Cordyceps

In Mengshan Village, the biggest topic of conversation this month has been the youngest daughter of the Li family. A perfectly healthy young woman who was about to get married is gone. Some say she ran away with someone, some say she committed suicide, and some say she was abducted.

Li Guoqiang's sweat dripped onto the soil. Li Guojian, holding a rake, stared intently at the boys in front of him. The boys were also carefully searching for herbs on the ground, but their eyes kept glancing this way. Li Guolan was carefully digging up roots with her younger brother. They had just paid their grain tax a few days ago, and the family only had enough grain left to eat porridge every day. There was still no trace of her younger sister. There were few things going well for the family.

Li Guojian, from who knows where, had some knowledge of medicinal herbs. Every day, he would take his family up the mountain to dig up herbs and sell them, thus enabling them to eat meat at least a few times a month.

Qian Duoduo leaned closer to Li Guolan and whispered, "Sister Guorong, when are you coming back? I'm so bored, I have no one to play with."

Li Guolan lowered her head and dug grass. She was getting thinner and thinner. Although no one in her family blamed her, she couldn't let go of the hurdle in her heart. These past few days, she buried herself in her work and didn't want to say anything.

Seeing that Li Guolan was ignoring her, Qian Duoduo moved next to Li Guoqiang and asked in a low voice, "Brother Qiangzi, what kind of herb is this? You're so amazing, you know so many herbs."

Li Guoqiang chuckled. The village girls all disliked his taciturn nature, and few wanted to talk to him. He couldn't resist showing off, "This is Solomon's Seal. It..."

"Cough cough cough." Li Guojian stared intently at Li Guoqiang with dead fish eyes.

Li Guoqiang dared not say anything more. His second brother found a book from somewhere and searched for it on the mountain every day until he found this place with medicinal herbs. Although the merchants in town who buy medicinal herbs do not pay as much as Lin Shaocheng, it is still much better than farming. It's just that the villagers and people from the neighborhood are always following them around, which is extremely annoying.

Qian Duoduo took out a handkerchief from her bosom and wiped Li Guoqiang's sweat. Li Guoqiang quickly dodged and squatted down on the ground with sweat dripping down his face. He hurriedly said, "Sister Qian, this is not appropriate."

Li Guoliang quietly walked up to Li Guojian, and the two exchanged glances. Li Guojian whispered a few words in Li Guoliang's ear, and Li Guoliang gave a malicious smile. He then squatted down and started digging for medicinal herbs, saying, "Second brother is really capable. I thought that after Second Sister left, I wouldn't be able to make any money. I didn't expect Second brother to know about medicinal herbs."

Hearing this, Qian Duoduo put away her handkerchief. Although Li Guoqiang was honest and easy to fool, he didn't know anything. It seemed that the book or map was now in Li Guojian's hands. He was a good-for-nothing, and Qian Duoduo couldn't get her hands on him.

Qian Duoduo stood up, swayed her hips to the right and walked over to Li Guojian, who was leaning against a rake. She stared intently at him and said, "I don't think anyone in the surrounding area is as capable as Brother Guojian. He's a master in the fields, so smart, and he even knows about herbs. Anyone who can marry Brother Guojian would be so lucky."

Li Guojian raised his slightly balding head, and the young man next to him mocked, "He's smart, smart enough to go bald."

The boys who wanted to steal the herbs laughed loudly. Qian Duoduo put her hands on her waist and scolded, "If you're so capable, why don't you recognize so many herbs like Brother Guojian and know where to dig them?"

A few boys teased, "You don't like this bald guy, do you?"

Qian Duoduo lowered her head as if shy, not daring to look at Li Guojian. Li Guojian scolded, "If you're so capable, go dig up medicinal herbs yourself. Don't follow your grandpa around picking up food."

The boys looked at each other with disdain, "This mountain belongs to the village, we can go wherever we want."

