Chapter 103

Qing Mengzhu took out her phone and scanned the tea tree. "Good Grade, Good Grade, Good Grade-, Good Grade, Good Grade-, Good Grade..."

Ming Chunxi glanced at Zhao Hexi, who was climbing the mountain with both hands and feet, and listened to Qing Mengzhu's mutterings. Her eyes crinkled into a smile.

Qing Mengzhu searched the entire area of wild tea trees and finally found two "Good Grade+" wild tea trees.

The quality of the wild tea tree was already quite good. Qing Mengzhu selected two relatively thick and sturdy branches, cut them in half, removed most of the leaves and side branches, and then carefully wrapped them in her coat before putting them in her basket.

Ming Chunxi took off her coat and gave it to him. "Aren't you cold?"

Qing Mengzhu: "I got hot from climbing the mountain, it's alright."

Ming Chunxi still handed him the coat. "It'll get cold when we get to a shady spot."

The two went back up the hillside and met up with Zhao Hexi.

Zhao Hexi was just wondering why they had taken so long to go to the bathroom when she noticed that Qing Mengzhu had taken off her coat, and Ming Chunxi's coat was now perfectly fitting on Qing Mengzhu. She rolled her eyes and chuckled twice.

They were going mushroom picking in the afternoon, and on the way they encountered wild kiwis and wild blueberries, which they picked without hesitation.

Because they couldn't fill all the baskets they carried, they had to pick the branches along with the fruit and put them on top of the baskets.

Seeing this, the Dharma Protector ran over and grinned at Qing Mengzhu, "Woof woof!"

Qing Mengzhu saw its tail wagging rapidly and its face full of excitement, and for a moment she didn't understand. "What's wrong?"

The Dharma Protector, clutching the wild kiwi branch from Qing Mengzhu's hand, tried to put it on his back. "Woof woof!"

Ming Chunxi roughly understood. "It wants to memorize it too."

Qing Mengzhu squatted down, smiling, and asked, "Is that what you mean?"

Dharma Protector: "Woof woof!"

The Guard also crowded around, seemingly wanting to share the burden.

Qing Mengzhu looked at the two enthusiastic dogs and chuckled as she tied vines to their backs, making them carry wild kiwis as well.

The red fox and the otter saw this and ran over as well, looking up at Qing Mengzhu with longing in their eyes.

Qing Mengzhu was surprised that they were vying to do the work, so she fulfilled the two little guys' requests as well.

So each little guy carried something on its back, stood tall and proud, and walked up the mountain.

They looked very proud of themselves for being able to help.

These four little guys truly have an exceptionally strong sense of self-esteem.

Chapter 103

Qing Mengzhu and the others drove down the mountain towards home.

It was evening, and many villagers were walking home after finishing their work. They would walk along the roadside and often turn their heads to look when they saw them driving back.

While driving, Qing Mengzhu couldn't help but say, "Dharma Protector, stop looking outside. What's there to see?"

The little ones were all pressed against the car windows, looking out, with things on their backs, giving off the feeling of showing off after a wild adventure.

He had no idea that he and Ming Chunxi, who were so low-key, had raised such a show-offy little guy.

Zhao Hexi hugged a dog in each arm. "The scenery outside is so beautiful, why don't you look out?"

Dharma Protector: "Woof!"

Qing Mengzhu helplessly, "You two should stop singing in unison."

After finally getting the car to stop in front of the house, the two dogs got out and barked, "Woof woof!"

Zhao Hexi untied the vines from their backs and took the items down.

The two dogs stood there for a moment, and when they saw that the people didn't call them, they ran outside, seemingly to find other friendly dogs in the village to play with.

Watching them walk away, Qing Mengzhu said to Ming Chunxi, "It seems we need to find time to take them to be spayed/neutered."

Ming Chunxi: "I'll make an appointment with the doctor first, next week is fine. The cold weather is good for wound healing."

Qing Mengzhu nodded. "Then let's check next week to see if it can be done."

The red fox and the otter didn't like going to the village, so they ran out into the yard after getting off the bus.

