Chapter 119: with translation of chapter title

Around noon, the cooks were on site burying pots to cook rice, while others continued working.

He Jinglan led those two women over, carrying food and jars of water.

She first saw Mu Nan Zhao, smiling as she ran over, 'Ah Zhao! I've brought lunch, with scallion egg pancakes I made myself!'

Mu Nan Zhao glanced sideways, 'When will you ever get good at cooking?'

His tone was certain, not a question.

He Jinglan smiled, 'The eggs are ones I personally beat—does that count?'

She looked left and right, 'Where's Xixi?'

Mu Nan Zhao didn't answer, just gazing in a certain direction.

He Jinglan followed his gaze.

Soldiers were busy everywhere; she looked for a long time before spotting Gu Xixi talking with someone.

Too far to see her expression, but she could tell Gu Xixi's current state.

He Jinglan admired, 'Xixi is so earnest, everyone is willing to listen to her. Even when my brother discusses official business, his presence doesn't match hers.'

Mu Nan Zhao said lightly, 'She always has her own future.'

Gu Xixi had just finished explaining the essentials of burying fertilizer to a general.

Then a soldier ran over excitedly to report, 'Boss Gu, there's something flower-like on the ground over there.'

On the first day of work, Boss Gu had asked everyone to watch for any plant resembling a flower.

But the Northwest wilderness at this season is just barren land and dry grass—where would any flower be?

Who would have thought we'd actually encounter it today, opening the eyes of these soldiers long stationed in the Northwest.

When Gu Xixi ran over to look, the crowd of onlookers automatically made a path.

The soldiers were still discussing: 'What is this, yellowish-green—could it be bok choy?'

"We just had boiled bok choy this morning; the leaves look a bit like that."

The mess sergeant scorned these comrades who couldn't recognize bok choy: 'Bok choy doesn't look like this! Does bok choy have a black core like a flower? Enough with the bok choy!'

"If it were bok choy, it would have frozen and rotted in the snow by now!"

But as to what this thing actually is, the mess sergeant couldn't say.

Before winter froze everything, their firewood corps had often foraged for edible plants, yet they had never seen anything like this.

It grows close to the ground, topped with frost, resembling a blooming large flower.

Everyone turned their gaze to Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi let out a soft sigh, 'This is a snow lotus flower.'

Someone exclaimed in disbelief, 'Snow lotus flower, the legendary Tianshan snow lotus?'

The soldiers were astonished; rumors said the Tianshan snow lotus is an extremely precious medicinal herb, and folk tales claim it has the miraculous power to revive the dead and heal flesh and bone.

Everyone asked in unison, 'Could we be mistaken? Can the Tianshan snow lotus grow on our flatlands?'

"Yeah, we often pass through here, and we've never seen it before in previous years."

Gu Xixi nodded, 'That's right; snow lotus doesn't necessarily grow only on Tianshan. Here it's bitterly cold and the terrain is high, and beneath our feet is a gravel beach—conditions basically suit it.'

"Normally a snow lotus takes five years to bloom, so it's no surprise you haven't seen it."

Gu Xixi felt disappointed inside; having found the snow lotus, the firefly bone flower still hadn't appeared.

After today passes, she will be heading home tomorrow morning.

Unable to find the firefly bone flower, she cast her net among medicine merchants and Western Region traders, not knowing if there would be any gain.

After the Northwest Army troops took turns looking at this rarity, the snow lotus was unanimously assigned to Gu Xixi without objection.

Taking advantage of no one else being nearby, Meng Chengping said, 'Although the snow lotus is precious, it's not of much use to our army; just take it easy,'

He lowered his voice slightly, 'The commander-in-chief knows Brother Mu is ill; perhaps taking the snow lotus back could be of use?'

Gu Xixi nodded, 'Alright, then I won't decline the pretense—thank you.'

The two walked to the area where pots were buried for cooking.

They saw He Jinglan and Mu Nan Zhao standing together.

He Jinglan laughed, 'I brought the meal, just waiting for you to come back and eat!'

She finally looked at Meng Chengping, 'General Meng, won't you join us?'

Meng Chengping's face flushed, 'Thank you, Miss He, but I must decline.'

Several people found a sheltered spot and sat down.

The food basket held a stack of scallion egg pancakes and two small dishes.

The water jar contained hot brown sugar ginger date tea.

Gu Xixi took out the freshly picked snow lotus and showed it to everyone.

He Jinglan clicked her tongue in amazement, 'We actually have this at home, but I've never seen a fresh one before.'

Gu Xixi's thoughts stirred, 'Have you ever heard of the firefly bone flower?'

In ancient times, wealthy households would store many medicinal ingredients, among which were not a few rarities.

Perhaps with the He family's resources, they could find the firefly bone flower.

However, He Jinglan frowned, thought for a moment, and shook her head, 'I've neither heard of nor seen it; is it some kind of rare and precious flower?'

Gu Xixi suppressed her disappointment, gave a light smile, and casually replied, 'Yes, I've only heard of it.'

She took a bite of the pancake, then lifted her eyes to see Mu Nan Zhao staring at her.

Gu Xixi almost choked, '... Is something the matter?'

Mu Nan Zhao asked, 'Do you really want this firefly bone flower?'

Gu Xixi, afraid of giving herself away, buried her head in the pancake and mumbled, 'I saw it in a medical canon; I've heard it can be found in the bitterly cold places of the Northwest, so I can't help being curious.'

Fortunately, Mu Nan Zhao only hummed and didn't say anything else.

Gu Xixi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and perked up again.

Even Lao Langzhong has never seen such a thing—how could it be so easy to find?

Anyway, today isn't over yet, and there's still some time left—we can't give up hope so quickly!

Mm, eat more, build up your strength!

Gu Xixi glanced at He Jinglan again—sure enough, she was taking extra care of Mu Nan Zhao.

"Ah Zhao, this shredded cabbage isn't too salty—try it!"

"Ah Zhao, don't just eat dry food—have a sip of ginger-date tea!"

The girl's eyes were full of joy, open and unreserved, without any concealment.

Mu Nan Zhao's gaze swept past the bowl being brought to his lips and flicked to Gu Xixi, who was struggling to eat her rice.

He gently pushed the tea cup aside and said, "What's that dish over there?"

Gu Xixi looked up, confused, her cheeks puffed out, unable to speak, "Huh?"

Meng Chengping kindly answered for her, "This is the big pot dish just sent from the Firehead Battalion."

"It's just radish, cabbage, and some wind-dried cured pork bones all together."

"This coarse food is surely not to your and Miss He's liking, so we've left it over here for us."

Mu Nan Zhao raised his brows and said, "Gu Xixi, I want to eat too."

Gu Xixi, helpless, had no choice but to lift the vegetable basin.

Meng Chengping laughed and said, "Brother Mu, if you don't like it after eating, don't despise it."

Gu Xixi placed the vegetable basin in front of Mu Nan Zhao, looked up, saw He Jinglan's startled expression, and casually asked with a smile, "What's wrong, Jing Lan?"

He Jinglan stared at Mu Nan Zhao, shook her head, and said, "Nothing."

She stood up, grabbed Gu Xixi, and said, "Xixi, I need to go to the bathroom—come with me!"

Gu Xixi hadn't even finished eating when He Jinglan pulled her away, watching helplessly as the hot food receded into the distance.

After they had walked far enough, He Jinglan went into the bushes but had no intention of using the toilet.

She spoke mysteriously, "I've never seen Mu Nan Zhao act coquettish with anyone, from childhood to now!"

Gu Xixi didn't understand why she said that out of the blue, "Huh?"