Chapter 13: The Shock Brought by Chinese Cabbages and White Radishes

Early the next morning.

The embroiderer, who had risen early, did not disturb Gu Zhao; instead, she fetched a basin of water to boil at the stove for today's drinking water, but the moment she entered the kitchen, she was utterly stunned.

Moments later, He Laozhang, whom the embroiderer had dragged to the kitchen, stood with eyes wide and fixed.

The vat that had been completely empty was now filled with plump, large, and snow-white rice grains; in the corners of the room lay over a dozen Chinese cabbages larger than a human head and white radishes thicker than an arm; strings of cured sausages hung on the walls, and a basket of apples sat on the counter.

He Laozhang grabbed a handful of rice, watching the grains stream through his fingers like a waterfall, his eyes unable to hide their shock.

"This... this is..."

"So big! So thick!"

The embroiderer hugged a Chinese cabbage, then looked at the white radish beside her, and said in disbelief, "These must be vegetables grown by a deity?"

"Gu... Lord Mage..." He Laozhang could not help but change his address.

The two stared at each other in the face of the kitchen's situation, wanting to ask Gu Zhao, yet remembering that Gu Zhao had instructed them not to disturb him as long as he remained in his room.

"Perhaps Young Master Gu found our food unpalatable, so he went to the county town to buy some?" the embroiderer guessed, and she had enough confidence in Gu Zhao, "Young Master Gu possesses great magic power; surely a round trip to the county town is easy for him?"

"This is not a matter of ease, but rather that within the county town..." He Laozhang knew Xiu Yue County far better than He Xiuyang did; when had such rice, fruits, and vegetables ever existed in the county?

In his youth, unwilling to be idle, he had gone to the county town to work; because he was naturally sharp, he was fortunate enough to apprentice under an old accountant to learn reading and arithmetic, later taking over the post and serving as an accountant in the county town for many years, gaining some knowledge.

Every grain plump, large, and crystal-clear; even the wealthy landlords in the county town likely could not eat such fine rice, let alone those Chinese cabbages and white radishes; he had never seen such plump and succulent vegetables.

By comparison, the cured meat and apples were not particularly conspicuous.

"Steam some rice for noon, and cook some cured meat and vegetables," He Laozhang said.

Although he did not know how Gu Zhao had conjured these things, He Laozhang was very clear that this scene was because Gu Zhao found their previous day's food unpalatable.

Compared to such rice and dishes, yesterday's wild vegetable porridge, coarse wheat cakes, and air-dried cured meat were simply too rough.

The embroiderer nodded repeatedly, only then noticing two pure white small jars had appeared on the counter.

"What is this?" The embroiderer stepped forward, took a small jar, opened the lid, and saw a pile of white powder inside.

He Laozhang leaned in, squinting to look, "It seems to be salt? Such fine salt!"

The embroiderer's eyes darted; she dipped a finger in, tasted it, then could not help but frown, her face a mix of surprise, joy, and bitterness, "It truly is salt!"

He Laozhang could not help but laugh; then he saw the embroiderer put down the salt jar and eagerly pick up the other jar, "Then what about this one? Oh, it's also salt, but coarse salt?"

He Laozhang looked over and saw that the jar also contained white powder... no, not white powder, but white granular fine sand.

"Taste it and you'll know," He Laozhang said with a smile; he did not think this looked like salt, but he did not know what it truly was.

The embroiderer licked her lips, first swallowing the remaining salt with her saliva, then carefully pinching two or three grains of the fine sand with her fingertip and putting them in her mouth; she could not help but swallow, her face full of delight, "So sweet! It's sugar!"

Gu Zhao had slept here yesterday; after first buying rice, fruits, vegetables, salt, and sugar from Aunt Jin's fresh food shop and delivering them here, he had been meditating and cultivating in the side room to replenish the magic power within his body, only lying down to sleep after the hour of Zi passed at night.

