Chapter 11:
She gathered all the bird’s nests and packed them into the snake skin bag, grabbed the vines, and prepared to go down.
Suddenly, she noticed what seemed to be a cave on the side of the cliff face, with short trees growing at the doorway, and some vines blocking it.
It couldn’t be discovered from down below at all; it was pitch black…
“Miaomiao, there’s a cave over here. Mom’s going in to take a look. You absolutely must not run around, okay?”
“Mom, then hurry back. Miaomiao is a little scared!”
Miaomiao shouted loudly up to her in the high place.
“Okay! Mom will be right back!”
She steadied her mind, didn’t look down, and fortunately there was a palm-width path on the cliff. She gripped the vines tightly, mustered her courage, and climbed over…
Sure enough, when she reached the cave entrance, she found that the cave wasn’t large; it was naturally formed.
Some water dragon bone was growing at the cave entrance; this water dragon bone could be used as medicinal herbs on ordinary days.
However, compared to bird’s nests, it wasn’t worth much money, so she didn’t pay it any mind.
There was some green vegetation growing inside the cave. She observed it for a bit and found a super fat water dragon bone…
She couldn’t help but pull it up.
When she pulled up the water dragon bone, she heard bees buzzing. Glancing in that direction, sure enough, not far away on the cliff face, bees were swarming together.
Where there were bees, there must be wild honey!
There were quite a few bird’s nests on the cave ceiling, even more than outside just now.
She grabbed the branches on the rocks and climbed up, first picking all the bird’s nests inside clean!
After finishing, she set her sights on the honey.
Judging by the looks of it, there were a huge number of bees; these should be cliff bees, and they were pretty big!
She thought for a moment, then first piled all the bird’s nests on the ground.
Fortunately, she had flint on her. She searched the cave for some branches with leaves, lit them, and used the smoke to fumigate them…
When she saw the bees buzzing away, and it was about time…
She took off an outer garment to cover her face, took a deep breath, and walked over…
With no other tools, she had to pick them by hand. She casually broke off a branch to shoo away the remaining bees…
She quickly reached out and picked a few pieces of honeycomb full of honey juice, swiftly packed them into the snake skin bag, and then picked no more…
Bees are extremely protective of their food. Even though she had covered her face with clothes, the area around her eyes was still stung, and her hands were stinging badly too, also stung…
She instantly felt that burning stinging sensation, endured the pain, and returned to the spot where she had left the bird’s nests.
She pulled the bee stingers out of her hands and dug out the ones on her eyelids too.
She stuffed all the bird’s nests into her bosom; her hands quickly swelled up like pig’s trotters.
She couldn’t see the area around her eyes herself; it felt uncomfortable, probably swollen too…
She vaguely heard Miaomiao’s shouting voice from outside…
At this point, she couldn’t worry about so much. She felt the bird’s nests in her bosom, picked up the water dragon bone, grabbed the snake skin bag, and went out…
She was worried about Miaomiao; one worry was wild game, and another was that this cliff face was too dangerous. She was just a child after all; if she slipped, she would regret it forever…
She climbed back out along the original path…
Miaomiao gazed worriedly at the side of the cliff face until she saw her mom’s figure appear, finally letting out a sigh of relief…
“Mom, you were gone for so long…”
Luo Zhi’er shouted for Miaomiao to make way; the huge figure leaped down the stone slab.
“Ouch!”
The bird’s nests scattered on the ground…
“Mom, what happened to your eyes?”
Miaomiao went to support her and jumped in fright upon seeing her mom’s face.
Her mom usually had a lot of flesh on her face, but now her whole head was swollen badly, especially around the eyes, which were narrowed to slits…
“Hehe, it’s nothing. Got stung by bees a bit; it’ll be fine in a few days!”
“Mom, does it hurt? Miaomiao will blow on it for you!”
Miaomiao stepped forward and blew on it for her…
Luo Zhi’er felt warmth in her heart…
“Alright! After Miaomiao blows on it, it doesn’t hurt anymore. Let’s pack up these bird’s nests!”
“Mom, can this bird’s nest be eaten too?”
Miaomiao was full of curiosity about the world; she saw that her mom had climbed for half a day just to pick these milky white little nests.
At her age, she was puzzled by everything.
