Chapter 129
Originally, the Lantau forest was considered a miasma forest because of the dense vegetation. The methane gas generated by the decaying animal carcasses and the breeding of mosquitoes in the forest could not be evacuated in the hot and rainy environment, resulting in the generation of many miasma and toxic gases.
In the outer forest near Xiaxi Village, the miasma is relatively rare, and even if someone sets foot in it, it is not too dangerous. However, in the deep jungle, the miasma lingers in the forest, and people who break into the forest are defenseless and are naturally prone to poisoning, bacterial infection, illness, or death.
After the Dayu Forest Road was opened, all the trees in the area were cut down and the rocks were removed. At that time, Gu Ran followed the suggestion of Village Chief Wu and cut down a lot of trees in the forests on both sides of the road. The forest vegetation became much more sparse, so the air on this road circulated smoothly and there were few wild animals approaching. Even if there were wild animals that occasionally died on the road and blocked the passage of vehicles or pedestrians, they would be picked up by people.
Once the root source is eliminated, miasma will naturally not be easily produced.
The Lantau Forest Road runs across the entire forest. The woods on both sides of the Lantau Forest Road, which used to be deep forest areas, are now considered outer forests. Hunters who used to be able to enter the forest only from the edge of Xiaxi Village can now enter the deep areas of the Lantau Forest that they originally dared not explore from both sides of the Lantau Forest Road.
As they collected more wild animals in the deep forest, they naturally dared to go deeper into the forest areas that were previously inaccessible.
This is the case with the basswood forest.
Heading from Xiaxi Village to the ferry, on the right side of the middle section of Dayu Forest Road, after entering the outer forest and walking a little further, you will reach the basswood forest. Brave hunters who want to go into the mountains to try their luck have naturally explored the basswood forest.
Not only hunters, but now many carpenters, seeing that they can enter the deep forest through the Dayu Forest Road, also boldly enter this miasma forest that was originally feared, just to find the best wood.
Not only do wild deer, pheasants, rabbits, and other wildlife live in the basswood forest, but the trees themselves are also known for their fine grain, strong toughness, and resistance to wear and cracking, making them a superior wood. Many carpenters prefer using basswood for furniture, and the discovery of this basswood forest has naturally attracted more people to source wood.
It was already mid-June when Gu Ran entered the basswood forest. The first batch of red mushrooms in June had long passed. He wondered if any hunters who came into the forest knew how to pick red mushrooms and exchange them for money.
This time, I brought Pei Liu to the basswood forest early, just to try my luck and see if there was any. If not, I would have to wait for the July issue.
When we entered the mountain at this time, the morning mist had long dissipated, and the basswood forest was leaking with thin and dense sunlight. Gu Ran walked to the place where he picked red mushrooms in previous years, and was delighted to find that there were actually newly grown red mushrooms.
"Sixth Lady, look, luckily we're not too late, there's still some."
Pei Liu followed Gu Ran, carrying a bamboo basket on his back. Seeing her squatting down to pick the fully bloomed red mushrooms, he also went to look for these red mushrooms to pick.
When we really started looking for them, we found that there were quite a lot of red mushrooms left. I don’t know if it was because the people who came into the mountains didn’t know that this kind of red mushroom was edible and thought it was a poisonous mushroom, so they didn’t dare to pick it.
If that's really the case, then that's good. The later people know that the red mushroom is edible, the better. She can also come here every year to harvest it and earn more money.
Because after picking this batch, it will take until July for the new ones to be available, so Gu Ran taught Pei Liu to pick them all, regardless of size, and not to keep any.
Pei Liu naturally nodded and did as he was told.
As they carefully picked all the red mushrooms in the woods, the sun rose higher and the sound of footsteps rustling on leaves came from the woods. Gu Ran and Pei Liu looked at each other, put the last few red mushrooms into their respective bamboo baskets, and then looked in the direction of the footsteps.
"Hey? You guys, you came into the woods pretty early. Which village are you from?"
The person who appeared in front of them was a farmer wearing a straw hat. He was probably surprised to see that they were two women.
"We are from Xiaxi Village." Gu Ran and Pei Liu slowly stood up and answered.
