Chapter 102 Firewood-Fired Rice, Cloud-like Scenery
Cai Cai: "Coo coo coo!"
Qingyu spotted Cai Cai from afar. The girl wanted to reach out and call to it, but she was too weak. She only smiled when Cai Cai fluttered right up to them.
"Cai Cai! You're alright!"
Lin Fanxiang leaned against Qingyu and smiled, "It should be."
Zhang Xuan: "He looks a bit weak... but being able to get out of bed should be considered a good thing, right?"
Qin Tianshu: "I don't know... anyway, I'm getting really bad."
Cai Cai looked up at the group of young people covered in mud...
Chicken: ? Who are you?
Wen Chuan could tell what the chicken was thinking with just one glance, but it was so dirty that he couldn't be bothered with it. As long as it was alive and alright, that was good enough.
Cai Cai, lively and energetic, looked at them and clucked: "Coo coo coo coo~"
Zhang Xuan chuckled at the chick's smug expression, "You still have the nerve to cluck? Let's see if you dare eat mushrooms next time."
"Silly Cai Cai, I'm definitely not letting you eat mushrooms next time!"
Qingyu suddenly added, "It's never too late for mushrooms to take revenge, even after ten years. Vegetables still need to be careful."
Everyone: "..."
"You're back?"
Grandma Qi leisurely came out of the house. She raised her eyebrows and smiled as she looked at the five clay figures outside the yard. "Alright, the hot water inside is ready. Take your time washing."
As she walked to the kitchen door, she turned back and casually remarked, "We can eat soon once we're done cleaning up."
Qingyu glanced at her, then smiled brightly, "Grandma, what would you like to eat?"
Grandma Qi: "Food!"
...
When Qingyu finished tidying up and came out, Fanxiang and Wenchuan were already outside. It was almost dark, but the moonlight was so bright that it gave the courtyard plenty of light.
Wen Chuan and Lin Fanxiang sat on the stone bench, and Cai Cai was nestled on the stone table, her eyes darting around.
Qingyu smiled but before she could speak, she was drawn by the enticing aroma coming from the kitchen. She walked to the stone bench between them and sat down. She asked in a low voice, "What exactly is Grandma Qi cooking?"
It smells so good.
Wen Chuan smiled and said, "It should be firewood-cooked rice."
Cooking rice over a wood fire, steaming vegetables, the instant the steam rises from the stove, the aroma of food fills the air, bringing immense comfort and satisfaction.
Qingyu was still a little confused, "What is firewood rice?"
"You'll know once you try it."
Grandma Qi clapped her hands and walked out of the kitchen. Zhang Xuan followed behind her carrying things. Qing Yu was puzzled. Lin Fanxiang smiled and said, "Xuan was the first one out. Grandma called him to start the fire."
Just then, Qin Tianshu came out. He was quite perceptive; as soon as he saw that the food was ready, he smiled and prepared to help.
Grandma Qi: "Alright, move the table and chairs, serve the dishes, and wash your hands before you eat."
...
Steamed bamboo shoots with salted pork, steamed tofu with shepherd's purse, a platter of seasonal vegetables, steamed eggs with mugwort leaves, cured pork, pork belly with toon sprouts, steamed pork ribs with peas, and a large bowl of light and delicious mushroom soup, served with glistening, plump white rice—
The aroma of firewood and the soft texture of each dish make it incredibly fragrant and delicious. The rice is infused with the aroma of oil, the bottom is covered with crispy golden rice crust, the bamboo shoots are savory and tender, the eggs are tender, the slices of cured meat are thinly sliced, the glutinous rice with pork ribs is spicy and flavorful... Any dish, even the rice itself, is incredibly delicious!
Qingyu and the others had been busy all afternoon, and this meal was the best they had eaten in all these days!
Cai Cai nestled on Wen Chuan's lap, making "coo coo coo" sounds, but this time no one paid any attention to it.
We were all so tired that we finally sat down together for a meal. We were so focused on eating that we didn't care about our table manners; we just ate in silence.
Finally, Qingyu put down her chopsticks, and the girl looked up at Grandma Qi, sincerely praising, "Grandma, your cooking skills are truly unparalleled!"
