After more than a decade apart, it was a rare reunion, and Dalang and his wife insisted on having Lin Cuili stay for a while. Calculating their remaining vacation days, the couple found they still had some to spare, so they agreed.
From the day Lin Cuili and her husband arrived, Dalang and Guicheng became lively again. Whenever they had a spare moment, they would spar and play with the couple. Even the household servants were roped into training. The villagers then realized that the Lin family was actually a martial arts household. Some bold individuals even begged Dalang and Guicheng to take them on as disciples.
At first, Dalang hesitated. He and Guicheng had practiced martial arts merely for fitness and had never considered taking disciples. It was Lin Cuili’s husband, Geng Yongqiang, who suggested that since Linzhuang was remote, far from other villages, and lacked natural barriers, it would be beneficial for the villagers to learn some self-defense in case of bandit attacks. Dalang found this reasoning sound and agreed.
Once the first disciple was accepted, more villagers—men and women alike—came forward to plead for training.
Lin Cuili and her husband found it amusing and spontaneously organized the willing learners into four classes. She took charge of the women’s class, while Geng Yongqiang, Dalang, and Guicheng each led a men’s class. They agreed that before the couple’s departure in fifteen days, the four classes would compete to see which was the strongest.
Geng Yongqiang also proposed that the four classes take turns patrolling daily, a habit from his official duties. Though the villagers saw little need for it, they understood that disciples must obey their masters and complied.
After all, most were tenants of the Lin family, primarily focused on farming. The so-called patrols were essentially just working on their rented land, with the duty-bound individuals taking the lead in handling any minor incidents.
Over the next few days, they encountered no bandits but helped each other out frequently. Coming from different backgrounds and previously keeping to themselves, the villagers—who had occasionally clashed over trivial differences—became much more united.
Apart from daily practice of the Five Animal Frolics and needle-throwing, Lin Fang attended school on schedule. By now, she could perform the Five Animal Frolics steadily without stumbling. Her needle-throwing had also improved significantly; she could embed all ten needles into a cork board and occasionally even hit the black circle at its center.
Following her study habits from her past life, Lin Fang had set a rule: five days of classes followed by one day of rest. Today happened to be a rest day. After finishing her Five Animal Frolics and picking up her needles to practice, she saw Lin Cuili heading out with a basket on her back. Curious, Lin Fang asked, “Auntie, where are you going?”
Lin Cuili replied, “Up the mountain. The other day, I saw some medicinal herbs going to waste up there—what a pity.”
Ah, that was true. When they had bought the mountain, it was merely because Dalang yearned for a life close to nature. Over the past two years, they had been too busy reclaiming wasteland and building the estate to pay any attention to the small mountain. Even though it belonged to them, Lin Fang doubted her parents had set foot on it more than a few times and likely knew little about its resources.
A thought struck Lin Fang. Could she ask Lin Cuili to take her up the mountain? In two years here, she had never been up there.
On weekdays, she had classes, but on rest days, she was free. She had considered going up the mountain for fun, but with only Xian’er to accompany her, it wasn’t impossible—yet she knew her own shortcomings and preferred not to trouble her family.
She also knew that if she expressed a desire to go, her parents would drop everything to accompany her, or at least send a retinue of servants. But her parents and the household were all busy, and she wasn’t truly a child anymore. She understood boundaries and felt that while she couldn’t help much, disrupting her parents’ plans for her own amusement was inappropriate.
Lin Cuili was straightforward: “Why not? The mountain may be rough, but you’ve got me.”
Of course, Xian’er joined Lin Fang on the outing.
The day after discussing finding a mother for Xian’er, Lin Fang had approached Granny Lan, who was overjoyed. She hadn’t expected the sixth young miss to make such arrangements for her. Having spent time with Xian’er daily, she had grown fond of the lively girl but never dared hope for such a bond, given Xian’er was Lin Fang’s personal maid.
Since gaining a mother, Xian’er seemed to mature overnight. She no longer acted impulsively or recklessly. Even when tempted to play, she remained dutiful, staying by Lin Fang’s side—a change Lin Fang was still adjusting to.
The trio reached the mountain’s base and stopped by the tailor shop to inform Li Cuimei. Upon hearing this, Lin Cuie, who was teaching embroidery, decided to join them. Li Cuimei allowed it.
Lately, Lin Cuie had been increasingly distracted. Li Cuimei knew her sister was anxious about her impending marriage after the mourning period ended. Despite attempts to console her, little had helped. If Lin Cuie wanted to go out and clear her mind, Li Cuimei was more than happy to oblige.
Lin Cuie’s personal maids, Shuqin and Shuqi, who had vowed to follow her for life, accompanied her. At eighteen, Lin Cuie was a year younger than her maids, who were also unmarried.
The group of three became six as they set off up the mountain.
“Auntie, can we take Yuan’er along?”
Hearing the “demon’s voice,” Lin Cuili nearly fled.
In just a few days at Linzhuang, she had grown wary of this little troublemaker—a girl even more mischievous than her own two sons. Once Lin Yuan latched onto her, there was no peace. The child’s endless stream of bizarre questions left Lin Cuili feeling that even the most learned scholar might struggle to answer.
Dong Panyu, who had followed them out, scolded, “Yuan’er, don’t be naughty. Your aunt has business on the mountain—it’s not for play.”
