I came to the smallest taro plant and used the machete in my hand to insert it into the nearby soil.
The soil was very loose, and I easily picked out the taro roots hidden in the ground.
A bulb the size of a fist appeared before my eyes, and next to it were five or six taro roots the size of a thumb, connected to the main stem of the taro by thin fibrous roots.
Goodness, it's no wonder it grew in peat soil. Only soil with such high fertility and strong moisture retention can grow such a big taro.
Previously, I only saw that the taro Top dug up was the same size as the one I dug up last time, so I had no idea what it meant without a reference point.
This is just the smallest taro plant. How big must the taro plants be under those with wide leaves?
I immediately found the largest taro plant and started digging. Before I even started digging, I noticed that the soil around the taro plant was cracked with deep fissures.
Having grown up in the countryside and often doing farm work like digging sweet potatoes, I could tell at a glance that the taro tubers below must be quite large.
Even though I was mentally prepared, I was still shocked by the enormous taro when I dug out the tuber.
If it weren't for the highly fertile peat soil here, I would have doubted that this wasn't a species mutated by radiation.
I was carrying a taro I had dug up. The main bulb of this thing was as big as a basketball, and I estimated that each one weighed more than ten pounds.
The scattered taro roots next to it are about half the size of a fist. The whole taro plant probably weighs more than 20 kilograms!
If this were placed in the countryside, it would absolutely cause a sensation in several villages. I've never seen such a large tuber in my entire life.
The basket I put into the two taro plants I dug up was already quite heavy. I then sparsely replanted the remaining smaller taro plants back into the soil.
I guess only I can process and eat taro, because apart from me, there are no other animals here that can make fire to process this special food.
Taro can openly avoid the clutches of so many herbivores because it contains a numbing alkaloid when uncooked.
This alkaloid contains a large number of needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals, which can damage the oral mucosa in the throat of any animal that dares to try to eat it.
The sensation is like being strangled by a rope, causing itching and irritation, and it can also cause some toxicity to the stomach and intestines, leading to abdominal pain and diarrhea.
When cooked, the alkaloids in this product will have their structure broken down by the high temperature, making it soft, sticky, and sweet.
Therefore, there is no danger in planting this plant here. Since even insects dare not touch it, other herbivores would certainly not eat it.
Top only tasted the deliciousness of taro because of me. If it had tried to eat this stuff on its own, it would probably have been holding its throat and feeling uncomfortable for days.
Top was dragging a stick, trying to pry out some more taro, but I quickly stopped him.
We've only been out for a short while; we can't possibly go back carrying a whole basket of taro. Anyway, these taro are perfectly safe here; they won't run away. We'll just dig some more next time we come.
I also want to continue exploring the biodiversity of the rainforest and see what plants and animals I can utilize.
Top and I walked out of the depression and back onto the path beside the stream. To lighten the load, I dumped the taro, which was least likely to be stolen, onto the ground, slung the empty basket over my shoulder, and prepared to continue on my way.
"Squeak!"
When Top saw that I had poured out all the taro, it started squeaking anxiously. It didn't understand why I was throwing away so much good stuff, and Top was heartbroken. It quickly picked up the taro and put it into its basket.
He picked up the taro while muttering and grumbling. His monkey-like face seemed to say, "Fine, you won't help me carry it, but what's with dumping them all out like this?"
You've gotten so out of control after just two days of good food, haven't you? You're really making my life a living hell!
Seeing this, I was both amused and exasperated. I didn't know how to explain this to a monkey, so I could only say to Top...
"We're just leaving it here temporarily; we'll come back to get it when we return."
Top didn't care about any of my complaints and kept filling his little basket with taro, glaring at me angrily as he did so, as if to say,
"Keep making things up, kid. You just want to shirk your responsibilities and make me, a monkey, do this physical work."
Seeing that Top was unmoved and continued picking up taro, I was both annoyed and amused. I said to Top,
"Top, you can keep picking them up, I'm leaving now."
As I was saying this, I continued walking forward. Top squeaked a few times on the spot, scratched his head and cheeks looking at the taro in his hand, and finally made up his mind to throw the taro in his hand and run towards me with the taro on his back.
Top, carrying taro, couldn't run fast at all. Seeing that I was getting further and further away, it became anxious, but even so, Top still couldn't bear to throw away those taro.
Although monkeys are omnivores, most of their diet consists of plant-based foods.
Top, who has tried the cooked taro flavor, seems to really like the soft and glutinous texture of taro.
As I continued walking ahead, Top suddenly let out a sharp, urgent cry from behind. This cry was the same as the one he made when he encountered danger before, and it was definitely not a normal cry.
Upon hearing the sound, I was startled, and my right hand instinctively reached back to grab the crossbow slung over my right shoulder and nocked an arrow.
When I turned to look at Top, it seemed too late. A harpy eagle, larger than Top, had already pierced the basket on Top's back with its sharp claws, and Top was already on the ground struggling.
"Top!"
I was anxious, but Top and the harpy eagle were stuck together and flapping around, so I didn't dare to fire the crossbow bolt easily. If the arrow missed, Top would definitely be finished.
I glanced at it for a while, then stomped my foot and put away the crossbow, instead pulling out the Nepalese machete.
In close combat, this thing can take down any eagle with just one slash!
However, I underestimated the harpy eagle's alertness. When it saw me running towards it quickly, it knew it was no match for me and tried to fly away immediately.
Unfortunately, its sharp claws were already firmly embedded in the bamboo strips of the basket, and it was now impossible to pull them out.
It never imagined that its desire to eat a monkey it liked would lead to it being trapped by a monkey.
Seeing me getting closer and closer, the harpy eagle panicked and, ignoring Top who was still struggling, grabbed the basket on its back and took off.
The harpy eagle is a very powerful bird of prey. Generally, a harpy eagle can lift prey weighing about three-quarters of its own weight and fly.
Even under extreme conditions, it can fly beyond its capacity. At this moment, the harpy eagle has flapped its wings and is struggling to fly into the sky with Top and a basket of taro on its back.
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