In the past, Gu Yunjiao didn’t dare go up the mountain because she was wary of Jiang Erlang.
Now with Ah Tie as her helper, and besides, she’s no longer the unprepared Gu Yunjiao she used to be. She has long found ways to deal with Jiang Erlang and isn’t as afraid anymore.
By now, it’s mid-October, and the weather has become a bit chilly.
Gu Yunjiao wore a thin cotton-padded jacket, and Ah Tie also wore an old cotton-padded jacket of Liu Lang’s.
Though it’s a bit short, he had to make do, as Mrs. Chen hadn’t finished making new jackets for the family.
Before going up the mountain, Gu Yunjiao sought out Zhou Miejiang in the village and asked for a thin piece of bamboo, breaking it into several segments and tossing them into her basket.
The two quickly went up the mountain through the wasteland at the back of the village.
As they walked, Gu Yunjiao taught Ah Tie how to identify herbs.
However, it was already late autumn, and there were not many herbs left.
She pointed to a type of grass on the ground and said, "This is Houttuynia cordata; it has properties to clear heat and detoxify."
Ah Tie exclaimed, "Isn’t this pigweed? When my mother was still around, she used to pull this grass to feed the pigs."
Gu Yunjiao nodded, "Yes, some people do use this to feed pigs."
After walking some distance, Gu Yunjiao pointed to a vine creeping on the ground, "This is Polygonum multiflorum. You’ll find it almost anywhere in the mountains; its root is used in medicine. Let’s dig some up and take it back to make medicine."
Gu Yunjiao looked around and pointed to a spot for Ah Tie to dig, and after a while, Ah Tie dug out dark brown rhizomes.
Gu Yunjiao nodded, "That’s it, dig some more."
Watching Ah Tie dig earnestly, she walked a bit further, crouched down, and began to overturn the stones that could be moved on the mountain.
Once the stones were overturned, various bugs often crawled out from underneath.
Gu Yunjiao’s eyes were quick, and she immediately grabbed a centipede, took the thin bamboo, broke it into pieces about the length of the centipede, and then turned the centipede over, using the bamboo to prop up the head and tail, stretching the centipede straight.
Once the centipede is dried, it can be used in medicine.
In no time, she had caught a dozen or so centipedes. The centipedes in the mountain were fat and large, and even though it wasn’t the best season, the harvest was considerable.
After throwing the centipedes into the basket, Gu Yunjiao called Ah Tie back to finish up.
Ah Tie was earnest; without Gu Yunjiao calling him, he had been digging tirelessly and unearthed quite a pile.
Gu Yunjiao asked Ah Tie to put the Polygonum multiflorum in the basket, and the two carried their baskets down the mountain.
Back home, Ah Tie fetched water, and Gu Yunjiao and Ah Tie washed the Polygonum multiflorum in the courtyard.
Opposite, Mrs. Yang glanced out the window and jabbed Jiang Erlang, who was slumped in a chair absorbed in his thoughts, "When exactly do you plan to deal with that girl across the way?"
"Your grandmother asked me again yesterday."
Jiang Erlang replied impatiently, "What’s the rush? Haven’t found the right opportunity yet?"
Currently, he had no interest in Gu Yunjiao at all and was constantly thinking about how to get Gu Mei.
Mrs. Yang muttered under her breath, frustrated, "Day in and day out, all you know is how to slack. She went up the mountain today; what a perfect chance!"
Gu Yunjiao was unaware of these people’s schemes, and after washing the Polygonum multiflorum, she placed them on a bamboo tray, and with Ah Tie, carried it into the kitchen to start slicing.
For several days, Gu Yunjiao and Ah Tie were busy with the pile of Polygonum multiflorum, until one day, a carriage stopped at the Jiang Family’s door.
Gu Yunjiao was steaming Polygonum multiflorum in the kitchen when she heard Manager Wang’s voice from outside, "Divine Doctor Gu—Is Divine Doctor Gu at home?"
Gu Yunjiao put down her work and went out, teasing Manager Wang, "Why do you keep calling—" Have you become addicted?
She didn’t finish her sentence because she saw Chief Qian standing beside Manager Wang.