Chapter 35: Trading Mountain Goods

Hearing Lin Yu’s words, the mountain keeper let out a hearty chuckle, his smile reflecting the simple and generous nature typical of the people who live in these hills. He turned and stepped into his cabin, rummaging around for quite a while before striding back out. He beckoned to Lin Yu and his family of three and said, "Come, let me take you to the back to have a look."

The group followed the mountain keeper around the stone house to a shed standing behind it.

As they reached the entrance of the shed, a unique scent, a blend of earth, dried goods, and the deep, lingering essence of time, greeted them. The interior was shrouded in darkness, much like a mysterious cavern; the sunlight struggled to filter through the gaps, casting only a few faint rays that barely traced the rough outlines of the room.

As their eyes adjusted to the dimness, the scene within began to reveal itself.

Various mountain goods were arranged all around. Along the walls, bundles of carefully dried wild vegetables hung in neat rows, looking like frozen green waves; though they had lost some moisture, they still retained the faint, fresh fragrance of the wild.

On the ground lay several animal hides, their colors dark and muted but rich in texture. They felt stiff to the touch, as if still telling the tales of the wild beasts’ former dominance in the mountains. Not far away, a few bamboo baskets were piled high with dried mushrooms in various shapes—some like petite umbrellas, others like thick, fleshy ears. Leaning in to sniff, one could detect an even richer, more mellow aroma of fungi.

Venturing deeper inside, one could see several large vats standing sturdily in the corner, their openings tightly covered with coarse cloth.

The mountain keeper stepped forward and lifted one of the lids. A savory, salty scent instantly permeated the air—it was salt-cured meat. The meat, a deep, dark red and glistening with oil, was layered neatly in the vat, looking so appetizing it made one’s mouth water.

Nearby, hazelnuts and walnuts were piled into little hills. The hazelnuts were round and plump, their shells etched with fine patterns like exquisite crafts carved by nature. The walnuts were large with hard shells; when shaken gently, one could hear the kernels rattling inside, as if announcing their fullness and deliciousness.

Lin Yu and his family stood in the shed, stunned by the dazzling array of mountain goods before them.

It was evident that the mountain keeper was a patient man. Not only was the variety of goods vast, but everything was organized with meticulous neatness, without a trace of clutter—a rare quality for a bachelor.

"Wow, Uncle, you’re amazing! You have so many wonderful things. Mom, is that a deer?" Little Lin Yao was wide-eyed, looking at the mountain keeper with pure admiration as she pointed to a deer head specimen hanging on the wall.

The mountain keeper chuckled.

"This is all the stock I have. Take whatever catches your eye. The meat is all salt-cured—no fresh stuff, but since you need supplies for the winter, this is perfect; it saves you the trouble of curing it yourselves."

"I can’t give you too many hides, only two at most. You pick which ones you want; I’ve already promised the rest to someone else who’s coming to collect them soon. Oh, that’s right—I caught two small wild pheasants yesterday. The meat is very tender. They’re in the front room; I’ll give them to you when you leave so you can take them home for a fresh meal."

Hearing this, Wang Yufen quickly said, "Brother, just give us whatever you think is appropriate, we aren’t picky. Later on, when Xiao Yu gathers more seafood, we’ll prepare some dried and cured batches, and we’ll bring some over for you to keep for the winter."

"Hey, that sounds great!"

"I don't have many tools here, but don't you have fishing cages? Just pour them out in a bit and fill them up yourselves, don't be shy." The big man was incredibly generous; after all, he couldn't eat all these things by himself.

"Then thank you very much, brother," Wang Yufen said with a grateful smile.

***

Back in the mountain keeper’s yard, they emptied the fishing cages, dumping all the seafood onto the ground. It formed a small hill, releasing the distinctively salty, fresh aroma of the ocean.

After tidying up, they followed the mountain keeper to the shed behind the house to load up on mountain goods.

Upon entering the shed and facing the room full of rare treasures, the family of three felt a bit reserved. Although the mountain keeper was generous, they knew their place and didn't want to overstep. Wang Yufen stood to the side, her hand hovering slightly before she hesitantly pulled it back. Her eyes wandered over the goods, but she was too embarrassed to be the first to reach out. Lin Yu scratched his head, scuffing his feet on the ground, looking just as unsure. Lin Yao gripped her mother’s hem, her little eyes darting around with curiosity, though she stayed quiet, being a well-behaved child.

The mountain keeper noticed everything and couldn't help but laugh heartily. "You folks, why are you still being so formal with me?"

With that, he strode over to the large vat in the corner, rolled up his sleeves, and began loading the goods for them himself. He grabbed a fishing cage, dipped it into the vat, and pulled out large chunks of dark red, glistening salt-cured meat, placing them steadily into the cage. In no time, the bottom of the cage was covered in a thick layer.

