Chapter 40: Ginseng

“What’s up?” Jiang Mixia asked, half asleep.

“Shall we go to the mountains tomorrow?” Song Jingyun suggested.

“Why do you want to go to the mountains?”

“I thought we could see if we can catch some rabbits or wild chickens, then come back and make a stew.”

Given their short lifespan, they couldn’t afford to waste any meals; they needed to enjoy delicious food whenever possible.

Tomorrow, they also needed to go to the foot of the mountain to gather some bamboo. After some consideration, Jiang Mixia nodded. “Alright, but we shouldn’t go too deep into the mountains.”

She wasn’t a professional hunter and lacked experience in venturing deep into the mountains. Despite being strong and unafraid of ordinary wild animals, she was well aware of the numerous dangers that lurked deeper within the mountains.

“Great.”

Song Jingyun was already thrilled that Jiang Mixia agreed to take him into the mountains. He nodded eagerly, then lay down and closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips.

The next day, after an early breakfast, Song Jingyun pulled the cart, and they set off to the foothills of the mountain together.

In addition to the usual machete used for cutting bamboo, Jiang Mixia also brought a few bamboo spears and a net for catching rabbits or wild chickens, making hunting more convenient.

The morning dew made animals slower due to their fur getting damp, making it an ideal time for hunting. Experienced hunters generally choose this time to venture into the mountains.

On the way, they encountered several groups of people, some from their own village and others from neighboring ones. When they saw Jiang Mixia parking the cart at the foot of the mountain, tying it to the bamboo, and leading Song Jingyun with a bamboo basket into the mountains, looking as if they were going hunting, some found it quite amusing.

Bamboo spears were not easy to pierce into flesh, and they made quite a bit of noise, making it challenging to catch anything. It was clear that Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun seemed like novices in the mountains.

However, for many rural folk, going into the mountains was often a matter of testing their luck, gathering wild vegetables, or picking mushrooms to supplement their household income. Therefore, these people didn’t say much, only reminding Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun not to go too deep into the mountains to avoid danger.

Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun thanked them and continued on carefully, noting their path to ensure they wouldn’t get lost on their way back.

The mountain was eerie and chilling in the early morning, sending a bone-deep cold.

“You’ve thought of everything, wife,” Song Jingyun tightened his belt. “The extra clothes have come in handy.”

“Hush,” Jiang Mixia gestured for him to keep his voice down.

Not far ahead, a wild chicken was leisurely pecking about, searching for food.

Jiang Mixia carefully prepared the net in the bamboo basket, planning where to cast the net to ensnare the chicken successfully.

“I’ll do it,” Song Jingyun whispered, reaching for the net in Jiang Mixia’s hands.

“Be careful,” Jiang Mixia handed him the net, then moved to the side. If Song Jingyun didn’t catch the chicken, she could intercept it.

Song Jingyun stealthily advanced.

The wild chicken seemed oblivious, focusing on a patch of wild grass.

Seizing the opportunity, Song Jingyun swiftly cast the net.

Startled, the wild chicken flapped its wings in an attempt to escape, but entangled in the net, it couldn’t fly or break free, struggling against the mesh.

Jiang Mixia hurried to help, lifting the wild chicken from the net, tying its wings and legs with a rope, and placing it in the bamboo basket.

“This wild chicken is quite plump,” Jiang Mixia assessed its weight. “It could make a hearty stew.”

“Yeah, it would be delicious stir-fried too. Add some chili peppers to make it spicy chicken. In this hot summer, a bit of spice is appetizing.”

“If that doesn’t work out, how about braising it? Shredded for a cold salad, that might be tasty too…” Jiang Mixia rambled on. Noticing Song Jingyun’s silence, she grew curious.

He was usually quite the glutton, so why wasn’t he interested now?

“What’s up?” Jiang Mixia observed Song Jingyun intently focused on a patch of grass. She grew increasingly puzzled. “What’s so special about this grass?”

“Nothing, it just looks pretty,” Song Jingyun replied, looking up. “Can I dig it up and plant it in our courtyard at home?”

This grass looked pretty?

Jiang Mixia examined the plant Song Jingyun was fixated on.

Not particularly tall, with slender stems and sparse leaves, the plant was neither exceptionally ugly nor beautiful. It was just plain and unremarkable, hardly deserving of being called “pretty.”

Planting such grass in their courtyard would likely resemble a weed, somewhat unsightly. Nevertheless, if it was Song Jingyun’s preference, she could plant it. She’d just have to be careful to distinguish it from actual weeds in the future.

“Alright, go ahead and dig it if you want,” Jiang Mixia said, using her bamboo spear as a makeshift hoe, helping Song Jingyun with the task.

Seeing her, Song Jingyun found a thin stone slab nearby and joined in the digging.

It was just a simple grass plant, not particularly lush, so Jiang Mixia initially didn’t pay much attention to its roots.

However, as they continued digging, she started to feel something was amiss. The plant’s roots seemed deeper than expected, and perhaps a bit larger.

After fully excavating the plant and examining it closely, Jiang Mixia fell into contemplation.

“This plant grows quite strangely. Its roots are much larger than its leaves and stems,” Song Jingyun scratched his ear. “If we take it back, will it survive? Should we wrap the roots in another layer of mud?”

He remembered Jiang Mixia mentioning that when transplanting flowers and plants, it was crucial to protect the roots. Otherwise, the plant could easily die.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Jiang Mixia replied.

“Why not?” Song Jingyun was curious.

“This isn’t an ordinary plant, it’s… it’s ginseng,” Jiang Mixia’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Ginseng? What’s that?” her husband asked, puzzled.

“It’s a type of medicinal herb, a very valuable one. Although I’m not sure how old this one is, judging by its size, it should be quite valuable.”

Jiang Mixia paused. “I estimate it’s worth no less than those three pearls.”

“So much money?” Song Jingyun examined the ginseng carefully. “No wonder I found this plant so appealing, it’s valuable.”

Jiang Mixia thought to herself, “Are you sure it’s not just because you’re lucky?”

She couldn’t help but feel that Song Jingyun had an inherent stroke of luck. She stared at him, trying to figure out what made his luck so good.

“Why are you looking at me like that, my dear?” Song Jingyun, feeling uncomfortable under her scrutiny, reached to touch his face. “Is there something on my face?”

“No, there’s nothing,” Jiang Mixia turned her gaze away. “Take a look around, do you see any other flowers or plants that catch your eye?”

Although Jiang Mixia knew it was entirely improbable to find two ginseng plants consecutively, if Song Jingyun’s luck was truly that good, perhaps he could find other valuable herbs or plants.

“I’ll take a look.” Song Jingyun readily agreed and began searching the nearby area.