Children who are cooped up at home start playing in the village as soon as the weather gets warm, they love to have their little adventures on the mountain too, they don’t dare to go into the deep mountains, but they enjoy exploring the outer ring of the mountains.
Mushrooms, bamboo shoots, wild vegetables, the children love to collect them.
Most villagers don’t have enough food in winter, including children. So the children are very happy to collect whatever they can eat in the winter from the mountain.
Chen Xiao Cai and Chen Xiao Mai were exceptions, both boys grew taller and prettier thanks to Lu Lin’s wonderful cooking this winter.
Lu Lin made fried chestnuts for them today and gave them some bamboo baskets: “Cai, Mai, will you invite your little friends to pick some wild berries from the mountain? I’ll pay 3 cents for each basket.”
Chen Xiao Cai frowned: “3 cents is a lot.”
Lu Lin smiled: “It’s fine.”
Chen Xiao Cai scratched his head and said: “But they don’t like playing with me, I guess I can’t find anyone.”
Lu Lin deliberately pulled a long face: “Cai, you are an adult now, you can do it. You can ask Shen Chi to invite some friends with you.”
Chen Xiao Cai blushed, he nodded: “I think I can do it.”
Lu Lin handed about a dozen small baskets to Chen Xiao Cai.
“Why do we have so many small baskets at home?” Chen Xiao Cai asked.
The small baskets looked rather beautiful, but they were suitable for decorative purposes but not for utility.
“I asked some elders in the village to weave these baskets for us, 5 cents each.” Lu Lin replied.
Lu Lin found that such fine and cheap workmanship, Lu Lin was happy that the villagers were simple and honest in that sense.
Chen Xiao Cai judged Lu Lin a little at heart, but he didn’t say anything, he was already used to Lu Lin’s ‘extravagant’ lifestyle.
“Okay, I’m leaving now.”
“Good luck, Cai.” Lu Lin waved goodbye.
Chen Xiao Cai went to talk to Shen Chi, Grandma Shen liked the idea, so she gave Shen Chi permission.
Shen Chi held a small basket in hand and asked Chen Xiao Cai: “But why does Lin Gege want wild berries?”
Chen Xiao Cai shook his head: “Don’t know, for brewing wine maybe?”
“To brew wine?” A touch of admiration flashed in Shen Chi’s eyes, brewing wine was an extraordinary skill in that time and space.
The day was getting warmer and warmer, there were a lot of berries in the mountains, the children loved picking the sour and sweet berries.
Zhang Da Hu was now sitting on a tree, enjoying the berries he had just picked, all ten of his fingers were red with juice.
Zhang Da Hu jumped off the tree when he saw Chen Xiao Cai, Chen Xiao Mai and Shen Chi walking towards the mountain with a dozen small baskets, he blocked their way and asked: “What are you doing with these little baskets?”
Zhang Da Hu saw the new clothes that Chen Xiao Cai and Chen Xiao Mai were wearing, he was a little jealous.
Chen Xiao Cai raised the basket in hand and said: “My brother-in-law asked me to pick berries, he paid me 3 cents for each basket.”
Zhang Da Hu looked at the basket in Shen Chi’s hand and asked: “Are you helping him?”
Shen Chi nodded: “Yes, there are too many baskets here, Lin Gege will pay me 3 cents for each basket too.”
“Will I also get 3 cents if I help?” Zhang Da Hu’s eyes lit up.
Chen Xiao Cai was very happy to hear that because he did not know how to ask Zhang Da Hu for help, but he covered up the happiness and put on a serious face: “Yes, but we only accept good berries, we only want big and ripe ones.”
Zhang Da Hu nodded: “No problem!”
Zhang Da Hu was the leader of the children, the other children immediately surrounded Chen Xiao Cai and asked if they could also help.
Chen Xiao Cai nodded, he immediately distributed the baskets.
There were three types of wild berries on the mountain, one grew on trees and the other two grew on bushes. They were the same size, but the one growing on the tree was dark purple like mulberry, the one on the bush was like cherry.
Chen Xiao Cai said he wanted all three kinds of berries, but he wanted them to be in different baskets.
Zhang Da Hu had good hand-eye coordination, he managed to fill two baskets while most children were still struggling with the first basket.
