bookrandom Chapter 438 is inferior.
Chapter 438 is inferior.
Early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, Li Xiangyang got up.
Stepping out of the house, a refreshing spring breeze greets you, carrying the fragrance of earth and grass.
Li Xiangyang carried a bamboo basket on his back, took a sickle, and headed towards the mountain.
As I passed by Wang Ergou's house, I heard a noise coming from the yard.
"Going out so early?" Wang Ergou poked his head out and yawned.
Li Xiangyang stopped and smiled, "Xiaoyun wants something sour. I'll go up the mountain and see if I can find any sour wild vegetables."
Wang Ergou scratched his head: "Do you want me to come with you?"
"No need," Li Xiangyang waved his hand, "I'm just picking some wild vegetables. You should get some more sleep."
"Okay, I'm going back now." Wang Ergou yawned and crawled back into the house.
Li Xiangyang walked alone up the mountain along the familiar path.
The spring sunshine is warm and feels especially comfortable on the skin.
The mountain mist had not yet dissipated, enveloping the treetops, creating a scene like a fairyland.
After walking for about an hour, he arrived at the mountainside.
At this time of year, wild vegetables on the mountain are just beginning to sprout.
The mountain is currently rich in wild vegetables. Before long, Li Xiangyang found a large patch of shepherd's purse, purslane, and sourdough. He carefully picked them one by one and put them in his basket.
Just as he was picking the fruit with great enthusiasm, a burst of laughter and chatter came from afar.
Li Xiangyang looked up and saw a group of people walking from the other side of the mountain road.
As he got closer, he realized it was Zhang Li with several female educated youths.
"Hey, isn't this Li Xiangyang?" Zhang Li exclaimed in surprise as she spotted him from afar. "Why aren't you hunting today? You're picking wild vegetables instead!"
Li Xiangyang stood up and replied with a smile, "Xiaoyun wants something sour, so I came up the mountain to find some sour wild vegetables."
Zhang Li blinked and said meaningfully to the female educated youth beside her, "Look at Li Xiangyang, how much he dotes on his wife. He lets her have whatever she wants to eat."
The female educated youth burst into laughter.
"Li Xiangyang, you've outshone all the other women's husbands in the village. They're going to complain!" Wang Xiulan teased enviously.
Li Xiangyang smiled somewhat sheepishly: "It's not that exaggerated, I just went for a walk up the mountain. Zhang Li, what are you all doing..."
“We’re here to pick wild vegetables too,” Zhang Li said, glancing at the sky. “Alright, I won’t fight you for it. Let’s walk uphill. If we don’t hurry, all the good spots will be taken.”
"Okay, be careful." Li Xiangyang nodded and watched them leave.
Zhang Li led several female educated youths up the mountain, their laughter gradually fading into the distance.
Li Xiangyang continued to focus on picking wild vegetables.
Time flew by, the sun was high in the sky, and his basket was full.
Besides the acidic purslane and sourdough, he also picked a lot of tender shepherd's purse and some newly sprouted wild garlic.
Looking at his bountiful harvest, Li Xiangyang set off on his way home with a satisfied heart.
It was noon when we returned to the village.
The sun was high in the sky, so bright that people couldn't open their eyes.
Most of the adults in the village had gone to work in the fields, leaving only some elderly people and children at home.
As soon as I got to my front door, I saw Li Xiaoyun standing in the yard airing out her quilts.
Upon seeing Li Xiangyang return, she put down her work and quickly went to greet him.
"Where did you go? I woke up and didn't see you. I thought you went hunting," Li Xiaoyun said with a hint of reproach, but her eyes were full of concern.
Li Xiangyang smiled as he unloaded the basket: "I went to find you something to eat."
He opened the basket and showed Li Xiaoyun the mountain produce one by one: "Shepherd's purse, purslane, sourdough, and bracken... they're all just sprouting, very tender. Come on, come inside, I'll cook for you."
Lunch was a feast; Li Xiangyang used the wild vegetables he had gathered to prepare a table full of delicious and visually appealing dishes.
Stir-fried shepherd's purse with eggs, stir-fried bracken fern, purslane soup...
Li Xiaoyun ate with great relish, her face beaming with a happy smile.
After lunch, Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun were sitting and resting in the yard, enjoying the warm spring sunshine.
"By the way, what are your plans for tomorrow?" Li Xiaoyun leaned gently on Li Xiangyang's shoulder and asked.
"I'll just wander around the mountains, set some traps, and come right back," Li Xiangyang replied, gently stroking his wife's belly. "You've gotten heavier lately, and I don't want to go too far from home."
Just as Li Xiaoyun was about to speak, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the courtyard.
Is Li Xiangyang home? Li Xiangyang!
A crisp shout broke the silence of the courtyard. Li Xiangyang frowned, got up, and walked towards the courtyard gate.
Pushing open the door, one is greeted by Zhao Minghui leading five or six young men, all dressed smartly and with excited expressions on their faces.
"Li Xiangyang, do you remember me? Zhao Minghui. I've brought my friends here specifically to find you, hoping you can take us hunting in the mountains!"
Li Xiangyang was stunned for a moment. Of course he remembered Zhao Minghui. After having dinner at Chu Qingxuan's house last time, he had gone into the mountains with him and almost got gored by a wild boar.
I didn't expect them to come again, and with so many people.
“Young Master Zhao, hunting is no joke; the mountains are very dangerous,” Li Xiangyang politely declined.
Zhao Minghui waved his hand dismissively: "I know, I know, I wasn't prepared last time. This time we've done our homework, and we've brought all the equipment!"
He pointed to the group of people behind him: "These are my good friends from the city. They came specifically to experience rural life. They heard you're an excellent hunter and insisted I bring them to see it for themselves."
Li Xiangyang glanced at the group of young people. Their equipment was decent, but their clothes were so colorful that they didn't look like they were going into the mountains at all.
“I’m afraid that won’t work,” Li Xiangyang shook his head. “My wife is heavily pregnant, and I don’t want to go too far from home these next few days.”
Zhao Minghui glanced into the courtyard and saw Li Xiaoyun standing under the eaves. He forced a smile, nodded to her, and then lowered his voice to say to Li Xiangyang:
"Brother Li, to be honest, these are all children of city officials, and they insisted on coming to the countryside to see what it's like. My dad told me to treat them well."
He paused, then added, "My dad will remember this favor."
Li Xiangyang sighed inwardly; this was a softer approach. Given Director Zhao's position, he couldn't very well refuse directly.
Just as she was hesitating, Li Xiaoyun walked over and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Li Xiangyang whispered the situation to Li Xiaoyun.
“Since it’s Director Zhao’s idea, then you should go. Don’t worry about me. Anyway, it’s not my due date yet. If I feel unwell, I’ll go find my older sister right away,” Li Xiaoyun said softly.
“Alright,” Li Xiangyang turned to Zhao Minghui, “I can take you there, but you must follow my instructions and not act recklessly.”
Zhao Minghui was immediately overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, "Of course, of course I'll listen to you!"
Li Xiangyang went back inside, took out his hunting rifle, ammunition, and hunting tools and equipment, and also took out a few thick old cotton-padded coats.
As he left, he handed the cotton-padded coats to Zhao Minghui and the others, saying, "It's windy on the mountain; wear these to keep warm."
The young men looked at the coarse cotton clothes with obvious disgust, but under Zhao Minghui's watchful eye, they reluctantly accepted them.
"Xiangyang, you need to come back soon." Li Xiaoyun stood at the gate of the courtyard and gently reminded him.
Li Xiangyang nodded, giving her a reassuring look: "Don't worry, I won't go far. I'll be back by evening at the latest."