Chapter 23: Idea

Because of Mo Lie's remark, in the end Xi Tao retreated to her safe zone and didn't dare get close to Lin Manzhi to speak again.

Lin Manzhi went to the Yang Suo Shop; she and Xi Tao selected deep‑colored Sand-tail Grass Stalks to dig, and today Yang Suo gave each of them the top price of 25 Beast Coins per stalk.

As a modern person with balcony gardening experience, she was a bit more proficient with the Wooden Rake than Xi Tao; today she dug five more stalks than Xi Tao, totaling fifty‑seven stalks.

Counting the 1,425 Beast Coins in hand, Lin Manzhi immediately handed over 1,500 Beast Coins to Yang Suo and said, "I'll buy a ceramic water pot and two ceramic cups."

The house has no water installation; since moving in they've boiled water in a deep iron pot, let it cool, then poured it into a Water Bag—far from convenient.

Now that she's earning money, Lin Manzhi thinks of replenishing the household's lacking daily items one by one; everything here is brought in by the Merchant Caravan, so prices are high.

She plans to buy cheap small items first, and later, when she has saved more, purchase larger ones.

In this way life gradually becomes more convenient, and as she slowly accumulates furniture for her home, seeing more and more belongings brings a sense of satisfaction.

Xi Tao watches Lin Manzhi blinklessly spend the money she earned today, adding a bit more, and silently disapproves.

She wants to speak up: "Food is the most important; use the money to buy something to eat first…"

But seeing the cold‑faced Mo Lie behind Lin Manzhi, she dares not say another word.

At that moment, Yang Suo took the money, immediately fetched the set of pot and cups from the counter, and handed them over: "Valuable items must be inspected on the spot; check whether the pot and cups have any cracks."

Lin Manzhi reached out, took them, and lowered her head, turning the water pot and cup in her hands to examine them closely.

The ceramic firing here differs from what she has seen in reality; the color is mud‑yellow, the pot has a wide belly and a narrow mouth, a small spout on the side, and a handle on top.

Lin Manzhi has seen the same type at Xi Tao's house; it can be placed on a mud stove over open flame, which is very convenient.

The two cups have no pattern, also mud‑yellow, smooth with handles, and can hold roughly three hundred milliliters of water.

There are few styles here and nothing to choose from; as long as they're not leaking, they're fine, so she packed them up and took them home.

Lin Manzhi does not plan to go out this afternoon.

Digging stalks also requires a balance of work and rest, and she also needs to find time to go downstairs to "tend" her lettuce.

When she returns, the kitchen's water tank is full, a fresh small Exotic Beast sits on the stove, and the most eye‑catching thing is a green plant planted outside the left bedroom window, standing more than one head taller than her, the only green thing in the courtyard.

It looks like a cactus without spines.

Lin Manzhi's eyes light up.

On the way here, the ground is covered with withered yellow weeds; due to severe water shortage, the dried grass is that gray‑yellow, hard grass root.

Aside from the lush aquatic plants she saw last time by the tribe's lake, this is the first patch of green she's seen, and it's right in her own home!

Lin Manzhi places the pot and cups in the hall, steps out to circle the cactus‑like plant, and lifts a hand to poke the "red lantern" that resembles a cactus fruit.

Inside, the water made a drip‑drip sound, and Lin Manzhi stared in amazement, eyes wide.

"Water oak." Mo Lie's calm voice sounded behind her, explaining, "The water inside is drinkable."

Lin Manzhi: "Huh? How amazing."

Mo Lie lowered his eyes and added, "I brought this plant back especially for you."

Lin Manzhi was stunned, turned her head toward Mo Lie.

The male Beastfolk's blue eyes lowered slightly, his deep gaze seemed to swirl with stars, his pale lips curled in a smile; he focused on the Wife Master before him, and the cold indifference that usually surrounded him faded, leaving only an unseen tenderness.

The two stood very close to each other.

She could almost smell the scent emanating from him... the fresh‑washed, slightly cool steam mixed with a dry, scorching aggressiveness.

After spending these days together, she was already familiar with his scent, yet at this moment Lin Manzhi's heart raced a little faster.

She instinctively said, "I really like this plant."

Hearing that, Mo Lie's mouth twitched upward.

He stood in front of Lin Manzhi, his tall, slender figure trapping her between himself and the water oak; his deep voice, tinged with a smile, said, "It is my honor, Mo Lie, to earn the Wife Master's approval."

Lin Manzhi's face flushed slightly.

Why does the term "Wife Master" sound so awkward and embarrassing now?

She shyly said, "Actually, you don't have to call me Wife Master—"

Mo Lie raised an eyebrow: "How would you like me to address you, Contractor? Dear companion? Or... beloved female?"

Lin Manzhi: "…"

These titles... how does each get more cheesy?

She raised her hand, using the back of it to cool her flushed face, thought for a moment, and dryly said, "Just call me by my name, Manzhi."

Mo Lie let out a low laugh; his slightly pale face gained a hint of warmth in the sunlight, and his voice, low like a musical instrument, said, "Fine, but Manzhi, I find it a bit ordinary, since the female in the neighboring courtyard also calls you that."

He said with interest, "How about I call you Zhi Zhi?"

Why does it still feel a bit beyond friendship, overly intimate?

Lin Manzhi still feels a bit uneasy, especially since he has a good voice; when he calls her like that, even the tips of her ears heat up.

To break the odd atmosphere, Lin Manzhi turned back, pretended to admire the water oak, and thought of an urgent matter.

She glanced around the space; there is only one plot for planting, the river area hasn't opened to her yet, and the water in the space can't be used for now.

So she still needs to figure out a way in real life to store water in advance, just in case.

She asked, "The dry season is approaching; we need to plan ahead on how to store a large amount of water."

At the moment he heard the female speak seriously, Mo Lie subtly suppressed his lazy smile.

He glanced at the ceramic jar in the kitchen and said, "Leave this to me; in the next few days I'll hunt a large Exotic Beast, sell it for Beast Coins, and use them to buy twenty large ceramic water jars."

Hearing this, Lin Manzhi walked toward the kitchen, removing her Headscarf as she went, her long, coiled, thick black hair spilling down her waist.

She replied, "Hmm, I'll think about it."

The ceramic jar at home is one of the few pieces of furniture left from the original room; it holds about a hundred liters, enough for the two of them for roughly ten days of daily use, not counting bathing.

Although the tribe's lake is guarded by Beastfolk, there is no limit on how much water can be taken; Lin Manzhi saw at Xi Tao's house ten water jars stacked in the underground first floor.

The water‑storage method Mo Lie described is the standard practice for all Beastfolk in this tribe.

But Lin Manzhi thinks it over and still doesn't feel inclined to adopt it.