Crossing Over to Yamada Love

"Who would buy wild vegetables? They're only for the poor when there's no food to eat. Things are better now, everyone has enough to eat, so who would eat them? Besides, wild vegetables don't taste good. How can they be sold?" Mo Quan had been listening to the back-and-forth argument between the grandmother and granddaughter with a smile, but he couldn't help but chime in, afraid that his granddaughter had miscalculated.

"Grandpa, let me ask you, how did you eat wild vegetables back then?" Mo Lan didn't refute her grandfather's words, but instead asked Mo Quan how to cook wild vegetables.

"How can we eat it? Make wild vegetable dumplings or wild vegetable soup. As long as it fills our stomachs, that's fine." Mo Quan didn't understand why his granddaughter asked that, but he still answered her question.

"Are there any other ways to eat it? Do you put oil in it? Do you add seasonings?" Mo Lan sat up straight and continued to ask.

“When the harvest is bad, oil is such a precious thing, how could we possibly put it in wild vegetables? If we have the means, we'll add some salt, but if we don't, we won't even add salt.” As Mo Quan spoke, he fell into deep thought, as if recalling those difficult days.

“That’s right, how can wild vegetables taste good if you don’t add anything? Even good things need to be cooked well to taste good. Besides, Grandma taught me a lot of other ways to cook wild vegetables. They’re not only delicious, but they can also cure and prevent diseases.” Mo Lan chuckled, raised her head, and said proudly to Mo Quan.

"What?! Wild vegetables can cure and prevent diseases? How come I didn't know that?" Mo Quan was obviously a little skeptical, his eyes wide as he looked at Wang Shi and Mo Lan.

"Yes. I heard about it from a gentleman before." Madam Wang nodded and added, covering for Mo Lan.

"You silly girl, your grandma taught you so much, and you're showing off to your grandpa. It's all thanks to your grandma." Mo Changhe smiled at his daughter's smug look and said something to her, signaling her not to be arrogant.

"Hehe, Grandma taught her well, and Lanlan has a good memory too. Otherwise, how could she remember it? Dad, your daughter is so smart, aren't you happy?" Mo Lan wasn't afraid of him at all, and instead teased her father.

"You silly girl, how can you praise yourself like that?" Mo Changhe glared at Mo Lan's smiling face, then shook his head helplessly and grinned. Actually, he was quite happy inside.

"Grandma, just agree. Whether the wild vegetables can be sold or not, it's good for me to go and see how things go." Mo Lan grabbed Wang Shi's arm, shaking her hand as she spoke.

"Okay, okay, Grandma agrees, isn't that enough?" Wang nodded helplessly, then muttered under her breath, "I'm afraid if I don't agree, you'll shake these old bones of mine to pieces."

"Hehe, Grandma is so good. Thank you, Grandma." Mo Lan stopped shaking Wang Shi and hugged Xiao San'er, giving him a big kiss on the cheek.

"You're getting more and more unruly, girl." Mo Changhe's face darkened this time. His little daughter was becoming more and more unruly, and he was afraid that if she continued like this, he would ruin her personality.

"Why are you criticizing her again? I don't see anything wrong with Lanlan. I'm happy just looking at her." Mo Quan looked at his son with displeasure and tapped his pipe.

"Father," Mo Changhe called out helplessly.

"Dad, blame Xiao San'er, don't blame Sister. It's Xiao San'er who likes to stick to Sister. Xiao San'er likes Sister to kiss Xiao San'er. When Sister does this, Xiao San'er feels very comfortable here." The little guy stood up and blocked his sister's way, his little face full of determination as he spoke to his father. After saying the last sentence, he even pointed to his heart.

After hearing his words, Mo Lan hugged him tightly. Such a pure heart! Even though he was young, he could clearly tell who was good to him.

“Changhe, I know you’re worried that Lan’er will be hard to manage when she grows up. But Changhe, it’s a good thing that Lanlan and Xiao San’er are close. They’re siblings, and they can help each other in the village when they grow up. It’ll save you a lot of worry. Lan’er is a bit mischievous, but she has a kind heart. She’s genuinely kind to everyone. If you let her control herself, she might change in the long run. Is that what you want to see?” Madam Wang spoke earnestly to her son.

Mo Changhe did not respond immediately. He looked at his youngest son, who was being held by his sister and looked shy but content, and then lowered his head to ponder Wang Shi's words.

After a long pause, he raised his head and said loudly, "Mother is right, I was wrong. I was worried that Lanlan's appearance would sound bad and damage her reputation. But now I think, as long as these children are well, what more could we, as their parents, ask for?"

Wang and Mo Quan nodded in satisfaction. Mo Lan also looked at her father gratefully. Her father wasn't a stubborn person, and she was very satisfied. Otherwise, with all the restrictions, she would have been driven to despair.

The group agreed that four days later, Mo Changhe would lead Erlang and Mo Lan into the mountains. Since they were going into the mountains, Xiao San'er obediently said he wouldn't go. Although he really wanted to be with everyone, he knew he was small and didn't want to cause them any trouble.

His sensible appearance made Wang Shi and Mo Lan hug him tightly, feeling sorry for him.

Four days later, early in the morning, Mo Lan went into the kitchen to tell her mother to cook porridge for everyone and to prepare pickled vegetables and flatbread made from mixed grains. If they couldn't come back by noon, they would have to make do with a meal in the mountains.

