Yin Huaixi said, “This area of Xiangping is one of the places where the
Japanese gentian is produced. It’s not a problem to pick one for the occasion.”
Yu Youyao shook her head firmly. “There are many medicinal herbs collectors at the foot of the mountain. When they pick medicinal herbs, no matter how precious the medicinal herbs are, they won’t pick them unless it’s time to pick them. Even if they know, perhaps someone else will beat them to it. They’ll miss out on this precious medicinal herb that can allow the family to live a good life. However, they can still restrain the greed in their hearts.”
Yin Huaixi’s heart skipped a beat. “The herb gatherers who rely on the mountains are given gifts by nature, but they also strictly abide by the rules of nature.”
It was very admirable.
Yu Youyao nodded. “Not only that, but during the process of picking medicinal herbs, they will collect the seeds of the medicinal herbs and preserve them. Every year, when everything recovers, they will enter the mountain and sprinkle the collected medicinal herb seeds into places suitable for every medicinal herb to grow. The seeds will take root on the ground under the wind, rain, and dew of nature. Therefore, the herb collectors will live in one place for generations, but the medicinal herbs in the mountain can be endlessly sent to the pharmacy.”
The rules set by their ancestors had supported thousands of herb gatherers.
They knew more about gratitude and reverence for the world than most people in the world. Nature gave them gifts from nature, and at the same time, they did things to repay it.
For example, after cutting down a tree, a woodcutter who specialized in logging would plant a tree on the spot. They had a rule that if they cut down a tree, they had to plant ten trees.
Hundred Herbs also extended people’s reverence for nature.
Yin Huaixi suddenly remembered that in the past, the North lacked supplies, and many soldiers had died from serious injuries because they lacked medicinal herbs. Every time there was a war, groups of herb gatherers would rush into the mountains to pick medicinal herbs. They carried herb collection baskets and sent the medicinal herbs to the nearby garrison. The garrison would deal with the medicinal herbs and send them to the battlefield.
Although it was a drop in the bucket, it was undeniable that these medicinal herbs had saved many soldiers who could not be treated because they lacked medicinal herbs.
At that time, he was very puzzled. How could the herb gatherers send an endless stream of medicinal herbs to the garrison?
Yin Huaixi squatted down and straightened the grass that Yu Youyao had dug out. The weeds around him became a natural hidden barrier for the Japanese gentian. In August, when it was time to harvest the Japanese Gentian, there would be a herb gatherer with a medicinal basket on his back and a medicinal hoe. He carefully dug out the weeds around him and harvested a stalk of good-looking and medicinal Japanese Gentian. It would be sold for a good price.
He suddenly smiled.
Yu Youyao also smiled. “l heard that the flowers of Japanese gentians are very beautiful. Unfortunately, the Japanese gentian won’t bloom until August or August.”
“There are medicinal farmers planting the Japanese gentian at the foot of the mountain. When the Japanese gentian blooms, I’ll bring you over to take a look.” The Japanese gentian could get rid of heat and dampness, and it could relieve pain. It was very practical and was used in large quantities. It was an indispensable herb. Furthermore, it was of the best quality in Liaodong, and the price of the Japanese gentian was not bad.
Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up. “Let’s pinky swear.”
As she spoke, she showed her little finger. Her white jade-like little finger was as tender as a bamboo shoot that had just been peeled from a bamboo.
Yin Huaixi’s throat moved, and he inexplicably felt an appetite. He wanted to lower his head and take a bite.
“You’re already so old. Why are you still so childish?” Although he said that,
Yin Huaixi did not slow down and stretched out his little finger cooperatively.
Yu Youyao said self-righteously, “You’re so busy every day now. Who knows when you’ll forget?” Just like then, she hooked Yin Huaixi’s little finger and shook it gently twice. She reached out her thumb and stamped it against him. “Now that we’ve pinky sworn and stamped our thumbs, you’re not allowed to forget!
Yin Huaixi opened his mouth, wanting to reply, “When have 1 not done what I promised you?”
However, just as he was about to say it, he remembered that ever since they left the capital, they had been separated more and more. Moreover, every time they met, they would come and go in a hurry.
“I’m sorry.” The words that rushed to his mouth suddenly turned to an apology.
“Huh?” Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment, not understanding what he meant. “Why are you apologizing for no reason?” At this point, her eyes widened. “Did you do something to let me down behind my back?”
Yin Huaixi’s heart was in turmoil. There were many things that one felt were only right and proper if one didn’t think about them. However, as long as one thought about it more deeply, they would realize that there was no such thing as being right and proper in this world.
However, some people were willing to pay without asking for anything in return and swallowed all the grievances and bitterness.
Yu Youyao had left the family with his support and followed him all the way to Xiangping.
What she had done in the North had a profound and huge impact on the entire North. She had changed the structure and history of the North alone.
However, behind all of this, she had spent a lot of money and almost all the money under her name. Only then did she carve out a blood path from the nobles’ control of the silkworm industry, bringing a new opportunity for the silkworm industry in Liaodong.
She was the one who was willing to take the risk that women could not interfere in the court’s politics and schemed with the Empress Dowager. That was why the Imperial Court had issued a national policy in the North.
She was the one who had risked her life to enter the stronghold and face those desperadoes who would do anything. That was why she had given the You army a chance to suppress the bandits.
It was also her who did not hesitate to destroy her reputation and scheme against the Han family of Xi’an.
He was the one who had promised to protect her for the rest of her life.
He nad plannea ror ner to come to Liaoaong because It was nis territory. He could naturally protect her so that she did not have to live a life that was as hard as before in the Yu Residence and could feel more at ease.
He had carefully built the Yu Garden into a place to “nourish her life” so that she could recuperate in peace.
He was self-righteously certain that Yu Youyao was doing well in his territory.
However, in the end, he realized that that was not the case.
Yu Youyao was lazy and delicate. She was not a very ambitious person. When he thought about it, she only wanted to live a good life. However, with his protection, he had pulled her into a strange situation.
Yin Huaixi suddenly took a step forward and pulled her into his arms. “It’s been hard on you during this period of time.” He pulled her closer. “Although I can’t give you the days you want for a while, protecting you for a lifetime is the goal I’ve worked hard for my entire life. What you want will be what my sword points at.”
First, he had to be a living person to forge the strongest armor for her.
Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment. She pursed her lips slightly. After a long while, she said softly, “l used to be very afraid of nightmares. Every time 1 had a nightmare, I would always have lingering fears. For a long time, I would feel uneasy…”