19 Shall we head up the mountain?

“Uh…”
Once again, the village head regretted bringing up the topic.
He would have been better off drinking tea.
He shouldn’t have kindly asked about the leg.
How was he supposed to answer that?
He stroked his beard, troubled.
He was a grown man, after all—a respected village head. Was he really going to explain childish grievances to a young man like the old ladies at the village entrance?
He wanted to say, “Why don’t you ask someone else?”
But faced with Shen Qingyue’s insistent, eager eyes, the village head muttered, “Well… it’s a long story, and it all began when… sigh, you’ll understand once you’ve stayed here a while.”
Shen Qingyue looked puzzled; it all sounded quite complicated.

Meanwhile, on the path down the mountain, as soon as Lyu Xiangmei could no longer see Jiang Zhu’s house, she couldn’t help but ask about Shen Qingyue’s background.
Jiang Zhu had originally intended to honestly say that he was a celestial being undergoing trials on earth, but the words twisted in his mind. Just thinking about it made him feel ashamed and flushed with embarrassment.
After all, Shen Qingyue himself had said it, and he somewhat believed it…
Jiang Zhu silently pinched his sleeve, forced to admit that deep down, he didn’t quite believe it.
His intuition told him that if he said so, he would regret it one day.
Between his intuition and Shen Qingyue, Jiang Zhu chose to trust his intuition and quietly fabricated a story: “He… he got lost in the mountains, hurt his leg, and I happened to find him. I saw he was injured and pitiful…”
As he spoke, his mind involuntarily recalled their first meeting in the bamboo forest. Shen Qingyue did not look pitiful at all!
For some reason, the light that had glimmered across Shen Qingyue’s face days ago flashed again in his mind, and all Jiang Zhu could see was the glance Shen Qingyue gave him when he discovered him.
Jiang Zhu’s face suddenly warmed, and he instinctively avoided the nonexistent gaze.

“That’s definitely someone you should help,” Lyu Xiangmei nodded, following Jiang Zhu’s line of thought. “Being alone in the mountains is dangerous.”
Jiang Zheng and his son also nodded.
Their village bordered the mountains; although farming was their main occupation, they lived off the mountain, hunting, gathering wild vegetables, collecting firewood—inevitably venturing into the mountains. Their village even had a special hunting team. Everyone knew the dangers of the mountains. No matter who it was, if they saw someone injured, they would help if they could.
But Shen Qingyue looked so strange—how did he come into the mountains alone?
Jiang Jiaojun asked, “Uncle, is he from the neighboring southern country?”
Shen Qingyue’s appearance was indeed peculiar; even wearing Jiang Zhu’s patched clothes, he didn’t look like a local.
Jiang Zhu replied, “…He’s not from Yu Country.”
Jiang Jiaojun asked, “Then how did he end up here?”
Jiang Zhu thought about the various rumors he’d heard at the county seat and market, blending his thoughts: “It seems… he encountered some misfortune and fled into the mountains…”
Misfortune!
In recent years, the Jiang family had heard plenty of bloody gossip about the neighboring country and began to imagine all sorts of identities for Shen Qingyue in an instant.
A merchant robbed of his goods.
A refugee displaced by war.
Being young, Jiang Jiaojun’s imagination ran wild, even envisioning him as the illegitimate son of some deceased high official from the neighboring country.
All these were people far removed from their daily lives, mentioned only by storytellers or monks.
Either wealthy or noble families that had suddenly fallen, leaving ruin and sorrow.
In this world, the poor had their hardships, and the rich had theirs too. Just look at how miserable the people from the neighboring country were.
Who would have thought that even the emperor’s own children didn’t live long?

Lyu Xiangmei recalled last winter, just before the New Year, when she and her husband took their children to the county town to buy festive goods. They encountered refugees stranded outside the county, waiting to be assigned to dig ditches or reclaim wasteland. In the bitter cold, they wore tattered clothes, shivering uncontrollably, their faces pale and bruised. It haunted her for days.
Her sympathy surged: “Is he the only one left in his family?”
Jiang Zhu didn’t know. Although Shen Qingyue occasionally mentioned his aunt and father, he behaved as if he were all alone.
He thought for a moment, then nodded, “Yes.”
Lyu Xiangmei believed her imagination again and sighed, “He looks like a child from a good family…”
Thinking of Shen Qingyue’s appearance, she couldn’t help but feel thankful he was a boy. If he were a girl, alone in a strange place, who knew what misfortunes she might suffer?
As she thought more, she noticed Shen Qingyue’s clothes and wondered, “Doesn’t he have any other clothes?”
Jiang Zhu was embarrassed.
He did!
He had!

