For several consecutive days, Gù Qīngyǎ searched in the mountains, and her harvest was great.
She had already planted quite a few ginseng plants. The environment in her space was good and the temperature was suitable. After watering them with well water, they had already begun to sprout.
Besides ginseng, she also planted a little bit of other medicinal herbs near the corner of the wall.
There was only so much land here, so she couldn't plant too many of everything.
If it was really necessary, with the mountains at her back, she could find them with some effort.
Practicing mental power well not only improved learning efficiency but also served as an alarm for crises.
Occasionally, Gù Qīngyǎ would encounter a stooped man in the mountains who liked to lower his head and carry a worn, mended basket. His hair was interspersed with a lot of white, and his cotton-padded jacket was tattered with many patches and new tears. The cotton inside looked lumpy, but it didn't seem to be escaping as one might imagine.
Looking at the contents of his basket, it seemed he was collecting traditional Chinese medicine. As for what illness it treated, she didn't know. Gù Qīngyǎ had never seen this man in the village.
The man always kept his head down, so Gù Qīngyǎ couldn't get a clear look at his face. However, with his thin frame, Gù Qīngyǎ really hadn't seen anyone like him in the village.
If he wasn't from the village, then it was unlikely he would be on this mountain. Looking at his demeanor and worn appearance, Gù Qīngyǎ had a guess.
Gù Qīngyǎ wanted to learn medicine, but without a suitable person, she preferred to wait.
After all, this was not the future; if one were to be labeled with a 'hat,' it would be truly tragic.
She encountered this person on the outer edges of the mountain for several consecutive days, but then they parted ways.
Gù Qīngyǎ needed to go deeper into the mountains; there were no useful plants for her on the outskirts.
There had been no snow for the past two days. The snow that had covered the ground, not thick enough, was showing signs of melting.
This was Gù Qīngyǎ's first winter in the north, and she found it quite novel. Before, she had only heard that northern winters were very cold. Now that it had snowed, she felt it was quite acceptable.
Before the second snowfall, quite a few people from the village went up the mountain.
Gù Qīngyǎ wouldn't miss the opportunity to go into the mountains either, going out early and returning late every day.
Every time she returned, she had a lot of firewood, which made the people in the front courtyard of the Educated Youth Point extremely envious.
For winter fuel, a few male educated youths couldn't handle it alone. So, the female educated youths couldn't escape either.
If they didn't collect enough, they would really freeze to death if they ran out of firewood in winter.
Gù Qīngyǎ didn't care about their expressions. She lived her own life and wouldn't let others interfere.
For several consecutive days, Gù Qīngyǎ encountered the man again. His worn cotton jacket had been mended, and today his basket contained different medicinal herbs.
She felt that someone must be sick, otherwise, he wouldn't be going up the mountain to find medicinal herbs all the time.
She just didn't know what illness it was. However, considering the man's wary demeanor, Gù Qīngyǎ didn't feel it was appropriate to ask directly.
They walked towards the deep mountains, one in front and one behind. Considering the man's frail appearance, Gù Qīngyǎ felt a flicker of worry about him venturing into the deep mountains.
Coming from an era of peace, she genuinely didn't want him to die in front of her.
Regardless of his medical skills, Gù Qīngyǎ didn't want to witness a death.
The deep mountains were not like the outskirts. This man only had a worn basket and a sharpened piece of porcelain, truly brave.
Gù Qīngyǎ herself would not dare to enter the deep mountains without her strength and tools.
This man was heading towards his death!
Gù Qīngyǎ wanted to remind him, but she couldn't find a reason, as he was a stranger.
Looking at his frail appearance, she momentarily wanted to ask him what he was looking for and offer to help.
But every time the words reached her lips, she didn't know how to articulate them and ended up swallowing them back.
The man exuded an unapproachable aura. Trailing behind Gù Qīngyǎ, he didn't get too close.
Gù Qīngyǎ really didn't know how to speak. Seeing the man occasionally rummaging in the bushes, Gù Qīngyǎ deliberately slowed down.
She couldn't find a way to speak, yet she couldn't bear to see a life lost here, so Gù Qīngyǎ racked her brains for a solution.
Using her mental power, she checked and confirmed there were no ferocious beasts nearby. Since this person was collecting herbs in this area, Gù Qīngyǎ couldn't wait indefinitely.
Otherwise, it might lead to misunderstandings! After all, they weren't familiar with each other, and she was afraid of startling the man by stopping abruptly.
After helping to confirm there was no danger nearby, Gù Qīngyǎ could only slowly move forward.
What happened next depended on whether the man would follow or continue collecting.
The man's name was Zhōu Báizhú. His ancestors were all traditional Chinese medicine doctors, and his grandfather's generation and above had even served as imperial physicians.
Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, he had donated a considerable amount of medicinal herbs and supplies to the Communist Party. Later, he opened a medical clinic, but alas, the smoke of revolution arose, and he was reported by his apprentice. He and his wife were both sent down.
