Chapter Seventeen: The Treasure Deep Within Wild Dog Ridge!

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Zhao Zheng awoke from the warmth of the kang bed. Last night had been the most restful and comfortable sleep he’d had since crossing over. Though the earthen kang was hard and lacked much comfort, it was still better than the wooden plank bed.

“Father-in-law, Sister-in-law made you a bowl of egg flower soup,” Zhang Xiao’e said as she brought over the steaming bowl. The so-called egg flower soup was made by cracking eggs into boiling porridge, then sprinkling a bit of sugar—it was simply delicious.

“Have Zhaodi make two more bowls. You two should try some fresh too,” Zhao Zheng said. Recently, he had choked on boiled eggs, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste, so Yang Zhaodi had been finding creative ways to prepare food for him.

“Father-in-law, Sister-in-law and I don’t need any,” they replied.

“You must drink it,” Zhao Zheng insisted. “Otherwise, how will you have the strength to dig for wild vegetables today?”

Zhang Xiao’e felt a warmth in her heart. “Understood, Father-in-law.”

She went back to the kitchen.

Zhao Zheng sprinkled some white sugar, which he had bought from the market, into the egg flower soup and savored a mouthful, sighing with contentment. “No wonder it’s called Vermilion Bird Soup. One sip warms your whole body.”

After finishing the soup, he put on the straw sandals Yang Zhaodi had specially made for him—they fit perfectly. His clothes were a bit tattered, but in these times, everyone’s was the same. He had thought about getting some warm fabric, but if he wore it outside, what would others think?

“I need to find some padded jackets and cotton pants to wear underneath. It doesn’t matter if the outer clothes are worn out; freezing to death is folly,” Zhao Zheng resolved. He bought three padded jackets from the market, and as soon as he wore them, he felt considerably warmer, though they cost him over a hundred wen—a significant sum. These were just ordinary jackets; buying something like an insulated administrative jacket would only afford him a sleeve with his remaining funds.

“I have to work harder to raise my living standard,” he decided, secretly planning to gift two of the jackets to the women at the right moment.

Dressed properly, Zhao Zheng picked up his worn cleaver and the basket slung across his back, which contained wild vegetable cakes meant to deceive onlookers. He had to keep a low profile in public.

The three of them—father-in-law and two daughters-in-law—carried their baskets and set out. Outside, they saw a few villagers heading out to work.

“Hey, Zhao the Third, where are you off to?” someone called.

“Going to dig wild vegetables,” Zhao Zheng answered.

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“In this freezing weather? Where on earth would you find wild vegetables?” an older woman sneered.

“Zhaodi, Xiao’e, doesn’t your father-in-law know? Don’t you?” Yang Zhaodi smiled. “If we can’t find wild vegetables, we’ll gather firewood. We can’t just wait at home for meals every day.”

Hearing this, everyone praised Zhao Zheng and his wife for having such sensible and dutiful daughters-in-law.

Soon, the three arrived at the village entrance, where Wu Yueying was waiting. She looked a bit embarrassed upon seeing Zhao Zheng. “Uncle Zhao, thank you so much for yesterday.”

“Ah, we’re neighbors. Helping out where I can is nothing,” Zhao Zheng replied with a smile. “But today, I’ll have to trouble you to lead the way.”

Wu Yueying nodded. “Don’t worry. The place I’m taking you to definitely has wild vegetables.”

Shepherd’s purse and dandelions were hardy wild vegetables, able to survive temperatures as low as minus four or five degrees, though their growth slowed. Despite the drought this year, no snow had fallen, and it hadn’t gotten below minus ten degrees yet—perhaps the month hadn’t arrived for the coldest weather.

The three women chattered away as they walked, seemingly never running out of things to say. Zhao Zheng limped along behind them, occasionally chiming in.

By noon, the four of them reached Wild Dog Ridge. The old riverbed was cracked and dry; the riverbank’s mud had hardened. Occasionally, two desiccated, dead fish lay there. It was clear that before the water stopped flowing, someone had come to dig in the riverbank, leaving the place in disarray and making walking difficult.

“People come here to dig for loaches and turtles. I was here a few months ago and caught quite a few loaches, which I sold to the Zhong family,” Wu Yueying said with a hint of pride. “This season, the loaches should be the fattest. If we can dig some up and cook them with broad bean noodles, it’s incredibly delicious.”

Zhang Xiao’e swallowed hard. “Sister Yueying, please stop talking—I’m already salivating.”

Wu Yueying licked her cracked lips. She was so hungry she couldn’t help but fantasize.

Before long, they reached a sunny spot where the soil was still somewhat moist, though just damp enough to feel soft and crumbly underfoot.

“Look, there’s shepherd’s purse!” Yang Zhaodi exclaimed, pointing excitedly at a low-growing plant.

Wu Yueying smiled—this was her own secret patch, and if it weren’t for her close relationship with Zhang Xiao’e and Yang Zhaodi, she wouldn’t have brought them here.

“There are also dandelions, though they’re a bit small,” Zhang Xiao’e said happily.

Wu Yueying tucked stray strands of hair behind her ear. “Then let’s hurry and pick as much as we can. In a few days, there won’t be any left to gather.”

The two women nodded and quickly began searching the area. Zhao Zheng also pulled up a wild shepherd’s purse.

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[Notification: Wild Shepherd’s Purse, 5 wen per jin...]

Zhao Zheng nearly spat blood.

So cheap?

One stalk weighed about ten grams at most. He’d have to gather at least forty or fifty stalks to make five wen. He even doubted there were fifty wild plants in the entire area.

[Notification: Wild Dandelion, 25 wen per jin...]

Zhao Zheng’s expression lightened a bit.

Dandelion was both a vegetable and a medicinal herb. But it wasn’t the prime season for dandelions to flourish, so it wasn’t easy to make money.

He sighed and gave up on digging wild vegetables. “Zhaodi, I’m going to check ahead.”

“Father-in-law, please be careful,” Yang Zhaodi said.

Wu Yueying shook her head silently as Zhao Zheng wandered off. This wasn’t a mission to gather wild vegetables—it was plainly a leisurely outing. With food so precious, these wild plants might be life-saving in a dire moment.

Yet thinking of Zhao Zheng’s usual good reputation, she felt relieved. He had two such dutiful and thoughtful daughters-in-law. Unlike herself, who toiled like a beast of burden at home and outside, exhausted and without a single word of concern.

Her chest tightened with emotion.

Zhao Zheng, unaware of Wu Yueying’s thoughts, paid no mind.

The Wild Dog Ridge canyon was bare, though some trees grew on the cliffs. Zhao Zheng had no intention of taking risks.

Following the riverbed forward, he came to a cliff face—this was the Wild Dog Ridge waterfall. The deep pool beneath was shallow and murky. Occasionally, traces of animals drinking water could be seen.

“Looks like we’ll return empty-handed today,” Zhao Zheng sighed.

At that moment, his gaze happened to fall upon a tree growing in a crevice of the valley. Its leaves had long since fallen, but its branches hung heavy with fruit.

“What’s that?” His eyes lit up. Climbing over some rocks, he drew closer and recognized the fruit.

“Persimmons! Persimmons!”

Zhao Zheng rejoiced. “This is great! Not only can we eat them as fruit, but we can also dry them into persimmon cakes!”