Chapter 2: Yanghuai Flower

Returned to the Mountain God Temple.

Qiao Sheng again asked Xiao Shitou how he felt; he was still so young, naturally cannot be careless.

Once more confirmed that everything was fine.

Qiao Sheng carried water over to the stove and started making lunch.

"Mother, I'll help you light the fire."

Xiao Shitou said and went to pick up firewood, his movements were very nimble, showing he often did this.

Seeing him so sensible, Qiao Sheng felt relieved, smiled, and picked up a nearby clay jar to wash.

That was when.

A familiar woman's voice came from outside.

"Lianhua..."

The visitor was none other than the original host's only good friend, Zhang Qiao.

As Qiao Sheng just stepped out, Zhang Qiao pulled two mixed-grain steamed buns from her bosom and shoved them into her hand.

"Lianhua, I can't help you much; these buns are what I secretly saved while cooking today—take them and eat together with Xiao Shitou."

In memory, Zhang Qiao had helped them a lot.

Only because she fell into the water while washing clothes as a child, and the original host pulled her out.

Qiao Sheng didn't stand on ceremony with Zhang Qiao; she accepted it, after all, now is not the time to be polite.

Seeing her off.

Qiao Sheng returned and handed a bun to Xiao Shitou.

"Mother, I'll just eat wild vegetables; you eat the bun."

Xiao Shitou didn't want it.

At such a young age, he's so filial—what good deeds did she do?

To have such a son!

Qiao Sheng shoved the bun into his hand without further ado.

"You're my son; how could a mother eat the bun while letting the son eat wild vegetables? All right, you eat it—eat slowly, don't choke."

Xiao Shitou hesitated a bit, then picked it up and took small bites.

Qiao Sheng laughed and ate too; after a bite, she glanced at the water in the clay jar, and once the water boiled she poured some into the bamboo

tube to keep it cool.

The wild vegetables weren't cooked.

Their stomachs are small now; eating a bun and drinking some water basically fills them seventy to eighty percent.

After lunch.

Qiao Sheng decided to go into the mountains to try her luck.

Thinking back to what happened before.

Qiao Sheng took Xiao Shitou along.

Now it's March.

It should be a time when there are plenty of wild vegetables.

As a result, we walked a long way.

We saw hardly any, and many had already been dug up by others, leaving only some poor-quality or undeveloped wild vegetables in place.

We reached the mountain foot.

Qiao Sheng looked out and saw several black locust trees, each now bearing many black locust blossoms.

Seeing them, many ideas popped into Qiao Sheng's mind, but she had nothing on hand now, so she couldn't make anything.

She brought Xiao Shitou over.

Qiao Sheng picked some black locust blossoms and tasted them.

It was the taste from memory.

Sweet with a hint of bitterness.

Xiao Shitou widened his eyes.

His mother is so hungry she's eating flowers…

If he had known it would come to this, he wouldn't have eaten that bun.

Qiao Sheng glanced at Xiao Shitou's surprised look and suddenly realized the original host had never brought him to eat this.

She coughed and said, "Xiao Shitou, this is called black locust flower, and it's edible. Although it's not harmful to the body, don't eat too much."

Saying that, she picked a little bit for Xiao Shitou to taste.

Qiao Sheng smiled and asked, "How is it? Is it a bit sweet and also a bit bitter?"

"Mm!"

Xiao Shitou obediently nodded his head.

Qiao Sheng rubbed Xiao Shitou's head, then carried him and walked into the mountains.

Taking him along.

Qiao Sheng didn't plan to go deep into the mountains, just to try her luck on the outskirts.

In fact, she didn't hold much hope, but soon after entering the mountains she spotted a colorful wild pheasant.

"Xiao Shitou, wait here on this tree for Mother."

(End of chapter)