Chapter Thirty-Six: An Accidental Find—Ginseng

Seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Ding picked up the little wolf, Grey, intending to force it down the mountain and return home. But just a few steps out, he noticed a patch of green at the edge of the cliff, dotted with red spots. Xiao Ding quickly stopped, used his iron rod to push aside the thicket, and approached the plant.

Upon closer inspection, his heart surged with joy. There, near the wolf’s den, grew a wild ginseng! Xiao Ding had seen wild ginseng before and recognized it immediately. Judging by the height of the plant and the abundance of ripe red ginseng berries, it was clearly quite old.

Delighted, Xiao Ding took out his knife, cut a small wooden stick from the bushes, and carefully dug up the ginseng with it. He labored for a long time, and as darkness fell, finally managed to excavate the whole plant. Though he accidentally damaged a few fine roots, there was no helping it—he had been as careful as possible.

He first picked all the ginseng berries and tucked them into his pocket. Then he peeled two large strips of bark, sandwiched the ginseng between them, and cradled it carefully in his arms.

Little wolf Grey stayed by Xiao Ding’s side throughout, not understanding his actions but watching curiously. “Alright, let’s go now!” Xiao Ding said to Grey, then set off along the path he had come.

Grey still wanted to return to the den, and hesitated when Xiao Ding walked in a different direction. But after a moment, it followed. By the time they reached the clearing in the woods, night had fallen. This area was likely the territory of the two grey wolves, so few other predators ventured here.

Xiao Ding returned to his basket, gently wrapped the ginseng in bark and tied it with several loops of rope, then placed it inside the basket. He slung the basket onto his back and was about to hoist the brown bear, but realized that carrying the bear would crush the basket. How could he bring everything home?

Just as he was pondering this, he saw firelight flickering in the distance. Soon, voices reached his ears:

“Xiao Ding—”

“Big Brother—”

“Fool Tian—”

How familiar the scene was!

Xiao Ding simply sat down and waited for them to arrive. The last time these people found him, he had been muddled and oblivious. This time was entirely different—he understood everything.

Sure enough, before long, Zhao Laixi arrived with a dozen villagers, torches in hand. Seeing Xiao Ding, they shouted excitedly, “Found him, found him!”

On the way back, Xiao Ding carried the basket, which held both the ginseng and little wolf Grey. The wolf, seeing the crowd, was fearful, baring its teeth and growling as if ready to bite. Xiao Ding, worried it might hurt someone, put it inside the basket.

The villagers chopped several thick branches, tied them together with ropes to make a simple frame, loaded the bear onto it, and took turns carrying it home, all in high spirits. After all, Xiao Ding had promised them bear meat for dinner.

Xiao Ding briefly recounted the bear hunt, claiming it was a lucky kill. The others didn’t believe him, thinking to themselves that this fool was growing increasingly capable—he’d killed wolves before, now a bear; would he hunt a tiger next?

Zhao Laixi inwardly exclaimed, “Impressive, my brother! You managed to kill such a big bear. Truly, after three days, one must look at you anew!”

“By the way, brother-in-law, did you buy the yellow wine today?” Xiao Ding suddenly remembered and asked casually.

“I did, I did! I bought half a pound, but I’m not sure if it’s enough,” Zhao Laixi replied, his spirits lifted. Not only had he sold iron goods today, but after buying the wine, he still had twenty coins left—all his, as Xiao Ding had promised.

“We’ll use what we have. If it’s not enough, we’ll buy more,” Xiao Ding said, unsure himself.

Zhao Laixi had returned from town on his donkey, told Xiao Ya at home, then came to Luoxia Village to deliver the wine and donkey to Xiao Ding. By the time he reached the Tian family, dusk had fallen and Xiao Ding was gone. Tian Dabao and his wife were worried, so Zhao Laixi had to gather villagers again to search Luoxia Mountain.

After they returned to the Tian household, Zhao Laixi insisted on going back to Luoyun Village, unwilling to leave Xiao Ya alone at home. Xiao Ding didn’t stop him, offering a portion of bear meat to take back. Zhao Laixi refused, saying the meat he took that morning hadn't been eaten yet, and any more would spoil.

After Zhao Laixi left, everyone skinned the bear, cut off a leg weighing several dozen pounds, and stewed a huge pot of bear meat, feasting heartily once more.

Xiao Ding put away the bear skin, filled a large wooden barrel with water, and soaked the hide. The wolf skin from last time still wasn't fully processed, and now he had another bear skin.

With bear meat to eat, everyone was naturally overjoyed, especially Xiao Fu and Xiao Zhu. Their delight wasn’t just from the feast, but from seeing the little wolf Xiao Ding had brought home. The wolf, with its silly and adorable demeanor, was irresistibly cute. Xiao Zhu wanted to reach out and pet it. In the eyes of the two children, it wasn’t a wolf at all—it was clearly a puppy!

But Grey was not very friendly to them. When Xiao Zhu tried to touch it, she was nearly bitten.

Seeing this, Xiao Ding quickly scolded the wolf and told the children that they weren’t familiar with it yet and should avoid getting too close. He advised them to feed it often, and once it grew accustomed to them, they could approach gradually.

Xiao Ding decided from now on to feed the wolf only cooked meat, so it would get used to the taste and forget raw meat, thus reducing its wildness. He also encouraged his family to interact with it regularly; over time, it would learn who belonged and who didn’t.

Sure enough, after Xiao Fu and Xiao Zhu fed the wolf several pieces of stewed bear meat, its hostility toward them diminished considerably.

When the others dispersed that night, Xiao Ding went to visit Tang Yunzhi. All afternoon, Er Niu and Xiao E had been caring for her. Er Niu found an old wooden basin to serve as her chamber pot. For minor needs, Er Niu and Xiao E could assist her in the shed, making things much easier.

Xiao Ding mixed Wu Langzhong’s topical medicine powder with yellow wine into a paste, and applied it to Tang Yunzhi’s injured calf.

Tang Yunzhi was disappointed when Xiao Ding said he hadn’t found any medicinal herbs today. But when he mentioned he would go again to Luoxia County tomorrow and could buy her some good medicine, her spirits revived.

She longed for Xiao Ding to take her to the county, but after thinking it over, she didn’t voice her wish. Though conditions at Xiao Ding’s home weren’t good, she had care. The county had better facilities, but no one to look after her. In her current state, even basic needs were a challenge, let alone boiling medicine and other chores.

After washing up, everyone in the Tian family retired to their rooms. Xiao Ding fed the donkey and the little red horse in the backyard, settled the wolf in the haystack, and returned to his hut.

Er Niu had already shed her outer clothes and was waiting in bed for Xiao Ding. When he undressed and climbed in, she immediately snuggled up to his chest and said, “Husband, can we consummate our marriage tonight?”

Xiao Ding: “……”