“Of course, silly girl. Wait a bit and Mom will make some for you to taste! The flavor is extremely delicious!”
Luo Zhi’er broke off a piece of honey and fed it into Miaomiao’s mouth.
Miaomiao grinned sweetly…
She folded some large tree leaves to separate the snake skin bag and the other things in the bamboo basket, then wrapped another layer outside to prevent the honey from leaking.
Then she collected the bird’s nests…
Then mother and daughter reached the mountain peak…
Behind the mountain peak appeared to be mountain after mountain; the deeper in one went, the more secluded and uninhabited it was…
She heard eerie sounds coming from inside from time to time, thinking of wild boars, big cats, and such…
She was worried about Miaomiao; with her own build, she couldn’t beat them or outrun them, so she didn’t dare go too far inside…
Next time if there was a chance, she would come again!
She looked up at the sun; because gathering acorns had taken a while, the sun was a bit to the west.
She thought that going home would probably mean another tough battle!
So she found a spot with an open view right there on the mountain peak, with a gully on the side.
She set down the bamboo basket, planning to make some afternoon food to eat; mother and daughter would eat before heading home.
She found a flat stone slab in the gully, washed it clean and brought it over, heated it in the fire, added some lard, and fried wild eggs on it…
Earlier, she had incidentally picked a few plump matsutake mushrooms and bird’s nests, taken them to the gully to wash with water.
Back, she first put a full enamel mug of cleaned bird’s nests and water in the fire to simmer, then added some honey…
She threaded them onto fine branches to make kebabs, brushed on some lard, and grilled them over the fire.
She made five or six skewers; the lard seeped in, sizzling as it grilled. When almost done, she sprinkled on some salt…
Soon the aroma filled the air; Miaomiao swallowed her saliva, gazing at her with expectant eyes, unable to hold back.
“Mom, it smells so good!”
Luo Zhi’er chuckled, “Miaomiao is a little foodie!”
Miaomiao smiled sweetly, thinking to herself that her mom was one too.
She first handed Miaomiao a skewer of matsutake to eat.
Then, the fried eggs…
“Mom, so this is what fried eggs taste like? So delicious! Before, I saw Grandmother frying eggs for Fourth Uncle and really wanted some, but Grandmother beat me and cursed me out…”
She spoke a bit sadly.
After that, she never dared ask her milk for fried eggs again…
Luo Zhi’er thought Miaomiao was so pitiful, it made her heartbroken. Which child doesn’t get greedy for food? But this family was too biased…
“Then Miaomiao, eat more!”
“Mom, you eat too!”
The two ate their fill and rested enough before going down the mountain.
She told Miaomiao not to tell the family about what happened today…
Especially the bird’s nests; absolutely do not tell anyone.
Miaomiao nodded heavily!
“Got it, Mom!”
On the way, they reached a piece of wasteland; Miaomiao saw some not-yet-overripe snake fruit at the edge and picked them up to eat.
Luo Zhi’er helped her pick a handful and saw some plump shepherd’s purse nearby, dug some up with the sickle.
Thinking of yesterday’s wild boar pork, maybe they could make dumplings at home?
She was thinking too beautifully…
Almost home, she found another spot nearby, placed the water dragon bone there, and covered it with dry grass…
By the time they got home, Zhou Shi had already sold the pork and returned.
Sitting in the doorway cursing…
Seeing Luo Zhi’er return home at dusk, she was furious, roared, and charged over…
The whole family looked at mother and daughter with angry eyes…
“You damned little hussy, you finally know to come back?”
Zhou Shi rolled up her sleeves and charged over; she wouldn’t stop until she rammed her dead…
Luo Zhi’er glanced behind and saw a big stone; if rammed into that, could she survive?
Zhou Shi figured if she didn’t ram her to death, if she dared get up, she’d slap the little hussy a few times to vent…
Had the world turned upside down?
Picking on the soft persimmon!
All the daughters-in-law at home were like this without rules; her words were taken as farts. Where was her majesty?
Luo Zhi’er quickly pulled Miaomiao behind her, dodged aside. Zhou Shi never thought she would dodge; she herself didn’t know what she kicked and fell flat on her face!
“Ouch! You nearly killed me!”
