Chapter 31: Wild Goji Berry Forest 

The two set off not too late, entering the mountains at just the right time in the morning when visibility was at its best. 

Sunbeams filtered through the varying heights of the trees, casting bright patches of light on the ground scattered with dead leaves and broken branches, creating a beautiful layered tranquility. 

Due to the man’s head injury, Xia Li did not intend to have him do anything too laborious. She pointed to a large bamboo basket behind him: 

“Do you see those big trees ahead filled with red fruits? You can go ahead and look under the trees for wild fruits to pick, but only gather those that are relatively intact, not the smashed or rotten ones.” 

“Make sure to be careful. Just pick the ones on the ground and don’t shake the trees. Otherwise, you’ll end up with one falling on your head.” 

As the man walked deeper into the mountains, he looked up and scanned his surroundings, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. 

He frowned slightly but didn’t say anything and quickly responded when he heard Xia Li’s words. 

Xia Li noticed that he still seemed a bit listless, likely because he hadn’t rested well last night. 

After pondering for a moment, she said, “Let’s work well together; we have a partnership, understand?” 

“You pick the fruits, and I’ll gather herbs for you. When we get back, we can make delicious fruit pancakes to eat, and I’ll put some anti-inflammatory ointment on you. You’ll get better quickly.” 

The man felt a surge of anticipation at hearing his wife mention making delicious pancakes, but then he was stunned by her next words. 

She still wanted to apply medicine on him again? 

What to do? 

He suddenly felt a wave of self-destructive shame and hopelessness wash over him. 

Although he didn’t understand why he felt ashamed or why everything had suddenly changed yesterday. 

After it had changed, he felt an instinctive need to avoid his wife, even when she approached him to talk; he couldn’t even focus on her words. 

If it happened again, would she definitely notice…? 

The man’s rugged features were tinged with a perplexing panic, which then gave way to an unshakeable dejection. 

His eyes dimmed, and the attractive angles of his lips drooped down. 

Xia Li looked at him in confusion, her almond-shaped eyes observing him closely. 

Why was picking wild fruit such a heavy task for him? 

She reminded him a couple more times, agreeing that he should stay in that area to pick fruits and not wander too far. 

She would gather herbs nearby and would wait for him under the largest tree when she was done. 

“If you don’t see me for a while, just call my name, and I’ll come over quickly.” 

The man silently watched the girl’s figure; his tall silhouette, awkwardly carrying the bamboo basket, wore a heavy expression that seemed quite lonely. 

Unexpectedly, after taking a few steps, she turned around suddenly, her white face softening with a raised brow, “Oh, right! If I can’t find you, what should I call you?” 

It suddenly crossed his mind that after several days of being together, he didn’t even have a name to call her by. 

Beneath the rays of light in the forest, the girl’s delicate and beautiful face seemed to glow, her warm eyes glimmering with light, even the warmth reflecting on her eyelashes. 

Her skin was fine and healthy, and her long, soft hair was illuminated, looking fluffy in the sunlight. 

So beautiful. 

He gazed at her, and a flush of warmth crept up to his ears. 

Xia Li naturally knew she couldn’t ask what he was called. Remembering that there was a piece of iron with an inscription in his initial outfit, she raised her long eyelashes and tentatively asked, “Is your name Cheng? Ah Cheng?” 

The man didn’t respond but, seeing his wife asking, nodded randomly, “Um.” 

Xia Li said, “Then how about this: you call me Li Zi, and I’ll call you Cheng Zi. We’ll be fruit-themed.” 

Upon hearing this, the man’s handsome face finally revealed a hint of a smile. 

The more he thought about it, the happier he became, unable to help but grin at his wife’s back, his voice low: “Li Zi.” 

Not long after Xia Li walked out, she discovered an area filled with shrubs, surrounded by weeds, where a type of purple flower was blooming. 

Her eyes suddenly lit up; was this purple flower the wild violet? 

The purple flower, known as wild violet, is a type of robust wild grass. 

In the countryside, it’s often called plowhead grass because it grows everywhere and can easily survive in the soil. Farmers often complain about it taking up nutrients from the soil. 

However, many people don’t know that it is a medicinal herb with high medicinal value, perfect for reducing inflammation and swelling. 

Xia Li had previously wanted to look for dandelions, which also have anti-inflammatory effects. Now that she saw a large patch of wild violets, she squatted down to dig them up, having brought a small iron spade with her for convenience. 

She quickly finished gathering the wild violets, and not far ahead, she noticed a denser patch of purple flowers by the hillside. After taking a short break, she continued deeper into the woods, unknowingly filling half a basket. 

Phew! 

There would definitely be enough for the man’s medicine, and the rest could be sold for money. 

Xia Li felt warm, her cheeks flushed as she stood up, stretching her back to relax. When she turned her head, she realized she had already walked quite a distance. 

The sunlight overhead was even more glaring and hot now; it must be close to noon. 

She continued walking with the basket on her back, planning to gather more herbs. 

For example… 

As Xia Li pondered, she almost tripped over a stone ledge underfoot. 

Instinctively protecting the bamboo basket on her back, she managed to steady herself. 

Exhaling, she casually looked up and was suddenly stunned by the scene before her. 

Before her was a vast green shrubland. 

The lush, oily green branches and leaves were filled with countless plump, bright red fruits hanging in clusters beneath the leaves, as if she had stumbled into a quiet, untouched forbidden forest. 

“For example… goji berries.” 

She murmured, disbelief flashing in her eyes, quickly followed by immense excitement! 

There was actually such a large wild goji berry forest in the mountains! 

It seemed endless. 

Clusters of bright red, plump goji berries hung heavily from the branches, weighing down the lush greenery, and many berries had even fallen to the ground, yet no one had come to pick them! 

Xia Li’s heart raced as she suddenly realized something.