Chapter 102

Qing Mengzhu rolled up her sleeves and was about to climb the tree.

Ming Chunxi: "It's too high, a bit dangerous, let me do it."

Qing Mengzhu: "It's alright, I'm used to climbing trees like this, it's safer than you climbing trees."

Qing Mengzhu, carrying a bamboo pole, nimbly climbed to the top of the tree, about five or six meters above the ground, and then used the pole to tap the branches of the jujube tree. "You can just pick them up from the ground."

Zhao Hexi: "Okay, be careful!"

Qing Mengzhu leaned against a tree branch, holding the trunk with one hand and using a bamboo pole to knock down jujubes with the other.

The ripe jujube branches fell to the ground like raindrops, making a "tap-tap" sound.

Zhao Hexi and the four little ones were very excited, picking up the jujube branches as they fell.

Although this Japanese raisin tree is wild, the fruit it produces is large and sweet. After removing the round seed at the top, one bite reveals a very sweet taste and juicy flesh.

This wasn't the first time Zhao Hexi had eaten Japanese raisin tree jujubes, but it was the first time she had tasted jujubes she had picked herself. "So sweet!"

Qing Mengzhu picked the branch closest to her from the tree and tossed it to Ming Chunxi, who was standing guard below. "Right? Let's take a few more back to make jujube cakes."

Zhao Hexi: "I think it's a good idea. It should taste delicious made into a cake. Why doesn't anyone go up the mountain to pick jujubes?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, there are some, you just don't know it. They sell them in town, but this jujube tree probably hasn't been picked. This place is too close to the deep mountains; people usually pick jujubes near the village."

Zhao Hexi: "I understand, that's why the jujubes here are so plentiful and so sweet."

Qing Mengzhu knocked on the jujubes for a while, and they filled most of their baskets.

The remaining jujubes were a bit far from Qing Mengzhu, and he couldn't quite reach them, so he said, "Let's just pick this much? Half for us, and half for the wild birds."

Ming Chunxi: "Okay, be careful when you come down."

Qing Mengzhu: "I know, you stand a little further away, I'll throw the bamboo pole down first."

After throwing away the bamboo pole, Qing Mengzhu carefully slid down the tree while clinging to it.

Ming Chunxi stood under the tree waiting for him, and only felt relieved after reaching out to help him up.

Qing Mengzhu, Zhao Ming, and Chun Xi smiled and said, "How is it? The jujubes are delicious, aren't they?"

Ming Chunxi: "It's especially sweet, and it has a very rustic flavor."

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, that's the word. When we were little, we ate jujubes with the seeds in them, and then spat them out with a 'poof' sound after they were in our mouths."

Ming Chunxi: "That sounds pretty cheeky, will I get beaten up?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Where did you vomit? If you vomited in the yard, it would definitely..."

Zhao Hexi could hardly contain himself any longer. He slung his basket over his shoulder and said, "I see chestnuts on the map you marked. I'll take the Dharma Protector to pick them first!"

Qing Mengzhu: "Slow down, be careful not to get pricked by a chestnut!"

Zhao Hexi: "Understood! Dharma Protector, Guard, let's run!"

The two dogs immediately took off running, and the red fox and the otter followed suit.

What surprised Qing Mengzhu the most was the otter. The otter didn't seem like an aquatic animal at all. It ran very fast in the mountains, whimpering all the way, its eyes sparkling, looking extremely happy.

Qing Mengzhu couldn't help but wonder if she hadn't taken them out to play enough often, otherwise how could they have had so much fun?

Zhao Hexi has been busy with farming in the village lately, and his physical strength has returned.

However, this physical strength depends on who you're comparing yourself to.

Compared to the little ones, his physical strength was still lacking.

They were climbing a mountain, walking uphill.

After running for a while, Zhao Hexi couldn't keep up and started panting heavily, his tongue lolling out from exhaustion, and his speed naturally slowed down.

The Dharma Protector noticed that he had stopped running, glanced at him sideways, then suddenly ran up behind him and nudged his rear with his head. "Woof woof!"

Zhao Hexi: "Aww!"

Dharma Protector: "Woof?"

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi were walking behind, heard his scream and asked, "What happened?"

