《《蛮族之花》 Flower of Wilderness》Yina_bubbles

6、第 6 章 Prepa

　　“We have enough food for several days,” Ayao said happily . Suyuan glanced at the sky “ several days isn’t enough , we need more for the winter”. While Ayao busied herself arranging the supplies, Suyuan returned to her room. She carefully closed the door.From beneath her clothes, she took out the small pouch she had collected from the mountain.Inside were several poisonous plants , among them was aconite, a beautiful plant with blue-purple flowers that could be found in mountainous regions.
　　Its beauty was deceptive, Suyuan had learned about poisonous plants through years of wandering the mountains.

　　When she was little, she had followed Nanny Zhang to gather herbs. Later, she and Ayao began exploring the mountains themselves. Over the years, Suyuan had learned which plants could cure illness, which could cause sickness, and which should never be touched carelessly. She knew enough to understand that nature did not divide things into simply good and evil. The same mountain that provided food could also hide poison. The same plant that looked beautiful could take a life.
　　Suyuan carefully separated the plants and stored them away.She had no immediate intention of using them.

　　After she returned to the courtyard, Ayao was struggling to drag another bundle of firewood beneath the roof.Suyuan stared at her."Ayao."
　　"Yes?"
　　"How much food do we have left?"
　　Ayao thought for a moment.
　　"If we eat carefully... perhaps two weeks?"
　　"Two weeks?"
　　Ayao nodded.
　　Suyuan looked toward the empty corner beside the kitchen, then toward the ground.
　　A thought suddenly crossed her mind.
　　"Why don't we dig a cellar?"
　　Ayao blinked.
　　"A cellar?"
　　"For storing food."
　　Suyuan crouched and touched the earth with her fingers.
　　"The ground will stay cooler than the room. We can keep vegetables, dried meat, and other food there. It will also keep them away from the snow."
　　Ayao's eyes slowly widened.
　　"Then we could store much more!"
　　"Exactly."
　　Suyuan stood.
　　"We'll need to choose a dry place."

　　The two girls immediately began inspecting the courtyard.They eventually chose a corner near the kitchen where the ground was slightly raised and protected from rain.
　　The work was not easy as they had no proper tools, so they borrowed an old shovel and used whatever equipment they could find. Ayao did most of the digging.
　　Suyuan helped whenever she could, though she had to stop frequently whenever her body became tired. By evening, their hands were covered in dirt but the beginnings of a small cellar had finally appeared. The following days became busy, vegetables were sliced thinly and dried beneath the sun. Meat was salted and hung where the cold air could preserve it and some herbs were dried for medicine.

　　The firewood was stacked neatly beneath the eaves and every bit of food they had gathered from the mountains was carefully sorted, nothing was wasted.
　　Suyuan even began making small bundles of dried vegetables that could later be added to porridge or soup. It was tiring work but they didn't complain , they knew what winter meant.Cold nights, frozen rivers.empty kitchens and a mother whose body could no longer withstand the cold as easily as others. If the palace would not prepare for them… Then they would prepare for themselves.
　　That evening, Suyuan stood outside the kitchen and looked at their growing supplies.
　　Ayao sat nearby, exhausted, rubbing her aching arms.
　　"Miss..."
　　"Hm?"
　　"Do you think we'll survive the winter?"
　　Suyuan looked toward the distant mountains.
　　After a moment, she smiled faintly.
　　"We will."
　　She paused.
　　"We have to."

　　The wind swept through the courtyard. The first leaves of autumn drifted across the old stone path.She didn't know what the coming winter would bring but she knew one thing.She would not let the cold take her mother not after everything her mother had already lost..Winter was approaching and neither girl knew that before the snow arrived, the Orchid Courtyard would face a storm far more dangerous than the cold.