You Yushi's husband had been dead for three years, and she had been a widow for the same duration, taking care of her two children.
In the primitive era, without the constraints of later generations, finding a new partner after the death of a spouse was common. You Yushi, being attractive, had no difficulty in attracting suitors. However, she hesitated due to the young age of her children and the decent treatment she received from her late husband. Therefore, she was not eager to find another man.
However, without her husband, You Yushi became like a tempting treat, and men would often come knocking on her door. Those who spoke politely were manageable, but those who were arrogant and unreasonable had to be dealt with using the bone spike. You Yushi had successfully handled several troublesome men with it.
Until today, when she encountered a man trying to forcibly take her away. Even with the bone spike in hand, You Yushi thought she might not escape this time. Fortunately, Yu Su came to her rescue.
Looking at Yu Su with surprise, You Yushi couldn't help but feel delighted. She hadn't expected Yu Su to have such great strength.
Yu Su chuckled and scratched his head. "Woke up from a fall and found out my strength had increased. I don't know what happened."
You Yushi's eyes lit up. "It must be the Mountain God's blessing!"
She referred to the majestic Deer God Mountain behind Yu Village. Legend had it that on Deer God Mountain, there was a pure white spirit deer. Although invisible most of the time, whenever it appeared, it brought blessings and good fortune.
The original owner probably never encountered anything like the Spirit Deer, but that didn't stop Yu Su from borrowing this notion.
Yu Su said, "Maybe, when I was unconscious, it seemed like I saw a pure white deer."
Excited, You Yushi said, "That must be the Mountain God!"
Envious in her heart, You Yushi believed that encountering the Mountain God was indeed a stroke of luck for Yu Su. Despite his timidity, he had a good heart, and it wasn't surprising that the Mountain God would bless him.
"Thank you for today. If it weren't for you, I would have been taken away by that scoundrel." You Yushi expressed her gratitude.
Thinking back to the scene earlier, Yu Su's smile faded a bit. "Sis, what are your plans for the future?"
You Yushi and Yu Su were of the same generation. She married the older Yu Su at the age of fifteen, and at sixteen, she gave birth to their eldest son, Yu Ji. At nineteen, she had a daughter, Yu Kui. Now, Yu Ji was eight years old, and the younger daughter, Yu Kui, was five years old, the same age as Yu Zhou.
Biting her lip, You Yushi said, "I don't want to find someone now. I just want to protect Yu Ji and Yu Kui as they grow up."
However, You Yushi also knew that if such incidents occurred again and Yu Su wasn't around, she might have to remarry. She only hoped that by then, she could still raise Yu Ji and Yu Kui.
"Let's not talk about that. What happened to your hand?" You Yushi noticed Yu Su's hand being clamped by a wooden board and suspended, finding it strange.
Yu Su briefly explained that he had other matters to attend to and didn't plan to stay longer. He was preparing to return home.
You Yushi stopped him, saying, "Wait."
She took a bamboo basket from the house, filled with fresh mushrooms, wild vegetables, a few bright red fruits, and two root-like things the size of palms. "Take these back. You haven't gone gathering these days, and there might not be much to eat at home."
Yu Su indeed needed these items, so he didn't refuse and accepted the bamboo basket, saying, "Thanks, sis."
"Thanks for what? I should be thanking you. Just don't despise me," You Yushi said.
Yu Su returned home with the broken bamboo basket and the food You Yushi gave him. The entrance of the house was still a mess, and the remaining rammed earth wall had collapsed, leaving nothing for shelter.
Jian Yunchuan sat on the ground at the doorway, playing with mud and ants. Yu Zhou sat obediently opposite him, silently accompanying him. Jian Yunchuan occasionally said a few words, but Yu Zhou remained silent.
When Yu Su returned, Yu Zhou sensed it immediately and quickly ran towards him.
With one hand carrying things and the other immobilized, preventing him from patting the boy's head, Yu Su lowered his head and said, "I'm back."
