LGSLAW : Chapter 6 – Fright

Just as he exhaled, Yang Dalang returned with an unusual expression, as if he had hardened his demeanor even more. Although his face didn’t seem different, Miao He could sense that Yang Dalang was more rigid than when he was loosening the soil earlier.

Did Yang Dalang hear what Miao Min had whispered? Miao He guessed the most likely scenario. Glancing at Yang Dalang several times, he suddenly realized that whether Yang Dalang heard it or not, this was a good opportunity to “express his stance.” He should seize it.

As Yang Dalang approached, Miao He looked away and said, “Don’t dislike Min Ge’er. He just wanted to help me,” referring to the previous incident when Miao Min took him to find Miao Yuan. He believed Yang Dalang would understand.

“People say I’m entangling, but I just want justice for myself. In front of everyone in the village, can Miao Yuan honestly swear that he has never wronged me? When I went to find him, I just wanted to hear what nonsense he would spout in front of me!”

With that, Miao He stopped talking and limped towards the house.

After a few steps, Miao He was lifted off the ground and carried horizontally again. The warmth and sweat of Yang Dalang’s body pressed against his back. This time, Miao He struggled and turned his head away, complaining about the smell like he was throwing a tantrum.

Yang Dalang’s deep voice said, “I’ll wash after I finish.”

Miao He stayed silent.

The roles reversed, and now Miao He was the one throwing a fit. But Yang Dalang, being a man of few words, didn’t offer any explanation. He just settled Miao He on a bench in the main room and silently returned to the backyard. Miao He sighed inwardly; his feigned anger was an effort not to hurt anyone and to help clear the original owner’s name.

His previous words contained both truth and fabrication. The original owner’s resentment was genuine, but he also wanted to reconcile, which is why he repeatedly sought out Miao Yuan. However, no one would verify this with Miao Yuan, so Miao He used his version to show his intention to distance himself from Miao Yuan.

This way, if Yang Dalang held any resentment, it would somewhat dissipate.

As Miao He thought about it, he couldn’t help but question Yang Dalang’s attitude. Normally, a man in Yang Dalang’s position would be furious about the original owner’s infidelity. However, the original owner’s memories showed that Yang Dalang never reacted, regardless of how cold or rejecting the original owner was. He simply did what needed to be done.

Though Yang Dalang married the original owner to fulfill his dying mother’s wish, considering the almost nonexistent dowry from Miao He’s family due to their debts, he seemed to care for Miao He well. But Yang Dalang didn’t seem like a pushover; his actions over the past few days suggested otherwise.

These small doubts made Miao He think more. Despite being of marriageable age, Yang Dalang only married due to his mother’s deathbed wish. And even after marriage, he showed no romantic intentions towards Miao He. The original owner held onto the hope that without consummation, there was still a chance with Miao Yuan.

Wait, wasn’t this situation familiar?

Could it be that Yang Dalang, like the original owner, also had an unrequited love? Someone he couldn’t forget, leading him to marry someone with their own emotional baggage? If that were the case, Yang Dalang’s indifferent reaction to the original owner’s infidelity made sense.

If so, wouldn’t that be ideal?

At least staying in the Yang household wouldn’t be a problem for now!

Miao He’s eyes brightened, and he searched through his memories, but found no clues. The original owner really hadn’t paid attention to anyone other than Miao Yuan.

Yang Dalang finished in the backyard and called out from the door, asking where to dig the compost pit. Miao He directed him to a spot outside the mud wall to avoid any smell indoors. After Yang Dalang left to work, Miao He realized it was lunchtime.

Here, it was customary to have two meals a day, and Yang Dalang followed this habit. But Miao He felt hungry when it was time, perhaps due to a psychological effect. He also felt that after making Yang Dalang do so much work today, it wouldn’t be excessive to prepare some food.

