After the family split up, my stepmother and scumbag father begged me to come home.

Lin Yulong didn't say anything, but his eyes couldn't help but dart into the grass, and his steps slowed down, as if he wanted to turn over every single leaf on the ground to examine it.

Lin Qianqian saw this but didn't say anything. She just quietly slowed down and moved closer to Lin Yulong, intentionally or unintentionally.

After walking for a while, a shady, gentle slope appeared ahead, covered with thick layers of decaying leaves that felt soft and spongy underfoot.

"Let's take a break." Lin Qianqian put down her basket, found a tree stump to sit on, and said, "Tiger, take that small one out and let it air out. Don't let it get rotten."

Ding Xiaohu responded and carefully took out the ginseng, spreading it out on a flat stone.

Lin Yulong squatted down to the side, staring at the two ginseng roots for a long time, before suddenly asking, "Sister, do you think ginseng only grows in shady places?"

"Pretty much, I can't stand being in a place that's too sunny," Lin Qianqian replied casually.

"Then...then I'll go take a look over there." Lin Yulong said, then stood up and walked down the slope.

Lin Qianqian opened her mouth as if to call out to him, but then closed it again. She glanced at Ding Xiaohu, who understood and quietly followed her.

After searching for a long time without finding any ginseng, Lin Yulong was somewhat disappointed.

He came back with his head down.

"Ah Long, we're already very lucky to have found two plants," Lin Qianqian comforted him.

"That's right. In the past few years, I've only heard that Er Mangzi from the west end of the village dug up ginseng. I've never heard of anyone else digging up ginseng," Ding Xiaohu said.

"Alright, maybe we'll make some other discoveries later!" Ding Xiaohu continued to persuade him.

Lin Yulong's mood improved considerably. Indeed, it was something so rare to encounter, yet he had dared to dream of digging up a whole plant by himself.

The group continued walking deeper into the thicket, until the path disappeared, forcing them to pass through the bushes, which scratched their skin.

"It seems no one has ever been here before; there isn't even a road," Lin Qianqian said, frowning.

Lin Yulong and Ding Xiaohu behind them were a little scared. "Sister Qianqian, do you think there might be a man-eating monster here?"

"Pfft—" Lin Qianqian couldn't help but laugh out loud, turning around to look at Ding Xiaohu, "You didn't see any monsters, but your courage is almost supernatural."

Ding Xiaohu scratched his head sheepishly and shrank closer to Lin Yulong: "I was just saying... This forest is too deep, I can't even hear a bird chirping."

Lin Yulong didn't reply, but his pace slowed noticeably, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings. The canopy overhead grew denser, filtering the sunlight into a thin layer of green that fell on the thick layer of fallen leaves, and even the air carried a damp, musty smell.

Lin Qianqian stopped, used her sickle to cut away a vine blocking her path, and listened for a while. The forest was indeed too quiet, so quiet that only the three of them breathing and the crisp sound of their feet breaking dry branches could be heard.

"Don't scare yourself." She lowered her voice, but her tone was steady. "The more deserted a place is, the more likely it is to have good things. Stay close together, don't get separated."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a rustling sound from the bushes ahead.

The three of them froze at the same time.

Ding Xiaohu grabbed Lin Yulong's arm, his face pale. Lin Qianqian slowly raised her sickle and took half a step forward—

A grayish hare darted out of the grass, leaped and bounded into another thicket, leaving behind a few trembling leaves.

"..." Lin Qianqian put down her sickle and glanced back at Lin Yulong.

Lin Yulong chuckled twice: "Rabbit is good, rabbit meat is delicious."

His tense shoulders relaxed, and he found it amusing himself, so he looked down and kicked at the fallen leaves at his feet. But as he kicked, he suddenly stopped.

"Sister—" His voice was a little tight, not like he was afraid, but more like he couldn't believe it.

Lin Qianqian followed his gaze.

Half-hidden by fallen leaves, a cluster of emerald green leaves stretches out close to the ground, its stem straight, topped with a bright red fruit, like a small lantern, standing out conspicuously in the dark woodland.

None of the three spoke.

Lin Qianqian slowly squatted down, brushing aside the decaying leaves around her, her fingertips barely daring to touch those few leaves. She examined them carefully for a long while before letting out a soft breath, her voice trembling slightly:

"...is a fool."

Ding Xiaohu's eyes widened, and his mouth remained agape for a long time.

Lin Yulong squatted to the side, staring at the ginseng, and suddenly felt his eyes sting.

He blinked hard and asked in a low voice, "Sister, can I have this one?"

Lin Qianqian looked up at him.

The boy's eyes were bright, glistening with a thin layer of mist, yet he smiled, revealing two prominent canine teeth.

She couldn't help but laugh, and lightly flicked his forehead: "It's yours. Be careful when you dig, don't hurt the roots."

Lin Yulong nodded vigorously, his hand trembling slightly, but he steadily reached into the soil.