The dim lighting and semi-enclosed space only heightened the growing intimacy between them.
Yan Xue felt this time was different—the heat between them rose faster than ever before, like sharing a secret hidden beneath a shirt, tender yet fiery, laced with a hint of forbidden thrill.
This time, Qi Fang was also more aggressive in his kisses, more possessive. Before long, Yan Xue was backed against the edge of the kang, collapsing onto it.
But the man showed no intention of letting her go. Bracing one hand against the edge, he leaned in, deepening their entanglement.
Yan Xue felt as if he wanted to devour her whole. She could barely hold herself up with her hands, her breathing completely out of rhythm.
Struggling for air, she found herself unable to even swallow properly, soft whimpers escaping her lips unbidden.
Instinctively, she tried to pull back, but Qi Fang’s large hand cradled the back of her head, leaving her no retreat. Her arms finally gave way, and she sank into the bedding.
The first thing Yan Xue did was push aside that shirt, gasping for breath—only to be met with a face no longer cold and indifferent, but instead a strikingly handsome one, his peach-blossom eyes now darkened with desire.
Lower still, a vivid crimson mark on his collarbone drew her gaze—right beside that mole she had long been curious about but only now saw clearly.
Without thinking, she reached out to touch it, unaware of how she must look—her cheeks flushed, eyes hazy, lips still glistening with the traces of their passion—a sight just as tempting.
Qi Fang’s gaze darkened further. The moment her fingers made contact, he knelt on the edge of the kang, capturing her lips in another searing kiss.
This time, the heat trailed downward, lingering at her neck, tracing her collarbone, and finally dipping beneath the collar of her dress.
The polka-dot dress Yan Xue had specially worn for the wedding was soon pushed aside, its skirt blooming like a flower across the bedding, concealing even more of their fervor…
Before his fingers could reach his belt buckle, she barely managed to gasp out, “Turn off the light first!” Darkness enveloped them, followed by the press of his scorching body.
Those same fingers, having just brushed against the cold metal of the buckle, now sought warmer territory, coaxing out breathy moans and sighs.
Even so, Yan Xue wasn’t entirely defenseless—she retaliated by sinking her teeth into his collarbone, right beside that tiny mole.
Qi Fang wasn’t faring much better. Compared to the ache elsewhere, the bite on his collarbone was nothing. In the end, he had to pull back, restraining himself to soothe her gently.
By the time it was over, neither knew how much time had passed.
Yan Xue lay sprawled across the bedding, her skin glistening with sweat and still tinged pink, her breaths shallow. Only one thought crossed her mind—
Damn this height difference!
Qi Fang was equally drenched, but far more composed. He even had the energy to fetch water to clean her up and grab fresh bedding from the cabinet.
Noticing her toes still curled tight, he reached down to massage them.
Yan Xue immediately recalled his earlier promise: “I’ll rub them for you later.”
But she had been too tense earlier, and now her legs and feet ached from the sudden release. Finding his touch just right, she stayed quiet.
After a few moments, however, his hands stilled.
Yet his grip remained firm around her ankle, warm and unyielding. She cracked open an eye, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
He glanced up, then nudged the fresh bedding aside. “We’ll have to change it anyway.”
Before she could process his words, he suddenly scooped her up.
In the end, the bedding was indeed put to good use—so good, in fact, that Yan Xue couldn’t resist kicking him. “You’re washing this yourself tomorrow.”
Qi Fang merely hummed in agreement, not arguing as he tidied up before leaning in for another kiss.
This time, Yan Xue refused, pressing a hand to his lips. “Control yourself. I don’t want you going for herbal remedies and getting diagnosed with kidney deficiency.”
The mention of “kidney deficiency” only made his peach-blossom eyes darken further.
Yan Xue knew all too well how prideful and vindictive this man could be. “Fine, fine, you’re not deficient. I’m the one who’ll get diagnosed next time, okay?”
She yawned. “No idea what time it is. If we can’t get up tomorrow…”
There was no “if.” She didn’t get up—neither did Qi Fang. When he finally opened his eyes, daylight had long since spilled through the curtains.
