After sowing the seeds, Wen Qian didn't bother much with them; she spent her other time foraging for wild vegetables on the mountain.
After the late spring cold spell, the temperature rose with each passing rain shower. People began shedding their layers of clothing.
However, the rain was rather bothersome, with a drizzle that lasted for days, followed by a day or two of sunshine before raining again. It felt like the plum rains had arrived early.
Apart from videos of Wen Qian digging for wild vegetables, she also recorded the white noise of the rain. It was rare for such a continuous drizzle to last for four or five days without stopping.
A towel left hanging would grow moldy.
Although the temperature rose, so did the humidity. Wen Qian had no choice but to use a heater, not for warmth but to dry out her room and prevent dampness.
The rain was peculiar, with the entire southern region experiencing this light drizzle. It wasn't very harmful, but it was annoying.
The constant light rain kept the sun hidden, leaving people feeling gloomy after emerging from the winter snow only to face this dreary weather. Their frustration remained undiminished.
Fortunately, it didn't significantly impact their lives, or at least not majorly.
The raincoats and rain boots purchased earlier now came in handy. Wen Qian would light the heater at home and then venture out in the light rain to forage for wild vegetables. Sometimes, she would also go fishing by the small river.
Although she didn't catch any fish, with the continuous rainfall, she needed to find ways to pass the time.
Crops were struggling to grow, as delicate plants can't withstand such unrelenting rain.
Fortunately, leafy greens seemed unaffected, and the wild vegetables on the mountain were thriving.
During the brief breaks between showers, some people went to the mountain to gather mushrooms. However, Wen Qian never dared to eat mushrooms. What if she picked poisonous ones while foraging?
The locals were wary of eating mushrooms because an elderly couple who had gathered and consumed them for years ended up in the ICU after one incident, costing them tens of thousands in medical bills.
Since then, the elderly and children in the area avoided gathering mushrooms. Considering the exorbitant hospital expenses, it was safer to buy mushrooms from the market with guaranteed safety.
Wen Qian could only identify one or two edible mushroom varieties. She considered all others poisonous and wouldn't eat them unless absolutely necessary.
Wen Qian picked some leafy greens from the fields. While people say "spring rain is as precious as oil," too much rain was also troublesome.
The constant gloomy drizzle caused weeds to grow faster than the crops! They couldn't keep up with the weeding.
Additionally, Wen Qian had planned to raise more chicks and piglets in the spring, but with the continuous rain, the young animals could get sick.
Perhaps the confinement indoors due to the snow and now rain had caused many people's immunity to weaken from lack of exercise.
Many fell ill, though mostly with flu-like symptoms.
Lack of outdoor activity and prolonged idleness at home took a toll.
During seasonal transitions, Wen Qian paid extra attention to her health.
Originally meant to be a vibrant spring, the constant rain left her with fewer opportunities to admire the blooming flowers while foraging for wild vegetables.
However, having wild vegetables to gather was still a blessing. Although Wen Qian didn't eat mushrooms, she could collect a type of moss called Nostoc commune that grew in patches on the grassy slopes.
Its texture was even softer than wood ear mushrooms. Lying on the grassy slopes, the moss only grew in the shallow layer of grass, nestled in the crevices.
At times, Wen Qian would spend a long time lying on the ground, collecting the Nostoc commune. Many people enjoyed eating it, but gathering it was tedious, and washing it was even more troublesome due to the bits of grass and debris.
Stir-fried with cured meat, it tasted delicious. Despite being scarce, it fetched a high price when sold.
However, Wen Qian didn't intend to sell it for money.
But if the rain persisted, she estimated she could gather a substantial amount. If anyone wanted it, she might sell it in exchange for other goods.
After all, she didn't particularly crave it; she just needed to keep herself occupied every day.
Amidst the rain, the mountain gradually turned green, a fresh vibrant hue.
Yet the rain showed no signs of stopping, which was quite frustrating.
The bowls, cupboards, wooden lids, and wood trims in Wen Qian's home began to grow mold and mildew.
Fortunately, Wen Qian had stored away most items, preventing her home from becoming overly musty.
At Auntie Chen's house, they had to burn mugwort to smoke out the rooms.
Excessive mold growth is unhealthy, so it needed prompt attention, especially with a pregnant woman in the household. They were extra cautious about what they consumed.
Fortunately, the rain allowed them to shop in town, and deliveries could still reach them. Fang Ya had stocked up on plenty of food and moisture-absorbing bags, as well as two dehumidifiers, one for upstairs and one for downstairs, to reduce mold growth.
As for clothes, they would air-dry them and finish drying them in the heated room near the heater.
In short, they found solutions one by one.
By then, both city and rural residents felt that this year was ominous.
Wen Qian didn't find it surprising, as every year could be considered the best year yet; that's how she chose to think.
The box planters Wen Qian had set up in the corridor were thriving, but recently, insects had started to infest them.
Wen Qian had no choice but to remove the affected leaves, unsure of where the pests had come from.
The fields and grassy areas also had pests, but as the leafy greens emerged, they risked being overgrown by weeds if left unchecked.
With the rain, pesticides were ineffective, so she decided not to use them.
Fang Ya's belly had grown quite large, and she was due soon. So during the rainy days, she wouldn't visit Wen Qian. Instead, Wen Qian would visit her when she had time.
The bigger her belly grew, the more anxious Fang Ya became.
After a long stretch without seeing Fang Ya, Wen Qian noticed her belly had swollen like a balloon, with intense fetal movements.
Apparently, the growth sped up significantly in the last few months.
Perhaps the rain had dampened the mood of the expectant mother, which is why Auntie Chen sometimes asked Wen Qian to visit more often.
Auntie Chen felt that the less-than-ideal living conditions at home had made the pregnant woman melancholic.
However, Fang Ya wasn't dissatisfied with the living conditions; she was just concerned about the poor environment for her pregnancy. Even living in An City wouldn't have provided much comfort.
The harsh winter, the adverse environment – she would have struggled to live comfortably there, too.
Living in her hometown had its limitations, but overall, it was decent. However, Fang Ya grew increasingly worried about the circumstances her child would be born into.
From conception until now, or even before that summer, the environment had been dreadful – first the intense heat, then the drought, followed by heavy snow, and now the incessant rain.
With the baby due in May, Fang Ya and Chen Ming had bought many supplies, fearing that money might not be enough when the time came.
Giving birth at the town hospital was decent, but Chen Ming wanted her to have the baby in An City and do her postpartum confinement there.
Chen Ming's intention was to prevent his parents and wife from any hardship, so he planned to send them to a postnatal care center or hire a confinement nanny.
However, with the dreadful weather, whether in the city or the countryside, Fang Ya couldn't find any relief.
