The little ancestor of the family

Among the grass and trees, a plant with a red crown is very eye-catching.

Ye Xinran was delighted!

When I got closer, I saw that it was indeed a ginseng.

The number of ginseng leaves gradually increases with the years, with one stalk growing every year and five leaves on each stalk.

After six petioles are grown, the number of petioles will not increase, but the stems and leaves will gradually become thicker with the years.

The plant discovered by Ye Xinran has large leaves and dark color, and is estimated to be 20 years old.

She called Xiao Huaian over to take a look, "Didn't you find this ginseng when you were hunting before?"

Xiao Huaian took a look and couldn't believe it, "Is this ginseng?"

He had seen ginseng before.

Sliced, cut into sections, whole plant, made into soup, soaked in wine, put into medicine, but I have never seen it growing in the soil.

So he didn't recognize the leaves of ginseng either.

"Yes!"

Ye Xinran now realized that the reason this ginseng had not been discovered was because the hunters did not recognize it.

If it was seen by people picking herbs, it would probably be gone long ago.

Two people squatted down to dig ginseng.

The roots of wild ginseng are very long, especially those that are old, the roots underneath are even more intricate and tangled.

Don't be too violent when digging.

The soil has to be peeled off layer by layer to avoid damaging the ginseng.

It took the two of them almost half an hour to finally dig it out.

Ye Xinran picked up the ginseng and took a look at it. It had a long, pointed top and a body as thick as a finger. The two big whiskers below spread out to the left and right, forming a human shape with the upper part.

Not bad, it’s a good ginseng!

Ye Xinran peeled off a piece of moss from the stone next to her.

Wrap the ginseng inside to ensure the freshness of the ginseng to the greatest extent.

Finish all of this.

Xiao Huaian looked at the sky and said, "It's getting late. Let's speed up. Can you still hold on?"

"I'm OK!"

Ye Xinran waved her hand.

My legs still hurt when I woke up in the morning, but not to the point of being unbearable.

The two of them sped up a little.

Ye Xinran continued to check the surrounding plants as she walked, hoping to find the medicinal herbs she wanted in them.

Expensive ones like ginseng and Polygonum multiflorum can be sold for money, but Ice Spirit Flower and Luosuozi are what she wants the most now.

Unfortunately, nothing was found along the way.

The two arrived at the destination Xiao Huaian mentioned before the sun set.

With yesterday's experience, Ye Xinran was no longer surprised by what she saw now.

Just as Xiao Huaian said, the wooden house below looks rather shabby because not many people go there on normal days.

The one they arrived today has a much more complete range of items.

There are rice jars, water jars, wooden basins, and even some oil and seasonings.

Xiao Huaian put down the backpack and went to the back to fetch some water.

After the two washed their hands and faces, Ye Xinran suggested: "It's still early, let's go look for some wild vegetables nearby!"

Although everything should be kept simple outside, she still hopes to make life more comfortable within limited conditions.

"Okay, I'll take you there."

Xiao Huaian wiped his face covered with water droplets, then picked up a backpack and a machete, and walked to the back of the wooden house with Ye Xinran.

There was a small bamboo forest not far over there. Xiao Huaian once saw people digging bamboo shoots there.

The two of them walked towards the bamboo forest. Ye Xinran walked and stopped from time to time. Before arriving at the bamboo forest, she had already got a lot of food.

There are shepherd's purse, toon shoots and mugwort tips.

These things are both medicine and food, and Ye Xinran has seen them in medical books.

Xiao Huaian had no doubt about the edibility of these things.

Because Ye Xinran has proven with her ability that if she says it is edible, it is definitely edible.

After digging two bamboo shoots, Ye Xinran looked at the basket and suggested that they go back.

There was only one iron pot in the wooden house.

These dishes are very diverse.

Ye Xinran thought about it, and finally stewed some rice and made fried eggs with toon, shepherd's purse, and mugwort.

A variety of dishes mixed together, but surprisingly delicious.

Xiao Huaian had never eaten so well in the mountains, and couldn't help but eat up all the remaining rice.

Ye Xinran was very happy that her cooking skills were recognized, but she still asked: "Aren't you curious about where the eggs come from?"

Xiao Huaian thought for a moment and said, "I am curious, but if you don't want to tell me, I won't ask."

Ye Xinran smiled, "You are really..."

After a day of "sharing hardships" yesterday, the relationship between the two has invisibly improved a lot.

Ye Xinran then took the topic a little deeper.

"In fact, you have already noticed that I am a little strange, but you never asked. Don't you think I am here to hurt you?"

"Harm me?" A hint of sarcasm unconsciously appeared on Xiao Huaian's lips.

"You want to harm a penniless and useless cripple like me?"

"You are not completely useless..."

Ye Xinran explained in a low voice.

There was a hint of tenderness in Xiao Huaian's eyes:

"I can see that your kindness to the children is genuine. If you have put so much thought into this just to harm me, then I can only say that this is my fate and I am happy with it!"

Ye Xinran never thought that Xiao Huaian would say such a thing.

Is this a disguised confession?

She felt her face getting hot.

He quickly changed the subject and asked, "Don't you usually cook when you come to the mountain?"

Xiao Huaian nodded.

"Cooking is too troublesome, and besides, my cooking skills are really..."

Ye Xinran understood.

His cooking skills are so good that even he himself would find it hard to swallow.

Xiao Huaian: "If you are hungry, there are wild fruits on the mountain, or you can roast the prey you caught and eat it for a few days."

"But given your conditions, it shouldn't be so hard."

Ye Xinran thought of the 400 taels of silver that Xiao Huaian had given her.

Anyone who can come up with 400 taels of silver doesn't need to hunt, and his life won't be too bad, he may even live better than most people in the village.

"Are you doing this to hide your identity?"

Based on Ye Xinran’s current experience, there are hidden stories behind all the things that seem unreasonable.

Xiao Huaian pursed his lips, wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing.

Ye Xinran waved her hand casually, "Forget it if you don't want to talk about it. Anyway, we each have secrets. As long as we don't want to hurt each other, we don't have to tell each other."

Xiao Huaian was somewhat moved.

Does she really not care?

If she knew the truth, would she be scared away?

"What if my secret might really hurt you one day?"

He hesitated.

"Did you do this on purpose?" Ye Xinran asked.

"no!"

"It's okay if it's not!"

Ye Xinran smoothed the hair beside her ears and said, "As long as you don't want to hurt me, we can face other things together!"