In late June, Zhao Shijie finished his first phase of construction supervision and prepared to return to Wu City on leave.
Li Long kept his promise and took him into the mountains to forage, mainly for mushrooms of all kinds.
Morel season was already over. Although Zhao Shijie was still longing to get some, there simply were none.
Fortunately, while there were no morels, black tiger's paw mushrooms were plentiful. In a mountain ravine, the two of them soon gathered more than half a sack.
There were so many that Zhao Shijie thought these mushrooms must taste bad and be worth very little.
Only after Li Long explained them in detail did Zhao Shijie decide, still half skeptical, to take them home for his family to try.
They did not visit Harimu this time. At noon, they picnicked in the mountains, eating nang and canned food and drinking the water they had brought.
Li Long also took him to dig up a few codonopsis roots. Although they were not particularly plump at this time of year, they were old enough to be as thick as a child's arm, which made them look quite impressive.
There were only so many good things to gather in the mountains. By afternoon, Zhao Shijie followed Li Long back, satisfied. Li Long wanted to give him a nice piece of Ma River jade as well, but Zhao Shijie refused outright.
"I have no objection to mushrooms, codonopsis, and things like that. You can gather them anywhere in the mountains. I never imagined the mountains had such abundant resources, or that one trip could yield so much.
"But jade is different. If I accepted that, it would be taking a bribe. Don't get me into trouble."
With that, Li Long dropped the offer. He had not