Chapter 276: Spirit Melons and Spirit Fruit Are Rare Even for Cultivation Families

Qin Han followed Jiang Ren's gaze and saw a little nephew holding a spirit fruit standing nearby; Qin Tang's eldest son was holding a small milk bun, while Qin Bi peeled the fruit, tore off a small piece, and fed it to the little bun.

The child ate happily, bustling about.

Jiang Ren pressed her lips together; she wanted to eat it too.

Qin Han stared for a few seconds, feeling unable to suppress her dissatisfaction. She and Qin Bi were both daughters of the fourth branch born to concubines. She had brought her two children and arrived long ago, yet He Shi, Qin Tang's wife, and Qin Xun's wife said nothing about feeding spirit fruit to her children.

Because Qin Bi was the Rong Prefect's wife, did He Shi have to look down on her?

Previously, when Qin Bi's marriage was delayed, He Shi had valued her even more. Qin Bi was far from matching her, yet simply because Qin Bi married high, there was suddenly a gap.

Qin Han, feeling unhappy, smiled and said, "Sister Qin He's legitimate son also likes spirit fruit. It is said that eating it in summer prevents overheating. Although it is autumn now, the weather is still very hot and dry."

Qin Han was not speaking to Qin Bi; she was close to Qin He and did not often try to get close to Qin Bi.

Usually, it was just a matter of appearances; both sides understood the situation clearly.

Qin Bi naturally did not respond, feeding the small piece of fruit to the child.

"Yes." Lin Shi heard the implication that Qin Han was trying to shift the topic to melons and fruits, and she smiled, saying, "Your two elder brothers planted a field in the Barbarian Lands. They just picked two yesterday. Since Qin Han has arrived, eat a melon."

He Shi spoke up: "Jiang Shi, isn't there still one watermelon left that Qin Tang brought back?!"

"I will go get it." Jiang Shi left with a maid.

Jiang Ren immediately looked happily at her mother, Qin Han. She could eat a spirit melon now. Her uncle was truly amazing, able to grow spirit melons and spirit fruits. She and her brother had never eaten them since they were young.

In the main hall, everyone chatted idly. Jiang Shi returned quickly, and the maids brought the washed watermelon into the hall. Jiang Shi directed the maids to cut the melon while Jiang Ren and her brother gathered close, waiting eagerly.

Once the melon was cut, everyone received a small piece.

Qin Han had seen Qin He eat spirit melons. Although she had never had the chance to eat one herself, she had seen it. Taking a small piece of watermelon, she bit into it and said hesitantly, "This isn't a spirit melon, is it?"

Jiang Shi turned around: "It is not a spirit melon. Your brother only picked one spirit melon, and he ate it."

Since they grew spirit melons in the Barbarian Lands, and Qin Han was after all a person of the Qin Yan Marquis Manor, if there was an opportunity to eat a spirit melon, they could call Qin Han over for a taste. The melons in the field were not yet harvested, so there was no rush.

Spirit melons were rare, with few in the fields, and every family had their own plans.

"You won't get to eat one this time." He Shi also said, "Next time. When your brother's melon field has a harvest, we will send someone to call you back. The ordinary watermelons your brother grows are also delicious."

With He Shi and Jiang Shi having spoken thus, it was clear that if they were to eat spirit melons, they would invite Qin Han.

Qin Han was still very disappointed, her dissatisfaction even greater than before. How could this be? If they truly intended to give her spirit melons, they should have called her back yesterday. If she had not come today, who would have remembered her, a daughter born to a concubine?

She had brought her children here specifically; was she not worth the trip to the Barbarian Lands to pick spirit melons?

They didn't even give her one to take home; simply cutting a spirit melon for her to eat would have shown their regard for her. The more Qin Han thought about it, the more dissatisfied she became. She did not frown, but her smile was far from genuine.

Qin Han felt neglected by her natal family, and He Shi stopped smiling.

Jiang Shi saw Qin Han's displeasure and sneered. She was merely a married daughter born to a concubine. Showing her respect was already looking up to her; who did she think she was giving attitude to? Usually, Qin Han never brought anything valuable back to her natal home.

