Chapter 27 Peony [New] How Many Eyes Does Lord Ma Have?
The newcomer wore a straw hat with a black veil pulled up to the brim, and his eyes were covered with a three-finger-wide black silk cloth, on which were inlaid two blue fish stones. He wore a white silk robe, a belt around his waist with a tiger-shaped brace hanging from it, and a bamboo medicine basket on his shoulder.
He looks like a traveling healer.
Yu Mingjiang's eyes were icy as he gripped the purple-clad man's wrist tightly. "Kneel down and kowtow to her to apologize!"
The burly man in purple was taken aback at first, then became furious, his face twitching with embarrassment.
He frowned and cursed angrily: "Where did this pretty boy come from, daring to ruin your grandfather Murong's good deed! If you don't clean this up for me today, don't even think about leaving here alive!"
As he spoke, he mustered all his strength and pushed forward like a bull, trying to knock the person to the ground.
But when he saw that the person didn't move an inch, he belatedly realized that the other party was a skilled fighter, and his arrogance immediately subsided.
But now that things have come to this, he's caught in a bind and can only weakly shout, "If you know what's good for you, get out of here, or you'll regret it!"
Seeing the conflict escalate, Cui Nong turned pale with fright, clutching her pipa tightly and huddled in a corner, trembling.
·
Yu Mingjiang was new to the area and originally intended to keep a low profile, but when she saw Cui Nong being beaten from afar, she was already furious.
I had intended to leave some room for maneuver, but the other party showed no restraint and instead uttered arrogant words. I immediately said coldly:
"The last one who acted arrogantly in front of me is already reporting to the underworld. Looks like today, I'll have to teach you a lesson, Lord Horse!"
The burly man in purple felt a sharp pain in his wrist, and seeing You Mingjiang's forceful tone, his eyes flashed with a fierce light: "Heh, pretty boy! I think you're tired of living..."
Before he could finish speaking, he swung his other iron fist, the size of a sandbag, and smashed it fiercely toward You Mingjiang's head!
He was the highest-ranking disciple of the Murong family, and relying on his superior strength, he really didn't take a mere itinerant doctor seriously.
But in You Mingjiang's eyes, this punch was as slow as a tortoise crawling!
Before his fist could even touch her robe, the burly man in purple suddenly felt a strange force coming from his arm, and he swayed.
You Mingjiang curled her lips into a smile, seemingly nonchalant. She twisted her hand behind her back, grabbed the big man's arm, and delivered a sharp side kick, accurately striking his knee!
Since the big man's lower body was unstable, she specifically targeted his weak points.
A sharp "crack" was heard, the sound of bone breaking was particularly jarring!
The burly man in purple let out a pig-like scream, his clothes instantly soaked with cold sweat. He knelt heavily on the ground with a thud, in so much pain that he couldn't even straighten his back.
The nameless residence became so quiet you could hear a pin drop; even breathing seemed to have been cut off!
Upon seeing this, the purple-clad man's companions sprang to their feet, frantically grabbing their sword hilts. Even the drunken ones were instantly sobered up by the fright.
Why didn't they make that fool kowtow and apologize earlier? Or perhaps they shouldn't have let him harass Cui Nong in the first place! Even the name of the Murong family couldn't intimidate her; now they might be caught in the crossfire. They were filled with regret, fearing both her potential killing spree and the possibility of being dragged into the mess.
You Mingjiang acted as if she hadn't seen him, and forcefully pulled the burly man in purple up: "Now you know how many eyes Lord Ma has, right?"
Large beads of sweat rolled down his face. The burly man in purple was so frightened that his teeth chattered. His face turned deathly pale, and a warm stream trickled down his genitals. He could only tremble and beg for mercy.
"...I...I understand! I was blind to your greatness, please be magnanimous and let me off this time!"
"Let you go?" You Mingjiang's brows furrowed. "I'm the kind of person who always acts in a tit-for-tat manner."
After saying that, she grabbed the big man's hair and slammed his head against the wall like a bell!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Three muffled thuds rang out in succession!
Every impact carried real, solid force!
"Aaaaaaahh ...
