"Master, if Miss A Jiu can really get hydrogen oil, we won't be in a hurry this time."
"That's right, Sister A Jiu knows so much. You should learn from her too."
Tuoba Yan discussed happily behind them.
As A Jiu had predicted, it was completely dark by the time they climbed the mountain.
However, she could see clearly all around. On the mountain path in the distance, quite a few people were busy with something.
She couldn't see their faces clearly to confirm if they were the refugees from Xinghua Village.
But, considering what Uncle Wu had said earlier about intercepting the people from Xinghua Village after crossing those three Qiming Mountains, and the delay at the snake cave, it was highly likely that they were indeed the Xinghua Village refugees, judging by their travel pace.
"Can Miss A Jiu see in this darkness?" Zhao Kun asked confusedly.
"Of course, my Sister A Jiu has excellent eyesight."
When Tuoba Yan mentioned A Jiu's excellence, his heart bloomed.
"They have already settled down. It looks like we can catch up with them within three hours if we travel overnight after Granny returns."
A Jiu murmured to herself, "Let's go, down the mountain."
"See? Is her eyesight not excellent?" Tuoba Yan didn't forget to show off to Zhao Kun again.
Zhao Kun scratched his head, "As Master says."
The three descended to the mountainside, and A Jiu stopped.
As expected, the tea tree was already over a meter tall, with green bumps hanging from its branches.
With limited time, A Jiu couldn't wait here for the tea tree fruits to dry naturally on the branches.
"Quick, pick them," A Jiu said energetically, and quickly picked them, stuffing them into her embrace.
When she couldn't fit anymore, she used the front of her tunic to carry them. Still not enough, she then lifted Xiao Yan Yan's tunic to carry them too.
These two tea trees managed to fill the tunics of the three of them to the brim.
"Is this really hydrogen oil?" Tuoba Yan put one into his mouth and bit it. It didn't yield, and a bitter taste made his tongue feel very uncomfortable.
"Yes, of course," A Jiu said confidently. "After drying, we can crack open the shells and press out the pure oil."
"So you have to crack them open first. No wonder these shells taste so bad."
When the three arrived at their base, the people in the carriage had all gotten out and were gathered in a circle, looking at something head to head.
A Jiu stepped forward and saw a basket filled with watermelons and peaches mixed together.
They looked at each other. Meng Shaode spoke first, "Mother, where did you get so many watermelons and peaches?"
Wang Shi snorted, "I picked them. Eat them if you like, or don't. If you don't, I'll eat them all."
After speaking, Wang Shi patted her belly and let out a satisfied burp.
A Jiu could tell at a glance that Granny had likely been eating on the go all the way, her belly almost bursting the waistband of her clothes.
"Picked them? In such drought-stricken land, you picked them?" Cai Lihua asked, looking at her mother-in-law's retreating back with suspicion.
She waved her hand dismissively, found a flat stone, sat down cross-legged, and the old lady was so economical with her time that she didn't even spare a moment for passing gas.
"Oh, Old Mrs. Meng is truly remarkable. You can find such rare things, old lady," Wu Dalei licked his lips.
He hadn't understood all along.
Why was it that while their family was almost starving to death, the Meng family could occasionally get their hands on food, and such rare delicacies at that.
"Put them away. The journey is still long," Meng Shaode knew that when the old lady didn't want to talk, her mouth was unyielding.
A Jiu reported the situation, and Meng Shaode then called Wang Shi to get into the carriage to depart.
Wang Shi had eaten the most spiritual fruits today. He didn't want to sit inside the carriage, which would hinder the spiritual energy conversion from the fruits.
He pointed to the cover of the carriage, "I'll sit on top today."
As soon as she said this, A Jiu and the others stared at the old lady in astonishment. She stepped onto the carriage window and climbed onto the top cover, immediately closing her eyes, like a statue of Buddha.
Everyone let out a long sigh. Wu Dalei said with a pained expression,
"Brother Meng, is... is this safe? If you were to fall off headfirst, it would be a major incident."