“Where should it be changed?” Ding Baozhu asked.
Since she intended to set up a food stall, she naturally had to satisfy her family first; otherwise, how could she expect outsiders to be pleased?
“The brown sugar and jujube paste filling is good—those two pair well together. However, using heavy brown sugar in the red beans covers up the actual flavor of the beans,” Ding Baozhen noted.
It wasn’t that Ding Baozhen was being picky. Since Ding Baozhu had asked repeatedly, she felt she could speak her mind. Besides, this version of her eldest sister seemed like a completely different person who likely wouldn’t take offense.
Ding Baozhu nodded after hearing this, saying nothing.
In her original plan for the red bean filling, she had intended to use different ingredients that naturally wouldn’t clash with brown sugar. It seemed she would have to innovate a bit when the time came.
“Alright, now that everyone has finished eating, clear things up. It’ll be time for bed soon,” Liu Ping reminded them.
Usually, after a family finished their meal in the spring, even though the sun set a bit more slowly than in winter, the shadows of the moon and stars could already be seen in the sky. They still maintained the habit of resting at sunset.
It was a new day. This time, Ding Baozhu didn’t have to wake up quite so early. Instead, she rose with Ding Baozhen and Ding Baoqin. By then, Ding Hong had already left the house, and Liu Ping was up cleaning and organizing.
Since the Liang Gao made yesterday hadn’t been finished, it served as breakfast for the three sisters.
Ding Baozhen grabbed a piece of cloth, wrapped up two pieces of the cakes, and shouted toward Liu Ping, “Mom, I’m heading out now!”
Liu Ping replied, “Alright, come back early!”
Ding Baozhen’s age wasn’t considered young in the village, but every time the subject of marriage came up, she claimed she would wait until her eldest sister, Ding Baozhu, married first. Furthermore, she went to the neighboring Dadun Village every day to learn weaving and needlework from the local women. It was said she had quite a talent for it, so her parents let her be for the time being.
Seeing Ding Baozhen depart, Ding Baoqin also seemed to remember something. She hurriedly stuffed two bites of cake into her mouth, seemingly preparing to head out as well.
Ding Baozhu was eating the red bean Liang Gao, thinking about how to improve it under her limited conditions. Seeing Ding Baoqin’s haste, she couldn’t help but ask, “What are you in such a rush for?”
Ding Baoqin mumbled through a mouthful of cake, “I promised Third Uncle that if I had time, I’d help him cut pig grass and catch insects. He’ll give me eggs to eat!”
Ding Hong’s family didn’t eat meat every day, and eggs were a versatile food that tasted good no matter how they were cooked. This little glutton wasn’t about to miss out.
Ding Baozhu’s eyes lit up as she asked, “Are you going up the mountain? Can I come with you?”
Ding Baoqin laughed. “What kind of question is that, Big Sister? If you want to go, just come along. Is there anything stopping you?”
Liu Ping listened to the sisters’ conversation but didn’t stop them.
After all, the people of Xiangshan Village lived off the mountains. When they weren’t farming, they would go up Mount Xiang to see if they could find anything to bring back. However, she still cautioned them, “You can go, but remember not to go too deep or too high, understood?”
“We know, Mom!”
After Ding Baozhu and Ding Baoqin finished their cakes, they found their baskets and tools and headed out.
In the fenced-in chicken coop in front of the wooden door, Yao Dan was scattering feed, and the chickens had already stepped out of their nests to peck at the ground.
Seeing the two of them coming out together, she greeted them with a smile. “Eldest Niece, Little Niece, looks like you’re heading to the mountain?”
“That’s right, Third Aunt. I’m going to catch bugs and cut pig grass. Don’t forget my egg reward!” Ding Baoqin said joyfully.
“Don’t worry, I remember. To tell you the truth, I just checked the nests and there are already eggs inside,” Yao Dan laughed. “Go on then, and come back early.”
The two agreed, pushed open the wooden gate, and set off.
Ding Baoqin walked fast in front, leading the way for Ding Baozhu.
The white light on the horizon was already tinged with the golden yellow of the morning sun. The weather was clearly good today. After walking for a short while, they passed several men in simple clothes and trousers, likely on their way to the fields.
However, at that moment, a few uninvited guests appeared.
Ding Baozhu was thinking about what she might see on the mountain and whether she could find anything new when she suddenly felt a nudge against her leg.
Looking down, she saw a dirty smudge on her cloth skirt.
She looked up to see a few young, snotty-nosed children standing not far away. Some of them were still clutching small stones covered in mud.
Seeing Ding Baozhu look over, they weren’t afraid; instead, they made faces and shrieked in high-pitched voices:
“The Wild Sow is coming out! She’s coming to cause trouble again!”
In the eyes of others, Ding Baozhu was tanned dark-yellow from the sun, tall and sturdy, and had been involved in that scandalous gossip everyone knew about. It was no wonder these ill-bred children had heard of it and were now spouting nonsense.
Ding Baozhu frowned, but before she could say anything, Ding Baoqin bent down, grabbed two handfuls of mud with both hands, and threw them back, shouting, “What nonsense are you talking? Do you want a beating?!”
The children standing closest were splashed with mud and fled in a swarm, screaming. After all, they were only brave with their words; in reality, they were bullies who feared the strong.
Ding Baoqin clapped the dirt off her hands angrily. The village was full of mud roads, so ammunition was everywhere.
