After purchasing the mountain, the two returned to the Anzhi Hall with the land deed in their hands. As soon as they entered, they saw Meng Anci coming out of the backyard with a book in his hand. He stared at the pages the entire time, not sparing them a single glance.
Well... I've gone crazy studying.
Ever since losing to Zhao Zhiyuan in the county examination, Meng Anci has been determined to reclaim his first place. The academy has been holding numerous exams, both big and small, and tomorrow is the final exam for the prefectural examination.
Her small body floated back to the study like a ghost, slamming the door shut, and the courtyard returned to silence. Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi exchanged a glance, pursing their lips and secretly smiling.
The two quietly returned to their bedroom, carefully put away the land deed, and looked at the empty wooden box Meng Anzhi a dejected expression. "Auntie, there are only three hundred taels left."
The first time I sold medicinal herbs, I earned 1700 taels of silver. I used it to buy a shop, renovate it, hire servants, buy a mountain, and cover living expenses. After all that, the money was gone.
Looking at the three thin sheets of paper in the wooden box, Meng Anzhi couldn't feel happy.
Jin Shanyao didn't take it seriously at all. White Head Mountain was her treasury. If she didn't have enough money, she could just go in and take a look. She closed the wooden box and put it back in the cabinet.
"Money isn't something you should be thinking about. What you should be thinking about now is what medicinal herbs we should plant on our mountain."
Upon hearing this, Meng Anzhi's face lit up with joy. She tugged at Jin Shanyao's arm and said, "Auntie, when shall we go and see that mountain?" But then, remembering that the magistrate had said it was a barren mountain, the corners of her lips that had just curled up fell back down.
Worried that their money would go down the drain, she asked, "Auntie, are we really going to grow medicinal herbs?"
"Of course, we'll not only grow it ourselves, but also harvest it... We want to become the largest medicinal herb merchant in the Sheng Dynasty," Jin Shanyao, changing the subject, "Now the most important thing is..."
Meng Anzhi, pulling on Jin Shanyao her arm, said happily, "Let's go see the mountain!"
"Yes, let's call the whole family and go see the mountains together."
Having received approval, Meng Anzhi happily ran out to call for help. Soon after, she heard Qing He's exclamation and Qing Yang's laughter. Lu Chi was lying injured on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Hearing the cheerful laughter outside, his stomachache disappeared, his arms regained their strength, and he stopped pretending to be sick. He quickly sat up from the kang (a heated brick bed), slipped on his shoes, and went outside.
What are you talking about, so happy?
Qing He rolled her eyes at his lively antics, "Oh, not lying in the house being lazy anymore?"
Lu Chi straightened his sleeves, adopting an air of aloofness, and said slowly, "How is that slacking off? I was recuperating from my injuries."
Qing He was about to speak when Qing Yang stopped her, saying with a smile, "Master bought a mountain and wants to take us to see it. Why don't you go inside and recover from your injuries?"
Lu Chi choked, then said stiffly, "Master, the medicine is good. My wound is almost healed. I want to go see the mountain too."
Staying cooped up in the house all day is so boring. Besides, Jin Shanyao of a girl; he had to go and see for himself.
While they were talking, Qing Yang had already harnessed the oxcart and laid a mat on it.
Jin Shanyao came out of the house and saw everyone standing by the oxcart, smiling and waiting for her. Meng Anzhi secretly pointed to the study, Jin Shanyao understood.
He strode into the study, picked up Meng Anci, and placed her in the car. Meng Anci held the book in her hand, her eyes blank, looking around in bewilderment, not knowing what was happening.
His absent-minded expression made everyone burst into laughter. The oxcart swayed and wobbled out of the yard and headed towards the barren mountain. Jin Shanyao exceptionally good at discerning directions.
Just by reading the description, one can know the location of the mountain. The oxcart stopped at the foot of the mountain after traveling for half an hour.
The six people stood in a row, while the cats and dogs behind them stared blankly. They knew that the barren mountain was poor, but they did not expect it to be this poor. The trees grew sparsely and the ground was covered with pits and bumps.
Undeterred, Dahuang and Xiaoli dashed off into the depths of the mountains, hoping to see if things were any different inside.
Meng Anci's book fell to the ground with a thud. "Auntie, this mountain... you bought it???"
Jin Shanyao said with considerable pride, "Yes, I bought it. From now on, I will be the mountain god of this mountain." Hehe... Although it wasn't appointed by the Heavenly Court, I'm still very happy.
As a tree, who wouldn't want to own a mountain?
