บท 43: Making Pesticide
Mei Li racked her brains for other solutions to aphids.
In modern times, these insects are also a common problem for farmers and garden owners. But solutions were easy - people just had to purchase insecticides from the store.
Now, though, there was no readily available insecticide or pesticide, what to do?
Mei Li then thought of homemade remedies. Many people would just mix water with detergent and spray the mixture onto the plants. But there was also no detergent here.
Then she thought of mixing neem oil extract. But neem trees didn't grow in this area at this time.
Sigh.
Mei Li's brows were furrowed while she was deep in thought. After a while, her expression cleared up. Finally, she thought of something that could be used.
Bai Bu!
She saw Bai Bu plants growing at the foot of the west mountains and she even collected a few leaves and roots since Bai Bu is commonly used as herbal medicine for coughs.
Also known as Stemona Sessilifolia, the Bai Bu plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of illnesses.
Aside from coughs, it can be used to regulate blood flow and relieve menstrual cramps.
What many don't know though is that the Bai Bu plant also had good antibacterial and pesticidal properties.
A research journal she read before even highlighted this plant as one of the best alternatives to synthetic pesticides that cause harm to the environment.
That's right, she can definitely use Bai Bu to get rid of these harmful tiny green bugs!
"Umm, Aunt Wen and Second Uncle Wen, I know a plant that can help. If we extract that plant's juice, we can kill these green flies." Mei Li voiced out the solution.
(Note: aunt and uncle here don't mean they are relatives. The address is used here strictly as a sign of respect for people who are older.)
Wen Lihua, her second husband, and her son looked at Mei Li with hope but also with disbelief.
They just met this young woman today and all they knew from the talk around the village was that she came from the capital.
Could she really know a solution to farm problems such as green flies?
But, at this point, they also wanted to believe in her words. It's just like giving medicine to a dead horse. Times are desperate. Having an option, no matter how sketchy, was better than no options.
"Which plant is it?" Wen Lihua excitedly probed for more information.
"It's the Bai Bu plant. It's a medicinal plant for coughs but can be used to kill these insects, too." Mei Li explained.
The Wens showed a tangled expression. Their expertise lies in farming crops and growing vegetables. How would they recognize medicinal plants?
Aunt Li understood their dilemma, so she asked Mei Li on their behalf.
"Mei-er, what do these plants look like? Where to find them?"
Mei Li felt it would be faster to help find the Bai Bu plant herself rather than explain it to people.
So, she directly proposed that they go to the foot of the west mountains and find the plant. Anyway, it was still early afternoon and there was still time to search.
As such, Wen Laohuang and his son, Wen Dahong, decided to accompany Mei Li to find Bai Bu. Aunt Li went out with them, intending to go back to the house and find the brothers.
No way, although Mei Li was already a married woman, she was still a woman after all.
Going with two grown men to the mountains by herself was not appropriate, even if the Wen father and son were kind people.
Aunt Li certainly did not want the villagers to gossip about Mei Li regarding this matter.
Aunt Li breathed a sigh of relief when on the way they came across Shufen who most likely came from the village doctor's house.
Shufen was surprised to meet the four people on the road. He greeted the Wen father and son and looked inquiringly at Mei Li and Aunt Li.
"Shu-er, it's good we found you. You go with Mei-er and Second Wen to the foot of the mountain." Aunt Li told Shufen.
Before Shufen could ask further, Aunt Li hastily whispered to him the situation.
Jin Shufen's expression became grave. He knew full well the commotion that green flies could bring to the village. Crops could be wiped out!
He was also surprised that Mei Li claimed to know a plant that can kill the green flies.
This matter should not be taken lightly. If things do not work, Shufen was worried that the Wen family will resent Mei Li for letting them down.
"Xiaomei, could this plant really help?"
"I believe so. You know this plant, too. It's Bai Bu."
Shufen was taken aback. Could cough medicine truly eliminate green flies?
But since Xiaomei already said so, all he can do is accompany her.
Aunt Li returned to their house as she was an old woman and could not stand tossing around out in the mountains.
Shufen also proposed to bring his second brother, Haoran, with them. Mei Li was going after all and they better protect her.
Although it was just at the foot of the mountains and dangerous animals didn't usually go there, it was better to be safe than sorry.
And so, five people - Mei Li and her two husbands plus the Wen father and son - walked to the foot of the west mountains.
Shufen, who often gathers herbs and medicinal plants in this area, was familiar with Bai Bu.
With his lead, it didn't take long for them to find the plant growing abundantly in many places.
The Bai Bu plant belongs to the vine category with shiny green leaves. It has long tuberous roots that are milky white in color.
It was these roots that were often dried and then made into tinctures or decoctions to treat whooping cough and clear lung blockage.
Mei Li and the people with her did not waste time in gathering Bai Bu. They actually filled three bamboo baskets with Bai Bu leaves and roots.
There were three mu worth of vegetables to take care of, so they needed a lot.
Mei Li also planned to set aside some Bai Bu roots for medicinal use later at home, especially for her painful menstrual cramps.
Around two hours later, they were back at the Wen family's vegetable yard.
Instead of Aunt Li though, Shufen and Haoran were there with her.
Mei Li got ready to make some insecticide. Hopefully, she wasn't mistaken and it will work!
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