She then said to Ding Baozhu, “Big Sister, don’t listen to their babbling. It’s all nonsense. Who knows what those gossiping aunts in the village have turned that incident into by now!”
Ding Baozhu said calmly, “I understand. But I was indeed too impulsive regarding that matter; there’s no excuse for it. It’s just that they probably wouldn’t believe me even if I spoke up, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“It doesn’t matter. The family and I all feel that you’ve changed, Big Sister—and for the better,” Ding Baoqin said with a sway of her head. After this small interlude, they continued toward Mount Xiang.
During this time, they saw others carrying baskets, likely also heading up the mountain. However, there wasn’t just one path up, so people who weren’t familiar with each other naturally separated in different directions.
As the mountain drew closer, the nearby houses became fewer, leaving only the path beneath their feet stretching forward.
At that moment, Ding Baozhu noticed a single village dwelling, similar in layout to the Ding family’s, situated there. Just then, someone stepped out of the door carrying a basket.
That person seemed exceptionally sensitive to his surroundings; he couldn’t help but glance sideways and spotted the two sisters. He froze for a moment but quickly turned and walked away.
Ding Baozhu was also stunned. This person… seemed familiar?
Wasn’t this the man who was selling yellow sparrows yesterday?
Seeing him walk away, Ding Baoqin hunched her shoulders and muttered, “He really is a hunter. That aura of his… ordinary people really don’t dare get close.”
As she said this, she suddenly remembered something and glanced at Ding Baozhu with an embarrassed expression.
Ding Baozhu had a sudden realization—so this was the Xu family living at the foot of the mountain?
And that man was the son of Hunter Xu, her fiancé?
“…Big Sister, maybe we should hurry up and go?” Ding Baoqin said cautiously from the side.
She had been at home when that incident happened, and the commotion had been huge. Yao Dan had pulled her into the house, so she hadn’t seen the whole thing. That was why they had accepted Ding Baozhu’s change so quickly after she woke up.
But wasn’t the primary cause of that mess this very marriage arrangement?
Moreover, no one knew exactly what Ding Baozhu was thinking now. Everyone simply stopped mentioning the matter, waiting for time to pass so the memory would fade. Therefore, it was best not to see the man himself at this time.
Ding Baoqin thought silently.
Ding Baozhu nodded and continued to follow Ding Baoqin, though her heart felt slightly complicated.
What could she think? In the end, she couldn’t fight against the circumstances. She could only follow where the situation led and face whatever came her way.
The two finally began their ascent, and the mud path gradually turned into a mountain trail.
The mist around them had not yet dissipated, and the area was lush and green. Occasionally, there was the chirping of birds and rustling sounds; the air became refreshing and invigorated the soul.
Ding Baozhu also heard the sound of chopping. It was likely someone coming up the mountain to cut wood. After all, many people made a living by selling firewood or charcoal. Even if they didn’t, every household needed wood for their fires.
So, while Ding Baoqin went to find pig grass, Ding Baozhu went to gather firewood. Of course, while gathering wood, she also found many edible wild vegetables.
However, most of these wild vegetables could also be used as pig grass—hence why pigs were called omnivores.
As Ding Baozhu picked them and tossed them into the basket on her back, she continued to explore. Generally, besides plants, mountain treasures included mushrooms. She specifically looked at the thick layers of fallen leaves or tree trunks for a while.
Meanwhile, Ding Baoqin was diligently cutting grass with the small sickle she had brought. From time to time, she saw insects hopping about and hurriedly pounced to catch them.
Grains were for people to eat, but the raised chickens and ducks had to be fed, so she had set her sights on these wild insects. Chickens and ducks that ate insects grew fat and laid high-quality eggs.
I have to get those eggs today no matter what! Ding Baoqin thought happily.
But when she looked back, she saw her eldest sister picking mushrooms nearby. She stepped forward and said:
“Big Sister, Mom doesn’t let us pick mushrooms often. There was a family living near us before who picked some kind of mushroom, and the whole family didn’t survive. After that, she stopped letting us pick them.”
Hearing this, Ding Baozhu laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m only picking the ones I recognize. I guarantee you’ll still be alive after eating them.”
Ding Baoqin figured that since she often went to town with Ding Hong, her knowledge must be sufficient, so she stopped protesting and went back to catching bugs.
The ones Ding Baozhu found were just common shiitake mushrooms. However, the incident Ding Baoqin mentioned was known throughout the village. Gathering mushrooms was usually a task for women and children, but she had found a large patch. Not only was it enough to eat, but the extras could be dried and preserved.
After she finished picking them all, she was about to change paths when her toe suddenly struck something hard.
She looked down and discovered with surprise a small, sharp tip poking out of the ground.
Ding Baozhu said happily, “Baoqin, come quickly!”
Hearing the call, Ding Baoqin ran over and asked, “What is it, Big Sister?”
Ding Baozhu pointed at the spot and said with a smile, “I found bamboo shoots! If you have the tools, let’s dig them up together!”
“That’s wonderful! This is the season for bamboo shoots. I didn’t expect you to find them so easily, Big Sister!”
Ding Baoqin clapped in delight. She took a small spade from her basket, knelt down, and started digging.
Ding Hong’s family didn’t farm, so while they didn’t have heavy hoes, they had some smaller tools.
Ding Baozhu also took a spade and started digging. These were Spring Bamboo Shoots growing after the Beginning of Spring—they were the most tender and fresh of all four seasons.
And as long as you found one, there was bound to be a whole cluster nearby!