Confiscation of property, struggle sessions, being sent down – they had experienced it all. They originally had a son and daughter-in-law. The son could not bear the criticism and committed suicide, while the daughter-in-law directly published a divorce notice, severed ties, and remarried quickly, abandoning even their one-year-old child.
What a pity for their one-year-old grandson. If it weren't for his medical ethics and the help of people he had saved, the couple likely would still be undergoing struggle sessions instead of being sent down to this small village.
They had actually been here for several months, but they truly had nothing left. The worn clothes they wore were kindly given by people they had helped before.
Otherwise, relying on themselves, they likely would have had nothing and wouldn't have lasted until now.
The heavy snow a few days ago directly caused him to develop a fever. If he hadn't had some medicinal herbs, he probably wouldn't have survived by now.
His grandson had a recurring fever, and his wife had also fallen ill.
Her health was already poor, and adding to the exhaustion, this was truly adding frost to the snow. This incomplete family could only rely on him to hold it together.
He was already nearing fifty, and his body was not as robust as a young person's. The continuous trips up the mountain these past few days had left him utterly exhausted.
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With poor eating and sleeping habits, coupled with the arduous journey in the mountains, Zhōu Báizhú was troubled by sudden dizziness.
After crouching for too long, the blood supply was insufficient, and he felt the world spin.
Gù Qīngyǎ was already worried and had no strong desire to move forward. She decided to turn back and check.
If there was nothing wrong, she would continue forward. If something was wrong, she would lend a hand.
Gù Qīngyǎ arrived just in time. She lent a hand and helped the person who was about to fall to sit down.
"Thank you, child. My identity is problematic, so it's best to have less contact!"
Once Zhōu Báizhú recovered, he said to Gù Qīngyǎ. He knew that in the past few days of going up the mountain, he hadn't seen any large beasts, and he suspected it was largely due to the young lady in front of him.
"It's nothing. What are you looking for? Do you need my help? It's really too dangerous for someone as frail as you to come here."
Gù Qīngyǎ couldn't bear to see him venture into the mountains in such a condition to look for things.
"You, a young lady, are the one in danger!"
Zhōu Báizhú recalled traveling extensively in his youth, following his father to many deep mountains and old forests.
"Don't worry, I'm not a delicate flower. I'm very strong, and my name is Gù Qīngyǎ. You can call me by my name directly."
"Zhōu Báizhú, but my identity is problematic..."
"Identity can't be eaten. Darkness will eventually pass; as long as you persevere, the rainbow will appear sooner or later."
Gù Qīngyǎ didn't know what else to say. It was the times that caused all this!
"Can it really pass?"
As he spoke, he couldn't help but choke up. His family's generational heir was unwell, his grandson's health was not improving, and his wife was bedridden. Could it truly pass?
"Of course, it can. If you're unable to clearly articulate what you're looking for, you can describe the symptoms. I still have some medicine, and I can bring it to you tonight."
Gù Qīngyǎ's tone was firm, bringing some comfort to Zhōu Báizhú's scarred body and mind.
"I have nothing now and can't afford to pay any money."
As he spoke, the light in Zhōu Báizhú's eyes dimmed again.
"I'm not short of money. If you feel too embarrassed, perhaps you could help process the herbs I collect later."
It felt too presumptuous to talk about learning so soon after meeting, and Gù Qīngyǎ was afraid of disrupting the connection they had just established.
After all, Zhōu Báizhú's guard hadn't dropped yet. If possible, it would be great to have him process the thousand-year-old ginseng and fo-ti.
When his father's reply arrived, she would send it directly, as it was local specialty anyway.
"Western medicine, it's very precious. You really want to give it to me?"
Western medicine was scarce even for the country now. If she could obtain it, she wouldn't be lying to him, and he had nothing worth deceiving him for.
"It's not that bad. Around ten o'clock tonight, if you hear three cat meows, come out, and I'll bring the items to you."
Gù Qīngyǎ dared not be too early, as the cow shed was at the far end of the village, almost opposite the Educated Youth Point, separated by the village.
Seeing what the man had dug, Gù Qīngyǎ quickly dug it up, without damaging the root.
It was then that Zhōu Báizhú truly recognized Gù Qīngyǎ's strength.
"Is there anything else you need to dig? Do you want to follow me? I only know a few medicinal herbs. Otherwise, I can help you dig them."
After all, if she acted alone, she could speed up. Bringing someone along would make that impossible.
But with the situation today, she didn't expect to go into the deep mountains.
Zhōu Báizhú nodded. Occasionally, he would see some wild grass that Gù Qīngyǎ noticed and introduce it to her, explaining its effects and medicinal parts.
Gù Qīngyǎ's memory was exceptional; she could absorb everything Zhōu Báizhú said.
Gù Qīngyǎ planned to bring some food when she went over that evening. It was clear he wasn't eating enough.
Lack of nutrition was the reason he almost fainted.
Gù Qīngyǎ didn't lack food herself, so she didn't mind giving some away.
"Uncle Zhōu, I found several ginseng plants and some fo-ti and gastrodia elata in the mountains. I will really have to trouble you to help process them later. The quantity is quite large."
