Chapter 16

The soap locust pods used for washing hair were gathered by chance while cutting thatch yesterday, and it took half the day just to boil them into water.

Jiang Li washed her own hair first before helping A-Ning. Once A-Ning was finished, she boiled more water for Xue Man. During the interval, Xue Man ran off to return the water bucket.

A single earthenware basin of water was only enough for one person to wash with. By the time they were all done, the sun was already setting. The sight of the three of them lining up in front of the house to chase the last of the sunlight to dry their hair was rather comical. Watching their shadows shift, Jiang Li let out a giggle. Xue Man and A-Ning, though unaware of the reason, followed suit with wide grins.

"What are you two little sillies laughing at?"

Xue Man looked up, beaming: "I’m just happy. What are you laughing at, Mother?"

"I’m laughing at us chasing the sun to dry our hair."

In the glow of the sunset, A-Ning’s eyes sparkled. She didn’t understand what was so funny about chasing the sun, but seeing Jiang Li so happy for the first time made them happy too.

"Mother, when you smile, you look like a fairy."

"Fairy" was too abstract a term for a description. Jiang Li raised an eyebrow slightly. "Have you ever seen what a fairy looks like to say I look like one?"

"Fairies just look like you."

"Then is it that I look like a fairy, or a fairy looks like me?"

A-Ning couldn’t answer; she pursed her lips and smiled, her small face flushing with shyness. Jiang Li found the child’s logic amusing and couldn't help but tease her a little. Xue Man looked at his embarrassed sister and said, "A-Ning, you’re silly. What do you mean who looks like whom? Obviously, Mother is a fairy."

Jiang Li burst into laughter, her entire being relaxing with the heartfelt sound.

As dusk deepened, the wild vegetable cakes from noon remained, so they continued to eat them for dinner. They had also picked a large amount of Aralia shoots during the day; Jiang Li washed some, added a bit of lard and cracklings, and stir-fried a bowl, which turned out fragrant and refreshing. Although the vegetable cakes also contained Aralia shoots, the stir-fried version tasted completely different. They finished the cakes and the stir-fry, feeling thoroughly satisfied.

At Granny Zhao’s house, they followed Jiang Li’s method: washing and chopping the Aralia shoots, mixing them with a little flour, and pan-frying them thinly in a splash of oil. Since only Jiang Li had said they were edible, Granny Zhao’s family was still hesitant. Initially, they only made a small batch. Zhao Qingzhu tasted the first one. The grandchildren gathered around the stove, smelling the aroma and swallowing their saliva as they watched her eat. Only after she had taken several bites did she break off a piece and hand it to Granny Zhao.

"Mother, try a piece. It’s delicious."

"This little bit certainly won't be enough. Let's cook all the ones we picked."

As Zhao Qingzhu went to wash more, the children grabbed her legs: "Aunt, give us a bite, give us a bite!"

Looking at the five little ones, she stuffed the cake she was holding into her mouth. "Go find your grandmother; there’s another one in the pan."

The one in the pan wasn't ready yet. Seeing the children’s disappointed faces, Granny Zhao raised her spatula at Zhao Qingzhu. "You greedy thing! Would it kill you to give them a bite?"

Zhao Qingzhu had already dashed out, leaving the children staring longingly at the stove. While washing more, she thought about picking more tomorrow morning. If it tasted this good without eggs, it would be even better if she followed Jiang Li’s suggestion and whisked in a few. For years, everyone had considered the Aralia grove poisonous, and it pained them to watch the tender buds sprout and wither away.

Granny Zhao’s daughters-in-law watched their sister-in-law busily washing the vegetables, finding it novel. "Qingzhu, is it really that good?"

Zhao Qingzhu looked at her sisters-in-law’s skeptical faces and sighed. "Would I be working this hard if it weren't?"

The sisters-in-law nodded repeatedly. "That’s true."

Although Granny Zhao’s family was large, they had picked quite a bit of Aralia. After washing them, they filled more than half a basin, enough to make over a dozen cakes. The family ate until their bellies were full and then moved bamboo chairs into the courtyard to enjoy the evening cool.

Just as they sat down, they heard heavy pounding at the courtyard gate. No one wanted to move, so they sent the children to open it. It was Liu Chunhua, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.

"Auntie, please, save my Da Niu!"

Granny Zhao stood up, leaning on her knees, and went inside to get her medical kit. "What happened to Da Niu?"

"He’s been poisoned!"

"How?"

