Watching the little girl act so grown-up, Zhao Yan couldn't help but chuckle.
"All right, all right, just be careful. Let’s get moving; Mother is still waiting for water." Zhao Yan took Zhao Yun’s hand, stepped out of the house, and headed toward the river.
The path to the river was rough, filled with potholes and scattered stones that threatened to trip them at every turn. This area was so remote that, aside from the occasional hunter or villager gathering firewood, almost no one ever walked here.
*It’s certainly overgrown with weeds,* Zhao Yan thought cheerfully. *No matter, a path will emerge the more we walk it.*
Wild weeds had their merits; what others saw as mere grass, Zhao Yan saw as medicine. Though he didn't need it at this exact moment, his family was in dire need of care: Zhao Yun was malnourished, Madam Chen was physically depleted, and Zhao Gao was exhausted from overwork.
All these roadside weeds were "treasures" that would eventually be useful to him.
The medicinal herbs he spotted along the way—honeysuckle, mint, and other common varieties—weren't his priority yet. Cleaning the house was the most urgent task; Zhao Yan wanted a clean place to sleep tonight.
When they reached a relatively open area, wild vegetables were already peeking out from the soil.
"Little Sister, you can pick the wild vegetables here. I’m going to fetch the water."
"Okay, Third Brother, go ahead. I’ll be fine picking them here by myself."
Seeing that Zhao Yun seemed calm, Zhao Yan felt reassured. He let go of her hand and continued toward the river. By this season, the river wasn't deep—it only reached Zhao Yan’s knees.
*It’s truly untainted by chemical pollution,* Zhao Yan marveled to himself, observing how the water was clear enough to see the bottom.
He filled the bucket, used the water to dampen the moss and dust inside, then reached in to scrub the grime away. After rinsing it a few times with fresh river water, he finally filled the bucket completely and headed back home.
He walked over to Zhao Yun. "Little Sister, are you finished? It’s time to go home."
"Third Brother, you go ahead first," Zhao Yun replied, her hands nimbly plucking the vegetables. "I’ll pick a bit more so we won't have to come back tomorrow."
"Alright, be careful. I’m heading back now," Zhao Yan said, already thinking about the massive cleaning project waiting for him.
Back at the house, Zhao Yan and Madam Chen immediately dove into the cleaning. Lacking rags, they tore up some old, unwearable clothes to use instead.
"Whew."
Zhao Yan rubbed his aching lower back. It was finally done. The three rooms were cleaned, Zhao Gao had managed to get some straw from the villagers to patch the roof, and Zhao Yun had finished weeding the courtyard.
Looking at the brand-new appearance of their home, Zhao Yan suddenly felt a sense of belonging. *This is my home now,* he thought.
"Guihua! Are you home? I’ve brought some food over."
The sudden voice startled Zhao Yan.
"Aunt Wang, I'm here!" Madam Chen hurried out of the room.
The visitor was Wang Ju, the Village Chief’s wife. Because Village Chief Zhang knew what had happened at the Zhao Family home today, and because she had always despised Mrs. Li’s behavior, she felt a genuine sympathy for Madam Chen. When her husband asked her to bring some rice to Zhao Gao’s family, she didn't complain; in fact, she even added a jar of her own homemade pickles.
"Aunt Wang, how could we accept this? You’ve already helped the Village Chief so much today. We can’t possibly take your food," Madam Chen said, trying to decline.
"Just take it. Think of it as a small gesture from your elders. I know what kind of person you are; you’ve suffered for so many years, and now that you’ve finally made it out, you should just focus on living a good life," Wang Ju said, shoving the rice and pickles into Madam Chen’s arms. "Take it! I need to get home and cook. Don’t be so formal with me." Fearing Madam Chen would protest further, she turned and left immediately.
Madam Chen wanted to follow her, but looking at the rice and pickles in her arms—and remembering that her cupboard was bare—she knew she had to prioritize her children, especially her son who was recovering from a serious illness. *I will repay Aunt Wang's kindness later,* she decided.
She took the goods inside. Aside from Zhao Yan’s books, these were the most precious things in their house. Since the kitchen roof wasn't fully secure yet, she didn't feel safe leaving them there and kept them in the room she shared with Zhao Gao instead.
Zhao Yun was delighted. Though they had wild vegetables, white rice was much more fragrant. She could only remember eating white rice during the Lunar New Year; she still remembered how delicious it had been.
Just as Madam Chen finished putting the items away, she heard someone else calling from outside. Thinking Aunt Wang had returned, she hurried out.
"Sister Guihua, oh, I’m sorry I’m late! I had some things to attend to at home, but I wanted to bring this over earlier," Sister Cao said with a smile.
Sister Cao was the wife of the Uncle Zhang who had pulled Zhao Yan out of the river. She and Madam Chen had married into the same village. Sister Cao was a warm-hearted woman who had often helped Madam Chen in secret when she saw her struggling under the Zhao Family’s mistreatment. But as an outsider, there was only so much she could do. Seeing Madam Chen move out and finally live her own life, free from that old woman Mrs. Li, Sister Cao was genuinely happy for her.
Sister Cao had brought a bucket of rice, six steamed buns, and some vegetables, insisting—just as Wang Ju had—that Madam Chen take them.
"Sister Cao, why bring so much? Your own family isn't exactly well-off," Madam Chen said, her eyes turning red.
"What does 'well-off' have to do with it? Just take it! Is your life any less difficult than mine? I’m happy for you—you’ve finally escaped that man-eating place! This isn't worth much, so don't be so polite with me," Sister Cao said, patting Madam Chen on the shoulder.
"Sister Cao, come in and sit for a while." Knowing it was useless to return the gifts, Madam Chen invited her inside.
"Oh, what for? You’ve been working hard all day cleaning; don't worry about hosting me. Once you’re settled, I’ll come by myself. Don't be so formal now," Sister Cao said with a laugh. "I won't disturb you any longer; I have to get home and cook for my old man and the boys."
Sister Cao left. Madam Chen watched her walk away until she was out of sight before heading back inside. While putting things away, she discovered a small piece of cured meat hidden in the rice.
To an ordinary family, meat was a luxury—something eaten only during the New Year or during the busiest farming seasons when they needed the extra energy. Even though they weren't wealthy, the small piece of meat Sister Cao had included was a gesture of immense heart.
Madam Chen felt her eyes go red once again.