Glancing at his watch, he was surprised to see it was past six. This was rare for him in recent years. He had always been a light sleeper, restless and unable to stay asleep no matter how exhausted.
But the steady ticking of his watch and the soft breathing beside him were proof—something had changed.
Yan Xue was still asleep, her long lashes and delicate features exuding a quiet comfort, whether she was awake or not, smiling or serene.
Not wanting to disturb her, Qi Fang dressed quietly, gathered the soiled bedding, shirt, and polka-dot dress, and headed for the river to wash them.
As he unlatched the door, he nearly collided with Second Old Lady, who was tiptoeing out from the opposite room.
The old woman was no stranger to such things. Taking one look, she immediately shoved Yan Jigang back inside. “Go lie down a bit longer. Your sister had too much to drink last night.”
Yan Jigang didn’t understand why his sister’s drinking meant he had to stay in bed, but he obediently climbed back onto the kang.
Second Old Lady then pretended to search for something. “Where did I put that mirror? My memory’s failing me—can’t even check if my clothes are on straight.”
Qi Fang caught her meaning and retreated inside, grabbing the mirror from the wall to inspect himself.
The bite mark Yan Xue had left on his collarbone stood out starkly against his pale skin, like a brand of ownership.
Anyone who saw it would know exactly what they’d been up to last night. He’d thought it had faded, but it was still there. He buttoned his shirt all the way up.
As for the lingering satisfaction in his eyes, there was no hiding that. He could only maintain his usual aloof expression.
When he stepped out again, Second Old Lady had already retreated, giving him space. He carried the basin and soap to the river.
On his way back, he ran into Liu Weiguo yawning as he unlatched the courtyard gate—clearly, he’d had a late night too.
Spotting Qi Fang, Liu Weiguo squinted. “What’ve you been up to so early? You look even more radiant than me, the actual groom.”
Sharp eyes.
Qi Fang said nothing, merely studying his friend.
Liu Weiguo suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right—been so busy I forgot.” He ducked back inside, returning moments later with a handful of wolf teeth. “Grandpa Liu drilled holes in these. For the kids—ward off evil spirits.”
During their last encounter, the focus had been on rescuing someone, and the bloodshed had risked attracting more beasts. Grandpa Liu had only taken four canine teeth from the wolf before returning.
Now, cleaned and prepared, the teeth rested in Liu Weiguo’s palm. Qi Fang eyed them. “Two are enough.”
“Take them all.” Liu Weiguo stuffed them into his pocket. “We’ve got plenty. Weren’t you aiming for two kids in three years? Might need spares.”
With a chuckle, he waved at him and headed back, "I gotta go check on my wife."
Qi Fang returned home, hung up the freshly washed bedsheets and clothes, then took out the wolf teeth and asked Second Old Lady, "Do you have any red string?"
The old woman knew exactly what they were for at a glance. "I do. Wait here, I’ll twist one for you."
A single strand was too thin and might not hold up well, but Second Old Lady was skilled—she deftly twisted several strands together in no time.
"Make another one," Qi Fang said, threading the first one through the hole in the wolf tooth before stepping outside to call Yan Jigang, who was playing in the yard.
Yan Jigang came running over, his eyes brimming with curiosity.
"Wolf teeth—to ward off evil and calm your nerves," Qi Fang explained, tying it around the boy’s neck without ceremony.
The mention of wolf teeth only deepened Yan Jigang’s fascination, but he waited until his brother-in-law had finished before lifting it to examine it closely.
By the time Qi Fang went back inside, Second Old Lady had already finished twisting the second red string. He thanked her, took it, and headed to his room.
When Yan Xue woke up, it was long past their usual mealtime. She pulled the towel blanket over her face, wallowed in self-pity for a moment, then got up with a perfectly composed expression.
Don’t ask. If anyone did, she’d just say she drank too much last night—definitely not because of that.
While washing her face, she noticed something new around her neck. She lifted it, studying it before asking her husband, "You put this on me?"
"Yeah. The wolf teeth from that wolf last time. Liu Weiguo gave them all to us."
Yan Xue glanced over and immediately spotted an identical one around Yan Jigang’s neck. The little boy was utterly enchanted, reaching up to touch it every few moments.
