Chapter 8

Jinshan, this is something Zhu Pingan has been dreaming about. Once back in the east wing, Zhu Pingan started pestering Zhu Shouyi to take him into the mountains.

"Do you think going into the mountains is fun? There are black bears that eat little kids in there, so don't go," Chen Shi deliberately scared Zhu Pingan, not wanting him to go.

This child really doesn't make things easy. It's already heart-wrenching enough to see him jumping around in the village, and now he wants to go into the mountains, deliberately making his mother's life miserable. Chen Shi increasingly felt that having a son was not as good as having a daughter. They are like debt collectors, mischievous and troublesome, and if they grow up and marry, they might forget their mother, leaving her to grieve alone.

Zhu Pingan, hearing Chen Shi's scare tactics, couldn't help but roll his eyes, thinking she was treating him like a little kid.

"There aren't, there are fat rabbits, wild chickens, and delicious fruits in the mountains," Zhu Pingan stopped pestering Zhu Shouyi and ran over to cling to Chen Shi's leg, pestering her.

Zhu Pingan knew who was in charge at home. Despite his father's burly appearance, he was completely under Chen Shi's control. If Chen Shi didn't agree, his father wouldn't even dare to speak.

"Did you tell him?" Chen Shi glared at Zhu Shouyi with her almond eyes.

Zhu Shouyi's face turned pale, and he shook his head repeatedly, not daring to anger Chen Shi. The last time she was angry, she made him sleep on the floor for over a month and didn't give him a good face, making those months unbearable.

"Tomorrow you stay at home obediently, and I'll cook you something delicious. If you dare to go out, I'll beat your bottom!" Chen Shi turned her gaze to Zhu Pingan, coaxing and threatening him.

If Zhu Pingan were a five-year-old child, he would have submitted to Chen Shi's coaxing and threats, but he wasn't.

"Mom, I want to go into the mountains with Dad. I want to find delicious things to show my filial piety to you." Zhu Pingan clung to Chen Shi's leg, refusing to let go.

"Nonsense, stop trying to fool me!" Chen Shi said angrily, fuming. This little rascal wants to go into the mountains at just over five years old, and a rabbit could knock him down.

"I want to go into the mountains with Dad!"

Zhu Pingan fully embraced the spirit of a spoiled child, responding to Chen Shi's coaxing and threats with the same phrase: into the mountains, into the mountains, into the mountains...

Chen Shi was furious, flipped Zhu Pingan over, and slapped his bottom.

"Ahh, I want to go into the mountains!"

Zhu Pingan cried out in pain but still insisted on going into the mountains.

Chen Shi looked at her little son, her teeth grinding in anger. She didn't hit him hard, but he screamed like a pig being slaughtered. This little brat! Does he think going into the mountains is fun? There are all sorts of dangerous things in the mountains.

"His mother, let Xiao Zhe go with us. I'll just stay on the outskirts of the mountains, not go deep, so it's not dangerous," Zhu Shouyi said softly.

Chen Shi glared at him, and Zhu Shouyi immediately lowered his head and kept quiet.

However, in the end, Chen Shi agreed to let Zhu Pingan go into the mountains after he persistently pestered her, but she gave many instructions: don't run around, follow your father obediently; don't eat anything without your father's permission; don't try to catch rabbits...

Xiahe Village was at the foot of Woniushan. This Woniushan is not the one in Beijing and Hebei, but rather in the Anhui and Hubei regions, located in the Huguang Province during the Ming Dynasty.

Woniushan, resembling a reclining ox, hence its name, lies in front of dense forests, like an old giant ox with its neck resting on the southern mountains. Two tall peaks on its head resemble horns, and two mountain streams flow from the mountains, converging into a clear stream at the chin, facing the opposite mountains.

According to legend, during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Laozi, before becoming an immortal, rode a blue ox and dragged a wooden cart through the Hangu Pass to spread his teachings. The ox, influenced by Laozi, gradually gained wisdom. When Laozi became an immortal, unlike the later Han Wu Di's Liu An, who achieved immortality and took his chickens and dogs with him, Laozi transformed into the Three Pure Ones and left. The blue ox, chasing Laozi like Kua Fu chasing the sun, became exhausted and fell to the ground, its body transforming into the mountains and its tears into the streams...

This is the legend of Woniushan passed down by the elders of Xiahe Village.

Three figures, one large and two small, walked through the low-lying outer areas of Woniushan. Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting dappled shadows on their bodies. The ground was covered with pebbles, grass, and fallen leaves, and their footsteps made a rustling sound.

These three were Zhu Pingan, his father Zhu Shouyi, and his brother Zhu Pingchuan. Zhu Shouyi and Zhu Pingchuan carried large baskets, and Zhu Shouyi also had a woodcutter's knife on his waist. During the Ming Dynasty, the control over cold weapons was relatively loose, allowing the possession of bows, arrows, and knives, but armor and firearms were strictly regulated. Therefore, Zhu Shouyi carried a woodcutter's knife, and since they were not professional hunters, they did not have bows or crossbows. Zhu Shouyi's hunting skills were limited to setting traps for small animals.

As for Zhu Pingan, he carried a very small basket. Originally, Zhu Shouyi didn't want him to carry anything, but Zhu Pingan insisted, so Zhu Shouyi made him a special small basket overnight, and Chen Shi said, "You're just spoiling him!"

"Zhu Shouyi, listen carefully. If anything happens to the two kids, I'll tear you apart when we get back!"

Chen Shi's voice still echoed in Zhu Shouyi's ears as he walked ahead, frequently looking back to check on the two kids.

Zhu Pingan, with his short legs and small basket, trudged behind the two, occasionally massaging his calves. Indeed, going into the mountains is not something just anyone can do. The mountain paths are rugged and difficult to walk, and the dense forests are full of twists and turns, making it easy to get lost without experience.

This was just the outer area of the mountains. If they went deeper, even experienced old hunters wouldn't dare to go alone.

"Zhe'er, are you tired? I can carry you," Zhu Shouyi, seeing how hard it was for his little son to walk with his short legs, offered to carry him when he saw him massaging his legs.

Zhu Pingan immediately shook his head. No way, if he let his father carry him, his mother would definitely not let him go into the mountains again! She would say, "You let someone carry you into the mountains, and you still want to go? Forget it!"

So, for the sake of future mountain trips, Zhu Pingan firmly refused. Besides, he needed to exercise his small arms and legs, and this was a good opportunity. He had seen "A Bite of China" and knew there were countless delicious things in the mountains. He couldn't return empty-handed from this treasure trove.

Zhu Shouyi was surprised by Zhu Pingan's firm refusal but looked at him with newfound respect. This kid has potential.

"Second brother, put your basket in mine," Zhu Pingchuan also wanted to help Zhu Pingan reduce his burden.

"No need, big brother, I can do it," Zhu Pingan insisted on being independent. Nothing could stop a food lover from going into the mountains, especially when he was also thinking of finding things to improve the family's economic situation.

Seeing Zhu Pingan's determination, the two gave up but slowed their pace a bit.