Dong Panyu had learned tailoring from Li Cuimei over the years and now served as a minor supervisor in the tailor shop, specializing in fabric buttons.
Lin Yuan retorted, “If Auntie has business, does that mean Sixth Sister and Eleventh Aunt also have business?”
Dong Panyu knew full well that Lin Fang and Lin Cuie were going for fun, but she didn’t want her daughter tagging along. Her husband had told her the mountain was overgrown with trees and weeds, virtually pathless and extremely difficult to traverse. Knowing her daughter’s restless nature, she feared an accident. With only one child, any mishap would be devastating.
Lin Cuili had no desire to bring Lin Yuan but found it hard to refuse after already agreeing to take Lin Fang and Lin Cuie. As she hesitated, Lin Fang interjected, “Seventh Sister, yesterday I assigned you fifty characters to write over two days. How many have you finished?”
“Huh? Sixth Sister, today’s only the first day of break. There’s still nearly two days before class. What’s the rush?”
This clearly meant she hadn’t written a single character.
Lin Fang pressed on, “Also, of the twenty characters I taught you this week, you only recognize six. I asked you to copy the remaining fourteen five times each. Have you done that?”
Lin Yuan replied defiantly, “Sixth Sister, you said yourself I don’t know those fourteen characters. How can I copy what I don’t recognize?”
“Yuan’er, go inside and write. If you don’t finish today, you’re grounded starting tomorrow.”
During this exchange, Dong Panyu flushed with shame and anger. Lin Yuan was less than a year younger than Lin Fang, who, at just eight, was already respected as a young teacher. Yet while both were Lin family daughters, her own child was someone others avoided at all costs.
Grudgingly, Lin Yuan returned to the tailor shop’s office to stare blankly at her copybook. Lin Fang sighed inwardly. She knew questioning Lin Yuan publicly would upset Dong Panyu, but the girl was so troublesome that bringing her along would ruin everyone’s outing. Even with constant supervision, accidents couldn’t be guaranteed.
This interlude dampened the group’s initial excitement, and they continued upward in silence.
The mountain wasn’t particularly high, and its trees weren’t densely packed. Various species—elm, poplar, locust, mulberry, and others Lin Fang didn’t recognize—grew there.
During the estate’s construction, some larger trees had been felled. Usually, only mischievous children ventured up to pick wild fruits or catch small animals for fun. Few others came, so no proper paths had formed from frequent use. The undergrowth wasn’t tall, but thorny shrubs made progress difficult.
Before long, Lin Fang was exhausted. Fortunately, she had heeded Lin Cuili’s advice and changed into practical clothing, wearing her mother’s specially made cloth gloves and thick-soled shoes. Xian’er was similarly dressed, holding Lin Fang’s hand with one hand while using the other to push aside obstructing branches.
Lin Cuie fared worse. Despite hiking up her skirt, she kept getting snagged by thorns, her hands scratched and even bleeding in places. Shuqin and Shuqi struggled even more, clearing the way for Lin Cuie while managing their own skirts. None of the three wore proper hiking shoes, and their feet already ached.
Lin Cuili reluctantly called a halt. If it were just Lin Fang, she could carry her, but with Lin Cuie as well, it was problematic.
She settled the group in a clearing, then went off alone to gather herbs. Having been there the previous day, she knew where to find them—not far away, close enough to hear if called.
“Sixth Young Miss, look! What’s this?”
While Lin Fang rested, Xian’er bustled about within sight, fascinated by unfamiliar sights. Now she held out some black, irregularly shaped fragments—wrinkled and uneven, with a smooth surface and lighter brownish-black hue. They looked remarkably like wood ear mushrooms, though Lin Fang couldn’t be certain.
She had Xian’er show her where they were found. On several fallen, rotting tree trunks grew scattered black, ear-like growths. Ha! These were unmistakably wood ears.
Lin Fang was delighted. Wood ears were excellent.
Wood ear mushrooms are a high-quality, delicious gelatinous edible and medicinal fungus, with tender texture, crispness, and rich nutrition. Their protein content far exceeds that of typical vegetables and fruits, and they contain essential amino acids and multiple vitamins.
Their vitamin B content is ten times that of rice, flour, or vegetables, and three to six times that of meat. Iron levels are a hundred times higher than meat, calcium thirty to seventy times higher, and phosphorus exceeds eggs and meat, being four to seven times that of tomatoes or potatoes.
Moreover, wood ears have remarkable medicinal value: boosting energy, strengthening the body, nourishing kidneys and stomach, and promoting blood circulation. They can prevent blood clotting and thrombosis, reduce blood lipids and viscosity, soften blood vessels, improve circulation, and lower cardiovascular risks.
Wood ears also have strong absorptive properties, aiding the body in expelling waste. They effectively dissolve gallstones and kidney stones, as their plant alkaloids stimulate secretion in digestive and urinary tracts, helping break down and lubricate passage of stones.
Instead of picking them immediately, Lin Fang urged, “Xian’er, look around—see if you can find more.”
Xian’er puzzled, “Sixth Young Miss, what exactly are these? They’re so ugly and black.”
Lin Fang teased mysteriously, “Haha, Xian’er, if you find more, I’ll tell you.”
As they bantered, a raspy male voice crowed, “Haha, what fortune for this young master!”
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