Chapter 41

Xiao Wanling rested her head on Shen Qing’s shoulder. As they reached the edge of a cliff, she felt a sense of familiarity—this looked like the very spot where she had once fallen.

Shen Qing paused and gently set her down, then took her hand and led her another ten meters forward.

They stood before a steep rock wall, thickly covered in green and yellow vines. A silvery head poked out from within the foliage and then quickly withdrew.

“Xiao Yin!” Shen Qing called, pulling aside the vines so Xiao Wanling could enter first.

The cave was lined with stone. The deeper they went, the narrower it became. In the corner, there were piles of bamboo charcoal and wood charcoal.

The Grey Wolf, Silver Wolf, and Little Silver all came bounding over, circling around Shen Qing excitedly. He crouched down to pet the fur on Little Silver’s neck, then looked up and said, “I used to live here.”

Xiao Wanling’s eyes widened in surprise. No wonder the wooden house halfway up the mountain looked so dilapidated and long abandoned.

Shen Qing led her further in. There was a stone table, a stone bed, and a hollowed-out cabinet with bedding and dishes, which were signs of his past life there.

Xiao Wanling glanced around but didn’t see any pots or stove. “You didn’t cook?”

Shen Qing shook his head. “When I hunted, I’d just roast the meat. I boiled water in bamboo tubes. For bathing, I used the river. Back then, I thought it was fine. But after meeting you… I wanted better.”

Xiao Wanling grabbed a cloth and began wiping down the place. The bedding was a bit damp.

Shen Qing took a bamboo tube from the stone cabinet and went outside to fetch water. Before long, he returned with it full and the cloth freshly rinsed.

While she tidied the shelter, Shen Qing took Grey Wolf and went hunting. Half an hour later, he came back with roasted rabbit meat.

Grey Wolf took its kill to its den and didn’t reappear.

The scent of roasted meat made Xiao Wanling’s stomach growl. She tore off some meat and ate slowly.

Shen Qing lit a fire and placed the bamboo tube nearby to heat the water. They soon finished off the rest of the rabbit.

After washing her hands with the warm water, Xiao Wanling asked, “How far is it to the place with the silver ear fungus?”

“Not far. Just one more mountain to cross.” Shen Qing soaked a handkerchief, gently cleaned her hands, and set the cloth aside to dry.

Xiao Wanling touched the bedding; it was nicely warmed by the fire, and she laid it out on the stone bed.

Shen Qing added more charcoal to the fire. It burned cleanly without much smoke, and since the cave had no door, there was little risk of suffocation.

Being in a new place made Xiao Wanling nervous. She nestled into Shen Qing’s embrace and asked softly, “What if wild animals come in?”

Shen Qing laced his fingers through hers. “They won’t. Grey Wolf’s guarding outside. He’ll warn me.”

Listening to his steady heartbeat, feeling the warmth of his body like a personal brazier, Xiao Wanling relaxed and drifted off.

Shen Qing’s gentle kiss fell on her cheek.

****

At dawn, Shen Qing carried her out of the cave. Grey Wolf watched them silently from the entrance.

After crossing one more mountain, they reached a shaded area where clusters of white fungus bloomed—silver ear mushrooms, some as large as her palm. Xiao Wanling was thrilled and set down her basket to begin picking.

Some were pure white, while others had a slight yellow hue. Shen Qing picked one and asked, “Is this one okay?”

Xiao Wanling smiled. “Yes. But not the ones with ants crawling on them.”

There was a broadleaf forest nearby. Once they finished picking, they planned to take some decaying wood and leaves back to cultivate the fungus closer to home so that they wouldn’t need to hike so far next time.

In less than half an hour, their baskets were full. Xiao Wanling even added a dead tree limb for later use.

Shen Qing squatted down. “Climb on.”

“No, wait until I can’t walk anymore, then you can carry me!” she said.

Shen Qing beamed with joy. She cared for him. Taking her hand, they walked on. Suddenly, Xiao Wanling screamed—there was a snake hanging from a tree.

Shen Qing drew an arrow from his back and fired. With a whoosh, the snake dropped dead. He used a branch to toss its body aside. “It’s okay now.”

Xiao Wanling clung to his sleeve. They hadn’t encountered any beasts or snakes on the previous mountains. Her heart pounded, her hands and feet going numb. It took a while before she calmed down.

Shen Qing made a mental note to expand his hunting grounds. That way, she wouldn’t be startled in the future.

They got home just as the sun tilted west, which is around two or three in the afternoon.

Xiao Wanling went into the kitchen. “Noodles or rice?” she asked from the door.

“Noodles,” Shen Qing replied.

He took the silver ear fungus from the basket and spread it on a bamboo tray, placing it on a rack. He gently brushed off any dead leaves, looking like a professional.

Watching from the kitchen, Xiao Wanling smiled at his busy figure.

After a good day’s rest, Xiao Wanling cooked a silver ear fungus soup, and Shen Qing went to Sister-in-law Lu’s to trade for red dates.

As water boiled in the big pot, she added torn silver ear fungus pieces, then pitted red dates. The wild silver ear mushrooms cooked quickly—soon the soup thickened and turned gelatinous. Shen Qing downed three bowls in a row with sugar added.

Then he ladled the soup into a bucket, filling it eight-tenths full. Carrying one bucket in each hand, he loaded them onto the oxcart, tied them down, and covered them with lids.