The heart-wrenching screams of the burly man in purple, mixed with the resounding crashes of his body hitting the walls, echoed throughout the Nameless Residence.
The noise was enough to send chills down one's spine.
In just a few breaths, the purple-clad man's head was smashed like a watermelon, a bloody mess.
At first, he screamed and struggled, but You Mingjiang's strength was too great, and he lost consciousness in no time.
You Mingjiang then dusted off her hands and slowly stood up. "Bad luck," she spat lightly.
The purple-robed disciples around them were terrified and no one dared to make a move. They pushed and shoved each other, exchanging glances with fear on their faces and their legs trembling.
Unable to even stand steadily, how could they possibly hold onto their swords? With a few clangs, they fell to the ground.
“Take them away,” You Mingjiang said with disgust, raising her chin and lowering her voice, “Don’t let me see you near Wumingju again—” She emphasized the last word, “Get out.”
"Yes, yes, yes! We're leaving right away!"
The group of people were overjoyed and dragged the burly man in purple robes away. They even forgot to mention that their young master, Murong Mingzhu, was still upstairs. They only wished that their parents had given them two more legs, and they disappeared in the blink of an eye.
·
On the second floor of the nameless residence, by the railing.
Murong Mingzhu and Xiao Bieli stood side by side, witnessing the entire farce unfolding downstairs from beginning to end.
Murong Mingzhu gripped the railing tightly, her knuckles cracking, and the ruthlessness in her eyes almost overflowed!
He wished he could draw his sword and stab her right through!
But he wasn't a mindless brute; he knew better than anyone that this madman's skills were beyond his ability to contend with.
Seeing his appearance, Xiao Bieli smiled faintly and said with a grin, "Let's go down and take a look."
Murong Mingzhu's face turned pale and then red, how could she not hear the mockery in Xiao Bieli's words?
They were clearly making fun of his earlier lapse in composure.
But he insisted on putting on airs, pretending to be nonchalant. He took a deep breath, slowly released the railing, turned around, and walked down the stairs step by step with heavy steps.
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Yu Mingjiang frowned as he looked in the direction they disappeared, then turned and strode quickly toward Cui Nong.
At the same time, the system's announcement sounded in my mind:
[Ding! Respected young hero, you have performed a chivalrous act at the Nameless Abode, successfully rescuing a frail woman trapped in the mud. The reward has been sent to your bamboo medicine basket.]
The reward is as follows:
[Medical Iodine Disinfectant 500ml * 1 bottle]
Calamine lotion 200ml * 1 bottle
Special Rewards:
[One pack of 90cm absorbable surgical sutures]
[Medical gloves, 100 gloves * 1 pack]
[This is the reward for this generous donation. This gift is offered as encouragement; we hope the young hero will remain humble and continue his efforts.]
·
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Inside the vast, nameless residence, only the two of them remained.
Cui Nong slumped to the ground, dazed and confused, her hair disheveled, her lips swollen and blue, with drops of blood trickling out intermittently. Just as she tried to get up, the heavy pipa in her arms seemed about to slip off.
Her arm had just been thrown hard, and she probably twisted a muscle; it was trembling and unable to exert any strength.
Just as the pipa was about to slip from his hand and crash to the ground, a white shadow flashed by, moving so fast that only a blur remained.
Once the person had come to a stop, the pipa was already firmly held in their arms.
After catching the pipa, You Mingjiang didn't look at the instrument first, but instead turned her gaze to Cui Nong: "Little sister, are you alright?"
Seeing that her body was still trembling slightly, You Mingjiang frowned, holding the pipa in her arms, and squatted down on one knee.
She unconsciously lowered her voice: "Don't be afraid, my surname is You, I'm a traveling doctor, you can call me Doctor You."
He paused for a moment, then tentatively asked her, "Your name is Cui Nong, right? If you don't mind, can I call you 'Little Sister'?"
·
For the first time in all these years, someone called her "little sister," their tone filled with a long-lost affection, clean and pure, sincere without a trace of impurity.
“Dr. You…” Cui Nong raised her head and stared blankly at the young itinerant doctor who was blindfolded with black silk.
