5
She searched her memory carefully, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall where she had seen it. Yet the familiarity was unmistakable.
Strange.
A faint crease formed between He Tian’s brows. When she pushed herself further, dizziness crept in, and she was forced to stop.
Never mind. It probably wasn’t anything too important, otherwise, she would have recognized it at first glance. Once her body recovered a bit more, she’d think it over again.
The little gray rabbit, now full, flopped over with a soft thump at He Tian’s feet and fell into a deep sleep, an unfinished blade of grass still clamped between its teeth.
Sunlight spilled over its small form, making its fur gleam, sleek and smooth. A breeze stirred, lifting the glossy coat and revealing the soft, plump skin beneath. He Tian couldn’t resist. She reached out and stroked it.
Mm. The texture was wonderful.
So, she gave it another rub.
As she stroked it, she thought: when this one grows up, its fur—so soft, so glossy—would make a fine vest. Warm and comfortable.
In its sleep, the little rabbit’s hind legs gave two unconscious kicks.
He Tian: “?”
She couldn’t help but laugh.
Having finished splitting the firewood early and shelled some more chestnuts, He Tian went back inside to rest, letting her fragile body recuperate.
As dusk approached, she opened her eyes—right on time.
There was no oil or candle in the house, so supper had to be prepared early, or else she’d have to cook in the dark. Her night vision was adequate, but it was still inconvenient.
She rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen to make dinner.
Chestnut porridge again—chestnuts were still the only ingredient she had. But chestnut porridge was delicious. She saw no problem with it.
As she shelled the kernels, she snacked on a few raw chestnuts. Same as before: water in the pot, chestnuts in, bring to a boil, then simmer.
Simple. Just time-consuming. Fortunately, she could roast chestnuts while she worked, which made even the dull task of tending the fire strangely enjoyable.
As long as the chestnuts kept coming, she would gladly sit by the hearth forever.
She was busy roasting, peeling, and eating hot chestnuts fresh from the flames when her ears caught something.
Someone was there.
She focused. Muffled voices drifted in from beyond the gate.
“Still alive?”
“The chimney’s smoking, someone’s cooking. If she’s not alive, is a ghost making dinner?”
“Don’t talk nonsense! How could she still be alive? Wasn’t she at death’s door yesterday?”
“How should I know…”
The voices were low, but He Tian heard every word clearly. More than that, she could sense the malice threaded through their whispers.
From the content of their talk, they must be acquaintances.
At the very least, not strangers.
But her body was still in a state of semi-adjustment; she couldn’t yet place who was speaking.
She stirred the fire, making sure no sparks escaped, then got up to check.
“She’s coming out, she’s coming out—let’s go back first…”
He Tian: “?”
She walked over, opened the door, and looked out. All she saw were two backs hurrying east.
She caught only a glimpse before the two figures rounded a corner and disappeared.
He Tian stood there a moment. She didn’t give chase. She closed the door and went back inside to tend the fire.
Around the corner, He Erlang and his wife, Mrs. Li, were crouched behind a wall, cautiously peering out.
“She’s shut the door. I heard it close. Stop hiding,” Mrs. Li slapped He Erlang’s arm. “What’s there to be afraid of?”
Why was she hiding anyway? How humiliating. If anyone saw them, they’d think they had done something shameful.
He Erlang furrowed his thick brows. “Wasn’t it you who said to go back first?”
Mrs. Li planted her hands on her hips, eyes flashing. “I said let’s go back first I didn’t say hide! Who knows if she’ll suddenly drop to her knees in front of us again, begging for money? I don’t have any money to give her!”
She spat inwardly. She’d already made a guarantee to someone in Dongyan Village. Collected a deposit, even. And now the girl was alive again—well enough to go up the mountain and cook, hopping around like nothing happened. How was she supposed to explain this to the other party?
She hadn’t told He Erlang about that yet.
Now it was even harder to bring up.
And that was ten taels of silver. The more Mrs. Li thought about it, the more it galled her. She’d already spent the two-tael deposit. If the deal fell through and she had to return it, the thought alone made her stomach clench with pain.
“When are they finally going to vacate that house?” Mrs. Li’s face darkened with irritation. “My mother keeps asking!”
He Da was dead. He Dong was dead. That house was the He family ancestral home. The only male descendants left in the He family were her husband, He Erlang, and their son, He Jin. By all rights, the house should belong to them. What business did Liu Erniang and her daughter have, still occupying it?
In her opinion, why wait? Just throw them out. No one could fault them for it.
“They’re not dead yet,” He Erlang said, his face equally grim. “Wait a little longer.”
Liu Erniang was seriously ill while his niece was deathly sick. If both of them died, he could reclaim the house with no one raising a word against him. That had been his plan.
Who would have thought the girl would survive? He Erlang was just as annoyed.
“Wait, wait, wait!” Mrs. Li was livid. “Wait until when? That house was never meant for those two women! If it doesn’t go to you, it goes to Jin. Either way, it belongs to our household. It’s my property, why can’t I take it back?”
He Erlang was fed up too. Spotting someone peeking in their direction, he scowled and lowered his voice. “Enough. Let’s go home.”
Mrs. Li wanted to curse a little longer to vent her frustration, but at He Erlang’s signal, she suppressed her anger and stormed off toward home, seething.
