My 1995 Small Farm

   Chapter 246 Entering the mountains to collect herbs

   "Go up the mountain, dig medicine, I'll come, sing a few times..."

The melodious folk songs of    dispel the mist in the morning, and also frighten a large number of birds in the mountains and forests.

  The genius is bright, the mountains are bright and dark, the clouds and mists are like bands, and occasionally two long "Cuckoo, Cuckoo-" are called, making the mountains and forests more quiet.

  The sun has not yet risen, and the quiet mountains and forests are slightly dim. Only in the bright places, there is a blue background of a clear sky.

One old man and one young man walked slowly in the forest, breathing the cool air with dew moisture in the forest, listening to the chirping of birds in the mountains, Weng and son-in-law suddenly became interested, you and I sang folk songs .

   In front of the two, a tall and handsome tiger-headed yellow hound, covered in golden hair, with calm and calm eyes, trotted in front of them, stopping from time to time to sniff carefully, constantly exploring the surrounding situation.

  Behind the golden-haired retriever, there were three little things with tawny hair, running up and down between the grass and bushes. They were extremely fast, coming and going silently, and they could not even be seen if they were not paying attention.

   is also lively and unusual at times, and when he hears the sound of birds, he will climb up the trees to catch birds.

   This is naturally Xiao Jin and the three little weasels.

Heiwa didn't take it with him, it was left at home to watch the house. Today, both Weng and husband are not there, and the chickens, ducks and geese were not released, so they were all locked in the circle. Heiwa was guarded at home, Gao Xiulan remembered Just add water and feed.

   The little yellow dog was not brought with him. It is not suitable for following the mountains. The puppy bought by Wang Cunye was originally raised as a pet dog. It is enough to be able to watch the house and nurse the hospital, and there is no need to ask too much.

   As for the Harrier not following, it is because the injury has not healed, and the wings are still not sharp, so they need to be raised again.

   So in addition to Xiao Jin, he brought three little weasels with him.

   Don't look at these three little things, they are not good at beckoning cats and dogs all day long, but their skills are not weak, and they can be useful when they are brought here.

And Chen Ling and Wang Cunye Weng's son-in-law are also fully armed, their heads are wrapped in indigo blue cloth, they are wearing tattered clothes like sacks, thick and long hemp ropes are wrapped around their waists, and medicine hoes and sickles are placed on their backs. Bamboo basket, the two walked slowly through the forest, stepping on the fallen leaves in the forest.

  Chen Ling also had a sprayer on him.

   From their outfits, they knew that the place they were going today would definitely not be near.

   Indeed, there are no valuable medicinal herbs near the mountains, and you have to go deep through the mountains.

  Weng and his son-in-law mainly came to dig Dendrobium and Uncaria.

   When Wang Cunye went into the mountains to collect herbs by himself a few days ago, he accidentally discovered that there was Dendrobium growing on a cliff.

  Unfortunately, he is old now and his legs are not good, so he can't pick them on the spot.

   In addition, he had gone deep at that time. If he did not return in time, it would be dark in the mountains and he would not be able to go back. Therefore, he did not dare to be greedy and only left a mark.

   In addition, in the north mountain of Wuyun Mountain, there are many snakes and insects. In addition, the terrain is steep, the creeks are deep, and there are nine bends and eight bends. Therefore, there are few people and wild beasts. It is better to stay alone.

   However, in such a place, as long as you are more courageous and dare to go deeper, precious herbs are not uncommon.

   In addition to Dendrobium, the old man also took aim at Uncaria.

   In other words, Dendrobium is an unexpected joy, and Uncaria is the target of his previous trips to the mountains to collect herbs.

   He is a medicinal farmer, not a pharmacist. In order to cure and prescribe all kinds of herbs, they need to be picked. The first thing is to pick the valuable ones.

   In addition to very valuable and rare medicinal herbs, herbs that can sell for a good price and grow more are the best choice.

