"Sure, consider it a favor."
Chen An had no objections; on the contrary, he felt that Cheng Yue's consideration was thoughtful. They had something to do and money to earn now, so they couldn't just abandon their important business and run all over the mountains digging for medicinal herbs.
Chen Tong and Chen Ning were very enthusiastic and went if they wanted to, but it's unlikely that they would go.
Those medicinal herbs are just growing there anyway; they'll all wither away when winter comes. It's better to talk to the villagers and let everyone make some money together.
It doesn't make sense to just watch the medicinal herbs go to waste without telling the villagers.
Cheng Yue thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll go up the mountain tomorrow to dig up some medicinal herbs before going to the village head's house. Otherwise, we won't know what they look like and we might not be able to find the right ones."
Chen An said apologetically, "I can't help with this, so I can only trouble you."
Cheng Yue chided, "How am I not helpful? Aren't you making furniture? The tables and chairs for the new house will all depend on you!"
The new house has blueprints, and Chen An also has a copy of the dimensions. Making furniture takes a long time, but it has already started.
Anyway, making furniture doesn't interfere with training apprentices, and it's a good opportunity for them to practice. The kids have already made several small stools, and they're just waiting for their skills to improve so they can make chairs.
Chen An's face flushed, and he didn't know what to say. He thought to himself that A Yue's words were getting sweeter and sweeter, and that anything she said could make his heart burn.
"Uncle Chen An, we're all here!"
A shout came from the pillar outside the door, and Chen An immediately snapped back to reality, "Okay!"
After replying, he got up and ran out.
Cheng Yue was puzzled; anyone who didn't know better would have thought the stool was too hot for her bottom.
Having said everything she needed to say and with the person gone, she no longer needed to sit there. Taking advantage of the afternoon's free time, she made some more pastries.
The next day, as the sun rose, Cheng Yue took Chen Tong and Chen Ning up the mountain to gather herbs.
The medicinal properties of herbs are related to the season of harvesting. Although there are many herbs on the mountain, not many can be harvested in the summer.
Following the instructions in the book, Cheng Yue and her friends found not only goji berries, but also anemarrhena, mugwort, and motherwort.
Anemarrhena asphodeloides has slender branches and leaves, somewhat resembling chives. Its flowers bloom in clusters of purple, resembling grains of rice, making it relatively easy to find.
Mugwort is even more common and is one of the most familiar medicinal herbs to many people. It is mainly used to dispel cold and dampness, and most people have used it.
However, most people buy moxa sticks for moxibustion and rarely see the original form of mugwort.
Artemisia is also easy to identify. Its leaves are palmate and serrated, and its most distinctive feature is that the underside of the leaves is silvery-white.
Motherwort is a gynecological medicine. Its branches are straight, and its leaves resemble a trident. The leaves grow in layers upwards, and the flowers bloom at the base of the leaves, which are also small purple flowers.
Cheng Yue and the others searched for medicinal herbs. On their way home, Chen Tong suddenly said, "Mom, I've discovered a secret. Many of these medicinal herbs have small purple flowers. The ground ivy was like that before, and so were the anemarrhena and motherwort!"
Cheng Yue nodded and praised, "Xiao Tong is very observant! There are indeed quite a few medicinal herbs with purple flowers. Besides these, there are also Viola yedoensis and Cirsium japonicum."
I don't know anything else; we'll only know after we finish reading that herbal medicine book!
Chen Tong nodded with a smile, "Yes! There must be many more!"
Chen Ning declared, "I will study hard too!"
If my sister hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed. It must be because I haven't read enough books and haven't studied hard enough!
Cheng Yue laughed, "Xiao Ning was already great! She found the medicinal herbs faster than my sister and I!"
Chen Ning smiled shyly upon hearing the praise, and became even more determined to study hard.
The mother and her two daughters chatted and laughed as they went down the mountain to the village head's house.
The village head had just returned from a walk around the fields when he bumped into Cheng Yue and the others at the gate. Seeing that they were carrying a basket, he assumed they were bringing food and quickly said, "We don't need anything at home, don't bring us food!"
Cheng Yue was both amused and exasperated. She pushed the basket forward and said, "Uncle Village Head, it's not food, it's medicinal herbs!"
"Medicinal herbs?" The village head was puzzled. Why were they bringing medicinal herbs? Upon closer inspection, he realized they were just weeds.
Mrs. Feng was chopping vegetable leaves in the yard to feed the chickens when she heard the commotion and came out, saying, "You old man, come in and say what you have to say, instead of blocking people outside!"
After saying that, the village head called to Cheng Yue and the others, "Come, my two good girls, come in with your mother!"
Chen Tong and Chen Ning happily called her "Grandma," and Feng Shi was more like a real grandmother than Zhao Shi.
The village headman slapped his face and called Cheng Yue into the courtyard.
After sitting down, Cheng Yue said directly, "Uncle Village Head, Aunt Feng, these are all medicinal herbs. I asked the pharmacy, and they can all be sold for money."
I was thinking of telling the villagers about this, so everyone could go for a walk in the mountains when they have time, and earn whatever little they can.”
The village head and Madam Feng exchanged a glance, almost unable to react, and exclaimed in surprise, "These are all medicinal herbs? Cheng Yue, you even recognize medicinal herbs?"
They've lived in the mountains for decades and didn't even know these were medicinal herbs; they usually just cut them down to feed the pigs…
Not only them, but most of the villagers have never left the mountains in their lives and have no idea what medicinal herbs are. Even if they see them, they would just think of them as weeds.
Cheng Yue casually said, "Before I got married, I found a medical book at home. I read a few pages and memorized it, but I've been so busy every day for so many years that I forgot about it."
The other day, these two girls cut some red berries to feed the pigs and cows. They looked familiar, and that's when I remembered.
The village head and Madam Feng firmly believed that it was perfectly normal for a student to have books at home. They were truly surprised that Cheng Yue not only knew how to do business but also knew about medicinal herbs!
Indeed, reading is good! Reading a lot really broadens one's horizons.
Moreover, the more you look at this family now, the more right it seems. If they hadn't separated, how could Cheng Yue have displayed her abilities?
If I hadn't been suppressed by the Zhao family for so many years, I would have become rich long ago. Why would I have waited until now and suffered for so many years?
The village head, recalling Cheng Yue's words, asked uncertainly, "This is a profitable business. Are you really going to tell the villagers?"
Cheng Yue nodded and truthfully expressed her thoughts, "Uncle Village Head, we all have other things to do, and it's impossible for us to spend time specifically gathering herbs."
If we can't make this money, let everyone else make it. Otherwise, the medicinal herbs will just grow there and become withered grass if no one picks them.
Besides, I also want our village to prosper. If everyone has work and money to earn, they won't have time to think about anything else. With fewer problems, relationships will be more harmonious.
Just like in Wangshan Village, everyone is prosperous and has no worries about food and clothing, so the relationships are naturally harmonious.
She has other plans, but not now. Since we have time, let's all make some money while we can!
The village head was filled with emotion, joy, and excitement upon hearing this. Cheng Yue had made money, yet she didn't forget the villagers. She always thought of everyone and the village, and she taught them what she was told. This was truly a noble act!
Knowing about herbs is a skill, since medicinal herbs are available every year, which means that as long as you don't slack off, you can have a full meal!
"I'll call the whole village here right now!"
The village head became more and more excited as he thought about it, feeling that their Houshui Village was about to prosper and that it would soon be able to shed its reputation as the poorest village in the county!
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