The fabric was good, even better than anything he had seen before, but Shen Qingyue refused to wear anything else!
Jiang Zhu had washed the clothes clean, but Shen Qingyue insisted on wearing his, even going into his wardrobe to take them himself. Jiang Zhu found better clothes for him, but Shen Qingyue complained about changing and said he liked the softness of clothes already worn.
Jiang Zhu wasn’t sure whether to feel ashamed for Shen Qingyue or himself. “Sister-in-law, do you have time to make him a couple of outfits?”
Lyu Xiangmei’s sympathy faltered, and she was a little confused. Jiang Jiaojun was also puzzled: “We need to make him clothes?”
Jiang Zhu said, “He paid for them.”
Jiang Jiaojun said, “Oh.”
He looked at his mother.
Lyu Xiangmei replied, “Sure, of course.”
If he paid, that was fine.
Making clothes wasn’t cheap, and judging by the way he looked, he probably wouldn’t wear coarse cloth. Plus, he was so tall, it would take a lot of fabric…

Back down the mountain, the village was still abuzz with talk about the mountain incident.
Those who hadn’t gone up heard the latest gossip from those who had, and already the story seemed to be evolving.
When Jiang Zhu appeared, the crowd fell silent and scrutinized him curiously.
Jiang Zhu felt uncomfortable under their gaze and lowered his head, heading toward his eldest cousin’s house.
Someone in the crowd asked, “Zhuzi, did our Da Liu go to work for you?”
Jiang Zhu: “No.”
Lyu Xiangmei: “Did Da Liu go up the mountain to gather vegetables?”
“Who knows, it’s the kids’ business.”
“Then ask him: if he gathered some, he should go to work; if not, no need.”
“That bunch of little rascals won’t admit if they did.”
“Well, let’s see if he’s willing to go. The village head said it’s voluntary.”
Voluntary…
The adults and children watching all had their own thoughts.
Children around ten years old were able to work; five days wasn’t short.
At least they could pick two baskets of wild vegetables, gather grass to feed chickens and pigs. Some kids that age also helped cook and look after younger siblings.
But the few kids caught today couldn’t escape.
Except for Jiang Shunzi and another child dragged home by his parents, the others squatted under a big tree in the village, asking Jiang Hongliang, “Brother Liang, are you going?”
Jiang Hongliang didn’t hesitate: “No!”
The kids exchanged glances. “Then we’re not going either.”
Jiang Hongliang shot Jiang Zhu a fierce glare from afar, furious and defiant, gritting his teeth, “I’m going to the clan’s fields!”
Kids: “…”
To the clan’s fields?
That meant pulling weeds under the blazing sun!
Sigh…
So unlucky.
Might even be worse than going up the mountain.
But thinking of how terrifying Jiang Hongming looked when he got angry, they didn’t dare encourage Jiang Hongliang to skip work and play.
Other kids whispered, “Are you going?”
“Me? Why would I go?”
“Isn’t your family…” The questioner lowered his voice, “not going up to the mountain to pick bamboo shoots?”
“I… my family goes to another hill to pick. Just passing through their mountain.” The accused child immediately defended himself.
Five days!
He didn’t want to go!
If he did, he’d have to feed the pigs afterward, and if the pigs weren’t fed, his mother would definitely beat him.
The kids exchanged looks and silently agreed—
If they could avoid going, they would. As long as no one came looking for them, they wouldn’t go!
After all, almost everyone in the village had stolen bamboo shoots or collected firewood on their mountain; the adults had done it too. Why should they have to go?
If some didn’t go, none would.