  Uncaria is very suitable.

   The northern mountain landform and climate of Wuyun Mountain are very suitable for the growth of Uncaria.

   In the steep, dark and wet ravines and canyons, green Uncaria vines often grow.

   As long as they find a pod, it is roughly enough for them to harvest for three or four days. After they go back and cut them to dry, they can sell for about 100 yuan.

   "Have you come to the mountains to collect medicine before?"

   After singing a few mountain songs, Wang Cunye walked in front and asked.

   "I've been here, and He Susu has been here a few times. We still don't collect many herbs here. It depends on the season."

Chen Ling thought for a while, since he was a child, he went to Xishan to hunt twice, and when he collected herbs, it was like a joke like catching scorpions, so he said, "It's like going into the mountains to hunt in such a formal way. Medicine, it's my first time."

   "Haha, you have fields here, so you don't have to rush to collect herbs."

  Wang Cunye laughed aloud, "We depend on the sky to eat herbs, and we also depend on our lives to eat. If you exchange your life for money, how can there be any kind of food to save your worries."

"That's true."

  Chen Ling replied, the herbalist is a family skill passed down from father to son, but neither the eldest brother nor the second brother likes to do it, but Wang Susu, the daughter, is interested.

   is because there are too many uncertainties in picking medicines, and if you want to pick valuable goods, you often need to take risks.

   "The first time was far better than your eldest brother and second brother. Now they all look down on our work, and think that the money is slow and we earn less."

  Wang Cunye walked ahead without looking back, and said to himself, "I think you are very interested. If you want to learn, I will teach you more in the future."

   Chen Ling was a little embarrassed to say this, thinking to himself, "I'm not interested, I just like to play."

Of course.

   In addition to playing, I also want to recognize herbal medicines, use the cave to save endangered rare medicinal materials, and do something meaningful.

   Weng-in-law and the two were chatting, while a dog and three weasels were running ahead to explore the way.

   Slowly, over two ridges, the sun rises, the mountains are bright, and the chirping of birds is even louder and sweeter.

   went down the ridge and followed a mountain stream.

   Walking to the low ground, after the stream turned in front, it suddenly became clear.

   In the sound of running water, there are dense bamboo bushes along the stream, and among the bamboo bushes there are patches of open space, all of which are short grasses that grow close to the ground, and there are many dandelions, gray vegetables, and wild garlic intertwined.

  The two found an open space and stopped for a while to eat.

   I came out early and haven’t had breakfast yet.

   Breakfast is very simple, steamed cakes and boiled eggs.

  Chen Ling also brought some fried fish pieces, wrapped them in newspapers and lotus leaves, and took them out to make his father-in-law stare.

   After muttering, he finally said, "You still know how to eat."

   I thought to myself, how can this son-in-law collect herbs like this.

   This temperament doesn't know who to follow, and it's like playing with anything.

   "Don't stand still, Daddy, eat fish."

"Oh."

  Wang Cunye took a piece of fish in a daze, and ate it with a steamed pancake.

   I have to say that this kid really has a hand. The fried fish is really delicious, and the fish bones are crispy and fragrant.

  The old man ate deliciously, while Chen Ling ate two small pieces and put them down, took out the eggs and beat them on the bamboo basket.

   The sound of knocking eggs sounded, Xiao Jin and the three little weasels in the distance immediately raised their ears, ran back in a hurry, and circled around Chen Ling, wagging their tails.

   Even the three little weasels stood up and couldn't wait to put their front legs on Chen Ling's pants with a greedy look on their faces.

   "I haven't eaten yet, I have to give it to you after I finish it."

  Chen Ling said helplessly, stuffing the egg into his mouth.

  Whether there are two dogs or these weasels at home, they all like to eat eggs, not only the eggs laid by the chickens raised at home, but also ordinary eggs.

   As long as you hear the sound of eggs beating while eating at home, you will run over immediately, faster than you usually call them.

