Chapter Six: Chili Peppers

As they walked, Sheng Wanqiu noticed something red in the grass. Curious, she moved closer to investigate. Wasn’t it said that ginseng berries were red? What if this actually turned out to be ginseng? If she could sell it for money, she’d finally have some cash.

Full of anticipation, she approached, only to find that it wasn't any precious ginseng—it was just chili peppers, small, red, bird's-eye chilies.

"Forget it," she thought, "I was going to need chilies to roast the rabbit anyway." She reached out to pluck some.

"Sister, those are poisonous! Don't eat them!" Sheng Huaian quickly slapped her hand away, his voice filled with urgent concern.

"Poisonous? Are you kidding me?" Sheng Wanqiu was stunned. These were clearly chili peppers; she would recognize them anywhere, even if they were burnt to ash!

"Sister, it’s true! The big dog in our village tasted one, and its mouth swelled up, and its paws burned like fire. It took a long time to recover." He gestured frantically. "They’re red now, but there are green ones too, and they're all poisonous! You have to be careful!"

Sheng Wanqiu rolled her eyes. "These are chilies, they aren't poisonous at all! You’re just a kid—don't go around fear-mongering when you don't know what you're talking about! Hurry up and help me pick them; I’ll make you something delicious tonight!"

Sheng Huaian, holding his head where his sister had just tapped him, could only obediently help her pick the "poisonous" peppers until the entire patch was stripped bare. On the way back, Sheng Wanqiu also dug up some wild scallions and found some mint by the creek, tossing them all into her basket.

As the pair strolled back onto the village’s main thoroughfare, they saw a group of neighborhood women chatting under a large tree. As they approached, the women’s eyes scanned the siblings incessantly. Sheng Wanqiu knew without a second thought that they were gossiping about her family.

"Oh my! Wanqiu, you two went up the mountain? Find anything good? Come, show your auntie!"

A thin, sallow-faced woman, looking clearly malnourished, walked over. Though she wore a smile, it didn't reach her eyes, and she reached out to grab at the basket on Sheng Wanqiu’s back.

"Look at what? There’s nothing to see!" Sheng Wanqiu spun around, skillfully dodging the woman’s reaching hand.

"You girl, I’m just taking a look. It won’t kill you, will it?" The woman looked displeased, her expression darkening.

Recalling the memories of the original owner of this body, Sheng Wanqiu recognized her as Auntie Yuan, a woman notorious for trying to take advantage of everyone.

"Auntie Yuan, I caught a rabbit today. If you go grabbing at my basket and it escapes, who’s going to pay for it? Can you compensate me with another one?" Sheng Wanqiu retorted. "If you don't have anything better to do, go home and cook. You don't want your husband coming home to find no hot meal and beating you again, do you?"

"Huaian, let’s go home!" Sheng Wanqiu threw her a disdainful look and walked away.

Auntie Yuan was left stamping her feet in rage. As they walked away, she muttered, "No wonder your mother didn't want you! Hmph!" But then, remembering her own husband’s heavy hand, she quickly clutched her basket and hurried home.

The women under the tree had heard every word and were covering their mouths, giggling.

"If you ask me which girl in the village is the toughest, it’s definitely that Sheng girl. I’ve never seen her come out on the losing end," a plump woman laughed.

"Indeed! She’s truly inherited her grandmother’s spirit. I wonder which poor boy will be unlucky enough to marry her!" a thin woman added, casting a glance at a woman sitting nearby doing embroidery.

The woman embroidering didn't look up, but her eyes were darting around shiftily. She hurriedly put away her needlework, picked up her sewing basket, gave a forced smile to the others, and hurried home.

"Looks like the Bai family is going to have rabbit meat for dinner tonight," the thin woman sneered.

"You really love to stir the pot, don't you? It's not your fault you didn't raise a son as capable," another chimed in. The conversation among the women shifted, with the main topic being the person who had just rushed off.

"Grandma, we’re back!" Sheng Wanqiu called out before they even reached the courtyard.

"Back, so what? Why are you shouting so loudly?" Old Mother Sheng walked out, looking impatient, followed by little Sheng Huaimu.

"Grandma, let’s go inside. Hehe, I caught a rabbit, we’re having meat tonight!" Sheng Wanqiu hooked her arm around the old woman and whispered in her ear.

"You little wretch, what did I tell you? Didn't I tell you not to go up that mountain? Did you treat my words like wind in your ears?"

"Grandma, Grandma, it hurts! Can we talk properly?" Sheng Wanqiu yelped in pain; she couldn't remember the last time someone had pinched her ear like that.

Old Mother Sheng dragged her into the yard by the ear. This girl was simply too disobedient and far too bold! Was the mountain a place for a young girl to be wandering? If she had been snatched away by wolves, how would she face her second son?

Only once they were inside did the old woman let go. Sheng Wanqiu rubbed her sore ear, looking utterly defeated.

"Good heavens! Did you raid a rabbit warren?" Old Mother Sheng stared in surprise at the basket, where two large and five small rabbits lay neatly.

"Perfect, I’ll take these to town tomorrow to sell for money for your dowry." She reached out to take the basket.

"Grandma, I caught these through sheer effort! I want to eat them!" Sheng Wanqiu pulled the basket back, clutching it tightly. "Don't even think about selling my rabbits for some imaginary dowry! I’m still just a child!"

Seeing Sheng Wanqiu acting as if she were facing a great enemy, Old Mother Sheng pursed her lips. Fine, since she caught them, let her eat. The family hadn't had meat in a long time; even she herself was craving it.

"Fine, fine, eat them! As if I’m the kind of person who wouldn't feed you. Well, don't just stand there, go boil some water! I’ll skin them!"

"You got it, Grandma! I’m going to boil the water!" Sheng Huaian, hearing his grandmother’s consent, scampered into the kitchen.

Sheng Wanqiu finally set the basket down and joined her grandmother to help process the rabbits. All seven had been skinned. Old Mother Sheng was puzzled—the rabbits had no visible wounds, so how had they died?

Sheng Wanqiu claimed she had used a sedative to stun them before snapping their necks, which satisfied the old woman's curiosity. Sheng Wanqiu had always been fond of pestering a local hunter, hanging around his fence to watch him process his catch just for the chance to smell meat. The hunter had eventually grown annoyed and taught her a few tricks for catching game, so Old Mother Sheng had no reason to doubt her explanation.