Ger, So Proud

Chapter 19: Xiangyang Mountain

“What’s wrong with you?”

Seeing He Ze dazed, Lin Yu waved his hand in front of his eyes.

“It’s nothing,” He Ze shook his head lightly, but there was a smile on his face. “Living off the mountain, this Xiangyang Mountain is indeed a good place.”

Xiangyang Mountain is the name of the mountain next to the He family’s village.

More accurately, it’s not just one mountain but a mountain range, with five or six peaks rolling continuously, surrounding most of the He family’s village. Because of its high and treacherous terrain, the sun seems to rise from the mountain every day and set behind it in the evening, hence the name “Xiangyang,” which means “facing the sun.”

“Of course, there’s everything on this mountain!” Lin Yu exclaimed proudly, his voice rising. “Last time, I even saw a deer on the mountain. Deer tendons can make excellent bowstrings, but unfortunately… it got away!”

As he spoke, Lin Yu’s voice sounded somewhat regretful.

“Indeed, you need good bowstrings for your bow,” He Ze recalled the force he used when pulling the bowstring earlier and sympathized.

If the bowstring’s elasticity wasn’t good enough, it probably wouldn’t last long in Lin Yu’s hands.

“Is Doctor Xu still inside chatting with Uncle Lin?” He Ze glanced into the room and, seeing Lin Yu nod, continued, “Is his health better now? Nothing serious, right?”

“He’s fine. Dad just gets restless when the weather gets hot. Now that the weather’s better, his health has improved a lot. This illness can’t be cured, but Doctor Xu says as long as he pays attention to it, it’s not a big problem.”

“That’s good,” He Ze nodded. “Since that’s the case, I won’t go in. Please give my regards to him later, and I’ll come to see him again in a few days.”

“Okay.”

Lin Yu responded with a sound, and He Ze took another glance at the Bai Zhu herb in the basket before stepping out of Lin’s courtyard. Lin Yu stopped at the door to see him off.

Thinking back to his gaze just now, Lin Yu walked to the winnowing basket and picked up a piece of Bai Zhu to smell it. It did indeed smell fragrant, but it was that kind of herbal scent, not as pleasant as the fragrance of flowers.

“Yu-ge, did He Ze leave?”

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. Lin Yu turned around to see Xu Qingsheng coming out of the room carrying a medicine box.

“He just left. What’s up, Uncle Xu?”

“Nothing, I was thinking of letting your dad rest for a while. He just lay down now,” Xu Qingsheng paused, then suddenly opened the medicine box and took out a paper-wrapped item, handing it to Lin Yu. “These are dried red dates. I specially coated them with donkey-hide gelatin yesterday. They taste okay. Let your dad have one when he’s free. It’s good for nourishing blood and qi.”

“Uncle Xu, this…” Lin Yu looked embarrassed, but he couldn’t refuse. He could only say, “How much is this? I’ll go get the money for you.”

Over the years, his dad had been taken care of by Uncle Xu too much, accumulating more and more debts of gratitude. But it wasn’t something that could be avoided.

“Now you’re learning to be polite to Uncle Xu?” Xu Qingsheng grumpily stuffed the paper package into Lin Yu’s arms, then glanced behind him. “Keep it properly. Don’t let your dad see it, or he definitely won’t take it. Take good care of him and don’t let him overwork. Got it?”

“Uncle Xu…”

“Alright, alright, it’s not a big deal,” Xu Qingsheng hurriedly interrupted Lin Yu, then seemed to remember something, speaking with some suspicion, “By the way, nothing’s wrong at home these days, right? Why do I feel like your dad isn’t quite right?”

For no reason, they had become distant from each other. Could it be… he knew his thoughts?

Xu Qingsheng frowned and glanced sideways again.

“Nothing’s wrong, what’s the matter?” Lin Yu looked puzzled.

“Oh, I see…”

Xu Qingsheng lowered his head, took a while to speak up again, “Your dad told me, you don’t want to meet my distant nephew?”

“Uncle Xu, please don’t bother about this matter. I have my own plans. If my dad asks you about this again in the future, could you please help me persuade him?”

“Sigh, I knew it would end up like this. Alright, I understand.” Xu Qingsheng looked at Lin Yu shaking his head, then sighed, “Don’t think too much. Our Yu-ge looks so good and capable. Who wouldn’t want to marry him into a good family?”

“Uncle Xu!”

“Oh, feeling shy?” Xu Qingsheng rarely saw Lin Yu in this kind of demeanor and couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, I won’t say anymore. I’m going back to town now. There are still patients waiting!”

“Hey! Uncle Xu, don’t leave yet!” Seeing Xu Qingsheng had already turned around, Lin Yu hurriedly called out and brought out a basket from the room. “Our sweet potatoes were planted early and harvested early. I dried some sweet potato slices. They’re sweet. Take some home, Uncle Xu.”

“No, you…”

“Uncle Xu, just take it. Since you don’t want me to be polite, don’t be polite yourself!” Lin Yu handed the basket to Xu Qingsheng. “You don’t farm, and you’re the only one at home. Usually, these little things have to be bought in the market, which is a waste. Now, consider it as a tasting.”

“Alright, I’ll leave now. Don’t bother to see me off. The coachman I hired should still be waiting at the village head!” Xu Qingsheng no longer refused and turned around, but suddenly turned back, “Take good care of your dad. I’ll come to see him in a couple of days.”

“Got it!”

Lin Yu responded, watching Xu Qingsheng’s figure disappear outside the courtyard gate, then picked up the paper package on the table and turned back into the house.

Zhang Shi was sleeping soundly on the bed in the room. Lin Yu sat down beside the bed, freeing up one hand to tuck the blanket for Zhang Shi, then glanced at the paper package in his hand, lost in thought.

