By the bonfire—
The firewood crackled as it burned, occasionally spitting sparks into the air.
The flickering firelight illuminated the sharp contours of Ye Jianwu’s face, revealing the concentration in his expression and stripping away some of the simple-minded honesty he showed during the day.
Ye Jian’an sat down beside him curiously.
“Jianwu, what are you carving?”
“A hairpin,” Ye Jianwu answered briefly.
Ye Jian’an instantly misunderstood and grinned mischievously.
“So you’ve got someone you like now? A girl from our village?”
Ye Jianwu hurriedly explained,
“Cousin, don’t talk nonsense. I’m making it for Mother.”
“Oh, it’s for Second Aunt? You should’ve said so earlier. You got me excited for nothing.”
Ye Jianwu failed to understand what was exciting about that and simply pressed his lips together silently.
Finding him boring, Ye Jian’an got up to chat with someone else. If he stayed quiet during night watch, he was afraid he’d fall asleep.
“Drip… drip…”
He Wanqing was awakened by the sound of rain.
Opening her eyes, she found only her third son remained in the treehouse with her.
Knowing he’d been tired from standing watch, she moved quietly.
Lifting the oilcloth flap, she saw a light drizzle falling steadily from the sky.
When she climbed down beneath the treehouse, she found A-Ming stirring coarse rice porridge in the pot.
“Mother, you’re awake. The porridge will be ready soon.”
“Where are your eldest and second brothers?”
“They went to gather firewood. Uncle Village Chief said we’re not traveling today, so we can cook both breakfast and lunch.”
After washing up, He Wanqing soon saw Ye Jianshan and Ye Jianwen returning with a large basket full of damp firewood.
“Your clothes are soaked. Hurry and change.”
This kind of weather made it especially easy to catch chills and develop fevers.
He Wanqing took out the old ginger they usually used for cooking.
“A-Ming, pull two burning sticks from the stove and place them under the clay pot.”
After slicing the ginger, she tossed it into the pot and ladled in some water.
Once the porridge finished cooking, the four of them squatted on the ground slurping it noisily.
The hot porridge warmed their stomachs and instantly made them feel comfortable all over.
After Ye Jianshan and Ye Jianwen each drank a huge bowl of porridge, He Wanqing also forced a large bowl of ginger soup into them, leaving their stomachs so full of liquid that they practically sloshed when they moved.
After eating and drinking their fill, He Wanqing leaned leisurely against a tree stump while thinking about life after leaving the mountains.
It was already their sixth day in the mountains.
Originally, the village chief had predicted it would take only five days to cross through, but now that clearly seemed impossible.
Who knew how much longer they still had to go?
She desperately wanted to get out and taste the local food.
Just as He Wanqing was fantasizing about delicious meals, the village chief hurried over.
“Jianshan’s mother, quickly check whether anyone in your family has a fever.”
The sudden statement confused her.
“Village Chief, nobody in our family has a fever. Did something happen?”
The village chief sighed.
“This morning, many people started coughing and running fevers. Old Madam Chen says they caught chills—the cold dampness from the ground seeped into their bodies.”
He glanced at the treehouse and suddenly understood.
“Your family probably avoided getting sick because you slept in the trees.”
Then he asked carefully,
“Jianshan’s mother… is building these tree shelters difficult?”
He Wanqing instantly understood his intentions.
“Village Chief, I call this a treehouse. Building one can be difficult, but with proper guidance, it’s actually manageable.”
“I know you want the villagers to build them too. That’s no problem. But I spent a lot of effort researching this method, so I can’t teach it for free.”
“Of course, we’re all from the same village, so I won’t make things difficult. Let’s say fifty copper coins per household. I guarantee everyone who pays will learn how.”
Her main goal wasn’t really to earn money.
Rather, she didn’t want people developing the impression that anything from her could be obtained for free.
She wanted everyone to understand that there was no such thing as taking advantage of her without paying.
Though it made her seem somewhat cold, it would save her countless future troubles.
The village chief immediately signed his own household up.
“No problem. I’ll first see how many people are willing, then we’ll all listen together.”
Very quickly, the village chief spread the news through the entire group.
Some people were unwilling to spend the money, but most were interested.
Within half the time of burning an incense stick, the village chief returned leading the households willing to pay.
He Wanqing instructed Ye Jianwen to sit nearby with paper and brush to record the names of those who paid.
More than half the households paid—including the Ye family’s main branch.
After taking a sip of water to moisten her throat, He Wanqing began explaining the process.
From selecting suitable short trees, to choosing proper branch points for support beams, to determining the right bamboo height for supporting the oilcloth…
Then the arrangement and connection of the wooden planks…
And finally the hanging and securing of the oilcloth itself.
She explained every step clearly.
And with her family’s treehouse available as an example, nearly everyone understood.
“If you think you understand, you can go start building now. If you run into anything you don’t understand during construction, ask Jianshan and the others.”
Everyone immediately scattered, eager to begin.
The only person who stayed behind was Ye Jian’an.
His face was full of excitement.
“Second Aunt, you’re amazing! How did you come up with this idea?”
