In what seemed like no time at all, the wasteland at the foot of Xiaoao Mountain was already more than halfway cleared.
Enthusiasm was high among the people of the Zhao Village, as well as those from the other villages bordering Xiaoao Mountain. As a result, the reclamation work progressed faster each day.
Soon, their work clearing the wasteland brought them near the great pagoda tree where Chen Wanqing and her companions had found the treasure chest.
This spot marked the boundary set by the county.
All the land outside this line could be reclaimed, but the land within was not to be touched.
It was important to leave a habitat for the animals that had long made their home there. One couldn't just take everything.
Chen Wanqing hadn't been to Xiaoao Mountain for some time, but one morning, she went up the mountain with Zhao Jing to forage for mushrooms.
A heavy rain had fallen two days prior.
