A single sentence bridged the gap between the two parties, and on the way back, several people reflected on how rare it was to encounter a scholar without pretension.

After returning home and finishing dinner, the two of them sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool evening breeze.

Huang Zilan inquired, “I noticed you were in a good mood when you returned. What led to such a pleasant conversation with them?”

Liao Tingyu replied, “They are ambitious young people, and the place I discovered is genuinely beautiful. Let’s rise early tomorrow to visit it; you’ll surely appreciate it.”

Huang Zilan asked, “Don’t you have any plans for tomorrow?”

Liao Tingyu responded, “Not in a hurry. Tomorrow is for relaxation. I intend to visit the library the day after tomorrow to pay respects to the calligraphy left by my predecessors, bid farewell to the acquaintances I’ve made, and depart.”

Huang Zilan agreed, “Alright, you decide. Let’s retire early since we need to wake up early tomorrow. I’ll prepare tomorrow morning’s meal and leave it overnight; it should be fine.”

Liao Tingyu suggested, “No need for breakfast. I won’t have much appetite when we wake up early tomorrow. How about a picnic, just like last time?”

Huang Zilan concurred, “Okay, we can take the cattle with us, or we might get lost.”

Huang Zilan asked, “Is it far from here?”

Liao Tingyu remembered, “I should have brought the cattle; it took nearly an hour to reach the place by carriage. The road is winding, but carriages and ox carts can travel there. I’ll go feed the cattle; they’ll need strength for tomorrow.”

Huang Zilan added, “I’ll prepare the utensils for tomorrow. We can ask the shopkeeper to purchase some for them.”

The two of them divided the tasks and worked together for quite some time. In ancient times, without alarm clocks, waking up early was challenging, so Liao Tingyu had to pay the inn clerk to wake them when the roosters crowed.

.

The next morning, they awoke groggily, and Liao Tingyu struggled to keep his eyes open and splashed some cold water on his face to wake up.

Huang Zilan asked, “How are you feeling? Need some cold water?”

Liao Tingyu replied, “It’s necessary; getting up early at this hour is indeed uncomfortable.”

Huang Zilan pondered, “There’s no other choice. Think about it; if we go to bed and wake up early, it’s good for our health. We’ll lead a long and healthy life.”

Liao Tingyu sighed, “That’s the only way to console ourselves.”

“By the way, does this outfit I plan to wear today look good? I bought it yesterday.” Huang Zilan gestured at his new clothes and thought they were quite nice.

Liao Tingyu felt a bit disappointed, saying, “It looks great, but wife, why didn’t you get me a set? I want the same one.”

Huang Zilan responded, “You have plenty of clothes; you don’t need more.”

Liao Tingyu reasoned, “But think about it, it would be interesting if we wore matching outfits. People will find it fascinating.”

Huang Zilan disagreed, “No, it’s not interesting. People would probably find it strange if two people were dressed exactly the same.”

Liao Tingyu acknowledged that it was indeed the case and contemplated preparing matching outfits when they returned home.

As they rode in the carriage, Huang Zilan expressed concern, “Tingyu, you’ve walked this path only twice. Do you remember the way?”

Liao Tingyu reassured him, “Don’t worry; I remember it. The route is straightforward, just a straight line with one or two detours.”

Huang Zilan felt more at ease upon hearing this.

The bullock cart gradually reached its destination, and the surroundings were enveloped in a soft haze due to the morning dew on the mountain grass and flowers.

The evening fog lingered in the forest, casting a warm red-yellow hue in the sky.

The faint sunlight illuminated the dew-covered petals, making the diverse array of flowers appear delicate and exquisite in the sunlight and amidst the misty backdrop.

Huang Zilan had never before encountered such a breathtaking scenery. The swaying of the bullock cart had nearly put him to sleep, but as he disembarked, he found himself in a dreamlike realm.

The scent of flowers wafted through the air, and the clear, elegant fragrance of the forest enveloped him, accompanied by the gentle chirping of early birds.

Such an enchanting scene left a lasting impression on him. After a while, he managed to compose himself and said, “I’ve never seen such a beautiful landscape. Thank you, Tingyu.”

Liao Tingyu responded, “Why should we thank each other? I, too, was entranced by the beauty during the day. I’m glad we weren’t disappointed this morning. It’s a shame that a few of these epiphyllum have finished blooming. In their prime, they resemble moonlit fairies, graceful and enchanting.”

Huang Zilan sighed, “It’s indeed a pity. I’ve heard that epiphyllum are like that, but I’ve never seen them bloom.”

Liao Tingyu shared, “If we have the opportunity when we’re older, we can plant these flowers and plants in our yard, grow a large tree next to them, preferably a fruit tree, and place a swing on it.”

Huang Zilan listened to his description and envisioned the scene he described – enjoying the flowers in spring, savoring fruits in autumn, and having someone to accompany them through the years. Such a life would be complete.

Liao Tingyu found an open spot to arrange their things, while Huang Zilan helped by organizing the items.

