388 Return Journey
After everything had been settled, Chu Ning and the others finally set off for their hometown the next day.
“Aren’t Fifth and Sixth brother going back?” Chu Ning said softly on the train, looking at Chu Jing.
“I’m not sure. They might go back halfway,” Chu Jing replied as he gazed out the window.
“Second Brother, when you were young, you stayed in our hometown with Big Brother. Can you tell me what life was like there?” Chu Huan asked curiously.
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“Are you guys curious?” Chu Jing turned and asked Chu Zhang and Chu Ning.
“It’s not a bad idea to understand the local customs in advance,” Chu Ning smiled.
Chu Zhang also nodded.
“The scenery in our hometown is beautiful. After all, that’s real nature. There’s almost no human interference and transformation. The river water is clear and sweet, and it can even be drunk directly. It’s also interesting to climb the mountains. However, I’m talking about daytime. It’s different during the night.” As he said this, Chu Jing’s eyes flashed with an imperceptible sense of fear.
“When you sleep at home at night, you can hear the howls of wolves and unknown wild beasts. These things are very wild, and it is very risky for people who live in the mountains to go up the mountain to pick precious medicinal herbs.
“Big brother and I were staying at Grandpa’s house. Mom and Dad would give us living expenses, so it was slightly better. In the past, we could eat meat to supplement our nutrition, but some families were so poor that they don’t even have enough to eat. And most importantly, the education in the mountainous areas is very backward. An entire primary school can’t even gather 100 people. You might not be able to understand this kind of life.” Chu Huan was amazed as he listened to Chu Jing’s recollection of his childhood life in their hometown.
“Then, from what you’ve said, won’t we all be considered rich people when we go back?” Chu Huan said excitedly.
“More than ten years have passed. Our hometown should have developed a little. I don’t think people are still starving,” Chu Zhang lamented.
“There are many cumbersome formalities back at home. Also, they don’t believe in technology, but they believe in the folk customs and legends passed down from generation to generation. But since you’re going back, try to follow the rules. After all, although this is your first time back home, it should also be your last time.” Chu Jing smiled. He recalled some things that happened in his hometown when he was young.
“For example?” Chu Ning was interested.
“When Big Brother was young, he caught a cold. He lay in bed for a week, and not only did it not get better, it got increasingly worse. Grandpa carried him for dozens of miles, until there was no longer any path deep in the mountains. Halfway up the mountain, there lived an old man who was older than Grandpa, but who had a strange temper. The old man only looked at Big Brother, weak on Grandpa’s back, and then walked into the house without saying a word. He took out a piece of yellow paper full of unknown symbols, and set it on fire, with the ashes falling into a bowl.Then, the old man mumbled something. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but after a few minutes, he stopped. He then poured boiled water into the ash in the bowl and let Big Brother drink it.” Chu Jing’s expression was a little complicated. He still couldn’t forget what he had seen back then.
“That worked? And then?” Chu Huan asked, enthused.
“Then, the old man took out a few mysterious yellow papers and handed them to Grandpa. After saying a few words to Grandpa, Grandpa left with Big Brother on his back,” Chu Jing continued.
“Didn’t he require renumeration?” Chu Ning was also confused.
“Renumeration doesn’t necessarily have to be money. I was also curious at that time. You had to pay for things you purchased, so I asked Grandpa about it. Grandpa told me that I needed to bring some things to visit this old man during the holidays. After we went back, Big Brother would be able to get up and walk the next day. On the third day, after drinking the last of the yellow paper ash, he returned to normal.” Chu Jing shook his head as he explained.
“Huh? That worked?” Chu Huan’s jaw had dropped, his face full of disbelief.
“That old man is a very famous doctor in the region. Of course, including Grandpa, the people in the mountain call this old man the Mountain God. I couldn’t understand it at that time, but now I feel that this old man is indeed worthy of respect. Transportation in the mountains is inconvenient, and as long as the people nearby are not terminally ill, he can cure them. Although the means are a little beyond the scope of ordinary people’s understanding, it is indeed effective. Since then, Big Brother’s health has been excellent and he has never fallen ill.” When Chu Jing said this, his expression was a little sincere, which was rare.
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