Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Up the Mountain Again

When Jiang Xia saw An Ning returning with her people, he immediately said to the men he was with, "Alright, alright, that’s it for today. This round is on me."

Jiang Xia tossed down some change, jumped deftly from his seat on the edge of the truck, and nodded at An Ning.

"Thank you."

An Ning thanked him, placed a hand on the truck, and vaulted up to start counting the schoolbags.

The fatty got to work as well. The quantity was correct, there were no problems with the goods, and the transaction was complete.

An Ning climbed down, and the fatty, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, said goodbye to them both.

The truck rumbled away. An Ning turned to look at Jiang Xia behind her.

"Did you need me for something?"

"Oh? Right."

Jiang Xia had only just remembered. He asked An Ning, "Are you planning on going up the mountain soon? I’ve found a herd of deer."

A herd of deer?

’That means antlers.’

"Okay, I’ll go."

Jiang Xia held up a hand. "Don’t be so quick to agree. This isn’t a one-day job."

"Deer herds move fast. I’ve only found their tracks, so we’ll need to go up the mountain to find them. It could take as little as a day, or as long as three. Are you sure you want to go?"

"I’ll go."

An Ning’s reply was firm. Jiang Xia didn’t try to persuade her otherwise, as he was more than happy to work with her.

"Okay, here’s the plan. We’ll both come up with an excuse to leave town. I’ll go first, and you leave the day after. That should stop any gossip from starting."

An Ning didn’t really understand, but she didn’t ask. She figured she could ask An Sancheng when she got back.

"Okay."

The two of them discussed a few more details before one headed home and the other went into town.

An Ning returned home. Stepping inside, she saw her second older brother counting money.

"Second Brother, I’m heading out to the fields."

"Wait a minute, Little Sis."

An Ning sat on the edge of the kang, waiting for An Guoming to continue.

"At noon, we’re going to Uncle’s house. We need to give them their wages. After that, I want to sell those sewing machines."

"Okay."

An Ning had no objections. She asked if there was anything else, and when he said no, she went back out to work.

At noon, An Ning returned to fetch An Guoming, and together they took the money and went to their uncle’s house.

The uncle’s house had the same layout as the An family’s. Everyone was now standing in the main room, looking at An Guoming.

"Uncle, I’m here to give Auntie and my two sisters-in-law their pay for the schoolbags they made."

"We’ve already recovered the schoolbags, and I’ve sold them."

"This is Auntie’s. She made sixty-eight bags in total, at thirty cents apiece. That comes to twenty yuan and forty cents."

"This is for my eldest sister-in-law. She made seventy-four, which is twenty-two yuan and twenty cents."

"And this is for my second sister-in-law. Seventy-six bags, for twenty-two yuan and eighty cents."

An Guoming placed the three stacks of money on the kang, but no one moved to take them.

Finally, their uncle nodded, and only then did the others take the money, trying to suppress their joy.

The uncle, sitting on the kang, asked, "Guoming, are you going to continue with this business?"

"Uncle, I’m not doing the schoolbag business anymore. I’m thinking of finding a job for a while, to broaden my horizons. After that, I’ll figure out what business to get into."

An Guoming then mentioned that he also planned to sell the sewing machines.

In the end, his uncle’s family decided to buy one. An Guoming sold it to them at his original cost and didn’t charge for the ration coupon.

The remaining machines, however, would not be sold at that price.

An Guoming didn’t want to sell the rest in the village, anyway. He planned to take them to town; there were plenty of people there who wanted a sewing machine but didn’t have a ration coupon.

Selling in the village always led to accusations of taking advantage; it was a thankless effort.

The members of the An family ate lunch at their uncle’s house, but they wouldn’t be staying for dinner, as their own pot had been mended.

After An Ning and the others left, their uncle remarked, "That second boy of theirs has grown up."

After lunch, it was back to work in the fields. An Ning continuously cultivated her spiritual power.

She was preparing to go into the mountains.

When they returned home that evening, An Guoqing left again on his bicycle, heading to the hospital to see his wife, the eldest sister-in-law.

An Sancheng cooked dinner that night. Afterward, An Ning washed the dishes.

Once the dishes were done, An Ning went to speak with An Sancheng.

"What is it?"

"Dad, I’m planning to go into the mountains."

"Then go."

As soon as he said it, An Sancheng sensed something was different. He lowered his voice and asked, "For a long time?"

"Yes."

An Ning told An Sancheng what she and Jiang Xia had discussed. After listening, An Sancheng first asked a question that was completely off An Ning’s radar.

"Daughter, what do you think of this Jiang Xia fellow?"

"He’s in good physical condition. A suitable partner for cooperation."

The moment An Sancheng heard that, he knew his daughter was completely clueless when it came to romance.

"Alright. Just be careful, and don’t get hurt over whatever you find up there."

"I know."

An Sancheng had thought of more. He simply told An Ning, "I’ll just say your mother can’t manage taking care of your sister-in-law on her own, so you went to help. Understand?"

"Understood."

With their plan settled, the father and daughter said no more.

The next day, An Ning left on her bicycle. Everyone in the village heard she was going to town to help care for her eldest sister-in-law.

Her sister-in-law, in turn, ended up staying in the hospital for a few extra days. It cost money, but it was the best they could do for now.

On the third day, Jiang Xia also left home. The story was that he’d gone to the county seat on business.

No one connected their departures.

Meanwhile, An Ning and Jiang Xia were heading into the mountains.

"Why didn’t you bring Da Huang?"

"Da Huang has to look after my grandpa. I’ll be gone for several days, and I’d worry."

"Oh."

An Ning just said "Oh" and kept walking.

"Here, this is for you. Don’t forget to pay me."

Jiang Xia handed her something with a proud air, saying in a strictly business-like tone, "Nine yuan. Remember to pay me."

"Thank you. I really need this."

It was a military-issue canteen. An Ning took it. "I don’t have any money on me. I’ll pay you when we get back."

"Just don’t forget."

Slightly embarrassed, Jiang Xia walked on ahead. Yesterday, on some strange impulse, he had bought this canteen, even though he already had one of his own.

He convinced himself it was to avoid slowing them down on their way up the mountain. ’It’s all for my own benefit.’

An Ning, walking behind him, felt nothing in particular. ’I’ll pay him for it, of course.’

An Ning slung the canteen over her shoulder and followed Jiang Xia deeper and deeper into the wilderness.

The surrounding trees soared into the clouds, creating a dense, unbroken canopy. The pungent smell of decay from deep within the forest grew stronger.

An Ning spread out her spiritual power, searching not only for the deer herd but also for ginseng and other medicinal herbs.

She had already finished reading the entire dictionary and had a very clear memory of the illustrated guide to medicinal herbs she had copied.

"Wait."

An Ning called out. Beside her, Jiang Xia instantly drew the dagger from his waist, his eyes sharp as he fell into a ready stance, both defensive and offensive.

"That."

An Ning pointed to the base of a rotten tree, where a green plant was growing. It had a few small, red, seed-like berries on it.

"Ginseng?"

Jiang Xia might not have known other herbs, but he recognized ginseng.

"It’s yours. Medicinal herbs aren’t part of our deal. You found it, it’s yours."

Jiang Xia took a step back to give An Ning room.

"Thanks."

An Ning stepped forward. Just as she knelt, she spotted another stalk behind the rotting log.

"Jiang Xia, there’s another one here!"