…

When He Ze returned home, Dad Li was picking up two empty baskets, and He An was carrying a backpack, holding a hoe in his hand, seemingly preparing to go out.

“Back already?” Seeing He Ze, Dad Li greeted him.

“I’m back. Where are you guys going?”

“Since the weather is good today, I thought He An and I could go harvest the sweet potatoes in that field. It’ll be time to harvest the wheat in a couple of days, and I’m afraid we won’t have time.” Dad Li explained, “You just rest at home. If you’re hungry, just heat up the food. We’ll be back soon.”

“…I’ll go with you.”

“Brother, your wound hasn’t healed yet!”

This time Dad Li didn’t speak, but let He An speak first.

“It’s scabbed over. Isn’t that healed?” He Ze snatched the hoe from He An’s hand and hoisted it over his shoulder, leading the way ahead. “Let’s go. We’ll come back early together.”

Dad Li and He An glanced at each other and compromised, “Alright then. He An, go tell your father to take care of the house.”

“Okay!”

He An ran into the house and soon came out. He Ze followed behind them as they went to the field. Along the way, they encountered many villagers, who always asked a couple of questions when they saw He Ze, but Dad Li managed to send them off.

By the time they got there, it was already late, and with the recent rain and the location of the field in a shady place, the sweet potatoes they dug up were covered in mud. It wasn’t until midday that the three of them returned.

On the way back, Dad Li’s basket was carried by He Ze on his shoulder.

“Dad, look at Brother’s posture, hahaha…”

Dad Li walked behind with He An’s backpack, while He An stood next to him holding the hoe, unable to help but laugh at He Ze’s appearance.

He Ze had never carried such a heavy load at home before. As soon as he put the pole on his shoulder, he felt a sudden pain. In the end, he could only lift it with both hands, relieving the pressure on his shoulder, which made him feel a little better.

Luckily, he had casually treated his hand injury when he came back from Lin Yu’s place.

Otherwise…

“You! Stop laughing!” Dad Li poked He An’s head irritably, “Your brother hasn’t done this kind of work before. Wasn’t your first time carrying a load like this the same?”

“I know, I just…” Want to laugh! Hahaha!

“Hehe, if I hear your laughter again, you’ll have to carry this load back for me!” He Ze suddenly stopped in his tracks ahead.

“Oh.”

“Brother, I’m sorry,” He An forced back his laughter, covering his mouth as he spoke, “I won’t laugh anymore, I promise!”

Only then did He Ze continue walking forward.

Dad Li symbolically pinched He An’s ear, causing him to cry out in pain, but he chuckled a couple of times before finally settling down.

When they returned home, He Youcai was sitting in the yard smoking a dry cigarette. Dad Li put down the backpack and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the family.

He Ze rubbed his shoulders, then went outside the village to fetch two buckets of water from the river and washed the sweet potatoes with He An.

As Dad Li brought the food to the table, the sun had already set behind the mountains, and the scent of food wafted through the village. In the room, the family of four sat down at the table, and He An was truly hungry. He quickly took a few mouthfuls of rice and then stuffed two pieces of meat into his mouth.

In the morning, He Ze had asked Dad Li to stew more meat, but now they were just reheating the leftovers.

“Slow down, don’t choke!”

Dad Li poured him a glass of water and then picked up two pieces of meat for He Youcai’s bowl. However, He Youcai didn’t seem appreciative, “You should just give the kids. Why are you serving me?”

“Don’t you want it?”

Dad Li’s hand paused, and he gave He Youcai a sidelong glance.

“… I’ll eat! I’ll eat!” He Youcai met Dad Li’s gaze and immediately lost his temper. With his right hand injured, he had to bow his head and take a couple of bites of rice from the table.

“Xiao Ze, An-ge, don’t follow your Father’s example, eat more quickly!”

“Well, Dad’s cooking is delicious!” He An muttered.

Seeing this scene, He Ze smiled. He swallowed a mouthful of rice and suddenly asked, “Dad, the sweet potatoes in that field have been harvested. What do you plan to plant next?”

“Your Father and I discussed it. We plan to plant sweet potatoes again next spring after planting some peanuts for a while. Why do you ask?”

“Let’s leave it empty for now. I have an idea. I’ll tell you if it works out.” He Ze took another bite of rice.

“What idea?” Dad Li and He Youcai looked at each other, both focusing on him.

“It’s nothing. Let’s eat first. It’s just an idea for now. I’ll tell you when it’s confirmed.” He Ze blurred out, then turned to He An, “Xiao An, accompany your brother to the mountain tomorrow.”

“To the mountain…?” He An raised an eyebrow, his eyes darting around.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing He An’s reluctance, He Ze glanced at He Youcai and Dad Li.

“An-ge got lost in the mountains a few years ago and was scared by wolves. Since then, he hasn’t dared to go back,” He Youcai explained, “Xiao Ze, why do you want to go to the mountain? Why not wait until Father’s injury is better and he can accompany you?”

“Yeah, Xiao Ze, what do you want to do on the mountain? You forgot the last time you went there? Xiao Ze, you’re not planning to…”

“Dad!” Seeing Dad Li going off on a tangent again, He Ze quickly interrupted her, “I just want to take a walk in the mountains, nothing serious.”

“Brother, if you really want to go to the mountain, can you let Brother Lin know tomorrow? Among everyone in the village, he knows the mountains best and is so skilled. We can’t rest easy if you go alone,” He An said as he chewed on a piece of meat.

Author’s note: Little An is such a great help, haha~

Finally, I can say good night to you all~ Good night, sweet dreams~