With the knife sharpened and a proper tool in hand, the work progressed much faster.
In no time, Chen Shiyi had cleared all the weeds from the courtyard. She lit a fire, and thick black smoke rose from the pile of grass, drifting into the sky.
Wen Zhirou coughed from the smoke, fanning the air with her hand as she asked, "Shiyi, are we making too much of a commotion?"
"Burning the weeds helps remove the dampness, and scattering the ashes around the corners of the walls can drive away insects and ants."
The roof of the main room had collapsed halfway, while the other half remained intact. Inside, a bed had long been corroded and broken, likely to collapse with even the slightest pressure. Beside the bed stood a wooden rack, originally intended for storing clothes.
Leaning in the corner was a bamboo chair, just the right size for Rui'er to sit in.
The side room also contained a bed. Unlike the one in the main room, this bed had not weathered the passage of time and still seemed sturdy and reliable, though it was slightly narrower.
In the woodshed, she found an old clay pot and an intact bucket.
Chen Shiyi thought to herself that finding this courtyard was the best decision she had ever made.
She briskly carried the bucket and cleaned the courtyard thoroughly, especially the kitchen, which she tidied meticulously.
Looking at her handiwork, she felt a deep sense of accomplishment.
Finally, there was a place to cook, boil water, and bathe.
The only problem was that the firewood pile was empty.
After informing the others, she hurried back into the woods.
A light drizzle was still falling from the sky, and the pine trees were damp. However, the pine needles on the ground made excellent fuel for a fire.
With only a knife in hand, she cut down a few dying tree trunks and gathered some pine needles. After bundling them up, she was about to head back when she noticed several young women searching for something in the woods.
Chen Shiyi quickly approached and asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Fir Mushrooms."
"What?"
"Mushrooms."
Chen Shiyi understood. She glanced at their baskets, memorizing the appearance of the mushrooms, and immediately joined the search.
These were edible, and their survival now depended entirely on the gifts of the wilderness.
These Fir Mushrooms thrived in damp, warm thickets.
Chen Shiyi found a few and, gaining experience, quickly picked up the pace.
Carrying the firewood on her back and tucking the Fir Mushrooms into the hem of her clothes, she hurried home.
Rui'er stared curiously at the umbrella-shaped mushrooms. "Sister, can you take me with you next time you go mushroom picking?"
Chen Shiyi was squatting by the stream, preparing the snake meat. She turned around and smiled. "Of course. I'll weave you a small basket next time, and we can go together."
The clay pot was filled with snake meat and mushrooms, along with fresh spring water. A bonfire was lit in the courtyard, and the ingredients simmered gently.
Soon, a savory aroma filled the entire courtyard.
Rui'er squatted in front of the clay pot, swallowing repeatedly. "Sister, when can we eat?"
"We have to wait for the eldest and second young masters to return. We'll eat together."
Wen Zhirou tended the fire nearby, occasionally adding more wood. "Shiyi, without salt, will it be edible?"
Chen Shiyi was in the main room, tidying up the fallen roof tiles. Hearing Wen Zhirou's question, she paused for a moment.
Once the snake stew was ready, she fetched a large bowl from the kitchen, filled it, and said to Wen Zhirou, "I'll be right back."
She then made her way to the hillside, stopping outside Cui Yong'an's courtyard.
Cui Yong'an happened to be sitting in the courtyard, wiping his gleaming knife. He glanced at Chen Shiyi with wolf-like eyes before focusing again on his task.
"What do you want?"
"I caught a snake and made snake soup. I brought you a bowl."
"Unwarranted kindness is either deceit or theft."
"Hurry and get a bowl—it's very hot."
Cui Yong'an's expression was dismissive, but his body betrayed him as he headed toward the kitchen.
The savory aroma pleased Cui Yong'an greatly, and the stern look on his face softened into a slight smile.
"I didn't add salt. Remember to season it."
Hearing Chen Shiyi's words, Cui Yong'an paused for a moment, his lips twitching into a smirk.
"I knew it. Nothing in this world comes for free."
With that, he placed the bowl filled with snake meat in the kitchen, then returned and handed Chen Shiyi a salt jar.
"Remember, you owe me. You'll have to repay this someday."
Chen Shiyi nodded happily.
This man appeared rough and rugged, but in reality, he was meticulous and attentive.
"Thank you, Brother Cui. If you ever need anything, just let me know."
Chen Shiyi had expected some complications, but to his surprise, it went so smoothly. Meeting such a kind person was truly good luck.
When Wen Zhirou saw Chen Shiyi return carrying a salt jar, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"A bowl of snake soup in exchange for a jar of salt? Either I've gone mad, or that man is a fool."
Chen Shiyi explained, "Brother Cui is a good person. I asked him about the courtyard."
Wen Zhirou, however, seemed somewhat worried.
"Among those exiled, few are good people."