He Tian, who had overheard their entire exchange from beside the hearth: “???”
What did that mean? Some of it she didn’t quite follow.
But it seemed to concern the house she and Liu Erniang currently lived in.
Then the two figures overlapped with the ones in her memory. Her second uncle, He Erlang, and his wife, Mrs. Li!
She still didn’t fully understand the grievances between the two families, but He Tian was now certain: these two wanted her and Liu Erniang dead.
A thought crossed her mind. The corner of her mouth curled. People’s hearts, truly… Hah.
Anything unclear or not immediately important, He Tian set aside for now. This had always been her way. Don’t let irrelevant matters interfere with what you’re doing. Don’t let them spoil your mood. It wasn’t worth it.
As long as they hadn’t made a move against her yet, her priority remained recovering her strength.
The chestnut porridge was almost done. The kitchen was thick with its sweet fragrance; one breath of it cleared the mind and lifted the spirits. The earlier episode hadn’t affected He Tian in the slightest. She continued munching on roasted chestnuts without pause.
And with the experience from the first batch of chestnut porridge, tonight’s dinner was even better—thicker, smoother, more flavorful. It melted on the tongue and left a lingering sweetness. Liu Erniang still only ate one bowl. He Tian polished off the rest without hesitation.
Of course, she had deliberately left extra porridge in the pot to crisp into crust along the edges.
She made three rounds of crust and ate until she was completely satisfied. Only then did she fully extinguish the fire in the hearth.
Before bed, she placed a few roasted chestnuts by her pillow—just in case hunger struck in the night. She also drank some warm water and brought a bowl for Liu Erniang, urging her to drink as well. After taking care of everything, she lay down to sleep.
Liu Erniang had wanted to say something, but seeing her daughter turn in early, she assumed the girl was tired and held her tongue.
He Tian wasn’t actually tired. She was simply eager for her body to recover as quickly as possible.
The little gray rabbit was in its temporary nest in the corner, munching away on its nameless grass. He Tian glanced over and thought: this rabbit really was easy to keep. Give it some grass, and that’s it—no further trouble needed. When she had time, she should catch a few more. Raise them until they’re plump. Yao Yao said spicy rabbit and braised rabbit head were incredibly delicious. She very much wanted to try them.
The rabbit, happily chewing its grass, sneezed.
He Tian smiled silently. She looked away and tugged at her worn, icy blanket. Winter was coming. She needed to find a way to get two new blankets soon. She herself could endure the cold, but Liu Erniang would not hold up.
Soon, only two steady breaths and the soft, rhythmic sound of chewing filled the room.
Perhaps it was the fullness in her stomach, or perhaps it was the sight of those rich, abundant mountains that had settled her heart. Whatever the reason, He Tian slept exceptionally well that night. When she woke, she felt refreshed and clear-headed.
She tried clenching her fist. Yes—she was noticeably stronger than yesterday. Her vision was sharper too; the mountains stretching beyond the window appeared clearer than before.
These small changes lifted her spirits.
“Tiantian? You’re awake?” Liu Erniang’s voice came softly from the inner bed, roused by the sounds.
“Mm,” He Tian got up and slipped on her shoes. “I’ll start making breakfast. Are you hungry, Mother?”
Liu Erniang had been about to say she wasn’t hungry, but the words died on her tongue. Instead, she smiled. “Yes, I am.”
“Wait a bit. I’ll have it ready soon.”
With that, He Tian was already halfway out the door then she turned back. “Mother, are you thirsty? Would you like some water?”
Liu Erniang: “I’m not thirsty.”
He Tian hesitated. “Do you need to use the chamber pot? I can help you.”
Liu Erniang laughed. “No need. I can still manage.”
He Tian nodded and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Another meal of sweet, soft, melt-in-your-mouth chestnut porridge!
It was already the third time she’d eaten it, and He Tian still couldn’t get enough.
She had enough firewood for a few days, and chestnuts for another two or three. Her plan before going to sleep had been to rest at home today and let her body recover. But after breakfast, the lush, verdant mountains beckoned so irresistibly that she changed her mind.
“Mother,” He Tian said, strapping on her basket and gripping her cleaver. “I’m going up the mountain again today.”
Liu Erniang looked startled. “Shouldn’t you rest? Stay home for a day. Go up again tomorrow.”
“I don’t need to rest,” He Tian shook her head. “I feel fine now. While the weather is good, I’d like to take another look. Don’t worry—I won’t go too deep. I’ll be back soon.”
Seeing her daughter’s resolve, Liu Erniang, despite her worry, didn’t stop her. “Be careful. If you get tired, come right back.”
“Mm.” He Tian picked up a nearly unusable axe from the pile of miscellaneous tools and tucked it into her waistband.
Just as she was about to leave, something occurred to her. She grabbed the little gray rabbit by its ears and set it down beside Liu Erniang. “This little bunny is very well-behaved. If you get bored, Mother, you can pet it. Its fur is soft. Feels nice.”
Liu Erniang was amused by her daughter’s childlike gesture, but she nodded along. “Alright, alright. I understand.”
Even as she spoke, her hand had already found its way to the rabbit’s fluffy back.
The texture was indeed very pleasant.
And the little rabbit was indeed very well-behaved, staying quietly by her side and letting her pet it. For a moment, her spirits seemed to lift, just a little.
**