Zhao Hexi didn't want to tell Qing Mengzhu that the Dharma Protector was poking his butt, as that would get the Dharma Protector scolded, so he simply said, "It's nothing, just playing around."

As she spoke, Zhao Hexi lowered her voice and said to the Dharma Protector, "Dharma Protector, please be gentle, I'm going to fall."

The Dharma Protector opened its big eyes and barked, "Woof woof!"

The Guard couldn't resist either, excitedly nudging him and its paws seemed to be tap-dancing on the ground. "Woof woof!"

Zhao Hexi: "Hey, slow down! I'll walk slowly!"

Guard: "Woof!"

After running for a while, Zhao Hexi shouted again, "Awooo!"

Qing Mengzhu held Ming Chunxi's hand. "What's wrong now?"

Zhao Hexi: "I stepped on a chestnut! I saw the chestnut tree you mentioned! Aren't chestnut trees and regular chestnut trees the same thing?"

Qing Mengzhu: "They're different. A hairy chestnut only has one kernel inside, while a chestnut has several. Also, hairy chestnuts are much smaller than chestnuts, have a harder texture, and a stronger nutty flavor."

While Qing Mengzhu was talking to Zhao Hexi, she had already pulled Ming Chunxi to the chestnut tree.

This chestnut tree is an old tree from many years ago. Because there are fewer people in the countryside now, almost no one comes to pick them up, so chestnuts are scattered all over the ground, and many chestnuts have even fallen out.

Of course, many of these chestnuts were eaten by wild birds, and some were also eaten by insects. Basically, most of them were eaten by wild animals, and a small portion by humans.

Qing Mengzhu: "Be careful when you pick them up, don't get pricked in the hands or feet. All you Dharma Protector, be careful too."

It was too late to say that; the Dharma Protector couldn't stop in time, and his muzzle slammed directly into the chestnut's shell. "Woof woof!"

Zhao Hexi was startled and rushed over to check.

The Dharma Protector was alright now, and excitedly cracked open the chestnuts with his teeth to take them out.

Its movements are quite similar to how it used to crack snails.

Zhao Hexi couldn't help but say, "Dharma Protector, your mouth is too clever."

The Dharma Protector could sense that the words were a compliment, and excitedly barked twice more. "Woof woof!"

Qing Mengzhu followed them picking for a while, then couldn't resist taking out a bamboo pole again. "You guys stay away, I'm going to knock some more down."

Chestnut trees are not as tall as jujube trees, so you can knock some chestnuts down by standing on the ground, but it's quite tiring to hold a bamboo pole by hand.

Ming Chunxi took the bamboo pole from Qing Mengzhu's hand from behind. "I'll do it."

Qing Mengzhu stepped aside and taught him the technique of cracking chestnuts. "Stand to the side and crack them, don't stand directly below, or they'll hit you on the head."

It was too late for that; a quiver of gossamer fell and hit Ming Chunxi on the head.

Fortunately, he didn't knock the chestnut down; it just fell naturally when the tree trunk swayed, so it didn't hurt much if it hit his head.

Ming Chunxi's face froze for a moment.

Seeing his expression, Qing Mengzhu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Keep your head down when you knock!"

Hearing the noise, Zhao Hexi couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The little guy came over to watch the fun, especially the two dogs, who ran over barking and looked so happy!

Author's Note:

There will be a giveaway of 88 small red envelopes in this chapter, and another update at 10 PM tonight!

Chapter 102

Ming Chunxi quickly knocked off most of the chestnuts.

After we finished knocking them down, everyone picked them up together, removing the spiky outer shell as they went.

Zhao Hexi wasn't particular; after picking up a chestnut, he put it between his teeth, cracked the shell, and ate the meat inside.

Qing Mengzhu looked up at him. "How does it taste?"

Zhao Hexi: "Delicious! It's a bit dry and hard, but very fragrant. I didn't expect that despite its small size, it would be so meaty."

Qing Mengzhu: "Otherwise, how could I say it's delicious?"

Zhao Hexi: "Let's pick up more."

The hairy chestnuts are much smaller than chestnuts, and picking them up is quite a hassle.

The three people squatted down and slowly separated the chestnuts from their shells.