He Guiqi grinned: "Sis, it wasn't my idea to come, it was..."
He glanced nervously at the major general and shrank back.
After the extreme heat, the troops ran out of food, and more and more soldiers fell ill.
He Guiqi was so short of vegetables that he had difficulty even going to the toilet, and he vented his anger on the soldiers in the planting company.
They said they were stupid, that so many people grow vegetables, yet they didn't grow them as well as his sister's small vegetable garden.
The soldiers in the planting company didn't like to hear it, saying he was just bragging.
He Guiqi, hands on his hips, said:
"You guys are so stupid. My sister's little vegetable garden has tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplants. I've eaten them all. Look at what you've planted. Forget tomatoes and cucumbers, even the bok choy looks wilted."
"Keep dreaming. You're talking about the pre-apocalyptic world. In this heat, it would be amazing if it could even grow."
He Guiqi yelled at the top of his lungs:
"What do you mean by 'before the end of the world'? It was just a few months ago, the tomatoes and cucumbers I ate were picked from my sister's little vegetable garden."
"You must be dreaming. Picking them fresh and eating them? You're dreaming of eating farts."
"You're the one who's talking nonsense. You can't grow it yourselves, so you say others are dreaming."
"..."
The more they talked, the more antagonistic they became, and neither side would give in. In the heat of the moment, He Guiqi got into a fight with the people from the planting company.
The troops gave each of them a disciplinary warning for causing trouble within the military.
When this matter reached the ears of the major general, he knew about He Guiqi's background, even though others did not.
The grandson of Kyoto's richest family wouldn't lie about something like this.
When He Guiqi was called over and questioned, he realized he had caused trouble and changed his story, saying, "I didn't have any vegetables to eat, my mouth was sore, and I couldn't even poop. I was just angry with them."
The major general threatened him:
"Oh, so the responsibility lies entirely with you. That's not as simple as just receiving a disciplinary action."
He Guiqi was loyal and endured all beatings and punishments, stubbornly refusing to reveal Zuo Ling's identity.
The major general laughed: "A few months ago, right? Go check the records and see where he went a few months ago."
The story of He Guiqi and his comrades going out to find a place to set up camp was brought up again, and the army sent out several groups of people, each with their own search direction.
The major general led a team, including He Guiqi and the soldiers who had fought with him that day, and searched for them along the way.
He Guiqi panicked, saying he couldn't remember, that he was either pointing in the wrong direction or pointing randomly everywhere.
The major general kicked him twice:
"You little brat, trying to play tricks on me? Do you think I got to this position by doing nothing? If there really is such a person as you, they must have settled in the mountains, so there must be a water source nearby. Look, look for a water source nearby, follow the river."
With the right approach, finding it becomes easy; Zuo Ling's large courtyard simply cannot hide anything.
"Young lady, we have come from afar, may I come in and rest for a while?"
The major general made a request, and it wasn't demanding. Would Zuo Ling dare to refuse?
She was a citizen of China; how could she dare to say 'no' to a military leader who held real power?
"Please come in."
The lush greenery in the courtyard is a refreshing sight.
The branches are laden with tomatoes, bright green cucumbers, purple eggplants, small green and red peppers, rapeseed, spinach, romaine lettuce, bok choy, green beans, cilantro, celery, scallions...
The two men who came in with the major general stared wide-eyed. One of them was a soldier from the planting company who had fought with He Guiqi; He Guiqi had bumped into him.
"Did I lie? Did I lie? You guys are useless!"
Thinking about it, he was still angry. Because of this, he not only got beaten up, but also received a disciplinary action. In anger, he bumped into the man several times.
Ignoring He Guiqi, the soldier muttered to himself, "How is this possible? How is this possible..."
Having dissipated the resentment of being wronged, He Guiqi snorted, "You're useless yourself, yet you say others can't grow it."
Zuo Ling glared at him. He Guiqi scratched his head, sidled up to Zuo Ling, and tugged at her: "Sister, I really didn't bring them here. They found this place on their own."
Hmph! If it wasn't you, how did they get here? Do you think I'm stupid?!
Zuo Ling turned her head away, not wanting to pay attention to him. He Guiqi tugged at Zuo Ling's sleeve and acted coquettishly, looking as pitiful as a little puppy.
"Girl, you're quite skilled at growing vegetables."
The major general was shocked; how long had it been since he had seen a vibrant vegetable garden?
After leaving Kyoto, Zuo Ling had no contact with the outside world and didn't know what it was like outside.
The vegetables in the small garden are watered with water from the pond in the space, but otherwise there's really no difference.
Zuo Ling looked at He Guiqi, who pointed to the soldiers in the planting company:
"The vegetables they grow are far inferior to what my sister grows. Even the leafy greens they grow are wilted and pitifully small, let alone tomatoes, cucumbers, or eggplants."
The soldier blushed, wishing he could disappear into the ground.
The major general rubbed his hands together and said, "Miss, excuse me, could you pick a tomato for me to try?"
Zuo Ling: "..."
When the military leader asked for food, he noticed that the man's skin was sallow and his lips were dry, cracked, and pale, clearly indicating a vitamin deficiency.
He thought to himself, if even a major general is in such a state, the soldiers can only be in an even worse situation.
She really wanted to say no, because if what He Guiqi said was true, her tomatoes would be worth the same as gold.
It's not that she's greedy, it's that she's gotten herself into big trouble!
Zuo Ling picked the biggest and reddest one, and without washing it, handed it directly to the major general.
The major general didn't mind at all, and couldn't wait to take a bite and chew slowly. He had almost forgotten what tomatoes tasted like.
Yes, it tastes like tomatoes, even better than any tomatoes he's ever eaten!
Zuo Ling pretended not to hear He Guiqi and the other two young soldiers swallowing. Things that are too easily obtained are not cherished by anyone.
For example, regarding He Guiqi, if he hadn't been so loose-lipped, she wouldn't have gotten into such big trouble.
Thinking of this, he glared fiercely at He Guiqi, who felt a chill on his neck and his craving vanished.
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