Li Zhenzhu hurried over and cursed her together with her mom! “Third Sister-in-law, you dare dodge? Hurry up and apologize to my mom!”
Luo Zhi’er smiled coldly, unmoved!
“You damned fat hussy! World turned upside down? I was only out half a day and you vanished…”
“Hurry and confess honestly what shady things you did behind Old Third’s back?”
She howled!
Luo Zhi’er quietly withdrew her foot…
“I’ll kill you, you wretch! You dare harm your mother-in-law? Why doesn’t lightning strike you dead!”
As if afraid the village wouldn’t hear!
“Mom, don’t do this…”
Li Sanmao hurried over to pull her.
Zhou Shi flung him off with one hand. “Old Third, she’s harming me. If you don’t give her a lesson today, Mom’s not done with you!”
Li Sanmao looked at his coldly-faced fat wife, torn both ways.
“Mom, what are you saying? How could Zhi’er harm you?”
“What? Hurry and beat her for me, beat her to death! If you don’t give her a good lesson, Mom won’t have it.”
This Third Wife was tough-skinned and thick-fleshed; she needed a hard beating!
Li Sanmao was conflicted; he knew his mom was biased, but Mom was Mom after all, and his wife’s body hadn’t recovered yet. Should he give her a lesson?
How could she possibly harm Mom? Everyone saw it; Mom hadn’t paid attention and kicked something. Usually it was Mom cursing her!
Besides, yesterday she had saved him snake soup and fried eggs; he couldn’t bear to…
The more he looked, the more something seemed off. Why was her face swollen so big? Had she been injured?
“Wife, your face…”
He wanted to go inside to take a look at it for her…
Today while selling meat, that pair of big black eyes kept flashing in his mind all day.
“It’s nothing!”
“Old Third!!!”
“Mom…”
“What? Wings hardened? Even you dare not listen to me?”
“Mom, Miaomiao’s mother didn’t do anything. Don’t make a scene. Her body hasn’t recovered yet; what if your charge just now hurt her badly?”
“What? Heavens, truly married a wife and forgot your mom. I really raised a thankless wolf!”
Zhou Shi slapped her thighs and rolled energetically on the ground! This Old Third dared speak against her!
She pointed at his nose and screeched: “Unfilial beast! For a lazy, sneaky, slippery fat hussy who just eats and does nothing, you dare defy your mom! Aren’t you afraid of lightning?”
Luo Zhi’er watched coldly from the side as she performed.
But this Li Sanmao had pretty high awareness; quite sensible!
If he really listened to his mom and dared hit her, she Luo Zhi’er would have nothing more to say to him.
“Old Third, that’s not right of you. As sons, we only listen to Mom. You defy Mom; aren’t you afraid of lightning?”
“Hurry and apologize to Mom!”
“Exactly, exactly!” Li Zhenzhu chimed in!
Second Brother Li Lei came over to comfort, actually stirring things up.
“Second Brother, if Mom told you to beat Second Sister-in-law, would you?”
Li Sanmao wasn’t dumb; he directly threw the question at him, calmly retorting.
Li Lei was stunned; so this Old Third wasn’t a blockhead after all. He glanced back at his wife Chen Shi; she clutched her handkerchief tightly and glared fiercely at him…
It was over; he’d have hell to pay tonight!
He looked with contempt at the fat Third Sister-in-law who was barely human-shaped…
“What a joke. What is she Luo Zhi’er? Comparable to Jiabao’s mom?”
“Second Brother, Chen Shi is a treasure in your heart; our Zhi’er is one in mine too!”
“What?”
Had he taken the wrong medicine?
Luo Zhi’er looked at Li Sanmao, knowing he meant the real Luo Zhi’er, but her cheeks still flushed slightly…
“Wah wah wah, I’m dying… Old Third, are you going to beat her or not?”
“His mom, get up. What are you doing?” Old Man Li couldn’t stand it; he had just come to the backyard to wash his hands and hadn’t rested yet!
And this drama started!
Soon the village would have more people laughing at his family!
“Hurry up, or don’t blame me for getting real!”
Old Man Li glared with big eyes at Zhou Shi, scolding!
“Dad…”
Li Zhenzhu wanted to plead with her dad!
“You too, step aside.”
