Yan Silang was a little foodie, especially fond of sweets.
Back when they still lived with the main Yan family, even if there was something tasty, it would never be his turn—he could only watch longingly as the children from the eldest and third branches ate.
After moving out, whenever Yan Father and Yan Zihao weren’t busy with farm work, they would go to town to find jobs. When they came back, they would always bring him and Xiao Wu a couple of pieces of malt candy or a stick of candied hawthorn.
As soon as they entered the courtyard and Yan Zihao put down his basket, Yan Silang eagerly rushed over to search through it. Afraid he would dirty the cloth covering, Yan Zihao stopped his hand and personally took out the candied hawthorn from the bottom.
“Go share this with your second brother, third sister, and Xiao Wu. The one missing a piece—I already ate that,” Yan Zihao said as he handed it over.
“Got it! Thanks, big brother. Oh, right—Mother left lunch for you and sister-in-law in the kitchen,” Yan Silang replied happily.
Having gotten up early and gone to town, Lu Qingran was already extremely sleepy. The moment she entered the room, she didn’t even wait for Yan Zihao to bring the food—she had already fallen asleep sitting in the chair.
When Yan Zihao returned carrying a large bowl of coarse rice and dishes, he saw her head nodding forward again and again.
“Ranran, wake up and eat before you sleep,” he said.
“I’ll eat after I wake up…” she murmured drowsily.
“Then go sleep on the bed,” he suggested.
She gave a soft “mm,” but didn’t move. After nodding a few more times, she simply slumped onto the table.
Yan Zihao found this version of his wife quite adorable. Smiling, he bent down and carried her to the bed.
When Lu Qingran woke up, it had already been an hour. Seeing herself lying on the bed, she didn’t need to guess who had carried her. Turning her head, she saw Yan Zihao sitting at the desk, quietly reading a book.
“Yan Zihao,” she called, looking at his back.
Hearing her, he turned around gently. “You’re awake. You must be hungry—I’ll get you some food.”
He put down the book and went out. Soon, he returned with a bowl of food. Meanwhile, Lu Qingran had already taken his seat and was looking at the book on the desk.
“You can read?” she asked.
“No,” he replied.
“Then what is this?”
“There used to be an old scholar in the village who lived alone. When I went up the mountain to gather firewood, I would help him a bit. In return, he taught me some characters. This book was left to me by him.”
“Can you teach me how to read?” Lu Qingran asked. With this excuse, her literacy would seem natural.
“Alright. Eat first,” he agreed.
Yan Zihao was actually very perceptive.
When he came in earlier, he noticed from her expression that she likely already knew how to read. But since she didn’t intend to say so, he pretended not to notice.
After eating, Lu Qingran went to return the dishes to the kitchen. She found the house unusually quiet, as if no one was there. Curious, she returned and asked:
“Where did everyone go?”
“Father, Mother, and Erlang went to the fields. Third sister and the others went to gather wild vegetables and firewood,” Yan Zihao replied gently.
“Then why didn’t you go?”
She was puzzled—even the younger children had gone to work, so why was he, a grown man, still at home?
“Mother told me to stay and keep you company.”
Lu Qingran thought this felt a bit like a modern honeymoon leave.
Gathering wild vegetables and firewood usually meant going up the mountain. In ancient times, mountains were natural treasure troves—but also dangerous places, home to wild beasts that could take lives. Just like Lu Qingqing’s biological father, who had improved their family’s life through hunting but ultimately died because of wolves.
Thinking of her own space, something flashed in Lu Qingran’s mind. She quickly looked at Yan Zihao.
“Yan Zihao, let’s go up the mountain too!”
This was the second time she had called him by his full name. Though it sounded nice, he preferred hearing her call him “husband”—her current way made him feel like they were strangers.
Still, he nodded, put the book back, and headed out. Lu Qingran quickly followed.
The Yan family’s dry fields lay along the path to the mountain. Many people were working there. Aunt Wang spotted them and loudly called out to Yan’s mother:
“Xiufang! Isn’t that Dalang and his wife? Are they heading up the mountain?”
Her voice was loud enough that people in nearby fields all looked over.
“Dalang, where are you going?” Yan’s mother asked.
Walking closer, Yan Zihao replied, “Mother, Ranran wants to take a look around the mountain. Maybe we’ll run into Third Sister and the others.”
“Alright, be careful and come back early,” she reminded them.
He nodded, carrying the basket as they headed toward Four Kings Mountain.
April was the season of renewal. Grass had begun sprouting, and the trees were budding with fresh green leaves. The mountains were full of life.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, they were only halfway up when children’s voices drifted over.
“Fourth brother, you’re slacking! I’ve gathered more firewood than you!” a soft, sweet voice said.
“Xiao Wu,” Yan Zihao called, leading Lu Qingran toward the sound.
“Big brother is here!” Yan Zimeng exclaimed happily, running toward them.
“Xiao Wu, don’t run—be careful!” Yan Ziyue called from behind.
Soon, they saw the little girl running toward them, her forehead lightly covered in sweat, glistening in the sunlight.
“Big brother, sister-in-law, why did you come up the mountain?” she asked.
Lu Qingran liked this sweet and sensible girl very much. Smiling fondly, she said, “Sister-in-law came to find Xiao Wu. Tell me, what have you gathered?”
As expected of a child, Yan Zimeng’s eyes curved into crescents as she proudly said, “I gathered a lot of firewood—more than Fourth Brother!”
“Really? Xiao Wu is so capable!” Lu Qingran praised.
Following her, they found Yan Ziyue and Yan Silang nearby. Three piles of firewood lay on the ground, and Yan Ziyue’s basket already had a layer of wild ferns.
“We’ll head further up to take a look,” Lu Qingran said. “Stay safe, don’t wander off. If anything happens, shout. Leave the firewood—we’ll carry it down later.”
“Got it, sister-in-law,” Yan Ziyue replied.
The mountain air was exceptionally fresh. Lu Qingran walked slowly behind Yan Zihao, constantly observing her surroundings.
In April, there wasn’t much edible vegetation yet. After walking for a while, they only found some shepherd’s purse and wild ferns.
Looking at the sky, Lu Qingran began thinking of a way to distract Yan Zihao so she could take something out from her space.
After some thought, she decided on ginseng.
She remembered how her old roommate used to talk about stories where the heroine found ginseng in the mountains, sold it for a lot of money, and improved her family’s life.
After thinking it through, she couldn’t come up with a better excuse.
“Yan Zihao, wait here for a moment. I’ll go over there,” she said.
“It’s dangerous in the mountains. I’ll go with you,” he replied.
“No need… it’s not convenient.”
Hearing this, Yan Zihao looked slightly embarrassed. “Alright… be careful. Call me if anything happens.”
She nodded and quickly disappeared in one direction. Once she was out of sight, she silently said “enter” and rushed to the pharmacy on the basement level of her space.
The pharmacy had both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.
She went straight to the herbal section, picked a relatively small ginseng, and exited the space.
She dug a small hole in the ground, dirtied the ginseng to make it look freshly dug, then returned with an excited expression.
“Yan Zihao! I think I found ginseng! Do you recognize it?” she called out.
Hearing this, he quickly walked over and examined the small root in her hand for a long time.
“It should be. Ranran, where did you find it?”
“Right where I went earlier,” she replied. “Yan Zihao, let’s go to town again and sell it. We should be able to get a good amount of money, right?”
Yan Zihao nodded.