"Jiujiu, look quickly, what is this?" Yang Chengbin suddenly ran in front of Yang Mengchen, spreading his hands open like he was presenting a treasure, revealing seven or eight bird eggs: "I found these on that tree over there, we can boil them when we get back to nourish your body."
Yang Mengchen smiled and praised, "Eighth Brother, you're amazing!"
The sister's admiring gaze made Yang Chengbin unconsciously straighten his little back, but he modestly said, "Just got lucky." He suddenly noticed the plants in the basket: "Huh, Fourth Brother, Jiujiu, why are you digging up so many plants that you can't even eat?"
"These are medicinal herbs. After we gather and sort them out, we can sell them at the town's medicine shop. Then we can pay back the villagers, buy medicine for our eldest uncle and second aunt, and even buy some rice and flour to bring back," Yang Mengchen explained.
Looking at the so-called medicinal herbs, Yang Chengbin doubted, "Can they really be sold for money?"
"If Jiujiu says they can be sold, then they can be sold. Quit your nonsense," Yang Chengyou warned with a glare at Yang Chengbin.
"Jiujiu is the smartest. If Jiujiu says the herbs can be sold for money, then of course they can be sold," Yang Chenghong and Yang Cheng'an came over, their baskets full of wild vegetables. Yang Chenghong declared confidently, "I've seen Doctor Li collecting medicinal herbs on the mountain and selling them for money at the town's medicine shop. Apart from Doctor Li, the villagers don't recognize medicinal plants, so no one else comes to gather them. Even if they did, it would be useless. The medicine shops are strict about the herbs they accept. They don't take substandard ones, and that would mean all the effort would be wasted."
Yang Mengchen sighed inwardly.
Let alone in ancient times, even in modern times, who among those with various talents would want to give them away for free?
Doctor Li already charges the villagers less or nothing at all for medical consultation and medicine. That's already charitable and compassionate. How can one expect Doctor Li to teach the villagers to recognize and gather medicinal herbs? After all, that's Doctor Li's family medical skill, and he must also support his family, right?
Yang Chengbin scratched his head sheepishly, "Jiujiu, Eighth Brother said something wrong. You're not angry, are you?"
"I'm not angry," Yang Mengchen said with a smile. "I will teach my brothers medical skills, not just to heal and save others, but also to have an additional means of self-defense when we're away from home."
All four voiced their determination in unison, "Jiujiu, don't worry. We will definitely learn with all our hearts!"
Afterward, each time they found a medicinal plant, Yang Mengchen would teach her brothers its characteristics, medicinal value, and the methods of use and preparation. They all studied very seriously, filling their baskets naturally with various herbs.
Yang Chengyou was about to call his brothers and sister to find their fifth brother and head home, but then he saw his sister suddenly make a gesture to be quiet and pointed to the fresh and diverse tracks on the ground, a pile of tadpole-shaped black feces, and a patch of bush not far away, silently mouthing the two words 'wild rabbit.'
The four brothers immediately understood and quietly spread out, approaching the bush from all sides with light steps, and then they pounced in unison.
"Jiujiu, this time we caught five wild rabbits, so you can replenish your body well," Yang Cheng'an said as he ran to Yang Mengchen, holding two grey wild rabbits.
Yang Chenghong was holding a wild rabbit, Yang Chengbin had caught two, and Yang Chengyou carefully cradled six or seven newborn rabbit kits.
Gently touching the rabbit kits, Yang Mengchen happily said, "This mother rabbit and the kits we can give to Grandma for her to raise and play with. The other four we will eat tonight. We'll keep the rabbit fur for making clothes later. This winter, Grandpa and Grandma won't be cold."
"OK," Yang Chengyou nodded. "When we get back, I'll have Uncle make a wooden cage. It'll be convenient for raising them."
"Uncle knows woodworking?"