Yan Xue touched hers too before tucking it back under her collar.
At lunch, Second Old Lady suddenly remarked, "Jigang’s been sleeping in your room for almost two months now. It’s time he came back to his own bed."
Yan Xue froze, then glanced up and realized the old woman wasn’t even looking at her as she said it. Heat rushed to her face.
Qi Fang, on the other hand, remained perfectly composed, even picking up a bite of food for her before asking Yan Jigang in a tone fit for an adult, "Can you handle sleeping on your own from now on?"
What a performance. He was the one who wanted Jigang gone the most.
But boys needed male role models as they grew up. Yan Jigang had been hesitant at first, reluctant to leave, but when his brother-in-law asked, he immediately puffed out his chest. "I—I can do it!"
Second Old Lady added, "He hasn’t had any nightmares the last few times he slept in my room. I’d say he’s pretty much recovered."
Hearing this, Yan Jigang nodded vigorously. "Y-yeah, I’m b-better now. Don’t n-need m-medicine."
To avoid the bitter medicine, he decisively abandoned any lingering reluctance and that very night, carried his pillow and small quilt back to Second Old Lady’s room—more resolute than even his brother-in-law.
And the next morning, Yan Xue overslept again.
This time, while still in bed, she overheard Yan Jigang outside whispering to his grandmother, "D-did sister drink t-too much again l-last night?"
How was Second Old Lady supposed to answer that? She could only mumble, "Maybe."
When Yan Xue finally went out to wash up, Yan Jigang was waiting for her just to say, "Sister, d-drink less. It’s b-bad for you."
Touched but embarrassed, Yan Xue issued her husband a yellow card that night—if he didn’t behave, she’d go sleep in the opposite room with Yan Jigang and Second Old Lady.
This time, she didn’t oversleep. But before the lights were even out, her husband was kissing her, his peach-blossom eyes lowered as he asked if she’d recovered yet. And well… she couldn’t resist.
Yan Xue strongly suspected he still remembered that incident at the hospital and was deliberately proving his stamina—that his kidneys were just fine.
He might not be exhausted, but she was close to collapsing. Flipping through the calendar, she decided she needed to do something to salvage her precarious health.
"Jigang," she called to her brother, "Want to go dig up ginseng in the mountains?"
The boy’s eyes lit up instantly. "Wh-when?"
"In the next few days. Your brother-in-law and I just need to prepare. But we’d have to stay overnight in the mountains. You scared?"
"N-no!" Yan Jigang answered firmly.
With his sister and brother-in-law there, what was there to fear? He was going to dig up a giant ginseng that could turn into a beautiful maiden!
In the Changbai Mountain region, digging for wild ginseng was called fangshan, and it was usually done in late August, around the 15th of the seventh lunar month—when the ginseng plants bore their seeds.
Normally, ginseng stayed hidden underground, blending in with other plants. But when seeding, they sprouted a cluster of red, kidney-shaped berries, revealing their location.
Coincidentally, the town was holding training sessions these days, so the forestry station had little work. The mushrooms hadn’t sprouted yet, and school was still on break.
Yan Xue didn’t have much experience, so she brought along some bean-flour cakes made by Second Old Lady and went to consult Grandpa Liu.
Their families had always been close, and even if she’d come empty-handed, the old man would’ve shared everything he knew.
Seeing her gift, Grandpa Liu even lent them one of his hunting rifles and gave them a few roe deer pelts.
Though fangshan wasn’t the same as hunting—it emphasized harmony with nature, avoiding harm to living creatures whenever possible—the mountains were full of wild animals. It was best to have some means of protection.
The pelts were for sleeping on during overnight stays in the mountains, locally called "da xiao su'er." They insulated against damp and cold without attracting snakes, even in rainy weather.
The rest of their preparations involved tools for digging ginseng, dry rations for the trip…
Before the old traditions were abolished, people would also bring incense and paper offerings, praying to the Mountain God for a bountiful harvest. But times had changed, and even seasoned veterans like Grandpa Liu no longer practiced such rituals.
On the day of departure, the couple each carried a basket on their backs, while even Yan Jigang had a small satchel.
