13 This is Shanxiu Village (Correction)

Back home, Ye Xi first went to see Ye Shan, who was nursing his injury indoors. She poured him some tea and helped him to the outhouse. Ye Shan felt guilty; it was the busy season for farming, yet he had injured his foot. "How’s the rice harvest going?" he asked, still worried about the work in the fields.

Ye Xi replied, "It will be finished today. Lin Jiangshan came to help. He works fast—can even compete with you, big brother."

Only then did Ye Shan relax. "Meeting a brother like him is my blessing. I’ll definitely invite him for a good drink to thank him."

Ye Xi slipped into the kitchen to prepare lunch. Usually, they would just make something simple, but today was different—they had to make sure the helpers had a hearty meal.

After cleaning the pot, Ye Shan, unable to stay idle, hobbled to the kitchen door and asked if there was anything he could do. Knowing her brother couldn’t sit still, Ye Xi handed him the rice ears they had collected that day.

"Help me pound out these rice grains so we can cook some sticky rice later."

Ye Shan took the rice bag and sat at the door to begin pounding. Ye Xi cut a small piece of cured meat from the stove, washed it in hot water, and diced it finely.

The corn and peas in the vegetable garden were at their prime, so she went to pick a few ears of corn. Sitting by the kitchen door, she shelled the tender corn kernels and fresh green peas.

Ye Shan pounded the rice with a wooden mallet nearby. Ye Xi casually asked, “Big brother, what do you think of Lin Jiangshan?”

Ye Shan answered frankly, “He’s good, of course. Though we haven’t known each other long, I see he’s reliable—straightforward and willing to help. That’s great. I want to be brothers with him for life.”

Ye Xi fell silent, quietly shelling corn with her fingertips stained by the tender yellow juice. In her heart, she wondered why her brother only thought of being brothers with Lin Jiangshan and never considered them as family.

Not wanting to continue the conversation, she finished preparing the ingredients and returned to the kitchen.

The freshly pounded rice still carried the fragrance of fresh grass. A simple rinse was enough before putting it in the steamer. Soon, the aroma of steaming rice filled the house.

The starchy rice water left behind would be used to cook sticky rice. Ye Xi stir-fried the diced cured meat in vegetable oil until golden and crispy on the edges, then added potatoes, corn kernels, and peas to sauté together.

Finally, she layered freshly steamed rice on top, poured a bowl of thick white rice water along the edge of the pot, covered it, and let it simmer slowly over low heat.

Rice alone was not enough; they needed dishes too. The garden was overflowing with vegetables these days, so Ye Xi picked a few eggplants and braised them with minced meat and soy sauce, adding a bit of water mixed with starch and sprinkling minced garlic on top.

By the time the dry-roasted chilies were ready, the sticky rice was perfectly cooked.

Ye Shan could smell the aroma from outside and took a deep sniff. “Xi ge’er, today’s meal smells wonderful!”

Ye Xi smiled and lifted the pot lid. A wave of steam and fragrance poured out. The sticky rice was glossy and fragrant, with a golden crust at the bottom—crispy and delicious.

“Big brother, you eat in the main room. I’ll take the food to Father and the others.”

Ye Shan replied, “Alright, I’ll clean up the dishes later.”

“Okay,” Ye Xi said, carrying the basket of bowls and chopsticks to deliver the food.

The midday sun scorched their skin painfully. By the time Ye Xi reached the fields, sweat drenched his back, glistening as it ran down his pale neck.

“Meal time!” he called, waving to the workers in the field.

Ye Father dropped his sickle and called out to Lin Jiangshan, who was working hard nearby, “Lin kid, still got some strength left? Come, eat first. We’ll keep working after lunch.”

Lin Jiangshan’s neck and arms were sunburned red; he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Alright, I’ll keep going this afternoon.”

Ye Xi laid out bamboo mats under the shade and arranged the food from the basket. The aroma wafted out immediately, making everyone’s stomachs rumble.

Ye Father and the others washed their hands in the nearby river and returned to the meal. Seeing the dishes, Ye Father exclaimed, “Sticky rice today? Good, it’s rich and filling.”

He ladled rice for everyone. When it was Lin Jiangshan’s turn, he whispered a thanks. Honestly, he had never eaten such a meal before. In Northern Zhou, rice was scarce, usually just steamed plain with little variation.

Ye Xi’s sticky rice was golden, with corn and peas mixed in, combined with the crispy crust. The more you chewed, the more flavorful it became.

Before he realized it, Lin Jiangshan had finished a whole bowl. Ye Xi noticed and added more to his bowl with a spoon.

Lin Jiangshan laughed, “Helping you harvest rice, but I’ve eaten so much of your food, I’m taking advantage.”

Ye Father chuckled loudly, “You’ve helped us so much, two bowls won’t be too much. Come eat here every day if you like.”

Liu Xiufeng agreed, “Though we’re not wealthy, rice is always enough. Xi ge’er cooks well—the dishes are tasty. Not to boast, but no one within ten miles makes food as good as him.”

Ye Xi blushed and stopped her mother, “Mom, you’re flattering me too much. I’m not that good.”

