That night was as agonizing as fire. The initial heavy worries dissipated with the rhythmic breathing of the person beside him, vanishing into the unknown. The moonlight stretched endlessly, veiled in a hazy, lingering mist, much like his heart—a tranquil sea of gentle ripples suddenly disturbed by an unexpected intrusion, sending ripples across its surface.
Even Chunfu, who usually loved to laze in bed, woke up momentarily dazed upon seeing the man beside her. He only opened his eyes when he heard movement nearby, dark circles shadowing them. Neither of them knew when they had finally fallen asleep the night before. His body ached with exhaustion as he struggled to sit up. Chunfu had already dressed herself, blinking at him with her large, innocent eyes before suddenly leaning in to plant a proper kiss on the corner of his mouth. “I was too tired to say it last night,” she said innocently. “I like you too. Now hurry up and sleep.”
Chunfu knew the man must have suffered all night, and now her teasing had left him stiff with surprise. Feeling a twinge of guilt, she hopped off the kang and fetched a basin of water for him to wash his face. “Hurry up and wash,” she urged. “The chickens, the dog, and Chunfu are all starving to death.”
Jicheng chuckled helplessly. Her delicate profile was as flawless as pear blossoms, her small, rosy earlobes faintly revealing the marks of pierced ears. Girls in Dongpo Village had their ears pierced young, and Chunfu, with no jewelry to wear, had let hers close up. Noticing she was still wearing the clothes Liansheng’s wife had given her, he said softly, “I washed your new clothes. Go see if they’re dry. If they are, change into them. We have guests coming today. Be good.”
Chunfu obediently went out, picked out a pale pink dress from the dried laundry, and changed in the next room. By now, the sky was bright, and she had no intention of undressing in front of him.
Jicheng closed his eyes, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He folded the quilt, washed his face with the water Chunfu had brought, then stepped outside to rinse his mouth. He refilled the small bowl in front of the dog’s kennel with water and food—the pup was weaned and easy to care for—then turned to feed the chickens. Mornings were always busy. He stoked the fire in the kitchen to cook breakfast, knowing that after eating, he’d have to head up the mountain to forage for whatever edible plants or fruits he could find. Chunfu emerged with her hair loose, carrying a comb as she sat beneath a tree, gazing at the distant green hills while attempting to tie up her hair. Just as she lifted the comb, someone took it from her hands, gently running it through her hair from root to tip with painstaking care.
“Let me do it. You look beautiful in this dress,” he murmured. The pink hue made her appear even more lively and delicate. Dappled sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting shifting patterns on her glossy black hair, dazzling his eyes. In this moment, his heart was at peace. To have someone accompany him through every sunrise and sunset—time stretched long, days passed leisurely.
Liansheng and his wife were watering the vegetable patch in the yard. Glancing up at the couple, they clicked their tongues in admiration. “Look at those two. How could anyone say such nasty things about them? They’re both so good-looking, standing together like that—perfectly matched. Those gossipers are just jealous. Half the village would kill to marry Jicheng, and if they saw how well he treats his wife, they’d probably die of envy.”
Liansheng nudged her, teasing, “Why are you so worked up? Stop worrying about others and go make breakfast for the kids.”
It wasn’t until after lunch that they finally packed up and headed for the mountain. Jicheng kept the incident of the intruder in mind. As they left, he called out to Liansheng’s wife, asking her to keep an eye on the house. Only after receiving her assurance did they set off.
This time, Jicheng led her deeper into the woods. The dense trees exuded a damp coolness, making the walk refreshing. Before long, they spotted a cluster of mushrooms growing beneath a tree. Jicheng picked a few and placed them in the basket on his back, then moved on to search for other wild greens or fruits for the children. After a few steps, he realized Chunfu wasn’t following. Turning back, he saw the silly girl still crouched there, carefully selecting the best mushrooms and piling them up—already quite a haul.
Jicheng pulled her up with an amused smile. “We can’t possibly eat all these. Why bother picking so many? They’re not in your way just growing there.”
Chunfu resisted the urge to roll her eyes. In town, she’d seen countless farmers unable to sell their mushrooms precisely because supply outstripped demand, driving prices down. She had no intention of joining that frenzy now. Instead, she planned to dry and store these high-quality mushrooms. By winter, they’d be a rare commodity, and restaurants would buy them in bulk at higher prices. With such a natural treasure right at their doorstep, why let money slip through their fingers?
“Take them all back,” she insisted.
Jicheng’s heart skipped a beat at her pout. With a resigned sigh, he relented. “Fine, we’ll take them all.”