Seeing Yu Su's suspended hand and the items he was carrying, Yu Zhou reached out, wanting to help carry them.
How could Yu Su let him? He lifted the things and entered the house.
It was lunchtime, and although the sun was bright outside, it was still dark inside the house. The only advantage was the cool shade, making it less hot.
Feeling hungry, Yu Su decided to prepare something to eat.
The family had survived on wild vegetables and mushrooms for several days. Jian Yunchuan and Yu Zhou had grown accustomed to it, but Yu Su was finding it increasingly challenging. He was turning green from consuming the same limited diet.
However, there was no immediate solution to improving their meals. They had to endure and be grateful for the fresh produce.
Yu Su, with only one hand free, directed Yu Zhou in handling the mushrooms and wild vegetables. As for the two root-like things, he planned to roast them in the fire pit when cooking the vegetables. They were valuable and somewhat similar to taro, providing sustenance.
Despite his young age, Yu Zhou was already accustomed to these tasks and performed them quite skillfully.
Finally managing to prepare the items, ready to wash and cook them, Yu Su realized there was no water.
He had lain there for two days, relying on the water stored in the clay pot. It had run out by now.
Yu Su: "..."
Yu Zhou also stared at the empty clay pot, then looked up at Yu Su.
Yu Su touched his head, "I'll go borrow some water."
It was his negligence, but at this point, there was no time to go to the river to fetch water. He could only turn and head to You Yushi's house.
You Yushi was generous; a bit of water wasn't considered much. She not only lent it but also sent it over for Yu Su. In addition to the water, she brought a tiny bit of salt, a small pinch, not even the size of a fingernail. Her movements were cautious, afraid of spilling even a bit.
Seeing this, Yu Su hurried to refuse.
You Yushi said, "Take it. I know your house doesn't have any. Although we have Purple Cloud Grass to replenish our strength, this is also good. Eating it prevents illness for those who don't understand cultivation and can't nourish their bodies with spiritual energy. Salt is crucial and not everyone can afford it."
Yu Village was not near the sea, and there were no other sources of salt. To possess it, one had to trade with other tribes that produced salt. Typically, this trade involved exchanging food, but with scarce food supplies, there wasn't much to offer. While You Yushi's family still had some left, Yu Su's family had none.
Seeing Yu Zhou and Jian Yunchuan, Yu Su hesitated but eventually accepted the small amount of salt You Yushi brought.
After this little incident, Yu Su and the others finally had lunch.
Having added salt, Yu Su deliberately included some Purple Cloud Grass when boiling the mushrooms and wild vegetables. The resulting wild vegetable and mushroom soup at noon tasted especially flavorful. After roasting the root-like pieces until they were firm and tender, taking a bite and then sipping the wild vegetable and mushroom soup, Yu Zhou and Jian Yunchuan were completely absorbed in their meal.
Observing their contentment, Yu Su couldn't help but feel a bit bitter, resolving to change everything.
Once everyone was full, Yu Su cleaned the pot and brewed another pot of water. He put the processed Purple Cloud Grass and Gan Wu into it.
After filling his stomach with vegetables and mushrooms for several days, Yu Su was becoming green from malnutrition. Yet, Yu Zhou and Jian Yunchuan, who had adapted to such a diet, showed no signs of complaint. It motivated Yu Su to change their circumstances.
As they drank, Jian Yunchuan lay on the pile of thatch, napping. Yu Zhou still sat beside Yu Su, curiously watching him prepare the medicinal soup. He didn't quite understand; hadn't they just eaten?
Yu Su patted his head and explained, "This is medicinal soup."
Yu Zhou knew about medicine. Upon hearing this, he looked at Yu Su and uttered one word, "Drink."
Yu Su smiled, "Yes, big brother will drink it. Drinking it will make me better."
Yu Zhou nodded, then turned his head back to stare at the clay pot, especially focused this time.