Chapter 115 : Harvest

Hearing Jiang Yu mention that the extra food could be stored, the other three immediately sprang into action.

In addition to the Matsutake mushrooms, Jiang Yu also gathered a good amount of monkey head mushrooms and various other wild fungi.

Anything edible didn’t escape her grasp.

Liu Zi looked at the full basket and felt that this trip was definitely worthwhile.

“Wow! Is that a August fruit? I didn’t expect to find it now!”

Jiang Yu spotted some August fruits clustered together, looking like a gigantic flower.

“I can’t reach it, Aye, you get it. They’re really sweet!”

As Jiang Ye approached, his expression suddenly changed. Instinctively, he pulled out the sickle hanging at his waist and swung it above Jiang Yu’s head.

Jiang Yu was still processing what was happening when she saw a blur fly past. By the time she realized, a snake nearly as thick as an arm was lying on the ground.

Jiang Ye’s sickle hadn’t killed it, and it was hissing and preparing to escape when Liu Zi delivered the final blow.

“That was close. This snake must be poisonous,” Liu Zi wiped away a cold sweat.

Jiang Yu felt a chill and instinctively moved behind Jiang Ye, her heart racing.

“Don’t worry, it’s safe now.”

He checked around and found no trace of other snakes nearby.

While reassuring her, Jiang Ye didn’t forget to pick the August fruit.

“Want to try some?”

Still shaken, Jiang Yu took a soft, sweet August fruit and felt a bit more at ease.

“Let’s pick the rest of the August fruit and head down the mountain.”

Liu Zi fiddled with the snake and asked, “Do you want to take this snake back for soup?”

Jiang Ye and Jiang Yu exchanged glances and shook their heads.

“Then can you sell it to me?”

Jiang Ye replied, “Liu Zi, if you want it, just take it. No need to talk about selling.”

“That won’t work. A deal’s a deal. This snake is worth eighty bucks. I’m taking it.”

Selling it to the medicine shop would definitely work, after being processed, the poisonous snake could be used as medicinal material.

Jiang Ye glanced at Jiang Yu, and upon seeing her nod, he agreed.

Because Jiang Yu knew Liu Zi wouldn’t make a bad deal.

“Let’s head down now.”

Seeing the snake made Jiang Yu’s scalp tingle, she just wanted to leave quickly.

Liu Zi found a vine and tied up the snake, which was as thick as an arm.

“Let’s go to Aye’s chicken coop first to split up the haul,” Jiang Yu suggested.

Neither Liu Zi nor Tieniu had any objections.

After all, the rabbits and wild chickens were discovered by Jiang Yu, so they had benefited from her find.

Arriving at the chicken coop, Jiang Ye first tied the wings of the two hens meant for Jiang Yu.

These two would be for her to take home later.

As for the mother rabbit and a few small ones, Jiang Ye would keep those, so he didn’t divide the rabbits and wild chickens further.

He wasn’t planning on eating them himself; they would all go to Jiang Hao.

Just then, they ran into He Xing, who was coming to feed the chickens, and Jiang Yu handed her a rabbit.

He Xing panicked, “Sister Jiang Yu, I can’t accept that!”

“If I take it home, my grandma will definitely scold me.”

Jiang Yu reassured her, “Just think of it as helping me out. Give a bowl to Jiang Ye, and the rest can be for you and your grandma.”

Since she was in the city, whatever she cooked Jiang Ye wouldn’t be able to eat, and it wouldn’t be fair for him to work so hard without any meat.

Only then did He Xing accept the rabbit. “Okay, once I cook it, I’ll let Jiang Ye know.”

For the remaining five big rabbits, Jiang Yu kept one for herself and divided the other four between Liu Zi and Tieniu.

Compared to rabbits, she actually preferred chicken, so she took a wild chicken that was still unconscious.

Liu Zi also gave Tieniu a rabbit and took another wild chicken, and everyone was satisfied.

“Here are the chestnuts and persimmons I picked yesterday, let’s share them. After today, they’ll probably be gone,” Jiang Ye called them over.

Fortunately, he had gathered some yesterday, or they wouldn’t have gotten any today.

Liu Zi and Tieniu fell silent, they didn’t feel right taking things for free.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu said, “You guys should take some. If you don’t, they’ll just spoil here.”

