For the first time, the worried look was gone from Liu Shi’s face. In fact, now that the family had rice and salt, her smile was even brighter than it had been when digging herbs yesterday.
Even though they only had one catty of rice and three taels of salt, and even though each person only got about two grains of rice in their bowl for dinner—and Yue Jiuyue could barely taste any salt or rice aroma—this was still the best meal she’d had in this world, aside from the times she’d eaten alone.
How should she put it? Life felt like boiled vegetables that had finally been given rice and salt.
Yue Jiuyue went back to her room as soon as she finished eating. By now, she was at the top of the family’s pecking order. Small chores like cooking and washing dishes were far beneath her. She could finish her meal, pat her backside, and leave. No one cared if she went back to her room to lounge around or kick her feet up.
She had spent another day running around the mountain today—this time just wandering aimlessly. While others dug for herbs, she discreetly took the “weeds even pigs wouldn’t eat” that they had tossed aside. She also heeded the village head’s call and stopped digging for herbs herself.
If anyone asked, she’d just say she was out gathering rabbit grass, which explained why her basket had only a pitiful amount of greens.
After a bath and another round of “rat hole pouring,” Yue Jiuyue crawled into her soft, warm bedding and slept soundly.
Meanwhile, at the clan leader’s house, the old man couldn’t sleep again because of the good news Lin Chaonan had brought. He didn’t care what time it was—he went door-to-door to visit the elders’ homes.
The village head: …
Thank goodness he hadn’t gone looking for water in the mountains today. Otherwise, would he have been the last to know again?
But even if he had found out early, what difference would it make? As a younger generation member, he couldn’t just go barging into the elders’ homes like his father could—unless he had an itch for trouble.
(︶.︶)
Yue Jiuyue had slept deeply for the past two nights. She didn’t even know when the three brothers had come home last night. She slept until the sun was high and woke to find she was completely alone in the house—even Xiao Man was gone.
Looking up at the blinding sun, Yue Jiuyue checked the time on the shopping channel. It was already ten o’clock.
What a waste! This nap had cost her—how much money had she lost out on?
Still groggy from sleep, she had forgotten that her youngest son had already reported to the clan leader’s house last night. She hurriedly ate the breakfast left for her in the pot and immediately headed for the mountain that the villagers had tacitly agreed to leave for her.
Good grief!
Why were all the other mountains swarming with people—just like the day before yesterday?
Hadn’t the village head said yesterday that they didn’t need to dig for herbs anymore because the clinic wouldn’t take them? So why were so many people still out here digging? This was seriously cutting into her money-collecting time.
“Grandma!”
The first to spot Yue Jiuyue was Xiao Man, who was busy causing mischief.
“Xiao Man” (little girl) wasn’t a name—it was how people addressed young girls, just like “Xiao Yao” (little boy) or “Xiao Ren” (little person) for boys.
Yue Jiuyue crouched down beside Xiao Man and asked her:
“Oh my! Xiao Man is helping her parents work already? Are you tired?”
“Grandma, I’m not tired!”
Xiao Man’s speech wasn’t very clear, but Yue Jiuyue guessed what she meant.
“Oh my! Xiao Man is so capable!”
While Yue Jiuyue was playing with Xiao Man, Lin Chaodong and Liu Shi greeted her and then went back to work. Even though sweat poured down their backs, the smiles on their faces never faded.