"Sister Xia Xia, can I not go to Aunt Qing's house?"

"Want to watch the chicks at home?" Ningxia guessed what Lin Yi was thinking.

"Well, I'm afraid they'll get cold if no one's around and the fire goes out. And I don't know if there will be any new ones in the basket."

"If you don't feel bored at home, then just stay. I'll be back this afternoon anyway. I packed some chicken soup from your aunt's house yesterday. You and Sangsang can heat it up and have some rice with it. I'll come back this afternoon and cook for you."

"Okay! If Sangsang wants to go play with Qingtian, I'll take her there."

"No, you two can't cross the river without an adult, and you can't leave the woods in front of your house. The gate must be locked."

Lin Yi touched his head and said, "Oh." He agreed obediently.

"Remember to tell Sangsang later that you won't be going to Aunt Qing's house today. When she wakes up, make sure she finishes the medicine and mix it with a cup of honey water for her. Remember to drink a cup of honey water too." Ningxia said as she packed her bag.

Lin Yi nodded and said, "We're out of fresh grass at home. I'll take Maomao and Sangsang out to pick some to feed the lambs."

The lamb that Ningxia brought back from the mountain survived tenaciously, but it was a little lame.

The yard was really not suitable for raising it, so Ningxia placed it in Maomao's pen. The two get along quite harmoniously and don't disturb each other.

Ningxia hadn't asked about it for several days. It was the brother and sister who were raising the fish. Hearing this, she simply nodded and said, "Don't leave the forest. Just pick some nearby and bring it back."

The small woods in front of the house are a natural barrier. She does not allow the brother and sister to leave the woods when they are alone at home.

"Master, you're here so early?" Ningxia raised her wrist. It was only half past seven, but Liu Ximu was already waiting in the pine forest.

Liu Ximu didn't say much, just nodded at her and walked forward.

The angelica plant is not far away, in the bushes next to the pine forest. You can walk through it to find the angelica plant.

Neither of them was talkative, so they put on their gloves and started picking silently.

Picking Angelica dahurica is not easy. Some of the roots are deep, so you have to dig a big hole to pick them. Fortunately, they all grow in the same place, so you can squat down and work for a long time without having to search and dig at the same time.

Only then did Ningxia realize how difficult it was to collect herbs.

"Take a break." Liu Ximu took a large pot from the side and motioned Ningxia to hand over his cup lid.

"What is this?" Ningxia held the cup lid.

"I added astragalus and cassia seed to the tea." After saying that, as if anticipating what Ningxia would ask, Liu Ximu continued, "It replenishes qi and protects the liver."

Ningxia took a sip. It wasn't very tasty, but acceptable. Wow, I'm living next door to a health expert.

"Master, is Bai Zhi expensive?"

"It's expensive. It's even more expensive before the cold month."

"For a cold?"

Liu Ximu nodded, "It can cure colds and relieve pain."

"That's great stuff! I'll have to keep some at home."

Liu Ximu glanced at her and said, "What can this medicine alone cure? It needs to be used in combination."

Ningxia flattered, "Isn't it you, Master?"

After resting for a while, the two of them started digging again. Ningxia didn't feel comfortable asking, but Liu Ximu was generous. He explained in a low voice while digging, "It's not difficult to prepare Angelica dahurica. You can do it yourself in the future."

Ningxia perked up and immediately stopped Liu Ximu, "Master, don't tell me yet. I can't remember even if you tell me now. I'll come to your house with paper and pen when we get back."

Liu Ximu didn't indulge her and said directly, "After washing, soak it in warm water for an hour or two, take it out and put it in a jar to simmer. Turn it over every two hours. After it is thoroughly soaked, cut it into two-centimeter thick straight slices and dry it in the sun. It's ready and can be used directly as medicine."

Ningxia fixed her eyes and tried hard to store the obscure knowledge in her mind. She must find a notebook to write it down after returning!

"Master, are all the herbs you've prepared safe to use directly as medicine?"

"Well, that's how you can get a good price."

Ningxia smiled sheepishly, "No wonder. I picked a lot of lavender and patchouli before, and after drying them, they weighed about 50 or 60 kilograms! But they didn't sell for much, and I couldn't even buy the three prescriptions for Sangsang."

Liu Ximu frowned, "Fifty or sixty kilograms? How many points did you get for selling it?"

Ningxia felt even more embarrassed, "Two hundred."

Liu Ximu was stunned, and then he uttered four words, "What a waste of resources." He had processed the medicinal herbs that could be used as medicine at any time. Fifty or sixty kilograms of them were worth at least one thousand five hundred or sixteen points. This was still a relatively common amount, not counting the rare herbs.

"So this is where I meet you."

Liu Ximu didn't reply and just lowered his head to dig.

Ningxia didn't take it seriously and devoted himself to making money.

At around two o'clock in the afternoon, each of them had a pile of angelica beside them. Ningxia estimated that it was nearly thirty kilograms, and the situation was similar on Liu Ximu's side.

This is the weight including roots and leaves. After removing the unwanted parts and processing them well, it is considered good if you can harvest 20 kilograms.

Because they were afraid of damaging the roots, they dug very carefully, so they only finished digging at this time. They didn't bring lunch with them, and they were so hungry that their stomachs were growling.

"Master, how about coming to my house for dinner?"

Liu Ximu shook his head and said, "Xiaoqing, be ready at home and wait for me."

Ningxia no longer forced herself after hearing that. She was just being polite because she didn't know if Lin Yi had left any food for her.

She always ate outside when she went out and had no habit of going home for dinner. If she brought someone home and there was no food to eat, wouldn't that be very embarrassing?

It wasn't far from home, and the two of them soon returned to the wooden bridge by the river.

"Master, can you take them all back and deal with them? I've never done this before and I'm afraid I'll mess it up."

Liu Ximu didn't say anything, but reached out to take the mud-covered bag from Ningxia's hand.

Ningxia smiled brightly, "Then let's divide it according to the old rules! I'll take a quarter of the total. Master, please go back and tell my sister that if you need to go up the mountain to collect firewood tomorrow, she should meet me by the pine forest at 8 a.m. I won't be coming."

Liu Ximu nodded, and the two of them finished their work for the day and parted ways.

"Sister Xia Xia! You're back!" Lin Yi opened the gate and welcomed the person in.

Ningxia put the hoe in the corner of the yard, cleaned the dirt from her feet and then walked home. "Are there any new chicks?" She was really worried about it!

A hint of disappointment flashed across Lin Yi's eyes. "No." Then he became happy again. "But the three at home are very energetic and can run around the kitchen!"

Ningxia nodded, "Is there anything to eat at home?"

Lin Yi nodded. "I saw you didn't bring any food, so I scooped out some of the mutton offal and fried it with some dried chilies. It's warming on the stove. You can eat it after washing your hands."

Unexpectedly, Lin Yi really cooked for her. Ningxia almost burst into tears. Her movements became faster.

It wasn't until I had eaten half a bowl of rice that I came to my senses.

"Sister Xia Xia, drink some soup, don't just eat the rice." Lin Yi handed over the chicken soup in his hand, which also contained a few ginseng roots.

Ningxia frowned. "Didn't I tell you and Sangsang to have some soaked rice this morning? Why is there still some?"

"We ate it! This is specially saved for you!"

There wasn't much left when they brought it back from Mu Yuanqing's house, and the brother and sister were still thinking of leaving a bowl for her. Ningxia sighed lightly and drank it obediently.