Proactive
After the rain, the two compost heaps at Man Bao's place would sprout numerous poisonous mushrooms. Even if they were trampled, they would stubbornly regenerate, diligently decomposing the hard-to-decompose tree leaves and other materials in the compost heap.
Both of them felt that since Ganoderma also belonged to the fungal family, it could naturally be propagated in a similar manner.
Moreover, Man Bao had a trump card - in the future, when distant researchers thoroughly studied Ganoderma and uploaded the information, she would naturally know how to cultivate it.
So, the two children were full of confidence and quickly turned their attention to figuring out how to eat the ganoderma.
The Bai family naturally brought the Ganoderma back and handed it over to the chef.
Then the two children did not leave, but crouched on either side to watch the chef handle it.
Man Bao also reminded her, "The skin can also be used as medicine."
The chef was somewhat at a loss because the ganoderma they had purchased was ready-made from the pharmacy, and this was the first time she had such a large piece in her hands.
After contemplating for a while, she said, "Young masters, Miss Man Bao, please go back and do your homework first." I need to study this matter carefully.
The two were a little disappointed, but they realized they couldn't waste time there. They decided to return to the study room to read books and do their homework.
"Do you think the Ganoderma from the pharmacy is dried?"
Bai Shanbao nodded, "It must be." Some herbs not only need to be dried but also need to be baked. The methods for processing each herb vary, and there may be additional processing techniques available.
"Earlier, I asked Manager Zheng, but he didn't explain it very clearly." It would be great if there was a book specifically on the processing of medicinal materials.
Bai Shanbao affirmed, "We don't have one at home."
"I know," Man Bao was very familiar with the serious books in his house. Even though she had not read the main content, she had seen the book titles more than once and naturally knew which books were in his study. Not only was there no such book in the Bai family's study, but there was also none available in the bookstores in the county town.
In order to facilitate the collection of various plants, Man Bao had visited bookstores to look for this type of book, but unfortunately, there were none.
The bookstores had books on Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism, as well as various poetry collections and literary works, but there were very few miscellaneous books on agriculture, plants, and animals, especially the latter two.
Man Bao sighed, "It would be great if we had a chance to go to the prefecture." Uncle Wei mentioned last time that there are more people, livelier activities, and a greater variety of things in the prefecture. Perhaps the bookstores there will have them.
Bai Shanbao rolled his eyes and said, "Yizhou is the largest, a bit far from us, but Mianzhou is not too far." By donkey cart, we can leave in the morning and arrive in the evening.
Man Bao asked excitedly, "What about a carriage?"
"We can get there even faster, before evening."
"Have you been there before?"
Bai Shanbao said proudly, "I passed through Longzhou on my way and even stayed overnight."
Although he had not toured it, Bai Shanbao still felt as though he had been there, and he said, "It's a bit worse than Longzhou."
But the two now looked forward to Mianzhou.
However, one realized she had no means to travel to Mianzhou at the moment, while the other acknowledged he had no justification to visit Mianzhou. Consequently, the two exchanged a glance, sighed deeply, lowered their heads, and focused on their homework, ceasing their conversation.
After finishing her homework, Man Bao returned home to see if her second brother had come back, as the Bai family's chef might need some time to figure out how to process the raw ganoderma.
Zhou Erlang had not returned yet. He had taken quite a few things this morning. In addition to the wild mushrooms that Zhou Sisi and the others found yesterday, there were also tofu made by Miss Qian, vegetables from the garden, and two large pieces of ganoderma.
Apparently, business was not very good, so he had not returned yet.
Miss Qian started preparing the evening meal. As soon as she came out of the kitchen, she saw San Tou, Si Tou, and San Ya had brought small stools and were sitting in a row at the door. She couldn't help but laugh and asked, "What are you doing?"
The youngest Si Tou accused, "Big brother won't play with us."
The more sensible San Ya said, "Big brothers have to work; we have to be good."
San Tou said, "My sister mentioned that Uncle will bring back delicious treats when he returns, so we are eagerly awaiting his arrival."
"Come over here and help me wash the vegetables, and wait while I wash."
San Tou, who was a little lazy, got up reluctantly.
But Man Bao had already rushed up, rolled up her sleeves, and enthusiastically started to help.
Miss Qian knew she just wanted to play in the water, not really help wash the vegetables. But she glanced at the sky and snorted, "Wash them then, but if you get your clothes wet, I'll bathe you right away, and after dinner you'll have to stay home and not go out to play anymore."
Man Bao weighed the pros and cons and decided absolutely not to get her clothes wet.
Upon seeing the little aunt and the others gathering to wash the vegetables, even San Tou became more active. He found washing vegetables quite fun, so he pushed Si Tou aside and squatted by the wooden basin.
Miss Qian poured water for them and placed the vegetables to be washed next to them. She then rolled up her sleeves and returned to the kitchen to resume her work.
Man Bao and San Tou were the main ones responsible for washing the vegetables. After they finished, instead of immediately getting up, they continued to crouch by the wooden basin, splashing water and laughing happily.
When Zhou Erlang pushed the handcart back, he saw four children splashing water and laughing around the wooden basin.
Zhou Erlang saw their wet faces and clothes, and his head ached. "Why are you playing in the water again?"
Miss Qian called out from the kitchen, "It's okay, let them play." "I've boiled some water, and I'll give them a bath in a while."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Erlang no longer cared. He put down the handcart and began unloading the items from it. He asked, "Big sister-in-law, where are the others?"
Miss Qian wiped her hands and came out. "Zhou Hu's wife is about to give birth, so Mother went to see her." Father and the third brother went up the mountain, while your sister-in-law and the others went to Little Bay to water the vegetables.
She looked at the handcart and couldn't help but smile. "Business was good today, huh?"
Zhou Erlang also couldn't help but smile, "Not bad, everything is sold out."
Zhou Erlang looked at the children crouching at his feet and simply grabbed San Tou and Si Tou, one in each hand. "I'll go bathe these two first." "We'll talk when Father and the others come back."
Miss Qian nodded.
That's right. If he says it now, he will have to repeat it when the others return, which would be a hassle.
Mealtimes in the Zhou family are typically fixed, except for special circumstances. Consequently, family members can usually return home in time for the evening meal.
Except for Miss Qian.