"No need to flatter me."
Grandma Qi reached out to interrupt the "spellcasting." The old lady sat calmly, her face still expressionless, but her temperament was truly gentle and serene.
Under the pale moonlight, she finally pursed her lips, but her eyes remained calm.
"Let's go now that we've finished eating."
...
The carriage started moving again under the moonlight, its wheels turning on the mountain road, and the horses quietly urging on.
Qingyu sat by the car door, gazing into the distance at the lonely house in the vast fields, where an old woman who disliked worldly affairs lived.
"Grandma, this soup is so delicious... Hmm, since you treated me to soup, I'll treat you to delicious food in the future."
"The future is uncertain. If you really want to thank me, just forget about today."
"Why?"
Tell me, where are you going?
"I...I want to go and cultivate."
"Then go, and walk your path well."
"And what about you?"
"Me too? Me too, but I walked a little longer than you and got to a place where I needed to stop... Alright, child, let's go. Grandma's lazy, so I won't see you off."
...
Grandma, I'm leaving again. I know you're seeing me off in your heart.
Qingyu finally pursed her lips, the girl smiled gently and turned her head, looking at the distant, bright moon in the sky. She cracked her whip and walked into the distance.
...
March 5th.
Qin Tianshu was leisurely making his way at the car door when suddenly the wind chimes started tinkling.
Zhang Xuan opened the car door, and the boy poked his head out and asked, "Brother, when did you say the Miao village was going to have a wedding?"
"It's the tenth of March, no rush."
"Oh... then why was Agu in such a hurry back then?"
Qingyu was sitting cross-legged on the long couch, half-asleep. When she heard this, she laughed and said, "Isn't Agu Aling's cousin? When a daughter gets married in a Miao village, everyone is busy."
Perhaps it's because Agu had many tasks at this wedding, and traveled back and forth between the Miao village and Yizhou city, that he was naturally a bit anxious.
but……
Qingyu opened her eyes and said, "Not necessarily... We'll know when we get there."
Wen Chuan was playing chess at the table beside the long couch. The young man gently placed a white piece, then looked up at the carriage door and asked, "Where are we now?"
Qin Tianshu looked into the distance. There were many mountains and forests in this area, and it was hard to say that he had wandered into the territory of other alien cultivators.
"This place... is where the Western people live."
Qingyu: "Western tribe? Let's go, let's go, a bunch of shamans."
Wen Chuan smiled upon hearing this, still rubbing a black chess piece in his hand. He tilted his head slightly and asked, "Is it that scary?"
Qingyu leaned against the car wall and said lazily, "No, it's just that the witchcraft rituals were very strange. I was scared by them back then."
Zhang Xuan became interested upon hearing this. "You're not afraid of the heads of the Wa people? It seems that this witchcraft is quite sophisticated."
Two days ago, they arrived in the area inhabited by the Wa people. Coincidentally, while traveling, they met a few Wa people who were gathering medicinal herbs in the mountains. The two Wa people were very hospitable, so they were invited to have a meal with them.
The belief in human heads is truly well-deserved. Almost all the decorations of the Wa people's homes are in the shape of human heads. Dark blue and deep red strips of cloth flutter in the wind on wooden poles. If you look closely, you can see that they are all embroidered with human heads, most of them in the shape of skulls. It's okay during the day, but at night, it just looks like the Wa people are a giant human head.
Zhang Xuan couldn't eat, seeing the skeletons scattered everywhere. Wen Chuan reassured him not to be afraid, because... their heads were quite a sight to behold.
So the Wa people really like them, especially their heads.
Zhang Xuan: "..."
Qingyu said quietly beside him, "I heard them say that Xiao Zhang's head is the best-looking."
Zhang Xuan: "!"
Qin Tianshu leaned closer. "What are you saying?"
Zhang Xuan looked at him quietly, "Brother, the Wa people say your head is the most beautiful..."
Qin Tianshu smiled and said, "Really? That's great."
Zhang Xuan: "?"
Forget it, he'll go find Fan instead.
At that time, Lin Fanxiang was holding a large skull in her arms. The girl was earnestly discussing diseases related to human heads with the Wa ethnic healer, occasionally pointing to the skull to explain...