The children reached a consensus, and the adults were nearly the same.
Elsewhere, Jiang Zhu, Jiang Zheng, and Jiang Jiaye finished loading the stone mill and securing the cart. Just as they set out, Jiang Shunzi’s father and his two older brothers were already waiting outside, followed by Jiang Shunzi himself, clutching his sore backside and rubbing it now and then.
Before Jiang Zhu could speak, they came forward to help lead the donkey and steady the cart.
Jiang Zhu: “No need…”
“Don’t be polite!” “It’s our duty!” “Come on, we’ll carry it for you!”
The onlookers reacted differently. Some, just coming down from the mountain with children who had stolen vegetables, felt awkward watching. Others, purely spectators, chuckled at how honest Jiang Shunzi’s father was, while his mother was fierce and always revealed their mischief at the slightest incident.
“He’s still soft.”
“Hey, that’s just a simple couple.”
“Would their Shunzi steal vegetables? They’d get caught for sure.”
“Look at what you’re saying.”
Jiang Shunzi heard and angrily turned to glare. Some adults making snide remarks felt awkward; others didn’t care and kept watching with smiles. Jiang Shunzi’s father glanced over and cheekily nodded at him.

Some strongly disapproved of their approach: “What kind of talk is that? We Jiang family isn’t afraid of that Jiang family—just some wild bastard they picked up.”
“You can’t say that—we’re in the wrong.”
“In the wrong? Hmph, the Jiang family isn’t innocent either.”
The angriest old man crossed his arms and stomped off, shouting from a distance, “Jiang Zhengshan’s hunting skills were taught by us Jiang family! Ungrateful white wolves, those little rascals getting cocky…”
Jiang Zhu stood by the mountain path holding the donkey’s reins, silently watching him without a word.
Lyu Xiangmei exploded: “How can you talk like that? At your age, still unreasonable.”
“Who’s unreasonable?!”
“You’re unreasonable!”
“I think your family’s the most unreasonable!”
Seeing the old man turn back, people hurried over to pull and persuade him, but he only grew louder, convinced of his own righteousness: “So what if he ate the vegetables! Call Jiang Zhengshan out of his coffin and ask if we Jiang family can eat his vegetables!”
Lyu Xiangmei got angry too. The village head had made his judgment; how could it still drag on endlessly? “Go down and tell him yourself! Tell my uncle how your whole Jiang family, old and young, shamelessly bully an orphan. Let’s see if my uncle doesn’t smash your old dog head!”
Those pulling her quickly pulled her back into the yard: “He’s so old, why argue with him?”
Lyu Xiangmei: “Does he even know how old he is? Old shameless!”
Old man: “Who’s old and shameless? Jiang Dashan, come out! You coward, can’t control your daughter-in-law? Are all the Jiang family dead?”
Lyu Xiangmei: “My father went out of the village to deliver tofu, you blind fool!”
The old man scanned the crowd and spotted Jiang Sishan shrinking away. “Old Four Jiang, tell me, can you control your nephew’s wife?”
Lyu Xiangmei: “He can’t control me!”
“Exactly. My father can’t control my eldest sister-in-law.” Jiang Shu squatted nearby, chewing a willow twig while watching the scene. “Second master, take a break. My eldest sister-in-law doesn’t even call me dad, mom, brother, or sister-in-law to go up the mountain. We’re family, but your kid went to steal vegetables from my fifth uncle’s garden. Is that right? You tell me, you still call out?”
Both sides were speechless.
For a moment, no one knew which side he was on.
Jiang Sishan slapped his youngest son’s head. “Stop talking nonsense, what’s it got to do with you? Help Zhu pull the donkey!”
“I’m not going!” Jiang Shu spat his twig and dusted off his butt. “There are plenty of people helping him; why should it be me?”
“You little bastard!” Jiang Sishan picked up a stick and chased after his son.
The crowd: “…”
Jiang Er Ye shouted, “Jiang Dashan! Come out!”
Lyu Xiangmei: “I said he’s not home, and you keep yelling! Zhu, Jiajun, let’s go. The village head is still waiting on the mountain. Don’t mind his nonsense.”
Jiang Er Ye: “What’s wrong with the village head? You Jiang family just rely on having a village head! Who knows if he’ll be the next one? Our Jiang family village has become Jiang family’s village. None of the Jiang family are good!”
Other Jiang family members watching the commotion took offense. “Er Ye, that’s harsh. Who’s not a good person?”
Jiang Er Ye: “That Jiang Dean isn’t a good person!”
Relatives of the village head’s family were angered: “How dare you talk like that?”
Jiang Er Ye: “What’s wrong with what I said? Can’t say anything after becoming village head?”
The two families began to quarrel. Seeing the chaos, Lyu Xiangmei motioned to Jiang Zhu and the others to mind their own business and get on with their tasks. After settling things, she returned to the fray, shouting, “If you’re not satisfied, go up the mountain and fight the village head! He’s waiting for you!”
The few on the mountain path: “…”