Chapter 174: Hunting?
The mushroom bags in the Lingzhi greenhouse only produce two harvests. After that, they’re no longer useful. Ning Xiyue removed them and sowed ginseng seeds.
[Host, the ginseng you planted before has all grown into hundred-year ginseng. Do you want to collect it? It could fetch a high price.]
System’s eyes gleamed as it glanced at the long-grown ginseng plot nearby, especially the “Ginseng King” from the three personal ginseng plants Ning Xiyue had dug from the mountain — it looked particularly promising.
Ning Xiyue glanced at a small patch of fully blooming ginseng flowers nearby and decisively shook her head.
“No collection yet. I want to let them grow a bit more. The dew on the ginseng flowers from these hundred-year ginseng is valuable — I want to collect more to make anti-aging, wrinkle-reducing essence for my parents.”
The little turtle looked a bit disappointed but reminded her, [Host, whenever you want to collect, you can come to me.]
“Mm, okay.”
Ning Xiyue had already made up her mind. Planting ginseng in the space was like having a steadily appreciating asset; the longer it stayed, the more valuable it became. She wouldn’t harvest it unless absolutely necessary.
After checking on the growth of other medicinal herbs in the space, Ning Xiyue left.
She heard someone calling her name outside.
Rolling up her sleeves, she took a loofah sponge used for washing pots, swirled it in the dishwater to let the excess water drip off, and opened the kitchen door.
“Guifang Jie, you called me?”
Wu Guifang, standing not far inside the kitchen, called out: “The team leader is outside looking for you. Seems like there’s something important.”
“Alright, I’ll go right away. Thanks, Guifang Jie.”
Ning Xiyue put down the loofah, removed her apron, closed the kitchen door, and walked toward the Youth Workstation gate. From a distance, she saw the team leader waiting.
She hurried over and greeted him: “Team Leader, what do you need me for?”
The team leader looked worried and sighed: “Xiyue, the sows in our team have eaten very little today, and the boars look a bit lethargic. Go take a look — I’m worried sick. At this rate, the piglets won’t have enough milk.”
Ning Xiyue hadn’t expected to be asked to check on the pigs. She paused for a moment before replying: “Alright, I’ll go get the medicine box.”
She slung the medicine box on her back and followed the team leader toward the pigsty. Midway, the team leader had to go to the brigade office, so Ning Xiyue continued alone toward the pigsty.
A worried Aunt Chunsheng saw Ning Xiyue arrive and smiled slightly. “Xiyue, hurry in. The feed from this morning hasn’t been eaten yet.”
Ning Xiyue went in to inspect. The sows and boars weren’t seriously ill. She cleaned the sow’s wound and applied new medicine, then stepped out to reassure the anxious Aunt Chunsheng:
“Don’t worry, nothing serious. The sow just has a painful wound; I changed the medicine. The boar caught a slight chill — crush this pill into their feed and it’ll be fine in a day or two. Feed a little preventive medicine to all the pigs.”
Ning Xiyue handed two black pills — cold medicine for animals — to Aunt Chunsheng.
She added a reminder: “Auntie, you can use more straw to block the ventilation and light openings along the pigpen walls. The weather’s suddenly dropped, it’s very cold, and the pigs can’t handle it.”
“Got it.”
Aunt Chunsheng took the pills and then showed Ning Xiyue the piglets. All the piglets were well cared for, showing no signs of weakness despite being delivered via cesarean.
“Impressive, Auntie.”
Aunt Chunsheng blushed at the compliment. “Hehe, just doing my job.”
After checking the pigs, the team leader, who had stepped away for a short while, waved at Ning Xiyue from the pigsty entrance: “Yue girl, come out, I have something else to tell you.”
Ning Xiyue followed him aside.
“The team has decided to organize a hunting trip up the mountain tomorrow, before the mountain is completely closed off for winter. We want to bring back some game for a good New Year. Do you have any useful medicines — for external injuries, or anything that could help with hunting?”
(Note: In modern society, hunting is illegal under wildlife protection laws; this is within the context of the novel.)
“Yes, I have some, not much. I’ll prepare it when I return. Team Leader, what time are you heading into the mountains tomorrow?”
Hunting? Ning Xiyue was puzzled. The ground outside was all covered in white, and most animals were hibernating. Would they actually be able to catch anything?
“We’ll leave for the mountain at 6 a.m. tomorrow. All our hunters are experienced and know how to track game. Every winter, after the first snowfall, we go out hunting. If we’re lucky, we can catch plenty of good animals — foxes, weasels, raccoon dogs, roe deer — and maybe even a wild boar if luck’s on our side.”
The team leader explained, noticing Ning Xiyue’s puzzled expression.
Ning Xiyue finally understood. With experienced hunters, finding game was not an issue. “Got it. Alright, I’ll go back and prepare the medicine. Can I deliver it to the brigade before dark?”
“Do this: I’ll come personally at 7 p.m. to collect it. That way you don’t have to make a trip in this freezing winter.”
“Okay.”
After discussing that, Ning Xiyue remembered the conversation with her second brother yesterday afternoon. She stopped the team leader before he left to ask the question she cared most about: “Team Leader, will we Youth Workstation members be allowed to go home for New Year?”
The team leader looked at her apologetically.
“The notice hasn’t come out yet. Youth members can only go home when the township Youth Workstation issues approval. If you want extra days off, you also need the Youth Office’s permission. But it should be soon, don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
Ning Xiyue nodded, expecting as much. It was indeed difficult for Youth Workstation members to go home — many hurdles. But she wasn’t worried; she still had a letter from Aunt Lin, which she could use if necessary, but it wasn’t urgent now.
With a calm expression, Ning Xiyue bid the team leader farewell: “Team Leader, I’ll go back and prepare the medicine now.”
“Alright, go ahead, and be careful on the way back.” The team leader then walked toward the pigsty behind him.