To maximize their chances, they chose a more remote area, bypassing the nearby hills. They also brought tools to build their own shelter.
After switching from the small railway to a mountain path and hiking for hours, they finally found a spot near water and sheltered from the wind.
Their first task was setting up a laoye fu—a simple shrine for the Mountain God. Better to follow local customs, just in case they returned empty-handed after days of effort.
Three stones—two upright, one across—formed the shrine.
Qi Fang piled dirt in front of it, stuck three dry grass stems into the mound, and lit them. The three took turns bowing to the Mountain God, with Yan Jigang pressing his small hands together in earnest devotion.
Mountain God, Old Ba Tou, bless us to dig up a big ginseng root—one that’ll sell for lots and lots of money!
Only after finishing did the boy remember something and tug at his sister’s sleeve. "Wh-who’s Old Ba Tou?"
Yan Xue had wondered the same thing once and looked it up. "He’s the ancestor of ginseng diggers, a man named Sun Liang. People in the trade call him ‘Grandpa Sun Liang’ or ‘Old Ba Tou.’"
Legend had it he lived during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, entering the mountains to find ginseng for his ailing mother. He ultimately starved to death after failing to find his companion, Zhang Lu.
The local ginseng gatherers respected him mainly because of his loyalty and righteousness. He had partnered with his sworn brother and fellow townsman Zhang Lu to dig for ginseng, but a few days before leaving the mountains, he accidentally got separated from Zhang Lu. Instead of leaving alone, he chose to search for Zhang Lu so they could exit the mountains together. In the end, he died of hunger by the banks of the Lagu River.
After all, wealth can tempt the heart. In the past, ginseng gatherers preferred to enter the mountains alone rather than in pairs, fearing that if they unearthed something valuable, greed might take hold.
About this old leader, there was also a final poem circulating locally and in his hometown of Laiyang, Shandong:
"My home is in Laiyang, my surname Sun,
Crossed oceans to dig for ginseng.
Lost my dear brother along the way,
Followed the Lagu River upstream.
Three days eating only a river snail,
Won’t rest till my brother is seen."
Yan Xue told this story to Yan Jigang, who listened with deep reverence. With a solemn expression, the boy went back and bowed again, even more devoutly than before.
By the time the makeshift shelter was set up, the sun had nearly set. The group laid out roe deer skins on the ground, ate some dry rations, and huddled together to sleep.
Yan Jigang claimed he wasn’t afraid, but this was his first time camping—and in such crude conditions. As night fell, he couldn’t help but inch closer to his sister.
Yan Xue wasn’t surprised. She pulled him into her arms, and Qi Fang wrapped his arms around both of them, gently patting Yan Jigang’s head.
Surrounded by familiar scents and warmth, with his sister telling stories, Yan Jigang soon drifted into a drowsy sleep.
At dawn the next day, Qi Fang had already fetched water from a nearby river. After washing up and eating breakfast, the group stood in front of the shelter and began "shouting at the mountain."
The purpose of shouting was to scare away wild animals and ensure the safety of the gatherers, so the louder, the better. Only after this ritual did the real ginseng hunt begin.
Qi Fang had prepared long sticks in advance—tools known as "treasure-seeking rods" among ginseng gatherers. Each of them carried one, using it to part the grass as they walked, meticulously scanning every inch of ground.
Wild ginseng was rare primarily because of its demanding growth conditions and lengthy maturation period.
The plant thrived in shade rather than direct sunlight, preferred dry over damp conditions, yet still needed some moisture and light. Therefore, gatherers typically searched in untouched mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests, where the light was just right—neither too much nor too little—and water sources were neither too far nor too close.
After walking for a while, Qi Fang suddenly stopped his rod and called out, "Bangchui!"
"Bangchui" was the local term for ginseng. Hearing this, both Yan Xue and Yan Jigang turned to look. Yan Xue responded, "How many leaves?"
This was called "receiving the mountain"—a way to ask about the size of the ginseng. The number of leaves referred to how many palmate compound leaves grew on a single stem.
When ginseng first sprouts from a seed, its stem bears only one three-lobed leaf, colloquially called "three flowers."
As it grows, the three-lobed leaf becomes five-lobed, forming a small palm-like shape known as "five leaves."
