0p0 Chapter 36 Going Up the Mountain
Chapter 36 Going Up the Mountain
Xiao Siyu, along with Xiao Siyue, his fourth brother Xiao Sibo, and his fifth brother Xiao Sining, went to the mountains behind Xiao Family Village.
The mountain behind Xiaojia Village is very large and densely wooded, with only one path leading up the mountain. Xiao Siyue followed her brother and slowly climbed the mountain.
A gentle breeze blew up the mountain, making it much cooler than down below. Xiao Siyu and his brothers often went up the mountain and were very familiar with it. They led Xiao Siyue to several wild fruit trees. Xiao Siyue looked at the fruit that Xiao Siyu handed her; it was bright orange, and hmm, it looked like apricots.
Xiao Siyue took a bite, and it was quite delicious, sweet and sour with a good texture. She ate a few more. Then she continued walking forward with her brother.
Xiao Siyue watched her brother walk deeper and deeper into the mountains and became worried. The mountains in ancient times were not like those in modern times, and there were many wild animals. If they, as children, encountered any of them, they would only be left to die.
"Brother, let's go back. It's too dangerous in the deep mountains," Xiao Siyue hurriedly said, pulling Xiao Siyu along.
"Little sister, we'll head back in a bit, it's fine here," Xiao Siyu said, turning around and touching Xiao Siyue's forehead to comfort her.
"Ah!" A scream rang out, startling Xiao Siyue, who quickly looked over.
"Quick, Si Ning has fallen down the hillside!" Xiao Sibo's voice was full of worry.
The group quickly slid down the hillside, grabbing onto the grass, and saw Xiao Sining lying on the ground. Xiao Siyue's heart skipped a beat.
"Fifth Brother, how are you? Are you hurt?" Xiao Siyue pulled Xiao Sining to check on her.
"It's okay, little sister, I'm not hurt. I just have a little scratch on my hand, but everything else is fine," Xiao Sining said, raising her hand to show Xiao Siyue when she saw her sister's concern.
Xiao Siyue saw the small cuts on Xiao Sining's hands, slowly bleeding, and her heart gradually calmed down. These minor injuries were nothing to worry about and would heal in a few days.
After pulling Xiao Sining up from the ground, the group looked around.
Xiao Siyue stared wide-eyed at the things on the ground in front of her. What had she discovered?
Watermelons! How come there are watermelons here? The largest watermelon in front of me is no bigger than an adult's head, and the smallest is only the size of a fist. There are about dozens of them.
"Fifth Brother, look what this is!" Xiao Siyue was overjoyed. Watermelon! The best fruit for cooling down and relieving summer heat. She actually saw it on the mountain.
"What is this? I've never seen it before. It's so big." Xiao Sining asked, following Xiao Siyue's gaze, puzzled.
"Fifth Brother, this is a watermelon, a kind of fruit, it's delicious," Xiao Siyue explained.
"Watermelon? I've never heard of that." Xiao Sibo, who was standing nearby, asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I read it in my father's book, he said it," Xiao Siyue said somewhat guiltily.
"Oh, really? I want to try it!" Xiao Sining couldn't wait to pick a big one.
"Little sister, do you know how to eat this?" Xiao Sining asked, holding the watermelon, unsure of where to begin.
"Okay, let's find a rock, crack it open, and eat the fruit inside." Xiao Siyue looked around and found a rock about the size of a fist.
After the watermelon was cut open, revealing red flesh and black seeds, it was ripe. The four siblings finished the watermelon, which was about the size of a basketball, then sat on the ground, rubbing their bellies and sighing with delight.
"Watermelon is so delicious! It's so juicy and sweet. It's the best fruit I've ever eaten," Xiao Sining said with a happy expression.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Alright, it's getting late, let's hurry back." Xiao Siyue thought that they had been out for quite a while, and if they didn't go back soon, their families would worry.
The group got up and picked a few more watermelons to take home.
"What a pity, we didn't bring baskets, so we can't carry many," Xiao Siyu said with some regret. If they had brought baskets, they could have picked more.
"It's alright, we'll come again tomorrow."
The group, carrying watermelons, found an easier path and climbed the slope.
On the way back, Xiao Siyue also saw a large patch of wild grapes, but they were not yet ripe and would probably be ripe in another month.
The four of them descended the mountain in the evening; the people who had been working in the fields had already gone home.
Before they even got home, they saw Mrs. Xiao looking anxiously around the front door.
Seeing her grandchildren return, she rushed forward and scolded them, "Where have you been? Why are you so late? Don't you know your family is worried?"
"Grandma, we're sorry, we've gone up the mountain," the group said guiltily, heads bowed.
"Alright, hurry back." Old Mrs. Xiao wasn't angry, but mainly worried. It was getting dark, and the children still hadn't returned, making her restless.
After the group went inside, the family was preparing to have dinner. When they saw Xiao Siyue and the others return, they scolded them again before letting it go.
"Grandpa, Grandma, look what we brought back!" Xiao Siyue proudly placed the watermelon she was carrying on the dining table.
Grandpa Xiao glanced at it, somewhat confused. What was it? He didn't recognize it.
"Grandpa, this is a watermelon, it's delicious," Xiao Siyu explained.
"You ate it? You said you ate it! How could you eat something you don't recognize? What if it's poisonous?" Old Master Xiao exclaimed in surprise.
"I...we know, it's a watermelon. My sister said that's what Dad said." Xiao Siyu was so frightened by Grandpa Xiao that he could hardly speak.
Grandpa Xiao shifted his gaze to Xiao Qinian.
Xiao Qinian glanced helplessly at the guilty Xiao Siyue and could only answer, "Dad, I said it's edible." However, he did know about this thing, but it wasn't called watermelon, it was called cold melon. He had heard his former classmates mention it, but he never had the chance to try it. He never expected to see it today.
Grandpa Xiao believed Xiao Qinian's words, but he still said, "You're not allowed to eat things you've never tried before."
"Grandpa, we understand," they all said in unison.
Xiao Siyue and Lin Qin cut two large watermelons in the kitchen and brought them to the dining table.
"Grandpa, Grandma, you should try this! It's delicious, especially the red flesh inside." Xiao Siyue picked up two slices of watermelon and handed them to the elderly couple. The others also took a slice each.
Everyone was amazed by the crisp and sweet taste of the watermelon, and they ate it with water all over their faces.
"This watermelon is really delicious. It has a thin rind, is big, crisp, sweet, and refreshing. It's perfect for a hot summer day," Xiao Qinian exclaimed, wiping the juice from his mouth. He never expected to be eating a cold watermelon like this.
"Dad, there are still some on the mountain. Let's go pick a few more tomorrow," Xiao Siyue suggested, watching as everyone finished eating the four watermelons they had brought back.
"Anything else?" Xiao Qinian asked with delight.
"Yes, there are dozens, but some are not yet ripe,"
"Okay, then let's go pick a few more tomorrow." We still need to harvest wheat tomorrow, so it would be great if we could eat some more.