The group drank some thin porridge, changed into old clothes, wrapped their necks tightly, put on high-cut shoes, and tied their trouser legs with straps to prevent insects from crawling in. Actually, it would be best to wear boots when going into the mountains, but there were none here, so they had to make do with high-cut shoes.

The basket was prepared, and inside it was a burlap sack. There was also a hemp rope, a few pieces of rags, some dry food, and a bamboo water bottle. Mo Lan was quite greedy; she planned to gather as many wild vegetables as possible this time.

After they finished packing, they stepped out of the courtyard and saw an oxcart parked in front of their house. There were several large bundles on the cart, and a young man was sitting on it. Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was Mo Lan's cousin, Qiu Dajun.

"Uncle, Erlang, Lanlan, where are you going?" Qiu Dajun, who had jumped off the oxcart, looked at the three people in front of him, puzzled. Why were they all so heavily armed? It was early April, after all; weren't they hot dressed like this?

"Brother Dajun is here. This must contain the finished products. Take these into my mother's room, and then let her find you some old clothes to come with us." Mo Lan's eyes lit up. Her cousin had arrived so early; it was truly a blessing from heaven. This was ready-made labor.

"Okay. I'll go right away." Qiu Dajun readily agreed without asking any further questions. He turned around, took out three coins, handed them to the driver, exchanged a few polite words, and then went into the courtyard with Mo Changhe Erlang, carrying their large bundles.

Mo Lan waited for a while and saw the three of them come out. Then they all walked towards the back mountain together.

There were plenty of wild vegetables along the way, but Mo Lan didn't stop. Her goal today was to go into the mountains, and she couldn't waste time by the roadside.

The mountain looked close, but it was actually quite far to walk. Mo Lan gradually fell behind, after all, she was the youngest. Er Lang, although not much older, was used to gathering firewood.

Mo Changhe handed the basket containing the items to Qiu Dajun, then squatted down, patted Mo Lan on the shoulder and said, "Come on, little girl, Daddy will carry you."

"No need, Lanlan can still walk." Mo Lan smiled and thanked her father for his kindness.

"Come on up, you'll have to pick vegetables once we get into the mountains. You're exhausted from walking, you won't have the energy later. We'll have a lot of stuff to carry on the way back, and even if you want Dad to carry it, I can't." Mo Changhe smiled and urged his daughter to come up quickly.

"Okay, then thank you for your hard work, Father." Mo Lan stopped her playful smile and silently climbed onto her father's back. Being carried wasn't tiring; her father's back was broad, and he was used to farm work, so he was very strong. On her father's back, Mo Lan felt stable and peaceful. But for some reason, her eyes were very sore.

Finally, they arrived at the foot of the mountain. Mo Changhe put his daughter down, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and smiled, saying, "Luckily, my daughter isn't fat, otherwise Dad really wouldn't be able to carry her."

Mo Lan's eyes were a little red, and she said softly, "Thank you, Dad. Lan Lan must have exhausted you."

"Silly girl, how could I be tired? Dad is happy. Your brother and I will follow your orders from now on. Tell me what vegetables to pick." Mo Changhe patted his daughter's head and changed the subject.

"Okay, okay. You're all under my supervision today. I'll tell you what to pick, and you'll pick whatever I say. Don't stray too far, and don't act on your own, understand?" Mo Lan quickly composed herself, tilting her head back and demanding of everyone.

"Understood," the three replied, amused.

"Come with me, I'll tell you what you need." Mo Lan walked ahead and began introducing the wild vegetables to them.

Although they should have all eaten wild vegetables, they may not have picked them. Picking wild vegetables is usually done by women, while men are busy in the fields.

"These patches are called hairy legs. They usually grow in clumps, some are purple and some are green, and there are many hairs on the stems. We pick the thick ones to pinch off. These are very tender and break easily when pinched. If you can't pinch them off, don't take them. Leave the roots so they will grow again next year," Mo Lan told the three, pointing to the clumps of hairy legs.

The three examined it carefully, then pinched it with their hands; it was indeed very tender and broke easily. They nodded to indicate they understood.

"After you've pinched them, you need to stack them neatly in handfuls, don't leave them lying around, otherwise it will be difficult for your mother and the others to pick them out when you get home," Mo Lan added.

"Okay, we know," the three replied, and then started pinching his hairy legs.

"Hairy Legs" is a local name in Northeast China. She doesn't know its scientific name, Mo Lan; she only knows that it's called "Hairy Legs" in Northeast China, and in some places it's called "Green Stem Vegetable" or "Monkey Legs." It grows to a height of 60 to 100 centimeters. It can be found in general grasslands, mixed forests, and thickets.

Its rhizome is short, usually growing obliquely upright, in long strips, and covered with dark brown needle-like hairs, but they are not prickly and will fall off easily when touched.

This is best harvested in spring. Fresh hairy legs can be scalded with boiling water, seasoned, and served as a cold dish, which tastes great. Of course, they can also be pickled, dried, or stir-fried.

Hairy legs have many medicinal values. I remember my mother-in-law saying that they can kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, and fight viruses, and have a preventive effect against influenza viruses and the like.

It can also stop bleeding. It has some effect on bleeding disorders such as vomiting blood, bloody stools, and the like.

Furthermore, it's very nutritious, and it's said that eating it regularly can strengthen the body. It's also said that pregnant women and children should eat more of it to boost immunity, prevent aging, and even enhance children's intelligence.