Chapter Five: When in Rome

Spring Festival in the countryside truly begins with Little New Year, and from that moment, it is steeped in a festive atmosphere utterly unlike that of the city. The bustle is essential, yet this busyness is saturated with endless joy.

Among the group at Beiting, Wan Yongkun was a born-and-bred farmer. He was the most familiar and enthusiastic, eager to take part in every task. Liu Zichen came from a northern rural area; though the customs differed slightly, she adapted quickly. Kuang Suo, being from a minority group, found the customs quite foreign and was a bit unaccustomed, but it mattered little. As for Shen Mingyue, she was all wide-eyed wonder, hopping about excitedly. A city girl, she’d never had the chance to immerse herself in such rural life; her natural exuberance shone, her face glowing with happiness.

Chen Tianyu, like Li Yiting, was also full of childlike innocence. Returning to this environment, the two of them instantly reverted to boisterous, mischievous boys. The old saying “birds of a feather flock together” proved truer than ever!

At first, Yiting’s parents were a bit worried: could these sophisticated city guests really adapt? But within a day or two, their worries vanished. These passionate young people were indeed Yiting’s true friends, seemingly no different from family themselves. The elderly couple’s anxieties melted away completely.

They had always enjoyed a lively household, but this year was truly bustling—both could barely contain their smiles.

Soon, the full preparations for the Spring Festival began in earnest.

First, it was time to slaughter ducks and geese in large numbers, then smoke the meat. These hens and white geese were all home-raised, about a dozen of each—a considerable undertaking. Daughter Li Yi hadn’t returned yet, and usually, the work was shared among the sisters-in-law. This time, Liu Zichen and Shen Mingyue volunteered to help. Liu Zichen quickly learned, while Shen Mingyue, in her novelty, often made a mess of things—sometimes even making more work for the others. Yiting’s mother only smiled; their aim was laughter and joy, so why be strict with these young people?

With plenty of helping hands, the sisters-in-law turned to another daunting task: cleaning the house. This was even more formidable. The two-story wooden home was nothing like a concrete building; with its sweeping eaves, exposed beams, and intricate joinery, it was far more complex than any modern house, and cleaning it was even more laborious. For reasons unknown, Kuang Suo expressed an unexpected interest in joining this traditionally female-dominated task. He scrambled up ladders, clambered along eaves and beams, clearly enjoying himself. Perhaps it was not the cleaning itself, but his curiosity about the wisdom embedded in these ancient structures that drew him in.

Watching Kuang Suo’s enthusiasm, Li Yiting shook his head in amazement. He’d never expected this man—once a dignified leader, usually reserved and taciturn—to have such a sensitive, inquisitive side. Truly, appearances can be deceiving.

He called out to Chen Tianyu, “Fourth Brother, since you’ve graced my humble home, let me take you for a walk in the mountains.” Then, a thought struck him. “How are your legs—will you be all right?”

Chen Tianyu shot him a sidelong glance and snapped, “Worry about yourself—what do you think?”

Li Yiting suddenly recalled, scratching his head in embarrassment. “I forgot—I met you up in the mountains, like some wandering immortal.”

“Playing dumb when you know full well,” Chen Tianyu retorted with a laugh.

Casting his gaze around, Li Yiting soon spotted a familiar figure. “You reminded me—where’s our professional hunter? Yongkun, come here! Get ready to head up the mountain!”

Wan Yongkun jogged over, excitement sparkling in his eyes. “Master, is there anything special in the mountains? Do we have a hunting rifle?”

Li Yiting gave him a sidelong look. “What year do you think it is? Still dreaming about your rifle?”

Wan Yongkun was puzzled. “How can you go into the mountains without a gun?”

Li Yiting sighed, “Gun control’s gotten so strict these days. Even remote villages require real-name registration. I’m rarely home, so I never bothered with a permit.”

“Ah, well.” Wan Yongkun was clearly disappointed.

Li Yiting handed him an iron tool. Wan Yongkun examined it curiously. “Is this a hoe?”

“It’s an auger,” Li Yiting replied. “Made for digging holes.”

“Digging holes? What exactly are we doing today? So mysterious…”

“No need for so many questions!” Li Yiting cackled mischievously.

---

The three of them were furiously digging on a slope, facing a dense thicket of reeds nearly two meters high. The patch covered quite a bit of ground. Reeds remain green all year, but the center of this clump was already withered and brown.

According to Li Yiting, a small animal lay hidden deep in the soil at the roots.

Most importantly, this animal was delicious—perfect for braising, stewing, or boiling.