  Wang Cunye looked at Xiaojin and the little weasels who were humming and begging for food, and said with a smile: "These are like little babies, look at how noisy they are in front of you."

  The old man didn't like seeing these things very much before, and he always felt that he was not doing his job properly.

   Not to mention feeding them with human food?

   But now that he is old, he is willing to have some of these gadgets at home, it is good to be lively and cheerful.

   "I'm more greedy than a little boy."

  Chen Ling smiled and continued to beat two eggs, peeled off the eggshells and fed one to Xiaojin, and the remaining one was divided and fed to the three little weasels.

   As a result, the little weasels disliked it and ate all the egg shells on the ground into their mouths, making them crunchy and delicious.

   "Dude, you're doing the same thing as I abused you."

  Chen Ling had no choice but to take out another egg and give it to them.

   In fact, they don't need to be fed by humans. The birds and eggs in the forest are enough for them to eat. In this season, there are all kinds of insects and mice in the fields, so they can't be hungry.

   But after raising him at home, even if he is not hungry, he likes to join in the fun and get close to him.

   "I've finished eating again? I won't give it another feed."

  Chen Ling took out two eggs, gave one to Xiaojin, and divided the three little things to eat.

  Wang Cunye watched with relish.

   It's not unreasonable that my son-in-law likes to play. If he can raise such a smart little thing, he also likes to play.

  …

   After breakfast, we continue our journey.

  There are all kinds of herbs everywhere on the road, but they are not very valuable and not worth picking.

   For example, forehead beard and trichosanthin.

  Front Hu: Also known as wild celery, it looks like celery and is mainly used for cough and asthma. It grows on the damp low slope, one by one, like celery, and the price is average.

  Tianpofen: It is a cucurbit vine plant. Its roots are medicinal materials, white, about 10 cm long, and the texture is not too hard. Some are like sweet potatoes. After harvesting, slice and dry. For clearing heat and promoting body fluid. The purchase price is normal.

   is also a medium value herb that can be sold for a price.

  Because there is still room for Dendrobium and Uncaria, and they cannot be picked on the spot, they are marked.

  For example, Aristolochia: It is the fruit of winding herbs, and it looks very cute, like a bell hanging from a horse's head. Qingfei cough medicine. Its vine is also a medicinal material, called Tianxian vine, which is used to dispel wind and activate blood, and its root is also a medicinal material, called Qingmuxiang, which is used for detoxification and diuresis.

   The purchase price of this thing is okay, but it needs to be marked.

   On the way, because Chen Ling fed the little weasel with eggs, this time Ken deliberately brought them.

   The three little guys were so excited that they often climbed onto his shoulders, licking and licking at him, and they were very ingratiating to him, just like the approved little boys, so happy they didn't know what to do.

  Chen Ling tried several times, but it was still useless.

   Just like now, he hasn't noticed how.

   There was a little guy on the short rock cliff beside the stream in front, biting down a red fruit, then jumping down, climbing on his shoulder, and handing it to his mouth like a gift.

"what's that?"

   "Is this a fig?"

Chen Ling took the fruit and looked at it carefully, only to recognize what this wild fruit was. Compared with those grown outside, the figs in the mountains were a little too small, and they were no more than the size of a thumb. .

   "Yo, wild figs, that's a good thing."

  Wang Cunye glanced at it and said in surprise.

  There are very few wild figs in the mountains, most of which are grown from seeds brought by birds and beasts.

  Chen Ling walked forward, and sure enough, he saw a clump of fig trees. If this thing is wild, it will grow into a large piece if it is not pruned.

   "It looked a lot cooked, so I went up and picked it up, otherwise it would be overcooked and rotten, and it would also be eaten by ants and bugs."

   After saying that, Chen Ling put down the bamboo basket, unloaded the shotgun, and came back with some red fruits.

   Weng and husband-in-law tasted it, and it tasted surprisingly good.