"Don't cry, don't cry, it's alright now." You Mingjiang lifted her sleeve and carefully wiped away her tears.
With bloodstains at the corner of her mouth, Cui Nong belatedly raised her hand and slowly touched her eyelids, finding them moist.
It turned out that tears had already silently streamed down her face, wetting her cheeks. Cui Nong turned her head away and hastily wiped her disheveled face.
"Be careful, don't touch the wound." You Mingjiang stopped her movement and put the pipa in her arms. "I'll do it."
The latest reward has been distributed into the bamboo medicine basket. You Mingjiang washed her hands with the saline solution in the bamboo tube, then took out a clean piece of sterile medical gauze, dipped it in some iodine, and gently applied it to the purplish corner of her mouth.
Her cheeks were cupped in soft palms, warm fingers carrying a faint scent of purple gromwell. In that instant, Cui Nong's heart skipped a beat.
The pipa was held tightly in Cui Nong's arms, as her only support. Although she was in so much pain that her eyes were brimming with tears, she tilted her head back without flinching and completely cooperated with You Mingjiang's movements.
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You Mingjiang used very light pressure, wiping with utmost care with each stroke. "If it hurts, just say so, and I'll be gentler."
Cui Nong gently shook her head, her gaze fixed on You Mingjiang's tense face. She pursed her lips and said, "Are you still angry? He just... he already begged for forgiveness..."
She was referring to the drunken, violent man in purple.
You Mingjiang was bending down, carefully folding the blood-stained gauze. Halfway through, she suddenly heard Cui Nong's words, her hands paused abruptly, and she looked up at her:
"Even if he begs for forgiveness, he'll be begging me. He should apologize to whoever he hurt; can't he understand this most basic principle?"
She paused, then added, "Little sister, remember this: the more compassion you show, the more the wicked will take advantage of you. People who bully the weak and fear the strong are not worthy of pity at all."
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Cui Nong felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but her voice trembled, carrying a hint of self-deprecation and grievance:
"I...I'm just a prostitute making a living in the brothel, how could I be worthy of..."
Before she could finish speaking, You Mingjiang interrupted her: "No matter who you are, as a human being, you deserve to be treated well. It has nothing to do with where you make a living."
Upon hearing this, Cui Nong could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her cheeks, the last drop landing on You Mingjiang's hand, warm and damp.
The tears seemed to carry a scorching heat, and You Mingjiang felt a burning sensation on the back of his hand, as if he had been burned.
My heart clenched along with it.
Just then, the sound of wheels rolling slowly broke the tranquility.
The color drained from Cui Nong's face instantly, her expression froze, and she even stopped breathing.
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You Mingjiang sensed something was wrong, and doubts began to arise in her mind.
She followed Cui Nong's gaze and looked up. She saw a man approaching from a distance, dressed in a black robe with gold lettering, with a slender figure and no space below his knees, sitting in a rattan wheelchair.
Behind him followed a man in purple robes with a livid face.
The gaunt man in the wheelchair kept his gaze fixed on You Mingjiang from a few steps away.
Cui Nong looked at him tremblingly, her lips moving several times before she softly said, "Boss Xiao..."
This man was none other than Xiao Bieli, the owner of Wumingju.
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Despite being in a wheelchair and having lost both legs, how could he appear on the first floor so silently? Aside from the faint sound of wheels rolling, I couldn't detect any fluctuations in his aura, and I couldn't fathom the depth of this man's martial arts skills…
You Mingjiang's heart skipped a beat, and she nodded to him: "Boss Xiao came downstairs specifically to ask me for compensation."
"Of course not."
Xiao Bieli was amused. He had a mechanism on his armrest, and with a gentle press, the wheelchair began to roll forward.
“You helped me chase away the hooligans, and although some things were damaged, you relieved me from a predicament. So, we should call it even.”
"A hooligan?" Murong Mingzhu, who was following behind him, looked even uglier upon hearing this.
Isn't this a blatant slap in his face?
