Chapter 122 The Peach Blossom Spring in My Dream
Yuan Hongqu did not go with them. Although the snow had stopped, the weather was so cold that she couldn't even stretch out her hands.
There was also a small-sized ski and sled left at home. Yuan Hongqu originally planned to have someone take Daiyu to play in the yard for a while.
Unexpectedly, Daiyu showed no interest whatsoever. Ever since learning about the disaster in Xicheng, Daiyu had been preoccupied. Even though Yuan Hongqu had arranged for her family to go to the disaster relief efforts, Daiyu still felt very uncomfortable.
Fangya's family of six has now been reduced to just the two siblings.
The West City is so big, and there are countless people suffering from disasters. But our own strength is so weak. Even if Granny Yuan mobilizes all the manpower and resources in the family, it will only be a drop in the ocean.
When Daiyu thought about these things, she felt extremely sad.
This morning, Zijuan brought her breakfast, but she had no appetite. She said she had carved several beautiful snowmen for her outside, but she wasn't interested in looking at them. Her kitten, Miao'er, occasionally came to rub against her, but she didn't want to pet it.
"Granny, even kittens have no worries about food and drink, wear fine clothes, and sleep in fur coats, yet some people still freeze to death..."
Upon seeing this, Yuan Hongqu quickly took the kitten away and asked Xueyan to take it aside, so as not to cause Daiyu any more distress.
“We’ve done what we can; let’s leave the rest to fate!” Yuan Hongqu said softly.
Daiyu has a very sensitive personality, which makes her too empathetic and easily able to feel what others feel.
Yuan Hongqu was just thinking about how to cheer her up when she heard her say,
"Granny, if only every place in the world were like the courtyard in my dream, how wonderful that would be!" Daiyu murmured, gazing wistfully at the remaining snow on the flowers and grass outside.
"That courtyard has no seasons; it's always laden with fruit and flowers in full bloom... Granny, is it a fairyland?"
Seeing Daiyu so listless and preoccupied, Yuan Hongqu felt a pang of heartache. Hearing her say this, she then said...
"Yes, you may have dreamed of the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming."
Yuan Hongqu didn't explain much; the space was no secret to Daiyu.
However, she has never verified it with herself, and now she rarely mentions in front of others what wonderful dreams she has had or what novel things she dreamed about.
Yuan Hongqu knew, however, that Daiyu's dreams never stopped; she would dream about the things in the space several times a month.
Recently, Daiyu has even been able to leave the kitchen and go into the courtyard.
If it weren't for the fact that the prototype of this space was a pastoral courtyard that Yuan Hongqu herself created in modern times, Yuan Hongqu would really have to wonder if Daiyu was the true owner of the space.
"Peach Blossom Spring? That can only be a dream, it can never come true..." Daiyu said disappointedly. Although she knew it was impossible, she still longed for it very much.
Yuan Hongqu couldn't bear to see her like this, so after thinking for a moment, she said...
“I’ve read about places similar to Shangri-La in some travelogues. For example, Dali, where the mountains and rivers are beautiful and flowers bloom in all four seasons; or Wan’an Prefecture in the far south, where rice can be harvested three times a year and fruits and vegetables can grow all year round… The Shangri-La in your dream is just a combination of these places. If you want to see the real Shangri-La when you’re older, I’ll go with you.”
Daiyu listened very attentively.
Yuan Hongqu deliberately diverted the conversation, and Daiyu, upon hearing this, indeed became interested, and her previously gloomy expression eased considerably.
"Granny, will I really be able to go to these places in the future?" Daiyu's eyes sparkled with longing.
Yuan Hongqu nodded. She didn't think she was deceiving Daiyu. As long as Daiyu recovered, everything was uncertain. Why should a smart and intelligent woman like her be confined to the inner courtyard?
As long as Daiyu grows up safely and healthily, her future days will surely be rich and colorful.
Then Daiyu suddenly sighed again.
"Sigh, I wonder when I'll grow up, when I'll be able to go to these paradises?"
“Growing up is something that can’t be rushed,” Yuan Hongqu comforted Daiyu.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I need to go back to my studies now. Granny, could you find me some travelogues to read? I think I'm ready to start reading them."
Daiyu smiled, and Yuan Hongqu felt that this smile was enough to dispel all the gloom of the past few days. She quickly nodded and smiled back.
“Since you’re going to read travelogues, let’s read the works of great authors. I have a set of ‘Xu Xiake’s Travelogues’. I’ll get it for you when I find it.”
Daiyu had heard of Xu Xiake's Travels, a famous work that has been passed down through generations, but this book was extremely rare. Her father had mentioned that what was in circulation now were all handwritten copies, and there were no printed copies at all.
"Granny, did you copy this yourself? I heard Father say that this book was copied from other sources and was never printed."
"Uh, yes." Upon hearing this, Yuan Hongqu realized that it was probably inappropriate for her to bring out an unprinted book.
It seems she'll have to go into her spatial dimension to work on it.
“Miss, it’s not cold outside right now. Why don’t you come and take a walk in the courtyard? We’re clearing the snow off the flowers and plants. Would you like to find a large jar to store the snow water?” Wang Qiu said as she came in.
“That’s interesting. The snow on the flowers and plants didn’t fall to the ground, so it must be clean. We can collect it and use the snow water to make tea when it gets hot in the summer. It will definitely be better than regular water.” Daiyu was intrigued by Wangqiu’s words. She put on her cloak and snow hat and followed several maids to the courtyard.
Yuan Hongqu was preparing to go back and work on "The Travels of Xu Xiake" when the old woman from the second gate came to deliver a message.
"Granny Yuan, Second Mistress Lian from the Rongguo Mansion has arrived!"
In the small reception room, the stove was burning continuously, and the fire wall next to it connected to the neighboring Jiaoyun Garden.
Just as Yuan Hongqu arrived, Wang Xifeng stepped into the reception room.
"It's an honor for Second Madam Lian to grace us with her presence without even letting anyone know beforehand. This small hall is the only warm place right now, I'm sorry to trouble Second Madam Lian," Yuan Hongqu said politely.
"What are you saying, Mr. Yuan? I'm here at my aunt's house. What's wrong with me? What's there to feel aggrieved about?" Wang Xifeng said with a smile.
After the maids served tea and snacks, they left.
Wang Xifeng then said anxiously.
"Sister Yuan, I heard that the Lin family's snow removal team has already gone to Xicheng?"
Hearing this, Yuan Hongqu was somewhat displeased, and her tone became rather unpleasant.
"That's right. If we wait any longer, everyone in the western part of the city will be dead. We don't need to go to the disaster relief. We can just wait for the weather to clear and the snow to melt before we go to collect the bodies!"
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