Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 118: The Lynx Appears

"Don’t be fooled by this little girl; she’s young, but her acupuncture skills are amazing, and she’s quite good at making medicine too."

Just like any parent boasting about their child, Uncle Yaozi never stops bragging about Yi Chichi.

"The key is that she’s capable of taking on tasks..."

Seeing him in full flow and feeling embarrassed by all the praise, Yi Chichi couldn’t help but poke him, "Uncle, take it easy."

If he keeps praising, she’ll really want to dig herself into a castle of embarrassment.

The old man chimed in, "I think you’ve gone head over heels for your apprentice."

Uncle Yaozi chuckled, "That’s my good fortune. You might not have gone head over heels, but you haven’t received an apprentice in all these years either."

The old man’s face suddenly fell; this troublesome topic was just like Old Yaozi — always getting on people’s nerves.

"Old girl, did you eat yet?"

He asked Yi Chichi with a smile.

"Not yet."

Yi Chichi squatted beside him and started chatting with the old man as if they were long-time acquaintances.

Uncle Yaozi silently watched the cheerful conversation between the old and young, realizing Yi Chichi’s personality was quite interesting.

Not shy, she smiles at everyone, has a sweet mouth, and can chat up a storm.

Before long, she’d practically figured out Old White Head’s background.

The fox hadn’t left either; this fox wasn’t shy or afraid of people. After watching Yi Chichi for a while, it sneakily approached her.

When Yi Chichi finally noticed, it was already lying beside her, twisting like sugar.

Its foxy eyes were looking at her with a charming little look.

Yi Chichi’s hands itched to pet it, "Uncle Bai, is this your fox?"

"No, this is a white-browed mottled fox attracted by pheasants."

Old White Head cleaned up the pheasant with a knife, split it in half, giving half to the fox and half to the whippet.

Instantly, the fox and whippet’s attention was drawn to the pheasant. Both grabbed their portions and squatted nearby to feast.

Yi Chichi belatedly realized, this white-browed mottled fox was the one Uncle Yaozi mentioned to keep a distance from.

"Uncle, I think it’s quite normal; it doesn’t attack people."

Uncle Yaozi furrowed his brows, staring at the fox, muttering in puzzlement, "It used to be quite aggressive; perhaps it’s gotten better with age."

"Heh..."

Before he finished speaking, a sarcastic laugh came from Old White Head. Uncle Yaozi immediately flared up, rolling up his sleeves, ready to confront Old White Head, but was halted by one sentence.

"Do you want some chicken?!"

He shook two pheasants in the air; Yi Chichi gulped, and Uncle Yaozi’s eyes lit up.

"Yes!"

He answered emphatically, exceedingly eager, "Just tell me what to do."

"Go sort out the medicinal herbs for me, and have your young apprentice get the stove going."

Old White Head was also a medicine gatherer, with decades of experience.

He went up the mountain in early March, climbed several mountains, and only returned recently, planning to rest in the wooden cabin for a night before heading back, coincidentally encountering Xiao Yaozi bringing Yi Chichi up the mountain.

Ready-made labor should not be wasted.

Thus, he was very straightforward in deploying people.

Uncle Yaozi pulled a troubled face, "How about my young apprentice helps you handle the herbs, and I go start the stove?"

Yi Chichi, being named, immediately stood energetically upright, projecting a capable demeanor.

Old White Head glanced at Uncle Yaozi, then shifted his gaze to Yi Chichi’s face, "Do you know how to process medicinal herbs?"

"I do!"

"Taught by Xiao Yaozi?"

"...No, I had another mentor."

"Have you graduated?"

"I’ve graduated in medicine making and acupuncture, but not in other skills."

Quite honest!

"Then give it a try!"

"Sure."

Then, Yi Chichi and Uncle Yaozi divided the work.

Old White Head handled the remaining chicken.

Cooking wasn’t Yi Chichi’s forte; she couldn’t manage it.

The stove in the wooden cabin was a big one, and so was the pot; she couldn’t control the portions, nor the heat of such a large stove.

Rather than waste ingredients, it was better to focus on what she was familiar with.

Thus, as the old and middle-aged men busily cooked, Yi Chichi earnestly processed Old White Head’s herbs.

He was a skilled person; the herbs he gathered were not only of good age and quality, but also scarce.

Not only were there medicinal herbs like polygonum multiflorum, ganoderma, caterpillar fungus, but also rhodiola, Huangqi, and Anemone Raddeana.

The quantity was indeed substantial.

Yi Chichi was thrilled by the sight, patiently and carefully handling each type.

The processing of Anemone Raddeana was a bit troublesome; it was heavily contaminated with mud and sand, requiring thorough cleaning before further handling.

Time ticked by, with the sky gradually darkening.

Just as Yi Chichi was about to lift her head to relieve the acid in her neck from long hours of bowing, Uncle Yaozi’s voice suddenly came, "Chichi, leave it for now, come eat."

"Hey, on my way!"

A rich aroma wafted over, prompting Yi Chichi to promptly put down the Anemone Raddeana, wash her hands, and go for dinner.

Uncle Yaozi and Old Sir Bai had already set the table and poured drinks, inviting Yi Chichi over promptly upon seeing her.

Casually, they tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to her.

The golden rabbit leg glistened with a beautiful sheen of oil, sprinkled sparsely with chili flakes, its savory aroma carrying a subtle hint of spice.

Yi Chichi swallowed hard, expressed thanks, and eagerly took a bite of the rabbit leg.

The delicious taste made her eyes squint with pleasure.

"Is it tasty?"

Old Sir Bai, who was a master at cooking rabbit, asked with a smile upon seeing her expression.

"It’s delicious!"

She nodded frantically, pouring out praises as if they were free, making Old Sir Bai smile with pride, befuddled with joy, and offering a promise.

"I’ll send you a couple of rabbits when we return tomorrow."

"??? What? You’re giving me rabbits?"

Yi Chichi’s eyes widened suddenly; was the old man being so generous? 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Kao Shan Village is rich in snow rabbits, and these rabbits are larger than field rabbits. Even though the rabbit meat yield is low, two together would weigh around ten pounds.

Besides—

"If I recall correctly, it’s currently rabbit breeding season."

The message implied, capturing the big rabbits could leave the little ones without care.

Understanding her point immediately, Old Sir Bai laughed; the kid’s quite kind-hearted.

"We mountain-dwellers know better than you; rest assured, they’re all male rabbits."

If female rabbits carrying young are caught, they’ll be released.

Hunters do the same, abiding by rules like not capturing the young, targeting males instead of females, and more.

Uncle Yaozi took a sip of his drink, speaking slowly, "Looks like you’ve caught quite a few rabbits this time."

"Not really."

Old White Head quickly denied, "Only ten or so."

"Ten or so is not few?"

Yi Chichi was shocked, "Did you clear out a rabbit nest?"

"Pretty much."

With an inexplicable thought surfacing, Old Sir Bai sighed, "It’ll be difficult to catch rabbits in the future."

"Why’s that?"

"Lynxes have appeared."

Yi Chichi suddenly realized; she hadn’t forgotten that lynxes’ diet mainly consists of snow rabbits and various wild rabbits. In areas where lynxes appear, the numbers of snow and wild rabbits drastically decrease.

"There weren’t lynxes before?"