Chapter 13: Chapter Thirteen: The Shock Brought by Cabbage and Radishes

The next morning.

He Xiuniang woke early and did not disturb Gu Zhao; instead, she fetched a basin of water to boil at the stove for drinking, but upon entering the kitchen, she froze in shock.

Moments later, He Laozhang, pulled into the kitchen by Xiuniang, also stared blankly.

The empty vat now brimmed with plump, large, gleaming white rice; in the corners lay over a dozen cabbages bigger than human heads and radishes thicker than arms; dozens of sausages hung on the wall, and a basket of apples sat on the counter.

He Laozhang grabbed a handful of rice; as it poured like a waterfall between his fingers, his eyes betrayed deep astonishment.

“This… this…”

“So big! So thick!”

Xiuniang lifted a cabbage, then glanced at the radish beside her, incredulous: “Did the gods grow these vegetables?”

“Gu… Master Fa Shi…” He Laozhang couldn’t help but change his address.

The two stared at each other, faced with the scene in the kitchen; they wanted to ask Gu Zhao, but remembered his instruction not to disturb him while he was inside his room.

“Perhaps Young Master Gu couldn’t stand our food and went to the county to buy some?” Xiuniang speculated, confident in Gu Zhao, “Master Gu’s magic is powerful—going to the county and back would be easy, wouldn’t it?”

“It’s not about whether it’s easy—it’s that in the county…” He Laozhang knew far more about Xiuyue County than Xiuniang did; when had the county ever had rice or vegetables like this?

In his youth, restless and unwilling to settle, he went to the county to work; because he was sharp-witted, he was fortunate enough to become a disciple of an old accountant, learning to read and calculate, and later took over the position, serving as an accountant in the county for many years, gaining some experience.

Rice grains this plump, large, and translucent—even county squires couldn’t afford such rice, let alone these cabbages and radishes; he had never seen vegetables so full and juicy.

Compared to them, the cured meat and apples seemed unremarkable.

“Steam some rice for lunch, and cook some cured meat and vegetables,” He Laozhang said.

Though he didn’t know how Gu Zhao had produced these things, He Laozhang understood clearly that this scene was because Gu Zhao couldn’t stomach yesterday’s meals.

Compared to this rice and these dishes, yesterday’s wild-vegetable porridge, coarse flour cakes, and dried cured meat were truly crude.

Xiuniang nodded eagerly, then noticed two small pure-white jars on the counter.

“What’s this?” Xiuniang stepped forward, picked up one jar, opened the lid, and saw a pile of white powder inside.

He Laozhang leaned in, squinting, “Looks like salt? Such fine salt!”

Xiuniang’s eyes flickered; she dipped a finger in, tasted it, then winced—astonished, delighted, yet grimacing: “It really is salt!”

He Laozhang couldn’t help but laugh, then saw Xiuniang put down the salt jar and eagerly pick up the other one: “What about this one? Hey, is this salt too? Coarse salt?”

He Laozhang looked over and saw white powder inside the jar… no, not powder anymore—fine, granular white sand.

“Taste it and you’ll know,” He Laozhang chuckled; he didn’t think this was salt, but he didn’t know what it was.

Xiuniang licked her lips, swallowed the remaining salt, then carefully pinched two or three granules and put them in her mouth; she immediately swallowed hard, her face alight with delight: “So sweet! It’s sugar!”

…

Gu Zhao had slept here last night; after buying rice, vegetables, salt, and sugar from Jin Dama’s Fresh Store and delivering them here, he had sat in meditation in the side room, replenishing his magic power, only sleeping after midnight.

He had discovered that sleeping here—even without active cultivation—caused the Five Thunder Talisman in his mind to slowly absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, improving his physique, stimulating his spiritual sense, enhancing his magic power, and aiding his cultivation.

In other words, as long as he stayed here, his cultivation base would slowly increase over time; though the gain per unit time seemed small, accumulated over time, it was no longer negligible.

“Looks like I’ll have to live here regularly,” Gu Zhao thought upon waking, feeling refreshed and clear-headed: “The mountains and the city are truly different.”

Sunlight streamed through the patched window paper, illuminating dust motes in the air; though slightly blinding, it warmed the bedding and carried a natural scent.

As Gu Zhao surveyed the humble yet cozy house, he heard movement from the adjacent kitchen; he opened his door and stepped out to meet two pairs of wide, shining eyes.

“Young Master Gu!” He Laozhang hurried forward.

“Master!” Xiuniang also ran over, unable to help asking, “Are the vegetables in the kitchen yours?”

Gu Zhao nodded. “Those are cabbages and radishes—they keep well and are good for pickling; if you can’t eat them all, share them with the villagers.”

Gu Zhao had learned the village’s customs: when everyone is destitute, one must learn to share and help each other, huddling together for warmth.

“Good, good, thank you, Master!” He Laozhang bowed repeatedly, then added, “I’ll have Xiuniang steam some rice and prepare a couple of small dishes.”

“Good,” Gu Zhao smiled. “I’ll taste Xiuniang’s cooking.”

Xiuniang blushed, nervous yet hopeful: “I can only make simple dishes—Master, don’t disdain them.”

He Laozhang chimed in: “Xiuniang’s cooking is excellent—she can steam, boil, roast, and stew; sometimes, when we have oil, she even fries cakes.”

Xiuniang didn’t understand why her grandfather suddenly praised her—she was both shy and delighted, and hurried off to the kitchen: “I’ll go cook!”

Gu Zhao patted his forehead; he remembered the salt and sugar, but forgot the oil—he rarely cooked himself.

Beyond food, Gu Zhao had no intention of giving He Laozhang and Xiuniang too many things; he wouldn’t stay long, and giving them too many valuable items might invite trouble. At most, before leaving, he’d buy some silver ingots from the modern world to hide at the bottom of their chest.

Watching Xiuniang leave, Gu Zhao turned to He Laozhang: “I have a few questions for you, Old Man.”

“Master, speak!” He Laozhang hurriedly said.

Gu Zhao and He Laozhang sat in the courtyard. “Do you still remember what the female ghost said the day before yesterday?”

He Laozhang looked dazed, then remembered the key point: “She wanted to sleep with you and drain your primordial energy?”

Gu Zhao, “…”

You really are old in body but young in heart—still fixated on that?

Gu Zhao sighed. “I meant the part where she claimed to be the goddess of the Golden Wind Sect.”

He Laozhang’s face instantly paled. “Golden Wind Sect? So this ghost has a lineage?”

“You know the Golden Wind Sect?” Gu Zhao’s eyes lit up.

“I don’t know,” He Laozhang denied. “But any demon or ghost with a lineage is a force that can challenge the imperial court!”

Gu Zhao took a deep breath; so demons truly existed in this world.

“To be honest, Old Man, I’ve been cultivating in the mountains all along; my master never told me much. I’ve just left the mountains and don’t understand many things yet.”

Gu Zhao gently probed, hoping to extract more useful information from He Laozhang.

“Master, forgive me—I don’t know much either. Just hearsay and rumors,” He Laozhang understood Gu Zhao’s intent and smiled wryly. “If you don’t mind, may I speak freely?”

Gu Zhao smiled. “That would be perfect.”