Lu Yuan was unaware that he had inadvertently stirred up the villagers' enthusiasm once again, and at this moment he was earnestly studying herbal medicine.
Despite his completely white hair, Gao Weishan was still quite strong and followed along the mountain without any difficulty. He searched for medicinal herbs as he went, patiently explaining each one to Lu Yuan.
"This is dandelion, which can be dried and used to make anti-inflammatory tea. This is plantain, a medicine for lowering blood pressure..."
Lu Yuan studied diligently. He recognized the dandelion as a plant, and he also knew about plantain, which, like dandelion, grew everywhere on the back hill.
"This is Lao Cangzi (a type of herb), which, when combined with Magnolia biondii and Angelica dahurica, can be made into a rhinitis medicine..."
The two then collected more than 20 common medicinal herbs, including mugwort, motherwort, burnet root, scutellaria, saposhnikovia, bupleurum, and holly.
We even encountered Dendrobium officinale on the edge of a cliff.
"Wow, there's even dendrobium here! That's a good thing, a precious medicinal herb that can benefit the stomach and promote the production of body fluids, nourish yin and clear heat. It's suitable for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes, and it also has an inhibitory effect on cancer patients."
Gao Weishan was very excited; the trip was worthwhile.
The two returned via the shortcut behind the house and discovered Schisandra chinensis, with clusters of bright red fruit hanging all over the hillside.
"This medicine has the effects of stopping sweating and diarrhea, and strengthening the kidneys and stopping seminal emission. If it is properly processed, it can also treat neurasthenia. The purchase price at the purchasing station is not bad now, 80 cents per kilogram."
Lu Yuan's eyes widened. 80 cents per kilogram, or 40 cents per pound. There must be at least a thousand pounds of these on the mountain, but no one knows to pick them and sell them for money.
He picked two bunches, broke off a few branches, and then stopped.
The two returned home with a full load of herbs. There were so many herbs that Lu Yuan couldn't remember them all when they got home. Gao Weishan patiently explained them to him again, and Wen Moxue wrote down the names of the herbs on a piece of paper and then pasted them onto the corresponding herbs.
Gao Weishan left after dinner, feeling very reluctant to part with his wife and children at home while he had to go on a long journey to work.
Xiao Biyun, on the other hand, was very happy. After waving goodbye and waiting for them to walk away, she immediately took Wen Moxue's hand with a smile and went into the main room. They sat down at the table and continued to discuss their pregnancy experiences.
With his sweet and gentle wife taken away, Lu Yuan had no choice but to stay in the courtyard and keep Old Man Liu company.
"Your godparents are really nice people."
"I wonder how long my wife and the others will chat."
"Is the village really going to raise rabbits? Can these wild rabbits survive?"
"I'm going to interrupt their conversation in a bit, do you think I'll get kicked out?"
"After raising rabbits, I'm really thinking of raising pigs. Can everyone really make a good living by raising pigs?"
"Why don't we just join them without interrupting them?"
......
The two talked at cross purposes, each saying their own thing, yet they were remarkably harmonious.
Lu Yuan stood up and patted his bottom. "Uncle Liu, you can sit for a while longer and then go back inside. I have something to discuss with the brigade leader."
He went inside and picked up a string of Schisandra chinensis, intending to go find Lu Guoan to discuss picking this herb.
Just as I turned around, I saw Lu Guoqing coming.
“Ah Yuan…”
Seeing out of the corner of his eye that there were still people in the main room, he stopped talking, took a closer look, and then suddenly swayed and quickly retreated from the main room.
Lu Yuan followed him out of the main room.
What brings you here?
Lu Guoqing leaned against the wall, trying to calm himself down.
"It's nothing, I just happened to be passing by."
Lu Yuan frowned. Just passing by? His home was at the foot of this mountain. Where could he possibly be just passing by?
"Alright, I'll head out now. I need to go to the brigade leader's house."
Lu Guoqing said, "Then I'll go with you."
After the two left the courtyard, Lu Guoqing inquired about the situation.
"Who was that woman in the main room just now?"
"My godmother?"
"Why are you still here so late?"
"My godmother will be staying here for a while."
Lu Guoqing muttered, "Why did you come here instead of staying at your own home?"
"The countryside is quiet."
"You should be careful. People don't usually visit each other's homes casually, let alone stay at someone else's house. And to stay at your house for several days, no one would believe that they didn't want something from you."
Lu Yuan sneered, "What do they want from us? What do they have in our family that they could possibly want? They gave me a bicycle and a watch as soon as they came. I'd be happy to stay for a few days, or even take care of them in their old age."
“You…” Lu Guoqing was speechless with anger.
"Don't forget, I'm your father."
"So what? Don't forget, we separated. We agreed that I would leave with nothing and not be responsible for your retirement. Zhang Yuping is gone, but your beloved youngest son is still here. That still stands."
Lu Guoqing's face turned ashen. "You'd rather support Grandpa Liu, and even find another godparent to care for them in their old age, than take care of your own father?"
Lu Yuan scoffed, "What, are you going back on your word now that we agreed on something?"
"Sorry, it's not working."
He took two quick steps, then stopped, turned around, and said...
"Isn't this good enough? We won't bother each other. I mean what I say. After you turn 60, I'll give you 5 yuan a month for retirement. Don't even think about anything else."
As for what prices will be like seventeen or eighteen years from now, that's not within his consideration.
"Also, just a friendly reminder, you can't count on your eldest son anymore. Don't let your youngest son lose heart too. No matter what, he looks a bit like you. You can tell he's your son."
After saying that, he strode forward without looking back.
Lu Guoqing stared blankly at that resolute back, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Is this a case of everything being predetermined, or... is it karma?
Inside the main room.
Xiao Biyun, who was having a lively chat with her goddaughter-in-law, saw a figure flash by at the gate and asked, "Are we having guests?"
Wen Muxue shook her head, "It's Yuan-ge's father, don't worry about it, Yuan-ge is outside."
Upon hearing that it was Lu Yuan's father, who had neglected him since childhood, Xiao Biyun abandoned any thought of greeting him. She didn't like this person and was too lazy to interact with him.
Lu Yuan arrived at Lu Guoan's house. The whole family was in the yard, watching Lu Jiefang and Lu Yuanchao learn to ride bicycles.
That's right, Lu Jiefang bought a bicycle at the commune today.
On the way back, I kept trying to ride, and by the time I got home, I could barely ride. Right now, I'm basically teaching Lu Yuanchao how to ride a bicycle.
Lu Guoan was also eager to try.
Seeing Lu Yuan arrive, they quickly invited him inside to talk.
Lu Yuan put the Schisandra chinensis on the table and grinned, "Uncle, I've discovered another way to make money today."
"What?" Lu Guoan's eyes lit up.
Lu Yuan pointed to the table, "It's this Schisandra chinensis. My godfather said it's a kind of medicinal herb, and the price at the purchasing station is 40 cents a pound."
"What?" The volume suddenly rose, and Lu Guoan's eyes almost popped out.
He seemed to remember that there were quite a few of these things on the back mountain, and they could actually sell for 40 cents a pound.
I was immediately filled with regret. How could I not have known this before? It felt like I had missed out on a fortune.
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