Chen Shiyi quietly washed the shepherd's purse he had picked from the field ridges, murmuring softly, "We were exiled too, and we're not bad people."
"What are you two talking about?"
From behind, the figures of Wen Zhiheng and Wen Zhiyuan approached.
Wen Zhirou quickly went to greet them.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, why are you back so early today?"
"There's a section in the mine that's been blocked for a long time, so they let us come back early."
Wen Zhirou and Wen Zhiyuan returned to the courtyard.
Wen Zhiheng walked over, crouched down, and helped Chen Shiyi wash the shepherd's purse.
"Young Master, you should go rest first. I'll finish this little task soon."
Wen Zhiheng chuckled.
"It's fine. You've been working tirelessly all by yourself, far more than I have."
Chen Shiyi continued his work without stopping, pursing his lips as he asked, "Young Master, do people in the mine get whipped?"
Wen Zhiheng stiffened for a moment and sighed.
"Those who work slowly get whipped. I'm young and strong, so I don't get whipped."
Chen Shiyi moved closer to Wen Zhiheng, grabbed his arm, and rolled up his sleeve, revealing a strikingly prominent whip mark.
Wen Zhiheng's face turned unnaturally pale, as if being exposed was more painful than the whip wound itself.
His clothes were intact, suggesting he had swapped with Wen Zhiyuan.
Chen Shiyi lowered his head.
"Young Master, I won't tell Madam."
Wen Zhiheng's lips curved into a faint smile as he ruffled Chen Shiyi's hair.
"You're truly good."
When the two returned to the courtyard, Wen Zhiyuan was darting about excitedly, his cheerful voice echoing nonstop.
"Shiyi, you're really something. This courtyard is an excellent choice."
The Second Young Madam scolded him affectionately.
"You're a grown man, yet you still act so carefree."
Chen Shiyi poured the washed and chopped shepherd's purse into the earthen pot.
Rui'er happily ran to the fire, coughing from the smoke but refusing to leave. He leaned against Chen Shiyi's arm, asking questions incessantly.
"Sister, is it ready?"
"All done, bring the bowls over quickly."
After a busy day, they could finally enjoy a good meal.
There was still very little snake stew, each person only getting a small bowl, but compared to the past twenty-some days of exile, eating dark, coarse flatbreads and skipping meals here and there, this was much better.
There were only a few chipped bowls, but Wen Zhiyuan had carved several bamboo bowls and chopsticks with a knife, which came in handy just in time.
Chen Shiyi sat on a stone outside the courtyard, slowly eating the snake stew and fir mushrooms. Looking ahead, mist curled over the stream, and the bare tree branches were tinged with fresh green, full of vitality. Life felt truly wonderful.
Beside her, a figure sat down.
Wen Zhiheng scooped a few pieces of snake meat into Chen Shiyi's bowl.
Chen Shiyi quickly stopped him.
"No need, there's so little to begin with. If I eat it, you won't have any."
Wen Zhiheng's lips curved slightly upward.
"I haven't started eating yet. Don't mind it."
Chen Shiyi replied softly.
"Why would I mind?"
Wen Zhiheng sipped the soup from his bowl and sighed.
"Shiyi, your cooking is really good. It feels like I haven't eaten anything this delicious in a long time."
Chen Shiyi's eyes curved into crescents.
"You used to eat delicacies from land and sea. Now that you've changed your palate, you must find this flavor fresh, which is why it tastes so good."
Wen Zhiheng let out a long sigh.
"Perhaps."
Chen Shiyi seemed to remember something and turned to look at Wen Zhiheng.
"Once, an old man in the village said a hunter caught a bear and sold it to a wealthy family in the capital. They only took the bear paws to eat and gave the rest to the servants. Young Master, what do bear paws taste like? Are they especially delicious?"
Wen Zhiheng was taken aback by Chen Shiyi's question, momentarily stunned.
"I've never eaten them either, so I don't know what they taste like."
Chen Shiyi looked puzzled.
"The Marquis's Mansion was so wealthy, and even you haven't eaten them?"
Wen Zhiheng smiled, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at Chen Shiyi.
"Wealthy families don't necessarily eat bear paws. There are many other delicious things in this world. Have you heard of Lingnan? It's thousands of miles from the capital, at the southernmost part of Daye. They produce incredibly sweet fruits there. To transport them to the capital, half the cart is filled with ice. The manpower and resources spent are immeasurable. Eating a single fruit costs as much as an ordinary person's monthly expenses."
Chen Shiyi's eyes widened in astonishment. Such extravagance was something she wouldn't even dare to dream of.
"Shiyi, you're my person. Once I make proper plans and we return to the capital, I'll make sure you live a good life too."
Chen Shiyi snapped out of her daze and began eating the meat in her bowl heartily.
"Can we really go back?"
Wen Zhiheng gazed steadily into the distance.
"We definitely can."