"What's there in the mountains to make money with?" Xu Nian'an answered without even lifting his eyelids.
The bamboo and trees in the mountains are worth something, but at most you earn a labor wage, and it all depends on when the forestry station in the village has work available so you can make money.
Hunting?
Forget it. Even though they grew up near the mountains, hunting is not really their skill.
"There's plenty to make money with, like medicinal herbs. Let's go wander around—it's got to be better than just sitting at home, right?"
Xu Nianhua encouraged, "Second Brother, are you coming or not?"
Xu Nian'an stared at her long-sleeved shirt and trousers and just couldn't say 'no'.
He couldn't possibly let her go up into the mountains by herself.
After a bit, Xu Nian'an changed into long sleeves and pants. It's the middle of summer, the mountains are crawling with mosquitoes and snakes and ants, so long sleeves and pants are safer.
When they left, Ji Ying grilled them for quite a while, and it was Xu Nian'an who explained they were going up the mountain to pick some sour plums.
Ji Ying grumbled, saying those sour plums are so sour and astringent, not even sweet, what's good about them?
"It's exactly the time when the plums are ripe." Xu Nianhua thought about those tart plums and couldn't help craving them.
"They're super sour, what's the appeal?"
Xu Nian'an smacked his lips—he wasn't interested in these plums.
All the way up the mountain, Xu Nian'an chopped firewood. Living in the old house, they never had enough firewood.
Xu Nianhua chopped wood too. Though she hadn't done this in years, she still remembered how—just forgot her body was a bit delicate…
"Go sit on that rock and rest a bit, don't wear yourself out." Xu Nian'an was drenched in sweat as he bundled up the firewood they'd chopped, saying as he worked, "Not to nag, but it's the middle of summer and you just want to climb the mountain. Are you trying to cook yourself?"
"With those skinny arms and legs, after a few steps you're already out of breath."
Xu Nian'an's dislike had never been hidden.
Xu Nianhua felt embarrassed, but still insisted, "Second Brother, it's because I'm weak that I need to climb the mountain more—and get stronger."
Her eyes darted everywhere as she wiped off the plums and popped them into her mouth—so sour it felt like her teeth might drop out.
But, the taste isn't the worst.
So, how can you actually make money?
There's lots of medicinal herbs up here, but she doesn't know any of them!
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She pointed at some fruit on a tree not far off and asked, "Second Brother, what's that?"
Xu Nianhua was full of excitement.
Xu Nian'an followed her gaze and said, "Bixi Fruit?"
"Yes, yes! Also called Fruit Jelly!"
Xu Nianhua cried out excitedly, "Second Brother, pick some of those—I want that fruit!"
Fruit Jelly?
"You're craving mung bean jelly?" Xu Nian'an asked.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm."
Xu Nianhua nodded like a woodpecker.
Xu Nian'an picked some fruit, but Xu Nianhua didn't think it was enough and made him pick even more.
"What are you doing with so many Fruit Jelly fruits? If you want to eat, we can just make some mung bean jelly at home."
Using these fruits to make mung bean jelly tastes great, but it's just such a hassle—all that work for one meal, you might as well make something else.
"Second Brother, I have a clever plan."
Xu Nianhua was thinking, now it's summer, if they made jelly to sell it, it definitely would sell!
The technique for making jelly is simple—it's not a one-of-a-kind business.
But Xu Nianhua wasn't worried. Fruit Jelly barely costs anything, all you need is labor, maybe a little brown sugar, and if you can make some money selling jelly, it's always a good thing.