Jiang Miao wanted to go up the mountain, but Pei Che actually didn't agree. There were many wild beasts in the mountains at that time, especially in places like Cangzhou, which was surrounded by mountains on three sides and had lush vegetation. He had looked through many cases these days, and three or four out of ten of them were people who disappeared after entering the mountains, and only torn clothes could be found. Most of these missing people were strong men, and a small body like Jiang Miao would probably not be enough for the wild beasts to eat if he went up.
Jiang Miao pestered Pei Che again and again, using all his tricks, before he finally agreed. But there was a condition, that is, Jiang Miao must bring guards with him to the mountain, and he must not go deep into the mountains. Once the guards sensed danger, he must go down the mountain quickly.
Jiang Miao nodded in agreement. He went up the mountain to find food, not to die. The heroic spirit of "knowing there are tigers in the mountain, but still going there" was not reflected in him at all.
Pei Che sighed helplessly: "Go early and come back early. If you don't think it's fun, come back quickly, okay?"
"Don't worry," Jiang Miao patted him, "just wait in the government office."
After saying this, he turned around and led the guards carrying baskets away without any reluctance.
Pei Che sighed again, thinking that it would be nice if he could take a day off today, but he had just taken a day off the day before yesterday. The Daliang Law stipulated that all officials in the court could take a day off every ten days, which meant that they could only take a day off after working for nine days.
Jiang Miao's eyes were full of sympathy after he found out. In modern times, black-hearted bosses work six days a week and rest one day a week, but in ancient times, they worked nine days a week and rested one day a week, only three days off a month. However, compared to the days of studying in the Imperial College, Pei Che should feel content.
The weather in June was already very hot, but in the mountains, it was cool, and even a bit chilly when a breeze blew occasionally.
Because of the lush vegetation, the air here is very fresh. Jiang Miao felt his mind broadened as he walked and looked around.
It's a pity that it's already June, and most of the wild vegetables on the mountain have become old and have lost their fresh taste of spring, so they are no longer worth picking.
Jiang Miao stopped walking when he passed a shady pine forest. The pine trees here were very dense, and there was a thick layer of pine needles under the trees, which felt soft when he stepped on it, like stepping on a mattress.
"You two can split up and look under each tree. There should be mushrooms inside," Jiang Miao said.
After saying this, he pulled away the pine needles under his hand and saw a bunch of gray-brown mushrooms. Their caps had not yet opened, and they were round and on top of their heads, looking very cute. Jiang Miao carefully picked the larger ones from the bunch of mushrooms, and then covered them with pine needles again.
"After harvesting, we cover the trees and they will continue to grow. We won't have to look for a place next time we come." Looking at their slightly puzzled eyes, Jiang Miao explained that he is a person who likes to follow the path of sustainable development.
The two guards looked like they had learned something, then dispersed and went to look for mushrooms in their own places. The two guards who came with them this time were not very old, and occasionally when they picked a bunch of large mushrooms, they would not be able to suppress their low cries of joy.
The three of them searched the small pine forest thoroughly and finally harvested a basket full of pine mushrooms. Jiang Miao felt a little regretful. It would be great if they could replace these mushrooms with pine mushrooms, which also grow in the pine forest.
But soon, he put this idea behind him. Because when he walked forward, he found two bayberry trees! The red and black fruits were hidden behind the long oval leaves, which made people feel sour at the sight of them.
He had never eaten fresh bayberry in Liangjing, which was in the north and bayberry trees could not survive. Because of the inconvenient transportation and the difficulty in preserving, it was difficult to eat it in the north. Occasionally, it was dried bayberry.
The two guards had never eaten fresh bayberries before, and when they first saw them, they thought the fruit looked pretty. When they saw Jiang Miao pick one and put it in his mouth, they were immediately shocked.
"Master Jiang, no!"
Hmm? Jiang Miao held a bayberry in his mouth, puffed up one cheek and showed a puzzled expression.
"This fruit is extremely gorgeous, how can you taste it easily? Why don't you let your subordinates try it first? If it is not poisonous, you can eat it."
Jiang Miao was both moved and amused. He ate the bayberry in the disapproving look of the little guard, spit out the core, and said, "Don't worry, I know it's bayberry, it's not poisonous. Besides, even if it's poisonous, I can't let you test it." If someone really wants to commit suicide by stuffing something he has never seen or eaten into his mouth, let him die by himself. Why bother implicate others.
When they heard that this was bayberry, the two guards were a little curious. They had only eaten dried bayberry and had never seen fresh one.
"Try it, it's delicious." Jiang Miao greeted them while picking another bayberry and stuffing it into his mouth. The bayberries here are somewhat like the varieties of later generations, with more flesh and small cores, sweet with a slight sour taste, and a mouthful of juice.
The two guards picked one and put it in their mouths hesitantly, but were soon conquered by the sweet taste and ate a few more.
"Don't eat too much, just satisfy your craving first. If you want to eat more, go home and soak them in salt water before eating." Jiang Miao reminded. He hadn't eaten it for a long time, so he couldn't help but try a few.
One guard asked in confusion: "Why do we need to soak it in salt water?"
Jiang Miao was afraid that he would feel uncomfortable if he told him, so he just said, "Salt water will make it cleaner."
