Rebirth: Not Being a Waste - Chapter 83

The next morning, the fleet sent by Master Nan arrives. Three thousand kilograms of dried vermicelli are loaded onto the boats, and Zhang Shu receives ninety-eight taels of silver in return. He sells them at twenty-five cents per kilogram.

Aside from the great convenience Young Master Nan’s ship provides, the local selling price is always twenty-five cents per kilogram.

Zhang Shu hands the money to Li Mujin, and together, they struggle to open the cabinet, remove a few bricks, and store the silver inside. At this point, they have accumulated over three hundred taels of silver, all earned through their hard work.

Li Mujin’s private savings are hidden elsewhere, just in case. Even if their house is ever robbed, not all of their money would be lost.

That said, the likelihood of being robbed is low. The puppies are scrawny when they first come down from the mountain, but after more than a month of care, they’ve grown strong and sturdy. With them guarding the house, strangers can’t enter easily—the barking of five dogs together is loud enough to wake the dead.

Li Mujin adores them, often picking out the best food for them and even tossing leftover peach pits their way. Of course, the dogs don’t eat them; instead, they treat the pits as enemies and attack them in various ways. Watching their antics always entertains Li Mujin.

With no children in the house, the puppies add a sense of liveliness to their home of adults.

The basket of peaches Master Nan gives them is emptied within the first few days. Li Mujin eats one each day, but even so, they’re gone before long. Seeing Li Mujin’s regretful expression, Zhang Shu decides to visit the county town to buy more. However, after searching the entire market, he finds none of the same variety.

It seems likely that Master Nan brings them from another place. The peaches available locally are much smaller, with only a hint of red at the top while the rest remains green and white. They also tend to be quite sour.

Even so, Zhang Shu buys two kilograms for a penny to try. He also spots vendors selling watermelons and picks up two large ones before heading home.

When he returns, everyone washes a peach and takes a bite. Li Mujin is fine with the sourness, but the others nearly feel their teeth fall out. Grandpa Zhang, in particular, winces, covering half his cheek in pain.

Grandma Zhang gives him a light pat and scolds, “You always make a fuss. Didn’t you eat just fine back when there was nothing else?”

Grandpa Zhang groans, “I’m old now, and my teeth aren’t what they used to be. You can’t compare it to back then.”

He has a sweet tooth, which has worsened his dental condition over the years.

To make up for it, Zhang Shu takes out a large watermelon, washes it in well water, then slices it up for everyone to share. The other watermelon is placed in a basket and lowered into the well. It’ll be sweeter and more refreshing by evening when the summer heat lingers.

Li Mujin, ever mindful of his condition, eats only the peach and refrains from touching the watermelon. But Zhang Shu notices the longing in his eyes and says, “I’ll buy you some better peaches tomorrow. They’ll taste sweeter if we let them sit for a while.”

Aunt Ma, munching on a slice of watermelon, interjects, “Why buy peaches when there are so many peach trees in the back mountain? No one but the village boys ever bothers to pick them.”

The back mountain she refers to is different from the hunting grounds Li Yan and his father frequent. Once inside the mountain, one path leads left, the other right. Zhang Shu usually takes the left.

In the past, Zhang Shu is always excluded from group outings, so he never goes peach-picking. Li Yan takes Li Mujin there once, but after Zhang Shu stops going, Li Mujin never goes again.

“Yes, yes! There are dozens of peach trees on Jijiao Mountain,” Yu Xiaoliu chimes in. “We used to go there often. Two of the trees bear the sweetest peaches—not sour at all—but they’re not very big.”

Before his family splits up, Yu Xiaoliu visits frequently. But after the division, he becomes too busy making a living to indulge in such outings.

“Then let’s go pick peaches today,” Zhang Shu suggests, noticing the yearning in Li Mujin’s eyes. Since getting pregnant, Li Mujin has hardly gone anywhere—not even to visit Li Aba, without someone accompanying him.

For a moment, excitement flashes in Li Mujin’s eyes, but he quickly restrains himself. “I won’t go. You guys go ahead.”

Zhang Shu reassures him, “It’s okay. I’ll take you there, and if the path is rough, I’ll carry you.”

Grandma Zhang intends to advise against it, but after glancing at Li Mujin, she holds back. Mujin looks healthy, and the mountain paths are mostly gentle slopes. With Zhang Shu’s protection, it should be fine.

“Call Laiwang and the others to join you. Bring Dabao too—he’s free today,” Yu Xiaoliu suggests. That way, He Yue can keep an eye on Mujin.

“Good idea. Xiaoliu, go call them while I get things ready,” Zhang Shu says, heading to the kitchen to gather supplies. He packs some seasonings, a small clay pot, a knife, and a large mat, rolling it up before placing it in his backpack.

Taking Li Mujin’s hand, he leads him outside.

Behind them, Grandma Zhang calls out, “Take good care of Mujin!”

“Don’t worry, Grandma, I will.”

As they step out, Laiwang is already prepared. He has a backpack slung over his shoulders, with Dabao squatting nearby. He Yue also carries a backpack, having brought an extra for Yu Xiaoliu so he doesn’t have to return home to get one.

The group takes their time, walking slowly to accommodate Li Mujin while chatting and admiring the scenery. Sometimes, when you slow down and take in your surroundings, you realize just how much beauty you’ve overlooked.