After bathing and changing, Xiao Wanling came out of the house. Shen Qing was already waiting outside with the cart.

At the tea shop, Aunt Wu and her daughter-in-law were swamped. The rice cakes and veggie rolls had sold out, and the tea barrel was nearly empty.

When Shen Qing arrived with two wooden buckets, curious townspeople gathered. “What’s that?”

“Silver ear fungus soup,” he replied.

He set the buckets on the table and skillfully poured a bowlful into a customer’s bowl, then turned around and asked. “How much?”

“Three wen,” Xiao Wanling said. “Each bowl comes with three red dates.”

Aunt Wu wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Let us take over from here—it’s getting late.”

“We’ve already eaten,” Xiao Wanling said with a smile. “Have a bowl of soup to warm up.”

Neither Aunt Wu nor her daughter-in-law pretended to be polite. Their lips were chapped from working without even a sip of tea.

Supervisor Sang, cheeks flushed from wine, leaned in curiously. “What’s this? Goes well with wine?”

“It’s sweet,” Xiao Wanling replied.

Supervisor Sang looked at the soup, intrigued. “That’s fine! I’ll take the rest.” He wanted his two buddies to try it too.

The two buckets sold out quickly. The tea shop closed early.

Aunt Wu held three hundred wen and thanked them repeatedly. That would buy three catties of meat—enough for many meals.

Winter was coming. With little income and four mouths to feed, plus other expenses, Aunt Wu’s hair had turned white from worry.

As she watched Supervisor Sang walk away carrying the buckets, Xiao Wanling caught up to him. “Please pass a message to the farm supervisor—have him go to the city and deliver something to Ruyi Pavilion.”

Supervisor Sang chuckled. “Got it!”

Whenever the tea shop released a new tea soup, a sample would be sent to Ruyi Pavilion. The farm supervisor had managed to sell all the surplus beans, grains, and mountain goods thanks to Xiao Wanling.

The next morning, he came to pick up the recipe and two portions of silver ear fungus soup. He also grabbed two veggie rolls to eat on the road. The gatekeepers at Ruyi Pavilion knew him well and led him straight to Madam Zhang.

She examined the soup and recipe and ordered wine and food for him before letting him leave.

After wiping his mouth, the farm supervisor dropped twenty cents and exited through the back.

Not far away, he spotted a familiar-looking man grabbing a woman’s wrist in the street, arguing loudly as a crowd gathered.

“You dare deny it? Just below your shoulder there’s a mole the size of a grain of rice; Die’er, come home with me!”

The onlookers smirked. “It’s easy to verify—just check.”

Hearing “Die’er,” the farm supervisor looked more closely and recognized Li Die’er. He turned and rushed back into Ruyi Pavilion through the rear gate. A servant, surprised to see him return, quickly fetched Madam Zhang after hearing what he had to say.

Li Die’er stood helplessly. The man—her quiet, cowardly husband—wouldn’t let her go, insisting she had stolen the Zheng family’s recipes and must return home. She realized he wanted her skills now that she could earn money. But no one believed her explanation.

“Unhand her!”

A carriage pulled up. Madam Zhang lifted the curtain. “Who dares abduct someone in broad daylight?”

Chun Zhi leapt from the carriage, strode up to Li Die’er, bypassed her, and slapped Zheng Ming squarely across the face.

Dazed, he clutched his cheek and growled, “You dare hit me?” He raised his hand to retaliate.

The Zhang household servants rushed out, shoved him to the ground, and pummeled him.

Chun Zhi kicked him too. “Molesting a woman in public? Come explain yourself to the authorities!”

Zheng Ming, cowering and dazed, cried, “I—I mistook her for someone else!”

“Coward,” Chun Zhi spat, then glanced at the stunned Li Die’er.

Her emotions surged. She kicked Zheng Ming in the ribs. “Pah! Get Lost.”

He staggered to his feet, cradling his side. “Y-yes…” Limping, he scurried off, completely humiliated. The crowd dispersed.

Chun Zhi helped Li Die’er into the carriage. Her hands trembled, her heart pounding. She couldn’t believe she had truly shaken him off. Falling to her knees, she cried, “Thank you, Madam!”

Chun Zhi caught her. “Don’t just kneel all the time. Our lady dislikes it. Next time you see him, kick first. If you can’t win, call for help from the Zhang household.”

That coward only bullied the weak. When faced with someone stronger, he cowered.

Madam Zhang appeared. “Someone saw you being harassed and came to inform me. Yet you didn’t think to send word? Your contract is in my hands—you have no connection to the Zhengs anymore. Even in court, he has no proof.”

She sighed—if Li Die’er didn’t learn to stand on her own, how could others help her?

“I understand! He slandered me, claiming the osmanthus rice wine dumplings recipe belonged to the Zhengs. He only wants that recipe!”

She regretted not wearing a veil—Zheng Ming had recognized her.

“His recipe?” Madam Zhang scoffed. “How many characters does he even know?” Ask him what ingredients it takes next time. Shameless!”

***

Zheng Ming, bruised and battered, lay in bed like a corpse.

His mother scolded, “Who hit you?” Did you get compensation?”

Zheng Ming sat up. “I saw Die’er—she’s working at Ruyi Pavilion!”

“Who? What restaurant?” His mother sounded like she’d heard a joke. “Her?” As if she had the talent!”

TL’s Food Notes:
Silver Ear Fungus Soup: