The next morning, after “breakfast”—which was nothing more than wild-vegetable balls without even a grain of rice—Yun Xi followed Madam Yun up the mountain to look for wild greens.
Or rather, to search for them, since most edible plants on the front mountain had already been eaten clean by the villagers. Only in an overlooked corner could one occasionally find a stray leaf or two.
With nothing but wild greens in her stomach and no proper carbohydrates for days, Yun Xi soon felt out of breath halfway up the mountain. Her vision even began to sparkle.
“Xier, rest a while. I told you not to come,” Madam Yun said, distressed. One hand held the basket, the other supported her weak daughter.
“I’m fine, Mother. I can do it.”
Yun Xi took a few deep breaths before she could speak again.
“Sigh… A bad harvest year really brings nothing but suffering. You’re still so young and already have to endure this.”
Madam Yun looked at her flushed, panting face with heartache.
“What suffering? Mother, I’m fine. You’re the one who’s worked the hardest, still taking care of Father and me.”
“Xier has become so much more sensible. You even know how to comfort me now. Mother is happy.”
Supporting each other, they talked as they climbed. The mountain wasn’t very high, and before long they reached the top.
Standing on the peak, Yun Xi took in a few deep breaths. The crisp, fresh air was incomparable to the heavily polluted air of a modern city. Looking around, she noticed the mountain top was surprisingly open and covered in trees. Because of years of cutting, the trees weren’t very tall, but there were many of them. Sadly, with the severe drought, every tree was completely bare—villagers had even eaten all the leaves.
“Mother, I didn’t expect the mountain to have so many trees.”
Yun Xi had always thought that plants wouldn’t grow well on mountain slopes.
“Yes, Yun Village has guarded this land for generations. Our ancestors left it for their descendants. But if the rain doesn’t fall soon, even these trees won’t survive.”
Yun Xi didn’t respond. She followed the narrow mountain path further in. Madam Yun didn’t stop her—this mountain wasn’t dangerous, and there was only one path. It was normal for a child who’d never been here to be curious.
As Yun Xi walked deeper, the vegetation grew thicker. The trees became taller, though they were also bare. Only a few exceptionally tall ones still clung stubbornly to a leaf or two on their high branches.
“Hmm? Why does the air feel humid here? Does that mean there’s water nearby?”
Yun Xi’s eyes brightened. She picked up her pace despite the uneven path.
Suddenly, a stone marker appeared ahead, cutting off the trail.
“What’s a boundary marker doing here?”
She approached it. On the stone were carved four large characters:
“Back Mountain Forbidden Zone — Trespassers Die.”
So this was the entrance to the forbidden back mountain.
But why was the air here moist? That suggested a water source.
If there’s water here… why does the village act like it’s unreachable? Why guard it yet forbid entry?
Yun Xi wanted to take one more step forward to inspect further—
But Madam Yun’s voice echoed behind her.
“Xier! Where are you?”
Yun Xi stopped, gave the stone marker one last thoughtful glance, then walked back.
“Mother, I’m here!”
“Xier, you can’t wander off like that! Especially near the back mountain—you must never enter. Understand?”
Madam Yun warned her nervously.
“I know, Mother. I’m back now.”
Yun Xi glanced at the empty basket in her mother’s hand.
“Mother… you didn’t find anything?”
“Sigh… We come up here every day. What’s left to find? Everything has been picked clean.”
“Mother, did you always search along the mountain path?”
“Of course. Where else would we look?”
“Mother, that’s exactly the issue. Everyone searches along the path. Of course nothing’s left. Why don’t I go with you to other spots? Maybe we can find something off the beaten path.”
Madam Yun thought about it. With nothing in hand and no idea what they would eat for lunch, she nodded and followed Yun Xi deeper into the forest to try their luck.