Old Madam Lin wanted to argue further.
But seeing the village chief’s stern expression, then the impatient looks from the surrounding villagers, she could only swallow her words.
Inside, however, she cursed Lin Wanxing hundreds of times over.
What she didn’t know was that, at that very moment, Lin Wanxing and her younger siblings were sitting inside a cave deep in the mountains, drinking hot porridge and eating steamed buns.
Their life was hard, but they were happier than they had ever been.
The refugee caravan slowly set off.
The villagers shouldered their belongings, led their children by the hand, and made their way south along the dirt road.
Walking in the middle of the procession, Old Madam Lin occasionally glanced back toward the mountains, her expression complicated.
There was anger.
There was resentment.
And there was even a faint trace of worry—one she herself hadn’t realized she felt.
But before long, the hunger and exhaustion of the refugee journey completely drowned that feeling out.
Back at the cave, Lin Wanxing swallowed the last mouthful of wild vegetable porridge and stacked the empty bowls neatly on the stone ledge.
Wiping the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, she turned to her younger siblings with a smile.
“Stone, Yaya, now that you’re full, come into the mountains with Big Sis. We’ll chop some firewood to make a door for the cave, and we’ll gather some edible wild berries. Tonight we’ll finally be able to sleep peacefully.”
Little Stone sprang to his feet at once and grabbed the small hatchet resting in the corner.
It was one their father had brought home for him after a trip, saying the small size was perfect for him.
Later, Grandma had taken it away and given it to Goudan.
Only last night had they found it again inside the bundle Lin Wanxing had brought back.
“Big Sis, I can chop the smaller branches! I’ll make sure they’re cut quickly and neatly!”
He waved the little hatchet excitedly, his eyes sparkling as he stood as straight as a grown man.
Yaya hurriedly slid down from the rock and trotted over to Lin Wanxing.
Blinking her large eyes, she said in her soft little voice,
“Big Sis, I’m coming too! I can pick up little branches, and I can find those red berries!”
She still remembered seeing clusters of sweet red berries near the mountainside yesterday.
They had been delicious.
Smiling, Lin Wanxing gently ruffled Yaya’s little braids.
She tucked the sharpened machete into her belt and pulled a clean cloth pouch from her pack.
“We’ll head to the pine woods on the eastern side first. There are plenty of dead trees there, so cutting firewood won’t take much effort. If we find any wild strawberries along the way, we’ll pick them and put them in this bag. We can eat them while we rest later.”
It was April.
The wild strawberries in the mountains were just beginning to ripen, sweet and tart and bursting with juice—perfect as trail food.
As they stepped out of the cave, the morning breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and damp earth.
Sunlight filtered through newly sprouted leaves, scattering flecks of golden light across the forest floor.
The moment the breeze brushed against her, Yaya couldn’t help skipping happily down the trail.
Every now and then she stopped to examine tiny wildflowers beside the path before hurrying back to Lin Wanxing, afraid of getting left behind.
When they reached the pine forest, Lin Wanxing quickly spotted a dead pine tree about as thick as a bowl.
Its trunk was straight, with few branches—perfect for making doorposts.
Planting her feet firmly, she gripped the machete with both hands and swung hard at the base of the trunk.
Thud!
Wood chips sprayed into the air, carrying the fragrant scent of pine resin.
A deep notch instantly appeared in the trunk.
“Big Sis is amazing!”
Little Stone watched with wide, admiring eyes.
Imitating her stance, he raised his little hatchet and chopped at a nearby sapling.
He wasn’t very strong.
Each swing required all the strength his small body could muster, his face turning bright red with effort.
Yet he chopped with complete concentration.
After a while, he finally cut through one of the branches.
Grinning proudly, he lifted it high.
“Big Sis! Look! I chopped it off!”
Lin Wanxing stopped working, gave him a thumbs-up, and smiled.
“Stone is incredible. You’re even better than I was the first time I chopped wood.”
The praise only energized him further.
He immediately bent over and started on another branch.
Yaya, meanwhile, wasn’t interested in chopping wood.
She squatted at the edge of the forest, her bright little eyes searching the grass.
Suddenly, they lit up.
“Big Sis! Brother Stone! There are wild strawberries here!”
She pointed excitedly at a cluster of plants with tiny white blossoms and serrated leaves.
Walking over, Lin Wanxing saw several small white wild strawberries hidden beneath the lush green leaves.
Their sweet fragrance drifted through the air.
“They smell wonderful.”
“Yaya has such sharp eyes!”
Taking out the cloth pouch, Lin Wanxing crouched beside her and demonstrated.
“Hold the little stem gently and give it a light tug. Don’t squeeze the berry, or it’ll get crushed.”
Yaya learned immediately.
Carefully pinching each stem, she plucked the strawberries one by one and placed them into the pouch.
After finishing another branch, Little Stone came running over as well.
Yaya picked out the biggest, ripest strawberry and pushed it into his hand.
“Brother, you’ve been working hard chopping wood. This one’s the biggest and sweetest. You eat it.”
Little Stone didn’t refuse.
He popped it into his mouth.
“Mmm! It’s really delicious!”
After cutting two thick logs and several bundles of smaller branches, Lin Wanxing noticed that both children were beginning to tire.
She called for them to take a break.
Finding a sun-warmed rock, she helped Yaya sit down before handing over the pouch of wild strawberries.
“Come on. Let’s eat some strawberries and rest before carrying the firewood back.”
Yaya popped one into her mouth.
Her eyes immediately curved into happy crescents.
“So sweet! Big Sis, you have one too!”
She picked another berry and held it up to Lin Wanxing’s lips.
Little Stone also stuffed several strawberries into his sister’s hand.
The three siblings sat together eating wild strawberries, their laughter drifting through the quiet forest.
Once the wood had been gathered, Lin Wanxing told the two children to rest while she cut several long vines nearby.
Carrying the firewood back to the cave, she planted the two thick logs upright on either side of the entrance.
Using sturdy vines she’d just collected, she lashed them tightly to the surrounding rocks.
The vines were remarkably tough, holding the posts firmly in place.
Next, she lined up the thinner branches between the two posts and secured each one by winding thinner vines around them again and again.
The closely woven branches formed a sturdy barrier across the cave entrance.
It would keep wild animals out while still allowing fresh air to circulate.
“The last step!”
Lin Wanxing held up a long vine.
She tied one end to a crossbar on the inside of the wooden gate and fastened the other end to a rock opposite the entrance.
She tugged gently.
The makeshift gate swung open and shut.
“Now all we have to do is pull the vine to close it. We can tie it shut at night so wild animals can’t get inside while we’re sleeping.”
Little Stone immediately ran over to test it.
He pushed hard against the gate.
It didn’t budge in the slightest.
Excited, he jumped up and down.
“Big Sis, it’s so sturdy! From now on, I’ll close the gate every night. I’ll make sure the vines are tied extra tight!”
Lin Wanxing smiled and nodded.
Then she pointed toward the scattered stones still littering the cave floor.
“Let’s clean the cave a little more. We’ll carry out the remaining rocks and spread a thicker layer of dry grass. That way, we’ll be much warmer tonight.”
Yaya immediately crouched down and began picking up pebbles one by one.
Before long, she challenged Little Stone.
“Brother Stone, let’s see who can collect more rocks! The loser has to sing a song for the winner!”
Not to be outdone, Little Stone eagerly grabbed a stick and began prying larger stones toward the cave entrance, piling them beside the wooden doorposts.
Without forgetting to compete, he laughed.
“I’m definitely going to collect more than you! Then you’ll have to sing for me!”