Chapter 25 Plum Blossom Porridge Wants to See Her Cry
When Qiao Xi first arrived here, she noticed that deep in the bamboo forest, there were several charming low trees, but she didn't know that they were plum trees.
Qiao Xi had forgotten the poem she recited when Morax draped his cloak over her shoulders after their parting at the Immortal's Cave, as she watched Morax's figure gradually disappear into the wind and snow.
But Morax remembers.
That day, he remembered that there were several plum trees in this bamboo grove.
Qiao Xi asked Morax, "Morax, do you think plum blossoms are edible?"
Morax looked down at her and said, "Plum blossoms are neutral in nature and can be eaten, but they taste slightly sour, so the taste may not be as good as you think."
"Never mind then, let's go back." Qiao Xi answered almost without thinking, carrying her bamboo on her back.
Morax watched her turn away swiftly, feeling somewhat helpless.
Qiao Xi had just taken two steps when she suddenly remembered something. She turned around, her two braids hidden under her tan leather hat, the wind blowing her hair and brushing against the white fur around the brim of the hat.
She suddenly asked, "Morax, do you want to go see the plum blossoms?"
"Oh, you finally figured it out?" Morax replied in a flat tone, slowly looking into Qiao Xi's eyes.
Qiao Xi smiled sheepishly and said, "I was busy all morning and a little hungry, so I didn't realize what was happening."
“Plum blossoms are associated with the liver, stomach, and lung meridians, and can relieve depression and harmonize the body. I see you've been feeling down lately, so let's go pick some and I'll cook you some porridge when we get back.”
Morax told her.
Qiao Xi was surprised that Morax could cook, and seemed to have a lot of knowledge about food.
Take this plum blossom for example. She couldn't understand what Morax was saying, but it sounded like Morax was planning to make her a porridge that would make her happy.
But Qiao Xi felt that she had always been quite happy.
But is Morax good at cooking?
She blinked: "What if it doesn't taste good? Can I not eat it?"
Morax frowned as he looked at her. What was this questioning coming from the depths of this girl's heart?
He shook his head, leaving no room for negotiation: "No."
Qiao Xi smiled and said, "Then I believe you."
*
Morax led her toward the plum tree.
On the way, Qiao Xi carried her tool bag with a bamboo pole on her back.
Morax walked with his hands empty and his steps leisurely.
One of them was tall, the other short; one walked with an easy gait, the other with a heavy one.
Qiao Xi felt like a resentful pageboy following behind his master or young master in ancient times.
Deep and shallow footprints were imprinted on the snow, and occasionally two or three squirrels darted by.
They arrived at the plum tree.
These plum blossoms are white overall, but the calyx is a light green, and even the stamens are a very pale yellowish-green.
Morax reached out and picked a flower, handing it to Qiao Xi: "Try it."
Qiao Xi looked up at Morax, feeling that he was trying to trick her, but Morax was all serious.
She pinched it and stuffed it into her mouth without stopping.
She inserted it so quickly and decisively that Morax was slightly taken aback.
Qiao Xi chewed twice, then frowned and said, "It's bitter."
Morax laughed.
He casually picked flowers from a high place and tossed them into Qiao Xi's pocket.
Qiao Xi opened the thermos, took a sip, and washed away the bitterness in her mouth.
As she watched Morax put the plum blossom into her pocket, she couldn't help but ask, "You really can cook?"
Morax glanced at her but said nothing.
Seeing that Morax ignored her and didn't say anything, Qiao Xi followed his footsteps, acting as a moving bag. She held the thermos, and the steam condensed into a white mist in the cold air.
She also picked at the flowers that were low to the ground.
A tree was bursting with blossoms. Qiao Xi held a few small white flowers in her hands, brought them to her nose, and smelled their delicate fragrance.
In addition to the fragrance of plum blossoms, there was also the faint scent of Morax.
Qiao Xi took a sip of hot water and couldn't help but ask, "Morax, you smell so good."
Morax paused on the plum blossom, then plucked it and stuffed it into Qiao Xi's pocket: "How do you know?"
“I can smell it,” Qiao Xi said, sniffing the air again. “The last time I went to the cave and bumped into you, the whole cave smelled of this fragrance, and I quite liked it.”
When she casually uttered "I quite like it," Morax coughed lightly, choking on her words.
He looked at Qiao Xi with some hesitation.
Qiao Xi said sincerely, "Really, I really like it. Do you usually wear perfume?"
Morax paused, then continued picking flowers as if nothing had happened, casually replying to Qiao Xi, "No need."
"Not perfume?"
"Um."
Morax stopped when he saw that Qiao Xi's pockets were almost full, his fingers still smelling of plum blossoms.
Qiao Xi seemed to understand something: "Ah? That's your body scent."
“...Qiao Xi”.
Morax looked at her.
"I'm sorry, I offended you." Qiao Xi also realized that her words had been somewhat inappropriate.
“Come here,” Morax said.
Qiao Xi walked over, and Morax placed his finger about half an inch in front of her nose and asked, "Do you like it?"
Qiao Xi could only smell the fragrance of plum blossoms.
She nodded.
Morax looked at her without saying a word.