The group didn't get anything out of it today, so they quickly headed home.

Qian Duoduo whispered, "I wish I could learn to identify medicinal herbs too, so I could help you, Brother Guojian."

Li Guojian said, "No one in my family can read except me. I'm looking for an apprentice or helper, but I can't let this go to outsiders. I need to find someone I know well."

Qian Duoduo's eyes lit up. She could do it! She could enter and leave the Li family openly and honestly. As long as she found the opportunity to find that book, she could make as much money as she wanted.

She stepped forward and took the rake from Li Guojian. "Brother Guojian, I can read. Can you tell me how I am?"

Li Guojian raised his eyebrows high, "You're a girl, isn't that inappropriate?"

Qian Duoduo quickly answered, "Who says women are inferior to men?"

Li Guoliang ran over and said, "I want to eat meat. A couple of days ago, Brother Liu went to learn carpentry and brought his teacher two pieces of cured pork."

Qian Duoduo secretly glared at Li Guoliang. This little brat was too heartless. She wouldn't even part with two pieces of meat herself. But thinking about the endless medicinal herbs she would dig in the future, she said, "Tomorrow, Brother Guojian, can I come to your house to learn?"

Li Guojian nodded helplessly, "It's just that I still have to wash clothes, gather firewood, and cut pig feed, so I might not have time to teach you."

Qian Duoduo patted his chest and said, "These things are not for you to do; I'll take care of them all."

As the group descended the mountain, Qian Duoduo walked in front, his eyes filled with determination. Li Guojian and Li Guoliang held hands, Li Guojian looking smug. Each of them harbored their own secrets.

The weather in the Tianshan Mountains in August is pleasant, with daytime temperatures generally not exceeding 26 degrees Celsius, while the weather is quite cold at night, requiring the wearing of cotton-padded clothes.

Along the way, there are continuous snow-capped mountains and endless meadows. Lakes formed by glacial meltwater are clean and clear. Occasionally, yaks and Tibetan antelopes walk slowly along the road. The weather is unpredictable. Sometimes the sky is clear in the morning, and dark clouds gather in the afternoon. Tents are scattered hundreds of meters apart on different grasslands. Herdsmen ride horses to graze their livestock, sing songs while milking cows, and the wind makes the prayer flags flutter. Occasionally, pilgrims kneel and prostrate themselves in worship.

Lin Shaocheng lay in the herdsman's home, his lips were purple and he was having difficulty breathing. The herdsman handed him butter tea, and he got up and forced himself to take a sip before lying down again. He didn't understand the local language and needed someone to guide him. Fortunately, he had a medicinal herb collection certificate, and someone who originally wanted to smuggle some herbs agreed to take him.

"Can you get up?" A man with triangular eyes, dark skin, and muscular limbs opened the tent door.

After finishing his butter tea, Lin Shaocheng felt less dizzy, sat up, and replied, "Brother Zhang, let's go."

Lin Shaocheng was as pale as snow, but his eyes were sharper than ever. He was half a step ahead of the person in front of him, like a leopard that appeared elegant but was actually wary.

Fatty Zhang smiled. Last time, his brother was caught smuggling 200 cordyceps and was fined 40,000 yuan and sentenced to more than 4 years in prison. He never expected to be so lucky as to run into an individual with a legitimate license.

The two drove the truck toward a group of tents. The familiar scent of herbs invigorated Lin Shaocheng. His sharp eyes scanned the area carefully. The Tibetans were making transactions here, not speaking, but gesturing with their hands in their wide sleeves.

He tentatively stepped forward and asked, "Snow Lotus, how much is the cordyceps?"

The Tibetan man glanced at Lin Shaocheng's obviously out-of-town face and said, "Snow lotus is 50 yuan a flower, and cordyceps is 5 yuan a piece."

Lin Shaocheng didn't pick up the goods; with just one glance, he could tell that the snow lotus stamen was yellowish and the cordyceps had a metallic luster, suggesting that it was either fake or had been tampered with.

