Chapter 274: with translation of chapter title

After not seeing each other for a while, Gu Erye had become gaunt.

His hair was disheveled, with many white strands added, and his every move lacked the former vigor, as if burdened by an inescapable gloom.

Facing Gu Xixi, Gu Erye gritted his teeth and spoke the truth: "I dare to buy it! Even if I go with others to buy, will you sell it to me smoothly?"

Gu Xixi gave a half‑smile, "You should ask An Qinghe about this; I'm not the boss."

Gu Erye felt bitter inside, "He? Who doesn't know he follows your every word! Even the recipe he uses for his workshop is given by you?"

Gu Xixi neither confirmed nor denied.

The more Gu Erye spoke, the worse he felt: "If I had also managed to come up this morning, as long as I could buy fertilizer, even making a fool of myself would be fine. But I'm afraid you're holding a grudge and will wait till now to take revenge on me."

"Either you quote a price I can't possibly afford, or you simply refuse to sell to me."

His eyes glazed over as he let out two hollow laughs, seeming spellbound, then slowly turned and walked out.

"What do you mean by my self‑inflicted humiliation? I obviously knew the outcome…"

"Yes, I should have known earlier; this is self‑inflicted, everyone blames my haste for doing such a thing, now bringing disaster to the whole family…"

"Brought disaster to the whole family?" Gu Xixi frowned slightly.

Come to think of it, this afternoon I indeed didn't see anyone from Gu Erye's household.

Perhaps because of the previous incident, they dare not come, and they've blamed all the fault on Gu Erye.

Seeing Gu Erye stooped, he had already reached the doorway.

Gu Xixi turned back and said to the main hall, "An brother, someone couldn't buy fertilizer; come out and talk to him."

Having said that, Gu Xixi didn't spare him another glance and went straight into the kitchen.

Gu Erye reacted a bit slowly; he had already stepped one foot over the threshold before turning around, incredulously gazing at the spot where Gu Xixi had just stood.

The screened door of the main hall pushed open, and An Qinghe and Jing Lan walked out.

At the time of the wheat harvest, Gu Erye engaged in extortion, the Gu Clan surrounded and pressured Gu Xixi, and An Qinghe was also present.

So upon seeing this old man, he naturally felt no goodwill, merely saying coolly, "You should know the price; calculate how many mu of land you have in total."

"Wait for Miss He to calculate the amount for you, then you can hand over the money and take the goods in one exchange."

Gu Erye originally still held little hope.

Hearing An Qinghe's words, his cloudy old eyes gradually brightened.

"Really?"

An Qinghe and Jing Lan merely looked at him, saying nothing.

Since Gu Xixi had already said it straight, it was just ordinary buying and selling.

Don't even think about greeting with smiles and warm hospitality!

Gu Erye, knowing he wasn't welcome here, forced a smile and nodded, "All right, all right, I'll hurry back home, tell the kids, and be back soon!"

"I won't keep you waiting long; be sure to hold the goods for me!"

Gu Erye, while turning back with an apologetic smile, wiped his face with his sleeve and almost stumbled over the threshold.

Once out the door, he bolted, light as if he had just cast off a tremendous burden…

Jing Lan wondered, "How can he be laughing and crying at the same time?"

She truly saw it: the old man's eyes were reddened, glistening with moisture.

To keep the tears from spilling, he kept wiping his sleeves.

An Qinghe shook his head, "Who knows? Anyway, we didn't bully him!"

Inside the kitchen, Gu Xixi had heard every word of the conversation outside.

She lifted the small bowl on the table, which held a clear, colorless liquid that, when shaken, released tiny bubbles.

She had already tasted a bit earlier, and the flavor was quite good.

Gu Xixi happily tipped her head back and drained it in one gulp, glug‑glug‑glug.

When Jing Lan and An Qinghe entered, they saw her set down the bowl, wearing a refreshed expression, and let out a loud burp…

Gu Xixi rarely behaves improperly in front of others.

Jing Lan was somewhat shocked, "Xixi, how long have you been thirsty that you'd gulp plain water so eagerly?"

An Qinghe, on the contrary, found it adorable and laughed, "Xixi, is it tasty? I'll try drinking it like that too; it should be very satisfying."

Gu Xixi smiled, let out a breath, and said, "There's no way around it; my homemade soda lacks fizz, so I have to pour it out and chug it in one go to get any sensation."

Soda?

Jing Lan and An Qinghe exclaimed in unison, "You've made another tasty drink?!"

A few days ago, Lao Langzhong returned from his rounds and showed Gu Xixi something, saying he had never seen anything like it.

Gu Xixi unwrapped the paper packet, her pupils contracting—wasn't this dried lemon slices?

She was surprised, and looking at Lao Langzhong with mixed feelings, said, "This is indeed a fine thing, a rarity."

According to Lao Langzhong.

After treating a patient for a while, this time the patient had recovered; his family gave this to Lao Langzhong in thanks, saying it was sent by relatives from Lingnan, called xianggan fruit, whose flesh is extremely sour, like vinegar, yet has a unique fragrance.

They especially cautioned that it's best not to eat it directly; just steep a slice in water to drink, and it will be wonderfully fragrant—those afraid of acidity can add some rock sugar.

Gu Xixi's surprise, however, was not because the Great Undertaking Dynasty had lemons.

Lemons are actually recorded in ancient texts, originally produced in the extreme south of the continent and on southern sea islands as a wild fruit called gougan or xianggan.

However, xianggan is limited by its own taste, unsuitable for picking and eating raw; only some locals know how to consume it, originally a wild fruit looked down upon, not as famous as lychee or longan.

Even the tribute fruits of the capital have no place for it.

What's more, in this extremely remote Xi Bei, not even a rumor of it has been heard.

Because Lao Langzhong cannot see, Gu Xixi described to him in detail the shape, color, and taste of the xianggan slices.

Lao Langzhong nodded with a smile, "Just smelling it is sour enough, but this fragrance is indeed citrusy, yet different from orange, and even stronger."

Since this is a fruit, pregnant women crave sour things; perhaps it can be made into a good medicine that stops vomiting and promotes fluid production.

Lao Langzhong kept two slices for himself to study; there were about seven or eight slices left, all of which he gave to Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi then considered what beverage could be made from it.

Lemon flavor, summer.

The first thing that came to mind was chilled Sprite!

In the north there are many wild pines and cypresses; pick fresh pine needles, wash them, and pack them tightly into clean jars.

Boil three slices of citron in water, add rock sugar to dissolve, let cool, then pour the citron slices together into the jar, finally add a little white vinegar.

After sealing, wait three or four days for fermentation; bubbles will form in the liquid, making it natural soda.

Gu Xixi had seen a classmate make this while she was in graduate school.

Unfortunately, before she could taste the result, she followed her advisor to Xi Bei to research mushrooms.

Now, still in Xi Bei, she herself made the soda.

He Jinglan and An Qinghe each had a bowl.

Watching the strange bubbles rising in the bowl, both unconsciously swallowed their saliva.

This thing… can it really be drunk?