Picking ferns is just as addictive as gathering mushrooms; you simply can't stop.
"Wife, how much have you picked?" Lu Chuan asked Xu Han as he approached her, carrying a basket that was just full of freshly picked fruit.
"Your basket is almost full. Is yours full?" Xu Han asked without looking up.
"Once you've picked enough, put this basket away and give me a new one."
"You picked them pretty fast," Xu Han said, straightening up and rubbing her lower back.
"There are plenty of ferns here; we can pick them all in no time."
"There's not much left in this area. Let's go check out the little bamboo grove over there later," Xu Han suggested.
Lu Chuan glanced at the sky upon hearing this. It was still early, around ten o'clock in the morning, so he agreed, "Okay, we'll pick the ferns here and then go dig up the bamboo shoots."
"Okay, let's get started. Once we're done picking, hurry over there." After saying that, Xu Han lowered her head again and began frantically picking ferns.
About fifteen minutes later, the two of them finally finished picking all the bracken in this area.
"Should we rest for a while before going over?" Lu Chuan asked.
"No, I've gotten used to working lately, so I don't really feel tired today. We'll eat some fruit as we walk to replenish our energy."
"Okay, let's go then."
Xu Han put the baskets into her spatial storage, and the two of them traveled light, eating fruit they had just taken out of the refrigerator as they walked towards the bamboo forest.
After walking for about an hour, we finally arrived at the bamboo forest.
The bamboo species in this grove is different from the bamboo grove near my home.
The bamboo near my home is exceptionally thick and large, while the bamboo here is thinner, and the bamboo shoots aren't very big either.
"It seems we've arrived at just the right time; the bamboo shoots here are growing perfectly." Xu Han broke off a bamboo shoot, held it up, and waved it at Lu Chuan, saying this.
"I've only ever eaten large bamboo shoots before, I've never actually eaten these small ones."
"Personally, I think the smaller ones taste better. They're the perfect size for hand-peeled bamboo shoots, and they also taste great for pickled bamboo shoots."
"Let's pick a lot more today, it's faster than digging bamboo shoots. Let's see how much we can pick this afternoon. If it's not enough, I'll take you again another day."
"Okay, let's break it up first, then we can start eating lunch later," Xu Han asked Lu Chuan.
"Okay, I ate some fruit on the way, so I'm not hungry yet. Let's start picking bamboo shoots."
After Lu Chuan finished speaking, he began to imitate Xu Han, holding the bottom of the bamboo shoot and then forcefully breaking it off.
The two of them scurried through the bamboo forest, picking bamboo shoots of moderate size to break off, and soon their baskets were full.
"Hahaha, look at your hair and body, they're covered in bamboo leaves and spider webs," Xu Han said, pointing at Lu Chuan.
"You're the one who's talking to me. You should take a look at yourself first," Lu Chuan said with a smile.
"Do I have that on me too?" Xu Han looked down and saw that she was just as messy and dirty as Lu Chuan.
He then laughed and said, "Haha, we're all the same. If we get dirty, we'll just change our clothes when we get home."
"Okay, the bamboo here grows quite densely, and some of it is quite low, so be careful not to get scratched by it," Lu Chuan reminded Xu Han with concern.
"Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore. Let's go, let's keep picking bamboo. This is so much fun!"
After finishing her sentence, Xu Han excitedly disappeared into the bamboo forest.
Seeing this, Lu Chuan shook his head helplessly and then followed them inside.
When the two came out again, it was already 2 p.m.
"Lu Chuan, where are you? Come out quickly, I'm starving! Let's get something to eat first," Xu Han shouted into the bamboo forest.
"They're here." As soon as Lu Chuan responded, Black Dot and Edamame darted out from the bamboo grove.
"You two slow down." Xu Han took out some black steamed buns from her spatial storage, added some water, and fed them to the four dogs that had followed her.
Then they took out the food. The two sat on the clean open ground, not bothering with formalities, and started eating after washing their hands and faces.
"I'm starving! I felt hungry just now, but I kept picking at what was in front of me, thinking I'd rest after finishing what was in front of me. But the further I walked, the hungrier I got," Lu Chuan said, his mouth stuffed full, his words muffled.
"Mmm, me too," Xu Han replied to Lu Chuan while frantically eating.
"Breaking bamboo shoots is just as addictive as picking mushrooms. You really want to keep breaking them up the more you break them."
"Everyone is the same; when it's time to harvest, no one feels tired. The more we work, the more energetic we become."
"Hahaha, wife, you're right. Picking fruit is like this, gathering mushrooms is like this, and even picking wild vegetables and digging bamboo shoots is like this."
It seems that Lu Chuan has been influenced by Xu Han in recent years and has completely become like her; even their tastes are becoming more and more similar.
Xu Han remembers that at the beginning, Lu Chuan had absolutely no patience for picking mulberries and honeysuckle, but later he gradually got into it, and when it came to picking mushrooms, he was completely engrossed.
"Once the mushrooms grow in a while, we'll go into the mountains to find them. If we can't finish them, we'll dry them and take them down the mountain to sell," Xu Han said.
“I think it’s a good idea. There’s not much food down the mountain, and those rich people will definitely be willing to spend money to buy it.”
“Yes, yes, let’s make a good profit. Hahaha.” Xu Han laughed and replied.
After the two finished lunch, they sat down to rest for a while before continuing to peel bamboo shoots.
There were so many bamboo shoots here that the two of them kept picking them until almost the end of the day. As the sun was about to set, they reluctantly headed home.
However, by the time the two arrived home, it was already completely dark.
"Why are you so late today? Didn't you go to pick ferns? Why are you only coming back now?"
As soon as the two arrived home, Grandpa Zhao began angrily questioning them.
Lu Chuan quickly explained with a grin, "After picking the bracken, Xiao Han and I went to the bamboo grove next door to pick some small bamboo shoots. That's why we came back a little late."
"You two can't come back so late next time. It's already dark when you get home. Don't you know there are people waiting for you at home?" the Taoist priest said with a displeased expression.
Upon seeing this, Xu Han and Lu Chuan quickly assured each other that it would not happen again next time.
The two of them really didn't pay attention to the time today, which is why it was already completely dark when they got home.
"Alright, stop talking for now. They've worked all day outside. Let them catch their breath first."
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