Many of the pine cones that fell to the ground had their mouths exploded, like blooming flowers, which was quite beautiful.
Baiyunxi picked up a few good-looking ones and put them into baskets, ready to go home for Yaya to play with. The remaining ones were put into porcelain vases with other stems and branches, which would be good for decorating the house.
"Mom, what are you doing picking up these pine cones? We have enough firewood at home." Mrs. Li looked at her mother-in-law holding a pine cone. This thing was exploding and took up space.
"Take it back to Yaya to play with." Baiyunxi stood under the pine tree and looked up.
As soon as they got close to the pine tree, several little squirrels on the tree were startled and rushed to the top of the tree, staring at them with wary expressions.
Seeing the squirrel, Bai Yunxi blinked and turned to look at Lao Er and the others.
"Where there are squirrels, will there be pine nuts in the pine cones on the trees that have not fallen?"
Hearing his mother's inquiry, Bai Anyan was stunned, "How about I go up to the tree and pick one and have a look."
When Xiaosi heard this, he waved his hand directly, "Second brother, there's no need to go up. I'll just go up and chop two."
As he said that, he put the basket on the ground, took off his shoes and socks, put a sickle in his waist, and climbed into the middle of the tree in a few seconds. The frightened Baiyunxi covered his heart and shouted under the tree,
"Don't climb too fast, be careful of the warped dry bark on the pine trees, don't prick your feet."
This kind of tree is climbed by wild animals jumping up and down every day, and it is easy to be infected with bacteria. In this backward era, there are no anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-viral serum or the like.
If the wound is infected, it may cause disability or death.
"Don't worry, climbing a tree is not worth mentioning to me."
Xiaosi found a good position, took out his sickle, cut a large pine cone and threw it below.
"See if there are any pine nuts. If there are any, I will continue to chop. If not, I will go down."
A few little squirrels hiding on the top of the tree were frightened by his clattering operation and squeaked wildly. They jumped onto the next tree and ran away.
Bai Anyan picked up the pine cone, split it from the top with a machete, and broke it with both hands. The pine cone was torn in half. His eyes lit up when he looked at the pine nuts hidden in the scales.
"Mom, don't tell me, there are really pine nuts."
Why didn't he pay attention before? Pine nuts are a good thing, especially when fried, they are very fragrant.
Although the pine trees on the hillside behind them also produced pine cones, there were not many pine nuts inside, and many of them were empty shells.
But a pine cone that fell on the ground can be used to make a fire. When the children in the village see it, they will pick it up and take it home to make a fire. Occasionally, they can also find a few pine nuts.
"As long as you have pine nuts, you can go up to the tree and pick them. Mrs. Li and I are peeling the pine nuts down below. That's what we're going to do today, take them back and fry them, and use them as snacks during the Chinese New Year."
"Hey~,"
Bai Anyan handed the machete to Mr. Li. He took a sickle, found a thick tree, and climbed up.
Baiyunxi spread the cloth bags he brought on the ground, picked up the pine cones and piled them together. Li was responsible for splitting the pine cones in half so that it was clear at a glance whether there were any pine nuts.
During this season, the scales of many pine cones are slightly opened. After splitting, just hit them with a wooden stick and the pine nuts hidden in the scales will fall out.
Several people worked together and worked very hard.
Mrs. Li looked at the layer of pine nuts scattered on the bag, peeled one and put it into her mouth to chew.
"I have some snacks for the Chinese New Year, and these are more delicious than peanuts and melon seeds."
"You are right. Pine nuts contain a lot of fat, especially when they are fried. Eating them is good for your health."