30: Chapter 30 Going up the Mountain to Seek Treasure 30: Chapter 30 Going up the Mountain to Seek Treasure The next day, Wufu pretended not to see Madam Zhou’s eyes that were swollen like two peaches and, after breakfast, slung the bamboo basket over her shoulder, ready to head for the mountain.
“Wufu, are you going up the mountain again?” Madam Zhou got a fright when she saw her daughter get ready and hurriedly grabbed Wufu’s sleeve.
In the past, her going by herself was one thing, but with the rampant rumors of the Mountain Demon lately, she dared not let her take the risk.
She had only this one daughter, perhaps her only support!
Wufu glanced at the hand on her sleeve and said, “I’ll be back soon.”
“No.” Madam Zhou wouldn’t let go and said, “You child, why don’t you listen?
Have you forgotten that scoundrel Ma Dan?”
Wufu was startled, then smiled and said, “Mother, it’s okay, Ma Dan is not a good person, so he was punished.
But I am a good person!”
“Still no.” Madam Zhou was very stubborn and said, “You stay at home.
If you find yourself idle, you might as well help me sort the threads.
It’s just the right time to finish these embroidery jobs.
You are fourteen, after all.
It’s time to put more effort into needlework.
You can’t keep running wild.”
“Mother…” Wufu had a headache.
She would rather die.
She could hold a needle, but only to use as a hidden weapon.
“Wufu, please listen to your mother, okay?” Madam Zhou pleaded.
Wufu quietly looked at her and said, “Mother, didn’t we agree yesterday?
You said you’d believe what I say, right?”
Madam Zhou was at a loss for words.
“Don’t worry, your daughter is very capable.
Nothing will happen to me.
I’ll catch a wild pheasant on the mountain for you, to make soup, haha!” Wufu patted her hand, and by the time Madam Zhou came to her senses, Wufu had already dashed to the door.
“Don’t wait for me to come back for lunch, I’ve brought some dry food!” Wufu waved and ran off.
Madam Zhou hurried to the doorway, helplessly shouting, “Be careful.”
Wufu just raised her hand and light-footedly made her way up the mountain, soon disappearing from sight.
What was she to do with this headstrong girl?
Early Summer, the number of wild creatures appearing on the mountain had increased.
It was unclear whether it was because of the recent rumors about the Mountain Demon causing even the hunters to venture less into the mountains, but Wufu’s hauls were much better than the previous days.
In her basket, she carried two wild pheasants, yet she was not satisfied and kept walking deeper into the mountain.
The fewer the human traces, the more abundant and the more precious the mountain treasures became.
Moreover, Wufu wanted to try her luck at treasure hunting.
In the past, Maofeng Mountain was rumored to be the Jade Mountain Treasure Land.
During the Former Dynasty, it was a mine owned by a wealthy merchant, who excavated a significant amount of jade before abandoning it when it was depleted.
Yet even so, for centuries people had still gone into the deep mountains in search of treasure, convinced that even if the watermelon was gone, perhaps one might still pick up a sesame seed.
And indeed, there had been people who found jade in those mountains.
Although once cut, the quality was poor and not of much value, the mere act of finding a piece of jade was still considered a catch.
Therefore, Wufu wanted to try her luck – to hunt, to improve her skills, and to prospect for stones.
Three birds with one stone, why not?
There she was, a girl darting and dashing through the dense primeval forest, wielding a sharpened bamboo stick, swinging and striking, leaping and ducking, seemingly chaotic but fiercely efficient.
The dense forest behind her seemed to take on a life of its own, gradually enveloping the area in a dark curtain that sent chills down your spine.
Show yourself!” Wufu suddenly stopped and called out.