Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Ye Ling walked over to Da Ya and noticed that Da Ya was carrying a small bamboo basket on her back, containing quite several fresh herbs. Ye Ling examined it carefully and was surprised to find that there were seven or eight types of herbs.
Ye Ling pointed at Da Ya’s small bamboo basket and asked, “Da Ya, did you pick all these herbs?”
Da Ya nodded timidly.
Ye Ling’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow, Da Ya, you’re so amazing. You know so many types of herbs?”
Da Ya had never received such praise in her life, especially from the beautiful big sister in front of her, who seemed even more beautiful than the goddesses worshiped in the temple. Da Ya’s face suddenly turned red, and her two small hands nervously grabbed the hem of her clothes as she explained, “Mom taught me to recognize them.”
“Then your mom is also very amazing, ” Ye Ling said with a smile. “By the way, why are you picking herbs here alone? Where’s your mom? Where’s your sister?”
“My sister is sleeping at home,” Da Ya said. “My mom went deep into the mountains. She said it’s more dangerous inside, so she only let me pick herbs outside.”
Ye Ling nodded and asked, “Why are you here so early to pick herbs? It’s just dawn, and most people are still asleep.”
Da Ya blinked and explained, “There are fewer people in the morning, and we won’t be seen. After daybreak, my mom still has to go to the production team to help with work.”
“It’s so tiring…” Ye Ling was very emotional. No wonder Sister He looked so old. She had worked too hard to raise two children. “Then when will your mom come down from the mountain?
“It should be soon.”
As the two of them chatted, Ye Ling didn’t want to waste Da Ya’s time, so she followed Da Ya along the mountain path and picked herbs at the foot of the mountain.
“These two can also be used as medicine,” Ye Ling said as she pointed at two inconspicuous plants.
Then, Ye Ling briefly introduced the names of the two plants and their basic medicinal effects.
Da Ya listened carefully, then reached out her rough little hands and carefully plucked the leaves of the two plants, gently putting them into her bamboo basket.
Ye Ling also helped Da Ya collect a considerable amount of herbs. Eventually, Da Ya’s small bamboo basket was nearly full. Ye Ling proposed that they take a break while waiting for Sister He to come down from the mountain.
Because Ye Ling had assisted in collecting many herbs, Da Ya had grown fonder of Ye Ling. She was no longer as fearful and timid as she had been initially, and she even willingly shared some information about their family.
After chatting for a while, they noticed a woman wearing a dark blue shirt descending from the mountains not far away. Da Ya excitedly stood up and walked towards her mother.
Upon seeing her daughter, Sister He patted her head and then spotted Ye Ling standing not far away.
Da Ya held her mother’s hand and excitedly said, “Mom, Sister Ye Ling helped me collect many herbs. She even taught me to identify two new types of herbs.
See, it’s these two.”
Da Ya pointed at the two herbs on the top of the bamboo basket with an enthusiastic expression.
Upon hearing Da Ya’s words, Sister He’s inner tension eased considerably. With gratitude, Sister He smiled at Ye Ling. “Thank you, Comrade Ye Ling.”
“Sister He, are you heading home? Then let’s go together,” Ye Ling suggested with a smile.
The three of them departed along a narrow path. During the journey, Ye Ling explained, “I’m also planning to find some time to go up the mountain and check if there are any rare herbs up there. That’s why I came today to assess the condition of the mountain path.”
“There are many plants on the mountain that I can’t identify. Perhaps there might be those rare herbs you mentioned,” Sister He offered enthusiastically. “How about this? The next time I encounter any plants that look unfamiliar, I’ll pick them and show them to you. That way, you won’t need to toil up the mountain. The mountain path can be treacherous, and many plants have thorns. One can easily get scratched.”
Initially, Ye Ling had intended to refuse Sister He’s suggestion. She was not one to shy away from physical work, having lived in the countryside for many years in her previous life. She had traversed all sorts of challenging mountain roads.
However, just as Ye Ling was about to voice her refusal, a thought suddenly crossed her mind. After a brief hesitation, she nodded and said, “Alright, Sister He, if you come across any plants with distinctive features next time, please pick them and show them to me.”
The three of them reached the main road, and Ye Ling inquired, “Sister He, the earnings from collecting herbs should be sufficient to support Da Ya and Er Ya. Why do you need to work with the production team every day? It’s extremely tiring..”