Chapter 14 Eyes Shining with Light

It was only upon waking the next morning that she realized a heavy rain had poured through the night.

Wen Mubai was curled in Tang Banxia’s arms, sleeping soundly, his lush and delicate lashes casting shadows on his eyelids. Tang Banxia poked at his lashes, which fluttered lightly in response.

Truly, one should marry someone beautiful.

All that talk about how a capable man is better, looks aren’t everything—what utter nonsense. If the first thing she saw upon waking was an ugly face, her whole day would be ruined.

But now, with Wen Mubai’s good looks, and the fact that apart from his voracious appetite he caused no trouble, he was the perfect realization of her ideal partner. Passionate at night, discreet by day, and never meddling in her affairs.

As for relying on a man for support, that was even more laughable. In this world, only oneself would never betray; pinning hopes on another was the height of foolishness.

The person in her arms suddenly opened his eyes, a smile blooming: “Banxia, good morning.”

Tang Banxia curved her lips. “Good morning, Xiaobai.”

Outside, the rain fell in torrents. The firewood was soaked beyond use, making breakfast impossible to cook. They made do with steamed corn cakes and malted milk, then Tang Banxia took out the meat she had marinated yesterday, washed it clean, and set it aside to dry.

After finishing her chores, she ordered Wen Mubai to tidy up the house. Then she brought out the fabric and cotton—her parents’ winter pants were still unfinished.

Sometime during all this, the rain stopped.

“Banxia, let’s go mushroom picking!” called out the robust Sister-in-law Sun from outside.

“Coming!” Tang Banxia replied cheerfully. It was just the chance to take a walk; she hadn’t been up the mountain since arriving here.

Guyue Village lay at the foot of the mountains, its end pressed up against an endless range. The house she rented stood at the village’s edge, right on the path up the mountain.

“Xiaobai, are you coming?” she asked, already pulling on a jacket and rain boots.

Wen Mubai shook his head. “I’ll stay. Be careful—the path will be slippery after the rain.”

“Alright, I’m off then.”

She slung the basket over her back and headed out. “Sister-in-law Sun!”

Since the misunderstanding last time, Sister-in-law Sun often brought her tomatoes, cucumbers, and the like, and over time they’d grown familiar. Now, whenever she went mushroom picking, she’d call Tang Banxia along.

The mountains were dangerous after rain; Sister-in-law Sun led Tang Banxia along winding trails to a gentle slope. “My Stone found this place. There are loads of mushrooms here. This is the first time I’ve brought anyone else.”

Tang Banxia, grateful, responded, “Thank you, Sister-in-law Sun. Next time I fry mushrooms, I’ll bring you a bowl.”

“Banxia, that’s not what I meant,” Sister-in-law Sun hurried to explain. She just wanted to show they were on good terms, not ask for anything.

Tang Banxia was about to reply when a strange sound caught her attention—“Mm-hmm~ hmm-mm~”

What was that?

She exchanged a look with Sister-in-law Sun; both instinctively held their breath and tiptoed toward the source of the sound.

They were both married women—there were things one just understood.

Crouching behind a tree, their eyes lit up. In a half-collapsed room, a man and woman were entwined in the most primal of acts.

What a pity, Tang Banxia thought, clicking her tongue; she couldn’t see their faces. She just wanted to know who it was—so bold, coming up the mountain for a tryst right after the rain. Their village folks sure knew how to enjoy themselves.

While Tang Banxia was merely regretful, Sister-in-law Sun looked absolutely stunned.

As the scene seemed to draw to an end, Sister-in-law Sun nudged Tang Banxia and pointed toward the path back.

Tang Banxia understood immediately, crouched low, retreated a few steps, and then both of them made a dash away from the scene.

On the gentle slope, they finally stopped. Sister-in-law Sun’s expression was complicated.

Tang Banxia, quick to notice, asked, “Sister-in-law Sun, do you know who they were?”

Sister-in-law Sun heaved a sigh. “I do. That was Old Song’s third daughter-in-law, and Hu the Fourth.”

Tang Banxia’s face lit up with gossip—Oh my!

If she remembered correctly, “Song Qingniang?”

Sister-in-law Sun nodded. “That’s her.” Her expression was a mix of disgust and sympathy, but she added, “Banxia, you…”

“I understand,” Tang Banxia said. “I won’t breathe a word.”

Sister-in-law Sun seemed relieved, but quickly explained, “My mother’s family and Song’s are from the same village. If this gets out, all the girls from my home village will be implicated. Thank you, Banxia.”

She was distantly related to Song’s family, and had always disliked the woman’s timid ways, often speaking up for her. Who would have thought that someone who seemed so weak would be up to such wild things in secret? The thought made her uncomfortable, but she still had to cover for her.

They fell silent, quietly gathering mushrooms.

Soon, Tang Banxia put the incident out of her mind. After the rain, medicinal herbs had sprouted everywhere, and she quickly became absorbed in her foraging: licorice, bupleurum, ephedra, and, hidden underground, polygonatum, pinellia…

Before long, she had collected quite a haul.

Noticing she was picking what looked like worthless weeds and clods of dirt, Sister-in-law Sun approached to advise her. “Banxia, those aren’t edible.”

She held up a wild vegetable as an example. “This is the kind you can eat.”

Tang Banxia thanked her, “I’m not collecting them to eat—they’re medicinal herbs.”

Sister-in-law Sun didn’t understand herbs, but seeing Tang Banxia so confident, she didn’t argue. Instead, she dumped all the wild vegetables and mushrooms from her own basket into Tang Banxia’s.

So straightforward—Tang Banxia felt a bit embarrassed. “Sister-in-law Sun, this…”

“Take them. I pick faster than you; I’ll fill another basket in no time,” Sister-in-law Sun said, waving her hand.

Tang Banxia paused, then nodded. “Alright. Thank you, Sister-in-law Sun.”

Waving her off, Sister-in-law Sun went back to gathering mushrooms.

Only after Tang Banxia had swept the area clean of herbs did she rejoin Sister-in-law Sun to pick mushrooms together.

After a rain, the mountains were thick with clusters of mushrooms, barely needing any effort to find them. Soon, both their baskets were overflowing.

“Told you this spot was hidden,” Sister-in-law Sun said with pride.

Tang Banxia agreed, “It really is.”

“Let’s head down.”

On the way down, Sister-in-law Sun covered their baskets with leaves. “Banxia, this place is our secret. Don’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t,” Tang Banxia assured her. She understood well; in the mountains, what you found belonged to you—it was only natural.

As they descended, they happened to meet a group of villagers out mushroom picking.

“Banxia, you’re here for mushrooms too?” Aunt Hu greeted her.

“Yes, and to dig up some herbs,” Tang Banxia replied.

Aunt Hu nodded knowingly. Her husband had told her that Banxia, the educated youth, was preparing to take the barefoot doctor exam. “Banxia, I believe in you. You’ll definitely pass.”

“I’ll count on your good wishes, Aunt Hu.”

“Banxia, you spent all morning just to collect a basket of dirt clods?” another voice called out. It was Widow Hu, whose son had liked the original Banxia. After being rejected, she’d borne a grudge, always looking for trouble. That day when they caught the cheaters, she’d been the first to rush over.

“What business is it of yours?” Tang Banxia snapped, thinking of the village gossip. “Just like a dog meddling in things it shouldn’t.”

“You…” Widow Hu, not one to back down, stepped forward to cause a scene, but—

“Banxia! Quick, come look—Wen Mubai’s gotten into a fight!”