Chapter 33: The Power of the Collective

As the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Although his "Heaven Rewards Diligence" talent was extraordinary—allowing him to master anything he practiced—human energy is, after all, finite. For him, the most important area to focus on right now was undoubtedly medicine. As for other skills like Baduanjin or cooking, they were merely supplements for physical health and daily life, to be treated as casual pastimes.

Medicine was a reliable craft for securing one’s livelihood. It could not only cure the sick and accumulate goodwill but also safeguard the health of himself and his family. Human life is as fleeting as the morning dew; who can guarantee they will never fall ill? When that time comes, it is better to rely on oneself than on others. Mastering advanced medical skills would, at the very least, spare himself and those around him from unnecessary suffering, allowing them to live longer and more comfortably. This was more practical than anything else.

As Zhou Yichen pondered, he carefully searched for herbs in the forest, his concentration deepening. He walked up the mountain path, observing everything around him, never missing any plant that looked like a medicinal herb.

[Medical Proficiency +1]
[Medical Proficiency +1]

The notification sounds in his mind, ringing out from time to time, were like a beautiful melody, motivating him to keep moving forward. By the time he reached the ridge where the villagers were cutting firewood, the sack on his back was already half-filled with various herbs. Bupleurum, platycodon, isatis root... these were common medicinal herbs; though they were young, they were better than nothing.

As he approached, a wave of bustling noise washed over him.

"Heave!"
"Heigh-ho!"

The commune members were drenched in sweat. Some were swinging axes with all their might against pine trees as thick as bowls, producing dull "thud" sounds. Others worked in pairs, pulling and pushing saws to cut through even thicker trunks, the harsh "shuck-shuck" sound incessant. Still others used shovels and hoes, digging away at stubborn tree stumps to pull them out by the roots.

The shouts, the chopping, the sawing, and the hearty laughter and banter of the people merged into a symphony of labor filled with vitality. The air was thick with the rich scent of pine resin, mixed with the fragrance of earth and the steam of human sweat. Every face was glowing with simple, earnest effort, each person working with all their might for the coming winter and for a little more warmth at home.

Zhou Yichen stood at a distance, quietly watching the scene. This collective strength, born purely for survival, and this positive atmosphere filled with raw, vital energy, was something he had never truly felt in either of his two lifetimes.

In the concrete jungle of his previous life, there was more alienation and competition between people. But here, this fervent scene stirred an impulse in his soul—accustomed as it was to solitude—to merge into the crowd.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, and began scanning the crowd. Soon, he spotted Jiang Xiaoman. The girl was bent over near a freshly felled tree, laboriously hacking at thin branches with a small wood-cutting knife. She was wearing thick padded clothes, and the red scarf around her neck was still vibrant, though fine beads of sweat had formed on her forehead, and a few strands of hair were plastered to her flushed cheeks by moisture. Her movements were a bit clumsy, but it was clear she was working hard.

A smile touched the corners of Zhou Yichen’s mouth as he walked over.

"Xiaoman!" he called out.

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoman straightened her back, wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, and looked toward the sound. When she saw it was Zhou Yichen, her cute, baby-faced expression lit up with surprise.

"Yichen? How did you end up here?" She bounded over to him in a few steps, her tone full of astonishment.

Zhou Yichen lifted the bulging sack on his shoulder and smiled, "I told you, didn't I? I’m picking herbs on the mountain. I thought I’d stop by and see how you were doing on my way."

Jiang Xiaoman curiously stretched her neck to peek into the half-open mouth of his sack. "Wow! You’ve already picked this many?" she exclaimed. "What kind of good things are in there? Let me see!"

Zhou Yichen smiled and opened the sack a little wider. "Nothing particularly rare. Just some dandelion, plantain, motherwort, and a few stalks of astragalus, though they’re not very old."

Jiang Xiaoman blinked her large eyes, looking at the earth-dusted herbs in the bag. Although she didn't recognize all of them, she felt that Zhou Yichen was truly impressive. "Brother Yichen, you're amazing! You've gathered so much in just one morning!" she praised him sincerely.

Zhou Yichen smiled, "Practice makes perfect."

As they were chatting, a few greetings came from nearby. "Health worker Zhou is up on the mountain too?"

Zhou Yichen looked up to see Brigade Leader Gao Jianjun and the Fifth Team Leader, Wang Zhenshan, walking toward them. Gao Jianjun’s face, etched with the ravages of time and weather, wore a look of approval. Wang Zhenshan, with his dark face, was also grinning warmly.

"Secretary Gao, Team Leader Wang," Zhou Yichen greeted them politely.

Gao Jianjun approached, glanced at the sack on his shoulder, and nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad, not bad! Health worker Zhou, your enthusiasm is truly commendable! You’ve only been in our brigade for a few days, and you’re already thinking of gathering medicine for everyone. You’re a good comrade with a strong sense of responsibility!"

Wang Zhenshan chimed in, "That’s right, Yichen. With you here, the commune members in our team who have minor aches and pains have something to look forward to!"

Zhou Yichen said modestly, "Secretary Gao, Team Leader Wang, you are too kind. This is my duty. I'm just here to serve the people."

Gao Jianjun waved his hand, his smile fading slightly as his tone became more solemn. "Health worker Zhou, picking herbs is a good thing; we see your initiative and support it. However, I must remind you: the outer areas of the Great Green Mountain are cleared by us every year, and there are many people cutting wood and hunting, so it’s relatively safe. But if you go deep into the mountains, that’s another story."

"That's right," Wang Zhenshan added, his expression serious. "The forest is big, and there are all kinds of things in it. In those places where no one goes, who knows what wolves, insects, tigers, or leopards might be hiding?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yichen felt a slight tightness in his chest. Although he had the "Heaven Rewards Diligence" talent and his Baduanjin had reached the fourth level—giving him physical fitness far beyond the average person—he was ultimately still made of flesh and blood.

The deep, old forests of this era were not like the well-developed tourist attractions of the future. Even without encountering a beast like a tiger, he would struggle to handle even a single starving wolf. Safety first; his life was paramount.

He immediately nodded solemnly. "Secretary Gao, Team Leader Wang, thank you for the reminder. I will keep that in mind. I only roam the outer areas to gather common herbs; I won't go deep into the mountains."

Seeing that he was willing to listen, Gao Jianjun’s expression softened. "Good, as long as you have good judgment. Safety is the most important thing."

He offered a few more words of encouragement, saying the brigade would support his work and that he could ask the brigade if he needed any medicinal materials. Then, he and Wang Zhenshan left to continue inspecting the other members' progress.

Zhou Yichen watched them leave, secretly making up his mind: he must never set foot in the deep mountains lightly.

He chatted with Jiang Xiaoman for a while longer, urging her to be careful and not work too hard, before bidding her farewell.

"I’m going to go look over there and see if I can gather some more herbs."

"Yichen, you go ahead and do your work; I’ll keep cutting these branches!" Jiang Xiaoman waved and returned to her task.

Zhou Yichen took a deep breath, adjusted the position of his sack, and continued to climb along the mountain path. Although Gao Jianjun and the others had warned him of the dangers of the deep mountains, the variety and quality of the herbs just a bit further in were indeed much better than at the foot of the hill.

He steered clear of the area where the villagers were concentrated and chose a relatively quiet, secluded path.