348: Chapter 348 The Plants That Are Growing Wild

"Huh, your phone doesn't have a signal either?"

Just then, a male guest passed by and overheard their conversation. "I just heard the Cameraman over there say that his phone doesn't have a signal either."

Lin Xiao frowned and asked, "It couldn't have been without a signal since early this morning, could it?"

"Seems like it." The male guest nodded.

Lin Ran noticed Lin Xiao's unusual expression and asked, "A-Xiao, what's wrong?"

Lin Xiao thought for a moment and replied, "I was watching your show's livestream last night, and suddenly the broadcast signal cut out."

"Do you remember roughly what time it was?" Lin Ran pressed.

"It should have been right when you were preparing to eat," Lin Xiao said, recalling. "Didn't you bring a satellite phone?"

"The Archaeology Experts seem to have brought one." A Production Crew member hurriedly trotted into the house.

But less than five minutes later, he returned, shaking his head with a look of regret. "They said the satellite phone doesn't have a signal either!"

"How is that possible?" Lin Ran looked at Lin Xiao in surprise.

Usually, at times like this, she could hear Lin Xiao's inner voice. Sure enough, Lin Xiao's inner voice sounded right on cue.

[Sigh, it would be a miracle if there was a signal. Just look at where this is.]

Lin Xiao had a rough guess in his mind. When he entered the village, he finally remembered what that piece of classical literature he had studied as a child was. Now it seemed, many things matched up.

Lin Ran perked up her ears, wanting to hear exactly what kind of place this was. But Lin Xiao's inner voice did not continue.

What exactly did Lin Xiao mean? Isn't this just a village in the mountains?

Lin Ran was so anxious she felt like scratching her heart and liver, while also unable to stop herself from looking around.

By now, the sky was completely bright, and everything in the village became much clearer. Unlike last night, the white candles lit in every household had all been extinguished, and it no longer looked as eerie as it did then.

However, there seemed to be something else a bit strange, though she couldn't put her finger on it for a moment.

"Huh, these seem to be medicinal herbs... there are some here too! There are so many!" Someone nearby suddenly exclaimed.

Just then, an Archaeology Expert walked out and stepped forward, saying, "It really is. This plant is called a Ficus hirta. Both its roots and fruits can be used as medicine. The roots are known as Five-Finger Milk Fruit, and the fruits on top are called Five-Finger Milk Fruit."

Lin Xiao turned his head to look and saw that there were indeed many dwarf trees planted over there, bearing some small grey-brown fruits.

He didn't have much knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine. But looking around, the entire village was planted with these Ficus hirta trees.

"So this village makes a living by growing medicinal herbs!" the Production Crew member realized.

Lin Xiao just felt a headache coming on. The Archaeology Expert just said that these small fruits and roots were medicinal materials. But these dwarf trees were almost completely covered in fruit, and there were no signs of the roots having been dug up; it was obvious they hadn't been harvested. How could they be making a living by growing medicinal herbs?

At this moment, some Villagers happened to pass by. The Archaeology Expert asked very politely, "May we pick some of these Five-Finger Milk Fruits?"

"Sure, sure, feel free to pick them." The Villagers waved their hands very generously.

The Archaeology Expert turned back and said with a smile to the Production Crew staff, "Alright, you all pick a few to take back."

"What is this medicinal herb used for?" the staff member asked curiously.

"It can be used to make soup. Friends who like making soup are in for a treat." The Archaeology Expert said, picking a few and putting them into a plastic bag.

Lin Xiao pondered for a moment, as if he had thought of something. He asked the Villagers casually, "These Five-Finger Milk Fruits grow so well, don't you usually pick them?"

"Uh, we don't have a use for them... we don't like the taste." The Villagers explained somewhat awkwardly.

Lin Xiao nodded and didn't say anything else. He remembered seeing in the livestream last night that the Villagers had provided the Production Crew with so much meat and fish. Logically, if these Five-Finger Milk Fruits could be used to make soup, the Villagers shouldn't be completely ignoring them. Sure enough, it was still not normal.

The rest of the Production Crew also woke up one after another. With nothing to do, they wandered around the village, breathing in the fresh air.

Soon, someone exclaimed again. "Why is the grass here so tall? It's the same here too!" This time, it was Song Xi who spoke.

She wanted to move around in the nearby woods to get some exercise, only to see these weeds that were almost as tall as she was.

In her memory, she had never seen such tall grass before. Others also noticed the situation over there and chimed in.

"Yeah, how can this grass grow so tall!" "It's almost reaching the height of corn stalks, isn't it?" "Could it be that the soil is fertile?" "..." Everyone discussed it animatedly.

Just then, someone else seemed to think of something. "By the way, I've found this place to be really magical. Last night, when I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I saw so many fireflies all around, gathered together in swarms and glowing."

"Yes, yes, I saw them too. I originally wanted to catch a couple, but as soon as I got close, those fireflies disappeared." "..."

Lin Xiao listened to their discussion, and his heart gradually sank.

[Good grief, all sorts of BUFFs are fully stacked now!]

[And you're telling me this is a secluded mountain village?]

[This is clearly...]

Lin Ran heard Lin Xiao's inner voice mention the village again and immediately perked up her ears. But Lin Xiao's inner voice came to an abrupt halt once again.