Qing Mengzhu also took the things off their backs, stroked them, and praised them for being well-behaved.

The two little ones didn't like to stay in the human's yard for long and quickly went back to their nest.

Zhao Hexi sorted through the mushrooms, wild fruits, and tea leaves she had gathered that day, she asked, "Should we roast the tea leaves first?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, stir-fry the tea leaves first, then the chestnuts. Wait a moment, I'll soak the two tea tree branches."

Soak the two tea tree branches in rooting powder tonight, and they can be planted in flowerpots to grow seedlings tomorrow.

After soaking in rooting powder, they are more likely to take root, and the survival rate will also increase.

It's a pity that we've used up almost all of the Luring Grass at home; otherwise, soaking them directly in Luring Grass juice would have been the best solution.

The three of them worked together and quickly finished the chores.

Zhao Hexi was really looking forward to tasting chestnuts. "What flavor should we stir-fry them in? Can we add spices?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Of course, let's make a five-spice version, it tastes better."

I don't know if it's because I drank too much white fungus and lotus seed soup and fresh bamboo juice, but they basically don't get heaty.

Since it doesn't cause internal heat, you can add more spices when roasting chestnuts; that will make them taste better.

Qing Mengzhu had roasted melon seeds before, and the same approach she used to roast chestnuts was to turn the heat down, add spices and salt, and roast the chestnuts slowly until they were fragrant and cooked through.

Just roast them until fragrant. Since chestnuts are nuts, it's okay if they're not fully roasted.

Qing Mengzhu had a perfect grasp of the heat; when she served it, the chestnuts were just right—roasted to a fragrant brown without being burnt.

Zhao Hexi smelled the aroma and couldn't resist grabbing a handful, then burned herself so badly she had to switch from left to right and then from right to left.

Nevertheless, he didn't put it down. Instead, he popped one into his mouth, cracked it open, tasted the fragrant kernel inside, and breathed out a happy sigh.

Qing Mengzhu looked at him speechlessly, his face burning like a monkey. "It won't be hot if you eat it after dinner."

Zhao Hexi: "Let me try some first, it smells so good! Chestnuts taste great, why is no one selling them or growing them outside?"

Qing Mengzhu: "There are people selling them, but not many. Growing these isn't worthwhile. The chestnuts are too small, and it takes a lot of work to get a pound. Selling them cheaply isn't profitable, and selling them expensively means nobody wants them."

Zhao Hexi, panting heavily, said, "I've realized now that truly good things don't necessarily end up on the market; only the most profitable items do."

Qing Mengzhu: "From that perspective, it's not wrong. Wait until the chestnuts cool down a bit, then send some to the entrance of the Little Fox and the Little Otter's den—the ones without any seasoning."

Zhao Hexi: "No problem, I'll go right now."

Both red foxes and otters are omnivores. After the incident where they ate snails, Qing Mengzhu has confirmed that they are capable of eating some small nuts. So, once the chestnuts are roasted, she will definitely send some to them to try.

After all, the two little ones also put in the work, and as humans, they can't eat alone.

After a busy day outside, Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi specially prepared several meat dishes, as it's good to eat meat to replenish the body in this kind of weather.

The two dogs went outside for a walk and chased the geese back from the pond. Now they stood happily in front of their food bowls, slurping their food.

Qing Mengzhu and the others were eating at a table further away.

Both sides are located in the same hospital and do not interfere with each other.

During the meal, Zhao Hexi's phone started ringing repeatedly, clearly receiving WeChat messages.

Zhao Hexi silenced his phone, slammed it on the table, and then ignored it.

Qing Mengzhu curiously, "Who's looking for you?"

Zhao Hexi: "Let's deal with it after we finish eating. Anyway, they'll definitely call if it's an emergency."

Qing Mengzhu: "Someone from the company?"

Zhao Hexi: "I think so. I just opened the office WeChat."

Qing Mengzhu quickly used serving chopsticks to put chicken wings on his plate. "Thank you for your hard work."

Ming Chunxi then used serving chopsticks to put a piece of beef on his plate. "Thank you for your hard work."