Faced with this string of questions, Ye Qing steadied herself before answering. “I did go up the mountain alone, but it wasn’t out of reckless courage. As you all know, I married here from another village. Back at my parents’ home, they favored my younger brother and rarely gave me enough to eat. I grew up always hungry, so from childhood I’d sneak up into the hills to search for food.”
“I spent so much time there that I know the mountains better than most people. That’s why I went up today—to look for something to eat.”
Hearing this, Tian Xingfa felt a pang of pity, and for a moment did not know whether to speak harshly to scold her.
Ye Qing continued, “As for finding my way around—well, that’s simple enough. Right from the start, I marked my path by stacking stones into small piles. As long as I followed those marks, I could find my way back out.”
Tian Xingfa fell even more silent. All of them had grown up in these mountains, so of course they knew to leave markers. The real problem was that when you were alone, fear would creep in, especially once darkness fell and the signs became hard to spot. Panic made people wander aimlessly—and that was how so many got lost forever.
Finally, Ye Qing smiled. “There’s one more thing I haven’t mentioned: ever since I was little, I’ve always been stronger than most people. Before, I never had enough to eat, so my strength faded. But now here in the Xiao household, I’m well fed and my energy has come back. That’s why I felt confident enough to go alone.”
“Mom, I’m sorry I made you all worry so much. I only went looking for food, hoping to bring back a nice surprise for everyone.”
She turned to the brigade leader as well. “And I’m truly sorry for putting you all to such trouble this late. I gathered some wild vegetables up there—would you all like to take some home and try them?” With that, she reached to unstrap her basket.
Tian Xingfa naturally refused. “You keep it for your own family. But listen carefully—from now on, be more cautious. Even if you are strong, you must never go into the mountains alone. What if you ran into a bear? Next time, take someone from the village or one of the men in your family with you. And don’t go deep into the woods. You were lucky this time, but who can say luck will hold out again?”
“All right, I understand. I’ll be much more careful in the future,” Ye Qing replied simply and without argument.
The villagers meant well, and so did the brigade leader—there was nothing to be gained from talking back. She would agree to their faces for now; once she went up more often and returned safely every time, they would soon realize she knew her way around and stop worrying.
“Since we’ve found her safe and sound, everyone may head home,” Tian Xingfa announced, glancing at the militiamen behind him. “It’s getting late, and you all have work tomorrow.” He waved for the young men to turn in their rifles and go rest, then brought up the rear of the group.
Before leaving, he warned Ye Qing once more, “Take care, and don’t be so foolishly bold again.”
When he saw her nod, he said a few comforting words to the Xiao family, then followed the militiamen back toward the village.
The Xiao family stayed behind. Chen Xiuzhi shot Ye Qing a sharp look and spoke in a tight voice. “Hand your basket over to Xiao Lei. All of you, come with me—we’ll talk about this once we’re inside.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and marched toward the house, her stride firm and heavy, looking like a walking barrel of gunpowder ready to ignite.
Xiao Lei and Xiao Yang hurried after her. They had worked all day and spent the evening searching, without a drop of water or a bite of food since afternoon. The faces of the three of them were drawn tight with worry and frustration.
Ye Qing’s basket was taken from her, leaving her hands free and her steps light. Glancing back, she saw Xiao Yang bringing up the rear, his expression shifting between deep thought and concern, as he kept turning his head to look at her.
Ye Qing blinked at him with a questioning look. He quickly turned away and said nothing.
No one spoke the rest of the way. Just as they neared the small courtyard at the foot of the hill, Shi Fengxia stepped closer, clutching her stomach, her tone cold and sharp. “Do you have any idea how frantic Mother was when we came home from work and found you gone? We searched every corner of the village. If Little Yan hadn’t told us she’d seen you heading for the mountains, Mother would have cried from worry.”
“We found her, and she said she tried to stop you—but you wouldn’t listen. Ye Qing, Ye Qing… even a child like Little Yan knows better than to go into the mountains alone. How can someone your age be so thoughtless?” Her voice grew more and more reproachful.
Ye Qing stopped walking and turned to meet her sister-in-law’s gaze directly. “Shi Fengxia—have I ever given you trouble since I woke up?”
Shi Fengxia was taken aback. “What do you mean by that?”
“I’m asking if there’s ever been bad blood between us. Apart from that one argument over the betrothal gifts right after I regained consciousness, have I done anything else to offend you? If you want to talk, talk plainly. But if you keep speaking to me with hidden barbs and sarcasm, I’ll answer you in exactly the same way from now on.” Ye Qing was done dancing around the subject.
She looked Shi Fengxia up and down, then added meaningfully, “Do you even realize what kind of face you’re making right now?”
Shi Fengxia touched her cheek instinctively. “What face?”
“Nasty, and just a little bit pleased to see me in trouble,” Ye Qing said with a yawn. “You’re already more than six months pregnant—the baby inside you is starting to develop awareness. Try to set a good example instead of being so petty.”
She glanced around to make sure no one was passing by in the dark, then went on. “There are only five of us in this household—five and a half, counting the baby. We’re dirt poor, not wealthy landowners fighting over property. Why do you always have to speak to me with such sharpness?”
“I haven’t harmed you, and I don’t intend to sit around eating without working. Can’t we just get along nicely? Why the constant needling?”
