Seeing Hu Xiaobei running over enthusiastically, Guo Meiyu expressed some surprise, "Xiaobei, what are you..."
Before she could finish, Hu Xiaobei hastily interjected, "Sister-in-law, let's not talk about that now. First, take a look at these medicinal herbs I gathered on the mountain?"
"Medicinal herbs? Xiaobei, do you have a misconception about medicinal herbs? Not all plants can be called medicinal herbs!"
Hearing Hu Xiaobei's eager tone, Guo Meiyu chuckled and waved her hand.
In Guo Meiyu's mind, Hu Xiaobei must have haphazardly gathered some common mountain grasses to help pull her through a tough time!
But when she got a better look, she was stunned!
Because she realized that Hu Xiaobei was really holding various medicinal herbs in his arms...
"Golden Bamboo Flower, Lanling Grass, Suying Fruit... this..."
After the shock, Guo Meiyu dumbly asked, "Xiaobei, where did you get these medicinal herbs from?"
As she asked this question, Guo Meiyu pinched herself. If it hadn't hurt, she would have thought she was dreaming, because this scene was simply unbelievable!
Seeing Guo Meiyu's astonished expression, Hu Xiaobei chuckled, "On the mountain, sister-in-law, there's plenty on the mountain!"
"Plenty?"
While the corners of her mouth twitched, Guo Meiyu glanced at her empty medicine basket.
"Yeah! I just can't carry anymore, otherwise I'd still be gathering!"
Hearing Hu Xiaobei's explanation, Guo Meiyu's eyes brightened, "Then... then I'll lend you my medicine basket, and let's go gather some more!"
"Sure!"
Seeing Hu Xiaobei agree so readily, Guo Meiyu hesitated for a moment and asked timidly, "Xiaobei, if we gather a lot, could you give me some?"
Feeling Guo Meiyu's apprehension, Hu Xiaobei laughed, "Sister-in-law, what are you saying! No matter how much we gather, I won't keep any!"
"All... all for me?"
"Yeah! You can take them to the county town tomorrow and sell them, then you'll have money!"
"This... could sell for a lot of money! Are you really giving all to me?"
Guo Meiyu thought Hu Xiaobei did not know their value, so she reminded him appropriately.
"Yeah, really giving it all to you! Let's go, sister-in-law, it's going to get dark soon!"
"Alright! Good!"
And so, Guo Meiyu and Hu Xiaobei started to venture into the mountain...
Guo Meiyu was curious about Hu Xiaobei's method of gathering herbs, so she deliberately walked behind him, watching his every move. Soon, she became perplexed as she observed Hu Xiaobei seemingly wandering around aimlessly!
"Can you really find herbs by wandering around like this?"
Watching Hu Xiaobei truly just ambling everywhere, she was bewildered!
Previously, to gather more medicinal herbs, Guo Meiyu had specifically learned methods of gathering!
Indeed, she knew that typically one had to squat on the ground and search very carefully because many medicinal herbs look quite similar to ordinary grasses!
A few minutes later, being somewhat overwhelmed, Guo Meiyu commented, "Xiaobei, this aimless searching isn't right, to find herbs, one should..."
Guo Meiyu hadn't finished speaking when she saw Hu Xiaobei squat down!
Curious, Guo Meiyu moved closer, and before she even got there, she saw Hu Xiaobei stand up again!
"Sister-in-law, for you…"
After clearly seeing what Hu Xiaobei handed her, Guo Meiyu was speechless!
After a while, looking at the green-colored herb in her hand, she dumbly said, "This... this is Green Leaf Blue! Xiaobei, how... how did you know it was here?"
Seeing Guo Meiyu's amazed expression, Hu Xiaobei smiled.
Hu Xiaobei couldn't possibly reveal his secret, so he casually made up an excuse, "Sister-in-law, I used to play around here often, so I'm very familiar with this place!"
"But even if you're familiar, you shouldn't be able to find it so easily!"
"Maybe I just have a knack for spotting them! Come on, let's keep looking!"
"Okay!"
In the following hour, Guo Meiyu was completely convinced because she realized Hu Xiaobei truly had a knack for this...
In just one hour, Hu Xiaobei had found more than a dozen types of medicinal herbs...
Guo Meiyu knew that even if she spent ten days or half a month, she would have difficulty finding as many, so she was completely impressed...
"It seems that the bigger the white spots, the better the medicinal herbs!"
Gradually, Hu Xiaobei figured out a pattern!
The larger the white spots that appeared on the map in his mind, the better the medicinal herbs were!
"There's a really big white spot here, I wonder if we should go check it out?"
Hu Xiaobei hesitated at this moment!
"Forget it! We'll have another opportunity later!"
Hu Xiaobei knew it was getting late, and with Guo Meiyu by his side, it really wasn't a good idea to go deeper...
Thinking this, Hu Xiaobei gave Guo Meiyu a dazed look and said, "Sis-in-law, it's getting late, let's head down the mountain!"
"Okay! Sure!"
Guo Meiyu agreed immediately without hesitation!
She had been wanting to suggest leaving because the sun was about to set...
...
Going up the mountain is easy, coming down is hard...
Although the mountain wasn't very high, it became challenging to walk as it gradually got darker.
"Sis-in-law, do you need me to help you?"
Hu Xiaobei, carrying the medicine basket, saw Guo Meiyu lagging behind and asked.
"No need, I can manage on my own!"
Even though she was scared inside, Guo Meiyu still spoke stubbornly!
"Oh! Then I..."
Before he could finish, Hu Xiaobei heard a scream and quickly turned his head, only to see Guo Meiyu sitting on the ground in pain...
Looking at Guo Meiyu with concern, Hu Xiaobei quickly ran over, "Did you fall somewhere, Sis-in-law?"
Hearing Hu Xiaobei's anxious inquiry, Guo Meiyu felt a warmth in her heart and softly said, "I just fell a little bit, it's nothing serious!"
While saying this, Guo Meiyu tried to stand up, but she gasped in pain!
"What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
Guo Meiyu bit her cherry-red lower lip and whispered, "Xiaobei, I think I've twisted my ankle!"
"Is that so? Let me check!"
As he spoke, Hu Xiaobei quickly squatted down...
"Don't..."
Before Guo Meiyu could finish, her white canvas shoe was swiftly set aside by Hu Xiaobei...
"Sis-in-law, I can't see clearly with the sock in the way, just bear with me for a moment while I take it off!"
"Well... okay then!"
Upon Guo Meiyu's consent, Hu Xiaobei held her tense calf with one hand, and gently removed the slightly warm white sock with the other hand...