Chapter 2

The sun had already set, leaving vast stretches of red clouds along the horizon. Jiang Li took the two little ones back to the fields for a look. It was already June, and if the rain and sunshine had been sufficient, the bean sprouts should have been laden with pods by now. Yet, all that remained were withered, yellowing shoots. She wasn’t sure if watering could still save them.

Looking up at the dense, dark canopy of leaves, she resolved to find time to trim the branches above. Glancing around the deep mountain forest, she thought that an ordinary person would likely lose their way and never make it out.

She was lost in thought, unaware of the boy’s feelings behind her.

“Xiao Man, does anyone in the village go hunting in the mountains?” she asked.

Xue Man snapped back to attention upon hearing the question. “They used to, but those who knew how to hunt have all gone off to war. The villagers only dare to roam the outskirts; they’re afraid to venture deep inside for fear of getting lost. They say there are man-eating big white cats and wolves inside. The village head has forbidden anyone from going in.”

Jiang Li nodded. “You must obey the village head.”

She needed to prepare to enter the mountains to find food. Although these were chaotic times, the ancient lands were rich in resources. With enough skill, it would never be worse than the frozen wasteland of an apocalypse.

Meanwhile, in the Xue family courtyard.

Old Granny Zhao had just set Xue Chengxiang’s fractured leg. She handed Jiang Li eight eggs, which she accepted without refusal. After sending Granny Zhao off, silence settled over the yard.

Liu Chunhua, Xue Chengxiang’s wife, glared at her mother-in-law and said bitterly, “Mother, are you really going to let that sly fox off just like that?”

The old lady’s face darkened in silence. Someone muttered under their breath, “That Jiang woman looks so delicate, yet she managed to throw Second Brother straight to the ground.”

If left unsaid, it would have been better. Hearing this, Liu Chunhua grew even angrier.

“With such strength, she pretends to be weak and alluring every day. If she hadn’t deceived Chengxiang, how would he have dared to sneak over in the middle of the night?”

The words were utterly shameless.

The wife of the fourth brother frowned and said mildly, “Second Sister-in-law, are you implying that Second Brother went over on his own? Why does it matter whether Jiang looks fragile or is incredibly strong?”

Liu Chunhua shot her a venomous glare.

“Zhao Jiaxiu, what favor did you receive from her to defend her here?”

Zhao Jiaxiu rolled her eyes and pulled the fourth brother’s wife back inside.

The old lady knew well that today they would get no benefit from Jiang Li.

This Jiang woman had been secretly bought by the eldest brother behind her back. The money had already been spent. The eldest brother, unfortunately, had died before he could enjoy any of it, leaving her simmering with resentment. The second brother had developed this mischief, and she had indulged it, initially planning to throw Jiang Li into a pig cage punishment. With her beauty, she might earn a reputation for mercy, either killing or selling her off, recovering at least some of the money. But Jiang Li was not what she appeared—she was stronger than expected and had persuaded the village head to legally divide the family. The second brother had no choice but to endure his humiliation.

She was curious to see how Jiang Li would manage with those two little brats. She awaited the day they would come crying back to her.

As for Liu Chunhua, she was full of fury.

“If you won’t let her go, what can you do? Bite her backside? You’re useless—you can’t even keep an eye on your own husband. If you could, would that enchantress have tempted him away?”

“What are you still sitting here for? Go light the fire and cook!”

After the old lady’s tirade, Liu Chunhua’s face flushed with embarrassment. She said nothing more, head bowed, and went to kindle the fire and prepare the meal.

The Xue family had five sons and two daughters. The daughters had married into the neighboring village, which wasn’t far, but the household chores kept everyone busy; they seldom came back except during festivals.

The five sons still lived together without dividing the family property.

Xue Chengju was the unluckiest. As the eldest son, he had married and had children but was conscripted to the battlefield, where he was injured in the leg. Shortly after returning, his wife fell ill and died. Disabled and unable to do heavy labor, he had two children to feed.

He was greatly disliked in the family. He had barely saved enough money to buy Jiang Li as a wife before he passed away.

Jiang Li even suspected he had known he was dying, so he bought a wife to care for the children after his death.

After all, the old patriarch Xue was long gone, and the matriarch Li was hardly kind-hearted. The four younger brothers each had their own troubles; no one would be generous enough to raise his children.

But he had gambled right.

The two children met Jiang Li, and wherever she ate, they ate too.

The three returned home, and before darkness fell, Jiang Li had the two children help clean the house. The broom was woven from wild bamboo, and sweeping the thatched cottage stirred up choking dust.

The cottage had two rooms, but each had a section of open eaves.

Jiang Li looked at the small pile of straw they had brought; it was hardly enough to cover the roof, barely enough even to make mats. If it weren’t at the foot of the mountain, living in a partly open house wouldn’t be so bad. But precisely because it stood near the mountains, the summer heat made her fear snakes and rats getting inside.

Tomorrow, she would find something to patch up the two thatched rooms.

After cleaning, they laid out the bedding.

Dusk had settled. She almost forgot that in ancient times there was no electricity—only oil lamps. But they were so poor they couldn’t even afford meals, let alone oil lamps.

