Chapter 52: Collecting Syrup in a Clay Pot
Yesterday, Tu Subo encountered a seemingly ordinary scene: the tree trunk, split by the rough bark, was like a small stream, from which a sticky sap slowly flowed. This scene gave Tu Subo an instant headache.
This sticky juice is really difficult to clean.
He instinctively pulled Gu Yuexuan back, but Gu Yuexuan's index finger lightly wiped the tree trunk like lightning, and before he could react, she sent the liquid into his mouth.
Gu Yuexuan's eyes flickered as she asked expectantly, "How does it taste?"
Tu Subo's tongue tip lightly touched her fingertips, and the sudden heat made his throat spasm, and all his thoughts evaporated in an instant.
He tried to stay calm, tilted his head slightly, and explored the unexpected gift in his mouth with the tip of his tongue. He was curious but did not dare to be overly greedy, and tasted it carefully with a mixture of surprise and panic.
What does it taste like?
Gu Yuexuan's fair and tender fingers almost took his soul away. How could he have the mind to savor whether it was sweet or not?
Seeing Tu Subo's expression changing unpredictably but remaining silent, Gu Yuexuan blinked in confusion: "Isn't it sweet enough?"
"You really didn't taste anything?"
Tu Subo's brows were furrowed, fearing that Gu Yuexuan would challenge his fragile willpower again. He put on a stern face and gritted his teeth as he spoke, "Sweet."
That is the sweetness that strikes deep into the soul!
Gu Yuexuan finally got an answer that satisfied her. She raised her eyebrows, her joy beyond words.
She gently pointed her slender finger at the tree trunk that was still slowly oozing sap, and whispered with a hint of cunning in her expression, "Sweetness is its charm."
"I must tell you, you've unearthed a treasure!"
Tu Subo's heart was in turmoil at this moment, and his soul seemed to be flying away. Hearing what Gu Yuexuan said, he couldn't help but bite the corner of his mouth meaningfully, revealing a smile that was a mixture of teasing and doting.
Indeed, he had found a treasure—a treasure that was enough to make him intoxicated.
Gu Yuexuan was completely immersed in the joy of the impending windfall, and she was completely unaware of Tu Subo's strange expression. Perhaps it could be said that at this moment, her eyes were only focused on the silver coins that had grown wings and were flying towards her, nothing else.
Her obsession with wealth is palpable.
She tried hard to suppress the joy that welled up in her heart, reached out and pulled out a clay pot, squatted beside the trunk, and carefully fiddled with it, explaining, "This is a sugar maple tree. You can only see its beauty in places with mild climates. Younger sugar maples are not very valuable. Only those that have grown for more than fifty years can bring out their benefits. And it just so happens that in this forest you found, every tree is old enough."
She deliberately added a hint of mystery and winked at Tu Subo: "Do you know what this tree is good for?"
Tu Subo tried his best to maintain a calm demeanor, but curiosity was evident in his eyes. He looked at the sap slowly flowing from the tree trunk, raised his eyebrows, and asked with a hint of amusement in his tone, "Could this sticky sap really have value?"
Gu Yuexuan snapped her fingers deftly and crisply.
"Extremely useful!"
She brandished the borrowed diamond and small hammer and said to Tu Subo, "You have amazing arm strength. Drill a delicate hole for me in this tree trunk."
Tu Subo began the drilling work tirelessly. After the drill was immersed in the tree trunk and then slowly pulled out, Gu Yuexuan immediately took the bamboo tube that had been prepared in advance.
Tu Subo carefully prepared this bamboo tube all night long according to her instructions.
A piece of bamboo as long as an adult's arm was cleverly split into two. The middle node was carefully polished and smooth as a mirror. The charcoal-grilled moisture at the edge was also carefully dried, and it was just right for collecting the essence dripping from the tree holes.
Gu Yuexuan carefully embedded one end of the bamboo tube firmly on the tree trunk, and aligned the other end with the mouth of the pottery jar. The liquid that slowly seeped out of the tree trunk slid into the bottom of the jar like a spring, and the air seemed to be instantly filled with a sweet fragrance, which was intoxicating.
Tu Subo pondered for a long time, and finally asked curiously, "Can this really be made into candy?"
Otherwise, why did she ask about its sweetness?
Gu Yuexuan replied without looking away, "Of course it can't be eaten directly, but with a little simmering, it can be transformed into high-quality maple syrup. Think about it, what is the market value of syrup?"
The price of sugar even exceeds that of meat!
Tu Subo carefully savored the subtle sweetness on his tongue. However, no matter how he licked it, he only felt that all the muscles in his body were as stiff and cold as if they were frozen.
He watched Gu Yuexuan squatting on the ground, nervously afraid that the syrup in her hand would leak out. Unspeakable emotions surged in his heart. He let out a sigh of relief, then spread the bracket used to bundle firewood flat on the ground, and carefully placed the coat he had just taken off on top of it.
"You'll feel dizzy if you stand up after squatting for too long. Just sit here and observe."
Gu Yuexuan didn't look up, but just rubbed the ground gently and found a comfortable place to sit down. Tu Subo couldn't help but sigh again.
"I'm here with you, if you need anything, just call me."
"OK."
She never looked back. Tu Subo felt mixed emotions and slowly walked to the side.
The strange tree that had once troubled him was now a priceless treasure in Gu Yuexuan's eyes. He didn't dare leave Gu Yuexuan alone in the dense forest, so he simply confined his activities to a small circle. Whenever Gu Yuexuan called him, he would rush to her side as fast as he could and skillfully drill the hole at the location she designated.
The seventh hole had been drilled on the tree trunk, and Gu Yuexuan's pottery jar was finally full.
She carefully sealed the lid of the clay pot, breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a relaxed smile, "I will bring a few more pots tomorrow and try to collect more syrup before the weather turns cold."
Tu Subo nodded slightly, his eyes drifting to a pile of firewood not far away that had been nearly chopped. He said to Gu Yuexuan calmly, "Pack your bags. We're ready to head down the mountain."
If he were alone, he would certainly choose to stay a little longer.
However, as the sun set, Gu Yuexuan's movements became more inconvenient, so he decided to set off as early as possible.
The firewood was tied into bundles, and the combined weight of two bundles was a hundred pounds, which was an unbearable burden for Gu Yuexuan.
Tu Subo walked steadily, carrying a heavy load of firewood on his shoulders. In his arms, he held tightly the precious treasure that Gu Yuexuan had been guarding all day. Gu Yuexuan followed closely behind him, holding the wooden stick Tu Subo had given her. She asked with some concern, "Perhaps I can help you? Actually, I..."
“You just have to make sure you’re walking a steady hand.”
Tu Subo walked lightly, his expression unchanged, and he said calmly, "I'll come back to carry the remaining firewood when you get home."
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