She wanted some too, but couldn’t carry it all.

With three chickens, one rabbit, thirty eggs, and a basket full of mushrooms and August fruits, she was already feeling exhausted.

Liu Zi and Tieniu took some, and they even shared some with He Xing’s family, yet there was still quite a bit left.

Jiang Yu suggested, “Why don’t you pack some for me? I’ll see if I can carry it back.”

Jiang Ye shook his head. “I’ll take it to the city for you.”

“That works. Let’s leave now, and we can catch the 11 o’clock train to the city for lunch. You won’t need to come back tonight, it’ll be perfect to take you to school tomorrow for registration.”

Jiang Ye hesitated, “That’s not convenient.”

Jiang Yu waved her hand. “You’re my brother, what’s inconvenient about it? You’re not a stranger.”

This way, he could avoid making another trip to the city tomorrow.

“Agreed then! Let’s grab our things and head out.”

“Got it!” Liu Zi replied.

This trip was certainly not a waste.

As they descended the mountain, they immediately attracted the attention of the villagers.

Carrying so much, it was hard for anyone not to notice.

“Jiang Yu, where did these chickens come from?” Aunt Du approached.

Jiang Yu smiled and replied, “These two hens were traded from someone, and the wild chickens and rabbits were caught by my brother. We were lucky to find a rabbit nest.”

Aunt Du felt envious, “You’re really lucky!”

“What’s in that basket?” She reached for Jiang Yu’s basket.

Jiang Yu deftly dodged, “Aunt Du, everyone’s out picking chestnuts, so we picked some too. We’re heading back now.”

Tieniu stepped forward to block Aunt Du’s view.

“Sister, let’s go. The return bus is leaving.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yu turned to Aunt Du and said, “Aunt, I’m heading back now.”

“Ah, go ahead,” Aunt Du pouted, feeling a bit sour.

Those rabbits and chickens looked so plump, yet she hadn’t offered to give her one.

Jiang Yu didn’t care what she thought, she hurried to catch the bus.

The ticket collector recognized her and came over with a smile.

“Comrade, where are you headed with all that?”

Jiang Yu laughed and wiped her brow.

“I went home to pick some chestnuts and am heading back to the city now.”

The ticket collector seemed surprised. “You’re married?”

“Just recently. I didn’t bring any wedding sweets, but here’s some chestnuts for good luck.”

Jiang Yu pulled out a plastic bag from her pocket and filled it with several chestnuts, along with a few large persimmons.

The ticket collector beamed, “How can I accept this?”

“Big sister, we’re fated to meet. We’ve got this connection, and I still feel it’s not enough. Take it. Do you have a bag? Is this bus driven by Master Zhang? I’d like to pack some for him too.”

The ticket collector hurriedly said, “Yes, yes, yes! Wait a moment, I’ll go get a bag!”

While the bus hadn’t left yet, she rushed off to get a plastic bag.

Jiang Yu packed plenty for herself, and during their conversation, they introduced each other, learning that the ticket collector’s name was Zhang Daying and that her husband also worked at the state cotton mill.

However, she lived in a housing compound two alleys away, which is why they hadn’t met before.

The bus driver, Master Zhang, was her uncle.

“It’s not far. I’ll come visit you sometime,” Zhang Daying chatted with her, holding her hand.

Just before departure, Master Zhang approached and recognized Jiang Yu.

“Daying, last time you didn’t take leave to ride with us, it was this comrade’s spouse who fixed our bus!”

Zhang Daying realized, “So that’s it! Uncle has to properly thank her!”

Since there had been an accident, Master Zhang, the driver, would definitely be held responsible.

After all, the bus station had regulations stating that drivers must inspect their vehicles every day to prevent issues during the next day’s journey.

Last time the bus malfunctioned, the person who checked it the night before wasn’t Master Zhang but his apprentice.

Master Zhang had taken a chance, thinking missing one check wouldn’t matter, who knew that bad luck would strike at that moment?

With a bitter smile, Master Zhang said, “I should have been the one bringing you things, not the other way around.”

Jiang Yu generously replied, “Master Zhang, let’s keep it separate. This is my gift to you. If you want to thank someone, thank my husband.”

Seeing her so straightforward, Master Zhang didn’t insist further and accepted the gift with a smile.