"In the winter, there’s nothing more comforting than eating some salt-cured meat. Take plenty back with you to enjoy," the mountain keeper said as he worked.

After finishing the meat, he turned and picked up two hides, carefully dusting them off before handing them to Lin Yu. "Take these to make something warm for the children. They’re very practical."

Next, he walked over to where the vegetables and mushrooms were hanging. With skilled hands, he grabbed handfuls of each, gently shaking off any impurities before putting them into a bag. "These wild vegetables are great for soups or stir-fries. Take the mushrooms back and stew them with those two wild pheasants, and throw in some potatoes—that’s what you call a delicious meal."

Finally, he went to the piles of hazelnuts and walnuts, scooped up two full handfuls of each, and poured them into the bag with a clatter. He also rummaged in the corner to find some wild pears and hawthorns, adding them to the mix. "These are for the kids to snack on. They’re sweet and tart."

"Brother, that’s enough, that’s really enough," mother Wang Yufen said, rushing forward. "We’re so embarrassed to take so many things."

"What’s there to be embarrassed about? Didn’t you bring me a lot of stuff, too?" the mountain keeper laughed loudly.

But Wang Yufen didn't see it that way.

Although they had brought plenty of items, those seafood products were common where they lived, and they didn't have any high-quality sea fish. Their value was far below these precious mountain goods, so how could they feel comfortable?

Once everything was packed, the family looked at their haul, their hearts filled with gratitude. They thanked the mountain keeper repeatedly before pulling their donkey cart, laden with mountain goods, and slowly bidding him farewell.

On the journey home, laughter filled the air. Wang Yufen’s face was wreathed in smiles as she kept repeating, "That mountain keeper brother is truly a wonderful person. He took such good care of us, giving us all these rare mountain goods. We must remember his kindness."

Lin Yu smiled and said, "Mom, you don't need to feel embarrassed. We traded with him; it’s not like we were just asking for handouts. Those seafood items might not look like much to us, but to him, they’re treasures."

"Oh, but is that the same thing? Mountain goods are just worth more than the seafood we brought."

***

Lin Yao sat on the cart, swinging her little legs, her eyes shining. Her mind was filled with thoughts of food. She tugged at Wang Yufen’s hem and pleaded, "Mom, can we stew the chicken when we get home? I’ve never eaten it before."

Wang Yufen smiled, gently tapping Lin Yao’s little nose, and said tenderly, "Alright, Mom will make wild pheasant stewed with mushrooms for you when we get back. Wild pheasant from the mountain paired with these mushrooms—I’m sure you’ll love the taste."

At this, Lin Yao clapped her little hands, her eyes crinkling into happy crescents.

Just as the family was immersed in their joy, the donkey cart arrived slowly in front of their home. However, the sight that met them made their smiles freeze on their faces. A crowd of people had gathered in front of their house, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

"What’s going on? Why are so many people gathered here?" Wang Yufen looked puzzled, fearing that something had happened at home.

"Let’s go over and see," Lin Yu said.

The three of them, full of curiosity, hurried the donkey cart forward.

When the villagers saw the family return, they erupted into chatter, crowding around them. A warm-hearted neighbor, Aunt Li, stepped forward first and asked, "Yufen, where did you all go? There’s a little child standing in front of your door. He won't say a word no matter what we ask, just standing there blankly. We don't know what kind of heartless person abandoned him here."

"Exactly! The kid is so small, doesn't look even two years old yet. His parents are truly heartless. We tried to get him to stay at our place for a bit, but he wouldn't go; he just cries if you pull on him and insists on standing right at your door. Isn't that strange?"

Hearing this, Wang Yufen’s heart gave a violent tug, and a sense of foreboding washed over her.

She didn't wait to say anything else and hurriedly pushed through the crowd. When her gaze landed on the child, a cry escaped her lips: "Nannan!" The child standing at the door with a dazed expression was none other than her son, Nannan, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

Shock, confusion, and heartache flooded her all at once. Wang Yufen’s eyes turned red instantly. She trembled, wanting to reach out and hold him but fearing she might scare him, so she stood frozen in place, tears streaming down her face.

Lin Yu and Lin Yao also stood to the side, stunned and at a loss for what to do by this sudden turn of events.

"Mom!"

Seeing Wang Yufen, Nannan burst into tears. He took a few unsteady, stumbling steps toward her, his little arms raised high, reaching out as he called out unclearly, "Mom, Mom..."

The trembling voice was heart-wrenching.

Wang Yufen was already weeping. She reached out with shaking hands, rushed forward, and pulled Nannan into her arms, holding him tight. "My child, why are you here? Where is your dad? Where are your grandparents? Don't cry... Mom is here!"