Corroboration

Upon hearing this, the chubby birds became happy and no longer refused. Instead, they flew back with the things Jian Mo had given them.

In the evening, as soon as Wu Jiong returned, Jian Mo specifically pulled him aside and told him about what he suspected was the discovery of chili seeds.

After Wu Jiong finished asking about the whole story, he said, "Now, shall we plant these five seeds?"

Jian Mo: "Yes, it's easier to tell if they're chili seeds once they're grown. It's a pity these seeds were found in a bird's stomach; I don't know if they'll survive."

Wu Jiong: "Let's try germinating three seeds first. If that doesn't work, we can try germinating the remaining two next spring and summer when the weather is warmer."

Jian Mo: "That's what I was thinking. I'll bring over a small ceramic pot."

These seeds are too precious for Jian Mo to bear planting outside, for fear they might be eaten by birds or insects.

So he personally took a small earthenware pot and dug up the most fertile soil outside. He moistened it with water, then buried three chili seeds in the pot in a triangular shape, covered them with a thin layer of soil, and placed it on the windowsill.

In his memory, chili seeds germinate more slowly than grains.

I hope these three seeds will sprout, and I also hope they really are chili pepper seeds.

After planting the seeds, Jian Mo said to Wu Jiong, "It seems the people of the Cypress Branch Tribe and the Rain Rising Tribe have gotten along better."

Wu Jiong: "What do you mean by that?"

Jian Mo said, "I feel that the people of the Cypress Branch Tribe admire the people of the Rain Rising Tribe at times, and the people of the Rain Rising Tribe seem to be quite close to the people of the Cypress Branch Tribe, and they will let us know if they need anything."

Wu Jiong wasn't surprised. "The people of the Rain Rising Tribe are indeed quite meticulous and manage their tribe very well. The people of the Cypress Branch Tribe are very loyal, have good personalities, and are also very energetic."

After a pause, Wu Jiong said, "They interact frequently, so they might gradually discover each other's strengths."

Jian Mo: "That makes sense. When do you think the chieftains of those two tribes will get together?"

Wu Jiong thought for a moment, "It probably won't be too fast."

Jian Mo looked at Wu Jiong: "I think it will be faster than expected. Want to make a bet?"

Wu Jiong held his hand. "No, I believe you."

Jian Mo jumped onto Wu Jiong's back. "Why aren't you persevering at all?!"

After planting the seeds, Jian Mo checked on them three times a day, hoping they would sprout soon.

Seeing that the soil remained still, he even tried digging up the seeds to observe them closely.

Jian Mo muttered to Wu Jiong, "Could it be that these seeds have really been inside the bird's belly for too long and have been corroded, making them unable to germinate?"

Wu Jiong: "That's unlikely. I feel like all three seeds are still alive."

Jian Mo: "You can feel that? I don't feel anything at all. I should have overcome my fear and tried this seed back then."

Wu Jiong reached out and ruffled his hair. "Even if you overcome your psychological barrier, you might not be able to taste the difference. Don't think about it."

Qing Kuo and the others knew that Jian Mo's family had planted three very important seeds, so they all came to see what was going on.

Qing Kuo looked at the damp soil. "Is it because it hasn't been exposed to the sun? I remember some seeds need sunlight to grow, right?"

Jian Mo: "Now that you mention it, it might be possible. I'll move to the yard."

As she spoke, Jian Mo moved the ceramic pot to the sunniest spot.

Seeing his cautious demeanor, Qing Kuo didn't quite understand. "Are chili peppers really that good? You've been thinking about them for so long."

Jian Mo: "Really, once you find it, you'll understand after you try it. Chili peppers are a very important condiment; once you get used to them, it's hard to live without them."

Jian Mo sighed, "I'm just used to it. I really can't get used to it without chili peppers."

Whether it's ginger, garlic powder, or pepper powder, Jian Mo uses them to replace chili peppers in an attempt to get a bit of spiciness, but the results aren't very good.

No matter how good these seasonings taste, they don't taste like chili.

Jian Mo sighed. The longer he went without chili peppers, the more he missed them; he was craving them terribly now.

Chapter 148 Evidence

With Jian Mo checking on it three times a day in eager anticipation, one of the three seeds he planted finally sprouted.

The little bud was first a fragile, tender green, then turned bluish-green, and the leaves became oval, thin, and trembling in the wind.

Wu Jiong asked, "Are these chili seedlings?"

Jian Mo hesitated. "I'm not sure. The chili seedlings I've seen before seem to have longer leaves."

Wu Jiong: "Then we'll have to wait until they're a bit bigger."

Jian Mo: "Yes, let's wait until it's a bit bigger. I'll definitely be able to recognize it when it blossoms and bears fruit."

At this point, Jian Mo was a little worried. "I don't know if the chili peppers will still grow when it gets colder. Maybe we should move them outside to bask in the sun during the day and bring them back inside to keep warm at night?"

Wu Jiong didn't mind; it was just moving a ceramic pot. "Go ahead and move it."

Jian Mo looked at the seedling and sighed, "What a pity. If only I were an agriculture student, I would definitely recognize it."

Wu Jiong: "If you study agriculture, you won't be able to relieve people's pain."

Jian Mo: "It's too difficult."

Not only the Riverside Tribe, but also people from several nearby tribes heard about the chili seedlings and came to join in the fun.

Aside from Jian Mo, no one else had ever tasted chili peppers. However, Jian Mo's abilities were undeniable, and he strongly advocated for this condiment, which piqued everyone's curiosity.

Upon seeing the thin, weak branches, everyone couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

These seedlings are so small, I don't know when they'll produce chili peppers.

On this day, an orc from the Meng'an Tribe and his companions came to the Riverside Tribe seeking medical help.

The orc named Shui Mian had a large lump on his back. "It doesn't really hurt. When I transform into human or beast form, I feel a slight pulling sensation, and it's a bit uncomfortable to sleep with it pressing on my back, but that's about it."

Jian Mo gently touched the fist-sized tumor on his back, wondering if it was a benign cyst. "How many years has it been since it appeared?"