Chapter 2622: Mission 8
Editor: Henyee Translations
However, their primary source of livelihood was agriculture.
While cultivating medicinal herbs could potentially yield substantial profits, not everyone in the village had suitable fields for such crops. This was the case for the third branch of the Yan family, to which Yan Danqiu belonged.
Yan Danqiu’s father owned ten acres of medicinal herb fields, with the remaining five acres designated for ordinary crops. In the North Village, their family held a prominent position due to his expertise in cultivating both types of fields.
Regrettably, over the past two years, Yan Danqiu’s father experienced a gradual decline in output. The outlook for the medicinal herb fields became less promising, leading him to venture into the mountains in search of alternative resources, resulting in unfortunate incidents.
Despite the current downturn in medicinal herb production, these herbs remained highly sought after in the northern village. This demand was evident in the intense compet.i.tion among the Yan family’s uncles.
The prosperous conditions in the North Village also extended to the surrounding mountains, showcasing the region’s fertility.
However, Gu Chaoyan had a different perspective.
While the mountains near the North Village were lush, she suspected that the real reason behind Yan Danqiu’s father’s mountain expeditions wasn’t solely about fertile soil.
With her cultivation abilities, she didn’t need to painstakingly search inch by inch. Alone and unburdened, she effortlessly traversed the mountain, her movements as agile as a swallow, poised to dominate the terrain.
Soon…
She sensed the existence of something that had been around for a long time.
She quickly went to take a look.
As expected, there was a small place that nurtured many good things.
It was beside a small pool. There was actually Tan Longgen here, and there was ginseng not far away.
Enough was enough.
This was sufficient to secure their foothold.
Gu Chaoyan unearthed plants that had aged for hundreds of years, leaving the slightly younger ones behind. Yet, she couldn’t just leave them there either. Gu Chaoyan meticulously dug up all the roots, ensuring they could be replanted at home. She carried soil and water to the location, envisioning a future where she could use Holy Spirit Water to nurture them.
The digging consumed a considerable amount of time.
Hours later, Gu Chaoyan returned with a full load, having also caught a wild rabbit during her expedition. Her intention was to enhance their food supplies at home.
Descending the mountain, she paid little attention to the late hour and the villagers she might encounter. She was prepared, hoping fervently that nothing untoward had occurred at home.
Her footsteps were swift, anxious not to be delayed.
As she pa.s.sed, a crowd gathered around her, engaging in hushed conversations. Some eyes were drawn to the wild rabbit in Gu Chaoyan’s hands.
“Danqiu, you caught a wild rabbit? Your family won’t be able to eat it, right? And do girls even know how to kill these creatures? Give it to us, and we’ll give you some dry food in return. It’s more practical for you. What do you say?” a villager remarked, attempting to coax the rabbit from her.
Initially inclined to ignore them, Gu Chaoyan reconsidered. Ignoring them might embolden them to exploit the situation.
Raising the b.l.o.o.d.y knife, she retorted, “You think I can’t kill it? My mother is gravely ill and needs the nourishment from this rabbit. If I give it to you, what will she eat? If anything happens to my mother…” Gu Chaoyan’s voice trailed off, but the unspoken implication hung heavily in the air.
Examining the wild rabbit closely, the villagers noticed numerous wounds that strongly suggested a violent demise for the creature.