So he went to the back room, took out a small bag of white flour, another bag of mixed millet and cornmeal, salt, and a small jar of oil. The oil didn’t smell like lard, perhaps it was extracted from the prey Yang Dalang hunted. The pantry also had some dried bacon strips, pickled mustard greens, a few dried ginger and garlic bulbs, but no fresh vegetables, indicating that cooking wasn’t frequent here. Over the past few days, Yang Dalang had either bought food or exchanged it with his second aunt.

With limited ingredients, Miao He decided to make do. He mixed some white flour with mostly millet and cornmeal, added water, and kneaded it into dough, adding a bit of oil and salt for flavor. After forming the dough, he slapped it onto the table a few times. Then, using a flint, he lit the stove, something he had become proficient at for morning washing. He placed an iron pan on the stove.

While the pan heated, he pinched the dough into small balls and flattened them by hand. Once the pan was hot, he brushed some oil onto it and placed the dough on it. To speed up the process, Miao He made the dough pieces small. After flipping them a few times, the millet cakes were ready.

The slightly charred cakes emitted a unique starchy aroma, making Miao He’s stomach growl. He couldn’t resist taking a bite, closing his eyes in satisfaction at the deliciousness. The cakes were soft and flavorful, thanks to the added oil and white flour, much better than the hard biscuits made by Second Aunt Yang, especially when fresh off the stove.

Pleased with his first cooking attempt here, Miao He happily ate another cake before gathering the rest in a bamboo basket. He added a damp cloth to keep them warm and headed outside to find Yang Dalang.

Outside, Yang Dalang had made considerable progress, having dug a pit half his height. Seeing Miao He approach with a basket, he put down his hoe and frowned. “What’s wrong?” he asked, meaning why are you walking around unnecessarily?

Miao He held up the basket, “I made some cakes. Come and eat. I was hungry earlier, so I made some and had a bit.”

Yang Dalang said nothing, but climbed out of the pit and wiped his hands on his clothes before helping Miao He to a nearby stone. After Miao He sat, he opened the basket.

He handed Yang Dalang a damp cloth. “Wipe your hands first.”

Yang Dalang paused but accepted, wiping his hands. Miao He then offered the basket of cakes. Yang Dalang took one and, after a bite, chewed quickly. Miao He also took one, his eyes crinkling in delight. “I used some white flour and oil.”

Although it might be a bit extravagant, he believed the money from selling vegetables would more than make up for it. Confident in future financial independence, Miao He felt a bit bolder. As for his cooking skills, here, all gers had to help in the kitchen, so Miao He’s actions wouldn’t seem unusual. The original owner’s reluctance to cook was just personal preference.

Yang Dalang finished his cake quickly and took another. “Use what we have,” he said, supporting this bit of extravagance.

Seeing Yang Dalang enjoy the food made Miao He happy. “The pit should be about a man’s height. But once it’s that deep, how will you get out?”

“I’ll carve steps into the side.”

“Oh. Can I take off the bandage on my foot tomorrow? I’d like to go into the mountains with you to gather leaves.”

“Day after tomorrow,” Yang Dalang shook his head. Uncle Lin said three to four days, and he wanted to be safe with four days.

“But my foot really doesn’t hurt much anymore,” Miao He tried to argue.

“Four days. Otherwise, it might need more treatment.”

That last reason silenced Miao He. Yang Dalang might not talk much, but he sure knew how to hit the mark. Miao He then saw another benefit. “Alright, one more day of rest. After I’m fully healed, I can go with you to the mountains. For now, I’ll need you to gather the leaves tomorrow.”

Yang Dalang agreed, and Miao He was pleased. If Yang Dalang went into the mountains, he wouldn’t be at home, giving Miao He the chance to secretly plant the seeds in the magic soil. By the time Yang Dalang returned, the seeds would still be seedlings, not drawing any attention. But by the afternoon, they would be ready to harvest again and again!

“I’m full. You can have the rest,” Miao He smiled. He had made eight cakes, eaten three, and gave the rest to Yang Dalang, who finished them all, enjoying them thoroughly.

