Chapter 83 : A rich harvest

Two and a half hours later, after digging thoroughly, the two of them finally dug out all thirteen ginseng plants. They varied in size the largest had a thick root, a yellowish or yellow-brown surface, and a firm texture.

Yun Siying examined them repeatedly and exclaimed in shock, “I didn’t expect the oldest one to be fifty years old, and even the youngest is over ten. We’re really lucky! Let’s split them in half.”

“No, you found them, so they’re yours,” Nangong Ruochen said, looking at her expression clearly reluctant, but still insisting on splitting them fairly. He found her even more endearing because of that.

He was also genuinely happy for her. If she sold the ginseng, she could make a lot of money and no longer have to worry about finances. Although he could give her money, he hadn’t confessed his feelings yet, and their relationship wasn’t official. Given her personality, she wouldn’t accept money from him.

Over the past few days, he noticed she was trusting him more and growing accustomed to his presence, but it wasn’t quite the right time to confess. He still needed to quietly work his way into her heart.

He could tell she had her guard up. If he confessed too soon, he might scare her off. He’d need to be patient.

“Anyone who sees it gets a share. Let’s split the ginseng equally,” Yun Siying insisted. She didn’t see herself as particularly noble, but she was sincerely grateful for all the help Nangong Ruochen had given her during her time in the countryside.

“Siying, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have discovered these ginsengs. If you feel bad, just treat me to a few more meals. And if you decide to sell any, you can come to me I’ll buy them at a high price.” Nangong Ruochen remained firm, he wouldn’t take any of the ginseng.

“Alright then!” Yun Siying chuckled. Anyone who didn’t know better would think it was just a bunch of big white radishes! Since he didn’t want any, she didn’t push it. After all, you can’t force a cow to drink water. She packed the ginseng with roots and leaves into her backpack but actually transferred them into her hidden space and planted them with a thought.

The two looked around a bit more but didn’t find any other ginseng. Slightly disappointed, they moved on and eventually reached a stream. Seeing the clear, running water, they stopped to wash the dirt from their hands.

Nangong Ruochen found a clean rock, wiped it down with his sleeve, and said, “Siying, come sit here for a bit. I’ll go collect some firewood to make a fire. We’ll roast the steamed buns for lunch.”

Yun Siying obediently sat down to enjoy the cool breeze. She picked up some small stones and absentmindedly tossed them into the stream until Nangong Ruochen returned, lit a fire, and began roasting the white steamed buns.

“I also brought a roasted chicken. You can heat that up too,” Yun Siying said, pulling a cold roast chicken from her space and handing it to him.

She then watched him squat by the fire, turning the buns and chicken over the flame. From her angle, she could clearly see his profile, sharp brows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and a clean jawline. His skin was a little tanned, but it only added to his rugged handsomeness.

His long, slender hands moved with practiced ease as he tended the food. He looked especially attractive when he was focused like that. Why hadn’t she noticed how good-looking he was before?

Nangong Ruochen caught her gaze out of the corner of his eye. She looked a little mesmerized. The corners of his mouth lifted in a smile, but he continued roasting the food with deliberate focus. Soon, a mouthwatering aroma wafted through the air.

“That smells amazing!” Yun Siying couldn’t help exclaiming.

“Yeah, it’s almost ready.” Nangong Ruochen stood up, carefully placed the roasted food onto a large leaf, and handed it to Yun Siying. “Try it and see how it tastes.”

Yun Siying took the food, took a bite, and her mouth was immediately filled with a delicious aroma. “So good!” she said happily, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. The two of them ate steamed buns and meat, taking turns with each bite. Just then, Yun Siying suddenly stopped chewing and gently picked up a few stones from the ground.

She focused her gaze on a nearby bush, where a few wild ducks had appeared. She casually threw the stones, which scattered like flower petals in the wind and as if guided by invisible eyes, each stone hit a duck. Five ducks were struck at once and fell into the bushes.

Nangong Ruochen had watched Yun Siying’s every move. Such precision and hitting five wild ducks simultaneously left him in shock. He didn’t possess such skill himself. It seemed Siying was even more capable than he had imagined. She truly was a remarkable girl, worthy of his admiration.

“Siying, with your skills, it’s a real shame you’re not in the military.”

“There’s nothing to regret. I don’t like being controlled by others. I like my freedom. Living like this, freely, is enough for me.” Yun Siying had struggled through much in her previous life. She couldn’t even count how many zombies she had killed, and she had taken the lives of many people as well. She no longer wanted a life of endless bloodshed, only a peaceful and simple existence.

But she also knew such peace was only possible because of the sacrifices, dedication, and protection of soldiers. Perhaps because she had gradually adapted to this world, she had come to genuinely admire soldiers.

“Go check the bushes, maybe there are some duck eggs,” 

Yun Siying? Could she not get through the day without running into the word “egg”? She walked into the bushes awkwardly, gathered the fallen wild ducks, and started searching. The two of them did indeed find a good number of wild duck eggs, and Yun Siying also handed Nangong Ruochen two of the ducks.

“Here, wild duck stew is really delicious.”

“Thank you.” Nangong Ruochen accepted them. Since they were given to him by Siying, he’d make sure to get her something in return another day. That way, their bond would grow stronger.

The two returned to where they’d been sitting earlier, finished the rest of their meal, and continued walking forward. About ten minutes later, they spotted a field where mushrooms were growing abundantly on the grass, cluster after cluster, each one fresher and more vibrant than the last.

“Nangong Ruochen, there are so many mushrooms here! Come help me pick them!” Yun Siying was overjoyed at the sight of the large patch of mushrooms. She jumped over excitedly and squatted down to start harvesting them.

“I’m coming.” Seeing her so happy made him happy too, happier than even receiving a military medal. But the girl didn’t seem to notice his feelings for her at all, which made him a little anxious.

“Nangong Ruochen, there are so many mushrooms here, let’s pick them all!” Yun Siying was used to gathering anything edible during her scavenging days in the apocalypse. Naturally, she couldn’t bear to see good food go to waste.

“Alright. The weather’s been good lately we can dry the mushrooms after we pick them. They’ll make a great side dish in the winter.” Nangong Ruochen nodded in agreement.

After picking all the mushrooms from the area, both their backpacks were completely full. They checked the time, it was already 3 p.m. Time had flown by so quickly.

“It’s getting late. We should head back,” Nangong Ruochen reminded her, seeing her reluctant expression. He knew the mountains could become dangerous after dark.