At first Shi Fengxia felt angry and embarrassed, but as she thought over Ye Qing’s words, she realized she actually had nothing against the girl personally. She even admired her frank, open manner. Her resentment only stemmed from the earlier disagreement over the dowry, and the fact that Ye Qing had stayed home these past few days instead of going out to work in the fields.
Now that it was laid bare, Shi Fengxia fell silent. She walked alongside Ye Qing, and the two began chatting casually, though not quite smoothly.
“All the same, you shouldn’t have gone deep into the mountains alone. If something had happened and you died up there, no one would even know. Take my advice—go inside and apologize quickly. Mother is truly furious. In the more than two years I’ve been married into this family, I’ve never seen her look so grim.”
Ye Qing walked on and asked, “Why are they all so upset? I went up there only to find food for the family. Do you all really enjoy eating the same plain meals every day? I can tell you’re all still hungry.”
She was genuinely confused.
Shi Fengxia looked at her strangely. “It’s because they care about your safety! What good things could you possibly find all by yourself? Is it worth risking your life just for a few vegetables?”
She paused and added, “When I first married in, Mother told me that from that day on I was part of the Xiao family and would be treated like her own daughter. And she was right—these past two years, we’ve never had a single serious quarrel, and she has always looked after me well. If her own daughter had gone off alone into the mountains to do something so dangerous, do you think she wouldn’t be angry and afraid?”
Ye Qing fell quiet. After so many years living through the apocalypse, this was the first time anyone had ever worried this much for her safety. That feeling had been distant and forgotten for so long—but honestly, it wasn’t unpleasant to know someone cared whether she came back or not.
They had only exchanged a few words when they reached the Xiao family’s courtyard at the foot of the hill. As soon as they stepped inside, Shi Fengxia complained loudly that she was hungry and wanted her supper.
Chen Xiuzhi’s face remained stern. “We’ll talk about supper later. It only takes a few minutes to boil cornmeal porridge—there’s no rush. Everyone come here. You too, Lei and Yang. I have something to say to all of you.”
Everyone knew this was about Ye Qing’s trip up the mountain. They exchanged glances, then filed into the main room.
Chen Xiuzhi sat alone on the brick bed. She paid no attention as her two sons entered, nor when Shi Fengxia sat down beside her—her eyes were fixed only on Ye Qing as she walked in.
As soon as Ye Qing stood still, Chen Xiuzhi spoke sharply. “Girl, do you realize now what you did wrong? Do you know how many people we had to rouse just to search for you? We nearly sent the whole militia up the mountain. Do you dare go off alone again?”
Tian Xingfa was an outsider, so there had been no need to tell him everything. But with Chen Xiuzhi, Ye Qing knew she should be honest with her own family.
She pulled over a small stool and sat down. “I know I was wrong to leave without saying a word. But I will still go up again.”
“Good that you admit it—that’s what a good child does!” Chen Xiuzhi said, looking relieved and ready to lecture her. “You have no idea how terrified I was today. You only just regained your strength—why would you risk your life like that? Do you know that by this time of year, all the bears have woken up from hibernation?”
Halfway through speaking, her expression changed. Her eyes widened in shock. “Wait—what did you just say? You’ll go again?”
She slammed her hand down on the table. “Why is it you never listen to a word anyone says?”
Chen Xiuzhi felt her chest ache with anger. She rubbed her temples and tried to reason with her. “Why do you keep running off to the hills? Wouldn’t it be better to work in the fields with us? At least it’s safe. If you truly enjoy the mountains, we’ll all go together on our next day off.”
Seeing Ye Qing’s stubborn look, Chen Xiuzhi felt a throbbing pain in both her chest and her head.
Sitting beside his mother, Xiao Lei thought carefully about how to handle this new sister-in-law. He spoke in a firm tone. “Starting tomorrow, you will work in the fields with us. Once the work load eases up, I’ll let Xiao Yang take time off to go with you. Going into the mountains alone is no small matter.”
“Wait—where do you think you’re going? I haven’t finished speaking yet!” Xiao Lei called out, as Ye Qing suddenly jumped up and hurried toward the door. The whole family stared, bewildered.
“Where did I leave the basket I brought down?” Ye Qing called back over her shoulder. “I have a surprise to show you all.”
She knew from their long speeches that words alone would not convince them. The only way to make them understand was to prove she really could find food up there. That was when she remembered the pheasant she had caught.
Ye Qing brought the basket inside and began rummaging through it. First she pulled out a bundle of dry branches.
The family watched without much reaction, their faces full of worry, already thinking of how to persuade her to stay away from the mountains and work with them instead.
Then Ye Qing began pulling out handful after handful of wild plants.
“These are fiddlehead ferns,” she explained, “and these are dandelion greens. This one here is called thorn shoots—they’re tricky to pick, and your hands get pricked all over. And these are some others I know are safe to eat, though I don’t remember their names.”
She had gathered quite a large amount this time, especially the thorn shoots and ferns—enough to fill a good-sized bowl. If used sparingly, they could feed the whole family for a week.
The Xiao family sat up straight, their eyes wide with amazement.
Ye Qing must know what she was doing. It was already the fifth month of the year, when wild vegetables had long since sprouted. Plenty of people went up the hills, and by now almost all the plants within easy reach near the edge of the forest had been picked clean.
For Ye Qing to return with such a large haul proved that her skill at finding food was no empty boast.
While the family stared in astonishment at the piles of greens, Ye Qing suddenly reached into the bottom of the basket and pulled out, as if performing a magic trick, a large wild pheasant, its wings and legs tightly bound.