Unfortunately, the Murong family has gradually declined and no longer enjoys its former prestige in Jiangnan, let alone in the remote border town, where it is in an even more awkward position.
Even though Murong Mingzhu was unwilling, she could only swallow her anger for the time being and could not retaliate in the slightest.
He shifted his gaze to You Mingjiang, looking him up and down.
Bell doctor.
A quack who rings a broken bell all day long and pretends to cure diseases.
It was this kind of lowlife who, just now, caused the Murong family to make a fool of themselves over a prostitute.
Thinking of this, Murong Mingzhu glared at Cui Nong and said sneer, "So that's why there's been this commotion all of a sudden. It turns out that Miss Cui Nong has climbed up the social ladder and looks down on the disciples of my Murong family..."
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Is it so strange that they look down on the disciples of the Murong family?
Without even glancing at him, You Mingjiang carefully helped Cui Nong up. "Don't you know where the problem lies? The Murong family has been declining with each generation!"
Murong Mingzhu's expression turned ferocious as she roared, "Nonsense! When has it ever been your place, a mere itinerant doctor, to speak on behalf of the Murong family!"
You Mingjiang didn't even lift his eyelids, and continued, "If your Murong family ancestors for eight generations had spirits, they would be ashamed. They were never like you, relying solely on 'being shameless' to make a living in the martial world."
"You...!" Murong Mingzhu's eyes blazed with anger, and she was about to explode when Xiao Bieli suddenly burst out laughing.
He looked at You Mingjiang and asked with great interest, "What a sharp tongue you have! May I ask your name?"
You Mingjiang said calmly, "My surname is You. I'm just a traveling doctor. Everyone calls me Doctor You."
"Doctor You," Xiao Bieli murmured, repeating, "Doctor You, is there something you need in the border town?"
"I am a doctor, so naturally I am here to purchase medicinal herbs."
Xiao Bieli said meaningfully, "If you came to buy medicine, why would you come to a place like this... a place of pleasure?"
Cui Nong blushed immediately, and quickly lowered her head in embarrassment, not daring to look up again.
You Mingjiang said calmly, "Everyone eats grains and vegetables, how can they not get headaches and fevers? Is it that the rules here, Mr. Xiao, don't allow doctors to get involved, and even saving lives requires them to avoid it?"
"Very well, very well." Xiao Bieli leaned forward and looked at You Mingjiang with a smile. "It has been a long time since my Wumingju has welcomed such a wonderful person as Doctor You."
Murong Mingzhu, unable to contain herself, suddenly interjected: "A remarkable person? Bah! This city's territory is not fit for any Tom, Dick, or Harry to run wild!"
He had traveled a long way to the border town, originally intending to join forces and divide up Wanmatang, but Xiao Bieli didn't respond at all, yet he was all smiles and pleasantries towards this traveling doctor. This contrast filled him with bitterness, which quickly turned into jealousy.
What infuriated him even more was that even a big dog has to consider its owner; this cunning and vicious itinerant doctor had actually injured one of his Murong family disciples…
How could he swallow this insult? With nowhere else to vent her anger, Murong Mingzhu unleashed it all on You Mingjiang.
He had to put on a smiling face for Boss Xiao. Couldn't he even vent his anger at a quack doctor like you?
If you can't criticize Boss Xiao, then you can't criticize him?
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You Mingjiang glanced at him sideways, his eyes full of mockery: "I'm too lazy to reason with you, you're not worthy to listen."
The incident happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to think about this person's background. But now that I see his attire, I'm pretty sure he's the leader of that group of people in purple.
If she had known, she should have dealt with him too, to save herself from his incessant barking and disturbing the peace.
Murong Mingzhu choked, her face turning a deep liver color, unable to think of a retort for a long time.
The hatred in his heart surged, but he suddenly remembered that this person was ruthless and not someone like Cui Nong who could be easily manipulated. He could only suppress his anger and stomped his feet heavily on the ground to vent his frustration.
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At this moment, Cui Nong had huddled up in a ball, like a fawn being targeted by a hunting dog, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Sensing her unease, You Mingjiang helped Cui Nong up, gently pressed her head against his neck, buried her face in his neck, and whispered to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, I'll take you away."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Bieli looked at You Mingjiang with a playful expression and asked, "Doctor You, you just said... you wanted to take Cui Nong away?"
