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

Chapter 187: Wishes

Autumn had painted the mountains in shades of gold and red. On the road from the Zhou family’s home to the outer village, a wild mountain hen, which had enjoyed a few days of peace since Shen Lie and his group had passed, was now being chased frantically by a family of father and sons.

One of the boys managed to catch a female wild chicken, pressing it down firmly. He looked up and saw Shen Lie’s group, which startled him so much that he almost let go of the chicken. He quickly stood up, hid behind his father and brothers, and the whole family huddled together, warily eyeing Shen Lie’s group.

In times of chaos, the rule of survival in the mountains was to avoid people whenever possible. Shen Lie understood this and merely stopped to take a few glances before leading his group onward.

After they had walked a bit further, Chen Dashan separated from the group, weaving through the terrain. After a short while, he returned and said, “There’s a decent-sized cave behind the forest in those mountains. A large family, at least fifteen or sixteen people, seem to have taken shelter there. There could be more inside the cave that we didn’t see.”

This so-called temporary shelter would likely become a longer-term residence if they couldn’t find a safer place, much like the Zhou family’s situation.

Sang Luo thought there might still be a few small caves around the outer village, and the idea of having unknown neighbors made her uneasy.

They all hurried back to the outer village, relieved to find no new neighbors. Perhaps it was because the caves were small, or because people had noticed the occupied caves, or maybe no one had passed by this area yet.

Chen Youtian suggested, “We should lock up the small caves around here that can be used for living. Whether Zhou Laizi’s family moves in later or not, we need to claim the space first to prevent strangers from settling in.”

If strangers were to settle nearby, it would make their lives much less convenient.

Everyone agreed. Those who had spare locks at home offered to provide them. They split into two groups: one continued processing the collected mountain goods between Shen Lie and Chen Dashan’s homes, and the other went to cut trees and make doors to claim the territory.

They laid out the drying mats they had brought back, and each family worked in an orderly manner. Shi Erlang’s wife, Sang Luo, and Shen Ning were being protected in the middle of the group. Shi Erlang’s wife, feeling troubled, asked, “A-Luo, do you think it’ll be unsafe here in the future?”

As Sang Luo evenly spread out the wood ear mushrooms, she replied, “It’s inevitable. But as long as we don’t encounter large groups of bandits, we should be able to handle it. We’re better off than those outside. At least we can advance or retreat as needed. Let’s stock up on food while the inner region is still relatively calm.”

Hearing Sang Luo mention the valley, Shi Erlang felt a bit more at ease, and his expression finally relaxed.

“Exactly, we still have a place to retreat to. To be honest, after hearing about the situation outside from that old man and seeing that family with two dead and three injured, I’m scared.”

Following Shen Lie and Chen Dashan in the mountains, they were always well-protected. If there was any danger, someone would step up to face it first. She never had to worry about it. Ever since she saw Sang Luo kill a wolf, she even felt excited when encountering wolves. She would climb a tree and think about how to do the same, having forgotten what it meant to be afraid.

Thinking about the several groups of people they encountered today, she sighed, “I wonder how my family is doing now, and my sister-in-law’s family too.”

Her family had also hidden grain in the mountains early on, but there were family rules. Just like they couldn’t let their families know where their grain was hidden, their family wouldn’t let married-out daughters know where their grain was hidden. So, she didn’t know where her family was or how they were doing, whether they were hiding deep enough, or if they had encountered bandits in the mountains.

Sang Luo knew about the situation outside and didn’t know how to comfort her. She could only say, “They prepared early, and with many clan members, they should be alright. Maybe they’re settled somewhere deep in the mountains like us?”

Shi Erlang’s wife nodded, “I hope so. May the kind be blessed.”

Facing such turbulent times, there was nothing they could do but hope their parents and siblings could safely get through this ordeal.

…

By evening, when Shen Lie’s group returned, everyone had collected their mountain goods and returned to their respective caves.

Sang Luo, who was drying mountain goods next to her own place, had already prepared dinner with Shen Ning. They had made rice with chestnuts, mushrooms, and small pieces of cured meat, all cooked over a low flame, and the aroma made Shen Lie’s stomach growl even before he had washed his hands.

Sang Luo laughed when she heard it, put out the fire, and asked Shen Ning to bring out the bowls and chopsticks. She served everyone a bowl and they sat on the large round stones that Shen Lie had somehow moved to the cave entrance, eating dinner.

Having been busy all afternoon, there was no etiquette about not talking during meals. Sang Luo asked Shen Lie, “What are the plans for later? Have you all discussed it?”