After a short while, he said, "Let's go back."
"good."
Qiao Xi, carrying three bundles of bamboo, followed behind Morax and tentatively asked, "Could you help me carry some? It's a bit heavy."
"No." Morax refused just as decisively.
Qiao Xi was dejected and vowed to eat a big breakfast so that Morax would go hungry.
*
Qiao Xi's bamboo garden has three small houses: one is where she lives, one is a bathroom, and one is a kitchen.
She usually eats down the mountain with the two chefs, so the kitchen here can be described as "brand new".
When Morax went inside, he found the stove covered in a layer of ash, the iron pot hadn't been seasoned yet, and the firewood, which had been chopped before winter, was neatly arranged there, showing no signs of use.
The sound of a hammer striking nails came from outside the kitchen; it sounded like Qiao Xi was repairing her house.
It takes a long time to cut the bamboo into sheets. Now, the snow has stopped and it is fully light.
It was morning, and Morax decided to tidy up Qiao Xi's kitchen before making breakfast. He had fought for centuries, but rarely dealt with situations like this.
Morax picked up the pot with one hand and walked out of the kitchen. Just then, Qiao Xi walked towards him. She used a red strap to pull up the wide sleeves of her cotton coat to secure them. With a hammer in one hand and a bamboo stick in the other, she was working on a big project. Her face was flushed with heat.
"Morax, what are you going to do?"
"I washed your pot."
Morax's words drifted away in the cold, silent wind. Qiao Xi blinked: "I still have a pot."
She almost never went into the kitchen. Liu Yun, Yi Xiao, or Jin Lan would occasionally add things to her kitchen, but she had no idea what was inside.
Morax said with a hint of helplessness, "How will you eat without a pot?"
That was a really good question that stumped Qiao Xi.
On her way here, she was still thinking about what plum blossom porridge would taste like, but she overlooked the fact that she didn't have the right tools to make it.
She felt that going to school had made her stupid. In high school, she ate in the cafeteria and her mother cooked for her at home. She didn't have time to cook, which led to her ignoring even the most basic common sense.
Qiao Xi said to Morax, "I'll help you."
Morax looked at her; her face was flushed, and the stray hairs at her temples were slightly damp. Her two arms, exposed to the cold wind, were as white as jade.
It seems he's sweating.
He said, "No need?"
Qiao Xi asked, "Why?"
"Because you need to get dressed first."
Qiao Xi looked down; her clothes were perfectly straight, only her arms were exposed. She couldn't help but say, "Morax, it's just your arm, you can't be serious, can you?"
Morax pursed his lips, feeling helpless at the girl's antics. He walked up to her, frowned, and said, "You'll catch a cold."
Qiao Xi instantly wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
She was thinking about something.
"I'm leaving now, goodbye, goodbye."
Qiao Xi lowered her head, finished speaking, and ran away quickly.
Morax watched her anxious back and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
*
When the morning sunlight fully filled the courtyard, Morax noticed that Qiao Xi, this girl, who looked so small, had managed to repair a third of the house all by herself in such a short time.
He increasingly felt that Qiao Xi was suitable for studying, and that the amount of study should even be increased.
As for how to do it specifically, he hasn't made a plan yet, but for now he thinks he needs to pay attention to both diet and training.
Morax thought of the convoluted stories Qiao Xi had told Jin Lan earlier, and how she had just misinterpreted his behavior because of his exposed arm.
He silently added a sentence before all the training: "Don't let this girl overthink things."
With that thought in mind, Morax walked to the pool, reached out and used his magic to clean the pot.
He carried the pot back home, and coincidentally, he ran into Qiao Xi, who had just run out.
Qiao Xi was holding a glass jar in her arms. She walked over and handed the jar to Morax. Her big eyes were careful and sincere: "Um, I'm sorry, I was too rude just now, but I don't have anything good to give you as an apology. This osmanthus oil is quite precious, so you can take it."
Morax looked at her; she had her head down, her hair a little messy, and said the words "You keep it" with great reluctance.
He wouldn't take what belongs to someone else.
But has he ever seen Qiao Xi cry?
It seems that she didn't cry even on the day they first met, the day she wore her wedding dress.
Why does it sound like I'm about to cry when I'm about to give away delicious food?
Morax nodded, and deliberately said, "Give it to me."
Qiao Xi looked up, her fingers unconsciously pressing hard on the jar until her fingertips turned slightly white.
She blinked, surprised that Morax would actually want it, but she had already given it away.
Qiao Xi pursed her lips, reluctantly walked forward, and pushed the jar into Morax's arms.
But Morax didn't want it.
Qiao Xi had no choice but to look up at him.
Morax looked down at Qiao Xi's face.
Thinking back to how casually and effortlessly Risui pinched her cheek before.
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Author's Note: The update time has been changed to 11 PM, but the time difference from the previous update time is quite large. I'm worried that my little angels might not be able to read it smoothly. I'll update one more chapter today, and the next update will be at 11 PM tomorrow. Love you all!
"Plum blossoms are associated with the liver, stomach, and lung meridians, and can relieve stagnation and harmonize the body." (Source: Internet)
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