniform never worn by Cheng Xin to give to Auntie Chen.
She also retrieved a bottle of milk powder, a gift from Liu Aihong, which she didn’t like herself, so it would go to Grandma Chen.
Finally, for Chen Mu and Chen Lin, she planned to give each a pair of liberation shoes. In her previous life, she had stockpiled plenty, so giving them away didn’t hurt.