"I'm coming." Xu Jiang patted the donkey's head, washed his hands, pulled up his sleeves and went to the bookstore to greet the guests.
As soon as I entered the bookstore, I saw Song Qiao holding a pot of orchids, standing at the door in a slightly reserved manner.
"Madam Song!" Xu Jiang walked forward in surprise and pulled her into the bookstore.
After Song Qiao entered the room, he handed the orchid in his arms to her and said, "This is a festival gift."
Xu Jiang narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Thank you." The orchid had bloomed. The flowers were a bright yellow-green, lovely, and fragrant. "It smells so good. What's its name?"
"Xia Hemei."
"How strange! It's clearly an orchid, so why is it called a lotus?"
"It's called that because its flowers look like lotus when half-opened and plum blossoms when fully bloomed."
Xu Jiang took a closer look and saw that it was indeed as she said. "It really is." Then she asked, "How do I raise it?"
Song Qiao said, "Put it in a dimly lit and well-ventilated place. Avoid direct sunlight in the summer and rain or snow in the winter. Change the soil and repot it in the spring. Water it every four or five days."
Xu Jiang pulled her to the backyard to find a spot, and finally pointed to the corner of the eaves outside the small door and asked, "How about this place?"
Song Qiao nodded, "Okay."
Xu Jiang remembered that there was an abandoned flower table from the renovation earlier, so he found it from the firewood pile, wiped it clean and placed it in the corner. It was just the right size and height.
She looked around and felt something was missing, so she picked out a strange rock from the miscellaneous items she had collected and set it up. This originally inconspicuous corner suddenly became a small scene, adding a bit of quiet interest to the yard.
"Does it look good?" Xu Jiang asked Song Qiao.
"It looks good." Song Qiao's eyes showed a bit of tenderness.
"Thank you for the gift, I like it very much."
"I'm glad you like it." Song Qiao showed a subtle smile, then looked around the backyard and asked, "I heard from Hu Xu that someone set fire to your place. Is everything serious?"
"The donkey shed and the walls burned down, but they've all been repaired. Look." Xu Jiang took her to see the newly repaired donkey shed and recounted the events of that day. Finally, while stroking the jackal that was gnawing on a bone, she said, "Thanks to it, it caught the thief and saved my yard and my bookshop."
Song Qiao stared at Xu Jiang's smile, but felt uncomfortable in his heart. This matter was said lightly, but how many people knew the dangers and fears he had encountered?
But the matter was over, and it seemed unnecessary to comfort him now. She squatted down, reached out and touched Uncle Jackal, and praised him, "Good dog."
"Isn't that right?" Xu Jiang said proudly, "Otherwise why would I call him Uncle Jackal?"
Song Qiao asked, "What's the origin of this name?"
Seeing that she rarely took the initiative to talk, Xu Jiang began to explain to her.
"I see."
"Interesting, isn't it?"
"Um."
At this time, Yin Yin poked her head out of the kitchen and called out, "Sister Xu, aren't you going to make the five-spice drink? The water is almost ready."
"Coming." Xu Jiang responded, pulling Song Qiao up, and then invited, "Would you like to join us?"
Song Qiao was startled for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."
Xu Jiang pulled her to the kitchen and said, "Let's go."
Song Qiao paused.
Xu Jiang turned around and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Song Qiao's expression revealed a subtle embarrassment, "I'm not good at cooking."
Xu Jiang suppressed a smile, then pulled her towards the kitchen, "Then help me."
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