bookrebus Chapter 291 The whole village goes to graze in the mountains
Chapter 291 The whole village goes to graze in the mountains
In a fierce and delicate bargaining battle, Sun Quande, with his indomitable sincerity and unwavering perseverance, finally managed to secure the dog, Heiniu, with its glossy black fur and bright, intelligent eyes, for 320 yuan—a price that both sides hesitated over but found irresistible—and bring it back to his cozy little home filled with the smoke of cooking fires.
The fruits of his victory were not welcomed with the enthusiasm he had expected; instead, they were met with fierce criticism from his own wife right at the doorstep.
Sun Quande's wife, a woman who was usually gentle but never ambiguous when it came to important matters, now stood with her hands on her hips, her brows furrowed, her eyes flashing with a mixture of dissatisfaction and worry. Her words came out like a barrage of bullets, mercilessly aimed at Sun Quande.
"Do you even know what our situation is like right now? Three hundred and twenty yuan! Just for a little dog? You're simply..."
Her voice trembled slightly with emotion, revealing her deep concern for her family's financial situation.
Upon hearing this, Sun Quande's initial joy at the successful transaction was instantly extinguished, replaced by an indescribable sense of irritation and resentment. He abruptly stood up, his eyes wide, and retorted.
"What do you know, you're just a woman! This is a dog, not some ordinary cat or dog! Do you know how many treasures it can help me find when I'm roaming the mountains? Three hundred and twenty yuan is already a pretty good price because we're acquaintances!"
His voice was slightly hoarse with emotion, but every word was firm and resolute. However, his explanation seemed to have done little to quell his wife's anger; instead, it was like adding salt to a frying pan, making the situation even more heated.
His wife's voice rose a few decibels with anger, and every word she uttered struck a chord with Sun Quande.
“Expenses! Expenses! Have you even thought about how we’re going to cover this month’s expenses? We need to buy rice, we need to buy salt, and we need to pay for the kids’ tuition! And you just casually throw away hundreds of dollars!” Her eyes gradually reddened, and her voice was filled with grievance and helplessness.
Seeing this, Sun Quande's anger was replaced by a strange emotion—a complex mix of guilt, helplessness, and determination. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his tone, but his words still carried an undeniable resolve.
"Alright, stop worrying about it! This time, we're going to bring that big club back! Then, let's see if you still dare to look down on me and Blackie!" His eyes gleamed with determination, as if he could already see himself and Blackie fighting side by side in the mountains and returning with a full load.
In the Sun family's courtyard, four hunting dogs were running happily, especially Blackie, whose agile figure drew graceful arcs in the sunlight.
……
Deep within the vast forest lies an ancient and mysterious secret—the treasure of ginseng. Generally speaking, the best time to harvest this natural gem is precisely during the crisp autumn months of September and October, as wise old herbalists have determined.
This period of time seems like a grand feast specially prepared by nature for these precious creatures, allowing them to quietly gather the earth's most essential nutrients after being nourished by the gentle spring rains and baptized by the scorching summer sun. When the first frost gently brushes across the forest, the ginseng leaves gradually turn yellow, a signal that they are announcing their maturity to the world.
Guided by generations of wisdom, farmers have skillfully adapted and innovated the techniques for harvesting and processing wild ginseng. Thus, in this forest dyed golden by the autumn wind, wild ginseng and wild ginseng growing beneath the forest follow the same natural laws, quietly awaiting those who understand their language to come and explore.
The ginseng harvesting journey can be roughly divided into three stages, each with its own unique charm and challenges.
Firstly, in the fourth and fifth months of the lunar calendar, the earth warms up and all things revive. In the mountains and forests, all kinds of grasses are like newborn babies. This period is vividly called "the sprouting grass market." Ginseng farmers shuttle through the dense forest, relying on their generations-old experience and intuition to find that little-noticed tender green.
Secondly, as time flows into the fifth or sixth month of the lunar calendar, the mountains and forests don their summer attire. Ginseng leaves disappear without a trace in this verdant sea, as if nature had deliberately set up a riddle to test the wisdom and patience of the ginseng harvesters.
This period was known as the "Green Grass Market." At this time, the ginseng had just struggled to recover from the long and cold winter's frozen soil and had experienced the initial sprouting of its stems. Although it was full of vitality, its roots were not yet fully mature, and the yield of dried ginseng was extremely low. Even experienced ginseng harvesters often found it difficult to spot them in this vast green sea, let alone sell them at a high price.
Thirdly, during the sixth and seventh months of the lunar calendar, ginseng seeds, like works of art meticulously sculpted by time, become exceptionally vibrant in color and as smooth as jade.
Throughout the mountains and forests, the ginseng seeds and slender stalks are arranged in a staggered pattern, resembling the hammers in the hands of ancient craftsmen, shimmering with an alluring red light in the sunlight. Therefore, this area is affectionately known by the locals as "Red Hammer City." "Red Hammer City" is not just a place name; it is a sacred place in the hearts of ginseng harvesters.
In this season, an indescribable excitement and anticipation permeates the mountains and forests, because the fruits of wild ginseng have finally ushered in their glorious moment.
Ginseng typically matures within 4-6 years, at which point it reaches its highest quality.
Sun Quande, the village leader, organized everyone in the village to embark on a treasure hunt. This was not only to satisfy personal desires, but also for the livelihood of the entire village and for the adherence to and inheritance of ancient traditions.
The reason is simple, yet it reveals a hint of helplessness. A couple of days ago, Sun Quande and five experienced ginseng harvesters from his family wandered around this vast forest for a long time, their footsteps covering almost every inch of land that might nurture miracles. However, the real "treasures"—those ancient and priceless wild ginsengs—were like shy elves, hiding in the most inconspicuous corners, leaving not a trace.
Uncle Sun cursed, "Damn it, this is really strange. Why is it so hard to find a club? It wasn't possible in previous years either."
My second uncle pointed to the fifth ridge and said, "There was a patch of land there the year before last, but the clubs were too small to harvest. I reckon it'll be possible this year."
Li Ju'an and Lu Zhiqiang, carrying their guns, also joined the villagers in their mountain-climbing procession, loudly echoing the mountain songs sung by the village elders and villagers.
The ancient mountain songs are melodious and have been passed down from generation to generation.
"The days are hot and long, so before entering the mountains, we must first pay homage to the mountain god..."
"Mountain God, kind-hearted, secretly blesses us as we dig for treasure. We dig for treasure, unafraid of hardship, climbing fifty-five li a day. Fifty-five li and still no luck, all the brothers are exhausted and clinging to the pole! Hey!"