When the men got together, such a big matter would naturally be discussed.

Shen Lie nodded, “Before the inner region gets more chaotic, hunting and gathering mountain goods must continue. We discussed it just now. Starting today, the able-bodied men won’t return to the valley. We need to have people outside all the time, guarding the area, preventing anyone from getting too close. Otherwise, if everyone hides in the valley and we are discovered, it will be hard to defend. As more people come into the inner region, we won’t be the only ones farming and gathering. We won’t stand out.”

“From now on, we’ll divide into three groups. One group will go out hunting, while the other two will stay here farming, drying mountain goods, and secretly guarding the valley. We’ll rotate. Dashan and I will take turns leading, and Uncle Shi will also stay outside the valley. Those guarding the entrance inside the valley will be the responsibility of Zhou Cunzheng and a few others left in the valley.”

This arrangement was very reasonable. The valley was their best retreat, and it housed mostly the elderly, women, and children who needed the most protection. The instability was outside the valley, so the main defense force naturally had to be outside. The valley guards were essentially a backup for those outside. As long as the external defense was intact, there wouldn’t be any danger inside, and Zhou Cunzheng’s group would handle it easily.

Sang Luo was a bit worried, “Is it safe for only four or five of you to go hunting at a time?”

Shen Lie nodded, “The mountains are actually the best place to hide. Whether it’s me or Dashan, as long as we’re careful and only take a few people, it’s not hard to avoid others. Besides, Dashan will deliver bows and arrows to the Zhou family tomorrow, and on the way back, he’ll collect some herbs to make more poison for the arrows for self-defense.”

Sang Luo thought about it. The northern region was in chaos back then, likely no less peaceful than Qiyang County now, and they managed to survive.

While she was pondering this, Shen Lie said, “I’ll escort you, An Ning, and Aunt Shi back to the valley tonight. It’s not very safe out here.”

Sang Luo glanced at him, “Is it that bad already?”

She wanted to suggest that only Shen Ning should go back, thinking she could still move around while the inner area wasn’t too chaotic. But then she realized she might not be able to move around in a few days, so she stopped herself, “I’ll rest for a few days. In seven or eight days, when you deliver supplies at night, take me out again. I might recognize more mountain goods than you.”

Many plants have been discovered and domesticated over thousands of years. Although it’s a different timeline, she’s been in this world for about a year, and the flora isn’t that different. Sang Luo had some confidence in this, although it might seem odd considering her current identity.

She felt a bit awkward, but Shen Ning, taking her words at face value, sincerely agreed, “Big sister-in-law has read a lot of books.”

Sang Luo, usually thick-skinned, felt a bit embarrassed by the young girl’s genuine recognition.

This knowledge wasn’t really related to reading books, but her scholarly reputation had been solidified among the villagers in the valley.

Of course, she backed her words with actions. For example, Shen Lie now realized that she knew about Dioscorea, bulbils, and fairy tofu, which most people didn’t, let alone that she could detoxify and prepare the supposedly poisonous snakehead grass.

Seeing Shen Lie speechless, she smiled, “Don’t worry, wherever you are, I’ll be no more than three steps away.”

This made Shen Lie laugh.

“Alright, I’ll come to get you in seven or eight days.”

…

In the Shi family cave, Shi Erlang was also telling his wife the same thing, that it wasn’t safe outside and she should go back to the valley, letting his elder brother take over.

He expected her to agree readily, but instead, she stared into the stove fire and didn’t respond.

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to go back?”

Shi Erlang’s wife looked up at him, unsure of how to express her feelings.

She wasn’t very brave, and returning to the valley would be safer. Moreover, with her brother-in-law coming out, there was only one bed in the small cave, making it inconvenient for her to stay.

But she was preoccupied with something else.

“Do you think my parents and brothers are okay?”

Shi Erlang finally understood. Ever since he returned, his wife had been worried. He had thought it was because of the instability in the inner area, but it turned out to be something else.

“You’re worried about your parents and brothers?”

She nodded, “Hearing about the situation today, how could I not worry? We’re able to hide so deep because of Shen Lie and Dashan. My parents and uncles can’t go as deep. There are many bandits outside, and I don’t know how they’re doing.”

During the day, she managed to stay composed in front of Sang Luo, but now, in front of her husband, she couldn’t hold back her tears.

How could a child not worry about their parents?

Shi Erlang saw her tears and quickly helped wipe them away. He opened and closed his mouth, unsure of how to comfort her.

What words could truly ease her worries?

None.

Shi Erlang’s throat felt tight as he said, “We are also sheltered by the Shen and Chen families. The valley is only so big, and everyone has relatives. There’s really nothing we can do.”

