Chapter 39
A Hunter's Wife
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Mao Xiaoyu deliberately slowed down her pace. When she heard the steady footsteps behind her, the corners of her mouth lifted up and she revealed a charming smile.
Rong Xiang was also observing his wife. He planned to grab the bag from her hand once he saw that her strength could not keep up.
He could not let her tire herself out because of her stubbornness.
However, he did not expect Mao Xiaoyu to be so lively throughout the journey.
Sometimes, when she saw a plant that she was interested in, she would even let Rong Xiang rest for a while, and she would quickly run to dig it up.
The sun was still high up in the sky when they reached the foot of the mountain.
Mao Xiaoyu saw that it was still early and went back to Rong Xiangâs house with him.
After Blackie saw the courtyard door open, it immediately pounced on Mao Xiaoyu.
âWoof woof woof~ Woof!â Blackie welcomed Mao Xiaoyu with his saliva.
At least you kept your word and did not lie to me! I still remember that you said you would play with me this afternoon!
Mao Xiaoyu grabbed Blackieâs two front claws and the cloth bags she had been holding on to the whole way dropped to the ground.
Rong Xiang did not have the time to deal with that dog.
He entered the gate from the side, carrying the carrying pole and walking into the yard.
Blackie felt good being touched by Mao Xiaoyu, and kept whining.
âGo play in the courtyard.â Rong Xiang walked over and kicked Blackieâs fat butt.
Blackie was really blind. Didnât it see that his wifeâs face was red from the heat?
He picked up the wooden bucket that he had just placed outside the door, as well as the cloth bag and fish net that Mao Xiaoyu had thrown away, and walked back to the yard.
âBe good, let me close the door first.â Rubbing the dogâs head, Mao Xiaoyu turned around and closed the door.
Rong Xiang tidied up the coldest place in the courtyard and took a basin of cold water back to his room.
He was drenched in sweat after carrying so many things down the mountain.
Usually, he would wash up casually by the well, but his wife was here today. In order not to scare her, he could only go into the house to wash up.
Mao Xiaoyu and the dog cultivated their relationship for a while, then she took her cloth bag and went to dry the herbs.
The wood ears she had picked last time were still hanging on a few shelves. Mao Xiaoyu picked one up and pinched it, then nodded in satisfaction.
The sun had been strong in the past few days, and the wood ears had already been sun-dried.
Not bad. She was getting sick of eating pheasant stewed with mushrooms at night.
After a while, she would get a plate of wood ears. It was perfect!
Picking up the bucket at the side, Mao Xiaoyu put all the dried black wood ears and mushrooms into it.
Then, she poured out all of todayâs harvest on the shelf.
She put the herbs on one shelf, the mushrooms on the other, and the wild herbs back into her bag.
Rong Xiang changed into a clean set of clothes and walked out of the room.
âYou can go home and tell Auntie first, so she wonât worry.â Rong Xiang said.
He still had to work for a while before he could clean up the pheasant.
Mao Xiaoyu nodded. âThatâs good too. Iâll come over in a while.â
Seeing how clean Rong Xiang was, Mao Xiaoyu also wanted to wipe herself.
Her body was covered in sweat and dirt, which was really uncomfortable.
Seeing that Mao Xiaoyu was about to leave, Blackie was so anxious that it bit her skirt.
âBlackie, let go!â Rong Xiang shouted.
âWuwuwu~â Blackie snorted, feeling upset.
Why are you leaving so soon? Didnât you say you wanted to play together?
Blackieâs dog eyes revealed an aggrieved look.
âIâll be back in a while, be good!â Mao Xiaoyu gently rubbed Blackieâs head.
This dog was really too understanding. Mao Xiaoyu could not bear to see it being sad.
After being appeased, Blackie licked Mao Xiaoyu a few times, then followed her to the gate like a shadow.
If she did not have to go home to clean herself up and take a longer time, Mao Xiaoyu would have left with the dog.
Mao Xiaoyu chose a small path and trotted home.
âMother!â Mao Xiaoyu pushed the door open and entered.
âHey, Xiaoyu is back!â Liu Xianniang raised her head.
she had nothing to do at home, so she was mending her clothes.
âArenât the grandparents at home?â Mao Xiaoyu put down the cloth bag in her hand and asked.
Usually, other than the few quiet hours when they were sleeping, the Mao family was pretty much noisy at other times.
However, it was very strange today. The courtyard was very quiet, without the slightest movement.
Mao Liushi shook her head. âYour grandfather and grandmother are in the room.â
If she was not afraid that those people would steal her things, she would have gone out to shop long ago.
She had been so bored these past two days that she almost fell sick.
In the past, she was always working and looking forward to a short rest.
But now, her in-laws really did not ask her to do any more work, perhaps because they were afraid of the Village Chief.
However, in order to prevent anyone from entering her room again, she did not dare to leave.
Even going to the toilet, she would try her best to avoid it.
Mao Xiaoyu pouted. âIgnore them. Iâll go to town tomorrow to buy a lock.â
Her mother did not go out all day. It was fine for a short time, but it would be bad for her if she stayed like this for a long time.
Itâs not a big deal. Thereâs no need to make a trip to town. Liu Xianniang felt sorry for her daughter.
Her daughter had yet to reach marriageable age, and she had to go to the mountains to make a living. As her mother, she could not help, and she already felt very upset.
âWe have to go. We brought wooden buckets up the mountain today and caught more than twenty big fish. Plus, Brother Rong still has prey to sell.â Mao Xiaoyu explained.
âBy the way, weâve also dug up a small piece of Solomonâs Seal. Weâll give it to Ji Ren Tangâs Manager Gu tomorrow.â when Mao Xiaoyu thought of the silver she would get tomorrow, she smiled beautifully.
âYou found it again?â Liu Xianniang opened her eyes in surprise.
Were these medicinal herbs so easy to dig up?
âYes, itâs near the place where I dug up the Solomonâs Seal last time.â Mao Xiaoyu wiped her face with a handkerchief.
Liu Xianniang quickly stood up. âGo to the cabinet and get some clean clothes. Mother will boil some water for you so you can clean yourself.â
Mao Xiaoyu quickly nodded. âThank you, Mother.â
She touched her daughterâs face and left the house with the basin.
Mao Xiaoyu did not have many clothes. She only had three sets of clothes.
And these were all made smaller by immortal mother Liu using her own clothes.
There was nothing to choose from, so Mao Xiaoyu took out a set of clothes.
While waiting for the hot water, she did not stay idle. She put all the wild vegetables in the bag in the small kitchen.
she did not take out the sealwort. She only gave it to Liu Xianniang to have a look, then placed it on her pillow.
After a while, Liu Xianniang came back with a basin of warm water.
âMother, Iâll go to Brother Rrongâs place in a while. He found a few monkey head mushrooms. Weâll have pheasant mushroom stew tonight.â Mao Xiaoyu said as she wiped her side.
Liu Xianniang nodded. âWhat about your food? What are you eating, Mother?â
âLetâs cook some dry rice. I want to eat rice.â Mao Xiaoyu licked her lips.
She had not eaten steamed rice for a few days, and she missed it!