"Give it a try. The pine nuts inside, especially those from the red pine trees, are very delicious. It tastes even better when you add a bit of salt and spices after it is opened." Yang Chuxia said as she casually threw two of them into the basket.
"Are they really that delicious?" Ye Zi’an looked at the pinecone in his hand in doubt. He peeled the bottom and revealed several seeds from within. Could these tiny things really be eaten?
"Wait until we get home later, and you’ll find out." Yang Chuxia said, while picking up more, "I’m actually thinking about opening a shop that specializes in selling these kinds of nuts. When the broad beans at home are ripe, they alone can be made into several kinds of snacks, not to mention peanuts, soybeans, and sunflower seeds, among others."
"It’s a good idea to open such a shop. There isn’t one in town that specializes in selling these things. The variety offered by the pastry shops in town is limited and not comprehensive."
"In that case, we’ll probably need to find someone skilled in this craft." Yang Chuxia thought, "Although I know that these things can be eaten and can probably make them myself, they won’t be as good as those made by professional artisans."
"It’s indeed difficult to find someone like that. However, next time we go to town, we can give Uncle Liu a heads-up. After the new year, when we have some free time to go to the county, we can inquire at the dental businesses there. There should be plenty of skilled artisans from wealthy families in such places."
"Alright, let’s settle on that." Yang Chuxia nodded, "After the new year, I’ll ask the villagers to come and help pick these things, either by paying them a wage, or by buying the goods they collect. Then, we’ll go to town and look for a suitable shop."
"Alright, you do whatever you think is best, Xiaxia."
As they continued talking, the two of them filled one of the carrying baskets and started walking back.
"I was thinking, maybe we should go a little further away tomorrow and explore more." Yang Chuxia said on their way back to the village.
"I said that we’ve basically explored everything around the hot spring, so maybe we can venture further away tomorrow. Uncle Cai’s usual spots for picking herbs are not limited to just this area."
"Well, let’s go back and ask Uncle Cai then." Ye Zi’an said, noticing her looking left and right while walking on the narrow field ridge, he grabbed her arm. "Watch your step while walking, this field ridge is rather narrow; don’t fall off."
Upon returning home, Yang Chuxia immediately started washing the herbs without rest despite it being nighttime, as it didn’t hinder her work.
These things were as precious as ginseng. She was very careful when digging them up, making sure not to break even a single root. However, when it came time to clean and dry them, none of the roots were needed, and even the top part of the growing stem had to be cut off.
After thoroughly washing the dirt off, but not cutting it open to preserve its medicinal properties, it was left as an intact piece for drying.
By the time she finished, it was already quite late, so Yang Chuxia didn’t rush to deal with the one covered in dirt.
Instead, she waited until the next morning to find a wooden basin, filled it with some fresh soil, and then placed the Chinese aconite, still wrapped in a chunk of soil, into the basin, burying it under the soil.
"Sis, what is this? Is it a flower?" Yang Xiayun, who noticed her sister’s focused attention on the soil, walked over and asked.
"No, it’s not a flower. It’s a medicine, a very important one. Yunyun, when you’re at home, remember to help me watch out for it, okay? No matter who comes to our house, don’t let them touch it, understood?" Yang Chuxia thought about the possible lack of security for the herbs kept in the courtyard, as she often wasn’t at home. If someone were to accidentally touch the herbs, it would be a disaster. Yunyun, who seldom went out, seemed to be a suitable candidate to entrust with the responsibility.