Yang Dalang continued his work, finishing the pit and heading to his second brother’s house to get a wooden cover for it, as Miao He had instructed for composting. During this time, Miao He sneaked to the backyard with a bag of seeds Yang Dalang had bought. When choosing which seeds to plant, he realized he couldn’t identify them without Yang Dalang’s explanation.

Thinking it didn’t matter, he randomly picked a seed and buried it in the magic soil, eagerly anticipating what vegetable he would harvest tomorrow.

Having done all he could, Miao He decided to make more millet cakes, not for dinner, but to exchange with Second Aunt Yang for some eggs. He planned to mix the eggs with the remaining hard biscuits for a stir-fried dish.

Just as he finished his work, the gate rattled, signaling Yang Dalang’s return. Miao He wiped his hands and went to greet him, but as he glanced through the window, he saw a single, lush green scallion growing in the newly loosened soil!

Oh no! It had already grown!?

Miao He was so shocked he knocked over a bowl, causing a loud crash. He heard Yang Dalang’s footsteps approaching.

Miao He felt his legs go weak. If Yang Dalang saw that scallion, how would he explain it? Panicking, he realized his mind was blank, unable to think of a solution.

Yang Dalang entered the back room, and Miao He immediately ran to him, pointing towards the main room.

“I-I think I saw something run from my feet to the main room! Could it be a rat?” Miao He clung to Yang Dalang, pushing him towards the main room. “I can’t stand rats. Please check the main room and the bedroom! I won’t be able to sleep if it’s hiding inside!”

Yang Dalang frowned. He had never seen a rat in the house and hadn’t noticed any movement when he entered. But seeing how genuinely scared Miao He was, he reassured him, “Alright. I’ll check. Don’t worry.”

Miao He gave a weak smile. “I’ll wait here.”

Seeing Yang Dalang methodically checking every wooden box and cabinet in the main room, Miao He turned to gather the cakes, putting them in the bamboo basket. Then he stood guard between the main room and the back room, anxiously waiting.

After Yang Dalang finished checking the main room and the bedroom, saying there was no rat, he was about to check the yard when Miao He panicked and grabbed him.

“No, no! If it’s in the yard, let it be. Just make sure it’s not inside. I made these cakes to trade for eggs with Auntie. Take them over before they get ruined.”

Yang Dalang took the basket but asked, “Aren’t you scared anymore?”

Miao He forced himself to act, “Still scared. Please come back soon.”

Yang Dalang frowned, “Then I won’t go.”

“But I made so many cakes. It would be a waste not to trade. It’s been a while since we had eggs.”

Yang Dalang paused, looking at the pleading little ger. “I’ll go. Be back soon.”

Miao He nodded eagerly, almost pushing him out. “Quickly then.”

Hearing the gate close, Miao He jumped up and limped to the magic soil, pulling out the scallion by its roots. Luckily, it was just a scallion and not something more obvious like lettuce. If it had been a big plant, it would have been a disaster.

“Almost gave me a heart attack! It was supposed to take a whole day!” Miao He muttered angrily, feeling like he was constantly on edge since arriving here.

Examining the scallion, he saw it had fully matured. With magic soil, plants grew quickly, and he had to harvest them promptly to avoid overgrowth. In the past, it took a whole day for plants to mature in a pot. But here, maybe because the soil was stronger, it took only about an hour.

The scallion had even produced seeds, which was unexpected. Miao He carefully collected the seeds, not wanting to waste them, then buried the old leaves to erase evidence.

As he finished cleaning up, Yang Dalang returned with the eggs. Miao He, distracted by his thoughts on the magic soil’s new changes, absentmindedly prepared dinner. This was more convenient for using the soil.

To Yang Dalang, it seemed the little ger was still shaken.

Before bed, Yang Dalang reassured him, “I have good hearing. Nothing to worry about.”

“Huh?”

“I can hear any movement.”

Oh, about the rat. “…That’s good.”

Yang Dalang patted Miao He’s hand holding the blanket. “Sleep.”

“Okay.”

Rain : They’re soo meng ! ?~(????)