When I came into the mountains before, I saw traces of people walking in the woods, but I didn't expect to meet them so soon.
In previous years, she went to Lantau Forest alone most of the time. Later, Liu Niang came to accompany her. This was the first time she saw living people other than the two of them in Lantau Forest, so she found it strange.
"From Xiaxi Village?" The man looked at the two of them and shook his head, unconvinced. "I'm afraid the two ladies are deliberately lying to me."
"How did I lie to you?"
"Although I only moved to Xiaxi Village this year, I know everyone in the village. I have never met you two."
Are they new residents of Xiaxi Village?
"We are indeed from Xiaxi Village, but we have never seen you in the village!"
In fact, Gu Ran had just returned not long ago, and there were so many new families in the village that he was not familiar with them at all.
"Of course, I haven't been back to the village for over a month." The old farmer waved his hand. "My name is Tan Lao Ba, and everyone in the village calls me Mr. Tan Ba. You can just ask around in the village about the Tan family."
"Well, Mr. Tan, you haven't been back to the village for over a month. You've been in the woods the whole time, right?"
"Yes, I'm a beekeeper. I come into the mountains to make honey." Mr. Tan said, looking up and seeing many branches of the lime tree still in bloom. With a whistle, Gu Ran and Pei Liuzheng were startled. They heard a sound coming from far away, and then they heard a buzzing sound. A group of dark clouds floated over in the woods, and dispersed when they approached them. The whole group of dark clouds disappeared in an instant.
But Gu Ran saw clearly that there were more bees busying around on the linden tree with flowering branches.
"See, I didn't lie to you, did I? I really am a beekeeper, and they are raised by me." Mr. Tan said happily.
Gu Ran was afraid of being stung by a bee, so he took a step back cautiously.
Pei Liuze subconsciously took a step forward and protected her.
"We didn't lie to you. We are really from Xiaxi Village. However, we left the village for a few months and just returned now."
"Then whose wife are you?"
"Gu family, I am the wife of the Gu family, Gu Erniang, and she is the sixth wife of the Pei family who is with me."
Mr. Tan Ba only then felt that the name was familiar, and then he immediately remembered it, his eyes brightening, "Are you the Mr. Gu who saved General Qiao? Did you go to the capital to claim the reward?"
"Yes, that's right, it's me."
"Oh, I, Mr. Tan Ba, have heard of your great name for a long time, but I just saw your true appearance today! Mr. Gu, you are amazing!" Mr. Tan Ba laughed and bowed to Gu Ran and Pei Liuniang, "Are you the Miss Pei? I have heard of you for a long time!"
"No, no!" Gu Ran waved his hand awkwardly. Pei Liu lowered his head silently, then quickly raised it again.
"Hey, weren't you going to the island to plant oranges? Why are you in the mountains?"
"I came into the mountains to look around and look for some mountain products, maybe to exchange for some silver." Gu Ran said directly without hiding anything.
"Oh, I heard that before, only you, Mr. Gu, dared to enter Dayu Lin!" Mr. Tan said, "Now that Dayu Lin Road has been opened, more and more people dare to enter."
"Then, Mr. Tan, are you coming into the mountains too?"
"That's right!" said Tan Laoba. "Last year, I heard that I could enter the Dayu Forest, so I moved from our remote mountain village to Xiaxi Village. I did it for the trees and flowers in the forest. I also discovered this basswood forest. I had to come!"
Beekeepers chase flowers, and they go to places where flowers bloom all year round. In late March this year, Mr. Tan brought his bee colony into Dayu Forest to look for flowers everywhere. There is such a large basswood forest in Dayu Forest, which is just what he wants.
At the end of April, flowers bloomed in the basswood forest and grew vigorously. The branches were covered with small, dense yellow flowers, piled one on top of the other, with a rich fragrance. So Mr. Tan came into the basswood forest and stayed there.
I planned to wait until all the flowers in the basswood forest had withered before leaving, and I ended up staying there for more than a month.
The place where Mr. Tan has been living these days is the cave where Gu Ran spent the night when he rescued Pei Liu.
The cave is where Mr. Tan rests and stores his food and honey. Outside are several beehives, which contain his bee colonies.