He was afraid his wife would react like Lu Dalang’s wife, who became unreasonably upset.

Shi Erlang’s wife nodded, “I know. When we first entered the mountains, we really couldn’t bring anyone along. I just think… I think, if my parents and brothers didn’t hide deep enough back then, they might also be moving toward the inner area now. The situation is different now compared to when we first escaped into the mountains. Both entrances are well-hidden, and there’s a small village outside.”

“I wonder, when you go out hunting, could you keep an eye out? If you come across them, they don’t need to come here. They could stay next to the Zhou family, become neighbors with them, and look out for each other. We wouldn’t expose the valley, but we could still help…”

Ever since she saw the Zhou family settling deep in the mountains, she had secretly envied them.

But as she spoke, she realized her thoughts were as unrealistic as daydreams.

Shi Erlang’s wife lowered her head and covered her eyes, “The mountains around Qiyang are too vast. If they took a different direction initially, the deeper they go, the farther away they would be.”

Shi Erlang patted her back, “Don’t overthink it. Look at today—we encountered strangers, and Uncle Youtian helped them. If we meet our own relatives, we can certainly help them settle next to the Zhou family. It won’t expose the valley, but these things are beyond our control. It’s just a hope, whether we meet them depends on fate.”

His words were too practical, causing Shi Erlang’s wife to cry again.

Looking to fate felt utterly hopeless, with no strength to change anything.

But everyone relies on fate. They, too, face natural disasters and human misfortunes without knowing when or where they will strike, only trying to be as prepared as possible.

Seeing her getting more upset, Shi Erlang regretted his words and quickly added, “Don’t worry. The situation is different now. Ah Lie knows your brothers-in-law and even taught them hunting. If we come across them and your parents need help, he will definitely lend a hand within his ability.”

“I promise, don’t worry. I’ll make sure that Big Brother and I pay extra attention while hunting outside.”

—

After nightfall, Sang Luo and the others were escorted into the valley by Shen Lie and his team, aided by the faint moonlight. Since it was midnight, Shen Lie’s strength was indispensable for moving up and down the valley. The discussions and plans they had made were only conveyed to Chen Dashan, who had gone down to knock on the doors of his own and Zhou’s homes to collect the locks and inform them of the situation outside and the agreed-upon responses.

Zhou Cunzheng didn’t wake the other households. Instead, he took on the night watch duty himself, rousing his second son from bed to help tidy up and assist outside the valley.

Chen Dashan and the others had cut a lot of firewood and packed two baskets of fresh grass for feeding the sheep into the valley before leaving.

The next morning, the people in the valley learned from Sang Luo about the changes outside. Many were worried about their own situation, and some, like Chen Erlang’s wife, were also concerned about their relatives. The atmosphere was noticeably heavy.

It wasn’t until the adults had dispersed that Shen Jin dared to approach Sang Luo and ask if he could still go out with Big Brother.

Sang Luo thought for a moment and said, “Let’s pause for now. We have enough food and vegetables, so there’s no rush. You can go out once things outside settle down a bit.”

He was still too young.

She then took a small basket of dried chestnuts from the basket and said, “You need to sun them for another three to five days. When you shake them and hear a sound from inside, they’re fully dried. Then, store them in a cool, ventilated place. When you eat them, soak them in water for a few hours to let them absorb enough moisture, then cook them. Ask An Ning how to make them tasty.”

Shen Jin’s face flushed. “Sister-in-law, I didn’t come for food. We have enough at home even if we don’t go out for a while.”

Sang Luo smiled. “It’s not much. You don’t have chestnuts, so take some to try.”

Seeing that he hadn’t taken them, she said, “I remember I gave you a small bag of grass seeds last time. Keep them. Next time you go out, if you see any good food, bring some back for me.”

She pressed the cloth bag into Shen Jin’s hand.

He took the bag and held it tightly. “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

—

From this day on, the valley changed slightly. Several ponds were dug inside, and the space became even more compressed. The children who used to gather under the tree in the mornings to read together stopped reading once they knew people had arrived in the inner area. Even though they had previously tried, the sound of reading together in the inner valley wouldn’t carry outside, no one read anymore.

Everyone felt a weight of tension, including the children.

Chen Erlang’s wife quietly hoped that perhaps one day she might meet her parents and brothers and be able to have them become neighbors with Zhou’s family.

Sang Luo received the news when Shen Lie arrived at the agreed time to bring supplies back into the valley and take her out.

It was someone Sang Luo hadn’t expected at all.