Chapter 250: Chapter 188: Entering the Mountains (Double-Length)

Old Man Tong waved his hand: “Normally, I don’t accept gifts. But since Chen Yuanhai says you’re his junior, I’ll treat you as one too. I’ll accept it.”

Qi Yun heard this and felt a bit joyful inside, thinking that the tea worth tens of thousands wasn’t given in vain.

Old Man Chen must feel pleased after drinking it, and Qi Yun’s standing in his mind has stepped up a notch, arranging connections for him right away.

Old Man Tong’s words were not just about accepting a gift, but acknowledging his identity, making it easier to ask for help in the future.

“It’s my honor to receive Old Man Tong’s recognition, I won’t disturb you any further.” After saying that, Qi Yun slightly bowed and left the courtyard with Chen Wei.

Once back in the car, the always silent Chen Wei spoke up: “That young man is not ordinary, I feel a kindred spirit in him.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun was slightly taken aback, becoming increasingly curious about Old Man Tong’s identity.

…

After dealing with matters here, Qi Yun took Chen Wei to meet up with Cao Yufei.

By the time they left Fusong County’s train station, the sky was completely dark.

Cao Yufei and his friend Hu Zi came to the station to pick them up and then headed to a restaurant in the town.

They each took their seats, Qi Yun picked up the hot tea and took a sip, finally feeling a bit of warmth in his cold body.

Once slightly relaxed, he looked up at Cao Yufei and asked, “Old Cao, how’s the situation?”

Cao Yufei blew into his hand, shook his head, and said, “This afternoon, Hu Zi and I walked around, didn’t find much, we still need to go to those medicine gatherers in the mountains.”

“Hu Zi knows a few medicine gatherers, he’ll take us there tomorrow.”

Qi Yun nodded slightly, smiled at the middle-aged man named Hu Zi: “Brother Hu Zi, sorry to trouble you.”

Hu Zi waved his hand and responded heartily: “You’re Old Cao’s friend, so you’re my friend too, we’re all buddies, no need for talk like that.”

“Alright then, I won’t be polite with you.” Qi Yun smiled and nodded.

“Ah, that’s the spirit.” Hu Zi said while raising the teapot, filling everyone’s cup, and continued, “Actually, when Old Cao called me last time, I went to the foot of the mountain once, but the quality you want is too high, it’s generally hard to find.”

“This stuff could save lives at critical moments, so even if people have it, they may not be willing to sell.”

Qi Yun nodded again, knowing what he said was true.

Just like those two Bezoar pills he had, even if given millions, he wouldn’t sell them.

It was only because Old Wang had been kind to him that he took one out last time.

While talking, the waiter served the dishes.

Chicken stewed with mushrooms, iron pot stewed goose are Northeast specialties, very generous portions.

No one drank alcohol, they enjoyed a hearty meal before returning to the hotel to rest.

Early the next morning, Hu Zi drove a Tank 300 taking them to the village at the foot of Changbai Mountain.

Even though spring has arrived, it’s still icy and snowy in the Northeast, the car fitted with snow chains still slipped on some sections, so had to drive slowly.

After driving four to five hours, the car slowly stopped at a village entrance.

The village was surrounded by snow, several low houses were scattered neatly, curling smoke added a touch of life to the cold village.

Hu Zi pointed at a front house and said: “I’ve collected herbs from that house before, let’s go ask him first.”

Qi Yun nodded, and they got out of the car, following Hu Zi to the house.

Once at the door, Hu Zi knocked on it.

Soon, a dark-skinned middle-aged man opened the door, slightly surprised to see Hu Zi, said: “Why are you here now? Didn’t you always come in May before?”

Hu Zi smiled at him: “Just here to inquire about something.”

The middle-aged man stepped aside, welcoming them into the house.

The stove inside was burning warmly, dispelling the cold in the air.

The middle-aged man picked up a nearby thermos, poured boiling water into a tea mug, and handed it to them: “Conditions are limited, hope you don’t mind.”