This only little daughter of his was not young anymore, yet just like her mom.
Spoiled by her mom to be so lazy; other girls of thirteen or fourteen had matchmakers wearing out the doorstep, no wonder no one came for her…
In this world, how could a woman not be diligent?
When little, Zhou Shi took Zhenzhu to the fields for farm work and met a traveling Taoist begging for food!
That Taoist spoke convincingly that Zhenzhu was destined for wealth and honor!
That thrilled her; she often said Zhenzhu would marry a master and become a madam, so she wouldn’t have to suffer…
“Keep dawdling and watch me divorce you!”
Zhou Shi jumped in fright at Old Man Li’s words. “What, should I notify Old Zhou Family to come get her now?”
She scrambled up in one roll, her face full of unwillingness.
This damn old man always thought he was right and never took her side.
“What are you muttering?”
“Nothing!”
“Hmph!” Old Man Li turned to look sternly at Luo Zhi’er: “Third Wife, today you were indeed in the wrong. No wonder your mother-in-law is angry!”
“How could you do none of the housework, laze off and run up the mountain to play?”
“Only coming back now? Making everyone worry!”
“Exactly, we got up in the morning and you were gone. I was the one who gathered the pig feed for the pig!”
Li Zhenzhu quickly said.
She hadn’t gotten any crispy lard residue, and had done a bunch of housework.
But she hadn’t actually gathered pig feed; her fingernails were freshly dyed with flower juice and couldn’t be ruined.
She had just picked up the previous ones and thrown some in, because that was her mom’s favorite pig.
She had to put on a show in front of Dad no matter what.
“Mm, Zhenzhu, you did well this time!” Old Man Li nodded slightly.
“Father-in-law, I didn’t laze off. I just saw everyone was still asleep, and with so many people at home, they probably didn’t need me to cook.”
“So I thought I’d go up the mountain to see if I could find something to improve the family’s food, or sell it for silver…”
These words made Zhou Shi seethe; these lazy hussies, when she wasn’t around, they slacked off.
She was advanced in age, going out before dawn to sell pork for silver, while they slept soundly at home…
“Oh?”
Old Man Li’s turbid eyes sized her up. This Third Wife had never shown such awareness before.
They had always been the ones racking their brains to make ends meet.
She just followed orders on housework and helped in the fields when there was farm work…
When had she ever considered the family’s livelihood?
“It’s true, Father-in-law. Look, there’s quite a bit of mountain goods in this bamboo basket!”
Luo Zhi’er set down the bamboo basket; everyone looked inside— what was this, shepherd’s purse? Fine for feeding pigs.
In famine times, it could fill the belly!
“Third Wife, isn’t this just shepherd’s purse?” Old Man Li said.
“Exactly, hmph! Lazy is lazy; must’ve forgotten her trick while the sun set, coming back to get scolded so she grabs some shepherd’s purse to fool everyone!”
Chen Shi chimed in, craning her neck, said with contempt.
“I think so too!”
Xiao Zhou Shi also ran over to watch the excitement; no wonder Zhou Shi was so angry!
She had fried the pig lard today; when Mom came back, she got a scolding. Now diverting trouble was perfect to get her out of it!
Xiao Zhou Shi was starving in the morning, got up to see no one home, ran to the kitchen and saw pig lard piled in a wooden basin under the cutting board, swallowed her saliva…
By the time Mother-in-law returned, the fried crispy lard residue—none for them; she must’ve pocketed it to take to Li Gui at school as snacks.
How could she let him have it all; her family had several children too.
So when Xiao Chen Shi came in, it was already frying briskly in the pot.
Fried it, added some salt and scallion greens; the two sisters-in-law each served half a bowl to their little ones, the rest went into their bellies.
Li Zhenzhu got up late, only got a few scraps, cried in rage, threw a big tantrum, said she’d tell Mom when she got back that they ate alone!
Li Gui too; smelled the oily fragrance in his bedroom, waited half a day and no one called him.
Heard Zhenzhu crying and realized they had eaten it all!
In the afternoon, they pushed back and forth, not cooking, saying to wait for Luo Zhi’er to come back and cook.
Guessing each other had hidden some food…
He hadn’t eaten anything in the morning, starving dizzy and blurry-eyed, clenched his fists in anger!
