Chapter 33

Tan Wenlei nodded. "It must have been really difficult for you to grow these chilies; you've been working on such meticulous details."

Di Caiyong chimed in, "The key is having the ability to do it so meticulously; otherwise, no amount of effort would be of any use."

Tan Wenlei: "That's true. There were two years when the price of chili peppers was particularly high, and everyone followed suit. But then leaf spot disease and wilt disease came, and the chili peppers died off in village after village. Many families worked hard for half a year, and even lost money on fertilizer and pesticides."

Farming is extremely risky; if the market, weather, pests, or diseases all collapse, the entire crop can easily be lost.

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, I was just lucky."

Tan Wenlei said frankly, "It's not just good luck you're getting; you're willing to learn and work hard, and you also have talent. With all that combined, it's hard for you not to have good luck."

Hearing him say this, Qing Mengzhu knew that although he wanted to make money, he wasn't jealous of her. So she smiled and relaxed, "This is the first year. Actually, I didn't know what the result would be before I planted it, so it really depended on luck. Of course, it also depended on the help of my friends."

Tan Wenlei: "You mean that teacher from the Agricultural University?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, he's one of my benefactors too. Speaking of which, their chili peppers will be promoted next year. Uncle Wenlei, if you want to grow them, remember to sign up."

Tan Wenlei had come to gather information, and upon hearing this, he happily replied, "Okay, I'll write it down."

As they chatted, they circled back to the same topic.

Tan Wenlei asked, "Is the seller who bought the dried chili peppers also a restaurant owner?"

Di Caiyong shook his head. "It doesn't seem so. That company probably runs a trading company. I heard they launched several kinds of fried mushrooms this year, and the chili peppers are used to accompany them."

Tan Wenlei gasped, "You're buying such expensive chili peppers to go with fried mushrooms?"

Di Caiyong: "They sell them for a high price; a small bottle costs several hundred yuan."

Tan Wenlei: "Is it delicious?"

Di Caiyong: "It's definitely delicious. Rich people aren't stupid. I've had it once before; it's rich and fragrant, a world of difference compared to regular fried mushrooms. Now that I've bought Mengzhu's chili peppers, it should taste even better."

Qing Mengzhu, listening from the side, said, "What you're saying makes my mouth water."

Di Caiyong: "It's true, their fried mushrooms are incredibly fragrant. They say they specially source wild mushrooms from Southern Yunnan, frying them before the aroma dissipates and then immediately packaging them. The flavor is like it's been compressed into a bottle."

Tan Wenlei and Qing Mengzhu listened intently to his vivid description, their mouths practically watering.

Di Caiyong: "... So now you know why he wanted to buy your chili peppers, right? That brand advertises that everything is made with the best ingredients: the best mushrooms, the best oil, the best garlic, and the best dried chili peppers."

When Tan Wenlei heard him rattle off five "best" mushrooms in one breath, he couldn't help but say, "We also have wild mushrooms here. I even picked some of those best termite mushrooms you mentioned two years ago."

Di Caiyong: "Then why haven't you continued picking mushrooms in the past two years? It's July now, it's time to pick mushrooms."

Tan Wenlei bluntly replied, "I don't have time. I have so much land to cultivate. Even without picking mushrooms, I can still earn several hundred yuan a day."

Tan Wenlei wasn't interested in picking mushrooms, Qing Mengzhu was hooked.

He used to go up the mountain to collect herbs every day, but he got busy later and stopped.

Speaking of which, this period is truly the best time for mushroom picking. The famous termite mushroom is most abundant at this time, and broom mushrooms and morel mushrooms also come out.

Or should he go up the mountain and pick some too?

He hadn't visited the mushroom burrow he'd discovered before for a while; if he went back now, he'd most likely find some good stuff.

Author's Note:

See you tomorrow!

Chapter 33

Qing Mengzhu originally planned to go up the mountain to pick mushrooms by herself.

The night before, he chatted with Zhao Hexi and casually mentioned that he needed to eat and go to bed early so he could go mushroom picking in the mountains the next day.

Zhao Hexi slapped his thigh on the spot. "Going hunting in the mountains?!"