As soon as Li Mujin steps outside, he feels physically and mentally refreshed. The fresh mountain air makes him even more comfortable.

In truth, he’s been well cared for. Ever since he becomes pregnant, he hasn’t had to do much work, but staying at home day and night still leaves a person feeling sluggish. Fortunately, their yard is spacious, and with many people working in the backyard, he never feels too stifled.

The peach grove on Jijiao Mountain isn’t far from the village. Even with breaks along the way, they reach the grove in just half an hour.

Now is the season when peaches ripen, and many overripe fruits have already fallen to the ground. This year, since housework has piled up, the older children have been kept at home to help, while the younger ones don’t dare go up the mountain alone.

Yu Xiaoliu wanders around the peach grove and quickly spots the two particularly sweet peach trees. Seeing that they still bear plenty of fruit, he is delighted.

“Dabao, come here! Look at your uncle picking sweet peaches for you!”

Dabao’s father sets him down, and he immediately runs to Yu Xiaoliu, staring eagerly at the peaches hanging from the branches.

Zhang Shu takes a mat from his backpack, lays it on the ground, and has Li Mujin sit and rest.

The men climb the trees to pick peaches, while He Yue, instead of joining in, digs for wild vegetables near Li Mujin and chats with him.

The peach trees here are quite old, with thick branches that can support adults as long as they don’t climb too high.

Zhang Shu is on a tree by himself, carefully selecting the largest and ripest peaches. Suddenly, he missteps and almost slips, quickly grabbing onto a branch to steady himself. He regains his footing, but something sticky clings to his hand. His face freezes—could it be bird droppings?

Pulling his hand back, he finds a yellowish, sticky substance on his fingers. It doesn’t look like bird droppings. Curious, he looks around and sees many similar deposits on the tree. Some are softer, some harder, ranging in color from red to yellow, and they glisten like crystals.

Zhang Shu takes one and sniffs it. A faint, fresh fragrance drifts to his nose. The more he examines it, the more familiar it seems.

Trying to recall where he has seen it before, a memory suddenly surfaces—his eldest son’s wife once has something like this on a dustpan at home. She calls it Peach Blossom Tears and says it can be sold to pharmacies for eighty coins per jin!

Apparently, this substance is highly beneficial, particularly for women and gers. It’s said to beautify the skin, prevent wrinkles, and even remove facial blemishes. At the time, his son’s wife suggests he take some, but upon hearing how expensive it is, he hesitates and leaves, earning himself a scolding.

So Blossom Tears grows on peach trees! No wonder people later try to lease the mountain. It isn’t just about the peaches—they’re after this!

Zhang Shu stops picking peaches and starts searching for more Blossom Tears. Though pregnant individuals and gers shouldn’t eat it, he figures it can be stored for future use.

The tree holds plenty of it. After climbing up and down for a while, he collects several taels’ worth, carefully bundling them in his clothing before climbing down to where Li Mujin is sitting.

Li Mujin picks up one of the hardened yellowish pieces, inspecting it curiously. “What is this?”

“This is called Blossom Tears. It’s a tonic, but you can’t eat it now. Besides, pharmacies buy it for seventy or eighty coins per jin.”

Li Mujin and He Yue are stunned. “This thing sells for that much?”

“Not every tree has it,” Zhang Shu explains. “It only appears on trees with damaged bark.” All the Blossom Tears he gathers come from such trees—none are found on healthy branches.

“Then let’s tell Xiaoliu and Brother Laiwang to stop picking peaches and collect these instead. Maybe we can make some extra money,” Li Mujin suggests.

Yu Xiaoliu shakes his head. “No, you found it first. If we gather some, it should be for your family.”

“That doesn’t make sense. These trees grow wild, and anyone who finds something can take it. Ah’shu, go tell them.”

Zhang Shu does just that, and the others quickly grow excited. He shows them the Blossom Tears he collected, and they all begin searching for more.

Even little Dabao manages to find a few pieces under the trees. Clutching them tightly, he continues looking around, determined not to miss any.

After Zhang Shu finishes gathering everything from his tree, he glances at the sky. It’s almost noon. Worried that Li Mujin might be getting hungry, he informs him before heading deeper into the grove alone.

About fifteen minutes later, he stumbles upon a small bamboo forest, where a familiar “cuckoo” sound catches his attention—it’s bamboo partridges!

These birds are much smaller than domesticated chickens, but their meat is delicious. They usually move in small groups, and sure enough, Zhang Shu spots four or five of them pecking at insects among the bamboo leaves.

Gripping a few stones in his hand, he takes careful aim and hurls them with all his strength. The stones cut through the air, striking three of the birds. Though not dead, the hits break their wings, leaving them unable to fly. The remaining two escape into the forest.

Zhang Shu quickly rushes over, ties the three injured birds together with some grass stems, and carries them happily back.

On his way, he detours slightly and finds a spring where he cleans and prepares the birds before heading back.

As soon as he returns to the peach grove, Li Mujin’s worried eyes immediately find him. The moment he sees Zhang Shu is unharmed, his worry melts into relief, replaced by joy.

Zhang Shu’s heart softens. Li Mujin has been so anxious after just a short while—how much worse must it have been for him when he used to go out to sea? Thinking of this, a dull ache forms in his chest.