You can’t get fat with one bite, and you shouldn’t be too greedy. Today’s harvest is already plentiful, enough to exchange for quite a bit of money, and it’s not like we can’t come back to the mountain again; she can look for the herbs next time!
Thinking this, she nodded and said, "Then we won’t go any further, but Uncle, how are we going to carry all these things down?"
Chiang Xiao was a bit regretful—if only she could toss the wild boar into the Space, then none of this would be a problem.
But that was simply not possible.
Xu Linjiang thought for a moment and said, "I think we should do this: Dad, let’s make a wooden frame to carry the wild boar, tie it with ropes; going downhill is easier anyway, I could pull it down the mountain by myself. When we get to the foot of the mountain, I’ll hide the wild boar first, then rush back to carry these wild vegetables."
Chiang Xiao’s eyes lit up, understanding his idea, "So when Uncle Xu is pulling the wild boar down the mountain, Granduncle and I can pick morels and bracken here!"
By the time Xu Linjiang made the round trip, they would have collected quite a bit; they’d take as much as they could today, hire an ox cart, and then immediately transport everything to town to find Ma Jincai.
As for the Tianxiang Green, since it was closest to the foot of the mountain and also seemed to be the least valuable for now, it would have to wait until tomorrow to be picked.
Ge Dejun also thought this method was pretty good.
"It’s already noon, and we won’t have the energy if we don’t eat well. Let’s cook some rice first, and then, Linjiang, you can pull the wild boar down the mountain after we have eaten," he suggested.
Xu Linjiang nodded in agreement.
"I’ll build a stove."
Chiang Xiao, having climbed the mountain for half the day and then wrestled with the wild boar, was now so hungry she felt weak.
As soon as she heard that they were going to cook, her eyes sparkled with anticipation. Meat, meat, meat—she wanted to eat meat so badly!
"Uncle Xu, can we cut off just a little bit of the wild boar meat to eat first?" she salivated profusely.
Xu Linjiang, hearing her suggestion, also felt hard-pressed to resist and turned to Ge Dejun.
"Why are you looking at me? Let Little decide!" Ge Dejun waved his hand dismissively.
He figured that the wild boar and the morels were found all thanks to Chiang Xiao, and it was only fair that she take the lion’s share. Plus, she was the most qualified to handle the boar.
She felt that her mood these past two days was the best it had ever been in both her lives: she felt incredibly carefree and easygoing, and what’s more, making money had never been more joyful.
At that moment, she seemed more like a child than ever before.
She had never relaxed in the past.
Xu Linjiang, having brought a small knife, went to cut off a piece of pork. Chiang Xiao volunteered eagerly, "I’ll wash it, I’ll wash it!"
"Little, go pick some morels and bracken; Uncle Xu will fry a couple of dishes for you later to go with the rice!" They had brought some rice in a lunchbox, but had no money to buy meat or vegetables, planning only to have some homemade pickles with plain rice for a meal. But now there were so many mountain delicacies ready at hand, so many delicious things, why should Chiang Xiao’s stomach suffer?
Just look how skinny she is.
Chiang Xiao blinked, "Uncle Xu, how are you going to fry without a pan?"
Xu Linjiang blinked back and said, "The mountain man has his clever plans!"
Chiang Xiao burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Well, that’s excellent! If there’s food, she certainly wouldn’t refuse!
So she found a large leaf, picked some morels and bracken, took the small piece of pork, and prepared to find a water source to wash it.
Ge Dejun also helped Xu Linjiang build the stove while admonishing with concern, "Little, be careful. Don’t wander too far, and shout if anything seems off."