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Good grief!
Zhao Dashu jumped in fright, clutching his chest. “Father! Must you scare people like that? Couldn’t you have made some noise first? Nearly frightened me to death!”
“I’m your old man—what’s there to fear? Unless you’ve done something to feel guilty about.”
Zhao Dashu bristled at that. “Looking for a fight first thing in the morning? Whatever. We’re not staying past the ten-day break, so don’t block our way.”
“Where are you going?”
“To complain to Grandfather’s grave about how we work like dogs yet can’t even afford paper offerings to show our filial piety. I’ve failed his memory!”
Old Master Zhao: “…”
‘Damn brat—using his own grandfather against him!’
“Father, are you coming with us to chat with Grandfather, or should we go first?”
‘This unfilial wretch!’
Waving impatiently, he snapped: “Get lost!” ‘Had he woken this early just to be provoked?’
Damn it!
“Aye!”
Once outside the courtyard gate, Zhao Zhenyu couldn’t hold back her laughter, giving her father a big thumbs-up. ‘Brilliant—absolutely brilliant!’ He’d even dragged their great-grandfather into this.
Bathed in dawn’s light, the family scoured the mountains for treasures.
Zhao Dashu found several honeysuckle plants—they’d ventured deep into the mountains by now.
“Father, you keep harvesting here. I’ll look around nearby.” Zhao Zhenyu said.
“Don’t go too far. Watch your step—spring brings out many snakes.”
The mere thought of those slippery, cold, tongue-flicking reptiles made Zhao Zhenyu shudder. “I know. I brought a stick anyway.”
The soil here was damp, rarely touched by sunlight. She wondered if she might find mushrooms.
“Father, pass me the shovel!”
‘Oh? Had her daughter found something valuable?’
Zhao Dashu scurried over eagerly. “Where to dig? Let me!”
“Right here. Follow the vine—the root is mature yellow rhizome. Be careful not to damage it.”
Zhao Dashu nodded. After selling herbs these past days, he’d learned appearance critically affected price—poor specimens fetched dramatically less.
Crouching down, he carefully dug around the root bit by bit. The damp soil made the work effortless.
“This thing?” He held up a long, knobby root resembling a tree branch. ‘This is medicine?’
“Yes, that’s it—yellow rhizome.”
“Father, keep digging. There’s probably more in this area. This stuff must be worth more than honeysuckle.”
“Good thing you reminded us to bring sickles and shovels today! Otherwise, we’d still be scratching at the dirt with our hands.”
‘Since when did his daughter become so sharp and capable?’
“Father, you keep digging. I’ll look around some more.”
“Go ahead.”
While others might wander aimlessly, her wandering meant treasure hunting—silver-making opportunities.
“Termitomyces mushrooms?”
‘Mother of pearls!’ The mountains truly overflowed with treasures—every bit of it real.
She brushed away the soil with her hands, revealing an exceptionally long mushroom right before her eyes. Termitomyces mushrooms grew in clusters—this discovery made her want to laugh triumphantly to the heavens. ‘Struck gold! Struck gold!’
Kneeling beside the mound, Zhao Zhenyu carefully scraped at the earth with her sickle.
‘Tonight’s mushroom soup will taste infinitely better than wild vegetable stew.’
By midday, she’d filled over half her basket with termitomyces—though truthfully, she’d harvested a full basket’s worth, stashing half in her spatial storage. This remaining portion would let her father inquire at town restaurants about potential buyers.
“Zhenyu! Zhenyu!”
“Finished digging?”
Zhao Dashu nodded. “I’m heading to town.” Daylight was fading—any later and he’d miss the market.
“Father, I’ll go with you. I’ve got half a basket of mushrooms to see if any restaurants want them. You sell the herbs—I’ll handle these.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Zhao Dashu smiled. He loved seeing his daughter so full of life now.
“Alright, what about your mother and the others?”
“Let them keep harvesting flowers here. They can wait for us.”
