CHAPTER 229: CHAPTER 221: BAMBOO SHOOTS AND PEAR BLOSSOMS

The location of Tiger Square is situated midway up the mountain. The mist here is rather dense, blocking sunlight effectively, though it leaves your skin feeling sticky.

Even before Aunt Hong Mei could lead the way, Han Qiwu had already spotted several bamboo shoots glowing with the light of the system in his field of vision.

[Bamboo Shoot]

[Stamina +50]

[Health +50]

[Note: A delicacy among dishes!]

Perhaps it’s because they arrived early, the bamboo shoots weren’t very large yet. The exposed parts above the ground were only as thick as a wrist and approximately one meter tall. Their outer shells had a dark brown hue adorned with fine bristles.

"I’ve come by to scout here over the past few weeks. The bamboo shoots these past two days are just perfect — not too big, not too small," Aunt Hong Mei said cheerfully and started picking shoots as she spoke.

Tang Qingying glanced at Han Qiwu, who was still standing in place. Walking over, she lightly patted his shoulder and said, "What’s caught your attention? Did a snake charmer enchant you?"

Han Qiwu snapped back to reality, laughing as he walked toward the glowing bamboo shoots. "With Mr. Tang around, how could she possibly take my soul away? Let’s start picking; I’ll just grab a little bit."

"Just a little bit — again?" Tang Qingying chuckled. She walked to a small bamboo shoot nearby, nudged it lightly with her foot, pulled it out forcefully, and expertly began peeling the shell. As she peeled, she muttered softly under her breath, "Layer by layer, the brocade emerges; each joint reveals the jade-like white."

The peeled bamboo shoot was pristine white, though still not as fair as Tang Qingying’s hands.

Han Qiwu approached the glowing shoots one by one and gathered them all.

Soon, Aunt Hong Mei had already filled an entire basket. Turning to see Han Qiwu’s slow movements, she couldn’t help but laugh and scold him, "Xiao Han, are you sewing embroidery there? Hurry up, there’s even more interesting stuff waiting for us later!"

Han Qiwu looked up with a smile and said, "Don’t rush, I’m coming now."

With that, he pulled out three or four pre-folded large feed bags from his pocket, bent down swiftly, and began pulling shoots at a rapid pace.

Five minutes later.

Tang Qingying gazed at her now-full bamboo shoot basket with a sense of accomplishment — she had been peeling as she picked.

The cleaned bamboo shoots were spotless, measuring about twenty centimeters long and as thick as a wrist.

"Han Qiwu, how many have you picked?" Tang Qingying turned her head to ask.

"Just a little bit. If peeled, it wouldn’t even fill two baskets," Han Qiwu said with a simple smile, then tapped the side of two stuffed feed bags, each over 1.2 meters tall and capable of holding a tremendous amount.

"A little bit? This looks like bamboo shoot devastation!" Tang Qingying said with a laugh, then remarked, "Still, you picked well. This bamboo grove is too dense — if we don’t clear a good portion, they won’t survive."

Aunt Hong Mei gave him a big thumbs up and praised, "It’s different when someone is educated — well said! If we pick too few, the other bamboo shoots will suffer. Xiao Han, grab more and dry them into bamboo shoot jerky for Qingying to take home and cook herself."

"Got it," Han Qiwu answered with a smile.

"Cook myself?" Tang Qingying shook her head nervously, walked over to Han Qiwu, and whispered, "No need to dry it for me. I can’t manage that on my own."

After saying this, she felt equal parts awkward and quietly expectant.

Her emotions were a little tangled.

"Then come over to mine when you want to eat. I’ll cook it for you," Han Qiwu said casually as he continued picking shoots.

"It’s a deal!" Tang Qingying quickly replied, her heart full of joy.

Yay!

More meals to mooch!

After another ten minutes of picking, Aunt Hong Mei finally beckoned them to continue heading upward.

"Auntie, where should we leave these bamboo shoots?" Han Qiwu called out as he looked up.

"Leave them here; no one will take them. Hurry up, the wild pear trees are blooming up ahead," Aunt Hong Mei shouted from the rock further up.

Han Qiwu carefully placed the bamboo shoots collected by the three of them in a neat pile. To keep tiny animals from coming to steal food, he even covered the peeled shoots with their discarded shells. Once it was done, he followed behind Tang Qingying as they climbed upwards.

The dirt slopes here were untamed trails, very steep. Since it had rained the day before, the soil remained slick and slippery. The two of them cautiously climbed along Aunt Hong Mei’s footprints.

After four or five steps, Tang Qingying cried out, her body suddenly leaning backward.

"Ah!"

Han Qiwu immediately reacted, stamping down hard on nearby vegetation and stretching out his hand to support Tang Qingying’s back.

"Are you okay?"

"I’m fine; stepped into a hole. It’s a mouse den," Tang Qingying’s voice trembled slightly, her face pale.

Fortunately, her foot wasn’t injured. Han Qiwu supported her by the waist and helped her steady herself before they continued climbing upward.

Once they reached the flatter slope above, Aunt Hong Mei approached and asked, "What happened earlier? Did you get hurt?"

"I’m fine; just stepped into a hole," Tang Qingying waved her hand and then, catching sight of something, raised her head with a look of delight — unable to suppress her wonder, she laughed out loud.

Han Qiwu followed her gaze, and his eyes immediately lit up.

On the small flat slope ahead, a dozen lush, towering pear trees were laden with white and pink-tinted blossoms. The petals cascaded down like snow, blanketing both the ground and the branches in breathtaking beauty.

Looking farther, several weeping willows had also sprouted golden buds, glowing in the warm sunlight and brimming with hope.

"Golden willow shoots, snowy white pear blossoms." Tang Qingying softly recited a verse from Qinglian Hermit, her face beaming with joy, "This spring is truly wonderful."

"Indeed," Han Qiwu agreed with a smile, hoisting his hefty feed bag as he charged forward.

These pear blossoms and willow buds were glowing!

Jackpot!

Honestly, he hadn’t expected the glowing ratio of the pear blossoms and willow buds to be so high. Perhaps it had something to do with the sheer abundance.

Just at a glance, one pear tree boasted at least thirty to forty glowing flowers, while the willow branches hanging low carried dozens of shimmering golden buds.

Go, go, go!

"Slow down! Take it easy!" Aunt Hong Mei called out, feeling a bit exasperated. Kids these days — what an opportunity! Instead of inviting Qingying to join him, the boy rushed ahead to pick pear blossoms on his own.

The young lady wasn’t even rushing to grab flowers, yet there he was — why so impatient?

Just then, Tang Qingying’s equally enthusiastic voice rang out from nearby: "Pick the bigger ones! These flowers are so tender; they’re great for salads or soups! You grab the pear blossoms up high, I’ll go for the low-hanging willow buds!"

Aunt Hong Mei: "......"

So, you two had a division of labor all figured out?

When did you discuss this? I didn’t even hear you speak!

Han Qiwu rushed to the pear blossom tree, first picking a handful of non-system items as camouflage, before swiftly plucking a glowing pear blossom for inspection.

[Pear Blossom (Silver Star Quality)]

[Stamina +1]

[Health +0.5]

[Special Effect - Whitening: Consuming this enhances skin fairness]

[Note: "Compendium of Materia Medica" - Pear blossoms can remove facial discoloration.]