“Chen Xiao Cai, look at my baskets, are you happy with the number?” Zhang Da Hu asked.
Several other children also got Chen Xiao Cai’s approval.
Chen Xiao Cai checked and nodded: “Now we can go back to my house and talk to my elder brother or elder brother-in-law.”
The children were afraid of Chen Xiao Mi, but no one could resist ‘Almighty Yuan’, they looked at each other to comfort themselves and together they marched to Chen Xiao Mi’s house.
Lu Lin was impressed with how quickly Chen Xiao Cai finished his work.
Chen Xiao Cai blushed when he saw Lu Lin’s smile of appreciation, he felt proud.
Lu Lin inspected the berries, he was pleased with the quality, so he paid for them swiftly.
The children were happy, usually they didn’t have pocket money. But now they had 3 cents, it was enough to buy 2 large steamed buns!
Lu Lin put the berries in a big basket, he told the children to take a small basket if they were interested in continuing to work for him.
That’s what the children wanted, they immediately surrounded Lu Lin and took the small baskets. They went back and forth from the mountain to Chen Xiao Mi’s house that day, most of them took 6 baskets that day, some children managed to take 9 baskets.
In the end, all the good, ripe berries were picked on the mountain.
Lu Lin didn’t want the children to go to the deep mountains to pick berries, so he told the children it was enough and he had to call it a day.
The children were a bit disappointed, they enjoyed giving themselves pocket money.
“Cai, please let me know when you need help next time.” Zhang Da Hu patted Chen Xiao Cai on the shoulder.
The other children also chimed in: “Yes, please, Cai, let us know.”
This was the first time the children spoke to Chen Xiao Cai in a warm tone, Chen Xiao Cai was a bit tongue-tied.
Zhang Da Hu returned home with 24 cents.
His younger sister Zhang Mei Zi asked in surprise: “Gege, where did you get all this money?”
“Haha, because I have good hand-eye coordination and I run fast.”
It was true, Zhang Da Hu was also good at climbing trees, he picked the most fruits from trees among all the children.
“What have you been doing? I’m very curious.” Zhang Mei Zi was interested.
“Chen Xiao Cai’s brother-in-law paid everyone 3 cents for a small basket of berries, but unfortunately, he doesn’t want any more. I guess it’s okay, I don’t want to go into the deep mountains to pick berries, it’s too dangerous.”
“Why does Lu Lin want so many berries?”
Zhang Da Hu shrugged: “I didn’t ask, but he and Chen Xiao Mi are very rich now, they sell gloves and wine, maybe he does it for fun?”
Zhang Lin Sheng, their father, now walked in while the children were talking.
“Good job! 24 cents!” Zhang Lin Sheng patted Zhang Da Hu on the head.
“I’m the highest paid of all the children.” Zhang Da Hu smiled.
Zhang Lin Sheng nodded and put all the money into his own pocket: “Good for you.”
Zhang Da Hu frowned: “Dad, that’s my money.”
Zhang Lin Sheng glared at Zhang Da Hu: “I know, I’m just saving it for you, I’ll buy you a steamed sandwich next time I go to the market.”
Zhang Da Hu was indignant: “When exactly are you going to the market?”
“In a few days.” Zhang Lin Sheng dismissed his son impatiently.
He didn’t dare to make eye contact with his son now, he couldn’t bear that hot gaze.
Zhang Mei Zi pouted: “Dad has taken everything.”
Zhang Da Hu whispered: “I have put 3 cents in my sleeve, don’t worry, I can buy you an egg.”
Zhang Mei Zi didn’t see that coming, she smiled broadly.
The villagers were surprised to hear that the children made about 15 cents for picking berries, that’s what they got as freelancers for a day if they were lucky enough to be hired. They no longer mentioned things like ‘stay away from the Chens’.
Lu Lin started at the small basket, daydreaming.
“What’s wrong?” Chen Xiao Mi asked.
“One is missing.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it’s very strange, isn’t it? I paid 5 cents for each, I don’t care about the 5 cents, it is just so strange, isn’t it?”
“Let’s ask Cai.”
Lu Lin shook his head: “No, it’s not a big deal, Cai has finally built up confidence, let’s not go overboard and ruin his good mood. Maybe some kids liked it and took it home. No problem.”