Qing Mengzhu rubbed her forehead. "Climbing mountains is tiring. Going up and down, my knees might be shaking when I get back."

Zhao Hexi: "Aren't you underestimating me? Or is it that Ming Chunxi is with you, making it inconvenient for me to go over?"

Hearing this, Qing Mengzhu couldn't help but say, "If you're so capable, try saying that in front of Ming Chunxi next time."

Zhao Hexi chuckled twice, "I'm not capable, so I'll just chirp behind his back."

Qing Mengzhu: "Stop cricket fighting. If you want to come, come tonight. We'll get up early tomorrow morning to collect crickets when it's not so hot."

Zhao Hexi: "Alright, wait for me for an hour, I'll drive over now!"

After hanging up the phone, Qing Mengzhu went to tidy up another guest room that wasn't used often.

His house is an old house with five rooms, but apart from two commonly used rooms, the other three rooms are used as storage rooms and are filled with miscellaneous items.

Now that one room has been reserved for Ming Chunxi, Qing Mengzhu had to clean out another room, which wasn't as well-oriented or large, to serve as a guest room.

Zhao Hexi drove directly from Vine City and didn't mind the room Qing Mengzhu had prepared for him.

As soon as they met, he rubbed his hands together, eager to get started. "Is it possible to pick mushrooms this season? It hasn't rained for several days, has it? I heard that you can only pick them after it rains."

Qing Mengzhu: "That's not true. There's a lot of dew and morning mist in the morning, so the mountain won't be very dry."

Zhao Hexi: "Are there many mushrooms? What if we searched in the mountains all day and still didn't find many?"

Qing Mengzhu glanced at him sideways. "Why didn't you ask these questions before you came?"

Zhao Hexi laughed, "Even without mushrooms, it's still nice to have a drink with you."

Qing Mengzhu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I know the mushrooms in the mountains very well. Tomorrow we'll drive deep into the mountains, I promise you won't be disappointed."

Pingkou Village has many mountains, but there used to be many villages nestled in those mountains. Those villages were the real mountain villages, surrounded by one mountain after another.

This is the kind of village they're going to.

Qing Mengzhu explained to Zhao Hexi, "There isn't much farm work these days, so people go up the mountain to pick mushrooms when they have free time. Therefore, there aren't usually many mushrooms on the mountains near the village."

Zhao Hexi looked out the car window. "What about this side? Don't the people here go up the mountain to pick mushrooms?"

Qing Mengzhu: "The villages here are basically abandoned. Even if there are one or two households, they are mostly elderly people left behind and generally don't go up the mountain."

Zhao Hexi understood. "So there are a lot of mushrooms in the mountains, right?"

Qing Mengzhu: "That's exactly what I mean. We need to cross two more mountains and drive the car halfway up."

Zhao Hexi had no objections. "Okay, you have the experience, you decide."

Qing Mengzhu drove for a while, parked the car in an open area where it was easy to turn around, then carried one basket on his back and handed the other basket to Zhao Hexi so that he could carry it.

As Qing Mengzhu carried the basket, two dogs jumped off the vehicle and excitedly ran around it twice, barking, "Woof woof!"

Zhao Hexi was as excited as a dog. "The air here is so fresh!"

Qing Mengzhu took a few bottles of mineral water, put them in her backpack, and also packed some snacks and a few empty bags. She smiled and said, "Let's go."

Qing Mengzhu walked ahead, leading Zhao Hexi as they began to climb the mountain.

There are wind turbines on the mountaintop, their huge white blades turning slowly in the wind, creating a particularly refreshing scene against the backdrop of the green mountains and forests.

Zhao Hexi stood in an open area, looking at the wind turbines lined up on the mountaintop. The mountain looked like a giant whale, and the turbines looked like dorsal fins. He couldn't help but let out a long roar.

The shouts echoed through the mountains, but didn't even startle the birds.

Zhao Hexi: "Climbing mountains like this is so refreshing!"

Qing Mengzhu: "Let's go, let's take the shortcut."

There are few people in the mountains, and naturally, there are no roads.

Qing Mengzhu, wearing gloves and carrying a machete, led the way, occasionally turning back to help Zhao Hexi.