Chapter 136:
Ma Huang Gou, last time when she took Miaomiao picking mushrooms, she almost fell off the cliff, which left her with lingering fear.
After much deliberation, she still decided not to take Miaomiao! But leaving her at home, she was so young, she really couldn’t feel at ease.
She thought about it, made a few vegetable cakes for Miaomiao, packed some vegetables and noodles in a basket, and took them to Old Lady Zhao’s home.
She asked her to look after Miaomiao for a bit; she would go up the mountain picking mushrooms today and come back early.
Normally, asking her own great-aunt to watch her wouldn’t be an issue, but Li Zheng Sen’s family, no need to even think about it.
Old Lady Zhao really liked Miaomiao, and she usually lived alone, so she was quite happy to have a young woman to keep her company.
Seeing her bring these things over, she teased her, “Just bring her over, why bring these? Big Aunt doesn’t lack anything; she has a few bites of food.”
“Old Lady Zhao, look what you’re saying. I’m troubling you to watch my daughter and making you provide food too—that’s both eating and troubling you, which is too inappropriate. This is a losing deal!”
Luo Zhi’er said half-jokingly and half-teasingly.
“What’s that? I’m half in the grave already. Whatever I plant in the field is enough for me to eat for a while. How much can this Miaomiao girl eat!”
“Just right, I didn’t know what to do anyway. With Miaomiao here, busying for Big Aunt makes the day feel worthwhile.”
Luo Zhi’er instructed Miaomiao to listen to Old Lady Zhao, not to run around, and if nothing else, to practice calligraphy copybook in the yard, learn writing, abacus, and drawing.
Miaomiao nodded obediently.
Only then did she feel at ease to go back, equipped herself, locked the door, and climbed up from the back mountain.
The scenery was still the same as before. Luo Zhi’er bent down alone, looking around the forest surroundings, picking up mushrooms when she saw them and putting them into the bamboo basket!
Along the way, hearing the wind blowing huhu through the forest with a rustling sound, she felt a bit lonely; having Miaomiao by her side would be more reassuring.
Unknowingly passing the spot where the black bear was hidden last time, there were no traces left on the ground, but there was a stinky smell.
Seeing the chopped-up weeds and branches nearby, she a bit missed Li Sanmao.
Down the mountain again, turning, shuttling, looking around, resting, picking some mushrooms, walking for almost two hours, finally reaching the place where she almost fell off the cliff last time.
At this moment, Luo Zhi’er not only wrapped herself up tightly, sprinkled anti-insect water, but also brought salt.
Seeing groups of large leeches blocking the road, she sprinkled a handful.
Seeing the traces of her climb, the small steps pecked out with the sickle, Luo Zhi’er’s heart stirred.
Involuntarily, she lifted foot, planning to slide down and dig again.
Holding onto a slightly thicker branch, walking downward step by step, reaching near the wooden knot that Miaomiao rode on last time.
Observing roughly, picking up the sickle and pecking the tip, a protruding dirt bag.
Wow!
She dug up something again?
It seemed like an ancient wine cup.
Luo Zhi’er wiped the dust off with her sleeve; it was colorful and smooth in texture, just like jade!
Could this be the legendary Western Regions luminous cup?
She couldn’t help feeling horrified; it was too scary!
What exactly was going on with this mountain?
She didn’t dare dig anymore; once these things were taken out and circulated, they would certainly arouse doubt.
Keeping them at home was even less safe; better to temporarily bury them in the soil here.
Luo Zhi’er put the luminous cup in her bosom, pondering who buried such a pile of treasures here?
Although she felt she was a bit greedy for money and often dreamed of sitting on a golden mountain grabbing these treasures, she always felt this mountain wasn’t suitable for her, and besides, silver earned by oneself was the interesting kind.
Did she have the fate to take it and the fate to spend it?
Each of these treasures could attract attention; she deeply understood the reason that an ordinary man is innocent but guilty for possessing a jade.
Luo Zhi’er buried the dirt pile well and quickly climbed up.
Fortunately, this mountain was full of leeches; no one dared to covet it!
It seemed this leech couldn’t be removed yet!
But how was she going to plant crops?
She still wanted to plant a fruit forest!
Sigh!
Pondering while going down the slope, crossing the ridge where the mountain met the low area, reaching the wasteland.
Inside the wasteland were swamps, silt, and various dense weeds.
This place, aside from leeches, had no other living creatures like small fish or shrimp.
These vegetations were the green she saw from the mountain peak; some leaves were nibbled by leeches, but it didn’t affect their thriving growth.
Getting close, she found some taller than a person; standing inside, she couldn’t see outside.
One foot into a mud pit, feeling like she was about to sink in, something pulling at her feet; she was so fat, sinking even faster!
Fortunately, she was naturally strong; with a light pull of her foot, she was up, easily reaching a slightly deeper spot.
Parting the dense forest, stepping over water plants, wading through silt.
Probing further in, she felt that the water in this swamp was quite clear if not stepped on, and there seemed to be a faintly sweet taste in the air.
Shaking herself, clumps from the water, with a bloody smell, all crawling toward her!
Ordinary people would be scared and run away; she was prepared. When the leeches smelled her scent, they suddenly seemed to avoid something and didn’t dare approach.
Actually, she didn’t realize that the leeches hadn’t sucked her blood; if someone else like her came, they’d have become a pile of white bones by now!
Luo Zhi’er sprinkled a few handfuls of salt around, continuing to look into the distance.
She secretly sighed; no wonder so many leeches breeding so fast—this water must contain minerals.
The leeches in the wasteland below were water leeches, liking humid environments; earlier on the mountain, they were dry leeches!
Seemingly attracted by the water quality here!
The water in this swamp shouldn’t all be rainwater from the sky, after all, rainwater wouldn’t emit such a sweet and appetizing fragrance.
There must be a water source somewhere; because the swamp land also follows the mountain, during flash floods, it would flush the edges, forming small ditches, and when water is high, it can flow out, but the water flowing out from Ma Huang Gou, no one dares drink!
Everyone keeps their distance.
Luo Zhi’er persistently searched around; this wasteland was over ten acres, traversing it all was too difficult.
But this time if she didn’t find it, she’d come back next time to continue; determined, she must find the reason.
Walking and looking, her salt was almost used up; she felt she couldn’t search blindly like this!
Reaching the edge of the swampy wasteland, holding branches to climb up, finding a slightly higher position to observe.
Right!
The vegetation in this swampy land had one place like it was cut off: half dense, half more barren than this side.
It was there!
Picking up a stick from the ground, beating as she went, quickly heading over!
Sure enough, this was a slightly sloping ground; the water flowed downward!
So the vegetation below was denser, while the area without water had slightly sparser weeds.
Then this outlet was nearby!
Luo Zhi’er reached here, lay down to observe carefully, finally finding a spot densely coiled with many leeches.
There was a pool of water below.
These leeches were very plump!
One stick to clear the leeches, clear again, sprinkle a few handfuls of salt; the leeches writhed like crazy.
Quickly crawling away.
Ha! Found it without effort!
A clear stream bubbled out from underground, flowing like a trickle toward the low area.
This sweet taste was even stronger, making her unable to refrain from wanting to take a sip.
But she knew there were who knows how many leech eggs inside; she couldn’t drink recklessly!