“Oh, I just thought of it casually. Why aren’t you hurrying off to choose good trees? At this rate all the best spots will be taken.”
“Ah! Then I’m leaving! Goodbye, Second Aunt! Goodbye, little brothers!”
“Jianwen, how much money did we receive?”
“Mother, nine hundred copper coins altogether.”
Ye Jianwen handed her the cloth pouch.
Whoa.
It was unexpectedly heavy.
Caught off guard, He Wanqing nearly twisted her wrist.
Weighing it in her hand, she thought inwardly:
Even by this world’s sixteen-tael system, this has to weigh at least five jin.
No wonder the original owner preferred silver fragments. Who could even carry this many copper coins comfortably?
After silently complaining for a while, He Wanqing began worrying about where to hide the money.
That tiny box they owned couldn’t possibly hold so many coins.
After much thought, she decided not to bother hiding them at all.
She simply carried the pouch into the treehouse, tied the opening tightly, and tossed it beside their bundles.
The rain continued drizzling steadily until noon, when everyone finally finished building their treehouses and the rain gradually stopped.
After lunch, He Wanqing brought along her little follower, A-Ming, to wander nearby.
She also carried a basket, intending to pick mushrooms and change up their meals a little.
Ye Jianwen stayed behind reading and guarding the camp.
Meanwhile, Ye Jianshan and Ye Jianwu had nothing better to do, so they went to help their grandfather build his treehouse.
Old Madam Ye had been annoyed that the family spent money paying He Wanqing earlier.
But seeing the two brothers come help immediately eased much of her irritation.
Forget it.
That woman had always loved money anyway.
Why should she ruin her mood over it?
Seeing the boys arrive, Old Master Ye beamed happily.
“Perfect timing! Hurry and help Grandpa finish building this thing.”
Eldest Uncle Ye patted the brothers on the shoulders, even his usually stern face showing a trace of a smile.
With the brothers helping, construction of the main family’s treehouse progressed extremely quickly.
Meanwhile, He Wanqing and A-Ming also harvested quite a lot while gathering mushrooms.
They picked over half a basketful.
And with Little Six around, there was no need to worry about poisonous mushrooms.
Just as He Wanqing prepared to head back, the system suddenly spoke.
“Host, forty meters ahead there’s an injured wolf cub.”
An injured wolf cub?
He Wanqing immediately changed direction and continued walking forward.
Didn’t Mother say they were going back?
Why were they still going farther ahead?
A-Ming scratched his shaved head in confusion while carrying the basket and hurrying after her.
Sure enough, not long later, He Wanqing spotted a small wolf.
The cub lay on the ground with its eyes closed.
Its originally snow-white fur was now stained with mud, making it look pitifully bedraggled.
“Mother, is this a wolf?”
“Mhm. It’s injured.”
He Wanqing had already noticed blood seeping from one of its legs.
A-Ming stared in amazement.
This was his first time seeing a real wolf—and an injured one at that.
“Mother, should we save it? It looks so pitiful.”
While they spoke, the wolf cub slowly opened its eyes, revealing pale blue irises.
Its body also tensed slightly in vigilance.
Originally, He Wanqing had only come to see what a real wolf looked like and had no intention of rescuing it.
But seeing the hope in A-Ming’s eyes changed her mind.
Still, wolves were creatures known for holding grudges.
She didn’t want to save it only to create trouble for herself later.
Squatting down, she asked the cub,
“My A-Ming wants to save you. Are you willing to come with us?”
A-Ming crouched beside it too and gently stroked its fur.
“Little wolf, come with us. I’ll ask Grandma Chen to treat your wound. Otherwise you’ll die.”
Perhaps sensing their kindness, the wolf cub slowly lowered its guard.
It stretched out its tongue and licked A-Ming’s palm.
“Hehe, that tickles! Mother, it licked me! Does that mean it wants to come with us?”
“Yes. Give the basket to Mother. You carry it, and we’ll head back.”
Since it was willing, He Wanqing was also willing to save its life.
When they returned beneath the treehouse, only Ye Jianwen was there.
“A-Ming, what are you holding?”
“Second Brother, it’s a little wolf! But it’s injured. We brought it back so Grandma Chen can bandage it.”
Hearing the word “wolf,” Ye Jianwen reflexively stepped backward.
Only after realizing it posed no threat did he relax.
“Were there no other wolves nearby?”
“Nope, it was all alone. Maybe it wandered off while playing.”
A-Ming sighed dramatically.
“Sigh… such a troublesome little wolf. Its mother must be worried sick.”
His overly concerned expression made He Wanqing want to laugh.
“Enough already. Hurry and go get Grandma Chen.”
“Ah! It’s raining again! Never mind, I’ll go bring Grandma Chen here instead.”
Carefully placing the cub on the ground, A-Ming dashed away.
He Wanqing didn’t even get the chance to tell him to wear a rain cape.
Looking at the filthy little wolf, she felt slightly disgusted.
“Jianwen, boil some water. Let’s wipe it clean first.”
Not long afterward, Old Madam Chen arrived, dragged over by A-Ming.
