Chapter 10

The mother and daughter traveled along the path, making clattering sounds as they headed toward the mountain peak.

Along the way, they saw purple-pink wild azaleas blooming so profusely that they plucked two flowers...

To tuck into Miao Miao's two little hair buns...

However, Miao Miao pouted her little mouth, feeling a bit unable to climb further. She hung her head low, "Mom..." looking like a little girl terrified that Luo Zhier would scold her.

Luo Zhier set down her basket and propped it up. "Here, my little poor thing, come inside!"

She placed her in the basket and carried her on her back...

The forest, the singing birds, the chirping insects, the blue sky and white clouds—Miao Miao held onto the edge of the basket, chirping away happily.

Accompanied by the summer chorus of cicadas, she also hummed a little tune, "In this world, only Mother is good; a child with a mother is a treasure..."

Inside the basket, Miao Miao felt that her mother was truly different; being out alone with her mother felt so wonderful!

Walking along the lush, shaded path, behind the green leaves, the cicadas in this area were buzzing intensely; the two of them were likely well-hidden.

This mountain belonged to the eastern part of the village and was called Zhaizi Bao.

They were on the "bump" located in the middle of the "cow's stomach." Seeing that it was secluded, she found a flat piece of ground.

After setting Miao Miao down, Luo Zhier stood on a high point to look down.

The entirety of Zhao Li Village came into view. Zhao Li Village was shaped like a crescent moon, resembling a cow's stomach.

Zhao Li Village was the largest village within dozens of miles. Most people were surnamed Li or Zhao, with some outsiders who had moved in gradually over time.

It had a large population, but it was also the poorest.

On some of the rooftops, wisps of cooking smoke were already rising...

There were also about a dozen people busy in a relatively flat area, seemingly building a house...

Luo Zhier took a glance, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling refreshed... "Wow, so comfortable!"

She used a sickle to clear the area around the flat ground, gathered some dry firewood, and took out some flint to start a fire!

"Mom, what are we doing?"

"Miao Miao, are you hungry? Let's eat something before we climb further!"

Having climbed for so long, she worried that Miao Miao wouldn't have enough energy; the girl was so thin that her ribs were sticking out.

Her own body was also a bit weak...

She was panting heavily; it seemed the matter of losing weight was urgent...

Luo Zhier took wild eggs from the basket, found some larger leaves to wrap them individually, and buried them in the fire to cook...

Then she tossed some sweet potatoes in as well...

While waiting for the food, she wandered around the surroundings to observe.

She had just discovered that some acorns were growing on these branches.

Some could be reached with just a slight pull.

So, she pulled down the branches and began picking them; Miao Miao also ran over to help...

After picking for a while, she heard a few *pop-pop-pop* sounds from the fire. She took Miao Miao over and dug all the eggs out...

She peeled a smooth wild egg for Miao Miao and peeled one for herself.

The two of them added a bit of salt and began to eat.

Having some water and eating roasted sweet potatoes was actually quite nice...

At the very least, their moods were relaxed and pleasant, with no one staring at their every move...

"Mom, this egg is delicious! Yesterday's snake soup was delicious too!" Miao Miao said.

At this, Luo Zhier also reminded her, "Miao Miao, remember to stay behind me later. Be careful of snakes..."

It was currently summer, the prime time for snakes to appear... a bite could be fatal!

"Okay, Mom!"

After eating, the two rested for a while. They buried the fire, and seeing that there were no issues, they began picking acorns again...

Looking up at the dappled sky through the shade, Luo Zhier boldly led Miao Miao deeper into the forest toward the mountain peak. Unknowingly, they walked until they reached a large grove of Qinggang trees...

The acorns on those branches were large and round, though some trees grew quite high.

But many had fallen to the ground. Miao Miao was quick and nimble; she dug through the leaves to pick them up from the ground...

She also picked the ones on the trees that she could reach.

"Mom, can we eat these fruits we're picking? They're so hard..."

"That's right, these acorns can be ground into flour. They have very high nutritional value. When the time comes, Mom will make them for you!"

"Yay!"

Miao Miao was very happy; she would do whatever her mother did.

The things her mother made were indeed delicious and felt novel; she wondered why her mother hadn't made them for her before.

The little girl forgot about it all in just a moment...

As for these acorns, they were rich in protein, starch, and amino acids... their nutritional value was slightly lower than rice...

They were excellent for filling the stomach during times of food shortage!

Unfortunately, the people here did not take them seriously!

Because during famines, they had tasted them and found them too bitter and astringent to swallow...

That was naturally due to incorrect preparation!

While picking acorns, the two also discovered many wild mushrooms in the tree roots and grass.

Luo Zhier taught Miao Miao how to recognize fungi, and the two gathered some edible ones.

Red mushrooms, matsutake, termite mushrooms, Qinggang mushrooms, chicken-shit yellow...

She knew that in summer, the mountains were exactly when wild plants grew most lushly...

After walking not much longer, they discovered some acacia trees. Wild wood ear mushrooms were growing densely on the trees; since it had just rained, they were quite large and clustered...

She stepped forward to smell them; naturally, she wouldn't let them go...

In a short while, the basket was more than half full!

It was now midday, and the sun was scorching. They hadn't felt it while weaving through the forest, but now that they emerged, they were drenched in sweat...

After about an hour and a half, seeing that they were nearing the summit, they found a shady spot under a tree to sit and rest, drinking some water to replenish their fluids.

Seeing large beads of sweat rolling down Miao Miao's face, Luo Zhier pulled a thin branch and wove a circular sun hat for her to wear.

Looking around, she saw a high cliff wall not far away.

Driven by curiosity, she walked closer to look. Below the cliff wall was a bottomless abyss...

She kicked a small stone down; after a long while, there was still no sound...

Many pine trees grew at the bottom of the cliff, dark bluish-green trees that looked dark and murky because they were so far away...

This must be part of the Great Black Mountain.

Looking up, something seemed to flap its wings and fly away from the side of the cliff peak.

Luo Zhier walked a bit closer to peer and wander around below, and suddenly, her heart leaped with joy.

Hehe, so it was this! It's rare to find such a thing in this place.

In the rock crevices were small, milky-white nests shaped like mesh—they were bird's nests...

It was just that the nesting place was too hidden and dangerous; one couldn't see it without looking closely. Normally, no one would notice or come to harvest them.

This was a good item; it would be great for her body, a major tonic. She quickly set down her basket.

"Miao Miao, don't run around. Watch the basket. Stay far away from this cliff; don't get close. Mom will go up to pick something and come right back down."

Having said that, she picked up a burlap sack, stepped on the rocks, and began to climb up to harvest them...

Watching the pebbles fall beneath her feet made her scalp tingle. After all, her weight was quite heavy, but wasn't there a saying? Wealth is sought amidst danger; to earn silver, one must take risks...

She wedged her toes into sturdy small crevices, testing the path by stepping firmly, while holding onto thick vines and branches. Finally, she reached the gap she had seen...

She finally managed to harvest one piece.

Then, she continued to the second piece...

Miao Miao, watching from below, was also trembling with fear!

"Mom, you must step firmly!"

"Hehe, don't worry, Miao Miao. Mom knows. Take care of yourself."

Luo Zhier leaned against the cliff wall, feeling a bit dizzy; she was afraid of heights.

With Miao Miao's heartfelt concern, she gained great motivation and was no longer afraid...

She searched carefully nearby until not a single one was left to be harvested.

(End of Chapter)