Chapter 529 - 529: Picking Vegetables

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

After joining the fray, Ge Lihua fought fiercely while searching for Chu Xujin. However, after a while of not finding him, her heart sank, fearing that Chu Xujin had met with misfortune.

“Xujin!” Ge Lihua called out loudly, growing increasingly agitated as she knocked down an opponent.

“Xujin!!” Her voice echoed with anxiety, her heart trembling slightly.

“Xujin!!!” Fending off an attacker with a kick, Ge Lihua tightened her grip on her sword, her knuckles turning white with tension.

Just at this moment of extreme worry, a strained voice called out, “Lihua!”

Her ears perked up, Ge Lihua immediately flew towards the source of the voice. She sent the person who was suppressing Chu Xujin flying with a sword move and brought him out of the battle. “Are you alright?”

Chu Xujin looked at Ge Lihua gratefully. “I’m fine, thanks to your timely arrival. I would have been in trouble otherwise.”

Ge Lihua finally felt relieved. “Don’t try to be a hero next time.”

Chu Xujin nodded seriously.

With Chu Xujin so compliant, Ge Lihua didn’t know what to say. “Stay here, I’ll go back and help.”

Chu Xujin stopped her, cautioning, “Be careful, their martial skills are strong.” He didn’t want Ge Lihua to go, but he knew she wouldn’t stay back given her responsible nature.

Ge Lihua nodded and dived back into the battle.

Chu Xujin hid behind a large tree, watching Ge Lihua’s figure attentively.

Under the moonlight, Ge Lihua, dressed in a moonlight-colored gown, appeared cold and stern. Her graceful movements in combat, blending strength and softness, were like a dance. Her clothes fluttered elegantly with each move.

As Chu Xujin watched, he could not help but become mesmerized. Everything around her became blurry, except for the white figure in the forest.

With the skilled martial artist Ge Lihua’s help, the fight quickly neared its end.

Suddenly, a whistle pierced the forest air, followed by an arrow shot towards Ge Lihua from the depths.

Chu Xujin’s pupils dilated, and he dashed towards Ge Lihua, shouting, “Lihua, be careful, there’s an arrow from the left!”

Hearing the warning, Ge Lihua swiftly dodged, and the arrow embedded itself in a tree trunk.

Ge Lihua landed beside Chu Xujin and reached out to hold his shoulder to stop him from running forward. “It’s so dangerous over there. Why did you come over?”

Chu Xujin blurted out, “Because you were there.”

A ripple of emotion passed through Ge Lihua as she stared at Chu Xujin, then looked away, softly saying, “Let’s focus on the task at hand.”

She then walked away and sat on a stone, her back to Chu Xujin.

Chu Xujin glanced at Ge Lihua and then at his colleagues. He decided to let Ge Lihua rest and discuss things with his colleagues, planning to return home later.

The last arrow was meant to cover the escape of the accomplices, but some still failed to escape. The officers tied them up and brought them back to the county office.

The injured were treated by a doctor, the criminals were locked up in the prison, and the others were allowed to go home for the time being.

On the way home, Chu Xujin said nervously, “Lihua, do you feel I’m a burden to you and are unhappy with me?”

As he spoke, he felt deep resentment towards himself for not learning martial arts, resulting in him constantly needing protection.

Amidst his frustration, he resolved to learn self-defense in the future to avoid causing trouble for others.

Ge Lihua glanced at Chu Xujin, her cold eyes reflecting the moonlight like a clear spring. “Do you really think of me as that kind of person?”

Chu Xujin quickly waved his hands in denial, “No, no, 1 just feel useless…”

Seeing Chu Xujin flustered, Ge Lihua couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t belittle yourself. Your strength lies not in martial arts, and everyone understands that.”

Chu Xujin felt somewhat embarrassed. “I don’t have any particular strengths. If it weren’t for my fifth sister’s help, 1 wouldn’t know what to do with my life.”

Ge Lihua comforted him, “But you were able to trace the criminals to the northern outskirts. It’s something others couldn’t have done.”

“I’ll work harder in the future,” Chu Xujin said, his lips curling into a slight smile, pleased to receive Lihua’s praise.

“I believe in you,” Ge Lihua affirmed.

“I won’t let you down,” Chu Xujin silently vowed, determined to achieve results and repay those who trusted him.

Dawn broke.

Chu Qingzhi got up from bed, quickly freshened up, and then went to tend to her fermented tofu. The process was simple: cutting tofu into pieces, dipping them in seasoning, and placing them in pickle jars.

In half an hour, everything was done.

Chu Qingzhi placed the pickle jars in a cool spot to ferment for a month before they could be consumed.

The fermented beans she prepared yesterday were already fermenting at the old house and didn’t need further attention for the time being.

Tang Jinghong’s voice came from outside, “Qingzhi, come out and see this.”

“Coming.” Chu Qingzhi quickly walked out.

In Tang Jinghong’s yard, there was a pile of game: a wild boar weighing about a hundred catties, a roe deer, three pheasants, and two hares.

Chu Qingzhi looked at the heap of game, patted Da Bai’s head and said, “You really are a nocturnal creature.”

Da Bai raised its head proudly. Having slept too much during the day, it couldn’t sleep at night and had nothing else to do but hunt.

Chu Qingzhi had invited guests for a meal and was going to buy some meat from the town, but now there was no need.

Tang Jinghong said, “I’ll take care of these animals and bring them to your house later. You don’t need to do anything.”

Chu Qingzhi, looking at the pile of game, said, “Then I’ll cook something delicious for you at noon.”

Tang Jinghong smiled and nodded. “Okay.”

Chu Qingzhi returned home, took a basket, and went to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables. As she was leaving, Chu Qingning joined her, “Fifth sister, 1’11 go with you.”

The sisters arrived at the vegetable garden located at the edge of the open space in front of the old house, a large area cultivated by Li Qingyu.

“What vegetables shall we pick?” Chu Qingning asked, surveying the garden.

“Chili peppers, flat beans, cabbage,” replied Chu Qingzhi. She then headed towards where the yams were planted, bent down, grabbed the top of a yam, and pulled out five yams directly from the soil.

Chu Qingning was shocked, “Fifth sister, you just pulled out the yams like that?!” Normally, shouldn’t they be dug out with a hoe?

Chu Qingzhi calmly said, “I didn’t want to go back for a hoe.”

Chu Qingning sympathetically looked at the yams, thinking they were unlucky to encounter Chu Qingzhi who had the strength of Hercules.

“I’m going to pick a winter melon,” Chu Qingzhi said, heading towards the winter melons.

The winter melon vines sprawled on the ground, with the melons squatting on the soil. Chu Qingzhi sifted through the leaves, selected the oldest one, and picked it.

At that moment, Chu Lianghong called out, “Qingzhi, my family has lotus roots, and there are water chestnuts in the pond. Do you want some?”

It seemed there was no need to go to town for vegetables. Chu Qingzhi replied, “Yes, please..”