With her hands properly wrapped, Qi Chong walked over to the chopping stump. “Put your feet up.”
Yu Chunmiao obeyed, and he carefully tied up her pant legs. His movements were smooth and practiced, the tension just right.
“In the mountains during summer, mosquitoes are everywhere. Don’t come back with swollen legs.”
Yu Chunmiao: Why didn’t you say that earlier? My legs are already covered in bites! The mosquitoes hovering over the water were relentless; her exposed calves were dotted with red welts.
She had never been cared for like this before. Back when she rode horses or tended to them, she endured scratches and bruises without complaint. Clearly, pampered women had it easier.
And a man who could cook and take care of people—so sexy, so considerate—yes, she liked that.
Qi Rong: Huh… apparently no one’s taking care of me. Doesn’t matter—I’m a man!
From under the eaves, Chen Ruolan watched quietly, her mind drifting back to her late husband. He had cared for her in this way before her eldest son was born, but she had never had the chance again after that. Seeing her children find care and companionship was a blessing.
Meanwhile, Qi “Manly” Rong had arrived at the clearing. With a long wooden stick, he swept through the underbrush and even checked the trees nearby. He was eager to hear the rustling sounds of the plants—any good finds would make a perfect meal later.
The soil where the banxia grew was soft, perfect for digging. Each of them grabbed a small spade, working quickly.
“Rong’er, don’t dig up the tiny ones. They won’t sell well, and we need to leave some to grow.”
Qi Rong didn’t even look up, wiping sweat from his brow. “I know, I know. Big brother said, if you find a mother with babies, you leave them alone—otherwise, no more hunting later. Of course, wild boars are the exception.”
Wild boars couldn’t be spared—they multiplied too quickly. If their territory couldn’t hold them, they’d wander into the village and ruin crops.
By about 1 PM, they’d arrived at their spot. By 5 PM, both baskets were full. Seeing that there was still time, Yu Chunmiao suggested Qi Rong collect some loquat leaves on the way back.
Feeling a bit guilty, Qi Rong nodded. His sister-in-law remembered his mother’s illness even better than he did.
Passing some banana trees, he picked two large leaves, covered the basket, and they headed home.
Curious, Yu Chunmiao asked, “We’ve been in this forest a few days… why haven’t we seen anyone else?”
Qi Rong sighed. “People used to come here. But after two hunters from outside the village died, nobody dared come. Superstitions, you know. Our homestead was actually bought from them.”
He didn’t mention that later, after their father passed and Big Brother got injured, the villagers were even more convinced the forest was cursed. There were plenty of forests around the village, so why risk it?
Yu Chunmiao didn’t care about superstitions; she only cared about money. Perfect—no one would see her profit-making operation.
Back home, Qi Chong was already waiting in the courtyard. With a long reach, he gently lifted the basket off Yu Chunmiao’s back.
“Put it down.”
She stepped out of the straps and immediately felt lighter. Qi Chong, leaning on his crutch with his left hand, carried the baskets with his right into the backyard. What had felt impossibly heavy in her arms now seemed weightless in his. If only his leg weren’t injured…
Yu Chunmiao hurried after him. “How much will it cost to fix your leg?” she asked urgently.
It had to be healed—no questions about it.
Before Qi Chong could answer, Qi Rong hurried up behind her. “The county doctor said thirty taels. Back when he first got hurt, it was still treatable. Now, two months later, they’d have to break the bone and set it again, or he’ll be crippled for life.”
Yu Chunmiao understood—time made treatment harder. Tomorrow, when she went to sell goods at the market, she’d ask if there was a way to speed up his recovery.
In the backyard, Chen Ruolan had just finished watering the garden. She looked at the two full baskets of banxia bulbs and couldn’t hide her joy at the harvest.
“Wow, this is a lot! How many jin do you think that is?”
Yu Chunmiao explained her plan to get Qi Chong’s leg treated early. “Mother, where’s Doctor Yu?”
Chen Ruolan wiped a damp corner of her eye. “Right next to the pharmacy we went to. He specializes in bones.”
Qi Chong quickly went to his mother and wiped her tears. “Why are you crying? Even with this lame leg, I can still take care of you.”
He had already made peace with the idea of being crippled for life and had shaken off his earlier despair.
“That won’t do!” Yu Chunmiao said firmly. “If it can be fixed, it must be fixed! How can a perfectly good man just stay crippled?”
Her determination moved the whole family.
Chen Ruolan whispered a prayer, “Zhengge bless us…”
Qi Rong muttered, “Sister-in-law, you’re braver than me.”
Qi Chong, staring at his leg, said with heartfelt intensity, “If it can be fixed, I’ll make sure I take care of you forever.”
With that, Qi Chong headed to the kitchen to start cooking, while the others hurried to wash the banxia bulbs. By nightfall, all of them were cleaned and ready.
Dinner was simple but satisfying stir-fried garlic shoots with pork over white rice, accompanied by a plate of tender, crunchy greens. Everyone ate to their heart’s content.
“Sister-in-law, I’ll bring hot water to your room so you can wash up properly and rest early,” said Qi Rong, stepping in like a dutiful helper. Ten-year-old he carried the bucket effortlessly, a light load in his small hands.
Yu Chunmiao couldn’t help but praise him: “Rong’er, you’re so strong! I struggled carrying this water myself. Even the basket of bulbs on my back bent me over, but you move like the wind.”
Chen Ruolan blushed slightly. “All three boys got your grandfather’s strength.”
Later that night, Qi Rong returned to Qi Chong’s room. Qi Chong, awake again, called his mother to have some loquat syrup before heading to the yard to turn the banxia bulbs with the wide end of his crutch.
“Why are you up?” came Yu Chunmiao’s sleepy voice from behind.
Qi Chong turned to see her standing at the eaves, holding an oil lamp and draped in a simple coat.
“Turning them over. They dry faster this way,” she explained as she squatted to flip the bulbs. Indeed, some were still damp underneath.
“You’re not afraid of snakes? Why are you out here?” he asked.
“I knocked on your door, thought you were asleep,” she admitted. She had been nervous about coming out at night but seeing him already tending to the bulbs made her feel touched.
After finishing the bulbs, she stood up shyly. “I need to go to the outhouse. Can you… not move?”
Qi Chong softened and gave a quiet, “Hmm.”
“Also, don’t get too close,” she added, walking toward the outhouse. He stayed where he was even after she finished, letting her feel more at ease.
The next morning, Yu Chunmiao slept in, letting someone else handle breakfast. She woke at seven, still groggy—her body was weak, still adjusting after days of hard work.
After washing up and eating, she and her mother set off for the town around eight o’clock. With the half-baskets of banxiacollected by Qi Rong a few days earlier, the two full baskets couldn’t even hold everything—they had to leave some at home.
At Hui Chun Tang Pharmacy, the shopkeeper was surprised to see the two women arrive with fully loaded baskets. He hurried over to help carry them.
“I thought you only got one basket. Didn’t expect so many!”
Unfolding the banana leaves, he grinned. “The quality looks good.”
He called over two assistants to move the baskets to the back yard. After weighing them: fifty-three jin and six liang—a solid haul.