Chapter 104: Carved Windows and Pheasants

It was only ten o’clock when they returned home from Shangtao Village. Feng Shuya had matters to attend to and had not accompanied them back to Xiasha.

"Sister, I'm going to call Carpenter Luo to come and renovate our house."

"Carpenter Luo? Where is he? How far is it?" Li Ying looked at Le'er’s leg. "You’re injured, how can you walk?"

"It’s not far, just over the mountain, maybe four or five miles."

"I'm going too."

Li Ying was worried about his leg and insisted on going along. Besides, she had been here for quite some time, and apart from visiting Snake Coil Mountain a few times, she hadn't really walked around the countryside.

Being in the countryside, she felt a sense of curiosity. She changed her clothes and shoes, while Le'er cut a wooden stick to use as a cane, and they set off with the yellow dog. By the stream in the village, they encountered many women washing clothes.

"Le'er, where are you taking this fairy?" the women joked.

The villagers all knew that Le'er had become a big boss, but they still teased him. Fortunately, Sister Taohong and Sister Guixiang were not there, or the teasing might have taken a much more colorful turn.

Le'er exchanged a few words with them and led Li Ying along the bamboo-lined mountain path toward the Luo family’s home in Dashuitian. The bamboo swayed in the wind with a rustling sound, and small birds chirped in the woods. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo, illuminating the moss-covered path.

"Le'er, why don’t these bamboo plants grow shoots?"

"They grow in the spring. It’s winter now, though in a little while, we can dig for winter bamboo shoots." Le'er couldn't walk too fast, and the yellow dog darted about excitedly in the bamboo grove. "Winter shoots are much tastier than spring shoots, especially when stewed with lamb. The flavor is incredible."

"If you dig up the shoots to eat, won't there be no bamboo left?"

Li Ying knew nothing of mountain life; everything seemed novel to her.

"Winter shoots don't grow above the ground, and they won't grow into bamboo."

"If they don't grow above the ground, how do you dig them?"

"After digging enough, you gain the experience to know exactly where to find them." The air in the dense bamboo grove was exceptionally fresh. The path was rarely traveled and the moss made it slippery, so Le'er had to proceed with caution. "I'll take you to dig for winter shoots in a few days."

After crossing the bamboo mountain, they passed through a stretch of paddy fields. Snails and loaches could be seen in the water from time to time, and fresh green shoots were sprouting from the harvested rice stubble. Li Ying looked at these new sprouts with curiosity.

"Le'er, is this rice?"

"This kind of rice is useless; it won't produce grain."

Passing through the paddy fields, they began to climb the slope covered in pine forest. In the pine woods, not only were there more birds, but field mice also appeared from time to time. Li Ying exclaimed in surprise, causing the yellow dog to chase after them frantically.

After climbing slopes, crossing ridges, and traversing fields for over an hour, they finally reached the Luo family's home in Dashuitian. Le'er had been to Carpenter Luo’s house before. As the yellow dog entered the strange village, the local dogs began barking at it. It tucked its tail and stayed close to its master, not daring to leave his side.

"Uncle Luo, Carpenter Luo—"

Le'er called out from outside the courtyard. Many people watched Le'er and Li Ying; Li Ying’s beauty made them stand at a distance, lingering for a long time. Some of the women pointed and whispered with smiles.

"Le'er, what a rare guest." Carpenter Luo happened to be at home. "Hey, who is the young lady behind you? A fairy, indeed."

In the winter, Carpenter Luo’s bulbous nose seemed even redder. Le'er and Li Ying followed him into the courtyard, and the carpenter warmly poured them tea. It was served in large bowls; Li Ying took a sip, and it was bitter from her mouth down to her heart.

"Hehe... we only have coarse tea here, my apologies," Carpenter Luo laughed. "Le'er, I was just thinking of looking for you. Luo Shiwen has an old bookcase he wants to sell. His son replaced all the furniture, and this is all that's left. Do you want it?"

Hearing this, Li Ying’s eyes lit up.

"I do," Le'er said, his own eyes brightening. "But the price needs to be cheap. If we settle on a price, I'll treat you to a drink."

