Chapter 305 Buying Ginger
The rain gradually subsided, leaving only fine drizzle drifting in the wind, its coolness lingering on the face.
The threat of mudslides has been averted, but the near-death experience still leaves everyone shaken.
Zhao Jingxing ordered everyone to set up camp in a relatively dry, elevated area beside the official road so they could rest and dry their soaked clothes.
Tents were set up one after another, and wet bedding was hung to dry on racks. The guards were all soaked to the bone, water dripping from their armor, and their lips were turning purple from the cold.
After days of travel, many people are already exhausted, and the rain has further exacerbated their condition, causing them to start sneezing. If they don't get rid of the cold in time, they could fall ill, which would be a serious problem.
"Xiao Ran, go ask Zhao Shuo if there's any ginger in the military camp. If so, bring it over and we'll make ginger soup."
"Okay." Xiao Ran followed Jiang Ling and Cheng Jiaojiao to take shelter from the rain, and had already changed out of her wet clothes.
Before long, Zhao Shuo came over carrying a small cloth bag. "Miss Jiang, here's the ginger you wanted."
The bag was open, and inside lay a few shriveled or small pieces of ginger.
Jiang Ling weighed the options for a moment, then looked at the delegation of nearly a hundred people.
He frowned. "This is too little. We need to find some more ginger."
We can't just cook a few pots and distribute them to those who can get them.
Wouldn't the morale of the mission have collapsed by then?
Zhao Shuo said helplessly, "But where can we find ginger in this desolate wilderness?"
Just then, a deep male voice came from the side: "There's a village three miles ahead. If you want to buy ginger, you can go there. Remember to share a bowl with me after you've cooked it."
Jiang Ling turned her head and saw that the speaker was the mysterious man who had run out of the dilapidated temple earlier.
He was bending down, wringing out the water from the hem of his clothes. Water droplets dripped down his tall figure, forming a small puddle on the ground.
Jiang Ling's heart skipped a beat. Since this man knew there were villages nearby, he must be quite familiar with the area. He might even have connections with the villagers.
She stepped forward, cupped her hands in greeting, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, young master. However, we are newcomers and not very familiar with this area. Would you mind showing us the way? We will be very grateful."
The man looked up at her, but resolutely refused. "No need. I've said I won't set foot in the village again."
These words aroused Jiang Ling's suspicion.
But this is their private matter, and she has no right to ask any more questions.
He thanked him again, saying, "In that case, I won't force you, brother. Thank you."
She turned to Zhao Shuo and said, "General Zhao, I'll take Xiao Ran with me, and I'd like to ask two brothers to accompany me to Li Family Village."
After a moment's thought, Zhao Shuo nodded in agreement: "I'll go with you. I'm afraid it's not safe in the middle of nowhere."
He selected two reliable soldiers and then jogged over to Zhao Jingxing for instructions.
As the man watched them pack up and prepare to leave, he suddenly added, "Old Li in the village has the most ginger, and he's a kind man. He'll give you a fair price."
After saying that, he turned and walked to an old tree in the corner, squatted down in front of the fire to warm himself.
Jiang Ling looked at his wet clothes still clinging to his body and said to Xiao Ran, "Xiao Ran, do you have any dry old clothes? Get one for this brother."
"Okay." Xiao Ran nodded in agreement, immediately returned to the tent, and took out a robe that was neither new nor old.
He wore this robe over his clothes in winter, so it was a bit big, but it fit him perfectly.
He walked to the tree and handed him the clothes: "Brother, your clothes are all wet, here you can wear these."
The man looked at the clothes and knew they weren't made of ordinary material. "Let me make this clear, I'm not going to return them!"
“If it weren’t for your courageous words just now, our delegation would have suffered casualties. What is a mere piece of clothing?”
Upon hearing this, the man reached out and took the clothes, smiling, "You're right, young man."
The mountain path was muddy and quite strenuous to walk on.
Although Xiao Ran is young, she walks steadily and helps Jiang Ling from time to time.
Zhao Shuo and two soldiers walked ahead and behind, vigilantly observing their surroundings, fearing they might encounter wild animals or villains.
As Xiao Ran walked along the road, she couldn't help but ask, "Sister Jiang, that man from earlier, he's a martial artist."
Jiang Ling glanced at him: "How did you know?"
Xiao Ran reached out and helped her across the mud: "When he reached out to take the clothes, I noticed that his tiger's mouth and the base of his fingers were covered with thick calluses. The location and shape of those calluses were not something that could be caused by doing farm work. They were marks left by holding weapons like knives and swords for many years."
As they spoke, the outline of a village came into view ahead.
It was a small village built against the mountain, with most of the houses being adobe houses. Smoke was already rising from the chimneys, presumably from the villagers cooking after the rain.
As they entered the village, the villagers on both sides of the road looked at them with a mixture of curiosity and wariness as they saw that the group was dressed in tight-fitting clothes and carrying weapons.
Following the man's directions, Jiang Ling found Old Man Li's house.
The person who opened the door was an elderly man with white hair, it was Old Man Li.
He looked at the group of people with fear.
Jiang Ling was afraid that the soldiers would frighten the people, so she walked in front.
Jiang Ling cupped her hands in greeting. "Old man, don't be afraid. We are travelers passing through this area. We were caught in a heavy rain and are soaked to the bone. We wanted to buy some ginger to make soup to ward off the cold. We heard that you grow ginger, so we came to bother you. We wonder if you could sell us some?"
Old Man Li breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
An elderly woman followed behind, walking with faltering steps. She nervously tugged at Li's sleeve: "Old man, what's wrong?"
"It's alright, it's alright, they're just customers who came to buy ginger," Old Man Li reassured his wife as he turned around.
"Really?" The old woman timidly peeked over.
Jiang Ling looked inside and saw that only two elderly people lived there. The house was bare, with no decent furniture at all.
There was a pile of freshly picked ginger leaves in the corner. It seems they make a living by growing ginger.
The old woman couldn't help but flinch when she saw the soldiers with swords behind Jiang Ling. "Young lady... how much ginger do you want to buy?"
Jiang Ling smiled gently, afraid of frightening the old woman: "Grandma, we need more than you need. You can take out whatever you have at home."
For long journeys, ginger can both ward off the cold and add flavor, so it's always good to have plenty on hand.
Upon hearing this, the old woman's eyes lit up. She suppressed her fear and dragged her unsteady body into the inner room.
Old Man Li rubbed his hands together, somewhat awkwardly inviting, "Young lady, gentlemen, why don't you come inside and have a bowl of hot water to warm yourselves up?"
Jiang Ling glanced at the group and decided not to go in and disturb them. With so many people, it would take several minutes just to pour tea, and the members of the delegation were still waiting.
"Grandpa, we won't go in and disturb you. We're in a hurry to get back and will leave as soon as we buy the ginger."
Old Li nodded, then went into the inner room to help his wife get the ginger.
A short while later, the two elderly people emerged, each dragging a heavy bamboo basket, their steps faltering.
The bamboo basket was full of fresh ginger with fresh soil still attached. The rhizomes were plump and ginger-yellow in color, which was the early-maturing small yellow ginger with excellent warming effect.
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