Only after filling half the basket did Chunfu stop, leaving the smaller mushrooms to grow for another day. By winter, they’d have a substantial stockpile. She planned to gift some to Miss Jin, who, with her extensive connections and generous nature, wouldn’t refuse this small favor. Glancing at the man beside her, she thought happily that he wouldn’t have to do heavy labor anymore. She didn’t crave riches—just a smooth, contented life for the two of them. But if fortune came knocking, she wouldn’t turn it away.
Deeper in, they came across a lake of unknown depth, its surface shimmering under the sun. Nearby, a patch of wild mustard greens grew in a clearing. Jicheng strode ahead—he’d spotted a few pheasants earlier. With so few people venturing here, the birds’ guard would be low. As a child, he’d often hunted rabbits in these hills, honing his skills early. Setting down the basket, he handed Chunfu a stick to ward off any potential threats. She nodded, watching his sturdy figure disappear into the trees before noticing the sharp axe strapped to his waist.
Surveying the quiet surroundings, Chunfu bent to gather all the visible mustard greens into the basket. Boiled and soaked, they could be served cold, stir-fried, or made into soup—a versatile addition to their meals. Before marriage, she’d even picked edible weeds like lamb’s quarters from the fields.
These humble ingredients, ordinary in this era, would be prized delicacies in another time and place. Tossed with seasonings, their crisp texture delighted city dwellers unfamiliar with rural fare. She’d learned this while working at a restaurant near her home, where she’d handled all kinds of wild greens during prep. The chef had been kind, teaching her cooking tricks in secret, ensuring she never went hungry.
Suddenly, rustling came from Jicheng’s direction. Chunfu tensed, about to investigate when he reappeared, a few feathers stuck in his hair, looking rather comical. Two pheasants dangled from his grip, their necks slit, blood dripping steadily onto the ground.
“We’ll feast tonight,” he said cheerfully. “We’ll stew both birds and treat everyone.”
Chunfu watched his bright smile, thinking him foolishly generous—others hoarded their best for themselves, yet he happily shared everything. But this very openness, this lack of pettiness, was why those who knew him well adored him. Without checking the basket’s contents, he slung it over his shoulder, tied the pheasants to the stick he’d given Chunfu, and carried it all while foraging for wild fruits.
“Later, go invite Zhang Yan for dinner. Do you think you can manage? I wonder if your brother and sister-in-law will give him trouble.” He sighed. Every family had its conflicts. To him, Zhang Yan was far more sensible than his younger brother Zhang Tong, who was already scheming at a tender age. But parental favoritism was beyond his control.
Chunfu saw nothing wrong with a nephew eating at his aunt’s house—it was as natural as coming home late from play. At worst, he’d endure some harmless scolding. They were used to it.
She set off to find Zhang Yan, her steps light with happiness. The boy was squatting outside the yard, idly counting ants. Spotting her, he grinned. “Auntie, you’re here!”
As he ran over, Chunfu ruffled his hair and whispered, “Your uncle asked me to invite you for dinner. There’s meat—and chicken!”
Nearby, Zhang Tong’s ears perked up at the mention of meat. “Auntie, I want to come too!” he piped sweetly.
Chunfu ignored him, tugging Zhang Yan along. When she didn’t respond, Zhang Tong yelled, “Mom! Auntie’s taking Brother to eat meat without me!”
Li Xiu’e rushed out, scolding, “What’s the big deal? Just bring Zhang Tong along! If you can’t afford to host, don’t go inviting people and putting on airs!”
Xiu Hua followed, sneering, “Look at Chunfu’s fancy new clothes. I haven’t worn anything that nice since my wedding. She’d rather spend money on clothes and meat than lend it for Zhang Tong’s schooling. Some aunt she is.”
Chunfu’s heart sank. Sensing her anger, Zhang Yan opened his mouth to speak, but she strode forward and snapped, “Busybody gossips! What’s it to you?”
Xiu Hua’s face darkened. Rolling up her sleeves, she advanced, this time making sure there were no stones nearby. With Chunfu’s slight frame, she’d finally have her revenge.
Just then, Jicheng returned from the mountain to find Ji Liang and his father standing outside the yard with Liansheng’s wife. Spotting the couple, she smiled. “See, Uncle Ji? They’re back. I told you they hadn’t gone far.”
Uncle Ji frowned at the pheasants on Jicheng’s shoulder. “Jicheng, we need to talk. Let’s go inside.”
Jicheng made no move to invite them in. “We can talk here. It’s too stuffy inside. Liansheng’s wife… we’re all from the same village. No need for secrecy.”
Uncle Ji’s face flushed with anger at being denied entry.
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