The Herb Hoe sank into the soil, digging out the tuber whole, rootlets, earth and all, before lifting it and gently shaking off the dirt.
He dug up two plants, left one, then kept digging. Those left behind would spread their roots and send up new shoots to fill the gaps, making another fine Medicine Field the following year. This way, year after year, their roots would never die out.
He clutched a handful, roots and leaves together, and stuffed them into a large sack whenever he could hold no more.
Once it was full, he stood on the sack and bounced to pack it down, then pulled the rope tight.
Then he moved to another Medicine Field to gather medicinal seeds, picking the seed heads into a small basket and pouring them into a large sack whenever it filled, running back and forth like this over and over. He marveled at how useful knowledge was, letting him know how to process medicinal herbs.
He had learned a great deal from leafing through books in the Library Pavilion, and had also consulted the little Daoist boy who grew herbs high up the mountain, accumulating his skills bit by bit. He had known none of this before, scooping up every medicinal herb he saw, roots and leaves together, and ruining no small amount.
From above, Xiao Yu watched Jin Si bustle about.
Swinging a hoe to dig, lifting heavy loads, making trip after trip-her friend's Primordial Spirit really was abnormal. Whose Primordial Spirit could do heavy labor?
His Primordial Spirit returned to his body, and he shook his great head.
His claws raked swiftly, gathering medicinal branches, leaves, and vines into a pile, grabbing them and stuffing them into a sack. When it filled, he raised a claw to press them