“Not bad,” You Mingjiang replied readily.
Xiao Bieli raised an eyebrow, glanced at the nervous Cui Nong, then looked at the composed You Mingjiang, and suddenly chuckled: "That won't do."
You Mingjiang said coldly, "No? If Boss Xiao thinks it's no good, why don't you try stopping me?"
Xiao Bieli sighed softly, "Cui Nong is a peony I keep at Wumingju. It is naturally delicate and has always been carefully protected. It will not be able to survive away from its familiar soil and water and will wither away early."
How dare he even mention growing flowers!
If this counts as growing flowers, then Cui Nong is a completely awful flower in his hands!
It's impossible for anyone to remain calm when they watch beasts destroy a delicate flower.
A surge of anger welled up in her chest, causing a sharp pain. Suppressing the fierce glint in her eyes, You Mingjiang said with restraint:
"Boss Xiao is wrong. Those plants kept in enclosures are bonsai for people to admire. Without the dignity of growing freely, even the most precious varieties will lose their soul. Peonies, on the other hand, have always been flowers that don't bloom unless frozen. The more frost and snow they endure, the more firmly their roots take hold and the more profusely they bloom. How could they easily wither away?"
"Hehe, I'm afraid Doctor You understands flowers, but not people. What we say doesn't count. Whether or not you go with her depends on Cui Nong's opinion." Xiao Bieli changed the subject and looked at Cui Nong again, "I won't stop you. You're already a free person. You can leave here anytime you want..."
He paused, then added meaningfully, "However, you'd better think this through carefully."
Understanding his unspoken meaning, Cui Nong lowered her head, instinctively hugging the pipa in her arms tightly, not daring to shed tears.
Ma Kongqun's instructions flashed through her mind. She bit her lip, struggling internally, but ultimately endured the burning pain in her heart and shook her head. Her voice was very soft, almost inaudible, as she slowly said, "Dr. You... I really like it here."
She was an illegitimate child who couldn't be brought into the light. Her father, Ma Kongqun, who never acknowledged her, never allowed her to take the surname "Ma." He only allowed her to stay in the nameless residence as a prostitute, using her identity as a cover. In public, she would smile and please others, while in private, she would memorize all the secrets of the underworld and then pass on the information.
That was the only purpose she was deemed to have served in her life.
She had lived for eighteen years and had never been given a second glance by Ma Kongqun. Her only wish was to one day be able to do something for him and earn the words, "You haven't disgraced me, Ma Kongqun."
Moreover, if she leaves, will her mother's grave and memorial tablet be destroyed by her enraged father?
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How could anyone truly like such a filthy place? If that were love, why would there be such desperate struggle in Cui Nong's eyes?
You Mingjiang found it absurd and didn't believe it at all.
Before Cui Nong could say anything more, she suddenly shrank back.
"Leave me alone..." She turned her face away, tears falling onto the pipa strings, creating a series of faint sounds. "For someone like me, just having a place to stay is already a blessing..."
What she didn't say was that if she couldn't even stay here, she wouldn't even have the chance to visit her mother's grave every year.
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Xiao Bieli leaned back in his wheelchair, his fingers tapping the armrest absently. "Cui Nong has made up her mind. I'm afraid Doctor You's trip will be in vain."
Surprisingly, Xiao Bieli's mocking laugh actually calmed You Mingjiang down.
She understood.
Difficulties.
Cui Nong harbored unspeakable bitterness in her heart.
If the bitterness in Cui Nong's heart is not truly resolved, even if she leaves Wumingju, those invisible shackles will eventually drag her back into this den of wolves.
I was too naive.
Redemption is never a light that can be achieved overnight; how can one expect to illuminate all the darkness with a single gesture?
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You Mingjiang took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Is that so? Then please, Mr. Xiao, protect her peace and quiet. Otherwise, if I can't take Cui Nong away, I'll have to 'take' someone else away."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Murong Mingzhu.
