Chapter 12: The Ba River Bank and the Shrubbery
“Forget it. It's none of my business,” Nanfeng covered her mouth with her hand, shrugged, and muttered, “After Changxia's cave dwelling is built, I'll take a look. If it's really comfortable, I'll be the second one to build a cave dwelling.”
Gen smiled mysteriously and didn't speak.
Chen Rong finished chopping the fish and started to chop scallions to prepare scallion water to remove the fishy smell from the fish. On the side, Changxia gave the scallions to Gen and Nanfeng, and at the same time, mentioned ginger and garlic.
Nanfeng tilted her head, deep in thought.
“The ginger and garlic you mentioned, I've seen them.”
“Nanfeng, where have you seen ginger and garlic?”
“In the shrubbery south of the Ba River bank.”
This location made Changxia and Chen Rong exchange glances.
Gen's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.
“Changxia, the Ba River bank isn't far from the tribe; you haven't been there before because you were unwell,” Gen explained, “Going up the Ba River from the tribe is a riverbank. The area of the riverbank is about the same size as the White Lake in front of your den. There are large tracts of shrubs growing to the south. Usually, the tribe's children will go to the shrubbery to pick and collect things.”
“Chief, is the shrubbery a white fruit forest?” Changxia excitedly asked.
“There are indeed many white fruit trees in that shrubbery,” Gen nodded, denying Changxia's description of the shrubbery as a white fruit forest, “Besides white fruit trees, there are other trees in the shrubbery. Things like thorn fruit, sour fruit, pine trees, and astringent persimmon trees.”
The shrubbery was the tribe's most important gathering place.
It was also the closest territory to the tribe.
“Chief, can I go to the shrubbery to gather?” Changxia changed her words quickly, not at all concerned about whether it was called a white fruit forest or a shrubbery. Compared to Elephant Peak Mountain, the shrubbery was closer and more convenient. Moreover, Nanfeng had said she had seen ginger and garlic in the shrubbery, making Changxia even more excited.
“Why can't you go?” Gen glared at Changxia.
Was this child stupid?
What kind of question was this?!
“Thorn fruit, sour fruit, and astringent persimmons only ripen in the warm and cold seasons. Right now, besides white fruit, the shrubbery only has large areas of wild vegetables. If you want to eat wild vegetables, you can go anytime. But if you're just picking wild vegetables, the wild vegetables near White Lake are enough for you and Chen Rong; you don't have to go to the shrubbery,” Gen patiently explained.
Ultimately,
Gen wasn't comfortable with Changxia running out of the tribe.
He was worried that the child might get hurt or wronged in a place where he and the tribespeople couldn't see her.
“I want to pick some ginger and garlic, and see if I can find anything else,” Changxia was extremely excited. Once she found ginger, scallions, and garlic, chili peppers, Sichuan pepper, candied peel, and star anise wouldn't be far behind.
Saying picking, Changxia actually wanted to transplant them.
What could be more convenient than planting them in her own vegetable garden?
“Wait, I'll go to the shrubbery now,” Nanfeng stood up and was about to run to the shrubbery.
Changxia grabbed her.
“Nanfeng, if you see Mother Muqin, remember to call her over for lunch. And if you find ginger, scallions, and garlic, remember to dig them up with the roots and soil. I've cleared some land next to the den; I plan to plant ginger, scallions, and garlic there.”
“Okay!” Nanfeng remembered Changxia's instructions, walked out of the den, transformed, and ran straight to the shrubbery on the Ba River bank.
Muqin was picking wild vegetables there today.
This trip, besides picking ginger and garlic, would conveniently allow her to bring Muqin to Changxia's house for lunch.
Changxia prepared lunch.
Gen and Chen Rong were turning the white fruit outside the den.
The bright sunlight shone on the white fruit; the green white fruit gradually turned silvery white. It looked like it was covered with a layer of frost.
“So fragrant!” Gen stretched his neck and looked towards the den.
At this time,
An enticing aroma wafted from the den.
“Changxia is a skilled cook!” Chen Rong said. After turning the white fruit, Chen Rong moved the leftover vines from yesterday to the front of the den, planning to weave more baskets and backpacks while he had time. Of course, the focus was on the winnowing baskets and sieves Changxia had mentioned; these things were convenient for storing extra things at home.
