abcnovels
Chapter 82
Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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The evening glow travels a thousand miles, while the morning glow does not venture out the door.
At dawn, a radiant glow fills the horizon.
As the glow dissipates, white clouds gather.
In the mountains, a white mist prevails.
The thick white mist condenses into raindrops.
It begins to rain.
Sitting in a mountain cave, listening to the sound of rain.
Pitter-patter, swish, ding-dong, ding-dong.
Like a symphony.
It is said that the reason why the sound of rain helps us sleep is because our ancestors lived in caves, and when they heard the rain, they knew they were safe - during heavy rain, wild beasts wouldn't attack, so they could sleep soundly.
This gene has been passed down to modern times, although we no longer need to fear wild beasts, we still sleep more soundly on rainy nights.
The mountain cave where a fire had been burning all night wasn't so damp.
Jiang Yu was rinsing rice.
While her older sister was rinsing the rice, little Mianmian was playing mischievously nearby, secretly adding Magic Spring Water.
Father fell twice last night, so adding some Magic Spring Water will give him strength.
Mother went digging for wild vegetables last night, it was very tiring, so adding some Magic Spring Water will give her strength.
Elder brother practiced sword fighting half the night last night, it was very tiring, so adding some Magic Spring Water will give him strength.
Older sister talked in her sleep a lot last night, muttering many names of vegetables, it was very tiring, so adding some Magic Spring Water will give her strength.
She needed to add strength too, she felt like she could soon prop herself up against the wall if she kept trying, so she needed to add strength too.
Mianmian babbled on seriously as she added the Magic Spring Water.
To her family's eyes, she was just little fluffy Mianmian, a frizzy-haired bundle of softness sitting cross-legged by the earthenware jar, her chubby little hands playing in the water, reaching into the jar, mumbling words intently with an adorably serious look.
Jiang Yu asked, "What are you doing?"
Mianmian answered seriously, "Adding strength."
Jiang Yu couldn't help but kiss her little sister's chubby cheek and pull her hand out of the jar.
"Silly girl. There's no oil, oil is precious. This is just rice, fragrant rice doesn't need any oil added."
There was no water source in the mountain cave, so the water was fetched by their mother. Even though it had been in contact with her little sister's hands, Jiang Yu didn't pour it out, instead taking it to boil over the fire.
Jiang Yu simmered the rice, thinking about how they would soon be able to eat the fragrant rice again, feeling happy at the thought. If they could eat fragrant rice every day while on the run, she would want to be on the run every day.
Qin Luoxia took out the pickled wild vegetables she had made when their conditions improved and they had salt. She had turned those wild plants into tasty pickled side dishes.
Among them was a sticky, gooey mashed wild garlic.
Mianmian felt her mother's pickles resembled natto, but she couldn't tell what it was since she had never tried it before - she had not reached that stage of the culinary repertoire yet.
For breakfast, the whole family ate heartily.
Jiang Yu, Jiang Feng, and Qin Luoxia all felt the fragrant rice was delicious.
The salted pickled vegetables were undoubtedly also delicious.
As for Jiang Changtian, he felt that as long as he was with his family, anything would taste delicious.
Mianmian slowly stirred with her wooden spoon, scooping one spoonful after another into her mouth, occasionally dropping a few grains of rice which Jiang Xiaoshu would immediately crouch down and eat, cleaning the floor spotless.
Of course, if any little bugs came near Mianmian, he would swiftly gobble them up too.
This was why, despite being in the wild, Mianmian had not been bothered by mosquitoes or insects, her fair skin without a single bite mark.
Being on the run was hardly a peaceful life, but it was as if there was an ant army carrying her burdens for her.
Especially when it rained, if any centipedes or poisonous creatures tried to sneak in, the ants at the cave entrance would carry them away.
The cave stayed clean and tidy, allowing Mianmian to crawl around freely.
After breakfast, the heavy rain outside became a light drizzle.
The sounds of birds chirping, insects humming, and water droplets filled the air as all living things brimmed with vitality.
Those who had been hiding in the mountains cautiously made their way back to the village.
In the depths of winter, hiding in the mountains without food or water would lead to death.
People always yearn for home, even if home is just a thatched hut - it's still home, and no matter where one is, the scent of home is always missed.
A light misty drizzle fell.
The spider webs along the path were laden with glistening dewdrops.
Jiang Yu's family also packed up and headed towards the village.
At night, the village had seemed very far away, but during the day, they felt like they arrived surprisingly quickly.
Along the way, they saw towering trees and dense forests, feeling the environment was truly amazing.
It was also possible that from Mianmian's infant perspective, everything appeared exceptionally large and grand.
She felt her face slowly becoming damp, unsure if she was walking through mist.
The trees, grass, and woods were drenched, and the path was slippery. After walking for a while, the adults' pant legs were all soaked.
Father rode on horseback, while Mianmian was carried on her mother's back. Jiang Yu and Jiang Feng walked on their own.
The group made their way through the dense forest. After a while, the trees thinned out, signaling they were nearing the village.
The woods closer to the village were frequented daily, so there were fewer overgrown weeds.
As Jiang Yu's family approached their home, they saw a crowd of people gathered at their doorstep.
No one entered the house because the doorway of Jiang the Second's home was swarmed by a dense mass of ants, crawling all over the lintel.
In ancient times, people were superstitious and wouldn't casually disturb unfamiliar situations they couldn't comprehend.
Squatting at the doorstep was the leader, none other than Old Fifth Uncle who had spoken with Jiang Changtian at the village entrance that day.
Old Fifth Uncle watched as Jiang the Second's family of five emerged from the mountains. Seeing Jiang the Second seated atop a white horse, from a distance he appeared like a sage from legend.
Leading the way was the tall and sturdy Mother of Jiang Feng, carrying a hoe and a plump baby in her arms.
Behind her rode Jiang the Second on a white horse, his long hair flowing gracefully, his face radiant and fair.
After him came Sister Jiang Yu, playfully swinging a wooden staff as she skipped along.
And last was Brother Jiang Feng, carrying a shoulder pole laden with wild vegetables they had dug up from the mountains - clearly people who knew how to survive.
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