After running off, Zhang Fangyuan circled around the mountain path and crouched on a high spot, watching the scholar struggle along the narrow trail. Just as he was about to smirk, a voice spoke up behind him:
“Why’d you trick him into coming up here?”
Zhang Fangyuan flinched and turned his head around. “Xu He?”
He felt a sudden shift from frustration to delight. After squatting at the foot of the mountain all morning with no sign of Xu He, he had unexpectedly run into him up here.
“That man doesn’t look familiar, he’s not from our village. If he goes any further, he’ll reach the hunters’ traps. What if he falls into a pit?” Xu He watched the scholar’s retreating figure. “You’re really wicked.”
Zhang Fangyuan stood up, and Xu He immediately clamped his mouth shut, instinctively stepping back. Zhang Fangyuan grinned. “Me, wicked? You watched me lead him all the way here without saying a word either.”
Realizing he'd been caught out, Xu He lowered his gaze slightly, tightening his grip on the firewood knife. He turned to leave but suddenly heard a scream from the mountain path:
“Ahhh! My foot!”
Both of them craned their necks to look. The scholar had stepped on a hunting trap and was now rolling on the ground in pain. Zhang Fangyuan burst out laughing at the ridiculous sight.
The scholar, lying on the ground, heard the laughter and glared in their direction. Seeing it was the boy who had led him here, his face flushed with anger. “You little brat! You tricked me!”
“Mister, there’s no Zhang family like the one you described in our village. You must’ve taken the wrong path.”
“You little bastard! I’ll beat you to death for this!”
Furious, the scholar limped toward them, but Zhang Fangyuan grabbed Xu He’s hand and bolted. Both of them had grown up in the village and knew the mountain paths like the back of their hands - in a blink, they were gone.
They only stopped after running far away, both panting. Xu He gasped, “That man was a scholar. Why’d you bully him?”
“He’s a scoundrel from my mother’s maternal family. Back when my mother was a girl, that bastard mistreated her. Now that he’s earned some minor success, he came all this way to show off in front of her. I showed restraint by not pushing him into the river.”
As he spoke, Zhang Fangyuan spat in disgust.
“How could I lead him to my mother?”
Xu He inhaled softly, thinking the boy had a strong sense of justice. He chuckled, then suddenly realized his hand was still being held. He quickly pulled it back. “I-I need to gather firewood.”
Zhang Fangyuan hurried after him. “Since I’ve got nothing else to do, let me help you chop wood.”
“No need.”
“Why not? I’m strong, I can do the work of two.” Zhang Fangyuan caught up and slung an arm over Xu He’s shoulders, deftly snatching the sickle from his hand. “The weather’s nice now, there’s plenty of wild onions, wild vegetables, and spring buds in the mountains. I’ll chop the wood, and you can gather the vegetables.”
Xu He loved gathering wild vegetables in spring, but with so much farmwork, he rarely had time. Having someone share the load would be a huge help. Still, he glanced at Zhang Fangyuan skeptically. “Why are you helping me?”
“I’m bored.” Zhang Fangyuan raised an eyebrow, then added softly, “Besides, you were my fulang once.”
Xu He shoved him away. “Who was your fulang?!”
Seeing his irritation, Zhang Fangyuan quickly softened his tone. “Alright, alright, just joking. Come on, let’s chop wood.”
“From now on, I’ll look out for you. Stick with me, and no one in the village will dare bully you.”
Xu He studied the boy, who was a full head taller than him, swiftly cutting firewood and stacking it neatly. For someone who usually spent his days stealing birds’ eggs or catching fish, he was surprisingly efficient at work.
Xu He muttered, “Who needs you to look out for them?”
“Then you look out for me, alright?”
“Since you helped me chop wood today, I’ll dig up some spring buds and make pancakes. I’ll bring you one.”
“Really? Next time you come up to chop wood, call me along. I’ll hunt a pheasant and roast it for you…”
A crisp smack rang out. Zhang Fangyuan yelped in pain and suddenly opened his eyes. An autumn breeze carried the rich fragrance of osmanthus flowers, and he saw golden petals scattered across his chest.
“Dreaming of someone sweet? You were grinning so hard you nearly drooled.”
Zhang Fangyuan looked up at Xu He, now matured in his features, and wrapped an arm around his waist. Still drowsy, he murmured, “Yeah, I was dreaming of someone sweet.”
“Then I must’ve called you at the wrong time. Should you sleep a little longer?”
Zhang Fangyuan nuzzled against Xu He’s waist. “Nah, in my dreams, I still had to chase after my fulang. Now that I’m awake, I’ve got the real one right here.”
“So you dreamed of me. If you had to choose again, you wouldn’t pick me, would you?”
“What nonsense.”
I’d choose you ten thousand times over.
Thank you so much for the update!!!!
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