Chapter 44 Phoenix Feather of the Tang Dynasty
"cough!"
Old Master Huo finally noticed him. His laughter stopped and his face turned serious again, but the smile in his eyes hadn't faded.
"What are you doing standing there? Come in."
Ruan Yao also turned around and saw Huo Yanzhi; her eyes lit up.
Huo Yanzhi stepped inside.
"grandfather."
"I've come to find Ruan Yao."
"What are you looking for? Why aren't you here keeping this old man company?" Old Master Huo tapped the ground lightly with his cane, his tone full of pleasure.
"I was just about to water my 'Pure Heart' plant, but I left my glasses in the room. When I came back to check on my darlings, I saw this girl watering my 'Pure Heart' plant."
"This little girl not only recognizes that this 'Pure Heart' succulent is short of water, but her watering technique is even more skilled than mine as a gardener!"
Huo Yanzhi's gaze fell on Ruan Yao.
Grandpa's orchids are all rare varieties, very delicate, and require a lot of care; laymen wouldn't dare touch them.
In her past life, she couldn't even keep a cactus alive.
"You know how to grow flowers?" he asked.
Ruan Yao had already prepared a draft in her mind, and smiled with her eyes crinkled.
"I don't really know much about it. My grandfather also liked to grow flowers. When I was little, I often watched him tinker with them and heard him talk about them a few times. I only remember a little bit of the basics."
She was only half telling the truth.
Grandpa did like flowers and plants, but not as obsessed as Old Master Huo. In her previous life, she had no interest in them at all.
It was only after she married into the Huo family that she secretly studied hard to learn in order to deal with the stern-faced old man.
Huo Yanzhi stared at her with his dark eyes, saying nothing, making it impossible to tell whether he believed her or not.
"It's more than just the surface!" Old Master Huo touched the leaves of the "Plain Heart" plant like a treasure. "You little girl, you have more talent than the gardener I hired at great expense."
He pointed to an orchid with dark spots on its leaves next to him.
"Then take another look at this 'Tang Dynasty Phoenix Feather' pot. Is there anything special about it?"
This is clearly a test.
Huo Yanzhi's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
Ruan Yao showed no sign of nervousness. She stepped forward, examined the woman carefully, and then looked up with a confident smile on her face.
"This potted plant is of excellent quality, with thick leaves and clear ink spots; it's a top-tier specimen. However..."
She changed the subject, extending her finger and lightly touching the soil in the flowerpot.
"The soil in this pot seems a bit compacted, and the roots may not be able to breathe well. Orchids are delicate and are most susceptible to root rot. If this continues, it may affect their flowering period next year."
Old Master Huo couldn't stop smiling. He nodded repeatedly, and his expression towards Huo Yanzhi was tinged with pride.
"Did you hear that? This girl speaks so logically!"
He then looked at Ruan Yao, his tone becoming even more amiable.
"Then tell me, what should we do?"
"It's best to change the soil. Use a mixture of pine needle soil, peanut shells, and volcanic rock, which can retain moisture while allowing air to pass through. Also, I think the humidity in this greenhouse is a bit high, so it's best to ventilate it more during the day."
Ruan Yao spoke eloquently, her brows displaying a composure and radiance that Huo Yanzhi had never seen before.
She was no longer the little girl who would hide behind him, timidly watching his every move.
She stood in the sunlight, her whole being radiant.
"Well said! Absolutely right!" Old Master Huo slapped the armrest of his wheelchair and commanded in a strong voice, "Yanzhi, did you hear that? Go and move that bag of pine needle soil from the corner. Today, I, your Grandpa Huo, will see this girl's abilities with my own eyes!"
Huo Yanzhi's thin lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only uttered one word: "Okay."
He walked over in silence. The bag of soil was heavy, but he lifted it up with one hand without any effort and walked to Ruan Yao's side.
The three of them surrounded the potted "Tang Dynasty Phoenix Feathers". Old Master Huo was giving instructions with great interest, while Ruan Yao skillfully handled the orchid's roots. Huo Yanzhi handed her tools from the side.
Sunlight streamed in through the glass, making it feel warm and cozy.