Because he had discovered that sleeping here, even without actively cultivating, the Five Thunder Talisman in his mind was slowly absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, possessing the effects of improving his physique, stimulating his divine sense, augmenting his magic power, and aiding his cultivation.

That is to say, as long as he stayed here, his cultivation would slowly increase with time; although the increase per unit of time seemed small, streams accumulate into rivers and sand gathers into a tower; over a long period, it could not be underestimated.

"It seems I shall reside here permanently from now on," Gu Zhao said as he woke, feeling refreshed and clear-minded; "the mountains and the city are indeed different."

Sunlight pierced through the holes in the window paper, illuminating the dust in the air; although somewhat glaring, it warmed the bedding on the bed, and the air carried a natural scent.

As Gu Zhao was looking around this simple yet quite cozy house, he heard commotion from the adjacent kitchen; thus, he pushed open the door and walked out, only to see two pairs of bright eyes.

"Young Master Gu!" He Laozhang hurriedly stepped forward.

"Young Master!" The embroiderer also ran over and could not help but ask, "Were the vegetables in the kitchen brought by you?"

Gu Zhao nodded. "Those are Chinese cabbages and white radishes; they can be stored for quite some time and are also suitable for making pickled vegetables or preserved vegetables. If you cannot finish them, you may share them with the villagers."

Gu Zhao had learned the village customs that day; when everyone is desperately poor, one must learn to share and help one another, huddling together for warmth.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent! Thank you, Young Master!" He Laozhang bowed repeatedly, then said, "I will have the embroiderer steam some rice and prepare two side dishes."

"Good," Gu Zhao smiled. "Then I shall taste the embroiderer's cooking skills."

The embroiderer's face turned red; she felt both apprehensive and expectant. "I only know how to make a few side dishes; Young Master, please do not despise them."

He Laozhang added, "The embroiderer's skills are good; she can handle steaming, boiling, roasting, and stewing; sometimes, when the family has oil, she even fries some cakes."

The embroiderer did not know why her grandfather suddenly praised her; feeling both shy and happy, she hurriedly ran to the kitchen. "I will go cook!"

Gu Zhao patted his forehead; he remembered the salt and sugar but had forgotten the oil, after all, he rarely cooked himself.

Besides food, Gu Zhao did not intend to give He Laozhang and the embroiderer too many things; since he would not stay here long, giving them too many good items might instead invite trouble; at most, before leaving, he would buy some silver ingots from the modern world for them to keep as a nest egg.

Watching the embroiderer leave, Gu Zhao turned to He Laozhang and said, "I have a few questions for you, old sir."

"Young Master, please speak!" He Laozhang said urgently.

Gu Zhao and He Laozhang sat in the courtyard; Gu Zhao asked, "Old sir, do you still remember what that female ghost said the day before yesterday?"

He Laozhang was somewhat dazed, then realized the key point. "She wanted to sleep with you and then suck your primordial energy?"

Gu Zhao: "..."

You are old in years but young in heart; is that all you care about?

Gu Zhao said helplessly, "It was about the female ghost claiming to be the Divine Maiden of the Golden Wind Sect."

He Laozhang's face instantly turned pale. "The Golden Wind Sect? That ghostly creature actually has a background?"

"You know of the Golden Wind Sect?" Gu Zhao's eyes lit up.

"I do not know," He Laozhang denied. "But in this world, any spirit, demon, or ghost that has a background is a force capable of clashing with the imperial court!"

Gu Zhao took a deep breath; indeed, there are demons in this world.

"To not hide anything from you, old sir, I have actually been cultivating in the mountains all along; my master did not tell me too many things; now that I have just left the mountains, I am unclear about many matters."

Gu Zhao guided him gently, wanting to see if he could coax more useful information from He Laozhang's mouth.

"Young Master, please forgive me; in truth, this old man does not know too many things either; it is all hearsay and gossip," He Laozhang, having understood Gu Zhao's intent, said with a bitter smile. "If you do not mind, may I just speak freely?"

Gu Zhao smiled. "That would be even better."