Chapter 223: The Crowd Goes Up the Mountain
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
At this time, Jiang Xia had secretly fed the wolf cub some interspace water. Coupled with the effects of the medicine on its body, it was obviously in a much better state than before, and breathing normal again.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief when they saw that the wolf cub’s condition was getting better. They looked at the village chief and waited for his next instructions.
The village chief gently stroked the wolf cub’s fur. The most important thing now was to send the wolf cub back as soon as possible. Otherwise, the consequences of angering the wolf pack would be severe. However, if the wolf pack had discovered that the wolf cub was missing and must be in a vigilant stage now. It would be dangerous to approach the wolf pack at this time.
Fortunately, there was no drought a few years ago, and there were many small animals on the mountain. There were many hunters in the village who often went up the mountain to hunt. Although they had now set aside their hunting rifles for farming axe, their skills were still intact.
Moreover, the village chief was still thinking about the Isatis roots that Zhou Lan had mentioned. If there were really herbs on the mountain, the villagers could go to the town or county to exchange money for food tickets by picking herbs. Then, even if the country did not allocate food, everyone would be able to survive this winter.
The village chief began to assign tasks to everyone.” Those who have been hunters before, as well as young and strong men, bring your hunting rifle and send the wolf cubs back to the wolf pack. The women in the village followed Zhou Lan to the foot of the mountain to look for isatis roots and new wild vegetable fields.”
Speaking of this, the village chief sighed. He was really worried that if there was not enough food, more villagers would die this winter.
“Everyone, please try your best to look for it. If we can find new wild vegetables or medicinal herbs, we will be able to survive this winter!”
Of course, everyone knew the village chief was speaking reasonably, and no one refused.
The final arrangement was that if a family had children, one adult should stay to take care of them. Those unwilling to go to the mountains could stay behind. The rest would set off for the mountains after breakfast, aiming to return before dark.
Though the village chief made it clear that going to the mountains was entirely voluntary and anyone who didn’t want to go didn’t have to, virtually all the villagers participated in this action.
Of course, other than those who were naturally lazy and unwilling to contribute to the village. They just wanted to profit from others’ efforts, like the old Jiang family.
After arranging everything, everyone went back home to eat and then gathered at the entrance of the village.
Jiang Chuan still had Xiao Gu at home, so she definitely couldn’t follow him to the mountains. However, Zhou Lan was worried about leaving her alone at home. In the end, she decided to send her to the village chief’s house first and let the village chief’s wife take care of her.
The village chief’s wife was getting old, and everyone spontaneously wanted her to rest at home. Therefore, many people sent their children over and asked the village chief’s wife to stay at home in the name of taking care of the children.
After everything was arranged, the group went into the mountains.
Actually, the one who was the most nervous was Zhou Lan. She had not expected that a casual lie would be taken so seriously by the village chief.
Though she had prepared a patch of wild vegetables, they were a drop in the bucket and wouldn’t be enough to sustain the entire village. But if there were medicinal herbs, the situation would be completely different.
In this era, medicinal herbs were highly valued. If one was willing to spend some money to take the bus to the county, they could definitely exchange them for valuable items at the pharmacy.
Trading was not allowed at this time, but but bartering was permissible. To get the herbs, pharmacies would certainly be willing to exchange them for various items.
Jiang Xia understood this situation and could only pray in her heart that they would really encounter isatis roots.
Even if it were just one isatis root plant, when placed in the interspace soil, it could reproduce and yield more isatis roots, which could then help the villagers.
At the mountain path’s entrance, the villagers divided into two groups: one to return the wolf cub, and the other to search for wild vegetables and isatis roots.
Jiang Chuan would definitely be following the village hunters to return the wolf cub, while the village chief, due to his age, led everyone in search of vegetables.
Zhou Lan and Jiang Xia were worried about Jiang Chuan going to the wolf pack. Before parting, they gave him many advice. Jiang Xia also filled a water bottle with interspace water for Jiang Chuan to carry with him..
