Chapter 54

The next morning Ji Jiu finished all her routine and ate Aunt Qiao's breakfast early in the morning. She brought the drawing of the cart she had drawn last night to Wen Ting. Ji Jiu explained to him the principle of the spinning wheel. Along with saying that if you don't understand then come and ask. Leave it to finish the house before she takes you to do it. As for today, she is busy.

 Ji Jiu asked Aunt Qiao to prepare some simple supplies for her to go up the mountain. Today, she would not compete with them to pick chestnuts, but would explore the other side of the forest that she had never been to. Aunt Yu, who knew that her sister was going to pick chestnuts, wanted to go too. Ji Jiu looked at Aunt Qiao's face and saw that she wanted to go as well. So she had them prepare supplies and a basket with a knife just the right size to crack the shells. Thorns too Aunt Qiao immediately prepared things and put them in the basket. Li Hui and Gui Hua also wanted to go. Ji Jiu knew that they had never walked in such a difficult mountain forest before. She patiently explained to the mother and daughter.

"You used to stay in the house. Have you never been up a mountain before?"

"Yes," the mother and daughter answered.

"Climbing the mountain is not easy. If the body is not strong enough You will need to rest often. I still have things to check on the mountain. Wait, do I have time to take you all? You, too, take care of your health and be stronger. Look at Ah Yu like this. But she hasn't stopped walking up here since she came to live with me. Until today, she walks more like she is traveling."

"Yes, Miss. We will do as you tell us. And I won't make you a burden." Li Hui understood that Miss didn't really hate them. She was just afraid that they would get tired. Which is probably true.

 Ji Jiu listened and looked at the expressions of the mother and daughter. Seeing that they really understood, she nodded at the sound of an old man calling out to them. Ji Jiu took Aunt Yu's hand and walked together, while Aunt Qiao carried a basket and walked behind the two children leisurely. Li Hui also cooked food for the people in the house. As for Si Auntie, she will come to help in the morning as usual. Because various house renovations are still not complete. The villagers who went up the mountain today are all people who are free from work.

 The villagers who had listened to the village headman's warning before coming, none of them dared to talk to Ji Jiu any longer than necessary. They had not been close to her since time immemorial. He agreed to go up the mountain only because he needed more food before the winter in a month.

 Ji Jiu walked ahead with Uncle Yu and Elder Uncle. She explained to him why she had prepared a knife of the right size. The elder uncle and the nearby villagers heard what she said and understood. They thanked Ji Jiu for helping them find food this time.

 Ji Jiu responded and said that she just wanted everyone to not be in trouble. Plus, there were so many chestnuts on the mountain that she probably couldn't eat them alone. If the villagers could pick them and roast them to sell or use them to make other food. She was pleased, because she herself had no idea about food at all.

 They walked and talked until they reached the area where the chestnut tree was in Ji Jiu's memory. This area is not too far from the intersection to the bamboo forest. They only had to climb another mountain. Ji Jiu led them not far past the dry bushes she had passed through before. In front of them, there were thorns all over the ground. Ji Jiu walked over and picked up some chestnuts and showed him how to remove the chestnuts from the thorns. Villagers took turns coming to look at it until they understood the method. So they separated to gather the thorns and crack the chestnuts and put them in baskets. Everyone sat separately under the shade of the tree and found rocks to put under each other.

 Ji Jiu saw that they were doing well and that no one was hurt so he asked to go explore another area. She left Aunt Qiao and Uncle Yu with Elder Uncle before leaving.

 Ji Jiu walked up to the top again. She hadn't explored this area at all after bringing the man in the house to collect hay. Ji Jiu walked beyond the grass. Until he found large, dense trees that were recovering from the recent drought. Ji Jiulong walked over and carefully examined each tree. In case she was lucky enough to find something good, after she found the reishi mushroom, there were still no other treasures added. She didn't know what would happen in the future. It's good to have hidden treasures.

 Ji Jiu couldn't make out what these trees were before. Their leaves were now sparse after receiving continuous rain two months ago. It was considered that these trees had better vitality than the dry trees she had. They cut a lot to make firewood. Those trees didn't even show any signs of recovering.

 Go a little deeper. Ji Jiu saw many shiitake mushrooms growing near the big trees in the forest. She hurried over to collect them with joy. She thanked the heavens for allowing her to eat mushrooms for the first time after going through a near-fatal drought.

 Ji Jiu picked nearly three kilos of shiitake mushrooms, filling the basket until it overflowed. She was disappointed that she didn't bring a cart. These mushrooms, which should have been born since the first month of rain, were so plentiful. After a short muttering, Ji Ji looked at the sky and it was already late afternoon. She hurriedly walked back to the chestnut tree in another three hours. When she came, she had no idea she had walked this far.

 Ji Jiu, who had arrived in the area, saw Aunt Qiao walking around nervously. When Aunt Qiao saw her, she hurriedly walked over and asked worriedly.

"Miss, why did you take this long? Auntie and everyone are worried about dying. But I didn't dare go looking for it. Afraid we'll get separated."

"Oh Aunt Qiao, I told you that there is no danger in the forest. I haven't seen a single small animal yet. I'm just late because I took a little too long to pick mushrooms."

 Ji Jiu pointed out Aunt Qiao to the basket full of mushrooms behind her. Aunt Qiao saw this and her eyes lit up.

"Then this evening, Auntie will cook something delicious for you to eat."

 Ji Jiu nodded quickly. She wanted to eat delicious mushrooms. Hehe, Ji Jiu also shared the mushrooms in the basket with the elder uncle and the villagers who came to pick chestnuts. Before everyone invited them to come down from the mountain because it was almost evening now.

 Even though the villagers each get only a handful of mushrooms, But everyone got it. They didn't dare ask too much, just tickling.

Ji Jiu was kind enough to share with her, it was considered a good thing. The elder uncle had said nothing wrong. Ji Jiu was a bit too quiet at times, but she had a good heart, unlike the orphaned beggars who kept stealing things that they had heard about.

 Arrived in front of Ji Jiu's house. The villagers and the elder uncle thanked her again. Ji Jiu also told them that if they wanted to go up and pick chestnuts, they could go. The next day, you don't have to invite her. She had a lot left that she had kept for a long time.

 The villagers and the elders understood her well and therefore did not encourage her. Just take her all the way to the place. Now they have a lot of food to eat this winter. They arranged to go up the mountain every day until the winter. The saying "it's always better to have more than nothing" still applies.

 That evening, Baan Ji Jiu ate shiitake mushroom curry. Everyone stir-fried shiitake mushrooms. Ji Jiu, who had not inspected the greenhouses today, could only wait until tomorrow. She intended to see if they could do as she thought. If done well, she will have the free people help prepare the planting plots inside the greenhouse first.

 Tomorrow, she will take her four brothers to pick shiitake mushrooms again. If they get a lot, they will share them with the elders and the villagers again. However, if they are left alone, they will wither and die. After planning tomorrow Ji Jiu takes a shower and sleeps comfortably.