Lin Shi simply pretended not to notice Qin Han's unhappiness. The children each ate their piece of watermelon and finished it. Qin Tang's eldest son, holding the little milk bun, had no time to eat. Qin Han's son ate two pieces of watermelon.

Jiang Ren walked over and asked, "Is the little brother eating spirit fruit?"

Qin Bi told her, "Yes, our Wang Fu planted them in the Barbarian Lands."

The young girl paused for a moment: "Didn't my uncle plant spirit fruit?"

As for things from her maternal grandfather's house, she and her brother could eat them. As for the Prefect's wife aunt's things, Jiang Ren did not know, but the messenger had clearly said that her maternal grandmother's house had spirit fruit and spirit melons.

She had not yet eaten any spirit fruit.

"Our family hasn't planted any." Lin Shi answered, "The spirit fruit were sent to your maternal grandfather and grandmother by the Rong Wang Fu."

Hearing this, Jiang Ren knew she wouldn't get to eat any. She walked back to Qin Han's side. Qin Han was still unhappy, feeling that her natal family was neglecting her in favor of Qin Bi. Spirit melons and spirit fruit were beneficial for cultivation!

Qin Han took a deep breath. Despite her bad mood, she did not say she was leaving.

The daughters born to concubines heard that Qin Han had arrived, so they all came to He Shi's courtyard to play with her. Qin Han was always popular. As the sisters chatted, their eyes kept glancing toward the table.

The ordinary watermelons were all gone, and He Shi did not say to cut another one.

The daughters born to concubines were somewhat disappointed. Seeing this, He Shi laughed in anger. Was it easy to grow things in the Barbarian Lands? These people only cared about eating; not a single one had gone to help Qin Tang or Qin Xun.

The sons born to concubines from the fourth branch had gone to the Barbarian Lands, yet not a single daughter born to a concubine had made a sound.

The younger ones complained about the sun, while those nearing their coming-of-age ceremony only hoped for good marriages and dared not go to the Barbarian Lands to face wind and sun. Yet when it came to eating, they would only complain about receiving small portions.

Qin Han still went to the second branch to gather with her sister Qin He, the legitimate daughter.

In the main hall of the second branch, the nanny beside Cui Shi said, "She didn't get to eat the spirit melon."

"Who sent her the message?" Cui Shi asked.

"Qin Yan from the fifth branch."

"Did she bring her children?" Cui Shi asked again.

The nanny chuckled: "She brought both children."

Cui Shi couldn't help but chuckle as well. They did not seem to treat spirit melons and spirit fruit as spirit melons and spirit fruit. Low-grade spiritual melons and fruits were fine; cultivators might get to eat them once or twice.

Those with higher spiritual energy were rare even among cultivation families.

Qin Han, being a daughter of the Qin family, could have a share. Others would have to wait. The Qin Yan Marquis Manor was not short of people. Unless Qin Han was a family genius, which was obviously not the case. Qin He had always wanted to become a family genius, while Qin Han had almost no chance.

Qin Han was not a genius of the Marquis Manor. It was already good enough that she could eat spirit melons and spirit fruit. Qin Han could simply improve her own cultivation level to help her husband and children increase their cultivation bases in the future.

But instead, Qin Han was treating Jiang family children as if they were people of the Qin Yan Marquis Manor.

"How is Qin He's injury healing?" Cui Shi asked about Qin He.

"It should be almost healed?" the nanny said. "I will send someone to ask."

Cui Shi pondered and sighed. Being struck by lightning! Bringing up this matter made Cui Shi very disappointed in Qin He. In the entire Great Yan, hardly anyone had been struck by lightning, yet Qin He actually was.

Qin Han did not stay long at the second branch and left quickly.

Qin Han then went to the first branch to inquire about the fields in the Barbarian Lands. The Qin Yan Marquis's wife looked at this daughter born to a concubine from the fourth branch and dismissed her with a few words. The Prefect's wife smiled after seeing her leave.

Jiang Shi and Lin Shi organized dinner to entertain the two married young ladies. As Qin Han was leaving, she asked, "Sister-in-law, when will the melons be harvested? I will have my husband come to help, and Jiang Ren can bring some things."