Chapter 27: Mushroom Picking

Everyone was still at the foot of Liangwei Mountain. Gu Qingsong and Gu Qingbai, fearing that more wild beasts might charge down, wanted to lead the group safely outside the mountain's perimeter before continuing. However, Gu Tingzhi was adamant; he insisted that he had just spotted some very large mushrooms and refused to leave until he had picked them. Not even Zhen Mi'er’s gentle persuasion could sway him.

The brothers dared not leave them behind, even though their third brother had demonstrated incredible combat prowess against the beasts earlier. They worried that if they left, he would be unable to protect the two women should further danger arise. With no other choice, they patiently accompanied Gu Tingzhi, who was being unusually stubborn for the first time.

Gu Tingzhi did not delay long. He strode directly toward the spot where the two black bears had charged down. Standing still, he bent over a pine log and began rummaging through something. The others walked over to help, but before they could get close, Gu Tingzhi stood up, holding his "mushrooms" aloft for all to see. "Manman, big mushrooms!"

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The expressions on the others' faces mirrored Zhen Mi'er's—they were dumbfounded and shocked. How could such a massive piece of Lingzhi grow on a withered log at the foot of the mountain, completely unnoticed until now? Then again, given how dangerous Liangwei Mountain was, most people avoided lingering there, so it was perhaps not surprising it had escaped detection.

The group stepped forward quickly and cleared the area. Indeed, the rotting log was covered in a large cluster of Lingzhi! They were a reddish-brown hue, coral-like in color, and umbrella-shaped. As they drew closer, they could even smell the faint, refreshing fragrance emitted by the red fungi.

Su Hehua hurried to the ox cart to fetch a bamboo basket, and they quickly harvested the lot. While gathering the Lingzhi, Zhen Mi'er even discovered an old ginseng root! She crouched down, carefully excavated it, and placed it into the basket with the Lingzhi so that Gu Qingbai could sell it alongside the black bears in the county town.

The way everyone looked at Gu Tingzhi now was as if he were some rare, precious creature; they were tempted to treat him like a treasure. To think that he was such a lucky soul, capable of finding such rare gifts of nature—and this lucky soul belonged to their family!

The "big mushrooms" had been collected, and Gu Tingzhi, now obedient, followed closely beside Zhen Mi'er. Gu Qingsong used the ox cart to transport the three of them out of Liangwei Mountain. After dropping them off, he turned back to pick up Gu Qingbai and Gu Qinghe, and the three men hurried off toward the town.

Zhen Mi'er looked around and, spotting a large rock nearby, led the others over. She took out a handkerchief to wipe away the dust and had Gu Tingzhi and Su Hehua sit down. Su Hehua had yet to fully process the day's events; it felt like a dream. First, they were attacked by black bears, then the third brother knocked the bears down, and finally, they found Lingzhi and ginseng.

She dared not think about how much money all of this would fetch—the mere thought made her tremble with excitement. Was their third brother perhaps a celestial child reincarnated from the side of the Buddha? He used to be brilliant at his studies but had terrible luck; now that his mind was injured, his luck had become terrifyingly good!

Gu Tingzhi, naturally, was unaware of her thoughts. He was currently holding one of Zhen Mi'er’s plump hands, poking at the dimples on it one by one. Zhen Mi'er noticed that her husband loved playing with her hands; he did the same at home. She smiled to herself and gently brushed the dirt off his cyan robe.

Villagers usually left for town to shop after breakfast, past the hour of Chen (7:00–9:00 AM). Today, because they had set out before the hour of Mao (5:00–7:00 AM) to sell sweet potatoes, and despite the delay caused by the bears, it was only half-past the hour of Chen. They would have to wait a while.

Fearing Gu Tingzhi might be bored, Zhen Mi'er spoke to him softly, asking what he wanted so she could buy it for him once they reached town. Gu Tingzhi tilted his head, thought seriously for a moment, and grinned. "Want Manman!"

Zhen Mi'er’s cheeks turned bright red, her eyes softening into a pool of warmth. Having spent time together, Su Hehua already knew how deeply they cared for each other. She couldn't help but admire Zhen Mi'er. Her affection for her third brother was clear to anyone with eyes—it was true and profound. Even though he was now simple-minded, that devotion had never wavered. To stay by the side of a man who had lost his wits, never leaving his side—how many women in this world could do the same?

After about three-quarters of an hour, an ox cart slowly rattled past the foot of Liangwei Mountain. Zhen Mi'er hurried forward and hailed the driver. The driver was a man in his fifties heading to town to sell a few chickens. Upon hearing that the three of them needed a ride, he agreed without a second thought.

By the time they arrived in town, it was five-quarters past the hour of Si (9:00–11:00 AM). After paying the fare and thanking the old man, the three of them went to the vegetable market to find Gu Qinghe and the others.

Gu Qingbai had set off for the county town in the carriage before the hour of Si had even arrived. With money now in the family, they no longer needed to starve to save on rations. Before he left, Gu Qinghe had bought him several flatbreads and, fearing he wouldn't have enough, added two bags of pastries and even the blanket used to keep warm in the ox cart.

Hearing this, Su Hehua felt relieved. The trip to the county town had been a last-minute decision, and she hadn't prepared anything for her husband. She was grateful her sister-in-law had thought of it.

There were over two hundred catties of sweet potatoes left. Before they arrived, Gu Qingsong had already visited the Wenyue Restaurant and two others, selling about two hundred catties, with the rest sold in smaller portions. Since Gu Qingsong had to remain there to watch the stall, he told them to go look around.

Though Changyun Town was not large, it was densely populated. It happened to be market day, and the streets were bustling with noise and activity. Shops lined the thoroughfares, and vendors and pedestrians wove through the crowds in a lively scene. Worried about losing Gu Tingzhi, Zhen Mi'er kept a firm hold on his hand.

The group had a clear goal: they first took Gu Tingzhi to a medical clinic. After taking his pulse, the physician noted signs of improvement but could not guarantee a full recovery. He suggested that once the blood clot in his brain dissolved, acupuncture might help, though only heaven knew when that might happen. Zhen Mi'er and the others were not discouraged; the result was better than they had expected.

After finishing there, they headed to a clothing store. Zhen Mi'er had planned to buy three bolts of fabric—one for herself, one for Gu Tingzhi, and one for Mother Zhou. She also intended to buy Gu Tingzhi a ready-made outfit in a style popular in town.

The shop was filled with a dazzling array of clothes in various styles. She took Gu Tingzhi to the men’s section, while Gu Qinghe and Su Hehua stayed in the women’s section to browse.