The smell of oil refining had long woken Dong Yao up. Watching Jiang Xue’s series of operations, she was utterly shocked, but she kept silent until Jiang Xue finished, then asked about it. Jiang Xue explained the principle of starting a pot to her again.

"If you don’t maintain an iron pot, it will rust."

After refining the pig lard into oil, there were some oil residues left, along with a small piece of pork belly. Looking at the ingredients on hand, she wanted to make dumplings with oil residue filling, but the chopping board wasn’t made yet, there wasn’t even a rolling pin, and there was no suitable smooth mixing bowl either. So she simply placed a tile jar over the fire, filled it with water, added oil, and started to boil.

There were plenty of wild vegetables on the mountain, and while Dong Yao went to pick them, she put the meat into the space. Since there were already oil residues in this meal, there was no need to add more meat; putting it into the space allowed her to eat a few more meals.

When Dong Yao returned, she had picked wild scallion, wild garlic, and a large bunch of wild celeriac. She mixed the three vegetables together, chopped them up, and threw them into the pot to boil with the oil residue. On the side, she mixed a bowl of dough, used chopsticks to pull out dumplings the size of fingernails, and dropped them in water, where they floated up one by one. She put the entire bowl of dough into the pot and stirred it, creating a simple version of dumpling soup.

This series of operations truly stunned Dong Yao, who had no choice but to face reality and obediently listen to Jiang Xue’s arrangements.

After the two of them finished lunch, Dong Yao carried the tile jar and the earthen bowls to the stone crevice to put them down. When she was scooping water to wash the bowls from the large tile jar used for collecting water, Jiang Xue lay down to sleep on a stone under the tree. It was supposed to be an idyllic scene, but suddenly, two sweaty, breathless people climbed up from the bottom of the mountain, looking just as pitiful as the sisters from last night who were gasping like cows.

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Xue flipped over and sat up. Seeing the newcomers, she warmly waved at them.

"Come over here."

Seeing two men, the eight-year-old Dong Yao was startled: "Xiao Xue!"

Jiang Xue laughed and shook her head: "Sis, it’s okay, they’re here to help us work," then turned to the two men: "Have you eaten?"

The two panted heavily and shook their heads: "Even if we ate, we would have expended it by now. Little girl, we’re not afraid anymore, we beg you, give us the antidote, even if it costs money, just don’t make us climb the mountain again, it’s too exhausting!"

Jiang Xue pursed her lips: "This is just the beginning, from now on, not only will you climb, but you’ll have to climb every few days. Tell me, what’s your family situation, do you have any family members?"

The two were tearfully speechless: "If we had family, would we be living this life of thievery? Little girl, how can you uncover our wounds?"

"Oh well, that’s good," Jiang Xue said casually and gestured: "See that spot over there? Over the next few days, you’ll be busy, seize the summer while the sun is strong, learn from Dong Yao to make kiln bricks, build a few more houses, and try to finish before winter. From then on, you two will live with us on the mountain, mainly responsible for the physical labor up here. Work well, and I’ll teach you how to survive. Work poorly, and you’ll die from poisoning, and we’ll bury you in a pit here, where no one will find out!"

The two men were instantly dumbfounded, as if hearing heavenly scripture, and they could hardly believe they were dreaming. Was this still a child? Clearly, she’s a female demon.

Jiang Xue didn’t care what the two thought and directly asked: "Do you have your own names? How old are you?"

"I’m Wang Dayong, fifteen years old."

"I’m Zhang Dazhuang, eighteen years old."

What down-to-earth names, "Your family gave them to you?"

"Our parents died early, names or not, we’ve just been called this since childhood."

"In that case, keep your surnames. Wang Dayong, you’ll be Wang Yongqiang from now on, Zhang Dazhuang, you’ll be Zhang Yonggang from now on. Later I’ll teach you to read and recognize your names. Once you can write, you’ll sign the indenture to me!"

Wang Yongqiang, a hot-tempered fellow, widened his eyes into cow bells: "What are you saying? When did I say I wanted to sell myself? For generations, we’ve been upright citizens, not slaves!"

Jiang Xue glanced at him lightly: "You say this now, but the future is uncertain. Well then, remember this moment of pride, and don’t forget it when you’re begging me later. Alright, Wang Yongqiang, Zhang Yonggang, you two now follow Dong Yao to make kiln bricks. Dong Yao, you work with them, from now on they are our long-term workers. I’m planning to go hunt some game to cook later, if you work well, I’ll give you an extra meal, if not, I’ll poison you and bury you up here where no one will know!"