A small stream trickled nearby. Wan Yongkun had already fetched two or three buckets of water, waiting on standby. As soon as the diggers found the burrow, he would pour water down the hole and catch the mountain delicacy called a pangolin as it tried to escape. This method was known locally as “flooding the warren.”

They were engrossed in their work when a cold voice called down from the top of the slope.

“What are you doing down there?”

Li Yiting looked up and broke into a smile.

“Uncle Wu, we’re digging for pangolins!” he called back. It was Li Qiumao, his fifth uncle, passing through the mountains—his fields and woods lay nearby. In essence, this patch of wild land was his. Seeing a few ragged figures hunched over in hard labor, he’d feared they were up to mischief.

“Oh, it’s you, Yiting.” Uncle Wu’s stern face softened into a smile. “You scoundrels—know how to live, don’t you…”

Li Yiting called back, “Just a little greedy, that’s all. Uncle, what are you up to?”

Li Qiumao leaned on a wooden staff, a hatchet strapped to his back, a wide-brimmed straw hat shading his face. “I’m up here to pick out some good timber—planning to make a bookshelf for my kid. Carry on!”

He had barely finished speaking before he turned and walked away. Mountain folk were always direct; they spoke their piece, then moved on.

Li Yiting watched his uncle depart, thoughtful.

Wan Yongkun suddenly asked, “Did Uncle Wu hurt himself?”

“Huh?” Li Yiting snapped out of his reverie. “He was fine yesterday. It’s probably nothing.”

“Maybe he slipped—mountain paths are treacherous,” Wan Yongkun said, unconcerned.

Li Yiting sighed softly. “He’s always worrying, even injured he still goes up the mountain. The older generation, they really give their all for their children.” The words were tinged with emotion; his own parents were much the same.

Chen Tianyu, however, was not convinced. He’d sensed that Li Qiumao was deliberately concealing his injury. Something about it seemed odd, but he kept silent. After all, Yiting’s emotional state was understandable—years away from home had dulled his judgment with nostalgia. Perhaps, as an outsider, he was being too suspicious, and so he chose to say nothing.

“Hey, Yongkun, get back to work,” he called, cutting off Wan Yongkun’s overthinking. “Don’t you want some wild game?”

Wan Yongkun grinned and said no more. They returned to digging with renewed vigor.

---

As dusk fell, the day’s harvest was impressive: not only had they caught two pangolins, but the quick-handed Wan Yongkun had even managed to snatch a wild pheasant bare-handed on the mountain trail, leaving his companions dumbstruck.

This rough fellow was becoming more and more skilled!

The trio returned home, their laughter echoing, lingering on the road to stretch out the moment. At one point, they stopped by a roadside boulder to smoke a few cigarettes. Just then, a young man hurried past them, heading up the mountain in the opposite direction—not even noticing the three of them.

Li Yiting, absorbed in his cigarette, didn’t pay much attention at first. But soon, a sense of familiarity struck him. He called out, “Fuyu, heading up the mountain this late?”

“You are…?” Li Fuyu hesitated, not recognizing him at first—after all, Yiting’s outfit was rather eccentric. “Oh! Yiting, it’s you! When did you get back?”

“I just returned two days ago. Are you looking for your father?” Li Fuyu was Uncle Wu’s son.

Li Fuyu hesitated, then replied after a pause, “Yes… Yiting, have you seen my dad?”

Li Yiting nodded. “Ran into him around noon. Did something happen?”

Li Fuyu shook his head quickly. “No, nothing. Did he tell you where he was going?”

Yiting found this odd. Why come all the way up the mountain to look for him unless something had happened at home? But he chose not to pry. “Uncle Wu said he was looking for some wood to make you a bookshelf.”

“Really?” Li Fuyu was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained composure. “All right, I’ll go find him. See you later.”

Li Yiting said nothing more, and Li Fuyu hurried away.

“What’s up with Fuyu today?” he muttered to himself.

He turned to Chen Tianyu. “So many years away, I hardly recognize friends and family anymore.” He laughed self-deprecatingly. “Let’s just head home.”

“That’s normal. Every family has its troubles,” Chen Tianyu replied calmly.

Wan Yongkun chimed in, “Family squabbles are pretty common in the countryside.”

Li Yiting nodded in agreement. “I’ve always heard that Uncle Wu’s family isn’t the most harmonious. Maybe I’ll help mediate if I get a chance.”

Chen Tianyu sighed. “You’re all family—if it could’ve been resolved, it would’ve happened long ago.”

“Maybe so,” Yiting replied with a wry smile. “People get used to things after so many years.”

They dropped the subject, chatting about lighter topics. By the time they got home, a fresh pot of rice was just finished steaming.