Wooden barrels required wood; all the wood sent by the tribe was used to repair the den. To make wooden barrels, wood needed to be cut down, so they couldn't make wooden barrels for now.
“Chen Rong, what are you weaving?” Gen curiously asked.
“The den doesn't have anything to store things; Changxia asked me to weave some small vine baskets and winnowing baskets. The names are what she came up with. They're shallower and smaller than baskets and backpacks, used for storing things,” Chen Rong pointed; several small vine baskets were placed against the wall of the den.
The vegetables that Gen had just washed were placed in the vine baskets to drain.
Gen looked at them, full of amazement.
“Changxia is really smart!” Gen exclaimed.
He wasn't stupid; these inconspicuous small things were simple and easy to learn, and very convenient for daily use.
Beastmen lived roughly.
In their dens, things were usually piled up in a messy manner.
Muqin, Gen's partner, liked cleanliness and tidiness. Their den was one of the cleanest in the tribe. However, compared to Changxia's den, it was indeed messy.
Gen could imagine Muqin's happy reaction upon seeing these things. She had always felt that the den was too messy, no matter how much she tidied it up.
Because of this,
Gen and Nanfeng had been scolded a lot.
Especially after returning home from hunting, they were scolded the most.
Speaking of which, Gen squatted down and sat next to Chen Rong. Imitating Chen Rong's movements, his fingers deftly began to weave.
However, the aroma coming from the den was too strong.
Both Gen and Chen Rong were a little distracted.
There were only two pottery pots in the house; Changxia didn't make fish ball and vegetable soup first; instead, she stir-fried fried meat and vegetables first. In the other pottery pot, the meat was simmering in cold water over a low fire; she skimmed off the foam while simmering. The ginger and garlic Nanfeng had picked could only be used next time. Of course, she would prefer to plant them in the vegetable garden.
After stir-frying the fried meat and vegetables, she began squeezing fish balls.
This time, there were more people, so the fish balls Changxia squeezed were twice as large, no longer the size of lychees but the size of a baby's fist, the same size as when she had taken them to the Normandy market.
The river shrimp and crabs were placed in the vine baskets next to them, waiting for the pot to be free.
Thinking about the ginger and garlic Nanfeng would bring back, Changxia's movements didn't slow down. If the pottery pot wasn't heat resistant, it would crack. Changxia wanted to make more stir-fried dishes.
She sighed slightly and thought,
When she had time, she would have Chen Rong grind a stone pot.
Or get a piece of slate or something.
Changxia felt bad about using the pottery pot for stir-frying; she had used a lot of oil when stir-frying the fried meat and vegetables, fearing that the pottery pot would crack.
Being poor was tough.
Twenty minutes passed, and Nanfeng returned from the shrubbery with Muqin.
“Mother, get down,” Nanfeng had just stopped when she urged Muqin to get down from her back. Smelling the aroma of food from the den, Nanfeng felt hungry; she felt she could eat a whole horned cow.
Muqin frowned and slid down from Nanfeng's back.
Before she could speak to Nanfeng, an enticing aroma came from a distance.
“Mother, what are you doing? Quickly, quickly.”
Nanfeng took her backpack and urged Muqin to follow. Smelling the aroma, she knew Changxia had prepared lunch. Immediately, she felt her mouth watering; she was very hungry.
Muqin glared at Nanfeng and scolded, “Why are you rushing?”
Her steps unconsciously quickened, running straight towards the den.
At this time, Chen Rong and Gen put down the vines and entered the den. Their eyes stared blankly at the boiling food in the pottery pot, desperately swallowing their saliva.
This scene happened to fall into the eyes of Muqin who had just walked over.
“Gen, what are you doing?”
Hearing this, Gen turned around.
“Muqin, you're here,” Gen chuckled, “I…was just smelling it; I didn't do anything. By the way, Nanfeng is fetching water for you to wash your face. Changxia has cooked the food; we can start eating anytime.”
Nanfeng skillfully threw her backpack into the corner of the den, fetched water, and washed her face.
Her movements were smooth, neat, and unrestrained.
“Mother Muqin—” Changxia happily greeted Muqin, carefully putting the backpack Nanfeng had thrown in the corner.
(End of Chapter)
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