The Sweet Litte Fulang (SLF)

Chapter 140 - Small Accident

After the rain, the stream in the mountains swelled, flowing down from the forests, and the riverside grew lush with water and grass.

With the arrival of autumn, the thin-shelled green snails started to appear, and Lu Gu, Shen Yan, and Shen Xuanqing went up the mountain together to gather them.

These snails are quite valuable now, so whenever the opportunity arises, people head to the mountains to collect them. Along the way, they met many villagers who were also looking for the snails. The mountain was far away, but the effort was worth it.

At several streams in the lower parts of the mountain, people were busy rummaging under stones and in the water, searching for the green snails.

There were no proper paths in the mountains, and when the terrain got rough and uneven, they had to carefully navigate their way forward. Thankfully, the shade from the trees kept it from being too hot.

Shen Xuanqing, who was quite strong, was used to dragging his cart up and down the mountains to haul prey. His familiarity with the deep mountain trails meant he knew where to go to find smoother routes. Without this experience, they would have struggled to get past steep slopes, pits, or cliffs.

Even for those who were nimble, it was tough going, and it would be even harder for a donkey or mule to pull a cart on such terrain. Still, compared to the previous year, the workload was lighter, and the physical toll wasn't as heavy. There was no longer the constant feeling of exhaustion, with sore shoulders and backs.

Shen Xuanqing had grown more skilled at hunting. He now caught plenty of live prey and selectively hunted animals like sheep or deer, which brought in more money with fewer trips. To increase his livestock, he avoided selling off female or young animals.

As they approached the stream, Lu Gu heard the sound of flowing water, and Shen Xuanqing and Shen Yan heard it too.

Da Hui, their clever dog, picked up on the stream's direction even faster than they did and immediately ran toward it, leading the way.

Lu Gu pushed his way through the half-leg-high grass, glanced around the stream, and said, "It looks like no one's been here yet."

They had ventured deeper into the mountains than others, and Shen Xuanqing nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's search here."

The mountain stream had flowed for many years, wearing down the terrain. Shen Yan pulled up her trousers and stepped onto the stones in the water, bending over to check under them. She found several green snails and spotted two small crabs scurrying underneath a rock. She said with a smile, "There are two purple-bellied ones."

These mountain crabs are known for their purple bellies. Using a stick, she flipped one over and, knowing it was edible, caught it and tossed it into the bamboo basket that Shen Xuanqing was holding. If the crab tried to escape, Shen Xuanqing would handle it for her and Lu Gu.

In a few days, they would be busy with the autumn bean harvest. Before that, they wanted to gather some seasonal food to enjoy at home. That way, they'd have the energy to tackle the work ahead.

When the snails are still in their shells, they look like quite a lot, but once they're boiled and the shells removed, only a small amount of red snail meat remains.

On the way there, they discussed how if they collected just a small amount, they'd eat it themselves. If they gathered more, they could sell some since the town's restaurants and taverns were always interested in buying.

Standing on the shore was fine, but after walking for so long, their bodies had warmed up, and stepping into the cold water of the stream brought a sudden chill.