Jiang Shuyue almost thought she had misheard. Lingzhi is not a fungus, and it can be found in the forest after it rains.
When Aunt Cao and Erniu saw Zhang Qiu bring over the chicken soup, they quickly bowed and retreated to prepare the meal.
“Miss, you heard me right. It’s stewed old hen with lingzhi mushrooms. There are also a few wild chickens in it. They were hunted by Brother Gao and Brother Cangyun in the back mountain. They also found the lingzhi mushrooms.”
Seeing the surprise on Jiang Shuyue's face, Zhang Qiu put down the soup bowl in his hand and explained.
Qiuju said, "No wonder we haven't seen them all afternoon. They went to the back mountain to look for something good again."
"Brother Gao and Brother Cangyun are really amazing. They caught several pheasants and stewed them with an old hen in a big pot. It's enough for everyone to eat for two meals."
Zhang Qiu spoke of Gao Mu and Cang Yun with admiration. If he had known them years earlier, he would have pestered them to become his disciples.
Jiang Shuyue wondered to herself, "Could those two really have picked Ganoderma lucidum?"
Even mushrooms are fine as long as they're not poisonous.
Just as she was wondering, Erniu brought in a bowl and chopsticks, and Qiuju picked up a spoon to scoop some into the bowl.
"Wait, let me see."
Jiang Shuyue took the spoon and scooped up the so-called Ganoderma lucidum from the chicken soup, examining it closely.
"Miss, are you worried that they might have mistaken it for a poisonous mushroom?" Qiu Ju, who had been salivating from the aroma of the chicken soup just a moment ago, was now on tenterhooks.
Looking at the mushroom in the bowl that looked exactly like Ganoderma lucidum, Jiang Shuyue breathed a sigh of relief. "It's not a poisonous mushroom, nor is it Ganoderma lucidum. It's a yellow Ganoderma lucidum that looks very much like Ganoderma lucidum."
"Can we eat it?" Erniu and Qiuju asked in unison.
"It is safe to eat and is a type of fungus with high nutritional value. It is even harder to find than termite mushroom."
"Miss knows so much. Erniu often goes up the mountain with her brothers, but she doesn't know how many kinds of mushrooms are edible on the mountain."
"Erniu, you should go downstairs and have your meal too. You still need to pack your clothes later."
"Thank you for your understanding, Miss. My mother-in-law is still cooking. Erniu will go right away."
A little while later, Erniu brought over a plate of stir-fried lettuce.
After dinner, Jiang Shuyue saw that it wasn't too late and said to Qiuju, "It's rare to leave the city. The air here is fresh. Let's go for a walk on the path outside the bamboo forest."
"It's been a long time since I've seen what the countryside looks like at dusk. I suddenly miss the days in Yunling Village."
The master and servant hit it off immediately, went out of the courtyard gate, and went straight to the shady path not far from the courtyard wall.
The two walked along a secluded path beside a bamboo grove. Vines entwined around the bamboo branches hung down, and the night breeze gently brushed against their clothes.
This scene reminded Jiang Shuyue of a line of poetry.
Green bamboos lead into the secluded path, and green vines brush against one's clothes.
Looking into the distance, wisps of smoke rise from the villages across the river, like a thin veil floating among the green hills and clear waters.
The village was quiet, save for the occasional bark of a dog.
Walking through the bamboo forest, I looked up at Yan Hui Mountain, where the mountainside was already shrouded in mist.
Clumps of clouds and mist, like cotton balls embedded in the mountains, come in various shapes, creating a scene resembling a fairyland.
Jiang Shuyue stood still, the beautiful scenery before her was like a traditional Chinese ink painting, with its perfect balance of light and dark, a sight to behold.
The tranquility and peace unique to the countryside are captivating.
Gao Mu and Cang Yun followed at a distance, and saw that the young lady stood with her hands behind her back, as if admiring a painting.
In their eyes, the young lady was like a fairy who had descended to earth, now blending perfectly with the beautiful scenery, making it impossible for anyone to disturb her.
"Miss, let's go back quickly, it will be difficult to walk when it gets dark." Qiuju said, glancing at the bushes by the roadside.
When I lived at the foot of Yunling Mountain, it was common to see snakes and rats.
Although the climate here warms up relatively late, it is springtime after all, and the hibernating snakes should have already woken up. She was worried that a snake might suddenly jump out and scare the young lady.
Jiang Shuyue also knew that nightfall in the mountain village could happen in an instant.
The two turned and walked back.
Suddenly, shouts of surprise came from the village across the way.
Jiang Shuyue stopped and listened carefully. There were shouts and a woman wailing. The sounds were too chaotic to make out what was happening.
Qiuju said, "Could it be that someone beat their wife?"
It was common for illiterate, uncouth men in the village to beat their wives.
In this era of male chauvinism, women who follow the rules are truly tragic. Thinking of this, my heart is filled with pity.
Jiang Shuyue lifted her skirt and quickened her pace, urging Qiuju as she ran, "Hurry up, let Uncle Zhang go and take a look."
Gao Mu and Cang Yun saw Jiang Shuyue and Qiu Ju running back and quickly went to greet them, "Miss."
"Quick, go and call Uncle Zhang, something has happened in the village across the river."
Gao Mu and Cang Yun had better hearing than ordinary people, so they naturally heard the commotion on the other side.
However, their subconscious thoughts were focused on protecting their master, and they rarely had the idea of meddling in other people's business.
"Please wait for me, Miss. I'll be right back."
Just as Cang Yun was about to leap over the wall, Zhang Qiu and his two sons heard the noise and all ran out.
The headman said to Zhang Qiu and Zhang Man, "You two are fast runners, hurry over and see who has had an accident."
Before the two brothers could even respond, they took off running.
Seeing that Zhang Qiu and Zhang Man had taken a detour across the small bridge, Gao Mu said to Jiang Shuyue, "I'll be right back."
"I'll go take a look too."
Cangyun followed closely behind, and the two of them reached the riverbank in a few leaps. They then soared into the air and lightly crossed the stream.
After crossing the river, perhaps afraid of frightening the villagers, the two stopped using their light-footed skills and ran towards the village as fast as they could.
As night fell, the view across the river quickly became obscured.
Aunt Cao and Erniu also came upon hearing the news.
The head of the farm said to Aunt Cao, "Accompany the young lady inside to wait for news. I'll go and take a look too."
The able-bodied men in the village across the street are all people who come to the village to work.
Zhuang Tou has lived here for many years and has a strong sense of community with the locals. He always lends a helping hand to anyone in need.
"Mother, could it be that someone has died?" Erniu asked worriedly.
"Don't talk nonsense and scare the young lady."
Aunt Cao looked at Jiang Shuyue and said, "It's dark everywhere after dark. This old servant has prepared hot water. Miss, please go back to your room and wash up."
Jiang Shuyue raised her hand, "No rush, Gao Mu and Cang Yun will be back soon."
Erniu, with her keen sense of observation, turned around and went back into the courtyard to retrieve the lantern.
Under the hazy night sky, two blurry figures approached from afar.
When Qiuju saw Gao Mu and Cangyun return, she quickly asked, "Tell me quickly, what happened?"
"Miss, a man has gone mad."
"Crazy! No, no way?" Aunt Cao stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Jiang Shuyue breathed a long sigh of relief, realizing that it wasn't a woman being abused by a domestic violence perpetrator.
She was skilled in gynecology and other ailments, but she was powerless to treat this madness.
"Okay, I got it." Jiang Shuyue said, and walked towards the courtyard gate.
"No, I don't think that person is really crazy, but rather like he's possessed."
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