The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 151: Dazzling

Sang Luo estimated it to be over nine meters high, which for Chen Youtian was manageable.

In the Daqian Dynasty, the measurement scale was about three meters.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan efficiently handled the ropes. Shen Lie held the other end of the rope while Chen Dashan secured the safety rope for Chen Youtian. They went down together, with Chen Youtian on the left and right side, guiding him on posture, technique, and footholds.

Chen Youtian descended smoothly, and soon the rope was pulled up by Shen Lie, bringing Chen Dashan back up to the cave.

Now it was Sang Luo’s turn. She had observed how Chen Dashan had tied the safety rope for Chen Youtian earlier. However, when it came to one’s life, she decided not to be pretentious and let Shen Lie take the lead, following his instructions to learn the process.

While tying the safety rope, there were inevitable touches on the waist or legs, but Sang Luo remained composed. Surprisingly, Shen Lie was a bit nervous, but Sang Luo’s focus was solely on tying the knots, barely noticing him.

Once the safety rope was secured, Shen Lie stepped back, finally breathing a sigh of relief. He then looked at Sang Luo and asked with a smile, “Feeling nervous? Actually, there are two ways for you to descend. The first is like what Youtian did, where Dashan pulls the rope from above while I accompany you, guiding your footwork and handholds. After practicing a few times, you’ll be able to do it on your own with the safety rope. The second way is for you to go down alone, with me controlling the rope and lowering you down directly. You just need to watch your footing and avoid hitting any protruding rocks.”

Chen Dashan, who was watching nearby, chuckled at Shen Lie’s words, “It’s time for me to go last, I and Shen Lie can handle the ropes together, and you both can go down together. You won’t have to worry, siblings.”

Sang Luo and Shen Lie ignored him.

Both of them understood that despite posing as a married couple, they were not at a stage where such intimacy was necessary, nor was it required.

Sang Luo considered both of Shen Lie’s suggestions. The first required courage, but with Shen Lie’s guidance, she could practice. The second, almost like a blind descent, would rely on Shen Lie’s arm strength.

Having seen him lift heavy stones and carry trees, Sang Luo trusted in his strength.

Sang Luo took a deep breath, psyching herself up, and looked at Shen Lie, “The first way!”

Shen Lie’s eyes lit up, “Alright, let’s go. Actually, there’s nothing to fear. The rocky wall below this cave isn’t too bad. There are plenty of footholds and handholds, just a bit steep. With the rope, it’s very safe. The concave ones at the mountain top are the real challenge.”

…

Chen Youtian’s rappelling had drawn attention from people in the valley. By the time it was Sang Luo’s turn, a crowd had gathered below.

Many were eager to try it themselves, but Shen Lie and Chen Dashan were busy. They had to leave the valley for a while, and the rope was taken by the two men.

Those who had experienced it, like Sang Luo and Chen Youtian, were surrounded by curious onlookers. Of course, the children were the most curious, especially the older ones. Even Wang Yunzheng, who was always immersed in his books, came out to watch the excitement.

After Sang Luo’s experience, she found it less daunting than she had initially thought. Each foothold was already marked by Shen Lie, and she only needed to focus on her immediate surroundings. In times of uncertainty, Shen Lie could lend a hand, and the two times she faltered, he swiftly supported her. With the safety rope, it was all just a false alarm.

As for the peculiar heartbeat she felt when Shen Lie held her, only Sang Luo knew about it, and it wasn’t something she felt the need to share with others.

…

Chen Youtian and Sang Luo each brought back two baskets of wild vegetables. After a discussion with Qin Fangniang, they each set aside two bunches of fresh and tender broomcorn millet, distributing one bunch to each of the other four families. They also shared some fresh mugwort leaves.

Meanwhile, Shen An and Shen Ning took on the task of washing the two baskets of wild vegetables, along with Xu Wenying, Chen Ershan, and Chen Xiaoya, who offered to help wash vegetables for their families.

During this time, Chen Youtian came over and brought two bowls of glutinous rice to exchange for glutinous rice flour with Sang Luo. He also borrowed the stone mortar and asked Sang Luo how much rice flour she needed, conveniently bringing out the measurements for both families.

This was a strenuous task, with Shen Lie absent. Sang Luo didn’t refuse and handed a bowl of rice to Chen Youtian to help with pounding, while she prepared to soak and cook red beans for red bean paste.