A stem with two such "palms" is called "two-rank," three is "three-rank," four is "four-rank," five is "five-rank," and six is "six-rank."
The more leaves, the older the ginseng, and the more valuable it becomes.
However, the one Qi Fang found was clearly young. "Two-rank."
Normally, gatherers wouldn’t dig up such a young ginseng. They’d mark the spot and return years later.
But since this was their first find of the trip, Qi Fang didn’t want to leave empty-handed. He took out a red string tied with copper coins at both ends—known as a "bangchui lock" among gatherers—and wrapped it around the ginseng’s stem.
This was to prevent the ginseng from "running away." Locals often said ginseng had a spirit; if not tied with a red string, what appeared large by its leaves might turn out small when dug up—because the ginseng had fled.
That’s why many locals carried red strings when entering the mountains. If they didn’t have one, they’d tear a strip from a red belt—just in case they stumbled upon ginseng.
Yan Xue and Yan Jigang gathered around, the latter watching wide-eyed as his brother-in-law carefully unearthed the ginseng.
Digging up ginseng required immense patience and care. Not a single rootlet could be damaged, or the ginseng would lose its sap and value.
This one wasn’t particularly large—worth only a few yuan at the buying station—so the process didn’t take too long.
Yan Xue had already prepared moss. Qi Fang placed the ginseng on it, sprinkled some soil to maintain moisture, then wrapped the moss around the ginseng. He further encased it in birch bark and tied it with soft tree bark—a method called "making a ginseng bundle."
This ensured the ginseng retained its medicinal properties and protected its delicate roots.
After finishing the bundle, Qi Fang handed it directly to Yan Xue. Seeing Yan Jigang’s curiosity, she let him touch it.
"Let’s search carefully nearby," she said, glancing around. "A ginseng this size likely grew from a seed dropped by a larger one. There might be something bigger around."
Yan Jigang handed the bundle back, then immediately perked up, gripping his treasure-seeking rod. "I-I’ll look really hard!"
Away from outsiders, the boy had grown livelier, even speaking louder.
Soon, the young boy stopped and crouched, examining something closely. "Jiejie, mogu."
"Are you calling your sister, or are you shouting ‘mushrooms’?" Yan Xue sighed but walked over anyway.
There really was a patch of mushrooms in front of Yan Jigang—slender stems, brown caps with scales in the center, and white flesh. They were honey mushrooms, a symbiotic fungus of the gastrodia plant, also known as oak mushrooms.
If they’d come for gastrodia, Yan Xue would’ve been thrilled. But this trip was for ginseng.
She crouched beside him. "Pick them. Clear this whole patch." Then she softly added, "Next time you spot something, don’t shout carelessly. There are rules in the mountains—whatever you call out, you must hold onto it. It’s to avoid bad luck when finding ginseng. This time it’s mushrooms, but what if it’s a snake?"
Yan Jigang’s face flushed with shame. "I-I understand. I w-won’t shout randomly next time."
With such a sensible child, there was no need for harsh words—it’d only make him blame himself more. Yan Xue smiled and changed the subject. "But you’ve got a good eye. These are delicious."
"R-Really?" Yan Jigang looked up at his sister.
"Really." Yan Xue nodded. "We’ll ask Grandma to stir-fry them with peppers when we get back."
This lifted the boy’s spirits. He quickly helped pick all the mushrooms, then resumed searching with his rod—this time keeping his lips tightly sealed.
As Yan Xue adjusted her basket, Qi Fang called softly, "Yan Xue."
She turned, thinking he needed something, only to feel her hand being grasped.
Yan Xue froze, then remembered her earlier words to Jigang—"whatever you call out, you must hold onto it." She couldn’t help but laugh. "I didn’t say that includes people."
Qi Fang remained silent, his expression dead serious as he tightened his grip.
Just then, Yan Jigang suddenly halted ahead.
Yan Xue thought he was about to turn around and prepared to pull her hand free—until the boy shouted with all his might:
"BANGCHUI!"
Yan Jigang: Here I am working my fingers to the bone searching for ginseng up ahead, while you two are behind me flirting on company time. How is this acceptable?
