Whenever she had free time, she dug up the entire open space in the backyard, firstly to exercise, and secondly, to grow some herbs to sell for silver.
In the three years Gu Youyou had lived at her aunt's place in modern times, her uncle's family made their living growing medicinal herbs. The weather in early March, the Grain Rain season, with its long daylight hours, was the best time to plant various herbs.
Gu Youyou didn't have any seeds and could only stroll around the mountain. Whatever seemed suitable for planting, she would dig some up!
In the rainy season, there were plenty of different mushrooms on the mountain after the rain, and she could also pick up some mushrooms to bring back!
Jin Zijin made Gu Youyou a basket for gathering herbs. He didn't object to her earning some silver in her own way; this was how mountain people lived.