Gù Qīngyǎ got along well with Zhōu Báizhú and found him to be a righteous person she could associate with.
She even called him 'Uncle' now.
Zhōu Báizhú's face was still quite handsome. If not for the struggle sessions and the loss of his son, he probably would have looked younger.
His current appearance was clearly due to excessive worry, lack of food and sleep, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted, making him look much older.
After eating the chicken soup Gù Qīngyǎ cooked at noon, Zhōu Báizhú felt an indescribable gratitude.
Furthermore, with Gù Qīngyǎ accompanying him and helping to dig up many medicinal herbs, he now had enough to treat his wife's condition.
If he had been alone without any weapons, he would never have dared to come to such a deep mountain, and his harvest would have been meager.
Gù Qīngyǎ brought him several ginseng plants. She brought him there after hearing that Zhōu Báizhú's wife was ill, thinking that ginseng was highly nourishing.
These ginseng plants were not very old, only about ten years. Zhōu Báizhú hesitated to accept them, but Gù Qīngyǎ said she had older ones and had no shortage of them, urging him to take them to recuperate.
He had originally thought ginseng would be a problem. Now that it was resolved, Zhōu Báizhú was very pleased.
He also knew that all of this was thanks to Gù Qīngyǎ and kept it in his heart.
However, given his current identity, it was truly inappropriate for him to associate closely with Gù Qīngyǎ, lest he implicate her.
They had suffered immensely during this storm. If not for the kindness of some people, they would likely have been buried in a grave long ago.
He had originally planned to bring two wild chickens and two wild rabbits he caught for Zhōu Báizhú, but it was refused. Besides him and his wife, there were others in the cow shed, and with the person driving the ox cart, he dared not bring them back.
If he were reported by the villagers for undermining socialism, it would be truly disastrous.
Understanding the situation, Gù Qīngyǎ didn't force it on him, planning to cook them and bring them over that evening.
She wasn't trying to curry favor with a powerful figure; she just felt that since Zhōu Báizhú was teaching her things, it would be wrong not to reciprocate.
Knowledge is priceless and cannot be measured by money or material possessions.
She benefited so much herself; she couldn't let the master who taught her starve to death.
Zhōu Báizhú's worn basket was filled to the brim, and Gù Qīngyǎ placed it inside her own large basket and carried it on her shoulder.
This way, Zhōu Báizhú's burden would be reduced. Zhōu Báizhú held a bundle in his hands.
In any case, today was a rare bountiful harvest.
Gù Qīngyǎ also learned that besides Zhōu Báizhú and his wife, a couple also lived in the cow shed.
This couple were also unfortunate souls. Both were university professors, but they were reported by their own children.
They had arrived a few years earlier than Zhōu Báizhú and had taught Zhōu Báizhú quite a bit about the rules of survival in the village.
In this village, they were rarely subjected to struggle sessions, which was much better than the public denouncements they had endured before.
Because they were betrayed by their children, the wounds in their hearts had not yet healed.
Their bodies were not strong. There were originally others, but they couldn't endure and committed suicide.
Upon hearing this, Gù Qīngyǎ could only sigh. Such matters! She didn't know what to say, only that the times were too cruel! But it would pass sooner or later.
"Little Ya, we should part ways here."
As they walked further, they would soon be out of the deep mountains. He dared not let Gù Qīngyǎ carry the basket any further, lest they be seen by others.
"Uncle Zhōu, it's a bit heavy. Can we walk a little further?"
She had mental power, so she wasn't afraid of being seen.
"This is fine. If we encounter anyone, don't implicate you."
Zhōu Báizhú didn't have Gù Qīngyǎ's confidence. He was truly scared. He would rather suffer a little himself than implicate others.
Since she couldn't persuade Zhōu Báizhú, Gù Qīngyǎ didn't leave immediately.
Watching Zhōu Báizhú's figure staggering away, Gù Qīngyǎ followed, keeping a distance so as not to arouse suspicion.
Gù Qīngyǎ held a dry branch in each hand. The bottom of her large basket was filled with wild chickens and rabbits, which Gù Qīngyǎ had covered with dry twigs and small branches.
These were items Gù Qīngyǎ had moved from her space after the basket was removed.
Upon returning home, Gù Qīngyǎ first prepared dinner, starting to stew chicken soup, both chickens.
Gù Qīngyǎ made chestnut chicken soup this time. One sand pot could only hold one chicken. Later, Gù Qīngyǎ directly used an iron pot.
Fortunately, she didn't lack containers for the chicken soup later, or she would have cried.
Gù Qīngyǎ took out a few pills for treating children's colds, wrapped them separately in newspaper.
She didn't know if it was a cold or something else, but she had plenty of medicine. Thinking that Zhōu Báizhú was a doctor himself, he would surely not make a mistake.
She placed some corn flour and wheat flour in the basket, along with a packet of brown sugar and a packet of milk powder. The medicine, however, she did not include.
The wide-mouthed earthenware jar took up a lot of space. With these items stuffed in, the basket was almost full.
She dared not take too much grain, fearing it would harm them.