For a moment, I even had the illusion of a peaceful and idyllic life.
Just then, a maid hurried to the door of the greenhouse.
"Sir, Madam wants Mr. Huo to come over. She says an important guest has arrived."
Old Master Huo frowned, clearly displeased.
"I understand. Let him go to the living room for tea first."
He waved his hand to send the servant away, then his gaze returned to Ruan Yao, his eyes filled with increasing fondness.
Huo Yanzhi stood up.
"Grandpa, I'll be right back."
He glanced at Ruan Yao, then spoke to Old Master Huo.
"Please don't let her get tired."
"Go on, go on, I know what I'm doing." Old Master Huo waved his hand impatiently, as if to get rid of someone in the way.
Only after Huo Yanzhi's figure completely disappeared outside the greenhouse did the smile on Old Master Huo's face fade a little. He turned his wheelchair to face Ruan Yao.
The greenhouse quieted down, with only the faint sound of the wind remaining.
The old man's weathered eyes, with a sharpness that seemed to see into people's hearts, watched her quietly.
"Girl."
"Hmm?" Ruan Yao was focused on treating the root when she heard the sound and looked up.
"You like our Yanzhi, don't you?"
The old man's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble that landed precisely in Ruan Yao's heart, creating ripples.
She stopped what she was doing.
She hadn't expected the old man to ask so directly.
Meeting those eyes that seemed to see through everything, Ruan Yao's heart skipped a beat, and then her cheeks felt hot.
But she neither dodged nor denied it.
She put down her tools and nodded seriously.
"yes."
In short, it means being open and honest.
Old Master Huo stared at her for a few seconds, and then a genuinely satisfied smile slowly spread across his serious face.
"good."
He said only one word, but it made Ruan Yao feel more at ease than any praise.
The atmosphere in the greenhouse became more relaxed and harmonious.
"Come on, girl, take another look at this pot. I just changed the pot yesterday, but it still looks tired today."
Grandpa Huo got excited and pointed to another pot of orchids, like an old child who had found a kindred spirit.
Ruan Yao smiled and leaned closer. The two of them, heads close together, discussed the ratio of the planting medium and the angle of the light, and they really looked like old friends who had known each other for many years.
Sunlight streamed down from the glass roof, elongating the shadows of the two people.
As Ruan Yao loosened the soil around the orchids, she mentally reviewed the day's events.
From Ye Mei's flawed statement that "the earring fell off," to Huo Jing's never-fulfilled "work report."
If she still doesn't understand that the Huo family is working together to create opportunities for her and Huo Yanzhi, then she's really wasting her brain.
A warm current flowed quietly through my heart, carrying a touch of secret joy and sweetness.
So this is what it feels like to be pampered by his whole family.
very nice.
I don't know how much time passed, but it was almost time for dinner.
Ye Mei appeared at the entrance of the greenhouse.
She had actually been there for a while, quietly standing outside, watching the old man and the young man chatting happily inside, and she couldn't hide the smile on her lips.
Her father-in-law had a terrible temper and was very stubborn; none of the younger generation in the family were afraid of him.
Only Yanzhi could stay with the old man for more than three hours.
But now, the old man who was usually so dignified that the younger generation didn't dare to breathe loudly was sitting with Ruan Yao, the two of them pointing and gesturing at a pot of flowers, and the old man had a genuine, heartfelt smile on his face that she hadn't seen in a long time.
Ye Mei was completely relieved, and she could no longer suppress the smile on her face.
This daughter-in-law is so well-liked by the whole family; she's truly a treasure bestowed upon the Huo family by God!
She cleared her throat before going inside.
"Dad, Yaoyao, what are you talking about that makes you so happy?"
"Yanzhi's mother is here." Old Master Huo looked up, his tone full of pleasure. "This girl and I were talking about my treasures. These days, not many young people know how to grow flowers."
"Really?" Ye Mei walked affectionately to Ruan Yao's side and took her arm. "I knew our Yao Yao was so skillful. Alright, the banquet is about to start, let's hurry over and not keep the guests waiting."
The three of them walked together toward the banquet hall of the main house.
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