After the family split up, my stepmother and scumbag father begged me to come home.

"Sister Qianqian, let me help you carry it." Ding Xiaohu bent down and lifted the basket on his back.

"Just put it in the kitchen." Lin Qianqian pointed to a spot in the corner of the kitchen.

"Ah Long, where are the honey and bird eggs?" Lin Qianqian asked, looking at Ah Long.

Lin Yulong pointed to an inconspicuous spot in the corner.

Lin Qianqian glanced at the spot where he hid his things—right next to the basket on his back, in plain sight, where anyone could see them.

"You hid it like that?"

Lin Yulong scratched his head: "The most dangerous place is the safest. Besides, with so many people blocking the way, everyone's just watching the show, who's going to look at the ground?"

Lin Qianqian gave a thumbs up without saying anything.

Ah Long is a keen observer and extremely intelligent child, but unfortunately he was born at the wrong time and into such a family. However, fortunately, she has arrived, and everything will change.

There weren't many bird eggs, so Lin Qianqian wrapped them in wild vegetable leaves and set them aside. She was going to take them to Aunt Ding's house to add to her meal.

She turned to deal with the pile of honey.

The small jar was already prepared and placed next to the stove. She broke the honeycomb into small pieces and stacked them into the jar one by one until it was half full. Then she found a thick wooden stick, washed it, dried it, and began to pound it.

"Knock, knock, knock." The sound was not loud, but muffled, like someone knocking on a door that was far away.

The honeycomb slowly crumbled beneath the wooden stick, releasing golden honey that emitted a sweet, rich aroma. Lin Yulong and Ding Xiaohu simultaneously moved closer, sniffing the air.

Lin Qianqian picked out the crushed honeycomb residue and placed it on a leaf. The two little ones took it, stuffed it into their mouths and chewed until it had no taste, then reluctantly spat it out.

Underneath the jar, pure honey remained, so thick it clung to the sides of the container, its amber color gleaming dimly in the light of the dimly lit kitchen.

She found a small jar, scooped out half of it, put the lid on, and put it in her basket—this was to be taken to the Ding family.

The remaining jar was placed under a stone slab in a cool, shady corner of the kitchen.

He tucked the bird eggs into his pocket, hung them up on the gate, and dusk had completely fallen. The three of them walked along the village road toward the Ding family's house, their shadows blurred into a single mass, indistinguishable from one another.

The cassava was still piled up on the kitchen floor.

No rush. We'll talk about it tomorrow.

Uncle Ding was weaving baskets in the yard. He didn't even look up, just waved his hand as a greeting.

"Auntie." Lin Qianqian led A Long into the house.

Aunt Ding turned around from the stove, wiping her hands on her apron: "You're here? Wash your hands, dinner will be ready in a bit."

"Auntie, this is what I got from the trip into the mountains today." Lin Qianqian placed the jar and small cloth bag on the table.

"Didn't they say there were only poisonous potatoes? You can't eat those!" Aunt Ding frowned.

"Ah Long hid the things, my grandma and the others didn't see them," Lin Qianqian said, glancing at Ah Long. Ah Long's ears were a little red, but he couldn't hide the redness on his lips.

Aunt Ding exclaimed "Oh!" and looked Ah Long up and down: "You're such a young man, but you're quite cunning!"

She untied the cloth bag, saw the bird eggs inside, paused for a moment, then pushed it back: "Keep these bird eggs, go back and help Ah Long. Your aunt has chicken eggs."

"If there are eggs, who would want to eat them?" Lin Qianqian didn't take them: "If you're being so formal, Auntie, we won't eat here."

Aunt Ding glanced at her and smiled, "Okay, I'll keep it and add another dish for you later."

She opened the jar again, and a sweet fragrance wafted out, carrying a faint floral scent.

"Wild honey?" Aunt Ding's expression changed, and her voice rose a half-octave. "Were you stung? Those two brothers in the east courtyard were stung horribly last year, stung by wild bees!"

"No," Ding Xiaohu interjected, "Sister Qianqian used fire to drive all the bees away."

Aunt Ding looked at Lin Qianqian, paused for a moment, then burst out laughing: "You silly girl, how come you have so many ideas!"