Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

"Taoist brother, Zhuang Ming sister, you're back!" Little Jasmine also came forward.

"Yeah, I went out for a walk and felt it was about time to come back," Zhuang Xing nodded.

"We bought lots of delicious food for Daddy and Mommy."

The little girl looked smug. In the past, the adults would always buy her delicious food, but today it was the other way around; she was buying snacks for the adults.

Although her brother was the one spending the money and carrying the things, she felt very involved because she was the one who selected most of the pastries.

"Your sister?" Bai Yu asked.

"Her name is Zhuang Ming, and she is six years old." Zhuang Xing placed the box he was holding on the table.

Bai Yu had met Zhuang Xing's sister before, but she hadn't actually stayed in Manggu Village for long, only a little over a year. After Xiaomai was presented to the prefect by Zhuang Xing, she took several of her friends and went to the capital with the prefect that year, and then became one of the prefect's subordinates, following the government.

When she first met Zhuang Xing's younger sister, the little one was still a tiny, speechless baby. Now she's grown into a lively and adorable little girl. She couldn't help but marvel at how fast time flies.

“Little sister, this is Sister Bai Yu,” Zhuang Xing said.

"Hello, sister!" the little sister greeted enthusiastically. After visiting Yidu for a few days, she was no longer shy.

Bai Yu smiled and patted the little guy's head.

“I heard from Xiao Moli that you taught her the principles related to sleds.” Bai Yu looked at Zhuang Xing. “I didn’t expect you to be knowledgeable about sleds. You’re cultivating in the mountains, do you even have time for this?”

“I was quite busy in the past few years, but now I have completed most of the courses, so I have more free time. When I have nothing to do, I like to think about these things,” Zhuang Xing said.

Chapter 292 Light Speed ​​Progress

"As expected, you're the smartest," Bai Yu exclaimed.

She remembered that summer when she helped Zhuang Xing tend the wheat fields on the mountain; the flour and stone mill were also made by Zhuang Xing.

If I remember correctly, Zhuang Xing was only six years old at that time.

Although Zhuang Xing told her that he had a stone mill at home for making tofu, which is why he thought of using wheat to grind flour, no one thought that wheat flour would taste good at that time.

She witnessed all of this firsthand, and to this day, stone mills and flour have become household names. She knows better than anyone how these seemingly ordinary and simple things came to be.

Now, even the problem of the pulley has been solved by Zhuang Xing.

Bai Yu was somewhat surprised, but upon reflection, it made perfect sense.

"You're not really a lucky star reincarnated, a deity descended to earth, are you?" Bai Yu blurted out.

To be honest, she herself was also very curious about this.

She had spent time with Zhuang Xing when she was a child, and at that time she did not think that Zhuang Xing was much different from others.

But as the years passed, the boy who carried the wooden box, climbed the stone steps with her, and even helped her up on the steps, a boy several years younger than her, had become so famous in Yidu.

She had heard the storyteller's tales so much that she herself began to have doubts.

"Of course not, why are you asking such a question?" Zhuang Xing was a little amused and exasperated.

It's one thing for others to ask, but even Bai Yu is pulling this kind of stunt.

"Really not?" Bai Yu asked again.

“If I hadn’t heard people in Yidu talking about it, I wouldn’t have known that I was a reincarnation of a lucky star,” Zhuang Xing said.

“Okay,” Bai Yu replied.

"You seem a little disappointed," Zhuang Xing said.

“You’re mistaken,” Bai Yu said. “Let’s not talk about that. I originally wanted to come and see Xiao Moli, but I didn’t expect to have such an unexpected gain. Thank you so much for the pulley. As long as the crane can be made, the transportation of coal will be much more convenient.”

"Unintentionally, I received your help again. I said I would repay you back then, but now I owe you more and more favors. Is there anything you would like me to help you with? I have some connections in Yidu, and I have some influence in various industries. If you need anything done, just come to me, and I will do my best to help you get things done."

