Chapter 82: Harvesting Honey and Beekeeping

Han Li sat on a large boulder at the edge of a cliff, his legs swinging in the air as he gnawed on a freshly boiled pig’s heart from the morning. In the distance, mountain peaks stretched endlessly, covered in lush, verdant forests that seemed to form an infinite sea of green. After finishing the pig’s heart, Han Li took a swig from his canteen, dusted off his hands, and stood up to leave. The scenery was beautiful, but he had little time to linger and admire it.

After lunch, Han Li’s luck seemed to improve, perhaps the heavens were responding to his craving for dumplings. In a grove of basswood trees, he found a large cluster of golden oyster mushrooms growing on a dead trunk. Renowned for their nourishing qualities, Han Li had often heard his aunts say that these mushrooms were especially delicious in dumplings—the taste was so fresh it could make your teeth ache with delight, and paired with pork, even more exquisite.

Having gathered the mushrooms, Han Li pressed on, only to discover a wild beehive attached to a basswood tree. The hive hung six or seven meters above the ground, about as large around as a washbasin and nearly eighty centimeters tall. From below, it looked like a big lump of yellow earth. Though the basswood trees had already passed their blooming season, Han Li knew the hive must be filled with basswood honey. Not long ago, when the trees were in blossom, he’d considered collecting some flowers to make tea, which was said to have wonderful health benefits and a unique flavor, but life’s demands had distracted him.

Now, however, he had stumbled upon a treasure trove of basswood honey. Just as Han Li was about to act, he chided himself—wasn’t he a man who knew basic beast-taming arts? If he could capture the queen bee, he would have a steady source of honey for years to come. Without hesitation, Han Li focused his spiritual energy on the hive. The intricate, winding structure almost made him dizzy, but he soon found the unique queen: a plump bee with a long abdomen tipped with a stinger, no wax glands beneath, and wings covering only half its body—the largest and fattest in the hive.

Recalling his basic beast-taming technique, Han Li carefully extended his will toward the queen. Soon, he received a response, but the queen couldn’t come down on her own; he needed to climb up and fetch her. That was no problem for Han Li—within moments, he had scrambled up to the hive. The bees, obeying their queen, left him unharmed. Han Li used his basket to support the hive and applied his decomposition skill to detach it from the tree.

The basket grew heavier as the hive came loose. Han Li had no experience in harvesting honey and knew that cutting too much could kill off many bees by depriving them of food, which was not his intention. Thankfully, with the queen now under his control, he communicated with her and learned exactly how to proceed.

Once the queen had moved a specific brood cell aside, Han Li applied his decomposition skill from within the hive, leaving the exterior intact and allowing him to extract what he wanted. He pulled out a chunk of honeycomb, each layer composed of neatly arranged hexagonal cells. The honey oozed out, thick and crystal clear, with a faint linden blossom fragrance and a beautiful, translucent pale amber hue—just looking at it was enough to make one’s mouth water. This was genuine wild basswood honey.

Han Li couldn’t wait and immediately took a bite. The flavor was intensely sweet, almost cloying—perhaps because he’d bitten off too much at once. After rinsing his mouth with water, a delicate fruitiness and light acidity lingered, making the taste even more delightful. This time, Han Li nibbled off a small piece and savored it carefully. The honey melted in his mouth, its texture soft and smooth, with a gentle sweetness laced with a hint of tartness—truly, an aftertaste that lingered and satisfied deeply.

Having squeezed the honey out, Han Li chewed up the remaining honeycomb, which was pleasantly chewy. Looking at the neatly stacked honeycombs in his decomposition space, a satisfied smile spread across his face. This year, his winter provisions had gained a new addition—pure, wild basswood honey.

[Basswood honey: Once a tribute for royalty, highly nutritious, excellent for enriching the blood, beautifying the complexion, and nourishing the lungs. It soothes and regulates the nervous system, calms the mind, helps one fall asleep quickly and improves sleep quality. Regular consumption of purple basswood honey also enhances brain health and memory. Caution: Not for children under one year old; do not consume with tofu or leeks, as it can cause diarrhea. Do not eat with carp or river crabs, as it may cause poisoning. Do not eat with onions, as it can harm the eyes or even lead to blindness in severe cases; such taboos are common to nearly all honey.]

Han Li’s basket was now filled with the beehive, with a layer of golden oyster mushrooms on top. Arriving home, he found a spot in the backyard to settle the hive. Next year, he would plant a great arbor of grapes nearby, making the arrangement perfect. The bees were already emerging from the hive, exploring their new environment.

Watching the bees scatter around the yard, Han Li felt a deep sense of contentment. Now, he not only had honey to eat, but also a swarm of little guardians for his home. Still, their watch might be short-lived—should he get a dog to help guard the place, too?

Though the day’s work was not yet done for the rest of the villagers, Han Li decided against returning to the mountains. Instead, he busied himself in the yard, drying mushrooms and herbs, tending his cellar and small bathhouse.

He had dug the cellar pit a few days ago, leaving it to air out. Currently, it was just a square hole over two meters deep—at first glance, it resembled a grave, though much larger. Today, Han Li planned to drive several posts around the pit to reinforce the cellar walls, ensuring it would last until he eventually left this place.

In the village, most cellars were roofed with logs, covered with corn stalks, and then topped with earth. But Han Li had gathered plenty of logs from the mountains, so he intended to use logs for the entire structure, finishing with a thick layer of soil on top.

PS: Many thanks to the generous supporters and everyone for following and voting. Special thanks to: “Boy Who Loves Historical Novels” for the 900-point reward, “Ancient Beauty” for 600 points, “Lights in the Window” for 100 points, “Nanjing Overlord” for 100 points, and “Peaceful Seaweed Flavor” for 100 points.