Plucking weeds along the way, they headed up the path to Back Hill. They came here often, since there were wild fruits on the hill, as well as fruit trees planted by the villagers. They had all snuck up here to pick fruit plenty of times as children, and now it was the next generation's turn.
There were sheep droppings along the way, too. A row of little wooden huts stood on the distant hillside, and every so often they heard a few bleats, along with the calls of other wild creatures.
They had only walked a short distance when they spotted a tree not far away, with several more scattered around in other spots.
"Those trees growing all higgledy-piggledy beside the path are yours," Ye Yaodong said with certainty.
"Yeah. They've only been planted a few years, and we barely fertilized them, but they've grown pretty well. Maybe the sheep droppings fertilized them. Cut as much as you like. My family can't eat that many anyway."
"If you can't eat that many, why didn't you invite us over to pick them last year or the year before? We could've helped you eat them!" With that, Xiao Xiao raised his bamboo pole and charged toward the nearest tree.
"You never said you wanted any. My dad isn't home, and with so many, I couldn't be bothered to pick them. I couldn't eat much anyway, so I had my uncle come pick them and only kept a little for myself. Enough to eat was fine."
Ye Yaodong patted his shoulder. "Call me over from now on. I don't mind having lots. There are plenty of people in my family, too."
"As long as you don't think it's a hassle."
"One of these days, I'll plant a couple by my back door,