Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space
Chapter 290. Go down the mountain and take a look

Chapter 290: 290. Go down the mountain and take a look

It seems like the brothers are quite lazy.

Following the usual routine, they found a cooler spot and the old men stopped there.

"Old rules: those who light the fire, light the fire; those who gather firewood, gather firewood. I’ll handle the food. Hurry up." After scanning the few people lying on the ground in various positions except his sons, Hua Chengtian stepped up and kicked a few legs.

Going up and down the mountain is a strenuous task, and without a full stomach, it’s really hard to walk. Hua Chengtian does pay quite a bit of attention to eating.

By the time the few had returned with the required items, as usual, the food was ready.

"Uncle, amazing!" Zeng Li habitually praised, and apart from Hua Yunao, everyone else nodded in agreement.

One must admit that dad has a really good eye for people. To make so much delicious food in such a short time, besides absolute trust, it’s also because these guys don’t like to use their brains, otherwise, they would have been suspected over eight hundred times.

Hua Yunao calmly approached his dad, took his share of the food, and looked at the fatty, tender, and sizzling pork belly inside, feeling complex as he looked at his dad.

Although they didn’t idle along the way, catching quite a few prey, including wild boar, there was still preserved wild boar meat in the basket. Yet, this taste is distinctly different; wild boar meat isn’t this fragrant.

Dad doesn’t even bother to cover it up anymore; luckily, cousins don’t eat those who are the type to investigate thoroughly.

However... it’s really tasty, one taste and you know it’s grandma’s handiwork.

Hua Chengtian had long cultivated a serene demeanor toward his son’s complex gaze. This kid is smart and occasionally helps in covering for him.

"Uncle, we’ve been going for days without much to show for it, should we continue?"

Salt isn’t something easily found. Every mountain takes a long time to explore, and along the way, they’ve tried every pond they encountered and made many attempts but still found nothing.

"Let’s search for a few more days. If we find nothing, we’ll head back."

Truth be told, Hua Chengtian was getting a bit anxious. Having been out for so long, he was wondering how everyone back home was, wondering if his daughter was eating properly, and missing his wife and parents dearly.

After so many days, even if they didn’t find any, dad probably won’t say anything, Hua Chengtian thought to himself.

Hearing this, Zeng Li and his brothers were relieved, speeding up their eating.

It’s not that they don’t want to search; they honestly hope to find salt in the mountains, after all, even if there is some at home, it would eventually run out.

They’ve already traveled this far, and honestly, they were losing confidence.

Next, under the watchful eye of the few elder dogs, the old men rested for an hour, then continued.

Valley.

The arrival of several clan elders in the late afternoon surprised Old Hua.

Thinking for a moment, he didn’t really see anything that would warrant the clan elders coming personally.

Recently, everything in the valley had already been going smoothly; everything was organized. Besides being busy in the fields, pulling weeds and catching insects, removed from worldly concerns, nothing really seemed wrong; calling it an earthly paradise wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

"Yong Uncle, Li Uncle, Huai Uncle, what brings you here..." Old Hua accepted the clay pot from the old wife, poured tea for the elders while curiously asking.

"Actually, it’s nothing major," Yong clan elder chuckled. "Thinking that there aren’t many matters in the mountains these days, perhaps we should send someone down the mountain to check, see how things are down there? How’s our village doing, not knowing always leaves us feeling empty inside. Is the town returning to normal? If so, perhaps we should consider going down the mountain to get some supplies. Although each household is fairly prepared, we aren’t short on food, but some families don’t have much salt or seasonings."

"Indeed, Yong Old Brother is correct. Although we’re doing fine in the mountains, it is ultimately deep in the mountains. If things are stable below, are we considering building our village?" Li clan elder also chimed in.

"...A golden nest or silver nest is no better than one’s own doghouse. A rotten home is still a home; we should go down and have a look." Huai clan elder couldn’t help but sigh.

Upon hearing these matters, Old Hua was relieved. He thought something had happened unbeknownst to him.

"Ah, nothing major, Uncle shouldn’t worry. Here’s the mung bean water your niece-in-law simmered, with sugar added, chilled in the water for a good while. It quenches thirst well. Uncle, taste it quickly." Old Hua invited them.

Hua Man’s calm demeanor peculiarly relaxed the clan elders, allowing them to drink the mung bean water.

Once they started drinking, they couldn’t stop. Icy cold and sweet, a comforting pleasure in the belly.

After finishing one bowl, Old Hua observantly refilled each one. Only after drinking did the elders realize and feel a bit embarrassed.

A pot of mung bean water was almost finished by the bunch of elders.

These days, mung beans are hard to obtain, let alone with sugar added. After drinking, they immediately felt refreshed, even feeling somewhat stronger.

"Ahem... The niece-in-law’s craft is undeniable," Yong clan elder cleared his throat to return to the topic, "Hua Man, what do you think of what we discussed?"

"Honestly, I’ve been considering the same, just as Uncles have said, our current life is quite peaceful. But eventually, we need to return home, can’t always remain in the mountains, a golden nest or silver nest is no better than one’s own doghouse. We should head down and see."

"Indeed, it should be so." The clan elders all nodded in agreement.

"In that case, at dusk, let’s organize a village meeting. If everyone agrees, I’ll lead a team down the mountain tomorrow morning."

"Good, good, we’ll leave this matter to you." Hearing this, Yong clan elder was pleased.

If possible, they wished to go down the mountain themselves, to see if their painstakingly built homes were still there, but it was only a thought. Taking them along would be pure burden.

Knowing Hua Man is handling this competently, the clan elders were assured, after exchanging a few pleasantries with Old Hua, they left together.

Later, Hua Yunxiang informed the villagers, holding a brief meeting at dusk.

The result was as expected, no need to discuss when going down the mountain. Everyone agreed immediately, with many young and strong ones volunteering, eyes even showing excitement.

In the end, Old Hua chose thirty strong men to go down early the next morning, aiming to be back to the mountain in no more than three days.

The mountain path is now easier to traverse than before, with small paths at the foot of the mountain revealing themselves without snow or ice, easing concerns of slippery footing. Some mountain ranges can be bypassed at the foot, estimating three days should suffice.

Afterwards, the brief village meeting concluded, everyone returned home. As for each family’s reactions upon return, Old Hua didn’t know and didn’t have time to know, as at this moment, he was being entangled by his lovely granddaughter.

"Grandpa..." Hua Jin hadn’t used her killer charm skill for some time, yet luckily there was no hesitation in her actions—smooth as can be. Her voice twisted and turned like an eighteen-curve mountain road, with hooks that if not for the granddaughter’s soft voice, really made Old Hua feel chilling, with his ears buzzing and itching.