Traveling through the famine, I stockpiled supplies like crazy

Chapter 133 Picking Pine Nuts

I didn't have time to clean the pots and pans today. Anyway, I won't be there early tomorrow, and I have to wait until Lu Chuan is done before I can go! I can get up early tomorrow and wash them in time.

Xu Han washed her hands and face, then washed her feet before going to rest.

The next day, Xu Han got up very early, just after dawn. She first cleaned the pots and pans used yesterday, and then cooked a whole pot of white eggs.

Then she made a pot of sweet potato porridge and cut some pickles and put them in the space so that she could eat them when she went out. Having learned from the last lesson, Xu Han was well prepared this time.

After the eggs were cooked, I boiled a full pot of water so that I could drink it on the way, saving the trouble of boiling water.

Xu Han is scooping water here! Lu Chuan is back!

"You're back. The porridge I just cooked will be ready soon. Go wash your face and brush your teeth first!" Xu Han said.

"Hmm! Looks like the lazy pig got up very early today!"

"You are the lazy pig! I am diligent!"

Lu Chuan stopped teasing Xu Han, kissed her on the face and went to wash up.

While eating breakfast, the two chatted about their plans for the next few days.

"Have you decided what to pick this time in the mountains?" Lu Chuan asked.

"Now is the time to pick pine nuts, they are delicious! Let's go pick pine cones first!" Xu Han replied.

"Okay, I'll listen to you. Let's go pick pine cones first. Let's go straight to the pine forest!"

"Yes! Okay, if there is still room after we finish picking, we will come back and bring back whatever we can find."

"Well! I'll go to the backyard and let the chickens, ducks and geese out. Corn should be in its shed so I can prepare some more hay and water!"

"Okay, I'll go wash the dishes first, and we'll be leaving in a moment."

Xu Han and Lu Chuan each went about their own business, and it was almost ten o'clock before they went out to the mountains.

The two headed straight for the pine forest, and when they arrived it was already three or four in the afternoon.

It is very difficult to pick pine cones, because pine cones grow at the top of the pine trees, and pine trees are generally very tall, ranging from thirty to forty meters.

If Lu Chuan wasn't good at climbing trees and had good agility, he would have chosen not to eat the pine nuts. He certainly wouldn't risk his life just to satisfy his appetite.

Xu Han took out a pair of gloves from the space and handed them to Lu Chuan. Because there was pine oil on the pine cones and they were sticky, gloves were definitely needed.

"Be careful! This tree is too tall, be careful and don't take risks." Xu Han started mumbling again.

"Don't worry! Don't worry about me, just worry about yourself! Don't let the pine cones hit your head. Pine cones are much heavier than walnuts." Lu Chuan teased Xu Han.

Xu Han also remembered that when he was picking walnuts before, he was slow to react and got hit many times. He silently took out a helmet from the space and put it on.

When Lu Chuan saw Xu Han's actions, he laughed out loud and then climbed up the tree.

After being interrupted by Lu Chuan, Xu Han was not so worried anymore. She put on gloves, took the backpack and waited for the pine cones to fall and pick them up.

Mature pine cones climb to the middle of the tree and will fall off if the trunk is shaken.

But there will still be some that grow more steadily. At this time, you need to knock them down with a stick, or climb to the top of the tree to pick them.

Lu Chuan climbed the tree very quickly and finished picking fruits from this tree in a short while. Then he went down and moved to the next tree to continue picking fruits.

Not long after they started picking, it got dark, so Lu Chuan took Xu Han to find the nearest cave to rest.

The two finished their dinner in the cave. It was still early, so Xu Han took out the pine cones she had picked today and started peeling them.

First peel off the hard shell on the outside of the pine cone, then what will be left is something similar to a corn cob. Hold it in both hands and twist it hard, and the pine nuts will fall out. If they don't fall out, just put them on the ground and knock them.

Lu Chuan was responsible for peeling the outer layer of the pagoda shell, and Xu Han was responsible for peeling the pine nuts inside.

Pine cones are particularly difficult to peel. Not only are they covered with pine oil, but they are also very strong and will hurt your fingers from picking them.

After peeling for a whole night, the two of them didn't peel many pine cones, but they did peel off a lot of bark.

Lu Chuan picked up the pine cone shells and threw them away, while Xu Han lay on the ground picking up the fallen pine nuts.

I picked these with great effort and took so much effort to peel them, I can't waste even a single bit, I have to pick them up.

After cleaning the cave, we went to rest.

The next morning, Xu Han got up at daybreak. This was unlike at home where she could stay in bed for a while. This time she went out to pick pine cones.

How much pine cones we can eat in the next few years depends on these few days.

In her previous life, pine nuts were very expensive, and Xu Han couldn't bear to eat them freely. She would only buy some during the Chinese New Year to satisfy her craving.

After breakfast, it was already dawn and the two of them walked into the pine forest together.

Continuing to repeat yesterday's operation, Xu Han suddenly saw a slightly shorter pine tree. There were pine cones on the lower branches, and there were even more pine cones on top.

Xu Han quickly called Lu Chuan over, "Lu Chuan, look at all the pine cones on this tree! Pick this one first!"

Lu Chuan, who was preparing to climb a tree, heard Xu Han's slightly excited voice and came over to cooperate.

"This pine tree really has a lot of pine cones! I'll pick the ones at the bottom first." Lu Chuan said and started picking them.

Just from this one tree, I picked three full baskets of pine cones, which is quite a lot!

After picking this one, the two continued to pick other pine cones.

When it was lunch time, Xu Han took out braised lamb and cold cucumber from the space and ate them with white rice. It was another delicious meal.

In the afternoon, the two continued to pick pine cones. This pine forest is very large, and it would probably take another two days to finish picking!

We returned to the cave to rest at night, and continued picking for four and a half days. It was not until the morning of the fifth day that we had finally picked all the pine cones.

The two of them had an early lunch and then started walking back home. There was a pine forest near their home! They went home first to pick the pine trees near their home before looking for other things in the mountains.

When they got home, it was already dark. Lu Chuan went to the backyard to feed the livestock, and Xu Han started to boil water to prepare for a bath.

After taking a shower and having dinner, I started peeling pine nuts again.

I also peeled some pine cones these two nights, but compared with the pine cones I felled, it was just a drop in the bucket.

Ahhh, I was so happy when picking pine cones, but why do I feel so miserable when peeling them?

My hands hurt from peeling the nuts, so I now just tear the top in half and shake the nuts off.

This is how you peel fresh pine cones when you have time. Tomorrow, take out all the pine cones in the space and put them in the yard to dry. You can process them after they are dry.