A Good Country Wife-Chapter 21 - Chapter Going into the Mountains to Dig for
Chapter 21: 21 Chapter Going into the Mountains to Dig for Bamboo Shoots_1
Chapter 21: 21 Chapter Going into the Mountains to Dig for Bamboo Shoots_1
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Lin Yue also wanted to get a bamboo steamer so that in the future, it would be convenient to steam anything, instead of using that broken piece of bamboo strip which is troublesome and can only steam so little at a time. But a bamboo steamer can only be made from bamboo, and she was not very familiar with Zhao Family Village yet. She didn’t know if there was bamboo around, but considering the broom at home was made from bamboo tips, there should be some. So, she asked, “Brother Erhu, do you know where I can cut some bamboo? I want to make a bamboo steamer.”
“There’s some in the mountains nearby. I’m not busy right now, so I can go and cut it for you.” Erhu said and acted right away, taking a machete and slinging it on his back. Seeing that it was still early, he also took his hunting gear. Although the nearby mountains seldom had large game, since he usually went deep into the mountains to hunt, there were still small game to be found. If he was lucky, he might catch a pheasant or a rabbit to bring back.
“Erhu, wait for me, I’ll go with you,” Lin Yue said after thinking about it. Originally, she didn’t plan to go and intended to do needlework at home. There were still some trivial matters to attend to as the house wasn’t thoroughly cleaned up yet. But then, it occurred to her that since there was bamboo here and the climate and environment were similar to her old home, there should be bamboo shoots to dig in the mountains at this time of year. She quickly called out to Erhu because she had been getting sick of eating salty vegetables and meat for the past few days. There were no vegetables to eat at this time of the year, and she had been pondering getting some fresh food. Now that she thought of bamboo shoots, she couldn’t hold back.
Erhu thought that since it was daytime, and with him around, there wouldn’t be any danger in the nearby mountains. However, he sized up Lin Yue’s slender frame with a bit of concern, worrying that she had just recovered and might not have the strength for it. Looking into those bright, excited eyes, Erhu hesitated, “Do you really want to go? The mountain trails are not easy to walk and it’s only just after winter, so there’s not much to see on the bare mountains. You’ve only just recovered, and I can’t take you back halfway if you get tired.”
“I’ve been raised in the mountains, I’m not that delicate. Climbing a mountain is no big deal for me. Just take me with you, I won’t cause you any trouble,” Lin Yue assured Erhu repeatedly, worried that he feared she would hold him back. Seeing her insist, Erhu agreed but because the mountain air was cold, he had Lin Yue add an outer garment before they left.
After Lin Yue put on more clothes, she went to the storage room to grab a hoe and a basket and clattered out excitedly. Erhu looked at her, puzzled, “Niuniu, why are you taking a hoe and a bag with you to the mountains?”
“I’m going to dig for bamboo shoots. I’m tired of eating salty vegetables and meat every day, and it only just occurred to me that there might be bamboo shoots to dig in the mountains at this time. Finally, we can have some fresh vegetables to eat tonight.” Bamboo shoots were a specialty of Lin Yue’s hometown in her previous life; they tasted delicious and could be prepared in many ways, an indispensable delicacy on the dining table. Lin Yue’s favorite dish used to be stir-fried cured meat with winter bamboo shoots, especially the ones grandpa cooked in a big pot, which were especially delicious. Thinking about it now made her mouth water.
“You silly girl, what’s so good about shoots? Eat too many, and you’ll get heartburn. Besides, who told you that there are shoots to dig now? They haven’t even come up. Even if you want to eat them, it’s going to be a while before they’re available,” Erhu said, laughing at Lin Yue’s eager expression. Because of limited knowledge, the locals didn’t realize there was a distinction between spring and winter bamboo shoots. Winter shoots were the young shoots of the moso bamboo that hadn’t surfaced before the beginning of spring, while spring shoots were the shoots of the moso bamboo that had peeked through the soil or completely surfaced after the beginning of spring. What everyone recognized as bamboo shoots were the spring shoots that had broken through the soil, so that’s why Erhu said what he did.