The two of them reveled in the picturesque surroundings, indulged in delectable food, and were genuinely happy.

After they had eaten their fill, Liao Tingyu showcased his artistic skills, weaving a garland and placing it on Huang Zilan’s head.

Huang Zilan expressed amazement, “I didn’t know you had such a talent.”

He ventured among the flowers and plants, where butterflies had begun their morning activities. As Huang Zilan moved through the swarm of butterflies, they fluttered about in surprise.

Amused, Huang Zilan chuckled as he watched the butterflies return to the flowers after their brief commotion.

Liao Tingyu retrieved a sheet of drawing paper from the bullock cart and meticulously sketched this scene on the paper.

Huang Zilan patiently waited for him to complete the painting before curiously examining it.

“This painting is of us! It’s no wonder they say your artwork is unique. You can identify the subjects just by looking at it; it’s so intricately detailed,” Huang Zilan remarked as he inspected the still-wet ink.

Liao Tingyu explained, “Although this painting might be small for framing, I plan to let it dry and then place it in a box. After our study tour, I intend to create a book with all the paintings and notes from the various places we visit. On the cover, I’ll inscribe the duration of our first study tour and the locations we explored.”

Huang Zilan was appreciative of the idea, “This way, when we’re old, we can reminisce by flipping through these pages. I can recall these memories as well. And if we continue to go on adventures in the future, we can record them in a similar manner.”

Liao Tingyu agreed, “Yes, from now on, we will document all these moments and compile them into a book. We’ll fill the entire tome with these memories so that our children and grandchildren can cherish them and pass them down as family heirlooms,” Liao Tingyu envisioned the future scene to Huang Zilan.

Touched by this idea, Huang Zilan embraced Liao Tingyu and declared, “The greatest blessing in my life is meeting you. As long as you don’t give up, I will never leave your side.”

“I feel the same way, holding your hand and growing old together with you.” Liao Tingyu replied, and the two young sweethearts held each other tightly, their beating hearts synchronized as if time had come to a standstill.

.

By the time they returned, it was already afternoon, and the weather had become quite hot. Huang Zilan opted not to return to the carriage, and instead, he gently wiped Liao Tingyu’s sweat as he drove the bullock cart.

Liao Tingyu declined to let him in as the cart was enclosed, and the interior would be even hotter, resembling a steamer.

Given the sweltering weather, he recognized the need for ice to avoid potential heatstroke. However, he still had to find out where to purchase saltpeter.

The two of them opted not to return to their inn and instead scoured the town’s shops.

“Shopkeeper, do you have any saltpeter available here?” Liao Tingyu inquired.

“I’ve never heard of saltpeter. You might want to ask someone else.” one shopkeeper responded.

“I’m unfamiliar with it. I sell medicinal ingredients. You should try elsewhere.” another shopkeeper advised.

After inquiring from several stores and knocking on multiple doors, they were on the verge of giving up when a grocer unexpectedly produced saltpeter.

“I obtained this item from a Taoist priest. It’s said to be used for refining elixirs. If you want it, you can take it, but I don’t think it’s edible. So, think it over.” the grocer cautioned.

Liao Tingyu assured him, “We don’t intend to consume it. Shopkeeper, how many kilograms do you have? Weigh it for us. How much is the price per kilogram?”@@novelbin@@

The grocer, who had managed to obtain this rare substance, replied, “I have around 5 kilograms of it, and it’s priced at about 20 wens per kilogram. This is quite rare, after all.”

Though it was rather costly, Liao Tingyu didn’t mind at all. He regarded it with great value. Even though it was pricey, he felt no remorse in using it. Notably, acquiring a block of ice in the area cost two taels for one pound, and what’s more, it wasn’t readily available.

With an arm wrapped around the saltpeter, Liao Tingyu revealed a goofy grin. He appreciated it immensely and carefully placed it in a separate box, preserving it from moisture.

“Finally, we have a way to make a cooling device for the summer, Zilan. This thing requires a lot of water. We’ll need to prepare an ample supply of water.” Liao Tingyu cherished it wholeheartedly, and when the time came to use it, he planned to employ a small amount for testing.

They still had to purchase more water bags to hang in the cart since they needed water not just for drinking but also for cooking, especially if they were traveling without access to a nearby river.

“What’s the current total we have in terms of money?”

“Rest assured, we’ve only spent around forty taels so far. It’s sufficient for now. Is something wrong?” Huang Zilan inquired, recognizing that ten taels could support a modest family for a year.

“It’s nothing. I just prefer to have some extra funds when we reach a more prosperous area. I sometimes feel a bit anxious if I can’t access the money quickly.” Liao Tingyu confided his internal concerns.

“That’s perfectly fine. After all, you possess a unique skill that can take you far and keep you well-fed. Moreover, accepting gifts from officials might bring in money more rapidly.”

“But we can’t accept those without giving anything in return. Furthermore, if someone tries to give people to compete with you, I’ll sell them at the next stop.”

Huang Zilan jokingly declared, “How can you think like that? If you want to sell, I will sell it for you.”