Qin Sang had written clearly on the paper that Da Zhuang and San Gui had brought many cloth bags up the mountain.
Everyone packed the gathered fruit into the cloth bags and then tied them onto the backs of the mules and horses.
Qin Sang then went to Widow Xia's place. As the only labor in her household, Widow Xia had no one to help her on the mountain. Qin Sang had her organize her things, loaded them onto the mules and horses, and helped bring them down the mountain.
The women showed no intention of going down the mountain yet, all determined to thoroughly scavenge this hilltop and continue gathering.
Qin Sang also agreed, as the fruit would easily rot on the ground or in the mountains. Taking it back, they could at least store it for a few days.
Qin Sang took out the prepared dry rations, Daners, and cured sausages and distributed them among the girls. Some who hadn't brought any rations simply picked up an apple, wiped it on their clothes, and stuffed it into their mouths.
While eating, they couldn't help but exclaim:
"Wow, this fruit is so damn sweet."
"Yeah, I've never tasted such delicious fruit in my life."
"Da Zhuangs Mother, can we feed Da Huang some fruit? Today's bounty is all thanks to Da Huang."
After Qin Sang said it was okay, many women took fruit in hand and tried to lure Da Huang to eat.
However, that fellow would only eat food from Qin Sang. No matter how fragrant the offering from others, he wouldn't give it a second glance.
Everyone praised him again.
After resting for a while, everyone disregarded the blazing sun and continued searching for fruit.
With so many people, even a large quantity of fruit is finite. Once gathered, it was gone. Seeing the fruit dwindling, everyone started digging up Medicinal Herbs instead, discussing as they dug whether they should check another hilltop for fruit tomorrow.
Qin Sang chimed in from the side:
"There definitely will be, but I won't be going with you. Gathering fruit for a whole day, my back is about to break."
She had used the Drone to scatter fruit on those other two hilltops, and not much at that, so she wouldn't join the hustle.
They made it down the mountain as the sun began to set. In the clearing, a small mountain of wood was piled up, and the last log cabin for Qin Sang's family was also completed. Da Zhuang and San Gui were covering it with oilcloth.
Third Brothers Wife had prepared the meal. Seeing them return, she carried bowl after bowl to the stone table, her belly prominent:
"Mother, you must be exhausted today, right?"
Qin Sang sat on a nearby stone:
"Haven't worked like this in a long time, a little bit."
As soon as she finished speaking, a pair of small hands, clenched into fists, gently began pounding on Qin Sang's back:
"Grandma, let me give you a massage."
Qin Sang turned her head—it was indeed Eldest Girl, carefully pounding her back. Qin Sang felt a pang of heartache:
"No need, no need. Grandma isn't that old yet. Eldest Girl, you've been running around the mountain all day too, aren't you tired?"
Eldest Girl looked up with a smiling little face:
"Not tired at all, it was so much fun. Grandma, can I go up the mountain with Aunt Xia and the others to gather fruit tomorrow?"
Nearby, Eldest Brothers Wife, Er Fu, and Si Jin all wore eager expressions:
"Mother, I want to go too."
"I'll take good care of Eldest Girl, don't worry, Mother."
"Maybe we can gather as much as we did today."
Qin Sang didn't refuse. It was good for them to get more exercise. She didn't want these girls to become hothouse flowers either. It was just gathering fruit, and they'd be with everyone—what danger could there be?
"Alright then. But you must keep a good eye on Eldest Girl. Don't wander off far from the others. Take Da Huang with you."
"Mhm, thank you, Grandma. Eldest Girl definitely won't run off."
Before it got completely dark, Qin Sang went to Widow Xia's house to deliver the fruit they had gathered. She also took the opportunity to check if Widow Xia was performing the rehabilitation exercises she had learned correctly.
Widow Xia was preparing dinner for the family. Seeing Qin Sang arrive, she hurriedly wiped her hands to come greet her. Qin Sang waved her hand:
"You tend to your business, don't let the food burn."
Only then did Widow Xia acknowledge with an 'ai' and call for Caoer to fetch water for Qin Sang. Qin Sang quickly said:
"No need to fetch water, I just had some at home before coming. Here, Caoer, take these fruits and put them away."
