Chapter 458

By midsummer, the land of Cha Yuan had been leveled and divided into fields.

After two intervals, they finished watering and applying base fertilizer.

Then they waited for the soil to gradually absorb and improve.

When the temperature dropped to a suitable level, they prepared for transplanting.

The new season's millet and several kinds of winter storage vegetables were also growing smoothly.

After finally finishing this busy spell, Zhang Shen had thought Gu Xixi could finally catch her breath.

At lunchtime, Gu Xixi said, "Tomorrow I and Lv Jing will go to the border."

"This time we won't stay long; we'll be back in three or five days."

Zhang Shen had long grown accustomed to Gu Xixi's busyness.

Even feeling sorry, she only said, "I'll go prepare water and dry rations later."

"Just tell me if you two want anything to eat or drink."

Gu Xixi said, "The pepper-leaf flatbread we baked this morning is still there; we just need to bring two pieces."

"The journey won't take long—just a day and night—so Auntie, you don't need to trouble yourself making extra food."

Lv Jing also laughed, "Exactly, it's so hot; you shouldn't stand by the stove for too long."

"I know, I know, hurry up and eat!" Zhang Shen nodded impatiently, though she was actually pleased inside.

The children were filial, all caring for her, and she could feel it.

In the afternoon, Lao Langzhong returned early today.

Accompanying him through the door, besides Xiao Hua, was An Qinghe, who had been away for a long time.

An Qinghe had returned to the appearance he had when Gu Xixi first saw him.

His wild, bushy beard connected to his sideburns, covering most of his face.

Zhang Shen was somewhat surprised, "This kid! How long has it been since we last saw you, and how did you make yourself look like this?"

An Qinghe was covered in dust from head to toe, slightly fatigued, but his blue eyes remained bright, full of enthusiasm and vitality.

He greeted Zhang Shen with a smile, then urgently shouted:

"Xixi! Xixi! Come out quick! See what good stuff I brought you!"

At the same time, Lao Langzhong explained to Zhang Shen, "Funny enough, as I left Zhang Family Village, I heard little An calling me."

"It turned out he happened to be riding past on horseback and saw me."

"This brat practically lifted me onto the horse's back, and we rode back together."

Since Lao Langzhong lost his sight, he can't even remember how many years it's been since he last rode.

Today, however, he experienced in the darkness the long-missed sensation of racing like wind and lightning.

Even now his heart is still beating a little fast!

Gu Xixi and Lv Jing came out of the house upon hearing the sound.

Gu Xixi stared at An Qinghe in astonishment, "What... condition are you in?"

An Qinghe strode over with long steps and handed Gu Xixi the bamboo tube he was holding.

He smiled mysteriously and cheerfully, "Just open it and you'll see!"

Lv Jing, seeing An Qinghe in this form for the first time, dared not recognize him.

But hearing his familiar voice and seeing him carrying Lao Langzhong's medicine box on his shoulder,

Lv Jing then dared to confirm that the person before her was indeed the sole Hu friend she knew.

"Boss An! What's with your beard..."

An Qinghe laughed freely, "I've recently been with a merchant caravan staying in Shu for over a month."

"Every day I've been digging in the mountains for those saplings; when I got tired I just couldn't be bothered to shave."

"Besides, everyone around is those rough merchant elders, so there's no need to meet outsiders."

"So I saw no need to waste time and effort on outward elegance and inner wisdom."

Hearing An Qinghe's mixed-up idioms again, Gu Xixi's mouth twitched as she took the bamboo tube to look.

The bamboo tube was made of the hairy bamboo produced in the south, about as thick as a forearm.

Its upper end bore a circle of regular saw marks.

It was clearly disassembled into a container for holding things and a lid, with the gaps sealed with white wax.

Gu Xixi looked up at An Qinghe and asked, "May I open it then?"

An Qinghe smiled with full expectation, "Mm, mm! Open it quickly!"

Gu Xixi twisted the top of the bamboo tube; after the wax seal fell off, she pulled the lid out with force.

Lv Jing stretched her neck beside her, seeing what was inside but not recognizing it.

Zhang Shen also curiously pulled Lao Langzhong over to come closer.

Gu Xixi pinched out one with her fingers, held it up to explain to everyone, "Lychee?"

An Qinghe cheerfully said, "Xixi! I knew others wouldn't recognize it, but you definitely would!"

Gu Xixi broke into a cold sweat, not knowing whether An Qinghe was naturally thick-skinned or just extraordinarily adaptable.

He didn't think it strange that a person who grew up in the northwest from childhood would recognize lychee.

But not being suspected is still a good thing.

Gu Xixi held the lychee and asked, "Is this what you brought back from Shu?"

South of the Ridges is too far from Xi Bei.

Even if the caravan obtained the highest-grade travel permit from the Imperial Court and rode fast horses, fresh lychee would rot before reaching Xi Bei.

Only lychee produced in northern Shu might have a chance.

An Qinghe nodded eagerly, "Yes, exactly in the Shu region."

"I discovered these fruit trees never seen before in the deep mountains."

"I asked the local guide and only then learned these were lychees. I tried them, and they are truly, truly, truly delicious!"

"It's absolutely a flavor and texture we've never tasted before!"

Lao Langzhong said, "As for me, I do know lychees."

"The medical canon records that lychees mostly grow in South of the Ridges; their fruit is warm in nature and sweet in taste, it strengthens the spleen, benefits the liver, nourishes blood, can quench thirst, and improves complexion."

"It's a pity that South of the Ridges is far away; I have actually never tasted it."

An Qinghe laughed, "Now we have it!"

"I used to hear other merchants talk about South of the Ridges specialties, and this lychee fruit was among them."

"I never expected to find it in the wild mountains of Shu."

Gu Xixi seemed somewhat enlightened.

She had once seen historical climate records showing that during certain periods in antiquity, Shu was much warmer than later ages.

Thus there were extensive wild lychee trees.

Later, as temperatures gradually dropped, the lychees in Shu survived only in a small range.

Thus it can be seen that the history and geography in the book are quite close to the real world.

An Qinghe urged, "Come on, try it quickly, one each."

"This thing spoils especially easily; once you open the bamboo tube, you must eat it right away."

"On the way I bought some ice used by other convoys to transport fresh goods, so the fruit didn't rot."

He paused, "But I also can't be sure the fruit inside is still good; if it tastes sour, don't eat it."

Except for the one left for Shitou, each person took one, just right—one each.

Because they had been left too long, the red lychee shells had turned dark brown and dull.

Lv Jing pinched it, perplexed, "It feels like bark; how do we eat it?"

Gu Xixi said, "Pick at a bit and peel off this outer skin."

She demonstrated while saying, "Then the white, translucent flesh inside is edible; the flesh contains a seed, which you just spit out."

Although the lychees are no longer fresh, at least they haven't gone bad.

Gu Xixi's mouth full of lychee fragrance and sweetness, her heart filled with myriad emotions.

All we heard was An Qinghe saying, "Delicious? Sweet?"

Several people nodded sincerely.

An Qinghe grinned, "Xixi, it's rare to have such a delicious fruit, yet it doesn't keep well."

"I want to transplant them to Xi Bei; you must have a way, right?"