Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Enamored Woman Clings to Her Beloved

An Jian searched through the thicket for a while, gathering a dozen or so bright red raspberries. “Sister, these are for you.”

“Thank you, Second Brother.” Since coming to this world, An Yi hadn’t tasted fruit. The sight of the raspberries made her mouth water instinctively. Though raspberries were considered medicinal, she decided she’d simply eat them as fruit for now.

“Sister, share some with Xinliu,” said An Kang.

An Yi held the raspberries out to Xinliu. “Take a few.”

Xinliu reached out and grabbed a handful, smiling sweetly. “Thank you, Zhuzi.”

An Yi curled her lips in a faint sneer, her dislike for Xinliu growing.

Once the two had finished the raspberries, An Kang said, “Sister, play nearby, but don’t wander off.”

“Okay,” An Yi replied.

Xinliu was searching for a wild vegetable known by its scientific name as dandelion, called “popo-ding” by the villagers.

An Yi intended to gather not just dandelions, but also tribulus. After the start of summer, the fields and hills offered even more medicinal herbs than in spring.

Dandelion could clear heat and detoxify, promote urination, and reduce swelling. It was best harvested before flowering, roots and all.

Tribulus, too, cleared heat and toxins, relieving cough and phlegm. Xinliu was collecting the leaves to eat as greens, slicing them off with a sickle. An Yi, using them as medicinal herbs, needed both roots and leaves, patiently digging them up with a small hoe.

She finished digging up one plant and placed it in the basket on her back. Looking up, she spotted two more. As she moved to dig them, Xinliu darted over and cut them all down with her sickle.

An Yi frowned, turned away in search of more, and soon found another plant.

Xinliu cut that one too.

An Yi’s expression darkened. She turned and walked elsewhere. If Xinliu wanted them so badly, she could have them—An Yi refused to stoop to her level.

But Xinliu was determined to pester her.

An Yi had just unearthed a tribulus plant and was standing up when she noticed Xinliu approaching again, persistent as a shadow.

“Xier, you only need the leaves from dandelions—why are you digging up the roots? No wonder I’ve got so many while you’ve only a few. This one’s mouse thorn; it hasn’t fruited yet and can’t be eaten. Why are you digging it up?” Xinliu said.

“I’m just here to play, not to gather greens. I’ll dig whatever I like. Mind your own business.” An Yi gave a snort and turned away.

Xinliu hesitated, then followed carefully, asking, “Xier, are you angry?”

“No,” An Yi replied, her eyes wide and smile sweet as she looked at her.

Seeing her smile, Xinliu clearly relaxed. “There are lots more dandelions over there. Let’s pick them together.”

“Alright,” An Yi’s eyes flashed.

There were indeed many dandelions in that area, and An Yi also spotted a cocklebur plant. This place was farther from the village; she’d never be allowed here alone. For convenience, she decided to transplant it to the foot of the hill. Glancing at Xinliu, who was busy digging nearby, An Yi turned her back and quickly dug up the cocklebur, concealing it in her basket beneath a layer of dandelions.

“Sister, come on! Time to head back,” An Jian called.

“Coming!” An Yi hoisted her basket. “Xinliu, are you done? We’re going back. Will you come with us?”

“I’m done. I’ll go with you.” Xinliu would never miss a chance to stay close to An Kang. Even if she couldn’t talk to him, she’d at least stand as near as possible, watching him.

An Yi’s mood was much improved as they left the mountain. At the village entrance, the four parted ways. Back home, An Yi smiled and said, “Big Brother, Second Brother, you worked hard chopping wood today. Let me handle these herbs.”

The brothers exchanged a smile, pleased at their sister’s thoughtfulness, never suspecting she was hiding a poisonous plant in the basket. She didn’t want them to help for fear they’d discover it.

That afternoon, An Yi stashed away the cocklebur before sitting in the courtyard to sort the dandelions. An Kang and An Jian were inside, reading and practicing their writing.

“Xier! Xier! Come here, quick!” Liu Xiaoyi called from atop the wall.

An Yi frowned slightly and walked over, looking up at him.

“Xier, this is for you,” Liu Xiaoyi said, tossing down a dead wild duck.

An Yi glanced at the duck, then up at him. “Why are you giving this to me?”

“To thank you for lending me that book!” Liu Xiaoyi grinned, proud. “I tried the method from the book today. Every shot hit—I got three ducks, all right in the head! My aim’s getting really good, isn’t it, Xier?”

An Yi chuckled softly and nodded. She hadn’t expected the book to be so useful, turning him into a bird-hunting expert.

“I’d better go before my mother sees me. If I catch another good one, I’ll bring it to you,” Liu Xiaoyi said, slipping down the wall.

An Yi took the duck inside to find Madam Luo. “Mother, how about we have wild duck for dinner tonight?”

“Oh? Where did this duck come from?” Madam Luo asked in surprise.

“Liu Xiaoyi gave it to me.”

“That’s odd—why would he give us a duck for no reason?” Madam Luo was even more puzzled.

An Yi hesitated, then lowered her gaze. “Mother, if I tell you, promise you won’t be angry.”

“I won’t be angry. Go on,” Madam Luo replied calmly. She knew her daughter well and trusted her not to do anything wrong.

An Yi looked up at her. “I lent him a book.”

A faint smile appeared on Madam Luo’s lips. “If you were worried I’d be angry about you lending him a book, why did you do it anyway?”

An Yi thought for a moment before replying, “Books are meant to be read, not hoarded.”

“A book’s value lies in reading, not in storage,” Madam Luo said, gently stroking An Yi’s head. “That’s something your grandfather used to say. Xier, I’m not angry you lent Xiaoyi a book. Just make sure to take good care of your books and don’t let them get damaged.”

“I’ll tell him to take good care of it,” An Yi promised solemnly.

Madam Luo went to the kitchen to prepare the duck.

An Yi finished sorting the dandelions, wrapped the cocklebur in cloth and placed it in her basket. “Mother, I’m going to dig up some shepherd’s purse for dinner—let’s have shepherd’s purse cakes tonight!”

“Alright. Just stay nearby and don’t go too far,” Madam Luo replied, suspecting nothing.

An Yi hurried out, found a secluded spot to plant the cocklebur, then went to the hillside to dig half a basket of shepherd’s purse.

The next afternoon, An Kang left for the city.

This time, Xinliu didn’t hide behind a tree; instead, she carried a bamboo basket and pretended to be heading up the mountain, “accidentally” running into the An family at the village entrance.

Days passed, the moon waxed and waned, and in the blink of an eye, it was late March. Madam Luo had finished embroidering twenty pillowcases for Red Embroidery Workshop and needed to deliver them to town. An Yi packed up three bags of herbs and went along. This time, they had no ride and had to walk.

At dawn, mother and daughter set out. Two hours on foot left An Yi’s legs trembling and breathless. When the city gates finally came into view, she nearly wept with relief.

They first went to Red Embroidery Workshop, delivered the goods, received a hundred copper coins in wages, and took on an order to embroider ten fan covers.