Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Soon, Fourth Sister-in-law Chen Fang also started shouting, "Help! Someone, quick! Second Sister-in-law, wake up!"

Below, Liu Xiaoe's weak voice could soon be heard, "I... I, you need to help me down!"

"Second Sister-in-law, wait a moment. Let me find some grass first to scrape off the mud on our bodies. Otherwise, we won't be able to walk down the mountain with all this mud on us," Zhou Jiaojiao said before running to the spot nearby where there was the most grass.

It was a small hill.

As soon as she arrived there, she exclaimed in surprise, "It's Astragalus! Come and take a look!"

Zhou Jiaojiao's voice was filled with excitement. Indeed, even after getting married, her good luck still followed her.

Second Sister-in-law had just a bit of bad luck, and she was already able to find Astragalus!

"What Astragalus? Stop being crazy over there! Hurry up and come over here to help me!" Liu Xiaoe winced in pain when she saw that Zhou Jiaojiao wasn't coming to help her but was instead jumping around excitedly.

She seemed to be happy about her fall!

How could Old Fifth's wife be so mean?

Liu Xiaoe grew angrier the more she thought about it.

Meanwhile, Zhou Jiaojiao pulled out an Astragalus root excitedly. "Second Sister-in-law, Fourth Sister-in-law, look at this!"

In their mountainous area, Astragalus was not something that could be found everywhere, but they could occasionally come across it.

Everyone knew what it looked like.

Upon seeing it, Liu Xiaoe immediately became happy. "This is great! Quickly, go dig them all up."

She forgot about her pain for the moment.

On the mountain, Zhao Cuihua stared in amazement. "They're too lucky, aren't they? This mountain is always bustling with people. How could these Astragalus roots have grown there without being discovered?"

Bai Xiuxiu smiled as she watched the three people below start working.

Indeed, they were still as mysterious as ever!

"Eldest Sister-in-law, are we just going to watch?" Zhao Cuihua felt discontented.

Of course, they had to watch!

All these things belonged to Zhou Jiaojiao. If anyone tried to take a share of what Zhou Jiaojiao had already discovered and obtained, they would end up having bad luck.

She didn't care about the Astragalus itself; she only needed its seeds.

No matter who took the Astragalus home, she could get her hands on the seeds.

Moreover, based on her understanding of Zhou Jiaojiao, her fifth sister-in-law would definitely not head down the mountain just like this!

After gathering so many people on the mountain, she wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste. That wouldn't be like Zhou Jiaojiao.

If they followed Zhou Jiaojiao down the mountain, they could obtain any medicinal herb seeds.

Now, the best thing to do was to walk ahead of Zhou Jiaojiao and take what belonged to her before she discovered it herself!

Sure enough, it happened just as Bai Xiuxiu had predicted.

Below, after Zhou Jiaojiao and the other two dug up the Astragalus roots, Liu Xiaoe, who had been enduring the pain, suggested with a frown and a furrowed brow, "We've obtained so many good things. Let's hurry back. You need to support me. I'm so dizzy that I can barely take two steps."

When Liu Xiaoe touched the back of her head, she found blood.

Upon seeing the blood, her legs went limp. "Let's go home! We need to go home quickly!"

Zhou Jiaojiao frowned upon hearing this. They had just started. How could they return home now?

It was just a little blood. She had been lively just moments ago, and it wasn't as if she was going to die.

"Second Sister-in-law, if we go back right after coming up the mountain, Mother will scold us, won't she? If you really can't walk, stay here and wait for us.

We'll come back to fetch you later.

Recently, only children have been coming up the mountain. It was only today that the team leader agreed that each family could leave some members at home instead of working. That's why everyone came to the mountain.

We were able to come across something like Astragalus right after arriving. Who knows what other treasures we might find further in!

I don't want to go back just yet."

Zhou Jiaojiao, who had discovered the Astragalus, was very firm.

She then started walking further into the mountain.

"You! How can you be so cruel, Old Fifth's wife? Wait for me! At least help me sit over there... Ow!" Before Liu Xiaoe could finish her sentence, she stumbled again and fell hard.

Her face hit the ground!

When she lifted her head and opened her mouth to cry, two of her front teeth fell out.

Although the two people on top of the mountain couldn't see clearly, they soon heard Liu Xiaoe start crying. "My teeth! My teeth!"

Zhou Jiaojiao was thrilled by this sight!

It seemed that Second Sister-in-law could have even more bad luck! She couldn't let Second Sister-in-law stay there like this.

However, to avoid suspicion, she feigned concern. "Second Sister-in-law, it's not good for you to stay here alone. How about this: Fourth Sister-in-law and I will carry you."

"Huh?" Chen Fang, standing beside her, was stunned.

Does this sound like human talk?

In her condition, they're actually still making her leave?

Liu Xiaoe wished she could tear Zhou Jiaojiao apart, but thinking about the possible valuable finds that her family might miss, and imagining her mother-in-law's reaction back home, she held back.

Moreover, any good finds would be shared among the families!

This would benefit them too.

With these thoughts, Liu Xiaoe compromised.

On the mountain, Bai Xiuxiu, who had already witnessed misfortune, got up and moved forward.

"Eldest Sister-in-Law? Where are we going?" Zhao Cuihua kept pace with her swiftly.

Bai Xiuxiu smiled at her words: "There are treasures in these mountains, not just for them to find, but for us as well. And there are only two of us. I know what you're thinking, and I share similar thoughts.

Our mother-in-law, despite being related to you, favors the second son and Old Fifth's family more.

If we don't take matters into our own hands, who will care for us?"

Zhao Cuihua's eyes lit up. "You're right, Eldest Sister-in-Law. Let's hurry."

The two led the way, while Zhou Jiaojiao and the others, slowed down by the injured Liu Xiaoe, lagged behind.

This made it much easier for Bai Xiuxiu and Zhao Cuihua to forge ahead.

Based on the pattern of Zhou Jiaojiao benefiting from others' misfortunes, Bai Xiuxiu was convinced there were treasures ahead.

Even if they searched slower, they would surely find something.

And she was right!

After nearly half an hour of searching, they discovered a large patch of Astragalus roots hidden in a thicket. They also found a goji berry vine laden with berries near a ravine.

At the sight, Zhao Cuihua almost screamed out loud.

But Bai Xiuxiu quickly covered her mouth. "They're moving slowly behind us, but their hearing isn't impaired. Before they catch up, let's pick as many as we can."

Zhao Cuihua fell silent; these were riches! Selling them would earn her private funds.

Now, each one picked as much as they could.

Bai Xiuxiu wasn't slow in picking; together, they swiftly gathered the goji berries and pulled up the Astragalus roots.

Once done, they found another hill to hide on.

The hill provided cover with trees, allowing them to see Zhou Jiaojiao and the others without being seen.

"Eldest Sister-in-Law, these things..." Zhao Cuihua was conflicted, unsure how much to keep for the family.