Chapter 2

"Look at you, instead of staying at home, you insist on going out to explore the mountains and forests, and now you’re thin and tanned, not looking like a proper student at all." Wei Da’s home was in a small town in the countryside of Jiangnan; after returning from the Shennongjia expedition, he naturally received complaints from his mother, Huang Yue.

"Mom, it’s not that I’m not ambitious. I’m studying this very field." Wei Da smiled and playfully leaned on his mother’s shoulder.

"Go away, the most important thing for you now is to focus on your studies. If you have free time, read more books, and if you get the chance, take the doctoral exams. If you find a suitable partner, you can start dating too. You’re already twenty-five, but remember, don’t date foreigners; we can’t understand their language." Huang Yue was very proud of her son, even though most families in the village had built multi-story houses, their home was one of the few that remained a single-story house. However, the most prestigious family in the village was the Wei family, because Wei Da was a postgraduate student abroad!

"Foreigners aren’t bad either; they say mixed-race children are beautiful and smart. Don’t worry, I’m not in a hurry to date. Men aren’t considered old until they’re thirty." Wei Da smiled, knowing that he was currently penniless and dating would cost both money and time, which he couldn’t afford. "Is Dad out in the fields again?"

"Yes, he’s applying pesticides. Tell me what you want to eat; you’ll be leaving in a few days, and this trip will probably last at least half a year. Pack your luggage and let me know what you want to bring." Huang Yue kept talking about small things, but Wei Da didn’t find it tedious; he enjoyed this warm environment, which he couldn’t find abroad. "By the way, don’t run around these few days. Visit your aunt and uncle’s houses. It’s not convenient for you to travel back and forth from abroad, so go and spend some time with them."

"Okay, I understand. Mom, you don’t need to pack anything for me. Some things can’t be brought over, like chicken meat and chicken claws." Wei Da didn’t want to trouble his mother, and he also knew that the quarantine checks in the U.S. were very strict, so he reminded her again.

"Got it, those Americans are really troublesome with all their restrictions." Huang Yue was indeed a bit unhappy with the U.S. quarantine policies, which made it difficult for her son to enjoy some of the local dishes from home.

Wei Da smiled; the U.S. quarantine policies were indeed a hassle, but he didn’t want to burden his parents with such trivial matters. He knew that if he wanted to eat something, his mother would go to great lengths to prepare it. Over the years, he had already put a lot of pressure on his family, and he didn’t want to add to it.

"Xiao Da, if you have good prospects in the U.S., you can stay there. I’ve heard the treatment is better there." Wei Da’s father, Wei Hui, mentioned this during dinner. Although he hoped his son would stay close, he wanted him to have a better future.

"Don’t worry, I’m not in a hurry. I haven’t graduated yet. I’m still looking around while studying, and I’ll stay where the prospects are better." Wei Da was being honest. It wasn’t that he didn’t like it at home, but he needed to find a better job to improve his and his family’s life.

"Did you buy a car over there? I saw some photos you sent, was it a Mercedes?" Wei Hui suddenly became excited. The family didn’t have a computer, but some neighbors did. Wei Da usually called home, but international calls were expensive, so sometimes he used video calls and sent photos to show his parents.

"It’s a cheap one, probably a third-hand car, and an old model. Don’t be fooled by the brand; cars aren’t as expensive in the U.S. I did some part-time jobs, and I got it for a little over three thousand dollars." Wei Da smiled, knowing his car was indeed cheap, as it wasn’t new.

"That’s still impressive, my son is driving a Mercedes!" Huang Yue was very proud, and many people in the village knew about the photo, as the neighbors had shown them Wei Da’s album.

"That’s good, but I’m not impressed with the Mercedes. When I earn more money, I’ll buy a new car. This one will eventually be phased out." Wei Da didn’t elaborate much, as a Mercedes was considered a top luxury car in China, and owning one was a sign of success.

"Study hard, and when you find a good job, you can buy an even better car!" Wei Hui was proud, even though some villagers often said that education was useless and that Wei Da’s studies had put a heavy burden on the family. However, Wei Hui knew that his son’s education would give him a better future.

"By the way, Dad and Mom, you should get your passports. I have about half a year left in my course. I’ve been there for two years, and you should come and visit. If we have money, we’ll travel in style; if not, we’ll travel on a budget. You can’t let your son stay there for two years without you ever visiting the U.S.!" Wei Da brought up the topic again, knowing that international travel was attractive to many people. He didn’t want his parents to have any regrets, so he encouraged them once more.

"Let’s talk about it later, let’s talk about it later." Wei Hui was hesitant; a round-trip ticket to the U.S. cost over ten thousand yuan, and he didn’t want to spend that much. The moon in the U.S. wasn’t necessarily rounder than in China, so there was no need to waste money.

Wei Da didn’t push further. Ultimately, the family didn’t have much money, and he still owed a lot from his studies. So, he was even more determined to earn more money. He didn’t want his parents to live a hard life and wanted to ensure they didn’t have to be so frugal.

Lying in bed, Wei Da examined the jade pendant he had found. He always felt there was something strange about it, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what. For now, he kept it without showing it off, just to see what it was.

Turning off the light, Wei Da lay in bed, knowing his life would continue. He would be leaving in a few days. Although he enjoyed his time at home, his vacation was over, and he had to return to the other side of the ocean for his studies.

However, when Wei Da turned off the light, he noticed something odd. The jade pendant on his bedside seemed to emit a different aura. Although it was dark, he thought he saw a faintly glowing, ethereal old man appear on his bedside table.

Wei Da’s eyes widened as he stared at the small, faintly glowing old man. He quickly turned the light back on, and the old man disappeared. But when he excitedly turned the light off again, the old man reappeared. If not for his accidental discovery, he might not have seen the faintly glowing old man at all!

Wei Da was excited; he seemed to have discovered a significant secret. He rubbed his chin and sat cross-legged on the bed, placing the jade on his lap. He bit his lip and made a decision: he would try it!

In TV shows, water or fire was often used to reveal hidden secrets in books, and such jade often required a blood ritual. He found a small pair of scissors and gently pricked his thumb. Wei Da felt a bit obsessed, but he still smiled and turned off the light. He raised his hand, waiting for the old man to appear.

Sure enough, the old man appeared, and Wei Da was excited. His blood wouldn’t be wasted. Knowing that there were still some blood droplets on his thumb, he aimed at the old man and dropped the blood on him.

"Blood ritual! I’m so smart!" Wei Da felt a surge of pride, but it didn’t last. As the blood touched the old man, Wei Da’s vision went black, and he immediately fainted.

Wei Da had a dream. His head was dizzy as strange things kept entering his mind. He felt a headache, but he could only struggle in vain. The forced memory implantation made him feel like his brain was about to explode.

According to legend, Emperor Yan invented the plow and tried various herbs to create medicine, earning him the title of Shennong. He invented the plow and planted the five grains, laying the foundation for agriculture. As the first tribe of the Chinese nation to transition from hunting and gathering to farming, the Shennong tribe created China’s agricultural culture. To cultivate crops on a large scale, it was necessary to select suitable plant species and domesticate them into crop varieties, such as rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and soybeans.

Eating herbs to treat illnesses was not unique to humans. Many animals also used herbs to heal, indicating that early humans instinctively accumulated a lot of herbal knowledge.

So, when Wei Da found the jade in Shennongjia, it contained many remarkable traditions, known as the *Shennong Jing*!