Chapter 145
Compared to the black-hoofed sheep that would butt people with its horns, the female sika deer in the backyard was far less aggressive. Tied up as it was, it could only watch Lu Gu warily, unable to do much else.
By autumn, many fruits from the trees and bushes in the mountains had ripened. Whenever Lu Gu went out to gather wild vegetables or pick wolfberries, he would collect some to bring back.
Hearing Shen Xuanqing say that deer also ate fruit, he sometimes picked some for the doe while gathering grass. Wild fruits were plentiful in the mountains, and fattening the doe would fetch a better price when sold.
Most wild animals were wary and unfriendly, and Lu Gu wasn’t the type to impose. Each time he fed the doe, he simply dumped the fruit and grass in front of her before leaving without lingering.
Taking advantage of the fine weather and bright sunshine today, he carried a basket to a nearby grove to gather mushrooms.
Since he and Shen Xuanqing often foraged for wild vegetables and mushrooms in these woods, there weren’t many left. After searching for a while, he only found six edible ones, but that was enough. Their caps were large, and tearing them into strips would yield plenty. Paired with an autumn cabbage from the yard, they could fry up a big bowl.
This was what it meant to live off the mountains. The deep forests were sparsely populated but rich in resources. As long as one was willing to search, no one would starve in these bountiful woods.
The wild persimmon tree was laden with fruit, its branches heavy with small, ripe red persimmons. The unripe ones, golden and bright, were just as pleasing to the eye.
Birds perched on the branches, pecking at the soft fruit. When Lu Gu approached, they fluttered away in a flurry of wings.
He tiptoed, grabbed a branch, and pulled it down to inspect it closely. Picking seven or eight unpecked persimmons, he placed them in his basket. These wild persimmons were small, one wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him. He thought of gathering more, since Shen Xuanqing had been away for two days and might return today.
Their own family had persimmon trees too. His mother must have already sun-dried some into persimmon cakes and dried fruit for winter.
Unfortunately, the deep mountains were too far from home. Carrying heavy loads back was exhausting, and Shen Xuanqing would bear most of the burden. Hunting was already tiring enough, so Lu Gu didn’t want to overdo it with mountain goods. Besides, what they had at home was more than enough for winter.
Before entering the yard, Lu Gu instinctively glanced toward the eastern woods. Hearing no barks or seeing any figures, he guessed Shen Xuanqing might return by evening.
He didn’t wash the mushrooms right away. If Shen Xuanqing didn’t come back tonight, the dirt-covered mushrooms could keep until tomorrow. They’d fry them with autumn cabbage when he returned.
He lined the kitchen windowsill with the persimmons from his bamboo basket, picking two particularly red and soft ones to peel. The flesh was sweet and tender, filling him with quiet joy.
After tasting the sweet fruit, he didn’t rest. It was still early, not yet time to cook dinner, so he took up the long axe and began chopping firewood in the yard. Busy and diligent, he never stayed idle for long.
While working, he suddenly heard a distant cry "Brother Guzi!", he froze and wondered if he’d imagined it from being alone too long, like in a dream. Shen Yan was supposed to be at home.
But then he heard it again, even catching Shen Yaoqing's voice calling for him too. Dropping the axe, he hurried out to look.
Two figures appeared on a nearby slope, filling him with surprise and delight. He called back and quickly walked over.
"Brother Guzi, this journey has worn me out!" Shen Yan’s cheeks were flushed, sweat beading on her forehead.
"We’re almost there. You can rest as soon as we get inside." Lu Gu’s eyes curved into crescents.
Shen Yaoqing, not hearing any barks or seeing Shen Xuanqing, asked, "Second Brother isn’t here?"
"He went out to hunt foxes two days ago and hasn’t returned yet," Lu Gu replied.
Shen Yaoqing pulled an empty cart with only two bamboo baskets on it, stuffed with a few sacks. The load wasn't too heavy.
Seeing the cart, Lu Gu realized they’d come to gather mountain goods. "Are Mother and Sister-in-law at home?"
Last year, all six of them had gone up the mountain to harvest chestnuts and hazelnuts together. Thinking about it, a whole year had already passed.
"Of course, sister-in-law can’t manage alone, so Mother has to stay with her," Shen Yan said, bending down to pluck a wildflower and twirling it in her hand as they walked.
Shen Yaoqing added, "He Zhi can cut grass for the livestock, so Mother doesn’t need to do it anymore. I asked Third Uncle to stay at the new house at night to keep watch. Just having Da Bai there wouldn’t be enough."
The three soon entered the yard, parking the cart in the front. Lu Gu abandoned his firewood-chopping and, upon learning they’d only eaten dry rations on the road, he rolled up his sleeves to cook.
With mushrooms ready, he tore and washed them while Shen Yan pulled an autumn cabbage from the yard.
"Er Qing caught a female sika deer two days ago. It’s tied up in the backyard," he said cheerfully to the two resting in the yard.
Shen Yan, sitting on a stool and peeling off the cabbage’s tough outer leaves, brightened at the news. Setting the vegetable aside, she and Shen Yaoqing went to see the doe.
Unlike mutton, venison was valuable. Whether it was Shen Xuanqing or any other hunter, no one would casually eat a sika deer they caught. They usually sold it whole to restaurants or wealthy families. If butchered and sold as meat, ordinary folks couldn’t afford it and would only waste the fresh venison.
When they returned, even Shen Yaoqing wore a smile.
With two more people, laughter and chatter filled the yard, making it much livelier than when Lu Gu had been alone. He was delighted, eating an extra half-steamed bun at dinner.
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