When Shen An and Shen Ning returned after washing the vegetables, the red beans were already soaking in hot water in a pottery basin.

Shen Ning was particularly interested in cooking and couldn’t help but ask why they were soaking the beans in hot water. Sang Luo was happy to explain. She liked the siblings and didn’t see any need to keep cooking techniques a secret. The siblings were diligent and often took on tasks willingly, even when Shen Lie returned. Their helpful attitude had never changed.

Therefore, after they stopped selling food in the county, Sang Luo found household chores very easy since the siblings took on most tasks themselves. As a result, if Shen An and Shen Ning were willing to learn, Sang Luo was open to teaching them.

The red bean paste was made with guidance from Shen Ning throughout the process.

Seeing that Shen Lie hadn’t returned, and not feeling rushed to prepare dinner, Sang Luo decided to continue processing the fresh mugwort leaves with Shen Ning. After Chen Youtian delivered the rice flour, she planned to teach the young girl how to make green dumpling.

The two women were busy and joyful, and Xu Wenying, who had recently returned home, couldn’t stay in her own cave, so she joined in. Thus, one apprentice became two.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan returned later than Sang Luo had anticipated. It was only when they returned that Sang Luo learned why Shen Lie had taken the rope with him.

It was for transporting heavy objects and large items from the high cave down below.

Shen Lie had descended first, asking Shen An to watch the position directly below the cave carefully to prevent any children from running underneath. Then, he returned to the high cave with Chen Dashan and gradually lowered down several bamboo poles and two baskets using the rope.

The baskets had been hidden outside the valley earlier. With the entrance expanded, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan had gone to check the traps and brought back some bamboo to make the baskets that couldn’t be brought inside originally.

One basket contained several large pieces of stone, while the other had over ten fresh bamboo shoots, four mountain chickens, and plenty of fresh grass for feeding chickens and ducks.

When the families living in the area heard the commotion, the children gathered around the chickens and ducks, while Sang Luo bent down to examine the stones in the other basket.

These stones…

She felt like she recognized them?

As Shen Lie came to move the stones, he noticed her interest and explained, “Our household mill is made of this type of stone. It seems like you haven’t had soy milk or tofu in a while, right? I plan to make a small stone mill for home use when I have the time.”

Sang Luo’s eyes lit up. She had been craving soy products for a long time.

Unable to carry the stones, she picked up a few bamboo shoots and followed Shen Lie, asking, “Can you make a stone mill? Is there a specific pattern on the inside?”

Shen Lie nodded, “Before leaving, I carefully examined the two millstones. I should be able to make it.”

If he didn’t have the skill, he wouldn’t have left the stone mill outside.

“What about the largest stone? Will you make a stone mortar with it?”

Sang Luo thought that was the most needed item in the valley that required stone.

Shen Lie smiled, “Yes, that’s for the elders to work on slowly. It will be shared among the six families to ease the effort of pounding rice in the future.”

A small stone mortar could be used, but it would be laborious.

…

In the evening, the aroma of stewed chicken wafted through the valley.

It’s not that they didn’t want to raise them, chickens and ducks could be fed with chopped green grass, but they still needed bran. Originally, it was particularly difficult to raise the over ten of them, and they relied on the bean dregs that had been fried, dried, and stored to support them. Adding more mountain chickens would be even more challenging.

So, other than the one that the Chen family found could lay eggs, which they kept, for those like Sang Luo who had brought in three hens that could lay eggs, they could only be used for meat dishes to replenish nutrients.

However, for people like Shen Lie and Chen Dashan, they didn’t lack for this kind of meat in the deep mountains. So that evening, both families slaughtered one each.

Knowing they had mountain chickens, Sang Luo had Shen An bring several freshly cooked Green dumpling to exchange for a bowl of pickled vegetables from the Gan family.

For the Shen family’s dinner, they had stewed mountain chicken with bamboo shoots, mixed chicken offal with pickled vegetables, and tossed broomcorn millet shoots, along with cute and green Green dumpling filled with red bean paste.

Just from the menu, Shen Lie felt that the spread of such delicious dishes deserved a better table than the makeshift one they had.

While Sang Luo was out delivering half a bowl of stewed chicken meat and a plate of green dumpling to the neighboring Xu family, Shen Lie had rearranged two rice barrels to form a makeshift table with the stone slab that was used as a temporary table. He had also added four round wooden stools.