  After the fruit is broken, there is a layer of jelly-like congealed fat inside, which is sweet and fragrant like honey, much better than the figs grown outside the mountains.

There are a lot of wild fruits in the mountains, but in this season, if you say that the taste is better, there are only a few kinds, such as: water hyacinth wild jujube, prickly pear, kiwi fruit, wild sweet potato, etc., now you can add On this fig.

  The wild figs in the mountains are not bad compared to water hyacinth dates and kiwi fruit. They have their own merits and are quite delicious among wild fruits.

   "It's a pity, such delicious food will be rotten when you take it out. If you want to bring something to eat at home, you can't grow it and take it out."

  Wang Cunye finished eating a few Taos that were still unfinished.

   Indeed, if figs are not improved, they will not be easy to grow locally and cannot be planted as economic fruit trees.

   The fruiting time of figs is from June to October. The natural ripening cycle is relatively long, and it can be continuously picked. From this point of view, it is a very good fruit.

  Unfortunately, figs have a problem, that is, they will turn red and ripe at night. If they are not picked early in the morning, when the sun comes out, the fruit will be easily rotten and difficult to preserve.

   "Haha, there are so many wild fruits, not bad for this one."

  Chen Ling comforted, and then the two continued to walk forward.

  The distance of Dendrobium is relatively far, and the close one is Uncaria.

  However, like Dendrobium, it is this vine that hangs on steep slopes and cliffs.

  Wang Cunye couldn't get it, so he had to rely on his young and strong son-in-law to pick it up.

   It didn’t take long to come across a wild bayberry tree and prickly pear.

  The wild bayberry trees in the Qinling Mountains are all tree species brought by traders and birds. The number is extremely small, and the taste is not good. Most of them are used to make wine, and no one eats them.

  The prickly pear is not yet ripe, so I can't eat it now.

  Prickly pear, as its name suggests, is covered with thorns, which is a very good Chinese medicinal material.

  It will be red when ripe in autumn, and it is very sweet after being frosted, so people also call it a sugar bowl.

Before    was replaced, Chen Ling might have dug two trees for it, but now there is no interest in it, and there are basically all in the cave.

   It’s just that we lack the right opportunity to take it out.

  The two walked along the stream, walked through several mountain streams, and finally came to a canyon area.

After    approached, there was a piece of early-ripening kiwi fruit, which was very close to Uncaria, and the fruit was already ripe.

   Kiwifruit sounds like a tree species, but it is actually a rattan plant. Wild kiwifruit often attaches the rattan to the cliffs, but most of the rattan does not grow too high, and it is not difficult to pick.

  Chen Ling grabbed two ripe kiwis by dragging the branches, peeled them and tasted them, then shook his head and spat aside.

   "It looks cooked, and it feels cooked, but it's not really cooked yet."

   said, wiped his mouth, looked at the sun in the sky, and said that it was not too late, but after picking Uncaria, we had to go to Dendrobium.

   "Forget it, don't eat, hurry up and work."

   "Well, there is a tree over there, find a sturdy one, and tie the rope."

   Wang Cunye pointed in one direction and said.

"Row."

   "Be careful, the cliff is not too steep, so I'm afraid there will be snakes and poisonous insects. Let's spray the repellent again."

"understood."

  Chen Ling didn't know anything about collecting medicines, and all depended on his father-in-law to direct him.

   First climb to the top, then untie the hemp rope on the waist, tie one end of the hemp rope to a tree, and the other end to the waist, and slowly slide down the rope by hand.

   Reached the edge of Uncaria, tightened the rope, and began to work.

  Chen Ling has no experience in collecting herbs, but he is better at being young and strong, and while waving the sickle, the harvesting speed is not slow.

When he was excited, he saw the little weasel chasing some birds on the top of the cliff, and his cheerful appearance made him feel at ease, so he sang a folk song aloud, waving the sickle while singing, and a large unctuous vine was very pleasant. It was almost half harvested.

