Chapter 26 - Transmigration: The Farm Life of a “Fool”

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Chili Peppers

 

 

On the night of the move, Xu Ran's family of four sat on small wooden stools in the main hall and held a family meeting. The topic was the future plans for the household: making money, putting food on the table, and eventually upgrading their new house.

 

These were Xu Ran's current goals.

 

"Ahem," Xu Ran cleared his throat, playfully acting serious as he began to address them.

 

"Tongtong, Tangtang, Guoguo, we've now moved out on our own. Though life may be hard at first, we'll no longer have to endure any bullying. Are you happy?"

 

"Happy!" the two children chimed in sweetly, while Liu Tong smiled warmly.

 

"So, here's the situation: the coarse rice we've been eating was given to us by Wu Mei's family. We didn't grow any crops this year, so we need to figure out another way."

 

"What's your plan?" Liu Tong asked.

 

"Well, Tongtong, you know how everyone around here loves chili peppers, but I've noticed that no one knows about chili sauce. So, I thought we could make this chili sauce ourselves. There are plenty of peppers growing wild on the mountain, so all we need to do is spend some time gathering them."

 

"How do we make chili sauce? I've never even heard of such a thing," Liu Tong asked, puzzled.

 

"Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it. That's not your job. What you need to do is go hunting, sell the game in town, and then buy some plots of barren land so we can plant potatoes."

 

"As for Tangtang and Guoguo, you two will come with me to pick chili peppers on the mountain, and we'll dig up potatoes along the way."

 

"Alright, Ah Ran, I'll do as you say," Liu Tong agreed.

 

"We'll listen to Daddy!" the children chimed in.

 

The whole family enthusiastically supported Xu Ran's plan.

 

The next day, the entire family set out for the mountain. They were fully equipped with baskets, hoes, and sickles.

 

Liu Tong also brought along a bow and arrows that he had kept hidden on the mountain. That was why he had left the Xu family so decisively before.

 

He also carried a firestarter, as they had no livestock to care for at home, meaning they didn't need to return for lunch.

 

It was August, and the chili peppers were ripe. The mountain was dotted with vibrant red and green chilies, all wild and free for the taking.

 

The chili sauce Xu Ran had in mind was inspired by Lao Gan Ma*, the beloved sauce from his previous life. He had always loved it, though his mother insisted that the store-bought versions contained additives. As a result, Xu Ran's family made their own chili sauce, following the ingredients listed on the Lao Gan Ma jar. After watching his mother make it so many times, he had learned the recipe himself.

 

[T/N: Lao Gan Ma (老干妈) is a popular Chinese brand of chili sauce, renowned for its rich flavor and versatility. The name translates to "Old Godmother," which refers to the brand's founder, Tao Huabi, who started selling her homemade chili sauce in Guizhou province in the 1990s.

The sauce typically includes chili peppers, fermented soybeans, garlic, peanuts, and other spices. It has a complex flavor profile that balances spiciness with umami.]

 

Xu Ran believed that one essential life skill was to instill in children a sense of preparedness from an early age—teaching them to learn everything they could.

 

He set the two children to picking chili peppers while he went to look for something else—black beans, which would make the fermented chili paste even tastier.

 

"Tangtang, Guoguo, when you finish picking the chilies, remember not to rub your eyes with your hands, alright? Otherwise, it will hurt," Xu Ran reminded the two children, who were focused on their task.

 

"Got it, Daddy!" Tangtang replied with a bright smile.

 

Seeing how obedient the children were, Xu Ran felt reassured and went about his own work. As for Liu Tong, he had already disappeared into the woods somewhere.

 

Black beans, unlike soybeans, were difficult to find. Xu Ran searched for a long time without success, though he did come across several soybean plants, which he picked without hesitation.

 

The sun climbed higher, nearing noon, and Xu Ran still hadn't found a single black bean. He was beginning to believe that this place truly didn't have any, but at least he had gathered a decent amount of soybeans.

 

Liu Tong returned at that point, carrying several wild chickens and rabbits, two of which were still alive.

 

When the children saw the rabbits, they immediately abandoned their chili-picking to play with them.

 

The two adults, drenched in sweat, exchanged a glance and smiled. "Tired yet? Come over here and take a break," Xu Ran said.

 

He pulled Liu Tong to sit beside him on a rock. Though he wasn't particularly tired, Xu Ran's thoughtful care warmed Liu Tong's heart, so he didn't refuse.

 

Xu Ran handed Liu Tong a bamboo flask filled with water. "Here, drink some water. For lunch, we'll just roast a few potatoes. When we get home tonight, we can make something delicious."

 

"Alright, whatever you say," Liu Tong replied without any objection. In the past, back at the Xu family's house, he had rarely eaten his fill—sometimes there was no food at all. He had gotten used to it.

 

Now, having potatoes to eat was enough to make him content.

 

Xu Ran told Liu Tong to rest while he went off to gather firewood for cooking.

 

The children were still busy playing with the rabbits, chattering away.

 

The quiet mountain, the laughter of his family—it all felt so warm and peaceful

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