I Have a Countryside Gourmet Restaurant

Chapter 400: Chapter 354: Wild Vegetables Are Also Ingredients

Slowly, the two of them each pried up a handful. Together, it was about half a pound.

That was enough.

Li You said, ”This should be about enough.”

Ling Xiaoru nodded. ”Okay!”

Afterwards, the two returned the small shovels to the two children.

”Thank you, kids! Thanks so much!” Li You said.

”You’re welcome!” both children said.

’Such good kids!’

’It’s a shame I don’t have any snacks. Otherwise, I could have given them some as a more tangible thank you.’

Li You felt a bit of regret.

’I’ll bring some snacks next time to thank them.’

’Time to go for now.’

They said goodbye to the children.

”Bye, Sister Xiaoru! Bye, Mister!”

”Goodbye, kids!”

The two of them left.

Ling Xiaoru handed the houttuynia in her hands to Li You.

After taking it, Li You combined it with the houttuynia already in his hand. Then, he spotted a stalk of Cowgrass on the ground.

This grass was a type of traditional Chinese medicine. Its stalk was very tough and not easily broken, so it could be used as a rope to tie things.

You could tell just from its name, which contained the character for ”tendon.”

Li You chose the longest stalk and yanked it hard, pulling it out from the root. He then used it as a rope to tie all the houttuynia together.

This made it much easier to carry.

Finding a makeshift ”rope” in the countryside was quite easy.

Then, Li You saw a large patch of grass nearby, filled with all sorts of different weeds.

’I wonder if there are any wild vegetables?’

’I’ll go take a look. If there are, I can complete the mission while I’m at it. I only need four more kinds.’

”Let’s go check out that patch of grass. See if there are any wild vegetables inside,” Li You said.

”Wild vegetables?” Ling Xiaoru said. ”Are you looking for wild vegetables, Boss?”

Li You smiled. ”After digging up all this houttuynia, I got a sudden urge. I want to see if there are any more wild vegetables nearby.”

’So that’s what this is about.’

Ling Xiaoru nodded. This was wild houttuynia, so it could indeed be called a wild vegetable.

’As for more wild vegetables...’

Ling Xiaoru also felt a sudden burst of interest and said, ”Then let’s go take a look.”

”Okay!”

The two of them walked over to the grassy area and began their search.

Soon, Li You’s eyes lit up. He had made a discovery. Pointing at a plant on the ground, he said to Ling Xiaoru, ”I found one here.”

Ling Xiaoru looked where Li You’s finger was pointing. She saw a plant with oval-shaped leaves fanning out, each with a pointed tip.

There were several veins on the leaves.

Its inflorescence was cylindrical, standing upright like a spike, and about 15 centimeters long.

”Boss, isn’t this plantain? Plantain is a medicinal herb. It shouldn’t count as a wild vegetable, right?” Ling Xiaoru said.

Li You smiled. ”This is indeed plantain, and it is indeed a medicinal herb. However, it’s also a wild vegetable.”

This plant is very well-known and is a famous medicinal herb. It has diuretic and heat-clearing properties, and it can clear the liver and brighten the eyes. It can be used to treat ailments such as red and swollen eyes, or coughs with excess phlegm.

At the same time, it’s also an ingredient. Its tender stems and leaves can be eaten in a cold salad or cooked.

Since it’s an ingredient, it definitely counts as a wild vegetable.

It’s just that the texture isn’t very good.

After hearing Li You say that plantain was also a wild vegetable, Ling Xiaoru was a bit surprised. She said, ”Really? Can you eat plantain directly? How do you eat it? What does it taste like?”

Li You said, ”Of course it’s true. You can toss it in a cold salad or cook it—just boiling it is fine. The taste isn’t great, though. It’s not delicious. In fact, it’s pretty bad, almost hard to swallow. But eating a little every now and then is good for your health.”

Ling Xiaoru shook her head. ”I’ve never eaten it.”

Li You smiled. ”Well, you can take some back to try today.”

After a moment of hesitation, Ling Xiaoru nodded. ”I suppose I could.”

’It’s just a taste, no big deal. If it’s bad, I just won’t eat it.’

Li You added, ”I’ll pull this one out first.”

He then bent down and grabbed the plant. With a strong pull, the entire plantain was uprooted.

”Side Quest ’Wild Vegetables are Food Too,’ Second Wild Vegetable Completed: Plantain!”

