After searching around, Yu Qiu returned disappointed. She hadn’t dared go too deep with the two children tagging along. If a mutated beast appeared, she feared she wouldn’t have time to save them. She would have to come back alone next time and explore in another direction.
Still, it wasn’t a fruitless trip.
On the mountainside, she found a few fruit trees—wild pear, bayberry, and wild grapes.
Only the bayberries were ripe. She hadn’t brought a basket, but these mutated bayberries were so large—each the size of a fist. She picked two and gave them to the children to taste their sweetness.
She circled halfway up the small mountain but didn’t see a single beast—not even a small mutated bird or animal. She wondered if they had become too alert after mutation and were hiding, or if a large beast lived in this hill.
At that thought, Yu Qiu quickened her steps downhill. Panic struck her heart for an instant before she calmed again.
The habits of large mutated beasts hadn’t changed; they preferred the depths of endless mountains. They came to the outskirts only in winter to hunt.
Most likely, the mutated birds had grown more cautious and hidden at the slightest disturbance. And since her purpose wasn’t hunting game, she hadn’t paid attention and so hadn’t found any.
Though she had her suspicions, she still didn’t dare linger with the children. Only when she could spare time to make a thorough inspection would she feel at ease.
By the time they returned, the sun was high overhead, chasing away some of the mountain chill.
The mountain breeze blew cool and pleasant.
When they rounded the house, they found someone had come.
It was the Meng family’s boy—Yu Qiu still didn’t know his name.
Meng Ping hadn’t expected Auntie Li’s household to still be eating lunch; otherwise, he never would have come at this hour.
Being invited to lunch left Meng Ping flustered. He had been reclaiming a patch of the abandoned vegetable plot beside the thatched house with stones.
A simple, honest lad.
When he saw Yu Qiu and the children returning, he dropped his stone, brushed the dust from his hands, and ran to meet them, taking the baskets off Yu Qiu’s and Erhe’s backs.
Sanya thanked him and ran to Li-shi’s side, chattering happily about their fish-catching adventure.
Erhe wanted to go too, but after glancing at the Meng boy, then at his sister-in-law, he lowered his head in thought, stopped, and stood between the two.
“Sister-in-law, the village head asked me to tell you—the household registration papers have already been sent to the yamen for copying. From now on, you’re one of us, a person of Qing Mountain Village. He also asked me to see if you needed to buy some things in town. If you do, I’ll take you with Daniu and Xiaohua. As for the fields, they’re the same as before, no changes.”
The Meng boy spoke with sincerity and warmth, without the least reluctance. Once he finished, he fell silent, waiting for an answer. He didn’t notice Erhe’s subtle movements, or perhaps he didn’t realize their meaning.
Yu Qiu glanced at Erhe, amused, then nodded and turned to the Meng boy. She didn’t stand on ceremony, handing him her basket. “You worked hard to make a trip here. I really do need to go to Qing Mountain Town. Mother-in-law had just said after lunch she would find someone to guide me, and here you are. Just in time.”
As they reached the thatched hut, she added, “You’re just in time for lunch too. Don’t think of leaving—it’s only wild vegetables and fruits, I hope you don’t mind.”
As for the land, it was allotted by household—only for use, not for sale. With no able-bodied men in the family, more land would be useless.
Meng Ping waved his hands quickly. “I don’t mind at all! I saw Auntie cooking fish—I wouldn’t leave even if you chased me. I’m staying for this meal.” Knowing refusal would be pointless, he cheerfully accepted.
Yu Qiu laughed. “Alright then, find a place to sit and rest. We’ll eat soon.”
Meng Ping went back to clearing the vegetable plot.
When the meal was served, it became awkward—there weren’t enough bowls and chopsticks.
Luckily, there were two clay pots. Meng Ping, rough but thoughtful, laughed, picked up the pot of blanched wild greens, took a mouthful, and said, “I eat a lot. I’ll use this big one.” He easily dispelled the household’s embarrassment.
Erhe and Sanya giggled. Sanya even blurted, “Sister-in-law used it for breakfast too…” but before she could finish, Erhe elbowed her and cut her off.
Not understanding, Sanya received a glare from her brother, pouted, and buried her head in her bowl with a humph.
Li-shi noticed but pretended not to, only smiling. “We don’t have much, so eat more fish to fill yourselves.”
Since he stayed, Meng Ping didn’t hold back. After finishing the wild greens in a few bites, he held the clay pot out to Li-shi, waiting for his share of fish soup, so the other pot could be freed.
There were plenty of blanched vegetables. Only a portion was left in the pot; the rest had been poured onto the chopping stone.
When they tasted the delicious fish soup again, everyone couldn’t help sighing in delight.
Meng Ping hadn’t had meat in too long. The moment the fish soup went down, the freshness made him feel like he could swallow his tongue. He didn’t even bother to spit out the bones, just crunched them loudly and swallowed.
After lunch, Meng Ping, still unsatisfied, patted his stomach and smacked his lips. “Sister-in-law caught this fish?” he asked casually.
“Sister-in-law is amazing, just like Big Brother!” Sanya chimed in, but then her mood sank. She missed her elder brother. Yet he never came home. When she asked their mother, she always said soon.
She had been hearing that for two years.
Sensing the atmosphere souring, Meng Ping quickly changed the subject. He raised his thumb at Yu Qiu and praised sincerely, “Sister-in-law is really skilled. I’ve tried for ages, but I can only catch fish by luck.”
The fish were clever. Even with bait in a trap, they wouldn’t draw in big ones. The little ones barely had any meat, not worth the effort.
Yu Qiu smiled and accepted the praise without comment.
The children naturally divided the bowls and chopsticks.
Meng Ping, quick to help, noticed the water jar nearly empty. Without waiting, he grabbed the clay basin and went to the back mountain to fetch water, ignoring anyone trying to stop him.
The basin wasn’t large, so it just meant more trips. After eating the family’s food, he naturally had to work harder. Besides, what was this little chore?
By afternoon, Daniu and Xiaohua came, realizing Meng Ping had been gone too long. Guessing he was headed to town, they came together to find him.
With Li-shi insisting, Yu Qiu took the bit of silver she pressed on her, slung her basket on her back, and set out with the three of them toward Qing Mountain Town.
They chatted and laughed along the way, not feeling the distance. Few people used the official road from Qing Mountain Village to the town, but luckily, they encountered no danger.
“What is that? I don’t think I’ve seen it before.” Yu Qiu asked curiously, looking ahead toward the town.
From afar, she had seen the mountain town surrounded by greenery. As they drew nearer, she saw they were all the same plant.
Xiaohua understood her confusion and answered directly, “That’s mutated cocklebur grass. It keeps beasts from attacking the town. The burs cling easily to their fur, hard to get rid of, and they prick painfully too. So usually, beasts only attack the villages outside the town.”
Yu Qiu gazed at the transformed cocklebur grass and nodded thoughtfully.