"These are good enough; I'm sure we can sell them for a bit of money. Just don't know how the market is," Li Xiangli said with satisfaction.
Xiaozhu was excited and chimed in, "I've seen herbal medicine shops buying herbs. The prices are much higher than wild vegetables!"
"Really? If we make some money selling these, I'll buy you all something tasty," Li Xiangli said without hesitation, immediately continuing her search.
When she cleared a bush, her eyes lit up—wasn't this mountain bamboo shoots? It was the early spring season, and after a recent rain, these mountain bamboo shoots had sprouted quickly. She was truly lucky.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
"Digging mountain bamboo shoots. These are much tastier than wild vegetables," Li Xiangli said with a smile.
Le'er wrinkled her nose and said, "These are not tasty, they have a strange smell. It's better to eat wild vegetables. No one in the village eats these."
Li Xiangli smirked, "I'll make them delicious. They just don't know how to cook them. When we make these at home, you'll like them. Let's dig up some and eat them for lunch."
The villagers thought mountain bamboo shoots were bitter, but they didn't know that boiling them in water or salting them for a few hours would remove the bitterness. These were good food. Since no one in this era seemed to know that, it could be an opportunity to make money!
The more Li Xiangli thought about it, the more excited she became. She dug up plenty, but unfortunately, her basket was already full of herbs. Her physical condition was also weak, so she couldn't carry much. She reluctantly decided to leave some behind for now. Even though it was a shame, nobody would likely fight her for these, and she could always return later.
Li Xiangli happily pulled the two children down the mountain. "Let's go home and have lunch first. After we eat, we'll go to the town to sell these herbs and maybe buy some food, okay?"
Xiaozhu's face lit up. "Okay!"
"Hey, Xiangli?"
Li Xiangli heard a familiar voice and turned her head. It was a local hunter, Jiang Dong.
Li Xiangli smiled and said, "Big Brother Jiang? Are you hunting up in the mountains?"
Jiang Dong looked a little disheveled. His clothes were torn, his hair was a bit messy, but his face was full of vitality. "Yes. I went into the deep mountains a few days ago and stayed for three or four days. I managed to hunt a big one. Look at this spore—it's quite big, and I was just about to head back."
Xiaozhu and Le'er had already gathered around. Children were always interested in exciting things, and this was the first time Li Xiangli saw a real spore. She was surprised and said, "This spore can sell for some money, right? Big Brother Jiang, you're amazing!"
Jiang Dong scratched his head awkwardly and laughed, "Oh, it's nothing. How are you feeling now? You're already out of bed and walking?"
Li Xiangli's expression froze. Feeling better? Not at all, I was already dead.
Jiang Dong thought she didn't want to talk about her troubled past and quickly said, "I didn't mean to pry, your health is all that matters. Forget the past."
"Big Brother Jiang, you misunderstood. I have nothing to do with Feng An," Li Xiangli said, fearing people would connect her to that scoundrel.
"I know. You did everything for your children, to give them a better life. I've known you for years, Xiangli. I know you well." Jiang Dong reassured her.
Li Xiangli rubbed her temples. She felt trapped in rumors and misunderstandings.
Jiang Dong seemed to notice her unease and added with a sheepish smile, "Xiaozhu is smart. I've been meaning to teach him to hunt when he's old enough."
Li Xiangli was stunned. Hunting was a skill that people generally didn't teach in ancient times. After all, it was a skill needed to survive and provide for families, and few wanted to share it. Jiang Dong appeared to care about her family far more than necessary.
Before Li Xiangli could respond, another voice interrupted them. A sharp, spoiled voice came from behind.
"Isn't this Third sister-in-Law? What brings you up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables? Look at all that mud on your hands. Really hardworking, huh?"
The speaker was Guo Xiaomei, the youngest daughter of the Guo family. She had always been the favorite of Old Madam Guo, the grandmother of the household, due to her position as the youngest daughter. This favoritism meant she often used her power to bully Li Xiangli and her family.
Li Xiangli wasn't afraid of her, though. A wild girl without parental guidance, she thought she could boss people around? Not a chance. But when she looked over, she froze. Standing with Guo Xiaomei was none other than Feng An, the man who had troubled her life before.
Disclaimer:
I am not the original author of this work. This is a translated version of the original text, shared for reading and reference purposes only. All rights to the original content belong to the original author. I do not claim ownership of the original work or its characters. This translation is intended solely for informational and entertainment purposes.