A daily intelligence report; in chaotic times and famine years, grain is plentiful.

Chen Mo didn't say anything more, turned around and left. He understood that this half-pound of dried fish couldn't save everyone, or even sustain the Li family for long. But he had to do it; people like Li Laogen were worth his help.

The eighteenth day of the first lunar month was another cold night.

Chen Mo lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), and the system interface popped up in his mind right on time:

[Daily information has been updated, please select:]

[1. Inside the hollow trunk of the old willow tree at the east end of the village, there are pine nuts and hazelnuts stored by squirrels, weighing approximately four pounds. (Low risk, but be careful when climbing.)]

[Second, in the warm stream downstream of the hot springs in the back mountain, there are groups of tadpoles that hatched earlier. They can be collected to feed chickens and ducks. (Medium risk, small number)]

Thirdly, on the southeastern slope of Black Wind Ridge, a local microclimate is formed due to the unique terrain, where early spring wild vegetables such as wild onions and shepherd's purse grow in abundance, yielding approximately fifteen catties (about 7.5 catties). (High risk, the valley is deep and dangerous.)

Fifteen jin!

Early spring wild vegetables!

Chen Mo's heart tightened suddenly. At this critical moment, when even grass roots were scarce, what could fifteen pounds of fresh wild vegetables mean?

It represents vitamins, it represents fiber, it represents the hope of surviving.

High risk? Screw high risk!

He immediately selected [Information 3].

In an instant, a vibrant scene unfolded in his mind: in a secluded, sheltered valley in Black Wind Ridge, warm and humid with geothermal hot springs flowing through it, a verdant expanse. Clumps of wild onions, shepherd's purse covering the ground, along with dandelions and wild garlic, all so green they were dazzling.

Chen Mo and Sun Dazhu packed all the burlap sacks they could carry and set off at night.

The mountain roads of Black Wind Ridge are winding and full of steep slopes and cliffs. Without the precise route map provided by the system, they would not have been able to find the place at all in the dark.

When they parted the last patch of bushes and saw the scene before them, they were both taken aback.

Outside, the landscape remained desolate and barren, but inside the valley, spring had already arrived early.

The ground was covered with bright green shepherd's purse, and the pungent smell of wild onions and garlic filled the air.

"My God," Sun Dazhu muttered softly, "This...this must be where immortals live!"

"Stop talking nonsense and get started!"

Chen Mo was the first to rush in, and the two of them frantically began collecting. They filled two large sacks with wild onions, shepherd's purse, and dandelions, weighing nearly twenty pounds.

Chen Mo specifically told Sun Dazhu, "Leave the roots when you dig; don't dig everything up."

The two carried heavy sacks and didn't get home until dawn.

That evening, the Chen family enjoyed a feast of wild vegetables.

Shepherd's purse soup made with bean sprouts instead of tofu is incredibly delicious.

Two precious eggs, along with freshly picked wild scallions, were stir-fried into a large plateful.

Fresh dandelion leaves are blanched in boiling water, seasoned with salt, and then mixed with badger oil for a refreshing and pleasant taste.

The staple food was reed root porridge with chopped wild vegetables.

Chen Ling'er ate quite a bit; her little belly was bulging. She squinted her eyes happily and said, "Brother, this dish tastes like spring!"

Chen Dashan ate an extra bowl of porridge, then sighed, "In previous years, we would have been lucky to have a bowl of hot soup at this time. This year, we can even have stir-fried dishes."

After finishing his meal, Chen Mo divided half of the wild vegetables and asked Sun Dazhu to take them back to the cave to his father who was hiding there. He also packed another large bag and secretly placed it at Li Laogen's doorstep under the cover of darkness.

Wang family.

Wang Mang looked at the chicken on the table and suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Zhao Si, whom he sent to monitor Chen Mo, has been reporting increasingly bizarre news these past few days.

"Brother Mang, Chen Mo is in great spirits lately, and his sister's face has gotten fuller; she doesn't look like she's ever been hungry."

"I sent someone to follow him. He basically didn't go out during the day. Every night he would go to the back mountain, and each time he would go with an empty burlap sack on his back, and when he came back the sack would be bulging."

"But strangely enough, if you get even a little too close, you lose track of them. That pile of rocks on the back hill is like a maze."

Wang Mang slammed his chopsticks on the table: "The back mountain! There must be something ghostly in the back mountain."

He narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint flashing within them.

"Tomorrow, you lead the way, and I'll go see for myself. I must see what treasure Chen Mo has hidden in the mountains!"

The 20th day of the first lunar month.

The secret vegetable garden on the back hill.

Chen Mo squatted at the edge of the field, looking at the potato and bean sprouts that had already broken through the soil, and his brows furrowed.

She's so beautiful.

The black soil is fertile and moist, making the crops grow exceptionally well. The bean sprouts are already two inches tall, bright green and glossy, and very robust.

"Chen Mo, judging by how well they're growing now, we should be able to harvest at least a hundred jin of potatoes by autumn," Sun Dazhu said, overjoyed.

"They're growing too well, that's not a good thing." Chen Mo pulled out a few very robust bean sprouts. "They're too eye-catching. I need to think of a way to deal with them so they don't grow any vigor."

As the two were pondering whether to water less or what to do, a clear clicking sound came from afar.

Someone stepped on and broke a dead branch.

Chen Mo's expression immediately changed, and he quickly gestured to Sun Dazhu to be quiet. The two of them swiftly hid behind a large rock nearby, holding their breath.

The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by voices.

"Zhao Si, are you sure this is the right place?" It was Wang Mang's voice, sounding very impatient.

"Brother Mang, it can't be wrong! I followed him to this area last time, and that kid vanished in an instant. There's definitely something wrong with this area!"

Chen Mo's heart sank to the bottom.

The vegetable garden was less than thirty steps away. Although it was disguised with weeds and branches, if you got closer and looked carefully, the traces of the soil that had been turned over could not be hidden at all.

Sun Dazhu gripped the hoe tightly, his muscles taut, his eyes glaring fiercely at Chen Mo: "Should we make a move?"

Chen Mo slowly shook his head.

They couldn't resort to violence. Leaving aside the question of whether they could win a fight, the mere sight of blood would escalate the situation drastically. More importantly, the cave was nearby, where they kept their dried fish, reed roots, and Sun Dazhu's father. Those were their truly vital possessions.

Wang Mang's footsteps are drawing ever closer.

He stopped.

Chen Mo peered out from the crack in the rock and saw Wang Mang with his head down, staring intently at the ground.

There, there was a faint footprint that Chen Mo had accidentally left when he came over last night.

A sinister smile slowly crept onto Wang Mang's face.

"Hey, so someone really comes here often. Search the place thoroughly, every inch of it. Even if you have to turn this place upside down, find the rat's nest."

It’s over.