Hu Zi took the mug, blew on it, sipped a bit, and then said: “I want to collect some wild ginseng from the village up there, do you know who might have it?”

The middle-aged man placed down the thermos, pulled over a chair and sat down, puzzled: “Can’t find it in the county? Why come to the mountains?”

Hu Zi took out cigarettes and distributed them, explaining: “I’m looking for high quality ones, over fifty years old.”

“Over fifty years old?” The middle-aged man paused, took the cigarette, lit it, and smoked two puffs.

After a while, he replied: “You know, the villages at the foot of the mountain have started running homestays over the years, many are reluctant to go up the mountains.”

“You might find ones twenty years old, but to find over fifty years old, you’ll have to go further up to those few families on the mountainside, they might have it.”

Hu Zi nodded and said: “Okay, are you free in the next few days? Accompany us for a trip, the roads further in I haven’t driven.”

The middle-aged man looked troubled: “Brother, I really can’t make it these days, my wife’s due date is near, planning to return to the county tomorrow.”

“How about I draw a map for you, follow it, and you should find those houses.”

Hu Zi looked back at Qi Yun and the others, seeking their opinion.

Qi Yun thought for a moment, nodded, expressing agreement.

Hu Zi saw this, turned back and said: “Alright, draw me a map.”

The middle-aged man fetched pen and paper, marked the route, drawing while speaking: “Start from here, after reaching Bailong Village, follow this small path, when you see a fork, take the right path… go further, and you should see those households.”

“But this road is not easy to travel, with thick snow in places, drive carefully, if you get stuck, it’ll be hard to find help.”

Hu Zi nodded in agreement: “Alright, I got it.”

The middle-aged man handed the finished map to Hu Zi: “If you face difficulties in the mountains, call me, I can’t accompany you, but I know people in Bailong Village, can help you connect.”

“However, the further in you go, the worse the signal…”

After saying goodbye to the middle-aged man, Hu Zi took out a gas can from the trunk, filled up the car, and set off again.

The car drove slowly on the rugged rural road, surrounded by a snowy landscape, except for the sound from the tires crushing the snow, all was silent.

While passing through a village, they had a simple lunch at a homestay.

Then continued driving east for over two hours, finally arriving at Bailong Village.

Hu Zi got out again to ask locals, confirming the map was accurate, and then bravely continued forward.

The further they drove, the thicker the snow became, the tires kept slipping, but fortunately, there were snow chains, when unable to climb slopes, they got out to push.

When dusk fell, a small cabin finally appeared up ahead.

Hu Zi stopped the car, pointed at the map and said: “No more roads beyond here, we’ll need to walk five kilometers east from this cabin to reach those families.”

“But it’s unsafe to travel in the mountain at night, we’ll stay in the cabin tonight and set off early tomorrow.”

Qi Yun nodded in agreement with the proposal.

They took some food from the trunk and stepped towards the cabin.

The cabin door wasn’t locked, just latched, inside was small, a wooden bed, a stove, a pot, a kerosene lamp, a pile of firewood, and half a piece of smoked meat hanging from the chimney.

Hu Zi lit the kerosene lamp, explained to everyone: “Many such cabins are scattered in these mountains, originally built by hunters, later banned hunting, so medicine gatherers began to build cabins.”

“We’ll rest here tonight, so we have strength to find those families tomorrow.”

With that, he squatted down, started to collect firewood to light the stove.

Cao Yufei pointed at the smoked meat on the chimney and asked: “Is this left by someone else?”

Hu Zi nodded with a smile: “Yes, if you’re craving it, cook it up later, and when we leave tomorrow, we’ll also leave some food here.”

Cao Yufei smiled: “Well, that’s nice, a hot meal is rare in the mountains.”

Soon, the fire in the stove blazed, Hu Zi took the pot outside, filled it with snow, and placed it on the stove to melt.

When the water boiled, he added several packs of instant noodles, along with that smoked meat, and a warm supper was ready.

Not much to fuss over in the mountains, after eating supper, they slept in their clothes.

Despite the cold winds outside, the cabin offered a sense of warmth.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep