036 Pheasant Eggs

The next day, the three arbitrators gathered the fifteen group leaders to discuss the monumental task of digging canals to divert water.

Each group was assigned a section of the canal to excavate. They also designated locations for two water reservoirs, one in the north and one in the south, tasking the groups to send laborers to work on them together.

The canal route was situated about five hundred meters east of Sun City, winding through low-lying areas chosen specifically for the terrain's natural contours.

Group Two was responsible for a section within their own territory, and Hua Hong was called away that afternoon to oversee the work.

Left at home, Lin Yan roasted hairy chestnuts for Ye Ya, taking the opportunity to share some new knowledge with him.

Ye Ya had learned a great deal recently. "After we eat, let's go check on the land you're farming."

For the past few days, she had been visiting the plot whenever she had the chance, taking it very seriously. Ye Ya wanted to see for himself if it were truly possible for farming to replace hunting as their means of survival, just as Lin Yan claimed.

If it were true, his own family would need to start clearing land for crops.

"Alright," Lin Yan said, clearly pleased. "That patch is still a bit small, though. Half of it is planted with hemp, and the rest is occupied by a few hairy chestnut trees. Once I add a few more fruit trees, it’ll be full."

"When will the fruit trees bear fruit?"

Lin Yan paused, thinking. "We’ll have to wait and see once they grow a bit. It will take at least a few years."

"That’s so long. By then, we’ll already be grown up and able to go out and pick fruit ourselves." Ye Ya frowned, feeling that the wait was too extensive.

"Even in a few years, you won't even be ten yet, so how could you go out?" Lin Yan disagreed. "Once the trees are grown and bearing fruit, we can pick them whenever we want to eat. How convenient will that be?"

"Hmm, I suppose it is convenient, but having to wait years to eat them... These hairy chestnuts are delicious—we'll be able to eat these again next year, right?" Ye Ya’s mouth didn't stop moving as he finished off a large chestnut in a few bites.

It wasn't his first time eating them, but he could never get enough.

Once the two little ones finished their snack, they set off on their short legs toward the west. By walking to the end of Eighth Street, they could reach the fields.

Mu Shi, taking a break from his own work, came to check on them and saw that they had already passed several houses. He hurried to catch up.

"Ye Ya, Lin Yan, where are you two going?"

"To Lin Yan’s field," Ye Ya said, glancing at his father before pulling Lin Yan along to keep moving.

"Who told you two to run off? You can't go anywhere without an adult watching." Mu Shi stopped them and prepared to head back.

Unwilling to return just yet, Ye Ya pleaded, "Father, why don't you come with us? Please?"

Lin Yan blinked her eyes at Mu Shi as well. There was nothing to do at home, and she preferred the outdoors; if possible, she wanted to go even further.

Mu Shi had intended to go home and weave baskets, as that was vital to his livelihood.

Ye Ya rolled his eyes thoughtfully. "Father, you need rattan vines anyway. Why don't we go together and collect some? Lin Yan and I will just stay in the field and won't wander off."

Mu Shi looked toward the west; the field was not far from their home, so he figured it should be fine. He nodded and led the two children westward.

It had only been a few days, but the hemp Lin Yan planted had already sprouted, though there was no sign of life from the fruit trees yet.

Weeds had begun to grow in the plot, so she started pulling them, and Ye Ya helped out.

Mu Shi stayed at the edge of the field gathering rattan. This was the Pika Plains, covered in thickets of bushes, some so dense that a person couldn't even pass through.

Before long, Mu Shi had gathered a large pile of vines and prepared to head home. When he turned around, the two children were gone.

He was startled and shouted, "Ye Ya! Lin Yan! Where are you?"

"Father, we're over here!"

Ye Ya’s voice came from a nearby thicket. Mu Shi hurried toward the sound.

Seeing that they were safe inside the brush, Mu Shi let out a sigh of relief and scolded, "Why didn't you tell me when you came here? You scared me to death."

Ye Ya lowered his head, obediently admitting his fault. "Father, it was our mistake. We won't do it again."

Lin Yan hid behind Ye Ya, pretending nothing had happened. Although Mu Shi had a gentle temper, they were indeed in the wrong.

Hua Hong and Ye Zi watched over her and Ye Ya very strictly. If they found out that Mu Shi hadn't kept a close eye on them, they would certainly blame him.

But what could Mu Shi do? He couldn't hit them, and he couldn't bring himself to yell. With them apologizing so sincerely, he had no choice but to accept it.

"Let's go home."

Ye Ya and Lin Yan immediately looked up at him, and Mu Shi’s heart tightened—did they not want to return?

"Father, there's a nest of wild pheasant eggs over there. They're delicious. Can we take them home?" Ye Ya pointed in a certain direction.

"What are wild pheasant eggs?" Mu Shi looked where Ye Ya pointed, but saw only a patch of weeds taller than a person; he couldn't see anything at all.

"They're eggs laid by wild pheasants. They're super tasty!" Ye Ya looked ravenous. He hadn't seen them himself, but he had heard Lin Yan say they were delicious.

Anything she found was always tasty, and Ye Ya was dying to try one. The eggs were only three meters away; the opportunity was right before them, and he couldn't let it slip.

Mu Shi looked at the area hesitantly. The vegetation was too dense; if there was something dangerous inside, he wouldn't be able to run in time. "I can't see a thing. Come on, let's go home."

Ye Ya grew anxious and nudged Lin Yan. "Father, Lin Yan says there are eggs there, so there must be. If you won't go, I'll go myself."

Mu Shi quickly grabbed Ye Ya. "It's just grass, there aren't any eggs. Come back. The grass is too tall, it's not safe."

Lin Yan spoke up just in time. "Mu Shi, there really are wild pheasant eggs right there. There's nothing else in the grass, it's very safe."

Her mental perception allowed her to see clearly. She had already scanned the area; there were no insects or snakes. All they had to do was walk over to collect a clutch of twelve eggs. Each one was the size of her fist—enough for a hearty meal.

This was the first time she had seen wild pheasant eggs, and she certainly wasn't going to let them go.

Mu Shi paused, swayed by Lin Yan’s words. "Are you sure it's safe?"

"It's safe. Take us with you," Lin Yan said with such certainty she might as well have been swearing on her life.

In truth, she was constantly monitoring their surroundings with her mental sense; if anything approached, she would know instantly.

After hesitating for a moment, Mu Shi trusted Lin Yan. He took the lead, shielding Ye Ya and Lin Yan behind him, and warned them sternly, "Stay close and don't run off."

The two little ones nodded vigorously, promising to be obedient.

Mu Shi swung his stone blade, cutting through the obstructing brush just enough for them to pass.

It took them nearly twenty minutes to traverse those few short meters.

Following behind, Lin Yan couldn't help but complain to herself—the tools here were just not up to the task. If she had a sharp machete, this bit of brush would be nothing.

The brush in the wilderness was far too dense; the difficulty of clearing this land in the future would be immense.

She stopped herself from thinking about it; the future looked bleak enough as it was.

Overcoming the obstacles, the three finally saw the nest hidden within the weeds. If they hadn't been looking closely, they never would have spotted it.

Mu Shi gave Lin Yan a thoughtful look. How had she found it?

Even standing right in front of it, they still had to search carefully to see it.

Ye Ya dove to the ground and picked up an egg. "It's slippery and feels so fragile—I feel like it would break if I squeezed it."

"Don't squeeze it! If it breaks, we'll have to eat it raw. It’s better cooked," Lin Yan said urgently, terrified that Ye Ya would crush it.