40 Foraging 2 (1/2)
According to the book, recklessly digging the tree would hurt it and affect its productivity. Thankfully, there were many different ways to uproot the tree with minimal damage listed in the book. Such as how to calculate how deep to dig and how to cut the roots.
Other than that, there were other tips written in the book. Like it was better to wait for when the tree laid dormant in the autumn or winter before moving it, as to not damage the tree's ability to lay fruits.
Obviously, Yan Xiu couldn't wait that long. The other ways include injecting the tree with wood element qi frequently before and after it was dug. Giving the tree nutritional liquid was another way.
Yan Xiu didn't have a wood element qi but he had nutritional liquid. He conjured a stream of green water and splashed it around the tree. As if a starving man smelled food, the tree's root sucked the green water quickly. Yan Xiu put his hand on the Bananut tree trunk and felt the tree filled with vitality, every part of it was brimming with qi. This means it worked. Yan Xiu then climbed the tree and cut some of the leaves while bending some downward. Bai Yuan passed him the rope, Yan Xiu tied the leaves gently just enough so it won't hurt it.
Yan Xiu climbed down, he took a spade and estimated the size of the root ball before he dug. He dug around 25 inches deep, avoiding the major roots and cutting the minor roots cleanly. He told Bai Yuan to hold the tree while he took the old burlap and wrapped the tree's root with it.
(Maybe some more green water will help it stay healthy in the process.) (YX)
Yan Xiu conjured green water and wet the burlap, he then helped Bai Yuan carrying the tree onto the cart. Yan Xiu looked at the tree while smiling.
”Xiao Yuan, from now on we can eat Bananut at home.” (YX)
”Ooh Ooh! (Great!)” (BY)
”Let's go search for more.” (YX)
”Uho! (Okay!)” (BY)
Yan Xiu hopped onto the cart and held the Bananut tree in place. Bai Yuan pulled the cart as they moved around the forest, searching for more trees and edible flora.
Yan Xiu harvested many wild vegetables and mushrooms but he had yet to have other trees to plant on his field. While he did find some, they were all too big for them to move. They also encountered some beasts but they didn't kill the beast, just fought them off.
They had an ample reserve of meat and today was focused on greens, so they wouldn't hunt anything today.
Parched, they head for the river. Yan Xiu drank slowly while Bai Yuan dunk his head into the water. Then Yan Xiu's eyes caught something across the river. Tall green plants growing near the river, clumping together. It was a cluster of bamboo. Yan Xiu excitedly crossed the river and went to the bamboos.
The deep green color of the bamboo with long thin leaves, every bamboo stalk was as thick as an adult's fist. Yan Xiu caressed the bamboo, it was smooth and slightly cold. And the most important thing about the bamboo was the small sprout hidden under the shadow of the tall adult stalks. Unlike the adult, the young bamboo shoot was light green in color. As luck would have it, Yan Xiu found some bamboo shoots ready for consumption.
Yan Xiu quickly went back to the cart, he took a spade and went back to the bamboo. Curious, Bai Yuan followed him. Using the spade, he cut the bamboo shoots that were 15cm or 10cm tall. He recalled that his father said that bamboo shoots are the tastiest at this length. Yan Xiu stabbed his spade to the ground, behind him was the harvested bamboo shoots. There were thirteen bamboo shoots, Bai Yuan looked at the bamboo shoots.
Uho uhoo? (Master picked this, so it should be delicious stuff but why does it smell like dirt?) Thought Bai Yuan as he took a sniff of the bamboo shoots.
”Xiao Yuan, place this on the cart and bring me one bucket please.” (YX)
”Uho. (Okay.)” (BY)
Swiftly, Bai Yuan took the bamboo shoots to the cart and came back with a bucket. Yan Xiu took a deep breath and filled the bucket half full with green water.