The entire Tan family is a beekeeper, and Mr. Tan's two sons are also beekeepers.
"Hey, Mr. Gu..."
"Mr. Tan, just call me Gu Er Niang." Gu Ran said.
"Oh, how can that be? Both of my sons are working for you!"
Gu Ran and Pei Liujun were stunned, and then Gu Ran was puzzled: "Didn't you just say..." Before Mr. Tan Ba could explain, Gu Ran immediately understood. Her orange grove suddenly understood, "Ah, so that's it."
Mr. Tan laughed out loud.
After the orange trees were transplanted in the first year, when they bloomed successfully, although there were bees and butterflies on Dunzi Island, as well as river breezes, which could allow for natural pollination - otherwise the wild orange trees found would not have borne fruit, Gu Ran still asked Uncle Zhao and others to invite a beekeeper to the island to increase the chances of pollination, which would also increase the chances of fruiting.
The same thing happened the following year.
But the beekeeper called at that time was not the one named Tan. Now it seems that when she went to the capital, the beekeeper hired by Uncle Lu was also the son of Mr. Tan?
Upon asking, it turned out to be true.
"Master Gu, Miss Pei, if you want to go into the basswood forest to hunt wild animals, you have to go a little further ahead, into the deep woods." Mr. Tan Ba was very warm to Gu Ran and Pei Liuniang. Before they left, he not only gave them a small jar of basswood nectar but also gave them some instructions. "I've been guarding this forest for so many days and have seen many hunters come in. All the wild animals in the basswood forest that can be caught have been caught. The rest have fled deep into the mountains. You have to go forward."
At this time, to go into Dayu Forest to hunt, Gu Ran actually needed someone else's guidance!
Gu Ran smiled and thanked Mr. Tan, then continued walking into the deep woods.
In the past, it was a miasma forest that only she dared to enter, but now it has gradually become a large island forest that everyone dares to enter.
In previous years, all the big and small animals and all kinds of mountain products in the Dayu forest belonged to her alone. Now, they have become public resources that everyone can harvest. Even Mr. Tan dared to live in a cave in the basswood forest and stayed there alone for more than a month. He is really capable.
This is fine.
Although I will have to compete with others to obtain mountain products in the future, more people can exchange things from the island forest for money. Not only can everyone improve their lives, but some poor families can also make up for their income.
Things like bayberry, mugwort, etc. can be picked and sold for a few cents at least.
"So, it all depends on your ability!"
After Gu Ran led Pei Liu into the woods ahead, they turned back, intending to cross the woods and return to Xiaxi Village.
She now has a stable income from roasted grass jelly and a big business like the orange grove. She doesn't need to go into the mountains to find food. She goes into the woods to pick red mushrooms for Fusheng Trading Company. Maybe later, someone, or someone from Hefeng Fur Shop - she had previously suspected that the stranger who followed her into the woods to pick red mushrooms was from Hefeng. By the time they all knew that red mushrooms were found in the basswood forest and knew to go into the basswood forest specifically to pick them, she might lose even this extra income, and there would be no need to go into the woods at all.
"Can't we grow these mushrooms ourselves?"
When they returned to the cottage and took out the red mushrooms from the bamboo basket one by one, Pei Liu asked.
Since Er Niang could grow so many oranges transplanted to the island so well, how could this little mushroom be a problem for her?
Gu Ran took the red mushrooms picked by Pei Liu one by one, saying that he needed to deal with them, but in fact he was waiting to put them in space grid number eight when she was not noticing.
"No, because these mushrooms are naturally grown in the wild. We can't grow them ourselves." Gu Ran shook his head.
"How will you know if you don't try?" Pei Liu encouraged, "Second Mother, you can do it."
Gu Ran glanced at Pei Liu. He was so confident in her? But he still shook his head resolutely: "No."
Pei Liu frowned, watching Gu Ran collect all the red mushrooms, and remained silent.
"It really doesn't work. I tried." Gu Ran had no choice but to lie.
It's not that she had tried it, but in the world she lived in in her first life, many people who were more experienced than her had tried it, but they just couldn't successfully cultivate red mushrooms. This mushroom is even more difficult to grow than ginseng.