"Don't worry," Carpenter Luo said confidently. "That thing is worth nothing to him, and who wants old stuff like that these days? Only you would."

"I was just about to ask you to help me renovate the upstairs as well," Le'er said, following the carpenter out of the courtyard. "Let's buy the cabinet first, and you can bring some men to my place tomorrow."

"Deal. I’ve had no work lately. I was trapping pheasants in the mountains and happened to catch one; you can take it to eat later." Carpenter Luo rubbed his red nose. "Consider it a welcome gift for your fairy maiden."

As they spoke, they reached Luo Shiwen’s house. Luo Shiwen opened the door and greeted them happily. The bookcase was piled in the courtyard along with a heap of old lumber—less than before, surely some had been burned for firewood. Seeing the old cabinet and the wood, which included a few carved window frames and other items, a flicker of excitement crossed Li Ying’s face.

"Uncle Luo, I’d like to buy this old cabinet. Name your price."

"Whatever you think is fair. How about two hundred?" Luo Shiwen said casually.

"Two hundred?"

Le'er glanced at Carpenter Luo, who understood the signal.

"Brother Shiwen, this bookcase has a hole in the back. I think one hundred and fifty is about right."

"Fine, let's make it one hundred and fifty." Luo Shiwen was in a good mood today. "My son Hong was just going to throw it out."

Li Ying walked up to Le'er and whispered something in his ear. Le'er listened, looked at the pile of old wood, and smiled at Luo Shiwen.

"Uncle Luo, I happen to need wood for my house renovation. Why don't you sell me this pile of waste lumber as well?"

"You want the old wood too?" Luo Shiwen was delighted. "How much will you offer?"

"Hehe, this old wood isn't of much use, but I'm in urgent need. How about this: I'll give you two hundred yuan... though I'll have to pay someone to haul it back."

"Alright... I need to clear the courtyard anyway. My son Hong wants to lay floor tiles, and there’s no room for this stuff."

Le'er immediately counted out the money. He then pulled Carpenter Luo aside, slipped him two hundred yuan, and asked him to find someone to transport the items back to Xiasha. The carpenter happily went off to find help.

Li Ying had been wandering around the wood pile when she suddenly discovered a dusty kettle with a patina of verdigris, discarded in a corner. She walked over and saw a crack at the bottom, but the rest was intact, and faint patterns were still visible on its body.

Just then, Le'er walked over.

"Le'er, I want this kettle."

Le'er looked at the kettle. "It’s just a broken pot, what use is it?" Still, he figured Li Ying must see value in it, so he turned to Luo Shiwen. "Uncle Luo, are you selling this kettle?"

"No one has come to buy scrap metal in a while. If you want it, I'll weigh it. Copper is expensive these days. The last collector paid nine yuan a jin; let's see how heavy it is."

After weighing it, it came to two jin and two taels. Le'er paid the price, and Li Ying looked at the kettle with delight, her eyes sparkling with joy. Carpenter Luo returned with men who began to carry off the bookcase and the wood. Li Ying, still looking for other items, suddenly noticed a pile of old books beneath some lumber. Once the wood was moved, she hurried over to take a look. She found five or six thread-bound books beneath a stack of children's primers. She immediately picked them up; the pages were not too damaged, save for one which had been nibbled by mice.

"Uncle, these books..."

Luo Shiwen didn't quite catch what she said, but seeing her holding the books and noticing her beautiful appearance, he understood she wanted them.

"Are you a scholar?" Luo Shiwen laughed generously. "Just a few old books, take them. There were many more before, but they were all burned as kindling."

"Oh..." Li Ying was shocked. It was a pity that such books had been burned as firewood. Being able to save these few was fortunate. "Uncle, let me pay you for them."

Li Ying pulled out a one-hundred-yuan note.

"No need for that much. If these were sold as waste paper, two or three yuan would be plenty. If you insist on paying, just give me ten yuan."

Country folk knew how to haggle, but rarely accepted money for things they considered worthless. In the end, Li Ying paid ten yuan and took the books. Le'er, already carrying the pheasant given by Carpenter Luo, walked over happily, and together they headed back toward Xiasha Village.