"Uncle in the village has the best woodworking skills. When his wife was pregnant with our third brother, Uncle went to the mountains to cut timber for someone to make furniture. He fell from the mountain due to a misstep. Since there was no money at home for treatment, Uncle ended up breaking his leg, and for the past fourteen years he hasn't stepped out of his room," Yang Chengyou said with a serious expression, and the other three boys also turned silent.
Yang Mengchen's eyelids lowered slightly as if deep in thought.
"You actually caught so many rabbits!" Yang Chengyu, carrying a bundle of firewood, came over, "Fourth Brother, it's almost noon, let's go back."
"Yeah, let's head home for lunch." Putting the rabbits in the basket and covering them with wild vegetables, Yang Chengyou shouldered one basket and carried his sister's in his hand.
Knowing that Fourth Brother was concerned about her and that her body was indeed somewhat frail, Yang Mengchen did not try to show off. While walking, she picked up some star anise and fennel seeds among other spices, wrapping them in a handkerchief, and also pulled some vines to weave together.
Passing by the river not far from the mountain, Yang Mengchen taught Yang Chengyou and his four siblings how to use the woven vine nets to catch fish in the river. In the end, they caught six fish, each weighing two or three pounds. The siblings had never caught so many fish before and happily returned home.
"Grandma, Uncle, Auntie, we're back," Yang Mengchen was the first to enter the courtyard.
Hearing the voice, Madam Yang Zhou and Liu Xiuyun hurried out of the kitchen. Madam Yang Zhou looked at her granddaughter running over and said affectionately, "Are you tired, Jiujiu?"
"The brothers wouldn't let me do any work; I'm not tired at all." Yang Mengchen affectionately looped her arm through Madam Yang Zhou's as she cooed, "Grandma, we found some great stuff on the mountain."
"What great stuff?"
"Grandma, Mom, we caught five rabbits and a litter of kits." Before Yang Mengchen could reply, Yang Chengbin who followed her in boasted, "Sister also taught us how to catch six fish with a net woven from vines, and sister is amazing; not only did she teach us Medical Skill, she also dug up a lot of herbs, saying that she will take them to the town's pharmacy to sell for money in a couple of days."
Madam Yang Zhou and Liu Xiuyun exchanged glances: "Really?"
"Of course, it's true."
As Yang Chengbin spoke, he set down his basket, excitedly picked up a few of the herbs, and began to explain their uses while Yang Chengyou and the other three siblings turned out the rabbits and fish hidden under the wild vegetables, to the delighted surprise of Madam Yang Zhou and Liu Xiuyun.
"Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, take a fish to the village chief and Lizheng's house first. I'll prepare the fish, and we can eat when you come back," said Yang Mengchen, holding the remaining fish as she walked toward the kitchen: "Leave the herbs in the courtyard, I'll sort them out this afternoon."
Yang Chengyou and Yang Chengyu promptly left with the fish.
Yang Chenghong went to put the firewood away.
Yang Cheng'an and Yang Chengbin dealt with the rabbits and kits.
"Jiujiu, let Auntie do it," said Liu Xiuyun, following Yang Mengchen into the kitchen. Jiujiu had never cooked before, and if she hurt or burned herself, it would distress the whole family.
Yang Mengchen shook her head: "Auntie, you've been tired from tending the fire all morning, so just rest, and also try my cooking."
Touched by Jiujiu's thoughtful gesture, Liu Xiuyun replied with tears in her eyes, ready to take over if Jiujiu really couldn't manage.
Placing the fish on the chopping board, Yang Mengchen picked up the knife to kill the fish. As soon as the oil in the pot was hot, she poured in the ginger and garlic along with the gathered spices to fry until fragrant. Then she added water to boil before gradually adding the fish heads, fish meat, and freshly dug wild vegetables. Given the limited ingredients, this would do for now.
Seeing Yang Mengchen's series of skilled movements, Liu Xiuyun set her worries aside.
"What are you cooking; I could smell the fragrance from a distance?" asked Old Master Yang and the others returning from work, their faces showing a hint of curiosity.