“It really is a wolf cub.”
She crouched down to examine it carefully.
“The leg’s injured. Bring warm water and cloth first. We need to clean away the dirt before treating the wound.”
Ye Jianwen immediately brought over warm water.
“Grandma Chen, let me do it.”
“Wuuu…”
As soon as the warm cloth touched its body, the wolf cub let out a pitiful whine.
A-Ming quickly stroked its head gently.
“Don’t be scared. Second Brother is helping clean you.”
After the wound was cleaned, Old Madam Chen sprinkled medicinal powder over it and wrapped it with clean white cloth.
“There. Just don’t let the wound get wet for the next few days. I’ll come change the dressing tomorrow.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Auntie Chen. How much?”
“Five copper coins will do.”
It was Old Madam Chen’s first time treating a wolf too, so she only casually charged for the medicine.
Fortunately, He Wanqing happened to have a few copper coins on her.
Otherwise she would’ve needed to climb back into the treehouse to retrieve money.
After receiving medicine, the wolf cub lay quietly on the ground without moving.
Seeing the damp ground beneath it, A-Ming looked heartbroken.
“Mother, can I use an old torn piece of clothing to make a nest for the little wolf?”
“Do whatever you want. For the next two days, it’s your responsibility. Don’t forget to feed it food and water.”
“Don’t worry, Mother! Leave it to me!”
A-Ming proudly puffed out his chest and slapped it confidently.
When Ye Jianshan and Ye Jianwu returned later, they were startled by the strange dog-like yet wolf-like creature lying beside the stove.
“Mother, where did this thing come from?”
“Picked it up.”
“Picked it up?! Could this be the cub of the wolf that howled last night?”
The more Ye Jianwu thought about it, the more convinced he became.
“Mother, we should let it go. What if a wolf pack follows its scent here?”
He didn’t even dare imagine such a scene.
A-Ming immediately pleaded pitifully,
“Third Brother, the little wolf chose to come back with us willingly. And didn’t you see it’s injured? If we drive it away, it’ll die.”
Ye Jianwu looked deeply conflicted.
Finally, He Wanqing made the decision.
“We already brought it back. Let it recover first. Once it heals, we’ll let it go.”
And just like that, the wolf cub temporarily gained a place to heal.
As night fell, all the villagers finished building their treehouses and began cooking to reward their exhausted stomachs.
A-Ming also started preparing dinner.
“Mother, how should we cook these mushrooms? Just stir-fry them?”
Thinking about all the ways mushrooms could be cooked, He Wanqing’s mouth watered instantly.
“We’ll make three dishes: one stir-fried, one soup, and some skewered and grilled.”
If they’d gathered more mushrooms, she even wanted to make crispy salt-and-pepper mushrooms.
One bite—
Crunch, crunch—
Fragrant and crispy!
No.
Tomorrow she absolutely had to gather more.
She needed to eat them!
The stir-fried mushrooms and soup were handled by A-Ming.
Slice them.
Heat the oil.
Throw the mushrooms into the wok and stir-fry.
Instantly, the aroma drifted through the air.
After removing part of the mushrooms, he added water to the remaining portion and simmered it into soup.
The grilled mushrooms were handled by the other three boys.
But there were only enough mushrooms left for one skewer per person, so the work finished quickly.
Soon, three dishes sat atop the tree stump table:
Stir-fried mushrooms.
Mushroom soup.
Grilled mushrooms.
The family of five ate happily together.
After one bite, Ye Jianshan sighed in satisfaction.
“These mushrooms are incredible. Mother, I’ll go gather more tomorrow morning.”
Ye Jianwen quickly added,
“Big Brother, I’m coming too.”
Ye Jianwu said nothing.
His chopsticks moved nonstop as he shoveled food into his mouth.
Compared to them, A-Ming ate at a snail’s pace.
He chewed slowly, savoring every bite with a blissful expression, seemingly appreciating his own cooking skills.
He Wanqing ate neither too quickly nor too slowly.
Her movements remained fairly elegant, though she certainly wasn’t eating little.
“Mother, can the little wolf eat mushrooms?”
Having finished his own meal, A-Ming suddenly remembered the wolf cub still hadn’t eaten.
“Probably not willingly. But we don’t have anything else, so it’ll just have to make do.”
A-Ming carried his grilled mushroom over to the cub.
“Little wolf, do you like mushrooms?”
The cub slowly lifted its eyelids to glance at the mushroom but showed absolutely no interest.
“You don’t like them? But our family doesn’t have anything else.”
A-Ming’s little brows furrowed worriedly.
“How about just trying one?”
Persistently, he broke off a piece and placed it before the wolf.
“Wuuu…”
The little wolf whimpered pitifully, seeming somewhat aggrieved, but still gave face and swallowed the mushroom anyway.
A-Ming looked expectant.
“Well? Isn’t it delicious?”
The wolf closed its eyes and ignored him completely.
Watching the entire interaction, He Wanqing almost laughed.
She brought over a chipped bowl.
“A-Ming, from now on use this bowl to give it water.”
“Okay, Mother!”
A-Ming scampered off happily.