Chapter 1609 - 1575: Don’t Touch Men Casually (Part 2)

"Marcus Quinn, can these red berries be eaten?" Atan inadvertently spotted a red berry, quickly picked it off, and ran back.

Seeing this, Marcus Quinn carefully examined the red berry, thinking it looked like a Wild Ginseng fruit, and asked, "Where did you pick it? Take me to see."

"Up ahead, they’re everywhere." Atan eagerly pulled him forward, and sure enough, after walking a short distance, there were clusters of red berries.

Marcus attentively looked at the red berries on the slope, then took out a small, delicate medicinal hoe, carefully digging at the roots below. Soon, he dug up a complete Wild Ginseng. Atan, seeing its shape resembling ginseng, with roots tangled like an old tree, deepened by years, exclaimed, "Ginseng?"

Marcus showed a rare smile and said, "It’s not ginseng, it’s Wild Ginseng. The ’Compendium of Materia Medica’ records: Ginseng is first for replenishing Qi, and Wild Ginseng is first for replenishing blood, with a similar taste and equal efficacy, thus called Ginseng Wild Ginseng, the most precious in Chinese medicine."

Marcus, due to Mr. Quinn’s late-life research into medicinal cuisine, had some knowledge about herbal medicine. In his childhood, the old man gave him the ’Compendium of Materia Medica’ as extra-curricular reading. Thus, he recognized Wild Ginseng at a glance, as the striking red berries stood out amidst the greenery. They were lucky; it was October, right when Wild Ginseng bears fruit after flowering.

Even though Atan knew little of grains, she had heard of the medicinal value of Wild Ginseng, as its applications in medicine are extensive. Atan looked at the small patch of red berries, walked a bit further, and excitedly shouted, "Marcus, come quickly, they’re all here."

Marcus put the dug-up Wild Ginseng into a cloth bag. Before leaving, he specifically asked Aunt Shui to make several cotton-linen bags. Now, he carefully placed the Wild Ginseng into a separate bag, his lips curling into a smile as he quickly moved forward to hold Atan’s hand, gazing at the red berries in sight, he softly said, "Atan, don’t run around, stay behind me."

Atan was thrilled by his deep and charming voice, her cheeks flushed, pointing at the Wild Ginseng grove ahead, she said, "Look, they’re everywhere. Wild stuff should be valuable, right?"

Marcus nodded and smiled, "These are likely over ten-year-old Wild Ginseng. Most ginseng on the market is cultivated, while Wild Ginseng has higher medicinal value and is priced high."

Atan had blind faith in Marcus and excitedly shook his arm, saying, "Then we can sell Wild Ginseng! Let’s get the villagers to come and dig it up." Having traversed three hills together, Marcus specifically chose secluded and treacherous paths, discovering this entire patch of Wild Ginseng, a great harvest indeed.

Atan imagined villagers no longer needing to raise chickens or ducks, farming, pinching days by the finger. All right, her focus was always on leading villagers to prosperity, where everyone needn’t raise chickens or ducks, and the Holiday Village would be picturesque.

"Let’s keep going forward and see how large the area is; maybe we’ll find other wild species." The man removed his gloves, tightly holding Atan, marking the Wild Ginseng spot on the map before they continued onward.

They walked for half an hour, the expanse of Wild Ginseng larger than imagined. Marcus checked the map; they had entered Anfield Village’s deep mountain woods. After passing this area, they found a stream, laid out the picnic mat, and began preparing for lunch.

Marcus’ backpack was like a treasure chest, not only containing a small frying pan but also oil, salt, and other necessities. He collected dry branches for a fire, heated the pan, and fried egg pancakes with sliced braised beef and tenderloin. Soon the aroma spread, Atan was starving, having only nibbled some braised beef on the way, now craving hot food.

She took out the picnic supplies from the backpack, saw Marcus had dug various plants and put them in cloth bags, curiously asked, "Are these for research or cultivation?"

"Both. First, we’ll let Oliver Zolotov and Mr. Weng research them, then build a few greenhouses at the Holiday Village and transplant them." Marcus explained the plants to Atan while preparing food, most were herbs, others were wild seasonings.

"Marcus, are we going to cultivate herbs?" Inspired by the Wild Ginseng, Atan’s eyes shone as she asked. Marcus’ culinary expertise focused on medicinal cuisine. If the mountain’s Wild Ginseng isn’t planned well, they’ll be dug out sooner or later, but if transplanted, cultivated herbs like Wild Ginseng could ensure villagers’ prosperity for generations.