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

Chapter 177: Village Outside the Village (Slightly Edited)

It was indeed live sheep.

And not just one, but a total of three: one adult and two lambs.

Getting the ewe through the entrance was quite a task for Shen Lie and Chen Dashan. Thankfully, with the two lambs leading the way, they managed to get the sheep inside.

Descending into the valley was an even bigger project. The wolf and the dead lambs weren’t a problem since they didn’t struggle. But the three live sheep had to be tied into carrying baskets, with multiple ropes securing them to ensure they wouldn’t escape midway, and only then were they slowly lowered down.

The bleating sound first attracted the group of children in Shenjin Cave. The noise was so unusual in the valley that the kids ran down excitedly to see what was happening.

Once everything was lowered down, Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang descended to the valley floor. By then, the three sheep and the dead wolf were already surrounded by a group of children. The Xu family, living nearby, had also come out to see what the commotion was about.

Uncle Xu swallowed hard as he looked at the wolf, thinking how they encountered a wolf just while foraging for mushrooms.

Xu Wenqing’s eyes lit up. After digging the pool, the inside of the valley became too small. Other than the area under the tree where the children played, there was no space for archery practice. He had to move to the outer side of the valley, where several compost pits had been dug…

The smell didn’t bother him anymore.

Well, it was said that a special composting method was used, so it wasn’t particularly smelly.

In short, he was excited.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan had to go back out to finish up. Unlike when they previously hunted wild boars and processed them outside before bringing them back, this time they brought everything back directly. The ewe was injured, so they had to check and deal with any blood traces along the way back to ensure everything was handled properly.

Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang moved their belongings back to the cave first. Old Man Chen and Mrs. Chen, having heard the news, called Chen Youtian to help organize the large cave to accommodate the sheep. There wasn’t much to do, except setting up a wooden fence to create a pen. The crops and vegetables planted outside would be ruined if the sheep roamed freely.

A group of children followed along. Shopkeeper Xu, Xu Wenqing, and Uncle Xu from the Xu family also came to help. Additionally, the Shi, Zhou, and Lu families heard about it, and the men brought leftover wooden boards and strips from making furniture.

With a dozen or so people, they quickly built a fenced enclosure with a gate, led by Chen Youtian.

Initially, they planned to fence directly at the cave entrance, but the women, being meticulous, noted that just as people needed sunlight, so did the sheep. They ended up creating a small enclosure outside the cave entrance, similar to a modern balcony, where the sheep could sunbathe and get some fresh air.

When they released the three sheep, the two lambs and the ewe immediately ran into the inner cave, disappointing the children who were eagerly waiting outside the fence, craning their necks.

Little girls particularly loved these soft, fluffy animals. Xu Wenyin, unable to see the sheep anymore, finally turned her attention elsewhere. With a sudden exclamation, she said to Shen Ning, “You’ll have fresh sheep milk to drink now!”

The Shili Village is a small village, and Shen Ning had never seen anyone raise sheep there. Therefore, she had no concept of getting milk from sheep. It was only after hearing Xu Wenyin mention it that she belatedly realized and asked Sang Luo, “Big sister-in-law, is there really sheep milk?”

Sang Luo laughed, “Yes, but the ewe is injured and still has to feed the two lambs. It’s also just arrived and is still skittish. Let’s give it some time to settle.”

Upon hearing that there really was sheep milk, Shen Ning was delighted, even though she had no idea what sheep milk tasted like.

The adults were more practical, considering how to feed the sheep in the future.

Before Sang Luo could say anything, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan returned. They immediately sought out several of the village leaders to discuss matters, and soon everyone knew the plan.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan proposed occupying several nearby caves before the refugees reached the inner perimeter.

Shen Lie explained, “It was Ah Luo’s idea. Dashan and I thought about it and it makes sense. Rather than having outsiders settle there and making our comings and goings passive, we should proactively occupy the spaces and put locks on them. This way, whether we’re chopping wood nearby or just leaving daily traces, it all blends in. Our valley will be better concealed, allowing the old, weak, women, and children to hide safely.”

“Additionally, with autumn approaching, the valley’s grain harvest is limited, but the resources outside the valley are abundant. We can’t just stay hidden in the valley. Uncle Zhou, Shopkeeper Xu, if your families are willing, you can send some people to join us in collecting more resources before autumn sets in. This way, we can save some grain for the winter.”

