"I heard that everyone at Fuhai Lou was once a royal chef from the previous dynasty. Look at these exquisite dishes – only noblewomen in the palace could enjoy such luxurious meals." Aunt Li, who grew up in the town, occasionally descended from the mountain and often heard some gossip from the town.
"Miss Bei, are we going to eat all of these tonight?"
"And what about this mud dumpling? What's it for?"
Bei explained each question patiently as Biaozi took the mud-baked chicken to the stove to heat. She explained every dish until Biaozi brought back the well-heated mud dumpling, revealing the tender and juicy mountain chicken inside. "This is a method of taking out the innards of a live mountain chicken from the tail after slaughter. If available, you can also stuff it with Chinese yam, wolfberries, sweet potatoes, and more. Covered in salt and mud, it's placed in the fire. When the mud cracks, it's ready. This eating method is most suitable for us mountain people. Sometimes, when there's an abundance of game, such as mountain chickens, or when other hunters bring their harvest, we can prepare and cook them this way, ensuring they won't spoil for a couple of days."
"It's a good idea. It's not easy to go down the mountain, and dealing with a small harvest is indeed challenging."
"Let's go hunting tomorrow! Grandpa promised."
"Yes, yes, after harvesting honey, we can roast some lamb."
As soon as someone proposed, it sparked a lively discussion. This chaotic atmosphere, Bei, who had always lived a simple life in a three-person household due to the one-child policy, never imagined having such a bustling family dinner. However, she instantly fell in love with the warmth and noise of the gathering.
"Alright, let's go hunting. Rest early tonight, prepare tools and provisions tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, you can all enter the mountain!" Grandpa's words were met with cheers. They discussed the details of the hunt while enjoying rare and unseen delicacies.
North prepared a few exquisite dishes and pastries silently, packed them in a box, and slung a lamb-hide cape over her shoulder with a basket on her back. She quietly left the house and walked towards the outskirts of the estate. The small path to the east led to three cave dwellings. One was built with bricks, and during autumn, Uncle Li would take the boys to cut down trees and make charcoal. The second, a shallow coal mining tunnel supported by wooden beams, extended only a few dozen meters. Near the entrance, there were some discarded coal flakes, consisting of coal gangue, yellow iron ore, and associated minerals, probably rejected due to high smoke or low combustion value. The third tunnel entrance was built with stones, with adobe walls, timber columns, and original wooden beams supporting a wide three-meter-high, two-meter-high yellow mud tunnel. The first ten meters inside were a large artificially excavated cave with a height of over three meters and an area of about forty to fifty square meters. Inside, a high hearth was built, and three or four large iron pots were simmering on coal fires. This was Tong Family's largest "industrial base" – the nitrate pit. Tong Dinshan wasn't busy; he sat with his head down, surrounded by a cloud of sadness and determination.
"Father, have some dinner."
"Xiaobei, why are you here? It's smoky. Go back, and I'll come back too." Tong Dinshan lifted his head when he saw Bei, feeling a bit awkward and helpless. He knew that he had wronged this child the most, but he was determined to take up the responsibility for the family, for both father and son. However, cutting off that stubborn hope of bringing back his wife made him feel like he was personally destroying the world they had once guarded together. Seeking refuge here, he wanted to slowly lick the wounds that cut deep into his heart.
"Father, this time, I signed a supply contract for mountain goods with the Fuhai Lou in the town. Also, Mr. Qiao from the North-South Trading Company needs us to make some things with coal and nitrate for him. In the future, there will be more things to do at home, and you need to be busier. But Fuhai Lou, where Mr. Cheng is in charge, has eighteen branches nationwide. Mr. Qiao, who runs North-South Trading, deals with goods traveling between the north and south and even has connections with overseas merchants. In a few days when I go down the mountain, I will privately give them my mother's portrait. By exploring various avenues, we might have a better chance than just waiting in the town."
Tong Dinshan suddenly raised his head, staring straight at Bei, his eyes reddening. "Is what you're saying true? Those are important people in this town. Will they help us? Do you really know them?"
"It's true. Mr. Cheng rescued me when I got lost. Mr. Qiao is very kind. He needs us to help him with some things using coal and nitrate. The orders are already written, and he taught me the techniques. Don't worry; they will definitely help."
"That's good, that's really good! Xiaobei, your mother liked you the most, she cherished you."
"I remember. I will earnestly ask for their help." Bei understood this tall middle-aged man who seemed foolish and infatuated. It was as if she were consoling herself like a child, reminding herself of her mother's goodness. She feared that in this world, only she remembered the beautiful woman who had once come, and she herself had forcibly destroyed the world they had jointly guarded. "Everyone remembers; it's just unspoken. It's not that we dare not say it; we're afraid that if we say it, the hole in our hearts will never be filled. Dad, let's eat something first; we'll be busy starting tomorrow."