Xu Wu's voice was very low. After speaking, he sighed deeply, as if he had encountered a tricky problem.
Hearing his words, Li Qingfeng understood why he was so haggard.
Compared to yesterday, Xu Wu was much more dejected. His furrowed brows made him look considerably older.
"Then, Fifth Brother, when you went to town, didn't you buy any medicine to control pests and diseases?"
After hearing Xu Wu's words, Pan Xiaolian quickly asked.
"Alas, if only those medicines were effective. I've used several kinds of medicines for fruit tree diseases and pests."
"Bordeaux mixture, mancozeb, thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim, dimethoate, dicofol—I've used them all, but they were completely useless! The fruit trees still withered and died!"
Listening to Xu Wu's dejected words, Li Qingfeng finally understood why Uncle Wu was so melancholy.
All the medicine was almost used up, yet they hadn't even found the cause of the fruit trees' illness. It was no wonder he was worried!
"I came here precisely to see if you have any solutions?"
Hearing his words, Li Qingfeng quickly asked again, "Then, Uncle Wu, did you consult the town's plant expert?"
It was better if Li Qingfeng hadn't mentioned it, but as soon as he did, Xu Wu's expression became extremely agitated, and his whole demeanor seemed off.
Seeing his reaction, it was as if he had encountered something very infuriating.
Fortunately, Xu Wu soon cleared up Li Qingfeng's doubts. It turned out he had consulted the town's plant expert several times.
This plant expert was named Liu Yuanhua. He was said to have come from some "Overseas Green Alliance."
He always wore a small suit and a pair of small glasses, spoke in English all the time, and often needed someone next to him to translate English for him.
He was extremely sycophantic towards foreigners, as if he himself were a foreigner.
That would have been fine if his skills were truly exceptional. But his knowledge of botany was truly unbearable to witness!
Xu Wu had sought his help multiple times, spending tens of thousands of yuan each time, yet he still couldn't find the cause of the fruit trees' illness.
Not only that, but he had confidently told Xu Wu, "Your fruit trees cannot be saved. Give up!"
Every time he heard this, Xu Wu felt an urge to beat him to death.
Hearing this, Li Qingfeng understood why Xu Wu was so angry. Suddenly, he thought of his Shennong Hundred Herbs Scripture.
He slammed the table abruptly.
"Bang!"
This sound startled Xu Wu and Pan Xiaolian beside him. They looked at him with confused expressions.
Seeing the confused Aunt Pan and Uncle Wu, Li Qingfeng smiled sheepishly and explained, "Uncle Wu, I have a solution. Take me to the orchard to take a look!"
Hearing his words, Xu Wu became extremely excited.
With trembling hands, he grabbed Li Qingfeng's arm and asked, "Qingfeng, you're not joking with Uncle Wu, are you?"
"Don't worry, Uncle Wu, I have a way!"
Hearing his confident words, Xu Wu immediately felt much better, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the moon.
He quickly said to Pan Xiaolian beside him, "Sister Xiaolian, I'll take Qingfeng now and bring him back tonight!"
With that, he pulled Li Qingfeng and ran.
The speed was so fast that even Pan Xiaolian didn't have time to react. She hurried after them.
At this moment, the two were already on a tractor. Xu Wu seemed to have everything prepared, acting with great efficiency.
"Hey, Fifth Brother, Qingfeng hasn't had breakfast yet!"
Hearing her words, Xu Wu casually waved his hand, started the electric ignition, and with a hum, the tractor was started.
Rumble, rumble...
Amidst the roar of the tractor, Xu Wu's voice came through, "Don't worry, Sister Xiaolian. I have all sorts of dishes there. Qingfeng won't go hungry!"
Afterward, Xu Wu stepped on the accelerator, and the tractor shot out with a whoosh.
Seeing the extremely excited Xu Wu, Li Qingfeng knew he could only return in the evening.
He had no choice but to shout loudly to Pan Xiaolian at the entrance of the clinic, "Aunt Pan, don't worry, I'll be back tonight!"
Watching the scenery rapidly receding, Li Qingfeng was pulled by Xu Wu along a tree-lined road to the mountaintop.
This location was in the opposite direction from Tiandang Mountain.
From the mountaintop here, one could see the towering Tiandang Mountain, its peak hidden within the clouds, like a piece of amber in a lake.
The mountaintop here, however, was covered in lush green grass dotted with small yellow flowers.
These small flowers were dandelions, also known as yellow flowers and earth dragons.
Of course, these were their academic names. In Mopan Valley Village, these small dandelions had a more down-to-earth name.
That was, "po po ding"!
The growth environment of dandelions is quite interesting, roughly summarized as follows.
"Flowers arrange into fluff, scattered by the wind, they grow where they land." As early spring arrives, dandelions sprout flower stems, blooming small yellow flowers amidst the verdant greenery. After blooming, the white pappus on the seeds forms fluffy balls that sway in the wind. Once the seeds mature, they are carried by the wind to new places to settle down and give birth to new flowers.
This seemingly insignificant plant that drifts with the wind is actually a Chinese medicinal herb.
Its roots, flowers, stems, and leaves can all be used for medicinal purposes, possessing functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, reducing swelling, and dispelling masses.
Walking past patches of dandelions, Li Qingfeng saw Xu Wu's orchard.
This magnificent sight shocked Li Qingfeng at first glance. He carefully observed the orchard.
It was a vast orchard. Every three meters or so stood a fruit tree that was three meters tall. Each tree was laden with fruits, the size of a fist, all a verdant green.
Being on the mountaintop, as the breeze blew, the fruits brushed against each other, making a rustling sound that was quite soothing.
Moreover, the area seemed to be divided into several sections, with several types of fruit trees in the orchard.
Seeing Li Qingfeng's attention drawn to the fruit trees, Xu Wu introduced him, "Qingfeng, these are the crabapple trees and Longfeng fruits in the orchard. The bright red ones at the very back are Xinjing fruits, very sweet!"
Speaking of this, Xu Wu gave Li Qingfeng a thumbs-up, praising the sweetness of the fruit.
As he spoke, Xu Wu went to a Xinjing fruit tree and picked the largest fruit in the middle with a net bag.
"Here, try this fruit! This is one of the few good trees in the orchard. This fruit is very sweet."
Taking the Xinjing fruit from Xu Wu's hand, Li Qingfeng took a bite.
With a crunch, the sweet fruit made his mouth water.
With just one bite, Li Qingfeng felt the intense sweetness of the fruit, filled with a sugary flavor.
"Mmm!"
"Uncle Wu, this fruit is truly excellent. You can definitely sell it for a good price!"
Hearing Li Qingfeng's words, Xu Wu excitedly slapped his thigh.
"You're absolutely right. I rely on these Xinjing fruits to make money every year!"
After that, Xu Wu fell silent again.
"It's a pity..."