“If we encounter people while hunting or foraging, we can temporarily stay in the outer caves, bringing things back to the main cave at the valley entrance late at night. This would reduce risks. In fact, to avoid leaving too many traces, the main workforce can stay in the outer caves during the harvesting season, sending supplies back every few days. As long as we take proper precautions and look out for each other, it should work well.”

Who wouldn’t agree to this plan?

No matter how careful they were, constant movement would leave traces. Over time, it would be hard to hide. The valley couldn’t be self-sufficient in grain, vegetables, meat, or firewood without venturing outside.

With people moving around outside, the valley could remain completely concealed. This approach also allowed the able-bodied to hunt and forage freely, greatly reducing the risk of the valley being exposed.

Everyone knew that autumn brought abundant resources to the mountains. Even Lu Erlang and Shi Dalang wouldn’t dare venture far without Shen Lie and Chen Dashan leading. The Zhou and Xu families didn’t want to drag others down either.

At this point, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan proactively suggested occupying a cave outside, finding a way out for everyone, and leading them to gather resources. This was something they wouldn’t have dared to ask for earlier. Who wouldn’t agree to such a proposal?

Everyone was a hundred percent willing and promptly agreed.

Reaching this point, Shen Lie added, “There’s one more thing. Whoever each family sends out needs to be vetted by Dashan and me. They must be people we can manage.”

In other words, they had to be willing to take them along and not be overly burdened by them.

Everyone understood this, and this rule mainly applied to the four families needing to be taken along.

Old Man Lu was the first to respond, “For our family, it will be Erlang and Sanlang, the two brothers.”

Shi Dalang said, “For our family, it will still be me and my second brother.”

When it was Zhou Cunzheng’s turn, he thought for a moment and said, “We also need to leave some young and strong ones in the valley. I have three children, so we’ll rotate. Two will go out each time.”

Shopkeeper Xu, seeing that everyone had spoken, thought briefly and then said, “For our family, it will be me, Uncle Xu, Wenqing, and Qinghe, rotating two at a time.”

There was no need to mention the Chen and Shen families. For the Chen family, Qin Fangniang and Chen Youtian would take turns going out. For the Shen family, Shen Lie would either bring Sang Luo or Shen Jin, depending on Sang Luo’s preference.

With everything decided, Shen Lie didn’t waste time. “Let those who will be going out meet with us shortly. Before nightfall, Dashan and I will take you to scout the nearby hills, especially around the entrances, to identify the caves. Bring machetes or axes to chop some firewood on the way back.”

Gathering firewood was crucial. The large cave at the top was very spacious. Apart from leaving a small area near the entrance for moving items, it was best to fill the inside with firewood, as it wasn’t always convenient to bring it in.

Everyone nodded and quickly dispersed.

Sang Luo wanted to go with them, but today they had new sheep and had gathered a lot of white fungus, mushrooms, and wild fruits. These needed to be cleaned and dried before sunset. Trusting Shen Lie’s steady handling of things, she decided to leave it for now and have Shen Lie take her to see the caves another time.

She only asked Shen Lie to bring back some tender leaves from shrubs that sheep liked to eat and to cut more fresh grass for the chickens, ducks, and sheep.

When Shen Lie and Chen Dashan went out again, each carried an empty basket.

By late afternoon, a large group went out. The heads of each family knew the reason, and while the women might ask, the men would inform them privately but said nothing to the children.

The Lu family had split up, but Old Man Lu didn’t mention Lu Dalang when reporting numbers.

It was an unspoken rule in the valley that Lu Dalang’s household couldn’t leave the valley. Thus, even though Shen Lie didn’t explicitly state it, everyone knew not to mention the cave plan at home, especially in front of children who might spread the word.

When Lu Dalang saw Erlang and Sanlang heading out with machetes, he merely thought Shen Lie had called everyone to gather firewood and didn’t think much of it.

…

With Shen Lie gone, Shen Ning and the other children saw that Chen Youtian had laid dry grass for the sheep and set up the water and feeding troughs. After watching the commotion, they returned to help Sang Luo clean the mushrooms and wash the white fungus.

A group of children, even Xu Wenyin, joined in the fun, so the work went quickly. In the end, Sang Luo took out two bunches of slightly purple wild grapes that Shen Lie had picked and gave them to Shen Ning to wash and share with the children in the valley.

The thought of those sour grapes made Sang Luo’s mouth pucker, but the children loved them. They made faces from the sourness yet kept asking for more.

Sang Luo watched and laughed.