Wasting no time, Zhao Dashu didn’t dare delay further. After informing Madam Song, father and daughter descended the mountain with their goods.
“Father, you take this path every day? I’ve never been here—it’s unfamiliar.”
“Few know this route. It’s shorter, though not as well-trodden.”
Zhao Zhenyu found it pleasant—quiet and peaceful.
“Father, there’s a bamboo grove here! This season must bring plenty of shoots, no?”
“There are many, but ours taste terribly astringent and bitter. Aside from cutting bamboo poles for household use, this whole grove has little value.”
‘Really?’
She’d gather some on their return. She remembered these tender shoots being perfect for pickling—delicious when prepared right.
“Let’s hurry. If we don’t get back before dark, I’ll worry about your mother and sister.”
“Understood.”
‘At the physician’s clinic—’
The physician’s eyes gleamed when he saw the yellow rhizome. Such fine quality was rare indeed.
“These matured yellow rhizomes are about ten years old, carefully dug with intact appearance. I won’t deceive you—one tael and three mace of silver per catty. How does that sound?”
Zhao Dashu stood frozen.
Misinterpreting his silence as dissatisfaction, the physician reluctantly added, “Though the quality is excellent, it’s unprocessed. Let’s make it one and a half taels per catty—truly can’t go higher.” This was already a generous offer.
Zhao Dashu: ‘…I hadn’t even spoken, and he raised the price! What a good man!’
“Deal! Please weigh them, Physician.”
Delighted, the physician gave premium rates for both items. “8 catties 2 taels of yellow rhizome, 16 catties 8 mace of honeysuckle. The honeysuckle at 336 copper coins, the rhizome at 12 taels 3 mace—totaling 12 taels, 6 mace, and 36 coins. Does that tally seem correct?”
“Correct! Absolutely correct!” Zhao Dashu stammered eagerly.
‘Who could calculate at a time like this?’ Dazed by this sudden windfall, he’d have called the physician “father” if asked.
In a daze, he accepted the silver. In a daze, he tucked it into his robe. In a daze, he left the clinic. In a daze, he felt like he’d forgotten something—but what?
After walking for fifteen minutes, he suddenly smacked his forehead. ‘Damn it!’ He’d forgotten to ask about the dandelion price! What a pig-brained fool!
He hurried back. “Physician, do you buy dandelions?”
“We do. Dry them first—three coppers per catty.”
“Aye!”
‘At the restaurant—’
Zhao Zhenyu tilted her head to admire the imposing two-story establishment, then squared her shoulders.
“Honored guest—”
The waiter’s greeting died on his lips. One glance told him she wasn’t here to dine.
“Miss, are you here to…”
“I need to see your manager. I’ve foraged some wild goods—wondering if he’s interested.”
The manager stood nearby and eyed Zhao Zhenyu. “That depends on what you’ve brought. We don’t buy common fare.” Their supply channels were established—they rarely purchased from outsiders.
“Termitomyces mushrooms.”
Now that was a rare mountain delicacy. “Let me see!” This season was peak flavor for termitomyces, yet they remained notoriously hard to find. For their restaurant, these mushrooms counted as premium scarcity—
Well now—someone who actually recognized quality!
She’d expected him to say: ‘”Wild mushrooms can be poisonous—we don’t accept such things.”‘
Zhao Zhenyu set down her basket and peeled back the grass covering her haul.
Freshly picked, most still half-closed in that perfect tender state.
The manager’s eyes lit up. “Forty-five coppers per catty. Acceptable?”
‘Absolutely acceptable!’
In her memory, meat sold for thirty-five coppers per catty. ‘Mushrooms pricier than meat?’ This manager truly knew his goods. ‘This one’s worth dealing with!’
Zhao Zhenyu beamed at him. “Whatever the manager says goes.”
The manager raised an eyebrow. ‘This little lass had spirit.’ Had he said ten coppers, would she have agreed so readily?