   After harvesting, he threw it down the mountain wall, and Wang Cunye simply cleaned it up and bundled it.

   When the number of harvests was enough for the two of them to carry them out, Chen Ling stopped, grabbed the rope, and climbed up like a monkey.

   "There are a lot of Uncaria in this valley. We can still come here a dozen times."

  Chen Ling untied the rope and came down, looking at a fluffy Uncaria vine hanging on the cliff, thinking that there was not much to see below, only to find out that only a small part of it was harvested.

   "Well, don't worry, just come when the weather is good, and you will have to bask in the sun when you go back."

  Wang Cunye nodded, crouched on the ground while tying Uncaria vines, and glanced over the cliff above the two eyes, "This is a good place, but unfortunately there is no other good medicine."

   "Huh? This valuable herb also chooses the local chief?"

   "Of course, let me tell you, the more valuable herbs are, the more strange they will be..."

   Weng and husband-in-law were talking when Xiao Jin suddenly cried out.

   "There is a situation?!"

  Chen Ling quickly got up, clenched the hatchet in one hand, and touched the shotgun with the other.

   He just reacted when he saw a group of wild monkeys rushing over from the woods in the distance, howling and howling with bared teeth.

   "Damn, it's these wild monkeys again."

  Chen Ling got annoyed when he saw it, he threw the hatchet to the side, and raised his shotgun to shoot.

   However, before the shot was fired, Xiao Jin was still screaming and warning.

   immediately exclaimed: "It's a wild bee, the monkey provoked the wild bee."

   These words were shouted, and there was a loud "humming" sound.

   "Father, there are wild bees coming over, quickly spread the medicine."

Hearing this, Wang Cunye was shocked when he saw the black swarm of bees swarming behind the monkeys, covering the sky and the sun, and shouted, "This is a bee that explodes its nest, it's useless to spray medicine, run, run quickly. Bar."

   said again in a hurry: "These stinky monkeys, who have provoked the bee colony, deliberately lured them to us."

  Chen Ling didn't care to say anything when he saw this.

No way, if it was him, the swarm dared to sting him, and if it landed on him, he would be sent to the cave, but it was impossible to have his father-in-law beside him, so he carried Wang Cunye on his back and found the opposite. direction to run away.

  Xiaojin and the little weasels also fled.

   They are also no match for the swarm.

  The wild bees in the mountains are extremely venomous, and they swell a large bag when they sting, and are accompanied by adverse reactions such as fever, vomiting, and upset. How can they be hardened?

   So Chen Ling ran quite fast, and didn't let Wang Cunye down until he couldn't hear the buzzing sound in his ears.

After taking a breath, I looked around and found that it was near a mountain stream. The water was gurgling, and it was quite quiet. It was just that the nearby forest was deep and dense, blocking the sky and the sun. Feel.

   After arriving here, Xiaojin sniffed and barked at Chen Ling softly twice, and then stared in one direction of the mountain stream.

   This is to signal him to follow.

   "What's wrong? What's wrong?"

  Wang Cunye is a little nervous when he hears the dog barking now.

  Chen Ling walked to Xiaojin's side and looked into the mountain stream, when he saw this, he immediately raised his brows.

   "It's okay, Daddy, just a wild boar fell to his death here. It's been dead for a long time, and all the bones have rotted out."

  Wang Cunye heard this and walked over slowly to take a look.

  I saw the corpse of a wild boar lying quietly on the pile of rocks in the mountain stream. Judging from the body size, it should be about three or four hundred pounds, and it was a big wild boar.

   "Good guy, a big boar, is this a fight here?"

   Wang Cunye was stunned and said.

   Then he couldn't help but sigh, this guy can die in this place with wild boars in the mountains.

   Or don't let your son-in-law learn to collect herbs.

  It is also good for him to open a farm to raise something.

   (end of this chapter)