Chapter 29: The Lunar New Year (End)

Chapter 29: Lunar New Year (Conclusion)

The second day of the Lunar New Year.

There was nothing much to do today. After waking up in the morning, He Yuzhu and Yushui each had a bowl of shredded pork noodles. He Yuzhu realized it had been a long time since he had taken Yushui out just by themselves.

"Yushui, how about I take you out to play today?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Great! Where are we going, brother?" Yushui asked happily.

"How about we go ice skating?" He Yuzhu suggested.

"Okay!" Yushui agreed.

Once decided, the two bundled up, dressed so thickly they looked like little balls, and set off. He Yuzhu rode his bicycle with Yushui on the back until they reached Shichahai.

The ice was already crowded with people skating. After checking his bicycle, He Yuzhu rented a small sled chair for Yushui.

"Come on, Yushui, sit down. Brother will push you," He Yuzhu said.

As Yushui sat in the chair, He Yuzhu pushed her toward the center of the lake. He subtly released his spiritual sense to scout the area beneath the ice. As he pushed Yushui in rhythmic circles, he quietly gathered the items he detected under the ice into his personal space.

After a few laps, Yushui felt it was a bit slow. "Brother, go faster!" she called out.

"Alright, hold on tight, I'm speeding up!" He Yuzhu stopped his scouting and focused on picking up the pace.

"Ah!" Yushui let out a squeal of excitement, thrilled by the sudden rush of speed.

After playing for a while, Yushui grew tired. He Yuzhu pushed her to the shore to rest, gave her some warm water, returned the sled, and rented a pair of ice skates for her.

"Yushui, let brother teach you how to skate," He Yuzhu said.

Yushui nodded happily. "Okay."

"Come, take my hand and stand up slowly," He Yuzhu instructed patiently.

Thanks to the long-term consumption of spiritual spring water, Yushui’s physique had greatly improved, and she possessed excellent control over her body. Before long, she was able to stand and glide on her own. It didn't take long for her to skate freely across the ice, while He Yuzhu followed closely behind to keep her safe.

He Yuzhu checked his pocket watch; it was nearing noon, time to head home for lunch. Yushui, newly proficient in skating, was too excited to stop despite his calls.

"Brother, come and catch me!" she teased, glancing back.

He Yuzhu accelerated, catching up to her in a few strides. "You little rascal, let's see where you can run now!" he laughed, reaching out to tickle her.

"Hahaha! Brother, mercy! I won't do it again!" Yushui begged, giggling.

After a playful moment, He Yuzhu said, "Yushui, it’s time to go home for lunch."

"Brother, I want to eat meat," she replied.

"Meat every day? Aren't you tired of it yet?"

"No, I could eat it every day and never get tired," she insisted.

"Alright, I'll go back and make you some meat," He Yuzhu said indulgently.

The siblings held hands as they returned to the shore, returned the skates, and rode home. They encountered no trouble or unexpected incidents—a fact He Yuzhu found slightly disappointing, given the tropes of the novels he had read.

Back in the kitchen of their small courtyard, He Yuzhu got to work. He decided to make sweet and sour pork, as children naturally loved those flavors. Soon, the dish was ready, but thinking it wasn't enough, he also prepared a tomato egg soup and a stir-fried vegetable dish.

Once the food was on the table, he called Yushui to wash up.

"Brother, what delicious things did you make?" she asked, running over.

"Slow down. I made sweet and sour pork. Satisfied?"

"Mhm," she replied.

Seeing her only reaching for the meat, He Yuzhu ladled a small bowl of soup for her. "Drink some soup and eat your vegetables. Don't just eat meat, or you won't grow tall," he scolded gently.

"Mmm-hmm!" Yushui, her mouth stuffed with pork, could only hum in acknowledgement.

After a short rest following lunch, they headed out again. During the New Year, the streets were lively, filled with vendors selling all sorts of goods. He Yuzhu bought Yushui plenty of treats and toys, and eventually, at her persistent request, a stack of picture books. Since they couldn't carry any more, they headed home.

"Yushui, what do you want for dinner?" He Yuzhu asked. Having snacked throughout the afternoon, Yushui wasn't hungry at all.

"I'm not hungry, I don't want to eat," she said.

"If you don't eat now, what will you do if you wake up hungry in the middle of the night?"

"Mmm... I'm really not hungry," she insisted, acting coy.

"Fine, I'll just make some thin porridge, have at least a little bit."

"Okay," she agreed.

He Yuzhu prepared some millet porridge and a side of refreshing pickled vegetables. Neither had much of an appetite, so they each had one bowl and called it a night. After cleaning up, he let Yushui read her books while he went to his study, pretending to read while organizing the items he had gathered from the lake. It was mostly silver ingots and jewelry.

Feeling bored, he turned his attention to the wild tea trees he had transplanted earlier. Since he was still young and didn't drink tea, he hadn't processed them before. Thinking that tea would make a good gift, he followed the techniques he remembered from his past life, plucking tender buds and leaves to try his hand at roasting tea. He used his spiritual sense to monitor the changes in the pan, and after a few attempts, he perfected the heat and timing.

After a busy session in his space, he produced over five pounds of high-quality roasted tea. He brewed a cup to taste; it was slightly bitter at first, followed by a lingering sweetness and a refreshing fragrance that cleared his mind.

He then fashioned natural containers out of bamboo stalks he had transplanted from the park, carving a simple character for "Tea" on the surface. After packing the tea into these bamboo boxes, he set them aside, planning to give some to his master when work resumed.

Emerging from the study, he found Yushui asleep at the table with a picture book in her arms. He gently picked her up, tucked her into bed, and covered her with a quilt.

Yushui stirred, eyes fluttering open as she felt someone holding her, but she was too groggy to see clearly. He Yuzhu patted her gently and whispered, "Go to sleep, brother is here."

Perhaps comforted by his voice, she closed her eyes and drifted back into a deep, peaceful sleep.