Chapter 6: First Encounter

In the small hole they had dug, something resembling a human doll lay buried in the soil. A faint, medicinal fragrance wafted up, instantly sharpening the senses of the five children.

"Cousin, is this..." He Tian stared at He Gao in astonishment. Although he was young and hadn't seen many precious things, he had heard of such doll-like objects. Not long ago, their grandmother mentioned that a family in the neighboring production brigade had accidentally dug up a ginseng root on the mountain. It looked just like a tiny human, and rumor had it they sold it for several hundred yuan. Their whole family had been envious at the time, fantasizing about trying their own luck on the mountain, never dreaming they would actually stumble upon one today. Whatever it was, given its shape and scent, it was clearly a treasure.

He Gao was the first to regain his composure. He scanned the surroundings warily, and seeing no one else nearby, he immediately began to dig. Whether it was truly ginseng could be confirmed later; the priority was to keep it secret. He Xin stepped in to help. The two brothers worked with all their might, anxious that others might appear at any moment, yet unable to suppress their excitement about the find. As they dug deeper, the roots revealed a chubby, human-shaped figure.

"Hiss! Big brother, it really is ginseng!"
"Shh! Quiet, let's head back quickly."

Compared to his siblings, who were delirious with joy, He Gao remained remarkably calm. He wrapped the ginseng in broad leaves, tucked it into the very bottom of his wicker basket, and covered it with firewood. After filling the hole, he had He Xi stomp on the dirt to pack it firm. Just then, the others returned from gathering wood and called out for them from a distance.

"Coming, coming!" He Gao wiped his hands, shouldered the basket, and took He Xi by the hand. He Tian and He Lei followed closely. He Xin lagged behind for a second, slipping a nest of wild eggs he had spotted in a grass clump into his pocket. It was said that whenever they brought their little sister along, they were bound to find things, and this was further proof.

He Xi trotted along on her short legs. The brothers had been silent while digging, but now they realized what she had led them to. She knew there were more patches like this on the way up, and she decided to let her brothers come back to dig them up tomorrow. As she thought about this, she glanced back at the dirt-covered pit. A ring of small yellow flowers bloomed lushly around the edge, and she paused, wanting to pick some to take home.

"Little sister, let's go," He Lei called out. He Xi snapped back to reality, saw them waiting, and took He Lei's hand, looking back three times before finally leaving the forest.

...

The trip to the mountain had been a bumper harvest. Tang Yao suppressed her laughter the entire way back, running swiftly once they reached the main road and carrying Fang Mingxi home. Once the door was shut and the wooden bucket placed down, her stifled laughter nearly blew the roof off.

"Little sister, did you see?! Everyone is going to have a feast tonight!" Tang Yao was so happy she was trembling, hugging Fang Mingxi and kissing her little face repeatedly. It was a good thing they had run fast, or they wouldn't have gotten their hands on those mushrooms.

Fang Mingxi nodded randomly. *I know, I know—you're drooling more than I am.*

Once the excitement subsided, Tang Yao calmed herself enough to fetch some water. She soaked the wild raspberries and washed a small bowlful for a late lunch. The berries were sweet and tart, and with one bite, her grumbling stomach was instantly satisfied. Fang Mingxi watched Tang Yao with envy, her mouth watering at the fruity scent. *Give me a taste, sister, let me try.*

Tang Yao chuckled at the sight, used a wooden spoon to crush the raspberries into juice, and dipped a pair of chopsticks into it to swirl around Fang Mingxi’s lips. "Little sister, taste it—is it sweet?"

Fang Mingxi licked her lips. The sweet and tangy flavor lit up her eyes. It was delicious!

The afternoon passed, and by the time the workers returned, the sky was already pitch black. Tang Yao had long since boiled a pot of water for everyone to wash up. Wu Meixia rested in the room for a while, changing the cloth wrapped around her head before preparing dinner. Tang Yao darted forward and mysteriously intercepted her in the room.

Wu Meixia asked, "Yao Yao, what is it?"
Tong Lingxian, holding Fang Mingxi, looked over. "What's the matter, Yao Yao?"

Tang Yao grinned and brought over the wooden bucket, lifting the leaves covering it. "Grandma, Grandma Tong, look."

*Huh? Mushrooms and wood ear fungus!!!* Wu Meixia and Tong Lingxian were stunned.
"Yao Yao, you found these on the mountain?" Tong Lingxian was shocked. Every mushroom was as big as a face; was Yao Yao really that lucky?
Wu Meixia rubbed her eyes in disbelief. "Yao Yao, since when are there so many mushrooms on the mountain?"

Tang Yao told them everything that had happened that day, including the encounter with He Xi and her brothers. Wu Meixia hugged her with complex emotions. "My good Yao Yao, it was Grandma who burdened you. But let's not go to that side anymore, so you don't get bullied."

"Okay," Tang Yao promised obediently. Going to Red Leaf Mountain on the other side had been an accident; she wouldn't go there again. At most, she would stick to gathering firewood on the mountain right by their home.

Wu Meixia didn't recognize the *jizong* (termite mushrooms) they had brought back. She took the bucket outside to ask others if they knew what they were. The Maple Leaf Brigade was located in Yunnan Province, which was famous for mushrooms, but she didn't know if these were edible. Without a definitive answer, she didn't dare cook them; mushroom poisoning was a death sentence with no cure.

Fortunately, someone in the cow shed, an old man named Yu who had been sent down from the neighboring Sichuan Province, knew *jizong* well. He had eaten them since he was a child. "These are *jizong*. They grow on termite nests. Not only are they edible, but they are also incredibly delicious."

As he spoke, Old Yu swallowed hard. The freshness of *jizong* was something you never forgot after the first bite. He mused that the girl was truly lucky to have found so many, though he hoped she hadn't destroyed the termite nest so they could grow again next time.

With that, Wu Meixia’s heart finally settled. Following Old Yu’s instructions, she picked some vegetable leaves from behind the shed to carefully clean the dirt from the roots. There were ten open-capped mushrooms and fifteen closed ones. Wu Meixia and Old Yu washed the open ones to cook immediately, saving the closed ones for tomorrow. Such a rare delicacy couldn't be kept or left alone; eating it was the only way to be safe. They couldn't afford to hide such things, as they would be a liability if discovered.

To avoid wasting the aroma, Old Yu had Wu Meixia beat the only two eggs they had into the soup. Without oil, the mushrooms were coated in the egg mixture and placed directly into the pot; only after they had set did she add water to boil. Before long, a large basin of *jizong* soup was served, along with a plate of stir-fried greens and wood ear fungus. Everyone filled their bellies with corn-grit porridge, a rare, hearty meal.

The *jizong* soup was so incredibly flavorful that they didn't waste a drop. Even Fang Mingxi, who could only drink rice water, got a taste from a pair of chopsticks. As she sucked on her pacifier and watched her grandparents eating with such satisfaction, her resolve to explore the forest again tomorrow grew even stronger.

Off to work for the sake of a full stomach for the whole family.