"There's nothing I need your help with right now, but maybe there will be in the future. I'll definitely come to you then," Zhuang Xing said.

"It's settled." Bai Yu looked at him.

"A gentleman's word is as good as his bond," Zhuang Xing replied.

"Okay, okay." Bai Yu smiled.

“You can have the craftsmen work on that pulley a bit more. It would be best to use well-polished iron and apply oil to make it work even better,” Zhuang Xing said. “Moreover, it can not only be used to transport coal, but also to move bricks and tiles, which will make the work twice as efficient.”

"Don't worry, I understand," Bai Yu said. "I'll know once I figure it out today. This thing is very useful. Before, I only thought about saving some labor, but that was short-sighted."

After exchanging a few words, Bai Yu didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave, and they sat down to drink tea.

Having not seen each other for a long time, they chatted about the changes that had happened to each other.

"Oh, right, there's something else I haven't told you," Bai Yu said. "Chu Sheng, do you remember? The child you rescued from the den of thieves."

"Of course I remember," Zhuang Xing said. "When Yunling and I went to the capital two years ago, didn't we have dinner with the two of you?"

Chu Sheng became an agricultural official because of cotton, while Bai Yu became an official under the prefect because of wheat.

Both of their jobs were related to farming, and Zhuang Xing remembered that they had some contact that year.

"Why are you suddenly bringing up Chu Sheng? Could it be... something happened to him?" Zhuang Xing frowned.

Bai Yu and Chu Sheng both work for the government and are colleagues. Bai Yu suddenly brought up Chu Sheng. Surely something unexpected has happened to him?

“That makes sense,” Bai Yu nodded. “But don’t worry, it’s not a bad thing.”

"So that's a happy occasion?" Zhuang Xing asked.

"I am engaged to Chu Sheng," Bai Yu said calmly.

Zhuang Xing was stunned when he heard this. An engagement... No wonder Bai Yu suddenly brought up Chu Sheng's name. Why would she bring it up if it had nothing to do with her?

He had never imagined that Bai Yu and Chu Sheng would get married. Well, mainly because he didn't think Bai Yu was the kind of woman who would get married early. In the past, she only focused on making money. Zhuang Xing thought that she was also someone who didn't care much about love and focused on making money. He never expected that she would find a husband halfway through her life.

Oh no, it's just an engagement right now, he's just her fiancé.

After realizing what was happening, Zhuang Xing quickly cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations, congratulations."

"Thank you," Bai Yu said with a smile.

"How did you two become friends?" Zhuang Xing's gossip instincts kicked in. "I remember two years ago... weren't you still somewhat strangers?"

“We were all working under the prefect, so we saw each other all the time. Over time, even strangers become familiar with each other,” Bai Yu said. “Moreover, at that time I wanted to set up a chamber of commerce in Yidu, so I asked him, a local, for help. I’m not very comfortable entrusting important matters to others, so for a while I often dragged him around to figure out the market and build connections. Maybe that’s when we spent so much time together.”

"Then one day he suddenly gave me a jade bracelet, and I asked him if he liked me. He nodded, and I went to his house to meet his father. His father didn't mind that I had no parents, so we got engaged."

"That's all?" Zhuang Xing asked in surprise. "You didn't go to see his father the day he gave you the jade bracelet, did you?"

"Yes." Bai Yu said calmly, "Is that strange? He likes me, and I think he's a good match. I don't have parents, so there's no need for me to go back and ask my father to find a matchmaker for me, is there?"

Zhuang Xing thought about it and realized that made sense. In this day and age, most marriages were arranged by parents. It was even rarer for couples like Bai Yu and Chu Sheng to meet before getting engaged. Many couples only saw each other's faces on their wedding day when they entered the cave.

It's just that his thinking is out of step with the times; Bai Yu and Chu Sheng's situation is actually quite normal.

However... the bracelet was given on the same day, the parents were met on the same day, and the engagement was arranged on the same day. This progress was truly lightning fast.

"Congratulations!" Zhuang Xing said again.

