It was still early for lunch. Lu Zheng handed the lunch box containing a family al to Xiaocui, asking her to heat it up at lunchti.
Turning back, Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying were already seated under the peach tree, sorting the Go pieces, preparing to start a new ga.
In the front yard of Taohua Village, with this large peach tree present, it really was like a verdant shade hiding the sky and blocking out the sun. The dappled sunlight cast down, bringing a cool yet warm feeling, truly comfortable.
Under the peach tree, the stone table was directly carved into a Go board pattern, with thirty-eight straight lines interwoven, horizontal and vertical.
Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan sat opposite each other, sorting out the black and white pieces.
"Sister, please start!"
"Then I won’t be polite."
The two first placed two black and two white pieces on the star points, then Liu Qingyan took the white and started the ga by approaching the corner.
Shen Ying smiled slightly, placing a black piece.
Lu Zheng stood quietly watching from the side, expressionless, enigmatic.
Liu Qingquan also took a look, but felt it was dull. Xiaocui had already put away the lunch box and returned to the front yard.
Seeing Liu Qingquan idle, she took out two carving knives and a basket of peach wood blocks, eagerly teaching Liu Qingquan how to carve wood sculptures.
"Usually, when Uncle An and Uncle Qian have nothing to do, they also go to Peach Blossom Plain to trade wood carvings, making so pocket money to supplent the village," Xiaocui explained while carving, her hands continuous with the knife, quickly sketching an outline.
Wow, impressive!
It was Liu Qingquan’s first ti trying wood carving, and he was very enthusiastic, holding a knife in one hand and wood in the other, following Xiaocui’s lead.
Lu Zheng glanced and turned his gaze back to the Go board.
As they say, practice is the best teacher. People can even beco Mahjong experts just by watching; could he not learn the rules of Go by watching a ga?
Under the peach tree, a beautiful noblewoman in a dark red smoke gauze silk dress and a graceful maiden in a moon-white embroidered flowing coat were sitting. One was dignified and graceful, the other charming and elegant, holding the pieces against the table, their posture elegant, making one forget the mundane.
Lu Zheng watched for a while and roughly understood the rules, though he was still clueless about so details and techniques.
Just from the expressions and pace of placing pieces, it seed Shen Ying held the advantage.
Indeed, after about an hour, before Lu Zheng could see the result, Liu Qingyan had already conceded.
"Sister, you’re amazing," Liu Qingyan said.
"You’re not weak, either. To tangle with in the mid-ga for so long and use sealing and cutting techniques so well, capturing quite a few of my pieces," Shen Ying praised, "Much better than Xiaocui, you should co to accompany your sister more often."
Liu Qingyan laughed, "Then I will co more often to learn from you, sister."
"It’s almost noon; let’s have our al."
Hearing this, Xiaocui got up and imdiately went to the side room kitchen.
"Everything is ready, just needs heating; let’s go to the front hall first."
"Great, great!"
...
Today’s lunch included the family al brought by Lu Zheng, with everyone getting a piece.
Simply put, this junk food, eaten for the first ti, or once in a while, was indeed a rare delicacy.
Not to ntion Liu Qingquan eating and drooling; even Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying couldn’t help but lick their fingers after eating.
Slim fingers went into the mouth, the tip of the tongue lightly brushing.
The grease on the fingers entered the mouth with the tongue, and then they licked their lips again.
Delicious!
Tasty!
"I didn’t expect chicken to be cooked like this," Shen Ying said, "It’s at as it is, still deep-fried, really extravagant."
Liu Qingquan interjected, "Brother Lu always has a lot of delicious things."
"And many spices I cannot even na," Shen Ying pondered.
This tongue truly was sensitive!
"We had Madam Shen’s Peach Blossom Brew last ti; today, try the Cyan Plum Wine I brought. Please!"
Shen Ying narrowed her peach blossom eyes and gestured with the others, covering their sleeves to sip lightly.
"Sweet and light, a good wine."
The fruit wine entered their mouths, making the ladies’ eyes more vibrant and bright, chatting and laughing together, enhancing the harmony of the atmosphere.
...
Soon, after finishing lunch, Xiaocui and two old servants cleaned up while Shen Ying and the three of them left the village, entering the Peach Blossom Plain, walking and chatting.
Liu Qingyan shared the fresh stories from the clinic, Shen Ying talked about so recent anecdotes in Peach Blossom Plain.
Liu Qingquan was even carrying the little wooden carved mouse she bought last ti, running around them happily playing.
"Thunk!"
"Oh no!" Liu Qingquan exclaid softly, "Sister, my little mouse fell into the tree hole again!"
This "again" was quite amusing.
They turned around a few peach trees to see Liu Qingquan squatting in front of a peach tree, looking at a tree hole, aligning with the trunk but only three inches in diater, dark and deep.
"Let see." Lu Zheng stepped forward, looked around, and curiously said, "There are many tree holes like this under the peach trees. Are they rat holes?"
"Probably, but rats don’t co out during the day," Shen Ying answered.
Lu Zheng glanced into the tree hole; it was dark inside, but he could vaguely see a shadow, seemingly the little sculpture.
"Fortunately, it’s not deep, or maybe the rat turns after digging to a certain distance."
Lu Zheng squatted down beside the hole, putting his hand in, and awkwardly... got stuck.
"Let try." Shen Ying stepped up with a smile.
"Thank you, Madam Shen."
"No trouble taking a little mouse," Shen Ying lifted her skirt, gracefully crouched down, and reached in.
Just past the elbow, Shen Ying felt the little mouse and retrieved it for Liu Qingquan.
"Thank you, Sister Shen!"
Liu Qingquan took the little mouse and then looked up to see a few others erging from the trees a ten-yard distance away.
"Oh, it’s you guys?"
Lu Zheng’s group turned around to see three youths and a raggedly dressed fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy appear. These three were the ones who tried to harass Shen Ying and the Liu Family Sisters last ti at Peach Blossom Plain.
"It’s you guys?"
Clearly, the three youths imdiately recognized Lu Zheng and his companions.
What a coincidence.
Well, maybe not. Maybe they had nothing better to do, wandering around Peach Blossom Plain all day.
Lu Zheng shook his head, showing no intention of engaging them.
Last ti, they were taught a lesson, so he figured they wouldn’t dare to harass this ti.
Shen Ying and the Liu Family Sisters thought the sa, planning to walk away.
However...
Lu Zheng caught sight of the three surrounding the boy, pointing and discussing toward their direction.
"Brother Hu, it’s them!"
The next mont, the boy rushed up in front of Lu Zheng.
"It’s you who hurt my brothers last ti?"
Is this never-ending?
Lu Zheng shook his head, smiling. "Your brothers? Is it not rightful to discipline them for harassing won?"
"Lies, we helped you, just wanted to make friends, with no harm intended, yet you were unreasonable, beating us up to show off in front of them. Truly, what a cruel heart!" one of the three youths shouted.
"Hmm?" Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, pondering, "Are you sure they really are your... brothers?"
"Hmph!" the boy snorted, glancing at Shen Ying and the Liu Family Sisters, but showing no interest in them.
"Stop the nonsense, didn’t you rely on your skills to bully people? See if I can beat you this ti!"
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