The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

“Yue’er…” Xiao Yishan wanted to say something. Su Qingyue interrupted, “You don’t need to say touching words. When our family has the means, we will have white rice every day.”

It’s just ordinary white rice, which is so common in modern times that everyone gets tired of eating it.

Unexpectedly, the three men of the Xiao Family were moved to tears by eating this simple rice meal.

Ahem…

Well, saying they would cry is an exaggeration.

In any case, eating white rice was a luxury for them, and their expressions were quite touching.

The family happily enjoyed a midday meal together.

After finishing lunch and giving acupuncture treatments to the three men, and decocting medicine for the second brother, it was about two o’clock in the afternoon. Su Qingyue took two empty baskets and went out.

Xiao Yuchuan saw her from the window and asked, “Wife, didn’t you sell the fried fern recipe and promise the boss of Rich Source Tavern not to sell the stir-fried dish in town again? Where are you going?”

She replied, “I found a bayberry tree in the nearby mountain. A few days ago, the bayberries were not yet ripe, but now they must be ripe. I’m going to pick them.”

Xiao Yishan, who had been frequently going up the mountains before he was injured, said, “Yue’er, where did you find that bayberry tree?”

In her mind, she thought of Hanging Neck Mountain, but they believed that mountain was unlucky because a woman had hanged herself there. So, she did not want them to worry, “It’s just on a nearby mountain. I can’t explain it clearly.”

Xiao Yishan, a stable man, asked outright, “Are you going to Hanging Neck Mountain?”

“Uh…” She hesitated without answering.

Xiao Yishan’s thick eyebrows wrinkled together, “Yue’er, that mountain is really harmful.”

Yuchuan also expressed his concern, “Yes, Second Brother is right. That mountain is ominous. Several villagers have seen ghosts there…”

“I’m not afraid of ghosts.” She shrugged indifferently, “Besides, it’s daytime, the sun is shining bright, can ghosts even come out?”

Xiao Qinghe also chimed in, “At the moment, our family is not worried about food and clothing. Also, we have so many silver taels left… Qingyue, just stay at home and rest.”

“No.” Su Qingyue was a bit stubborn.

Xiao Yuchuan worried, “Wife, wild bayberries are very sour and difficult to eat. Even one can be sour enough to make your teeth fall out. Even if you pick

them, they would be useless. When your husband recovers, I will pick as many as you want from the mountain…”

She refused, “By the time you get better, the bayberries will be out of season.”

“Yue’er, you cannot go!” Xiao Yishan saw she was disobedient, and his stern face grew colder.

Su Qingyue explained, “I know wild bayberries are sour. I’m not picking them to eat directly but to make bayberry wine. I bought six large jars and they’re meant for storing the wine.”

“Wife, bayberries can be used to make wine?” Xiao Yuchuan was very curious.

Xiao Qinghe and Yishan had never heard of this either.

“Yes.” She nodded, “Bayberry wine is delicious and has many benefits. I bought several dozen jin of white sugar specifically for making the wine. I can’t let those jars and sugar go to waste. I’ll explain more when I’m back. I’m going to pick them first…”

“Yue’er!”

“Wife!”

Both men called out simultaneously from the master bedroom as they watched her walk out of the yard, but they could only see her receding figure. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back before nightfall when the ghosts come out..”