During the day, Widow Xia, taking her two young children up the mountain, was considerably slower. The fruit she gathered wasn't even as much as Qiao Lei, a half-grown boy, had gathered alone—all together, it was only about a basketful.
But for Widow Xia's family, this was free food. Today's harvest was more abundant than this year's crop yield, and they were very satisfied.
Qin Sang walked over to Widow Xia's side and looked. The stove was simply made of a few stacked stones, surrounded by a ring of yellow earth for fireproofing. The stove was low, forcing Widow Xia to squat to cook.
A pot of flour porridge was simmering; the golden color suggested an Daner had been beaten into it. Another pot held braised potato slices with meat. This was probably a rare, hearty meal for their family.
"Da Zhuangs Mother, have you eaten? If not, have a bit at our place." Granny Xia, hearing the voices, emerged from the shack and called out.
Qin Sang replied with a smile:
"Granny Xia, I've already eaten. I came to see how Tieniu's rehabilitation is coming along."
Granny Xia said, "That set of techniques you taught my Eldest Daughter-in-law, I had her teach me too. I was just doing them for Tieniu since I had nothing else to do."
Qin Sang nodded:
"Good. Let me watch you do it once, Granny. If there's anything incorrect, I can point it out promptly."
"Alright."
Qin Sang and Granny Xia ducked into the shack. Soon after, Widow Xia also came in.
"Sister-in-law, you're here." Xia Tieniu greeted.
Qin Sang acknowledged with an 'mhm':
"Your voice sounds a bit stronger. Remember to eat smaller meals more frequently to regain your strength as soon as possible, understand?"
"Mhm."
Granny Xia knelt on the ground, reached out to feel Xia Tieniu's leg, found his knee, and slowly began the knee flexion and extension movements...
After a complete set of movements, Qin Sang could see that Granny Xia was very attentive and meticulous, performing each movement correctly.
"That's good, Granny Xia. You performed the movements very well. You can do them three times a day from now on."
Nearby, Caoer and Daner also volunteered eagerly:
"Aunt, can we learn?"
Qin Sang knew that children from poor families mature early and smiled:
"Of course you can. Come here, Daner, you learn. In the future, you can also help your father recover."
She didn't call for Caoer. Caoer was a girl; it wasn't quite appropriate.
After guiding Daner once, darkness fell. Widow Xia's house had no candles, and the shack was pitch black inside.
Qin Sang gave a few more reminders and instructions before heading home.
Eldest Brothers Wife, seeing her return, ran over and said:
"Mother, come quickly, we need you to decide."
Seeing her anxious expression, Qin Sang quickened her pace:
"What is it? What happened?"
Eldest Brothers Wife led Qin Sang to the tent. A candle was lit inside, and Qin Sang quickly saw a pile of root pieces and a heap of fruit on the ground. Er Fu and Si Jin were busy organizing them:
"What's this?"
Eldest Brothers Wife explained:
"The villagers just brought all this. Er Fu and Si Jin hadn't even had time to exchange grain for them before they dumped it on the ground and left, saying they weren't trading for grain—it was a gift for our family.
And that fruit, they said it was for Da Huang. They just left it on the ground too."
Qin Sang was about to ask more when she heard Guihuas Mother's voice from outside:
"Si Jin? Er Fu?"
Qin Sang responded:
"Guihuas Mother, we're here."
Lifting the tent flap, Guihuas Mother walked over, carrying a large basket. More than half was filled with roots dug up this afternoon, along with a large apple and two oranges:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, I don't know if any of what I dug today is usable, so I'll just leave it here for you."
Before Qin Sang could stop her, Da Zhuangs Mother dumped the roots and fruit onto the pile of roots, turned, and started walking out.
"Wait, Guihuas Mother, I haven't weighed it for you yet."
"No need, no need. What's there to weigh?" Guihuas Mother said heartily.
Qin Sang chased after her, urgently saying:
"Guihuas Mother, what are you all doing? Not even wanting grain anymore?"