It’s been decades since I last ca here, and yet there’s still a vegetable garden, which is quite surprising.
The vegetable garden isn’t far away, just past a grassy patch.
Gu Qiaoqiao stood by the vegetable garden, unable to help but marvel at the wonders of nature.
Xiao Bai pointed, "Qiaoqiao, this is the vegetable garden. I have to say, everything’s growing pretty well."
Gu Qiaoqiao nodded, looking at the large garden before her. The growth wasn’t just good; it was freewheeling and carefree.
There are many kinds of vegetables, with wild grass growing alongside them.
But you can still see the shapes of cucumbers, eggplants, green onions, and potatoes.
Especially the cucumbers, they’re like waterlons, sprawling on the ground, each with its own unique shape.
Moreover, it looks like it was well-organized before, but since no one managed it, the vegetable seeds have scattered wildly, full of wild nature.
With no one to tend them, in spring the seeds go wherever they want.
This is almost like wild vegetables now.
I wonder if this counts as returning to simplicity.
But how did these potatoes grow like this?
Gu Qiaoqiao couldn’t figure it out for a long ti, because as far as she knew, potato seeds should be cut into pieces before planting them.
But then again, nothing is absolute.
If these potatoes want to thrive here, they must figure it out themselves.
Gu Qiaoqiao started digging up potatoes with Xiao Bai. This season is when potatoes are ripe.
I have to say, even with no one taking care of them, these potatoes grew quite well.
They’re as big as one’s fist.
Looks like we’ll have a good al tonight.
Xiao Bai led Gu Qiaoqiao with these things to the side of the wooden building. Gu Qiaoqiao glanced towards the third floor; it was quiet and still up there.
Gu Qiaoqiao stood there for a while, initially wanting to go up, but sensing that Dongfang Yu and Shang Qing were safe, she dismissed the idea.
The kitchen is behind the wooden building, separated by a slate-paved yard, equipped with all the cooking and dining essentials.
Just no oil, salt, sauce, or vinegar.
Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t feel like making anything else.
The rice looked fresh, but thinking it was over twenty years old, Gu Qiaoqiao lost her appetite.
Fortunately, there were plenty of potatoes.
She also had so packs of instant noodles in her backpack.
There was no shortage of at and vegetables here.
The instant noodles’ seasoning could get them through a few days.
Gu Qiaoqiao surmised that if the Snow Spirit Ball was effective on Dongfang Yu, it wouldn’t take long, maybe by tomorrow there’d be results.
If it didn’t work, even if placed above his head for a year, it would be to no avail.
And naturally, there was no electricity here.
Yet, a beautifully crafted copper candlestick was placed where it could provide light.
Gu Qiaoqiao looked at the sky, not wanting to delay dinner too much.
So she lit a fire to cook.
Made a simple stew of potato and rabbit at and boiled a pot of water. There was a wooden table in the yard, perfect for dining.
Gu Qiaoqiao served Xiao Bai a bowl, placed it on the table, and then quickly walked around the corner to the wooden building.
Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t feel like going upstairs, so she shouted from below, "Shang Qing, co down for dinner."
There was a mont of silence, then Shang Qing’s voice replied, "Okay, I’m coming down."
Outside, the sky was turning light, but the lighting in the wooden building was still a bit dim.
Gu Qiaoqiao stood not far away, waiting for Shang Qing to co out.
Soon, Shang Qing appeared.
But she stood by the doorway, and when Gu Qiaoqiao glanced over, she was montarily stunned.
Shang Qing had her back to her, and then Gu Qiaoqiao noticed a corner of a black garnt, glowing faintly in the half-dim light.
A hand lightly gripped Shang Qing’s, then released, as she turned and stepped out.
In the glow of the setting sun, Shang Qing’s face was redder than the clouds in the sky.
Seeing Gu Qiaoqiao looking at her, she was at a loss for words.
Gu Qiaoqiao knew that the person was Dongfang Yu.
If he could co downstairs to see Shang Qing off, it seed he was recovering.
He really is lucky.
No, Gu Qiaoqiao imdiately denied it, it’s not luck, it’s fortune.
Gu Qiaoqiao glanced noncommittally towards the wooden building, faintly hearing unsteady breathing, it seed recovery had just begun.
Maybe there was so kind of formation in the wooden building at night, feared to frighten Shang Qing, so he insisted on coming down to send her off.
But, but, why was Shang Qing blushing?
Gu Qiaoqiao wasn’t a fool, to avoid awkwardness, she stopped speculating. But it seed reconciliation was inevitable.
Gu Qiaoqiao looked at Shang Qing, "Let’s eat first."
Shang Qing softly said, "Thank you for your hard work, Qiaoqiao."
It was quite hard, Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t even know what she was doing.
Really, who is she working hard for?
If Qin Yize knew, he’d scold her for wearing herself out ddling.
Gu Qiaoqiao felt a bit lancholic.
Didn’t know when Qin Yize would return.
She turned to lead Shang Qing to have dinner.
After eating, the sky darkened.
Gu Qiaoqiao and Shang Qing discussed how to rest.
Shang Qing still returned to the third floor to take care of Dongfang Yu.
While Gu Qiaoqiao and Xiao Bai went to the wooden hut in the Peach Grove.
This ti, Gu Qiaoqiao escorted Shang Qing to the third floor, but didn’t go in, instead quickly heading downstairs with Xiao Bai.
From afar, she could still hear the soft voices of Dongfang Yu and Shang Qing.
Gu Qiaoqiao quickly blocked it out.
Lighting a candle, Gu Qiaoqiao couldn’t sleep, but there were no appliances or books to read, it was quite boring, so she casually chatted with Xiao Bai.
Xiao Bai knew a lot, was familiar with this place, and promised to take Gu Qiaoqiao to play at the Heavenly Punishnt Waterfall tomorrow. There was also a small boat by the waterfall, and if they caught so fish, they could make fish soup.
Gradually, Gu Qiaoqiao started feeling sleepy, and Xiao Bai lay beside her pillow. Snuffing out the candle, under the moonlight as bright as water, and amid the whistling night wind, both the person and cat drifted into dreamland.
On the morning of the next day, Gu Qiaoqiao lazily lay in bed, slling the fresh fragrance of the Peach Grove and the aroma of food wafting from the wooden building beyond.
It seed to be the sll of sweet and sour ribs and fried old cucumber.
How fragrant.
Shang Qing doesn’t have such culinary skills.
Then it must be Dongfang Yu.
He’s recovered.
She didn’t even know Dongfang Yu could cook.
Or was it packed from so restaurant?
Gu Qiaoqiao, not wanting to move, lay lazily in bed. After a mont, she glanced at her watch, marveling at how perfect this quiet mountain forest was for sleeping in.
Just like Qiaoze Ranch.
By now, it was already eleven in the morning.
And Xiao Bai had long run off sowhere.
Gu Qiaoqiao finally got up, reckoning they’d be able to return to the Imperial Capital today or tomorrow.
Taking her toiletries to the creek, she freshened up, stretched lazily, feeling quite refreshed.
Then she saw Shang Qing cheerfully running over, with a radiant smile on her face, "Qiaoqiao, Dongfang Yu is better. He cooked lunch, you know, Dongfang Yu once spent a long ti with imperial chefs. Co, let’s go eat."
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