’It really does count as a wild vegetable.’

’Nice!’

Afterwards, the two found five more plantain plants nearby.

That made three plants for each of them.

’Time to see if there are any others.’

Soon, Ling Xiaoru made another discovery. She called out to Li You joyfully, ”Boss, come quick! I found one too.”

”Really? Let me see.”

Li You was also pleased. He walked over quickly as he spoke.

Soon, he saw it.

Its leaves also fanned out from the center, with a long, thin stem growing from the middle. At the end of the stem was a white, fluffy ball.

’So pretty!’

It was a dandelion.

Li You’s eyes lit up. This was indeed another wild vegetable.

Of course, it was also a medicinal herb.

Dandelions were even more well-known than plantain. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that everyone knew what they were.

Their fame was likely related to their unique and beautiful appearance.

Dandelion seeds have white, downy tufts. These tufts combine to form a spherical, white puffball.

Incredibly beautiful!

When the seeds are fully mature, a gust of wind will blow the puffball apart, scattering the individual seeds to the wind.

A truly beautiful and poetic sight!

After the seeds drift to new places, they will sprout new life.

This is the primary way dandelions spread their seeds.

The scene of dandelion seeds dancing in the wind has been described by countless people with all sorts of beautiful words.

This is perhaps an important reason for the dandelion’s fame.

Of course, dandelions have also been a very famous medicinal herb since ancient times.

Many medical texts and prescriptions include descriptions of the dandelion’s medicinal uses.

Its medicinal value is great. It has diuretic, laxative, choleretic, and anti-jaundice effects. It can treat dozens of symptoms, including heat toxins, carbuncles, sores, boils, mastitis, and scrofula.

Also, unlike plantain, which many people don’t know is edible, many people do know that dandelions can be eaten.

And that eating them is good for your health.

In some places, dandelions are also called ”lantern flowers.”

Although dandelions aren’t the only plant called ”lantern flower”—there are many.

But the dandelion is undoubtedly the most famous among them.

”In my village, we call dandelions ’lantern flowers’,” Ling Xiaoru said. ”Every year on the day of Xiaoman, the villagers go find some dandelions to cook with congee. They say it’s very good for you. So, dandelions should count as a wild vegetable, right?”

Li You nodded. ”Of course they count. In fact, people have been eating dandelions since ancient times. You could say it’s a wild vegetable that has been eaten for thousands of years.”

”Really? I didn’t know that,” Ling Xiaoru said.

Li You said, ”It’s true. Historically, besides being a famous medicinal herb, the dandelion was also a famous wild vegetable. The entire plant is edible. The flower buds can be pickled and eaten for a refreshing and stimulating effect. The roots can be eaten too, and can even be used as a coffee substitute. Additionally, the stems and leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and they have the effect of tonifying the qi and detoxifying the body.”

Ling Xiaoru said, ”I’ve only ever eaten the stems and leaves. They’re a bit bitter and don’t taste great. But they’re edible.”

Li You smiled. ”Since it’s a wild vegetable, its taste naturally isn’t going to be amazing. Even houttuynia, which we think is delicious, is considered disgusting by many people, isn’t it?”

Ling Xiaoru nodded. ”That’s true. By the way, in the north, are dandelions also called *popoding*?”

Li You nodded. ”Mainly in the northeast. People there generally call dandelions *popoding*.”

Ling Xiaoru asked again, ”Why do they call it that?”

Li You said, ”It’s probably related to some local legends. It’s normal for names to be different in different places.”

Ling Xiaoru nodded. ”That’s true.”

After that, Li You bent down and pulled the dandelion from the ground.

”Side Quest ’Wild Vegetables are Food Too,’ Third Wild Vegetable Completed: Dandelion!”

’So it does count as a wild vegetable.’

’I’ve found three types now, only two more to go.’

This mission was no trouble at all for Li You.

He looked at the dandelion in his hand.

This particular dandelion had already produced seeds and formed a white puffball.

Li You brought the white puffball to his lips and blew out a puff of air.

In an instant, the puffball scattered, and the individual seeds, each with its white downy tuft, drifted through the air.

So beautiful!

’Blowing on a dandelion puffball—that must be something almost everyone loves to do, right?’

...

It’s a new month! Please subscribe and leave your monthly and recommendation votes!

...