"That poisonous grove in the valley! It’s all that wretched Jiang woman’s fault. She tricked A-Ning into telling us they were edible. At first, everything seemed fine, but while we were picking them, Da Niu’s poison flared up."

When Liu Chunhua said this, everyone in the courtyard looked at her with strange expressions. If it were truly the poison from the grove, they had all eaten it tonight and were perfectly fine. Granny Zhao and Zhao Qingzhu understood the reason and exchanged a knowing look. Jiang Li had already told them the remedy, but they didn't know the extent of Xue Da Niu's condition. They had gathered some camphor leaves during the day, but they would need to go strip some cedar bark.

"Mother, I’ll go with you." Zhao Qingzhu stood up and followed her out.

The old Xue house was in chaos. The grandmother was holding Xue Da Niu, trying to keep him from scratching, but his face and skin were covered in red, raised welts, looking terrifying.

"Grandma, it hurts, and it itches! I can't take it, I’m going to die, boo-hoo-hoo!"

"Da Niu, endure it. Once Granny Zhao comes and applies the medicine, you’ll be fine." She said this, but in their village, someone had died from this poison before, and there was no known cure. She feared Xue Da Niu was beyond saving. Her heart ached for her favorite grandson, and she wished she could tear Jiang Li to pieces.

The houses were not close, and Granny Zhao and her daughter ran most of the way. They were still shocked by the sight of Xue Da Niu. Seeing his red, swollen state, Zhao Qingzhu didn't even pause. "Mother, I’m going back to brew the medicine."

"Hurry, and take your brother with you."

By the time Zhao Qingzhu returned with the cedar bark and camphor leaves, it was already dark. She boiled them in an earthenware basin until a thick, black liquid formed. Straining out the solids, she carried the basin to the Xue house.

The house was crowded with neighbors who had come to see what the commotion was about. "Move aside, uncles and aunts, the medicine is here!"

Granny Zhao took the basin and, without a word, checked the temperature before asking Liu Chunhua for a cloth. She personally began to sponge Xue Da Niu down. After several applications, Xue Da Niu finally quieted down.

"Da Niu, how are you? Does it still itch?"

Xue Da Niu shook his head slightly. "Not as much, but I still feel unwell."

Granny Zhao sighed in relief; the method worked. She handed the cloth to Liu Chunhua. "Keep sponging him. Be careful not to break the skin. See if the swelling goes down by morning. If it does, he’ll gradually recover."

The neighbors whispered, surprised. They had thought Xue Da Niu was done for. Knowing her grandson’s life was saved, the old woman’s anger still simmered. "Second and Third, go bring that vicious Jiang woman here!"

Before the Xue family could move, Granny Zhao spoke up. "Sister Li, I heard what Chunhua said, but this isn't Jiang’s fault."

"How is it not? She goaded A-Ning into tricking us! If A-Ning hadn't said they were edible, we wouldn't have picked them, and Da Niu wouldn't be poisoned. Her heart is poisonous; she wanted to take a life over a petty grudge!"

Before the old woman could finish, Zhao Qingzhu interjected. "Auntie, if that’s the case, then you really can't blame Mistress Jiang. My mother and I were digging for herbs today and happened to see her and A-Ning picking these shoots. They said they were edible, so we picked plenty and ate them tonight. We’re all fine."

Everyone was shocked. Granny Zhao added, "There is another type of tree in that grove. Xue Da Niu must have picked the wrong one. You must have picked more than just that; why is he the only one poisoned?"

Liu Chunhua and the old woman realized then that they were fine. The old woman was still disgruntled, feeling embarrassed to be blocked by Granny Zhao and her daughter. "You two don't even know her. Why are you speaking up for her?"

Zhao Qingzhu sneered. "Uncles and aunts, Mistress Jiang taught us how to tell the difference today. The two trees look similar, but the one with thorns on the trunk is non-toxic, while the one without thorns is toxic. The non-toxic ones are safe to eat. We ate them tonight."

Her eyes swept toward the corridor, where three baskets were filled with Aralia shoots. Her brow furrowed in annoyance. "Oh, sister-in-law, you picked so much? You didn't strip the whole valley, did you? I was planning to go back tomorrow."

Zhao Qingzhu was sharp-tongued. Though Granny Zhao usually scolded her, she didn't disagree today. The matter was settled, and she had no interest in staying. She looked at the old woman. "Sister, this dose might not cure him completely. Bring the basin to my house tomorrow. The cost for the medicine will be twenty-six copper coins."

A gasp went through the crowd. Twenty-six coins—that was enough to buy over fifty eggs. It was the first time they had seen Granny Zhao charge so much.