Liu Xiufeng covered her mouth, laughing, “I’m just telling the truth. You even got shy. If it were someone else, I wouldn’t say so—but Lin kid won’t laugh at us.”

Ye Xi’s ears reddened; he sat quietly, lowering his gaze. Could it be that Mom liked Lin Jiangshan and wanted him as a son-in-law? But with his current state, who would accept him?

Lin Jiangshan grinned, “Aunt Liu is right. Ye Xi cooks wonderfully. This is the best meal I’ve ever had. I almost swallowed my tongue.”

Ye Xi’s ears turned even redder as he glared at him, “You’re teasing me!”

Lin Jiangshan replied, “I’m just telling the truth.”

Ye Xi challenged, “Then stick out your tongue; I’ll see if it’s still there.”

Lin Jiangshan laughed, “If I eat another bowl, I might really swallow it.”

Ye Xi glared, “You’re really good at teasing!”

Lin Jiangshan smiled, “Is it wrong to genuinely praise someone these days?”

Their playful banter caused Liu Xiufeng and Ye Father to laugh heartily nearby.

Ye Xi snatched the bowl from Lin Jiangshan’s hand and tossed it into the basket. “For your tongue’s sake, don’t eat too much.” Saying that, he turned to head home.

Walking, he fumed silently. This guy used to be so quiet he couldn’t say a word, and now his mouth was so sharp. Was he just pretending before?

The summer wind blew, rippling the rice waves in the field. Under the tree’s shade, Lin Jiangshan’s amused gaze lingered on the figure walking ahead along the embankment. Leaves rustled, cicadas cried sharply—each sound a herald of summer.

* * *

With Lin Jiangshan’s help, the Ye family’s rice harvest was quickly finished. During this time, Lin Jiangshan came to work in their fields every day and gradually became acquainted with the villagers.

The villagers saw he was hardworking and not the kind to commit crimes or steal. When they met in the fields, they could chat with him a bit.

Clouds rolled by, and life in the mountains went on.

Big brother Ye Shan’s foot injury had healed but still needed time to recover. Ye Father and Liu Xiufeng feared it might leave a lasting problem. If he limped forever, finding a match for him would be difficult.

They worried about this for days. Ye Xi also worried about his injury, especially as the weather warmed. The wound was slow to heal and could easily become inflamed and swollen.

He went to see the village healer, who said the injury had affected a tendon and couldn’t be rushed. To fully recover, it needed careful treatment.

The best remedy was a combination of Panax Notoginseng and Tou Gu Xiao ointment. They had the ointment, but the Panax Notoginseng was hard to find. Ye Xi was told to check at the big pharmacy and that the best was the five-head variety or higher.

Since his brother treated him so well, Ye Xi was determined to get it. The next day, he went to town to inquire about the price.

To his shock, a small amount cost over one and a half taels of silver. He needed about three taels for enough medicine—that was an astronomical price. As the saying goes, the poor cannot afford to be sick. Now, Ye Xi truly understood.

Unable to pay, he left disappointed. Just outside the pharmacy, he saw a familiar figure.

“Brother Lin?” Ye Xi called out.

Having grown close recently, Lin Jiangshan was like family to the Ye household, and Ye Xi now addressed him as brother.

Lin Jiangshan stopped and turned. Ye Xi stood there with a veil partially covering his face.

“What are you doing here? Shopping at the market?” he asked.

Ye Xi shook his head. “I came to ask about Panax Notoginseng. My big brother’s foot hasn’t healed yet.”

“How did it go?”

“Too expensive. I don’t have enough silver. I’ll have to check with the village healer for other options.”

Lin Jiangshan nodded. “Panax Notoginseng is a great anti-inflammatory and healing herb. When I was in the army, the medic said our wound medicine was made from it.”

Ye Xi sighed. “It’s good stuff, but the price is just too high. Brother Lin, what brings you to town?”

Lin Jiangshan lifted the package he was carrying. “Caught two wild rabbits in the mountains. Sold them for some money to buy salt, oil, and other necessities.”

Ye Xi smiled at the oil paper package. “Your family must really go through salt. You should buy more.”

The food he cooked was so salty—it must use a lot of salt.

Lin Jiangshan was momentarily confused, then noticed Ye Xi’s amused smile. He realized she was teasing his cooking skills.

He rubbed his nose and smiled along.

The street was crowded, and someone driving a mule accidentally bumped into Ye Xi. Ye Xi stumbled forward, and Lin Jiangshan instinctively reached out to steady him.

In the next moment, Ye Xi fell into Lin Jiangshan’s arms, and Lin Jiangshan’s hand stayed protectively on his back.

“Oh, sorry, sorry! Didn’t mean to bump into the gentleman’s husband,” the mule driver loudly apologized.

Ye Xi’s face flushed deeply as he quickly stepped out of Lin Jiangshan’s embrace, still feeling the warmth left by his body.

Lin Jiangshan whispered, “That was an instinctive reaction, not to take advantage of you.”

Ye Xi lowered his eyes and softly replied, “I know.”