Lin Yue, hearing Erhu’s words, wasn’t sure herself; after all, the environment, location, and time were different, which could affect the natural produce. However, she wouldn’t be content without verifying for herself, so she insisted on taking the hoe and basket up the mountain. Erhu had no way to argue with his stubborn little wife and eventually followed her wish. However, he took the hoe and basket from Lin Yue’s hands, left some of the smaller children at home to mind the house, and together with Lin Yue, they headed into the mountains.
“Look, I didn’t lie to you, did I? The bamboo shoots haven’t come out yet. You really are a silly Niuniu, don’t believe everything that people tell you,” Erhu chided Lin Yue as they walked around the bamboo forest without finding any bamboo shoots, still holding a grudge that his little wife wouldn’t take his word for it.
“I’m not silly, you’re the silly one. Of course, you won’t find any like this, you have to dig in the soil,” Lin Yue mumbled, pouting and talking back quietly. She no longer felt the nervous fear of Erhu that she had when she first arrived; she knew that despite his stern face and his liking for reprimanding her, he was genuinely kind to her. He never laid a hand on her like the men in the village did to their wives. Nevertheless, she didn’t dare to act too boldly for fear of truly angering Erhu.
Erhu patted Lin Yue’s head with his large palm, finding her indignant little expression very cute. “Brother Erhu will go chop bamboo, Niuniu should play nicely here by herself, and don’t run around.”
Lin Yue, stimulated by Erhu’s obviously disbelieving expression, turned her head and did not pay him any more attention. Erhu didn’t mind Lin Yue’s little temper; he was simply reminding her out of habit. After all, he would be nearby cutting bamboo, so his little wife couldn’t escape his sight, and there was no need to worry.
Busy with his task, Lin Yue also took up a hoe and began to search on her own. Rather than argue, she preferred to let the facts speak for themselves. Seeing the vast expanse of the bamboo forest, she felt a surge of confidence and silently encouraged herself, “Lin Yue, you must stand up for yourself and not let others look down on you.”
Digging for shoots was a skillful job. The spring shoots that poked out of the ground were easy to find, but the winter shoots were hidden underground; only with experience to guide you to the right spot could you dig them up. Lin Yue was still learning, and she remembered her grandfather explaining that there were ‘on-duty’ and ‘off-duty’ bamboo—each taking turns every year. Only the ‘on-duty’ bamboo would grow shoots, and these bamboos had vibrant green stalks and leaves, while the ‘off-duty’ bamboo were more of a yellowish-green, easy to tell apart. If you followed the ‘on-duty’ bamboo and looked for cracks or softer spots in the ground, the likelihood of finding bamboo shoots was higher.
Perhaps it was fate playing tricks, or maybe it was as Erhu had said, but Lin Yue dug in several spots and didn’t find any shoots, which was somewhat disheartening. Still, she refused to admit defeat; despite being drenched in sweat, she continued to wield the hoe and dig through the earth with effort. As the saying goes, ‘Heaven helps those who help themselves,’ and after digging for a long time, Lin Yue finally saw a yellow tip poking through the soil. Excited, she carefully used the hoe to dig around the shoot, slowly uncovering the bamboo shoot.
It didn’t take Erhu long to chop down a few bamboo poles. After binding them with hemp rope, he saw Lin Yue covered in sweat from digging and immediately straightened his face, picking up the jacket she had removed due to the heat and somewhat roughly putting it back on her.
“I’ve told you several times to take care of yourself; why can’t you remember? Getting all sweaty like this and even taking off your jacket in such weather, if you catch a chill or a cold, what then? If you don’t listen again, you’ll have to stay home and won’t be allowed to leave the house,” Erhu scolded, genuinely angry this time. He could tolerate Lin Yue’s petty whims and complaints normally, but he couldn’t stand seeing her risk her health.