The spot Sang Luo sat at was even made more comfortable with a cushion.

“Tomorrow, we’ll take everyone out of the valley to gather some wild vegetables. When we return, we’ll start building the things on your blueprint, starting with the tables and chairs.”

Sang Luo chuckled and arranged the dishes on the stone table. Shen An and Shen Ning brought the rice and joined them. Sitting down with a smile, Sang Luo said, “This stone table isn’t bad. Let’s not rush with the tables and chairs, let’s start with the beds first. I can’t sleep comfortably with you and Shen An sleeping on the floor every day.”

This light-hearted comment made Shen An and Shen Ning laugh.

As the family sat down, dinner was lively and flavorful. Shen An, feeling content, suddenly remarked, “Besides not being able to leave the valley, we’re actually quite good here. No taxes, no service required. I can learn farming, and Big Brother can hunt. It’s much freer compared to before when we were outside.”

Sang Luo couldn’t help but laugh at his words.

“Young man, you really have great aspirations.”

“There will be peaceful days outside eventually. Study well with Yunzheng and Wenbo. The more you know when peace comes, the more opportunities you’ll have.”

Shen Lie, who was eating, paused at her words, showing a thoughtful expression on his face.

…

After dinner, Shen An and Shen Ning went to wash the dishes, while Sang Luo noticed Shen Lie flipping the bedding he used to sleep on near the shelf.

She was somewhat curious and was about to ask when she saw Shen Lie pull out a piece of wolf skin and examine it closely, then took out the scissors from Sang Luo’s sewing basket.

“What are you doing?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Shen Lie turned around to see Sang Luo and explained the idea that had crossed his mind during dinner.

“I remember your brush looks like it’s made of animal fur, so I thought this wolf hair might work too. I want to try making a brush head. Tomorrow, I’ll gather some thin bamboo branches similar to pen handles. If I can make a brush myself, and if we don’t have ink, do you think writing with water on the stone slab will work?”

Sang Luo was taken aback.

How could she forget about practicing calligraphy in this way?

Wouldn’t it be better than writing with branches on sand?

“Great, go ahead.” She then fetched the brush she had carefully stored away and handed it to Shen Lie. “You can try to figure it out. If you can make it, it will be convenient for practicing calligraphy.”

The weather soon turned hot, and writing on the stone slab would dry quickly, and water was readily available. What could be more cost-effective than this?

At this point, Sang Luo also remembered the mountain chicken feathers she had collected after the fat-removal process. She retrieved them from a large bag of odds and ends and handed them to Shen Lie. “You can make pens with chicken feathers too. These have been processed, and I haven’t found a use for them. You can use them to practice. Once you’re skilled, you can use the wolf hair.”

As for the wolf skin, if Shen Lie used it for practice, it would likely be worn out.

Shen Lie received a bag of chicken feathers but his attention was on Sang Luo. He tilted his head slightly and asked, “Do you like wolf skin?”

Sang Luo was a bit puzzled by the sudden focus on her, but she nodded, “Yes, I do. I remember hearing somewhere that covering with wolf skin prevents rheumatism or even cures it. I’m not sure if it’s true, but in this cave, especially during cold weather, wolf skin would be quite useful, wouldn’t it?”

“Oh,” he responded thoughtfully, recalling how the wolf hides had been used to make bedding after the beds had been made. Slowly, a smile crept across his face, and his lips lifted slightly.

Although he tried to conceal the smile, being tall, even if Shen Lie lowered his head, Sang Luo could still see the smile in his eyes.

Sang Luo wasn’t quite sure why his mood had suddenly improved, but that smile…

It was dazzling.

Does Shen Lie even know how he looks when he smiles?

After gazing for a few seconds, Sang Luo looked away. “I’ll leave you to your work.”

Leaving this remark, Sang Luo turned to walk away, but after a few steps, she stopped.

Realizing belatedly that Shen Lie had a lot of unfinished tasks, she turned back and took the bag of chicken feathers and the brush from Shen Lie.

“I’ve thought about it. I can figure out the brush, but your skill is better suited for carving the millstone to make furniture. That way, everyone can make the most of their talents.”

Taking back what was handed to him, the space between them suddenly felt empty.

Shen Lie glanced at Sang Luo’s retreating figure and smiled again.