Li Yan nodded repeatedly.
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. So, let's all travel together tomorrow."
Li Yan, Lin Zhaodi, Tan Yajun, Chen Jianguo, Lin Dongfang, Mingzhu, and Jian Dan have formed an invisible little group. The group is quite large, and so far, their personalities seem pretty good. None of them are petty or calculating, and Jian Dan thinks it's acceptable.
"Okay, then let's get up early tomorrow."
The village chief didn't say how many days he'd be gone, right?
"No, but on the way here, we chatted with some people, and from what they said, it seemed like it would take three or five days?"
Last year was a year of famine; everything we found was life-saving, something we would have saved in any other year. Anything that can fill our stomachs is a good thing.
The villagers were in high spirits this year, and early the next morning, even earlier than usual, they were already waiting outside the village office.
Basket, machete, rope, burlap sack—these are the basic equipment.
The trip was similar to any other mountain hike: I fastened my trousers and cuffs, put on my scarf and gloves, and carried a machete, shovel, rope, and burlap sack. I also put a large water jug in my basket, so I could say I had everything I needed.
Li Yan and the others were also fully armed and arrived early to meet up with their friends.
"Xiao Jian, are you all ready?"
It's Wang Guihua. Judging from her clothes, she obviously didn't go up the mountain. Just like last year, her son and daughter-in-law went up the mountain while she stayed home to look after the house.
He simply turned around, blinked, and naturally took a few steps closer.
"Auntie, is your garden all tidied up?"
"Alright, alright, taking advantage of the sunny weather yesterday, I didn't let anyone out, and we finished all this work in one day, otherwise I would have been thinking about it all the time."
Simple and smiling.
"Auntie, it has to be you again!"
Wang Guihua smiled so wide her eyes disappeared.
"Look, all year round, the work in this house depends on me and your sister-in-law. How can you expect us to do any work and be considered a burden?"
"Haha, that's definitely not possible."
"Do you have enough vegetables? How are the cabbages growing? If you don't have enough, just come and get some. My garden is doing well this year. I dried quite a lot in the summer, so I have enough to eat."
"Auntie, I certainly won't hold back with you."
I've planted quite a few in my garden, so if I ever need anything, I'll definitely come to you.
"Oh, right, Auntie, now that you mention it, I remember! I really needed to talk to you. Did you make any sauce this year? I don't know how to make it, but if you did, I was thinking of exchanging some with you."
Wang Guihua received 100.
"Hey, what's this? Why would I need to change anything? I made a huge vat of it this year. If you'd like some, I'll have Black Egg bring you a jar when we get back from the mountain."
Taking it for free is definitely out of the question, but there's no need to argue with her now. We'll just give the stuff to Black Egg later.
"Okay, I love the sauce my aunt makes."
Wang Guihua was beaming with joy.
"I can't speak for other things, but I learned how to make sauce from my grandfather. There's a story behind that. Let me tell you, in this village, I can't compare to others in other things, but this is truly unique to me."
Li Yan and the others greeted each other, but then didn't get a word in edgewise, watching as their friends made the village chief's wife happy and left.
"Little Dandan, you're amazing. Look at how happy Aunt Guihua is, she's not even walking in a straight line anymore."
With most of the villagers having arrived, Liu Weimin didn't dawdle. At this moment, morale was high, and when he mentioned setting off, he walked out with the momentum of a grand military parade.
Similar to last year, almost everyone in each household who could go up the mountain was mobilized, fully equipped.
The group consisted of a few people who were always neither too close nor too far apart, about ten steps apart, and the new educated youth were also not far away. No matter how much conflict they had with each other, they now appeared to be a group to outsiders.
With so many people around, Jian Dan never intended to bring a puppy. Although her own puppies are still young, they are already quite sleek and eye-catching.
They walked and stopped frequently, going quite a distance higher than where they usually foraged for wild vegetables, before finally stopping. Several men searched for a long time before emerging.
"Go this way, there's a walnut tree and a chestnut tree here."
The villagers all followed in a flurry.
The group of friends looked at each other, then followed without prior arrangement, before quietly slipping out again.
"Two walnut trees, one chestnut tree, and there seem to be a few hazelnut trees in front. Should we go with the villagers, or..."
They looked at each other, and Lin Dongfang said,
"There are quite a few trees, but have you noticed? There are also quite a few villagers here today."
Chen Jianguo nodded.
"That's true, there are still several teenagers there."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
While the villagers were busy collecting the mountain produce, the group went to a fork in the road ahead and entered a thicket of bushes. After walking around for ten minutes, they reappeared at the other end, where several tall chestnut trees stood prominently.
Li Yan's eyes lit up immediately.
"Quickly, let's get started!"
With boys around, the girls didn't need to step forward. The two boys quickly climbed the tree, waved to signal them to stay away, and then vigorously shook the tree trunk, causing a shower of chestnuts to fall in front of the girls.
"Wait, wait, there are thorns on that shell, don't hit it."
The chestnuts were basically ripe at this time of year, and they would fall easily with a slight shake. The two boys moved to another spot, and the girls immediately got busy.
Without even bothering to peel them, they put on gloves and stuffed the thorny specimens into baskets and sacks.
"Be careful, this thorn is quite hard, don't prick your hand."
Li Yan, supporting herself with the sack, turned around and called out.
"Thank goodness you reminded us, otherwise we might have really forgotten about the gloves."
Oh dear, now we can have plenty of examples to draw upon.
An undisguised foodie nature.
The girls burst into laughter without any hesitation.
"Let's see if you can get enough of eating this all winter?"
Li Yan didn't stand on ceremony either.
"Definitely not. I think these chestnuts have a natural sweetness, so they taste good no matter how you eat them."
As I talked about it, my mouth started to water.
"I want to eat roasted chestnuts right now."
They simply packed the sack into a bag, tied the top with a rope, and...
"You're really something, satisfied with just a baked example?"
"What else is there? We can't do anything else right now, can we?"
Tanya Jun, who is in charge of the cooking, is the most qualified to speak.
"Let's kill a chicken for the New Year, and treat you to something too. How about chestnut stewed chicken?"
Several gasps were immediately heard.
"real?"
"What you said makes my mouth water now!"
Jian Dan had just squatted down and propped up another burlap sack when he heard a slight sound behind him. He picked up a chestnut and shot it back at the bushes. Two seconds later, a scream came from behind the bushes.
What was that sound?
The girls immediately became alert, after all, this was in the mountains, the territory of wild animals.
Jian Dan slowly got up and walked towards the direction of the sound.
"Perhaps, some people's wishes will come true before the New Year."
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