Since it was a proven fact, she naturally didn't need to waste her time.
Pei Liu finally felt relieved. So that's how it was. "Then it's not possible!"
"Let's go to Jianzhou tomorrow and send these red mushrooms to Fusheng Trading Company!" Gu Ran glanced at Pei Liu, "Liu Niang, are you going?" She also had to pay the balance for the purchase of the orange trees, and she also had to ask Manager Xu for a favor.
Pei Liu lowered his head and looked at Xiaohua who was rubbing against his feet, and the pot-bellied female cat Heiqiu. He subconsciously squatted down and stroked the backs of the two cats.
Now most of the cats in the small house have moved to the big house. Originally, they wanted to keep only three pregnant female cats, but they were afraid that the three of them would cause unrest. In the end, the first and second generation cats, that is, Big Orange and the first born Little Orange, Little Black and Little Flower, stayed to keep the three female cats company for a while to comfort the pregnant cats, so that after the kittens were born, these great-great-great-grandmothers could help raise the kittens.
After all, when the mother cat gives birth to kittens and recovers, she will have to be stabbed again.
Pei Liu couldn't help but caress the two cats in his arms. Before she could reply, Gu Ran already understood her great-great-great-grandmother's feelings. "Sixth Sister, you should stay at the cottage and take care of them. I can go alone."
"How can you do this alone?"
"I'm not alone. Uncle Lu over at the orange grove said he's going to restock the food for the guys on the island. I plan to go with them and just wait for them at the ferry tomorrow."
"Okay, be careful on the road." Pei Liu picked up Xiaohua and nodded to Gu Ran.
The next day, Gu Ran went out early again, carrying a bamboo basket to the ferry. Not long after, he saw a cargo ship slowly sailing across the river from the opposite Dunzi Island. It was his own.
Gu Ran waved at the ferry, and Lin Erlang on the boat asked someone to drive the boat to the Xiaxi Village ferry and pick her up.
Now, the person who coordinates all the work of the Orange Grove is the chief steward Lu Bo, and Lin Erlang is the deputy steward, who is in charge of the daily food, clothing, housing and transportation of all the servants in the Orange Grove. However, the vegetables, fruits and meat are usually taken care of by the small steward in the kitchen. He is responsible for purchasing large quantities of things such as rice, oil, salt, sugar, etc. Recently, he happened to be going to the county town to buy food rations. Yesterday, Gu Ran sent a message to the Orange Grove saying that he was going to Jianzhou, so they went together.
When the boat arrived at the county town, Lin Erlang and the steward were allowed to get off the boat, while Gu Ran continued to go to Jianzhou, and then returned to the county town pier to pick them up.
Gu Ran’s Fu ship was also equipped with two helmsmen and four guards, who were selected before he planned to buy the ship.
When they arrived at Jianzhou Port, the helmsman and the guards stayed on the boat waiting, while Gu Ran went into the city by himself.
Manager Xu happened to be at the door of the business. When he saw Gu Ran approaching, he thought he had seen things wrong: Why does that lady look so much like Gu Er Niang? No, she must be Gu Er Niang, right?
But, his young master hasn’t even returned yet, and Gu Er Niang has already returned?
When he got closer, he confirmed that it was Gu Er Niang. He laughed out loud and exclaimed: "Gu Er Niang!"
"Manager Xu!" Gu Ran also responded with a smile.
Manager Xu laughed again.
He already knew what Gu Er Niang had done on her way to the capital and to Damao City from the people who delivered goods to Jianzhou from the young master's family and from the letters the young master sent him.
When so many people in Jianzhou questioned the authenticity of General Qiao's rescue, he had already known the truth ahead of others.
Gu Erniang, she actually saved General Qiao on Dunzi Island, went to the palace to receive the reward, became General Qiao's adopted granddaughter, and even helped the young master open a branch in Damao City!
"Oh, Gu Erniang, it's been a few months since I last saw you. I'm really impressed by you!"
"Thank you very much!" Gu Ran followed Manager Xu into the company and went to the yard in front of the warehouse at the back. He took out the red mushrooms and gave them to him. "I paid a deposit for that batch of orange trees. Manager Xu, please calculate how much silver I should pay Fu Sheng after adding the money from the red mushrooms. Give me a number."
