There were plenty of dead trees deep in the mountains, and she had chopped down a good number of them that afternoon, storing them in her space. She would certainly have enough firewood for the winter.
Noticing it was about time, she casually made her way down the mountain. To her surprise, she discovered two wild Sichuan pepper trees on a slope, still adorned with ripe peppers. The trees were not large, and there weren’t too many peppers, but there were enough for her to use for quite a while. I don’t have a Sichuan pepper tree in my space yet, she mused, and promptly stored one of the trees inside.
She wasn’t greedy enough to take the other one, but she did pick all its peppers clean before heading down the mountain.
When she reached the foothills, she took out her basket from the space as usual. It contained some herbs she had dug up on a whim, with a bundle of firewood placed on top.
What she hadn’t expected was to see Qiao Zhuxiang’s figure heading south again. She only retracted her gaze after watching the figure disappear.
In the distance, Geng Erhong was standing outside her small courtyard. Geng Erhong obviously saw her and jogged over. "You really are diligent, going up the mountain to collect firewood again?"
Yunyi smiled and took out her key. "Why have you come over?"
Geng Erhong huffed, "You have the nerve to ask! I just spoke a word with someone, and you vanished. I chased you to your courtyard but couldn’t find anyone. I even came by at noon, but the door was still bolted shut. This is my third trip here."
Yunyi laughed. "It seems you need me for something?"
Geng Erhong helped her take off the basket. "The people from the Zhiqing Point are planning to go to the commune together tomorrow. Do you want to join?"
Yunyi recalled her previous trip back, during which she had bought everything she needed. I won’t go. I already stocked up on everything I was lacking when I came back the other day.
Geng Erhong pouted. "Looks like we can’t go together again."
Yunyi laughed at her expression. "Look at that pout; you could hang an oil pot from it."
Geng Erhong grumbled, "I can never find a chance to spend time with you. So, I’m booking you in advance: let’s go up the mountain to collect pinecones together the day after tomorrow."
Yunyi took the herbs out of her basket and started sorting them. "If there’s nothing else going on, I’ll accompany you every day after this. How about that?"
Geng Erhong was delighted. "You said it!"
Yunyi finished categorizing the herbs and, looking up, asked, "How’s your firewood supply coming along?"
Geng Erhong helped Yunyi place the sorted herbs on the drying tray. "That’s the advantage of having many people," she said. "There are many of us in our house, so if each person gathers a little, it’s enough to last the winter." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novｅlfire.net
「But plans can’t keep up with changes.」
On the day they had agreed to go up the mountain to collect pinecones, they had just met when they heard someone calling from afar, "Chu Zhiqing, wait up!"
Yunyi stopped and saw it was Qiao Shuanglin, the brigade leader’s youngest son. "Comrade Qiao, what’s the matter?"
Qiao Shuanglin was panting from his run. "Chu Zhiqing, my father sent me to call you to the village clinic."
Geng Erhong, visibly displeased, asked, "What for? She’s not part of the clinic staff, is she?"
Qiao Shuanglin, aware of past incidents, said somewhat sheepishly, "I don’t know the specifics. I’m just the messenger."
Yunyi looked at Geng Erhong. "Let’s go and see first. What if it’s an emergency?"
Since Qiao Yougen became the brigade leader, I haven’t really dealt with him. It wouldn’t be good to completely refuse him this bit of respect.
Geng Erhong had no choice but to nod. "Alright, I’ll go with you."
This was an unexpected turn of events. Qiao Shuanglin knew he couldn’t just deliver the message and leave, as he’d have a hard time explaining the situation to his father. So, he accompanied them to the village clinic.