259 China root

Daya was completely baffled as she squatted down and stared at the tree stump for a long while, unable to make out a flower. She timidly asked, "Little aunt, what's wrong with this tree?"

Manbao had a serious look on her face, "This is a pine tree."

Daya looked again and it seemed right, "And then?"

"It was chopped down."

Daya: "...Uh-huh, so?"

"So, are there any other pine stumps around here that have been chopped down?"

"There should be. Our family had used up almost all the firewood for drying rice and wheat before, so my dad and Third Uncle went up the mountain and chopped down quite a few trees, seems like they were all pines."

This area was the village chief's family's allotted field, and since they weren't good, straight trees suitable for making houses, beds, or chests, these pines were chopped down without much thought.

Manbao looked around, "Where is it then?"

Daya: ... How would she know where it was, the trees weren't chopped down by her.