Aunt Chen winked at Xia Chujian, put down the large bag on her back, and whispered, "Yes, I'm out hunting again. Don't tell me, winter is almost here, and the animals in the Exotic Beast Forest are putting on their last bit of autumn fat. They're incredibly plump!"
As she spoke, she looked around and made sure that there was no one around before she took things out of her big bag.
"I just met you. This is red pine forest ginseng. It's very nourishing. Your aunt is so weak, she'll definitely need it."
"This is wild banyan honey. The old banyan trees in the Monster Forest are probably spirits. The wild bees that can build honeycombs on them must also be spirits. Eat this. I heard it's especially good for girls..."
"And this, wild rhinoceros ribs raised on wild black truffles. I remember you really liked them, so I saved a slice for you. The black truffled rhinoceros we hunted this time was particularly large, and it's already been cut up outside the city, and the meat is being sold to restaurants in the city..."
As Aunt Chen spoke, she took out a lot of things and gave them to Xia Chujian.
Xia Chujian felt very embarrassed and quickly waved her hands to refuse: "Aunt Chen, it's not easy for you to go to the Monster Forest, you really don't have to give it to me. My aunt has been in the hospital for three years, and you have taken care of me like my own aunt. I can't rely on you for free anymore..."
Aunt Chen frowned and acted angry. "Chu Jian, are you looking down on your Aunt Chen?! I may not have a regular job, but I go to the Exotic Beast Forest every month to pick up bargains, and I earn more than your Uncle Chen's salary! Besides, these things are free, and I picked them up in the Exotic Beast Forest. You don't want them, do you dislike me picking up trash?"
Xia Chujian felt warm in her heart.
"Aunt Chen, there are many dangers in the Monster Forest. How can it be considered as picking up trash? If I were to object, I would be really ungrateful..." Seeing that she had no way to refuse, she had to accept it.
Besides, the ginseng grown under the red pine forest is indeed a good thing for nourishing the body. It would be extremely expensive to buy it in a pharmacy outside, and you may not be able to buy the real thing. Xia Chujian really wants to get some good ginseng for her aunt to nourish her body.
Besides, she is not short of money now, so she doesn't need to eat other people's food for free.
If Aunt Chen didn’t have a smart bracelet, Xia Chujian would have transferred the money to her right now.
She made up her mind to get cash for Aunt Chen after returning from the hospital.
"That's right! We are neighbors, and you are my daughter's classmate. When your aunt was not sick, she took good care of my daughter and even gave her extra lessons. It is reasonable for me to take care of you." Aunt Chen smiled heartily, nodded at her, and tied up the bundle again.
Xia Chujian also wanted to take the things home.
As she was packing, she curiously asked, "Aunt Chen, is the Exotic Beast Forest really that great?"
It seemed like there were many rare birds and animals and rare plants that she had never heard of.
Aunt Chen paused, looked away, and said uncomfortably, "The Exotic Beast Forest is too dangerous. I suffered a great loss the first time I went there. After that, I only wandered around the Exotic Beast Forest near Mulan City, and only then dared to pick up things that others didn't want."
Seeing that Xia Chujian was clearly eager to try, Aunt Chen tried to dissuade her earnestly, "Chujian, I'm not trying to scare you, but do you know why the Exotic Beast Forest is called that?"
“…Because there are strange beasts inside?”
"Yes, that is not an ordinary beast! Have you ever seen a ten-meter-tall tiger? Have you ever seen a python that is coiled up like a mountain? There are also flying squirrels that can breathe fire and golden pheasants that can release poison. As for those grasses, thorns, and big trees, they can take your life if you are not careful!" Aunt Chen whispered to Xia Chujian about the dangers of the forest of strange beasts.
"Also, the most dangerous part of the Monster Forest is in the Far North. The core of the Far North is called the 'Forbidden Zone of Life'! I've never heard of anyone who went to the Far North and came back alive! Think about it for yourself!"
Aunt Chen finally packed up the big bag and raised her hand to ruffle Xia Chujian's hair. "As a young girl, you should study hard, get into a good university, and then find a stable job. Otherwise, you will end up like Aunt Chen, struggling to make a living in the Monster Forest when you're old. This is what happens when you don't work hard when you're young, and you end up picking up trash when you're old!"
Xia Chujian blinked and said, "Aunt Chen, college tuition is so high now. You know my family's situation. If I want to go to college, I have to save up for tuition."
"Actually, your aunt's disease is terminal and cannot be cured at all. Why spend so much money? You have to think about yourself too." Aunt Chen looked at Xia Chujian sympathetically and advised in a low voice.
Xia Chujian pursed her lips, smoothed her hair with her hand, and said seriously, "It's not a waste of money. If it can save a life, it's worth it no matter how much it costs."
"But you've already sold your house and are renting now. Your aunt would love to know..." Aunt Chen sighed, "Also, you're going to take the college entrance exam next year. I heard you haven't been attending school much lately. Are you going to the hospital to take care of your aunt? What about your studies then? Do you still want to go to college?"
Aunt Chen's daughter and Xia Chujian were classmates in the same high school. She probably heard about her from her daughter.
Xia Chujian knew that Aunt Chen meant well, but their situations were different, so she couldn't generalize.
She smiled slightly and said, "I see. I'll think about it. You're busy, so I'll leave first."
Her aunt Xia Yuanfang has been hospitalized in the Imperial Official Hospital No. 892 in Mulan City for three years.
…
Xia Chujian carried an insulated lunch box and took the inner city's suspended train to the ward where her aunt was.
She was staying in a single room, not the most expensive and luxurious VIP room, but she had a dedicated caregiver 24 hours a day.
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