The bamboo forest was vast. In the front grew slender bamboo shoots, while deeper into the mountains, the shoots became thicker. Yun Yin glanced at the larger ones in the distance but decided to start by picking the thinner shoots.
She would come back for the thicker ones once she had proper tools.
Snapping bamboo shoots was surprisingly relaxing. The crisp crack sound made her feel refreshed all over. Yun Yin got so absorbed that she didn’t realize how much she had gathered until a pile of shoots covered the ground. She stood up, stretched, and rubbed her sore waist. Just as she was about to bundle them up, she suddenly heard a rustling sound.
Looking up, she saw a large bamboo rat cautiously poking its head out from deeper in the forest. It moved carefully, glancing back from time to time. Its clumsy, adorable appearance would easily stir pity in most people.
But Yun Yin’s eyes lit up with excitement.
This was a delicacy. Bamboo rat meat had no unpleasant odor—its flesh was tender and sweet. She had once eaten farm-raised bamboo rat, and the taste was unforgettable. Whether stewed, braised, stir-fried, or grilled, it was all delicious. The more she thought about it, the more she craved it, almost drooling.
Before the bamboo rat could react, Yun Yin flicked out the whip at her waist and, in two swift motions, tied it up.
Seeing how large it was, she thought there might be more nearby. She quickly grabbed a vine to secure it, ignored the bamboo shoots for now, and placed the rat into her basket. Carrying it, she ventured deeper into the forest. After searching thoroughly, she caught two more plump bamboo rats.
Carrying the heavy catch, she headed back. As she passed a steep slope, a sudden breeze brought a unique fragrance.
She sniffed carefully—Chinese toon!
Chinese toon leaves were delicious whether stir-fried with eggs or served cold. Some people couldn’t stand the smell, but for those who loved it, it was a delicacy. Yun Yin was one of them. Every spring, she would buy some to cook. The last time she had picked them herself was in childhood, before moving to the city with her father.
The scent lifted her spirits. With so many fresh, natural ingredients here, she felt like a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar. Suddenly, being transported here didn’t seem so bad.
Of course, she still worried about Grandma Su, missed the foods she hadn’t eaten yet, and thought about modern conveniences. The idea of never having those fruits, desserts, and cold drinks again made her mood dip slightly.
But she shook it off. No point thinking too much. As long as I’m alive, that’s enough.
She picked the sprouted toon leaves and left the younger ones to grow more before returning.
On her way back, she spotted a Chinese elm tree nearby. Clusters of round green leaves hung like strings of coins—hence the name “elm coins.” The tree was tall and full, its branches dense with leaves. She climbed up and quickly picked a basketful.
Elm leaves were easy to harvest—one pull gathered a handful. She filled her basket and realized how abundant the mountain was. Without disasters, this would be a great place to live.
But in times of famine, even these wild plants would be stripped bare by refugees. As for why there were no refugees here, perhaps it had something to do with the officials capturing people.
From merchants she had overheard earlier, she learned that following the main road would lead to a town, and farther beyond that, a county city. The city required household registration, but the town did not. As long as she avoided the officials, she could go there to trade.
Maybe she could exchange these for coins—or at least for food.
After climbing down, she chewed on a few elm leaves. They tasted faintly sweet, and the more she chewed, the better they tasted. Mixed with tofu, they made a refreshing dish.
By the time she returned to where she had gathered bamboo shoots, it was already time for breakfast. Unfortunately, she had no pot or knife. Even with stones, she couldn’t properly prepare the bamboo rats, so she had no choice but to take them to town to trade.
The officials were troublesome—she had to avoid them and keep her identity hidden. She didn’t know how strictly outsiders were checked in town.
No use overthinking. Since she planned to go, she needed to prepare more supplies. She couldn’t bring her mushroom sauce in a glass jar—it would attract attention. She would have to trade for coins first, then buy a clay jar.
She set down her basket and wove a simple vine basket. It wasn’t strong enough for heavy items, but it would do for wild vegetables.
After another quick trip into the mountains, she filled it with wild greens—shepherd’s purse and kalimeris among them. She kept the bamboo shoots in her main basket and, after eating some wild fruit to quench her thirst, returned to the riverside.
Fish swam carefree near the reeds, unaware their lives were about to end.
Yun Yin picked up a wooden stick, aimed, and thrust it into the water with precision. When she pulled it out, a fat fish was skewered on it.
She cleaned it using thin stone flakes, skewered it, and set it over a simple wooden rack. Next came making fire.
She gathered dry branches, grass, and pine needles. For fire, she found flint stones by the river after some searching. Striking them together, sparks flew. Soon, smoke rose, and then flames grew stronger.
With no salt or seasoning, she relied on her mushroom sauce. Even plain grilled fish tasted wonderful this way.
As the fish sizzled, she turned it over and fetched the sauce. While waiting, she also checked the books Xin Xin had returned to her—two new ones had been added: Complete Guide to Farming and Complete Guide to Breeding. They detailed crops, livestock, and even composting.
She carefully stored them. If she stayed here long-term, these would be invaluable.
Soon, the fish was ready. She placed it on large leaves, dipped a piece into the spicy mushroom sauce, and tasted it.
The skin was golden and crispy, the meat tender and fresh, with no muddy taste. The spicy, savory sauce enhanced the fish’s natural sweetness. Even without marinating, it had a unique flavor.
She quickly finished one fish, then extinguished the fire carefully and doused it with water to prevent any sparks.
Carrying her bamboo rats, bamboo shoots, and wild vegetables, she headed toward the main road.
The sun was already high, and the road was empty. After walking for a long time, she finally saw someone ahead.
She paid him little attention—but the man looked at her like he had found treasure and rushed toward her, muttering excitedly.
Sensing something wrong, Yun Yin reacted instantly. She whipped out her whip and struck, tearing his clothes and leaving marks across his body. He hadn’t expected her to be skilled in martial arts. By the time he was tied up, disbelief was written all over his face.
Without a word, she dragged him into the forest.
“Let me go!” the ragged man struggled, but the tighter he fought, the tighter the whip bound him.
After a closer look, Yun Yin realized he was one of the people previously captured by officials.
“I escaped,” the young man said bitterly. “Who wants to dig canals? I barely escaped from Longyou.”
“If I could survive back home, I wouldn’t have become a refugee.”
Yun Yin interrupted, “Then why not go back? Last year’s locust plague is over.”
“You think I don’t want to?” he snapped. “My land is gone. Even if I return, the authorities won’t recognize me.”
“We can only wander. At least we’re alive.”
He added nervously, “But Long’an County is capturing refugees for labor. If caught, we’ll die.”
Yun Yin snorted. “So you decided to rob me?”
“I didn’t want to rob you,” he said quickly. “I just wanted to borrow money. I heard that with two strings of coins, you can register and get land.”
He looked at her pleadingly. “Miss, if you lend me the money, I’ll give you half the land. We can even sign a contract.”
Yun Yin looked him up and down. He was tall and strong—no wonder he dared block the road.
Borrow money? It sounded more like coercion.
She hesitated, unsure what to do.
Let him go? That was impossible. If she hadn’t known martial arts today…