During this time, she called Chen Youtian to skin the wolf and cut the meat from the lamb’s wound. The two families split the meat. Sang Luo sent Shen An to give Shopkeeper Xu’s family a portion of the meat and a bowl of mushrooms, also sharing some with Shen Jin and his brothers.

Shen Lie and his group returned to the main cave twice to deliver firewood, lowering two baskets of grass leaves from a high place, and then went out again. They didn’t return to the valley until dusk.

By then, Sang Luo and Shen Ning had already prepared dinner. It was quite late, and everyone was starving, but Shen Lie’s eyes were bright. After washing his hands and face, he whispered to Sang Luo, “Our cave is on the mountain peak next to the entrance, the closest cave to the entrance. I’ll take you to see it tomorrow.”

Ever since Sang Luo had made Shen Lie sit beside her while practicing calligraphy, Shen Lie had firmly claimed that spot at mealtimes. At first, Shen Ning hadn’t noticed and got her seat taken by her big brother for three or four days in a row. Eventually, she got the hint and quietly changed her seat.

So now Shen Lie could lean close to Sang Luo to say a few words in private.

Sang Luo had grown accustomed to his occasional closeness and nodded with a smile.

…

The herbs they collected were enough to make quite a bit of medicine. The next day, Sang Luo didn’t join the gathering. Instead, she had Shen Lie take Shen Jin out to gather some mushrooms and hunt some wild chickens, ensuring their family still had food while Shen Lie handled the rest.

Shen Lie knew Shen Jin was thoughtful, so he called on a few other families and set out early with Shen Jin the next day. They returned in the late afternoon, dropping off their catch and mushrooms, leaving Shen Jin behind. Shen Lie took an axe, a hoe, and some young men from the other families and went out again.

They didn’t return until sunset, taking Sang Luo to see the cave.

The Shen family’s cave was up a bit from the mountain next to the valley entrance. The other families’ caves were scattered around the surrounding mountains, all chosen to be near the valley entrance. The advantage was that they could monitor the valley entrance, and if they shouted loudly, others in the nearby caves could hear and help. This was very beneficial.

The downside, as Shen Lie had said, was that the caves were very small, especially theirs. Sang Luo saw that their cave was no more than six or seven square meters, with just enough space for a bed and not much else. Shen Lie mentioned that two other caves were even smaller, more like recessed rock walls needing a stone wall and a door to be safely habitable.

There were larger caves, but they were too far away. To keep the valley entrance under surveillance and to be within shouting distance for help, they had to choose these smaller ones.

No wonder Shen Lie and Chen Dashan never considered these caves for long-term use.

However, as temporary resting places, they were sufficient.

By now, the Shen family’s cave even had a door installed, made from thick round logs, forming a door frame and door that were dozens of times thicker than a regular door panel. This was likely for protection against wild beasts; a regular thin door panel wouldn’t suffice against a powerful intruder.

Sang Luo examined it closely, impressed by the design. The door had a small opening that could be opened and closed from the inside, allowing for observation of the outside and even enabling the use of a bow and arrow for defense. This setup was incredibly secure.

Outside the cave, there was a small patch of flat ground. Sang Luo walked around and found it quite level. She said, “In the future, we can place a bed inside and set up a shelter and a simple stove outside. It would be a good temporary residence while you’re hunting. Additionally, we should transplant some herbs to deter snakes nearby.”

Speaking of planting snake-repellent herbs, Sang Luo suddenly paused and looked at Shen Lie, who was also looking at her. Both of their eyes lit up.

Swallowing her excitement, Sang Luo said, “Shen Lie, since we’re settling here, we can cultivate the land outside the cave. We could still plant a crop of soybeans, and many vegetables can still be grown. As long as we can protect it, all of it would be our food supply.”

If refugees were to flood in and the land couldn’t be defended, they would only lose seeds and labor. They could always save seeds from the crops grown in the valley, so the loss would be minimal. In terms of labor, they had plenty of energy to spare.

With the abundance of food in the mountains, most people wouldn’t touch something clearly owned. If they did, it would either be because they were of bad character or were desperate to survive.

The southern region was mountainous and rich in resources. People capable of venturing deep into the mountains would likely not struggle to survive. If someone of bad character tried to take their crops, Shen Lie and his group were more than capable of dealing with them.

Since they wanted to set up a decoy outside the valley to hide their presence, planting crops along with establishing caves would make it even more convincing.

Shen Lie and Sang Luo had evidently thought of the same idea. They looked at each other and smiled.

“Let’s go back and eat. After dinner, we’ll have Xiao An gather everyone to discuss this plan,” Shen Lie said.