Suddenly, everyone fell silent. It turned out that soldiers had patrolled the area. The butter tea was quickly served, and all the herbs seemed like a dream.

Fatty Zhang strolled over from the side and asked, "Brother, have you finished buying?"

Lin Shaocheng glanced at Zhang Pangzi's bulging pockets. This guy wanted to take his share, but how could he let him have his way? The certificate was his. He gave him a cold look and said, "I'm not in a hurry. I can leave next year. I'll find a suitable one slowly."

Fatty Zhang's expression changed slightly before he smiled again. This young master wasn't in a hurry and wanted to stay in Tianshan, but he didn't want to delay making money any longer. "What are you saying? It's not as comfortable as home, with my wife, kids, and a warm bed. This place is all tents, and we're not used to living here."

He patted his merchandise and said in a low voice, "I know someone here. Why don't you take my little brother to have a look?"

Lin Shaocheng took out two packs of cigarettes from his pocket. "Then I'll have to trouble you, brother."

Fatty Zhang's expression improved slightly; the cigarettes this young master smokes are definitely not cheap.

After many twists and turns, the two arrived at the yurt. Compared to the ordinary white yurts of others, this yurt had flowers painted on the door, making it look very grand.

As the two entered, the host seemed to be asking Zhang Pangzi why he was here again. Zhang Pangzi patted Lin Shaocheng on the shoulder, and Lin Shaocheng smiled in response. The cordyceps was wrapped in sheepskin. Lin Shaocheng took out the cordyceps, licked it lightly with his tongue, and found that it had not been tampered with. The snow lotus was soaking in highland barley wine. He raised the cup to examine it under the candlelight and found it to be of the highest quality. He said to Li Pangzi, "How much is left? I'll take it all."

Zhang Pangzi's smile stiffened slightly, but he still relayed the message truthfully. The Tibetan man in front of him nodded and took out the goods.

Lin Shaocheng counted the money one by one, took it out of his pocket, and Zhang Pangzi smiled, with a hint of smugness and mockery.

The Tibetans chattered on and on, and Fatty Zhang pretended to be shocked and said, "He wants to barter; he doesn't want this kind of money."

Lin Shaocheng narrowed his eyes slightly. This fatso already knew all along and was deliberately playing a trick on him.

Fatty Zhang said with a regretful look, "It's a pity that several snow lotuses and cordyceps are top-quality, but we can't take them with us. How about this, I won't take advantage of you for nothing, I'll go out and give you a few snow lotuses and a few cordyceps."

Lin Shaocheng sneered, took off his newly bought watch from his hand and placed it on the table. The Tibetan man rubbed the watch with his hand, looked at the hands in the candlelight, and saw that there was no problem. He pushed Xue Lian aside and mumbled a bunch of things in his tongue.

Fatty Zhang's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Brother, it's not enough."

Lin Shaocheng took out a bottle of medicine, and Fatty Zhang's face turned dark. He hadn't expected this kid to be prepared.

The Tibetan man handed the medicine to the young man next to him. The young man nodded. It was penicillin. The Tibetan man stood up, hugged Lin Shaocheng, and then took out beef jerky and tsampa to give to Lin Shaocheng. Medicine is so rare on the high mountain grasslands.

Lin Shaocheng returned the hug and said to Fatty Zhang, "Let's go, Brother Zhang." But the way he addressed him as "Brother Zhang" sounded sarcastic and unpleasant.

Fatty Zhang glared at Lin Shaocheng from behind. The remaining portion of Lin Shaocheng's collection permit was only enough for one-third of his purchase. He still had to smuggle the rest in. If he was caught, he would face a huge fine. But he absolutely couldn't bear to throw away two-thirds of it. He was just a pretty boy waiting for him.

Lin Shaocheng turned his head, and Fatty Zhang revealed his kind and fawning smile again.