Translator: Vesper

  Ning Meng Yao could not help but to frown after she heard that voice and she lowered her head to look at the eyeful embroidered frame. She helplessly kept the embroidery back on the shelf and tidied her things up before opening the door.

  The door opened and Yang Xiu Er stood at the doorway, carrying a basket on her back.

  “Meng Yao, didn’t you say that you’re going up the mountain today? Let’s go together,” Yang Xiu Er smiled embarrassedly.

  Yang Xiu Er met Ning Meng Yao around a month ago when she heard that there was an orphan girl who came to the village and lived alone at the foot of the mountain. At that time while she was digging up some wild vegetables, she saw Ning Meng Yao for the first time.

  Ning Meng Yao wore clothes made from cotton as she planted vegetables in her field. Yang Xiu Er felt as though she was looking at a fairy.

  When she came to know Ning Meng Yao and her superb embroidery skill, she started to get closer to her in hopes of learning a little from her.

  As she got to know Ning Meng Yao better, she realized that they lived in two entirely different worlds.

  Ning Meng Yao was graceful when she ate or did anything. She also knew how to make delicious food and more. Ning Meng Yao had all the qualities that Yang Xiu Er lacked.

  “Alright, just wait for me a little. I’ll go get my basket.” Ning Meng Yao went in her room and took out her basket from under some debris before leisurely closing the room’s door and walking to the doorway to lock the door.

  Although Ning Meng Yao’s courtyard looked unsafe, many wouldn’t be able to get in unless they hit hard at the rotten gate because the vines around the courtyard were entwined with thorny wild roses.

  “Let’s go,” Ning Meng Yao said as she looked at Yang Xiu Er with a smile.

  Yang Xiu Er blankly nodded her head. No matter how many times she looked, she could not divert her eyes from Ning Meng Yao’s smile.

  Ning Meng Yao’s house was at the foot of the mountain; it did not take long for both of them to arrive at the top of the mountain.

  It was the middle of the summer and rain had fallen twice before; edible fungi were occasionally sighted in the mountain.

  Ning Meng Yao and Yang Xiu Er saw some edible fungi and plucked them before putting them into their basket. At this point, Ning Meng Yao realized that the Yang Xiu Er, who seemed like a person with a good personality, actually carried bone-deep selfishness.

  After spotting the fungi, Yang Xiu Er would hurry there immediately. No matter big or small, every single one was plucked clean into her basket.

  Ning Meng Yao only smiled faintly at the sight and remained quiet. Instead, she went elsewhere to search for the things she needed.

  After Yang Xiu Er plucked all the edible fungi around her, she turned her head to look at Ning Meng Yao, who was not too far from her. There was a large group of mushrooms in front of her.

  Looking at those mushrooms, there was dissatisfaction in her heart. Why didn’t Ning Meng Yao call out to her?

  Yang Xiu Er took her basket and went towards Ning Meng Yao and saw that those mushrooms were still in abundance. Hiding her displeasure, she put down her basket beside Ning Meng Yao and said, “There are so many mushrooms here!”


  While exclaiming, Yang Xiu Er’s hand began plucking the mushrooms quickly. Not long after, a large number of mushrooms were all in her basket. As for Ning Meng Yao who found those mushrooms, she only had a little of it.

  Looking at the Yang Xiu Er, who did not let even a single mushroom go, a trace of displeasure flashed through Ning Meng Yao’s eyes. However, she was not bothered and she remained silent, only taking her basket with her to go elsewhere.

  Looking at Ning Meng Yao’s behavior, Yang Xiu Er curled her lips with pride. So what if she was the one who found them? In the end, they were all plucked by her.

  That pride blinded Yang Xiu Er from noticing the flash of displeasure in Ning Meng Yao’s eyes. This temperament of Yang Xiu Er’s, to her, was like a jumping clown that deserved no attention.

  Although they were in the mountain for only a short while, the day was nearing noon and Ning Meng Yao proposed to return home. However, Yang Xiu Er was unwilling.

  “Isn’t it still early? Why do we have to go back now?” Yang Xiu Er realized that following Ning Meng Yao provided her with the opportunity to pluck a lot of mushrooms and wild vegetables, which was why she was not willing to go down the mountain and wanted to stay for a little while longer.

  Ning Meng Yao looked at Yang Xiu Er faintly with an eye, and the bottom of her eyes glimmered, “This much is more than enough for me to eat for a while.” That was why there was no need to continue staying any longer.

  Yang Xiu Er gaped and wanted to say that the amount she had picked was not enough for her family to eat for two days, but what did that have to do with someone else?

  In the end, Yang Xiu Er could only follow Ning Meng Yao down the mountain, but her heart whispered in dissatisfaction. Next time, she definitely had to call Ning Meng Yao to go together.

  After Yang Xiu Er left with the basket on her back, Ning Meng Yao turned to head home. When she turned around, she saw a tall man wearing commoner clothes and carrying a bunch of prey as he walked down from the mountain.

  There were pheasants, deer, rabbits, and much other catch.