Every household finished dinner before dark, tidied up, and rested until dawn.

“Xiao Man, don’t clean up the yard just yet. It’s almost dark—we should prepare dinner first.”

“Let’s light a fire.”

As soon as she spoke, Xue Man and his sister Xue Ning gathered a pile of firewood and some straw, then began kindling the fire methodically.

Jiang Li fetched water in a clay pot, returning to find the fire blazing.

She set the pot beside the fire and went inside to retrieve three sweet potatoes.

“Do you like your sweet potatoes boiled or roasted?”

Xue Man glanced at the three sizable sweet potatoes in her hands—she had clearly chosen the large ones deliberately. A wave of melancholy surfaced in his heart.

Seeing him silent and staring, Jiang Li understood why and explained, “We’ll eat our fill tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll go into the mountains and find more food for you.”

Xue Man and Xue Ning nodded, and Jiang Li tossed the sweet potatoes into the fire. “Boiling takes too long—better to roast them.”

She then placed the clay pot on the fire to heat.

While there was still light, Jiang Li took a sickle and pointed toward a nearby bamboo grove. “Does anyone own that bamboo forest?”

Xue Man shook his head. “No one.”

“Good. You and your sister watch the fire. I’ll go cut two bamboo stalks.”

The bamboo grove was close. Xue Man watched Jiang Li enter, but after a long time passed without a sound, unease crept over him. He turned to Xue Ning.

“Aning, watch the fire. Don’t touch the pot. Wait for me.”

Then he ran toward the bamboo grove.

Jiang Li entered the grove to select two older, thicker bamboo stalks with abundant branches. The trimmed branches could be used to make brooms.

While she was choosing, she suddenly heard someone calling “Mother” outside.

Listening carefully, it was Xue Man. She called out, “Xiao Man?”

“It’s me!”

Hearing Jiang Li’s voice, Xue Man’s anxiety eased. He followed the sound into the grove.

Jiang Li looked at his figure, shook a bamboo stalk as thick as a fist, then looked up, deciding on it.

“Why have you come? Can your sister watch the fire alone?”

“I came to see if you needed help.”

Jiang Li hadn’t expected the boy’s thoughtfulness; she had thought he was simply coming to help.

“I’m only cutting two stalks. You don’t need to help—just stand nearby.”

After giving instructions, she raised her sickle and cut down a bamboo stalk. It fell onto the branches below. She shook it a few times until it came loose and hit the ground.

She turned to cut the other stalk.

Once both were down, Xue Man came to help, but Jiang Li saw his face flush red as he failed to move even one stalk. She didn’t tease him.

“Go back and watch your sister. I’ll drag them.”

Xue Man stepped aside as Jiang Li bent down and, with one hand, lifted both bamboo stalks under her armpits as if with no effort, then dragged them forward.

In his mind, he recalled the image of Second Uncle being thrown to the ground earlier that day.

“Mother, how do you have so much strength?”

Jiang Li glanced sideways. Fortunately, he had only just met her; otherwise, it would be hard to explain that the original Jiang Li appeared delicate, but she was a strongwoman.

“When you grow up, your strength grows too.”

Xue Man said, “That’s different. Aunt Chun from the village is much fatter than you, but she can’t beat her husband.”

Jiang Li was naturally strong, but the original body had been starved for too long, severely weakening her strength. After some days of recuperation and training, she would surely regain her former power.

She had no interest in village gossip and continued dragging the bamboo.

Back at the yard, night had fallen. Xue Ning sat quietly by the fire, looking small and timid.

All day, Jiang Li hardly heard her speak; her gaze was shy and hesitant.

Seeing Xue Man, she ran over to his side.

“Brother.”

Xue Man held her hand and led her to the fire. Jiang Li noticed the water in the clay pot was boiling, so she found two handfuls of straw, placed them beneath the pot, and lifted it down.

She found a thicker stick to dig the sweet potatoes out from the fire.

A gentle breeze carried the sweet aroma of roasted sweet potatoes.

She pressed the soft sweet potatoes and called out, “They’re ready. Wash your hands and come eat.”

She rose to wash her own hands.

While washing, she remembered the two halves of wild vegetable cakes the siblings had saved. If they didn’t eat them soon, they would spoil.

The two children washed quickly but sat silently by the fire, not touching the sweet potatoes.

“You two, each take one and eat.”

Xue Man shook his head and pulled out the cakes.

“Mother, my sister and I still have these cakes.”

Jiang Li sat on a nearby stone, removing the unburned firewood, leaving only some glowing embers.

“Eat the sweet potatoes first. We each get one. If you want to eat your cakes, put them on the embers to roast. They should taste better crispy.”

Xue Man hesitated. Xue Ning’s eyes fixed on the sweet potato in front of her.

Jiang Li picked one, dusted off the ash, and handed it to Xue Ning. She looked at Xue Man, and seeing him nod, she accepted it.

“Thank you, Mother.”

Drawn by the sweet smell, Xue Man finally obeyed Jiang Li and began eating the roasted sweet potato.

But he still kept the vegetable cakes.

“If you don’t eat those cakes today, they’ll be even worse tomorrow. Better to roast and eat them now, so you get full.”