"Okay!" Manager Xu nodded and called the bank's cashier over to settle the bill with Gu Ran.
"By the way, I'd like to ask Steward Xu to help me find someone."
Fusheng harvested local mountain products from all over Jianzhou. Not only did Manager Xu himself have to go to many county governments, he also had contacts with small trading companies in various places. In addition, there were other managers, big and small, in the trading company. When they went out to look for goods, they would deal with local people, and sometimes they would go deep into small towns and villages, so they had a very wide network of contacts.
This was the reason why she asked Fusheng Trading Company to help Pei Liu find his elder sister, and why she asked Manager Xu to help her find the orange tree.
"Who?" Manager Xu also remembered that the young master had promised Gu Er Niang to help Pei Liu Niang find her elder sister. They have been looking for her for so many years but still haven't found her. Who does Gu Er Niang want them to find now?
"Find a young man named Lu Yilin, about fifteen to eighteen years old."
"What is his identity and background? Can you tell me?"
Gu Ran told Manager Xu all the information he found out about Cheng Jiulang in the capital.
"A person from the capital, exiled to Minzhou more than ten years ago?"
Gu Ran nodded.
"Do you know what he looks like? Do you have a portrait?"
Gu Ran shook his head.
Not to mention what Ling'er looks like now, she had never even seen him when he was a little boy.
"That……"
"Also, he should have had a jade pendant like this before."
Ling'er's family is so poor, he probably doesn't have many valuable things on him. The jade pendant given to him must have been given to him by his biological parents, right?
It can be considered a clue for now. The jade pendant was only shown to Manager Xu, but all he was given at that time was a portrait of the jade pendant.
"Isn't this jade pendant on you?" Manager Xu was confused. He thought he was going to find the young man wearing such a jade pendant, which would be a mark and easy to find, but the jade pendant was on Gu Erniang...
"Hey, this is probably his heirloom jade pendant. Although it fell on me, he must still remember it." As for the heirloom jade pendant, most people will of course be impressed.
Manager Xu was at a loss for words, shook his head, and agreed to the matter.
"Remember to help Liu Niang find her sister as well!" Gu Ran reminded.
"I know, I know. You've been looking for people but haven't found any clues. You're better off. You have a name, a…" Manager Xu glanced at the portrait on the jade pendant, his mouth twitching. "There's a portrait on the jade pendant, but it doesn't look like Pei Liuniang's sister is called Sister Pei. How can someone be so clueless about their own cousin?"
"Alas, Liu Niang was forced to separate from her elder sister when she was very young. She doesn't know her name or appearance. It's normal." Gu Ran thought of the tragic incident of Liu Niang being abducted and made a villain since she was a child, and defended her.
"Come on, since you're a big customer of Fusheng, I'll try my best to find one for you."
Manager Xu put away the jade pendant portrait, then called another manager over and gave him instructions. The manager nodded and went out to do his work.
The silversmith also calculated the silver that Gu Ran still owed. After Gu Ran checked the account and confirmed that it was correct, he paid the money truthfully and prepared to leave.
It was a rare opportunity for her to come out of the city, so she had to visit two herbal grass jelly restaurants, and also take the time to go shopping in restaurants and buy some of her favorite food for space grid number eight.
Gu Ran was about to get up and say goodbye when Manager Xu seemed to remember something and waved at her, "Hey, Second Lady Gu, I also remembered to tell you something!"
"What's going on?"
"Well, you're looking for someone, but someone's looking for you too!"
"Who's looking for me?" Gu Ran was surprised. "Since someone is looking for me, why did they come to your Fusheng Trading Company?"
"Isn't it just like you, that we're attracted to Fu Sheng's wide network of connections?" Manager Xu sighed, "It's a pity that the man's name isn't Lu Yilin, and his age doesn't seem right, otherwise I would have thought he was the one you were looking for."
"Who is that?"
"He didn't say anything, just that he came to Minzhou from the capital, just like you."
An exile who came to Minzhou from the capital?
When she was exiled to Minzhou with her, there weren't many people she knew except Liu Niang and Mai Xiang's family, right?
Who else would come to ask about me?
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