The guard still didn't quite understand, but Jiang Miao had already turned around to pick the bayberries, so he had no choice but to follow. To prevent the bayberries from being crushed, Jiang Miao put some soft padding under the backpack. The red and black bayberries in the backpack made people salivate at the sight.
They picked about two baskets and stopped. Jiang Miao was not going to go any further because of the rich harvest today. It was almost noon, and the three of them took out the simple version of "roujiamo" prepared in the morning and ate it. They walked down the mountain only after they felt their strength returned.
When they got home, it was already afternoon. Jiang Miao washed the bayberries and put them in a basin with salt water. These things always attract fruit flies, and there were small white things in the water. Jiang Miao poured out the water to destroy the bodies so that others would not see them.
Maybe it was because he had been with Pei Che for too long, Jiang Miao felt that the two little ones had become more and more particular about what they ate recently. If they saw it, they would definitely refuse to eat.
This was not the first time Jiang Miao came here. The doorman on duty already knew him. When he saw him coming, he opened the door politely and let him in.
Because bayberry is quite common in the local area, Jiang Miao did not take it out for others to eat. After greeting the officials along the way, he went straight to Pei Che's office.
This was a bright and large room. There was a table facing the open door, on which were many files and other things. Pei Che sat behind the table, reading a file in his hand intently. As the saying goes, a serious man is the most handsome. Jiang Miao stood at the door and admired it for a while before knocking on the door to remind him that someone was coming.
Pei Che raised his head, and the corners of his lips immediately curled up wildly.
"Since you've been doing your job well, I'll give you a box of new things as a reward." Jiang Miao walked over with a smile and put the lunch box on his desk.
"What is it?" Pei Che cooperated and expressed his curiosity.
"Dangdang!" Jiang Miao opened the lid while the background sound of the surprise unveiling was played.
"Yangmei?" Pei Che said after just one glance.
Jiang Miao was a little surprised: "Have you eaten it?"
Pei Che nodded: "I once had it at a palace banquet. I heard that it was picked from a whole tree presented by Jingnan."
Jiang Miao performed a "wow" on the spot. Jingnan is about two Cangzhou away from Liangjing, but they actually sent a tree all the way there. It must be very thoughtful. It must be very difficult to keep the tree from dying along the way.
"The emperor was very happy and immediately invited princes, nobles and high-ranking officials to taste the fruit together. The Duke Zhong's Mansion was also among the invited guests. The bayberries they ate at that time didn't seem to be as delicious as the ones you picked." Pei Che said after tasting one.
"Of course. The bayberries will fall off when they are ripe. They must have dug up the trees and sent them here in advance. The bayberry trees have little nutrition along the way. It is already very difficult for them to survive, let alone produce sweet and juicy bayberries. Mine are different. They are just ripe, so of course they taste better." Jiang Miao said, while reaching out to take the bayberries to eat.
The couple ate the bayberries one by one, and soon finished the box of bayberries. After eating, Jiang Miao did not go back, but stayed here to help Pei Che tidy up the room. Usually someone came to clean his room, but the servants did not dare to touch Pei Che's things, so the table and cabinets looked messy.
Pei Che smiled and said, "Those adults envy me."
"What do I envy you for?" Jiang Miao asked casually.
"I envy you for having a good wife." In the entire government office, only Pei Che had people delivering food to him every day.
Jiang Miao gave him a fierce look and said, "I'll give you a chance to say it again."
"You envy me for having a good husband!" Pei Che said seriously.
Jiang Miao was satisfied. Even though he couldn't get the upper hand in bed, it was still comfortable to get the upper hand in mouth.
"They are just trying to comfort you. They have beautiful wives and young children by their side. How can they not be happy?"
Pei Che recalled how those adults usually spoke, and felt that Jiang Miao was right. But being a boss is so fun, it is always more comfortable to hear good words than bad words. It seems that he has to work hard to move up so that others can keep the bad words in their hearts.
Jiang Miao helped him sort it out, and then sat here for a while, listening to Pei Che read the case files to him. Some of the cases were simply incredible, and Jiang Miao admired the county magistrates who solved these cases.
After listening to a case, Jiang Miao looked at the sky and said, "Oh no! They must have been out of school for a while."
"Why are you panicking? It's not like there's nothing for them to eat at home. You picked some bayberries today, I'm sure Chan Yi will give them some." Pei Che said. He felt that Jiang Miao was too good to the two little bastards, which was why they pouted when they didn't have a meal cooked by Jiang Miao. However, before saying this, Pei Che should recall his performance at noon, because he didn't eat much either.
Jiang Miao was anxious: "I'm just worried that they will eat too much!" The two little ones have never been restrained in eating. Others don't know the consequences of eating too much bayberry, so they probably won't stop them.
His worries were justified. When he returned home, the two little ones had already eaten a lot. Their stomachs were bulging and their lips were red. They smiled ingratiatingly when they saw Jiang Miao.
Jiang Miao sighed: Okay, no need to eat dinner.
In the evening, the two little ones sat at the table with sad faces, looking at the sumptuous dishes. They licked their teeth, which still felt sour and soft that they couldn't even bite tofu. They were so sad that they wanted to cry but had no tears.
(End of this chapter)