Chapter 161 If you take human form, tell me.
Xu Zhili nodded in agreement and escorted Dean Zhou and his entourage to the door.
Watching their departing figures, Xu Zhili was filled with emotion and motivation.
This is a significant step towards her success, and an opportunity to change herself and the world.
She secretly vowed to do her best and not let down Dean Zhou and Xie Yunze's trust in her.
Back inside, Xu Zhili picked up the design drawings again and studied them carefully, preparing to refine them to perfection before they entered the arsenal's research project.
On his way back to the unit, Xie Yunze kept thinking about how to better assist Xu Zhili and ensure the smooth progress of the research project.
In the afternoon, Xu Zhili carried a basket on her back and stepped onto the country path.
Not far away, Lu Yanchen was wiping his sweat when his gaze inadvertently fell on her. He hadn't seen Xu Zhili for days.
"Xu Zhiqing, wait a moment, I have something I want to talk to you about," Lu Yanchen called out hurriedly.
Xu Zhili, carrying a basket on her back, saw Lu Yanchen blocking her way.
She asked politely, "Comrade Lu, what can I do for you?"
"Um...I think..."
Lu Yanchen hesitated, the words were on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't know how to say them.
"If Lu Zhiqing has nothing else to say, then I'll be leaving now."
Seeing that Lu Yanchen still looked hesitant, Xu Zhili didn't want to delay any longer and turned to leave.
Seeing that Xu Zhili was about to leave again, Lu Yanchen quickly stepped forward to stop her once more.
Xu Zhili said helplessly, "Lu Zhiqing, you're a grown man, why are you being so slow? If you don't tell me soon, I won't agree to anything!"
“Xu Zhiqing, don’t go! I’ll tell you.”
Lu Yanchen hurriedly said, "I'd like to ask you to help me hunt a pheasant, is that alright?"
"That's all?"
Xu Zhili looked on in astonishment at Lu Yanchen's anxious and nervous appearance, and couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
"Lu Zhiqing, don't you know how to hunt? Why are you asking me for help?"
Lu Yanchen scratched his head, an embarrassed look on his face. "Xu Zhiqing, to be honest, the pheasants in this area seem to have gotten smarter lately. I've gone several times and come up empty-handed. But I... I really need it urgently, so I'm shamelessly asking you for help."
Xu Zhili raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "What do you want the pheasant for? It can't just be something you crave, can it?"
Lu Yanchen hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and said, "To be honest, a friend of mine is sick. I heard that pheasant soup can help him recover, so I wanted to get one and send it back to him."
Upon hearing Lu Yanchen's words, Xu Zhili's surprise turned into a trace of sympathy. She really didn't understand what was going on.
After a moment's thought, she said, "Alright, I'll help you out since you're so kind. But I can't guarantee I'll be able to hunt it; I'll just do my best."
Upon hearing that Xu Zhili had agreed to help, Lu Yanchen's face lit up with joy, and he repeatedly thanked her, saying, "Thank you so much, Xu Zhiqing. If we can hunt a pheasant, I... I will definitely repay you properly."
Xu Zhili waved her hand, "No need for repayment. We're all educated youth, so let's help each other if we can. You go back first, and I'll let you know when I have news."
Lu Yanchen thanked him profusely again before leaving, turning back every few steps.
Xu Zhili watched his departing figure, sighed softly, and then turned around to prepare for hunting.
She returned to her lodgings, took out her usual hunting tools, and carefully checked them to make sure everything was in order.
While the sun was still shining, Xu Zhili got up and set off.
She entered the forest with ease, and relying on her familiarity with the terrain and her rich hunting experience, she began to look for traces of pheasants.
In the mountains and forests, the fresh scent of grass and trees fills the air, and the buds of the Tree of Life sprout forth.
The surroundings were extremely quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds and the sound of my own footsteps echoing gently in the stillness.
Xu Zhili walked cautiously, her eyes keenly observing the movements around her.
Finally, she found pheasant footprints near a patch of grass.
Following the direction of the footprints, Xu Zhili slowly approached, and soon saw a plump pheasant leisurely foraging in the grass.
She held her breath, steadily raised her homemade slingshot, and stared intently at the pheasant pecking at its food not far away.
If this strike hits, Lu Yanchen will be able to drink a bowl of hot chicken soup tonight.
But Xu Zhili knew in her heart that once the chicken was sent out, it would probably stir up new speculations and discussions among the perceptive people at the educated youth settlement.
She could even picture those meaningful glances and whispers.
But she had no time to be distracted at the moment; all her attention was focused on her prey.
"Master, there are medicinal herbs on the left side not far away," Ya Ya's voice rang out softly.
Xu Zhili looked in that direction and saw several plants with tiny white flowers growing close to the ground at the edge of the damp woodland.
She crouched down, parted the grass, and revealed the plump roots in the black soil beneath.
As you break off a piece, a spicy yet slightly sweet aroma wafts out.
It is windproof and of excellent quality.
Just as she was wiping the sweat from her forehead, her gaze was drawn to a cluster of bright red berries next to the puddle.
They hang on the low branches like scattered agate.
It's black nightshade! And it's of excellent quality.
The black nightshade berries at the end of June are half red and half purple, which is when their medicinal effect is at its best; if they are completely red, they lose their potency.
She carefully avoided the puddles, cautiously picking only a third of the fruit, leaving enough to reproduce next year.
She always takes extra care when collecting herbs, picking only one-third of each type and letting the rest grow naturally.
The newly discovered Scutellaria baicalensis blooms on sunny slopes, while the fuzzy Bupleurum chinense hides among the shadows of the trees. Even the dandelions are picked only when the flower stalks are just standing upright.
Then it is implanted into the space, and it will never be fully illuminated.
Just as she was concentrating, Ya Ya's voice rang out again, with a rare urgency: "Master, there is ginseng energy three hundred paces to the southeast."
"Among them is a hundred-year-old ginseng, oh my god! Master, master!"
Xu Zhili's heart skipped a beat.
Ginseng?
This is a rare find on this mountain.
She immediately followed the directions and walked quickly, not caring that the branches had torn her clothes.
On a shady hillside, three unusual long-leaved plants swayed gently in the breeze.
She held her breath, carefully parted the weeds, took out her small shovel, and began to dig carefully.
The soil was gradually removed, revealing the thick roots underneath.
The thickest one is at least a hundred years old, and the other two look to be over fifty years old.
Her movements were extremely gentle, as if she were afraid of breaking even a single hair.
As the three intact ginseng plants were carefully moved into the specially prepared soil in the space, the sprouts happily shook their leaves: "Master, the spiritual energy in the space has become much more abundant!"
Xu Zhili chuckled: "If you are ever able to take human form, be sure to tell me immediately."
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