Chapter 10: 10010 Sichuan Pepper Tree

Today was a great harvest for the Li family, all thanks to Li Menglan discovering the persimmons; Li Dazhu, Li Zhiming, and Li Zhihao and their kin did not venture any deeper into Crooked Neck Mountain.

Li Dazhu, Li Menglan, Li Zhiming, and Li Zhihao were a relatively late group to ascend the mountain. By the time the Li family had finished picking all the persimmons from that wild persimmon tree, the sun was already directly overhead... Entering the mountains at this time could be somewhat dangerous.

Li Menglan reached out to wipe the sweat from her face. "Dad, let's not go in to look for hedgehog fruits today. Tomorrow, you can take Big Brother and Second Brother back into the mountains with you. Today, we'll just look around nearby. Dad—do you think what I'm saying is good?" Li Menglan estimated that it must already be around one or two o'clock. Even if they truly found a chestnut tree... there wouldn't be enough time to harvest them.

Li Dazhu looked affectionately at Li Menglan's small face, which was flushed red from the sun. Although it was already autumn, the temperature in the mornings and evenings was vastly different from the midday heat; the air was cool in the morning and evening, but the midday sun was just as scorching and dizzying. Li Menglan's face had been reddened by this sun.

"Alright, your Dad, Big Brother, and Second Brother will all listen to our Lan-er," Li Dazhu said cheerfully as he walked over and carried Li Menglan into the shade of a tree.

Li Zhihao also walked over with a thick skin and a grin, saying, "Dad, actually our harvest today isn't bad either. Look, Big Brother even caught two wild chickens. Our family can add a dish to the table again tonight." Li Zhihao pointed toward the two wild chickens placed beside Li Zhiming, which Li Zhiming had just caught.

"Mm." Li Dazhu's honest face was filled with smiles. "Second Brother is right. Ever since Lan-er recovered from her illness, our luck has improved along with her." Li Dazhu's words carried a deeper meaning.

"Dad, Big Brother, Second Brother, our family will definitely get better and better. When we have money in the future, we'll build a beautiful big house and live together happily as a family." After the events of these past two days, Li Menglan was full of longing for the future; she believed... that one day, there would surely be bread? And a house... there would be a house as well.

"Big Brother, can you take me for another walk around here?" Seeing as entering the mountains was impossible, but it was still early, Li Menglan felt unwilling to go home just yet. Thus, she thought of asking her eldest brother to take her around to look; perhaps there would be an unexpected discovery?

"Okay." Li Zhiming nodded and stood up without a word, taking Li Menglan's hand to leave.

"Big Brother, Little Sister, I want to go with you too!" Li Zhihao was a kid who couldn't sit still; as soon as he heard Li Menglan's words, he scrambled up from the nearby grass.

"Dad, then I'll take Little Sister and Little Brother to look around!" Li Zhiming called out to Li Dazhu.

"Eldest, as the big brother, you must take good care of your siblings. Be careful; don't go to places that are too dangerous." Like any ordinary father, Li Dazhu gave repeated instructions out of concern.

"Got it, Dad!"

Li Dazhu watched the long shadows cast by the sun, a faint smile appearing on his honest face. Er... he had never desired a life of great wealth or high status; in truth, as long as the family could stay together... he wouldn't mind even if things were a bit harder.

"Little Sister, what are we looking for now?" Li Zhihao asked with a blink of his eyes, puzzled.

"Second Brother, I want to see if I can find some honey?" Li Menglan stated her ultimate goal. She wanted—if she could find honey... to try and copy the recipe for sugar-fried chestnuts to see if anyone in town would buy them.

"Little Sister, Second Brother knows; you must just want to eat honey, right?" Li Zhihao said, acting clever. "Little Sister, you're such a little glutton." Because the bond between the siblings had always been very good, Li Zhihao couldn't help but tease Li Menglan with a laugh.

"Big Brother, look... Second Brother is bullying me." Li Menglan intentionally pouted and complained to her eldest brother.

"Little Sister, let's ignore your Second Brother. After we get home, Big Brother and Grandpa will give him a good talking-to." Li Zhiming also wanted to know what his sister wanted honey for. "Little Sister, can you tell Big Brother? What do you want to do with the honey?"

"Big Brother, didn't we pick a lot of chestnuts yesterday?" Li Menglan had no intention of hiding things from her two brothers, so she explained her original plan in detail. "If I can find honey, I can use it with the chestnuts to make sugar-fried chestnuts. That way, I can take them to town to sell. When we earn money, we can make new cotton clothes for Grandpa and Grandma. The weather is getting colder, and Grandpa and Grandma's cotton clothes can't be worn anymore!"

"Little Sister, is it true? Can chestnuts fried with honey really be used to make money? Will people buy them?" Li Zhiming was first delighted, but then asked with a hint of worry.

"Big Brother, you have to believe me; people will definitely buy them." Li Menglan said with confidence, then her little face slumped and she pouted dejectedly, "It's a pity we didn't find any honey; I can't make the sugar-fried chestnuts."

"Little Sister, don't be unhappy! Second Brother will go look for it for you right now; just wait, Little Sister!" Seeing his sister looking unhappy, Li Zhihao quickly spoke up to comfort her and then dashed off with a 'whoosh.'

"Second Brother, be careful! Make sure you don't get stung by wild bees!" Li Menglan shouted loudly at the retreating Li Zhihao.

"Little Sister, I know!" Li Zhihao's voice drifted back from afar.

Once Li Zhihao had run off, Li Menglan broke free from Li Zhiming's hand and began her own solo adventure to see if she could find any other kind of harvest.

Heh... you really shouldn't underestimate it. Even though Crooked Neck Mountain didn't have a great name, it couldn't be helped that there were many treasures inside the mountain. Li Menglan stared blankly at a small tree on a nearby cliffside.

Sichuan pepper is a plant in the genus *Zanthoxylum* of the subfamily Rutoideae, family Rutaceae, order Sapindales. The original plant is a deciduous shrub, found both in the wild and in cultivation. In most parts of China, the fruit peel of the Sichuan pepper is commonly used; those that are red and large are conventionally called "Da Hong Pao" and are of the best quality. Its seeds, also known as pepper, are also used for medicinal purposes. Additionally, the fruit peels of other plants in the same family and genus, such as *Zanthoxylum armatum*, *Zanthoxylum bungeanum*, and *Zanthoxylum nitidum*, are also used as Sichuan pepper for medicinal use.

Seeing the small tree before her covered in tiny red seeds, descriptions of Sichuan pepper she had once seen on Baidu surfaced in her mind. That's right... the tree before her was indeed a Sichuan pepper tree. Authentic Sichuan dishes flashed before Li Menglan's eyes: Boiled Fish, Boiled Beef, Mapo Tofu... and that mouth-watering Malatang...

It seemed she was getting closer and closer to her destination?