Murong Mingzhu gritted her teeth, her chest heaving violently, but she was genuinely wary of Murong Mingzhu suddenly making a move, so she became obedient.
Xiao Bieli bowed slightly: "Doctor You, rest assured, I have always protected Cui Nong during her long stay at Wuming Residence."
Hypocritical.
Cui Nong was on his territory, and his every move was under his control. If he truly wanted to protect her, how could he have allowed the burly man in purple to molest her in public while he stood idly by?
Unfortunately, Mr. Xiao is not a heavy drinker.
He couldn't be killed with just a rusty pair of scissors.
Moreover, what truly imprisoned Cui Nong was never the nameless residence, but the bitterness hidden in her heart.
Yu Mingjiang was not discouraged. His mind raced and he quickly came up with a roundabout way: "By the way, it's not convenient for me to lead my mule. I'm really worried about it. Could you please take care of it for me for a few days?"
Xiao Bieli raised an eyebrow and did not refuse her request.
There is no other reason.
He likes young people who are full of a sense of justice.
Thinking himself full of enthusiasm, he ended up being shattered to pieces.
He never gets tired of this kind of drama, no matter how many times he watches it.
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You Mingjiang said no more, gave Cui Nong a deep look, and then turned and left.
Why would I really be so worried about a mule?
She just wanted Cui Nong to understand that her promise would always stand.
When Cui Nong finally makes up her mind to leave, all she has to do is turn around and catch the hand that Cui Nong reaches out to her.
Cui Nong was stunned for a moment, her eyes welled up with tears, and she stared at You Mingjiang's back with teary eyes, but the words she wanted to say were only choked up.
Murong Mingzhu also stared at her back, squinting her eyes, and quietly drew her sword, but was stopped by a look from Xiao Bieli.
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The moon rose quietly.
In the darkness of night, the faint howls of wolves echoed back and forth across this desolate land.
You Mingjiang glanced at the nameless dwelling and silently vowed in her heart:
She was determined to get Cui Nong away from this den of wolves.
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This was not a well-considered choice.
It was just driven by passion.
She simply couldn't bear to stand idly by and let someone suffer so much in a den of wolves.
Even if that person was a complete stranger to her.
The night wind grew stronger, and You Mingjiang raised her hand to put on her straw hat, then pulled down the brim, quickening her pace as she walked into the dark alley. Her figure was quickly swallowed up by the thick darkness...
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Author's Note: [Good Luck Lotus] Meme ① "Lazy to speak but listen": from the famous scene of General Duanmu in Armor 3.
[Good Luck Lianlian] Cui Nong: A tragic heroine with a pitiful background. Her mother was the wife of a ginseng gatherer from Guanzhong. Cui Nong was born because she was defiled by Ma Kongqun, the head of "Wanmatang". Cui Nong only learned about her background before her mother died. Later, she was sent by Ma Kongqun to Wumingju to become a famous prostitute.
[Good Luck Lotus] Murong Mingzhu: Young Master of the prestigious Murong family in Jiangnan & Terrorist.
[Good Luck Lianlian] Xiao Bieli: Ma Kongqun's only designated security contractor.
[Let me see] Thank you to the little angels for the nutrient solution and landmines:
[Heart] "Akina Mountain Car" irrigates with +29 nutrient solution, "Jessica" irrigates with +10 nutrient solution, "Buy You Oranges" irrigates with +10 nutrient solution, "Clustered Fragrance" irrigates with +59 nutrient solution, "Gu Qing" irrigates with +31 nutrient solution, "Branch Tea" irrigates with +8 nutrient solution, "Tea Girl" irrigates with +10 nutrient solution, "Ning Yun" irrigates with +14 nutrient solution, "Moon View" irrigates with +2 nutrient solution, "Cistanche" irrigates with +5 nutrient solution, "Again and Again" irrigates with +10 nutrient solution, "sf" irrigates with +10 nutrient solution [Heart]
[Heart] "I'll buy you oranges" threw two landmines [Heart]
[Let me see] The little angels are silent, just continuously being given nutrient solution [laughing and crying emoji]
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