Hearing her say that, everyone's lips twitched involuntarily...
As long as my aunt is happy.
As long as the master is happy.
"Let's go, let's go into the mountains and take a look," Jin Shanyao his hand and charged into the mountains like a wild horse, his Spiritual Power covering the entire mountain at the same time.
The vegetation on the mountain seemed to sense the call of their ancestors. It paused for a moment, then rustled softly. "Eighty years have passed, ancestors. Do you know how we've spent these past eighty years?"
They live a life of barely hanging on, living day to day, sometimes hungry, sometimes full.
Now that their ancestors have arrived, they are no longer afraid of running out of water, soil erosion, deforestation by humans, insufficient Spiritual Power in the soil, or their descendants having no way to survive.
They stood up straight... These were their ancestors in the plant kingdom. They were no longer afraid of being bullied by animals. The plants on the mountain wept with joy.
The smile on Jin Shanyao's face gradually faded the moment the Spiritual Power enveloped her.
She could feel the withered roots struggling to burrow into the cracked soil, just to get a sip of water.
As my fingertips brushed against the remaining leaves, I felt that faint life slipping away.
There was no wind on the mountain, yet one could hear the soft rustling of leaves, as if they were complaining, pleading, or welcoming her arrival. Jin Shanyao a tightness in her chest.
Because she wasn't a good tree, she bought the mountain to nourish them with Spiritual Power, and then took their lives to make money. She didn't know what to do about the expectations and calls of the plants.
Meng Anci thought she had regretted it and comforted her, "Auntie, don't be sad, this mountain..." After a long pause, she finally said, "It's quite big."
Meng Anzhi quickly chimed in, "It looks barren, but if we plant more drought-resistant medicinal herbs, it will surely thrive again."
The two little ones awkwardly tried to comfort her, their eyes filled with worry.
Jin Shanyao a deep breath, recalling a line from a book. "Do not speak of the matter of being enfeoffed as a marquis, for the success of one general is built upon the bones of ten thousand."
Just as a ruler, no matter how much he loves his people, will still conscript soldiers and levy taxes to maintain the survival and prosperity of the entire country, rather than the comfort of each individual.
A kind heart cannot command an army, and righteousness cannot manage finances; don't blame her for being ruthless.
With Jin Shanyao, he pressed one hand to the ground, channeling his Spiritual Power into every plant. "I will turn this place into a medicinal mountain. Those who wish to stay will be nourished by my Spiritual Qi. You must stabilize the soil and protect my medicinal fields."
For those who are unwilling, I can find you a new home; I will never force you.
The sounds from all directions reached Jin Shanyao's ears. Only a few old tree trunks wanted to retire to White Head Mountain. Jin Shanyao agreed to transplant them safely before the mountain was opened.
With the problem solved, Jin Shanyao's mood returned to normal, and she hummed a little tune as she continued walking up the mountain.
Lu Chi was knowledgeable and experienced. When he saw the desolate mountain, he knew it was slowly dying. However, seeing Jin Shanyao his heart with joy, he did not reveal the truth.
Qing He and Qing Yang remained silent.
Afraid that Jin Shanyao be upset, Meng Anci took her hand and looked up, saying, "Auntie, let's give the barren mountain a name, shall we?"
Meng Anzhi: "Yes, let's give it a name that symbolizes prosperity and flourishing."
Jin Shanyao thought for a moment, "Big Tree Mountain?"
Ugh... Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci both showed disgust at the same time. Jin Shanyao tried hard to think, "Leaf Mountain?"
Um... let's say we can avoid using the word "tree".
Meng Anci, "How is Lush Mountain? Its vegetation is lush and rich in species."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Jin Shanyao inwardly. How could a bunch of 'people' who didn't appreciate her talent know what Shu was thinking? Oh well, they were all her subordinates anyway, so she would just spoil them.
Jin Shanyao her hands behind her back and gave a nonchalant "hmm," saying, "Then let's call it Lush Mountain."
As soon as he finished speaking, a surge of Spiritual Power of Lush Mountain, poured down from the sky, showering countless points of light upon every plant. From that moment on, this mountain would no longer be a barren wasteland.
Dahuang and Xiaoli proudly surveyed their territory, leaving no inch untouched. Even the small animals on the mountain were given a collective reprimand, and humans were forbidden from going up the mountain to damage the vegetation. Anyone found doing so would be killed.
Dahuang and Xiaoli thought that since their master had chosen this mountain, they should guard it well and take in more stray cats and dogs to watch over the mountain in the future.