Zhang Xuan: "?!"
Vegetable! Vegetable! King Vegetable! Help me!
...
Mentioning the Western tribe, Lin Fanxiang was writing behind a medicine table not far away. Upon hearing this, the girl put down her pen and asked with some doubt, "I remember, there are also witch doctors among the witch cultivators?"
Zhang Xuan: "Isn't witchcraft one of the earliest sources of cultivation? I saw it mentioned in the Chronicles of Kyushu, but it has declined over time."
In the earliest times, shamans were a very powerful group of people. They were skilled at using sacrifices to pray for blessings or curses, which was somewhat similar to the Lin family's "Word of Power." However, one was orthodox stargazing, while the other was a sideline ritual, and their methods were quite different.
As the Nine Provinces gradually developed, all things began to cultivate spirits, and all sorts of cultivators emerged. The strange and unusual practices of witchcraft gradually became disliked and eventually even forgotten.
Of course, the surviving sorcerers also say that the cultivators of the Nine Provinces are now practicing too ordinary and commonplace techniques, which are in no way comparable to the exquisite sorcery...
Kyushu: Creepy Witchcraft
Western Clan Shamans: The Foolish Nine Provinces
In conclusion, both parties indicated they would avoid getting involved.
Qin Tianshu listened at the car door. Eventually, the door opened, and the scholar drove along the mountain road. He turned his head and spoke leisurely to his friend inside.
"It's alright, once we pass that pointed mountain ahead, we'll be out of the Western Tribe's territory,"
Qingyu seemed to be deep in thought, "After passing Jianfeng Mountain, we'll reach the Miao village."
"Then we can arrive today, right?"
Zhang Xuan leaned against the bookshelf, teasing Cai Cai. The boy stroked its yellow fur and glanced out the window. "Jianfeng Mountain, is it that pointed one?"
Not far away, there was a forest of mountains, and in particular, there was an extremely high and sharp peak in the mountains, which stood out against the dark blue-green landscape.
"Yes, I remember that the Xi ethnic group and the Miao ethnic group used that sharp peak as a dividing line. Once you cross the Sharp Peak Mountain, you'll reach the Miao village."
As the girl spoke, she yawned and leaned forward, just in time to see Wen Chuan playing chess. She tilted her head and asked softly, "Is it fun to play chess alone?"
Wen Chuan smiled and placed another white piece on the chessboard. The young man said gently, "Not bad."
"Come keep me company for a bit?"
Qingyu smiled and shook her head, "No, I'm sleepy. I'll probably be able to get to the Miao village by the time I wake up and get ready."
Wen Chuan smiled and turned to look at her. "Then go to sleep. I'll wake you up when we're almost there."
It was early afternoon, perfect for a nap. Qingyu smiled and got up. The girl glanced at the chessboard and deliberately left a comment.
"I think the white pieces will win."
After saying that, she slipped away quickly. She greeted Fan Xiang, who was practicing calligraphy at the medicine table. It was easy to feel sleepy at this time, and Fan Xiang was also preparing to go into her room deep inside the space for a nap.
After hearing this, Zhang Xuan also felt he had nothing to do, so he went to take a nap as well.
In what seemed like an instant, the carriage was empty, leaving only the scholar driving the carriage and the young man playing chess.
Wen Chuan glanced helplessly at the chessboard. The worst thing when playing chess with yourself is for someone else to disturb you, especially someone who deliberately says which side will win. Qing Yu was just intentionally leaving him with that comment, trying to distract him with some malicious intent.
As the carriage moved leisurely along, Qin Tianshu sat by the door and chuckled, "I think Hei Zi will win."
Wen Chuan: "..."
...
The mountains rise one after another, lush greenery and vibrant red flowers, and the warm sunlight in the distance makes one feel lazy and want to close their eyes and bask in this spring sunshine.
Quietly, only the clatter of horses' hooves could be heard.
The young man made his final move, and the game ended.
As if a breeze had passed, the scholar smiled and said, "Wake them up, they'll be here soon."
Crossing mountains and entering mountains, a myriad of deep green, the distant sounds of valleys, alluring and captivating—
That is, the land of clouds in Yizhou, the Miao villages of Qianshan.
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