First time climbing a mountain

After struggling up the mountain for days, Lin Ai, Zhu Qingcheng, and Zhu Qingyang returned home with the wild goods they had collected. The heavy basket was filled with mushrooms, herbs, and wild fruits that were almost overflowing. They headed straight to the village market to sell their goods.

Even though she was so tired that she could barely move, Lin Ai still tried to smile at the market vendors, hoping to earn enough money to buy rice and herbal medicine for Zhu Changyu and Zhu Qingan.

After a long day, Lin Ai only earned a few taels of money, but she was glad to have enough money to buy some food and necessities.

When Lin Ai and her children returned home, they found Old Mother Zhu and Zhu Changhai waiting at the door.

" What is that ?" Old Lady Zhu asked in a cold voice, pointing at the small money bag in Lin Ai's hand.

" I … I got the money from selling wild products," Lin Ai replied cautiously, but Old Lady Zhu's eyes were filled with greed.

" This money is mine !" Old Lady Zhu immediately stretched out her hand, and Zhu Changhai stepped forward to join her.

" Yours ? I climbed the mountain ! I picked it up ! Mother, don't do this," Lin Ai tried to plead, her tone filled with despair.

" This house, I am in charge. Everything you earn is mine !" Old Lady Zhu said firmly before snatching the money bag from Lin Ai's hand.

Zhu Qingcheng and Zhu Qingyang tried to block them, but Zhu Changhai ruthlessly pushed them away.

" That's not enough ! You can go up the mountain and find some more tomorrow !" Zhu Changhai said as he threw the empty bag back to them.

Lin Ai looked down at the empty bag that had fallen to the ground. She knew that she did not have the strength to fight against Old Mother Zhu and her son. Tears slowly flowed down her face as Zhu Qingcheng and Zhu Qingyang rushed over to support their mother.

In the dimly lit room, Zhu Changyu and Zhu Qing'an heard the arguing outside. Although weak, Zhu Changyu tried to get up, but he was held back by Zhu Qing'an.

" Father, don't force it …" She said softly, tears welling up in her eyes.

" I … I should have protected you guys, but I couldn't do anything," Zhu Changyu said with a trembling voice.

Zhu Qing'an, who was listening, was filled with anger and determination. She tried to gather the strength in her mind, even though her body was still weak.

" I won't let them take advantage of us anymore …" She muttered, her voice filled with determination.

Even in the darkness, the dim shadow of Zhu Qing'an on the bed looked like the spark of a small flame that was beginning to glow in the darkness.

After several days had passed, after Zhu Qing'an had recuperated under Lin Ai's good care, she gradually regained her strength. Although the house they were living in was dilapidated and lacked food, she tried her best to recover in order to help ease the burden on her family.

One day, as she looked out of the old house, she saw the image of her mother and two younger brothers carrying heavy baskets up the mountain to gather forest products. It pained her to see them suffer like that.

" I will not let my family suffer anymore," Zhu Qing'an muttered to himself with a determined look in his eyes.

With her knowledge from her previous life, she understood that the nature on the mountain had many resources that could generate income if managed properly.

Early one morning, Zhu Qing'an prepared a basket and a small knife. She decided to climb the mountain alone without telling anyone. With her newly recovered body, although she was not yet fully healthy, her resolute mind helped her overcome the fatigue.

On the quiet mountain, only the sound of the wind and birdsong could be heard. Zhu Qing'an used her knowledge from her previous life to find valuable mushrooms, herbs, and wild fruits. She knew how to distinguish between edible and marketable wild products clearly.

As she walked deeper into the forest, she came across a small stream hidden in the middle of the dense forest. The water in the stream was so clear that she could see schools of fish swimming around it.

" Here … Why isn't anyone here catching fish ?" She wondered, but she couldn't help but smile when she thought that no one was snatching food from here.

Zhu Qing'an explored the surroundings of the stream and began to think of a way to catch fish without complicated equipment. She used wood she had found in the forest to make a fence around the stream, and dug a deep hole near the stream, letting the current carry the fish down into the hole.

" This method should work," she muttered to herself, smiling with satisfaction.

After a short while, several fish were swept into the hole by the current. She scooped them up with her hands and put them in the basket one by one. The fresh fish wriggled in the basket until it almost overflowed.

Zhu Qing'an carried the heavy basket of fish back home. Even though she was sweating profusely, she smiled when she thought about the fish dishes she would give to her family.

" I won't sell these fish. We need to eat to get strong first," she thought to herself. She knew that everyone in the family was too weak to face the hardships anymore.

When she returned home, Lin Ai was shocked to see her daughter returning with a basket full of fish.

" An'er, where did you get it ?"

Zhu Qing'an smiled faintly.

" I found a stream with lots of fish. I caught them without anyone fighting. I think we should strengthen everyone's bodies first, and then we can think of other ways to earn money."

Lin Ai looked at her daughter with gratitude. She felt proud of her daughter who not only recovered quickly, but also became the driving force of the family.

That evening, Lin Ai cooked a simple but fragrant fish dish. Zhu Qingcheng and Zhu Qingyang, who were exhausted from their climb, returned hungry. When they smelled the food, they rushed into the house.

" Today we have fish ! It is a food that nourishes everyone's body," Zhu Qing'an said with a smile.

The atmosphere in the house, which was once filled with despair, began to warm up again. Everyone ate together and talked about what they should do the next day.

Zhu Qing'an looked at her family who had started to smile again. She felt proud of herself for being able to be a part of this change. Although there were still many obstacles ahead, she was willing to fight for her family.

At dawn the next morning, Zhu Qing'an woke up before anyone else in the house opened their eyes. She got up quietly and packed the forest products she had prepared the day before into a basket, including mushrooms, herbs, and valuable wild fruits.

"I have to make this happen so they can recuperate without any trouble," she muttered to herself.

She didn't want her mother or younger brother to know, because she knew that everyone would dissuade her. With her body that had just recovered, Lin Ai wouldn't let her travel so far alone. However, with the knowledge of the route from her original body's memories, Zhu Qing'an was confident that she could travel to Haidong County safely.