Bai Yu chuckled lightly: "Our marriage is set for the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. I'm all alone, so I didn't plan to invite everyone to celebrate. But Chu Sheng said you are his friend and benefactor, and he often mentions you. You are also my friend and have helped me a lot, so I told you about this."

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not asking you for a wedding gift. I'm just letting you know that if you can find the time on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, you can come to Yidu for a wedding banquet. I came here today to tell Xiao Moli about this and take her to get together with her old friends. Those who used to live together in the mountains should all be there."

“If you can’t come, we’ll treat you to drinks next time you come to Yidu. If you can come, you can bring a few more people. I remember Yunling is from the same village as you, right? You can bring her along. Anyway, whether you come or not, I’ll save a seat for you.”

Chapter 293 Sometimes you still need to relax.

"I understand. So where should I look for you then?" Zhuang Xing asked.

“Take this.” Bai Yu took out a wooden plaque. “The chamber of commerce we established in Yidu is called the Cattail Chamber of Commerce. We have branches in the four cities of the east, west, south and north. It’s easy to find. It’s right at the entrance of the market. The place where you see this cattail sign hanging at the entrance is our place.”

Bai Yu pointed to the pattern on the wooden sign, which featured a slightly curved cattail carved on it.

This grass is ubiquitous in Yidu. It is an aquatic plant that likes to grow along riverbanks and in marshes. The stems of cattails are edible, the pollen can be used in medicine, and the cattail fluff can be used to fill mattresses. It is quite appropriate to use it to represent Baiyu's Chamber of Commerce, and it has a bit of a trademark feel to it.

“If you can make it, take this sign to the Chamber of Commerce and someone will bring you here,” Bai Yu continued.

Zhuang Xing put away the wooden sign and said, "Okay, I will definitely come to your wedding banquet."

Now that the official road has been repaired, the village isn't too far from here, and he should be able to catch up.

...

Manggu Village.

After getting up, Zhu He opened the doors and windows to let the room air out.

She looked up into the distance; the sky was overcast, just like in winter, often shrouded in dark clouds, obscuring the sun.

There was little noise in the house. Her son and daughter had been away for several days, and she was a little unaccustomed to the quiet.

In the yard, the husband was feeding the horses.

"These are beans and vegetables I bought especially for you." Zhuang Liangqing squatted in front of the stable, stroking the horse's mane with a cheerful smile. "Eat more, don't go hungry."

Wuzhui let out a heavy breath and buried his head in eating beans.

Zhuang Liangqing loves horses, but he can't ride them. Even if he could, he wouldn't have any reason to run around. Buying a horse would just mean keeping it as a pet, a waste of money. So every year when his son comes home, he takes on all the work of taking care of the horse, just so he can see the magnificent horse more often.

Zhu He smiled, went to the kitchen, and placed the steamed white flour buns on a plate.

Several plump white mice crawled out from under the loose floor tiles and gathered together to eat steamed buns.

Although her child wasn't home, she and her husband didn't feel lonely.

It's rare to have a few days of peace and quiet; both my body and mind are relaxed.

She rubbed the white mouse's soft flesh. When she went out the door again, her husband had already taken the reins. He would take the horse out for a walk whenever he had time.

"Xiao He, would you like to go for a walk together?" Zhuang Liangqing asked.

“You go ahead, I’ll stay home. The kids will probably be back soon,” Zhu He said.

“That’s true, it’s been several days already.” Zhuang Liangqing nodded. “Then I’ll go buy another fish while I’m at it.”

"Go on, but walk slowly. The roads are slippery from the snow, so don't fall," Zhu He said.

"Understood." Zhuang Liangqing waved and left the courtyard.

Zhu He took out the iron basin containing the remaining charcoal, added some more firewood, fanned it to let the glowing charcoal release heat and ignite the flames.

In the morning, she usually sits at the door for a while. While she sits, Da Mao and Er Mao climb onto her lap, their plump bodies flattening out, and they squint their eyes contentedly.