Possibility
Man Bao replied solemnly, "It's a type of medicinal herb, a very delicious medicinal herb."
Old Zhou: ... Can medicinal herbs be delicious?
He looked suspiciously at the piece of tree root in his hand.
Man Bao took it back from him and neatly arranged everything in the bamboo basket. She said, "Once I've rested, I'll take these to the medicine shop to sell." "I'll also ask the doctor what ailments this Poria wood can treat."
Zhou Silang stepped forward and asked, "What exactly is Poria wood?" "Didn't you say this was Poria cocos?"
"Oh, right," Man Bao nodded. "Mister Zhou said there's more underground." Poria wood must also be buried underground. "Fourth Brother, let's take our hoes and dig up the mountain."
"There's more?" Zhou Silang was eager to try, whispering, "Is this stuff valuable?"
She didn't know if it was valuable, but it certainly accrued points. She decided to catalog each item for the Science Hall. If their technicians could cultivate it, she would earn even more points.
The thought of points excited Man Bao. Rolling up her sleeves, she declared, "It must be valuable." "Fourth Brother, let's go now."
"Alright!"
Old Zhou didn't stop them, shouting loudly, "Remember to call your second brother and ask him to come back for dinner."
Both Zhou Silang and Man Bao acknowledged.
Once everyone had left, Old Zhou squatted in the yard, staring at the neatly lined Poria cocos, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "This looks very familiar." Is it really valuable?
Zhou Dalang also felt a sense of familiarity, "Father, I remember there are many pine trees on the Zongshan side." In Dali Village, two families who produce charcoal climb up the mountain to chop wood. When I used to go with Old San to pick wild mushrooms, I think I saw these things.
During heavy rains, they harvested fewer wild mushrooms for home use and mostly sold them in the county town.
This product sold well in the county town, especially during the rainy seasons of spring, summer, and autumn. But no one would bother climbing the mountains during the busy times of spring and autumn. Therefore, most of the items sold in the county town started at the end of April.
During the busy seasons of spring and autumn, few people have the time to venture into the mountains to search for mushrooms. Wasn't it raining for nearly a month in May this year? When everyone was busy with their fieldwork, it was already the end of June, and the wild mushrooms in the mountains were old, mostly picked for home use, with no one bothering to send them to the county town.
But Zhou Dalang had many years of experience in foraging wild mushrooms. Since Man Bao had specifically mentioned that these mushrooms grew around pine tree roots, Zhou Dalang thought of a location.
Old Zhou began to think with his chin in his hand, "How many days does your sister have off?"
"Three days."
"Then wait until her day off and go to the medicine shop to see if this herb is indeed valuable." If so, send Old San to check out Zongshan.
At this point, Old Zhou paused and whispered, "I remember Zongshan was assigned to Dali Village, right?"
"Yes, it was allocated five years ago." Our two villages almost had a conflict over it, but the decision was made by the village head.
Old Zhou continued, "Keep this from everyone. When the time comes, send Old San to take a stroll up there." If anyone asks, say you're looking for mushrooms.
Although these mountain areas were considered communal land, no one really claimed ownership of them, except for particularly valuable or straight trees.
So, the villagers chopped firewood, picked wild vegetables, gathered wild fruits, and collected mushrooms in the mountains without any fuss.
Occasionally, they would cut down a pine tree or two for firewood, and the owners wouldn't mind.
But it was truly irritating when those two families from Dali Village specifically went to other mountains to cut down large swaths of pine trees to make charcoal.
That's how the conflict between the two villages started. Back then, they almost fought over it. Although Zhou Dalu's family was not particularly well-liked, Zhou Dalang and his brothers still joined the battle with hoes.
But they didn't fight in the end because the village head intervened. In the end, they reclaimed the fields assigned to Dali Village and redistributed the 80 acres of Zongshan to those two families in Dali Village. Additionally, they allocated another 80 acres from Dali Village to Qili Village. After that, they divided Zhou Dalu's two pieces of mountain land once more before finally coming to a halt.
Due to the abundance of pine trees that shed leaves and are fertile, mushrooms also tend to thrive in pine forests. So, except for this year, Zhou Dalang and his brothers liked to go there to pick mushrooms.
When Zhou Dalang thought about it, Zhou Silang would naturally think about it as well. Before getting married, he was well-known inside and outside Qili Village for his mischief. He often ventured into the mountains and along rivers for such adventures. Naturally, he also knew that many pine trees were cut down on Zongshan.
Since these two groups of Poria are found under pine trees, there should be no problem with visiting Zongshan.
Zhou Silang whispered to Man Bao, "Use one of them as a reference for me, and I'll take Old Wu and Old Liu to Zongshan tomorrow to see if we can find some more. We can go to the county town after you rest.
Zhou Silang's eyes sparkled. "Man Bao, if we can sell this stuff, you have to give me some money."
"Why do you want money?"
Zhou Silang coughed softly, looked around, and whispered, "I've said it; don't tell anyone."
Man Bao loved secrets and nodded eagerly with bright eyes. "Tell me, tell me."
"I think your sister-in-law is pregnant." I have to buy her something. How can I not have money?
"Is the third sister-in-law pregnant?" She's pregnant early.
Zhou Silang felt embarrassed and then doubtful, "Third sister-in-law has not been pregnant for two months."
"Yes, this is something you know I know; don't tell anyone." "I'll wait until it's confirmed before I tell you."
Man Bao felt the pressure of having another nephew or niece, so she said, "I need to prepare two full-month gifts next year."
"Oh, do you also know how to give a meaningful gift to the younger generation?"
Man Bao stretched her chest out proudly. "Of course, last month, my uncle's second cousin had a son, and my elder sister-in-law is preparing for a full-month gift." An aunt is required to prepare a full-month gift for her nephew and niece.
Zhou Silang covered his mouth and nose. "No, did Uncle's second cousin have another son?" Does he already have four sons? "This is going to be my father's legacy."
Man Bao laughed at herself.
Zhou Silang, carrying his hoe, had already conducted a significant amount of business, and he understood the importance of salesmanship. So, he decided to dig further and deeper, ensuring that the Poria was completely excavated.
Man Bao didn't understand and naturally followed Zhou Silang's instructions.