Peach Blossom Glade

Peach Blossom Glade lay on a stretch of high ground south of Tonglin County, covering several dozen mu. To the south, it bordered rolling mountains; to the west, it connected to the official road. It was neither remote nor bustling, and was a frequent destination for Tonglin County's residents when they went on spring outings during their leisure time.

Lu Zheng and the others had not set out particularly early, so by the time they arrived at Peach Blossom Glade, scattered groups of people had already come.

Ordinary folk generally had no time to visit. Only during festivals or ten-day breaks would they bring their families and children out to get some fresh air.

Today was neither a festival nor a ten-day break. Those who could come to Peach Blossom Glade for a spring outing were all children of somewhat wealthy families, or Scholars and the like who did not engage in productive work.

Outside Peach Blossom Glade, small vendors pushed carts or carried shoulder poles, selling all kinds of food. Some sold flowers, while others sold small peachwood toys or amulets.

"You didn't bring any food. Are you planning to buy something here, or head back early?" Lu Zheng could not help asking.

"Since we're already out, of course we'll buy food here," Liu Qingquan said sweetly. "I heard the Peach Blossom Pastry here is delicious."

The donkey cart stopped, and the group climbed down.

The Liu Family Sisters immediately drew the attention of the surrounding crowd.

Dressed in pale pink vine-patterned skirts, with brass-and-jade hairpins slanted through their tasselled coiffures and strings of pearl beads hanging down, they were graceful and slender, their jade-like faces radiant and their figures supple as willows.

However, Lu Zheng had gotten down first and stood beside the sisters. At a glance, he was clearly their flower-protecting escort, so most people who cared about their standing did not come forward to strike up a conversation.

The Great Jing Dynasty was peaceful and prosperous, carrying the air of a flourishing age, and its criminal laws were strict. Thus, while there were inevitably wastrel sons or men who might harass women with a few frivolous words, there would never be scenes of molesting women in broad daylight, acting like hooligans, or even forcibly abducting innocent girls.

Lu Zheng had initially thought this was because the Great Jing Dynasty was governed well, but later he learned that was only one reason.

As for the other reason, naturally it was because extraordinary wandering heroes and masters upheld justice. Many local tyrants who bullied others by relying on their power had become stock tales in the mouths of local storytellers.

And lastly...

This world had ghosts and retribution. If one truly bullied someone to death, would one not fear that person turning into a Fierce Ghost and coming to exact vengeance?

Such stories were also material that storytellers delighted in!

Therefore, unless one possessed a sky-high backer or astonishing martial skill, most people did not dare act too recklessly. This also made the customs of the Great Jing Dynasty relatively simple and harmonious.

"This was also why Old Man Liu felt at ease letting the Liu Family Sisters come out for a spring outing."

This was quite good. Knowing fear and reverence would instead let one live longer.

The Great Jing Dynasty had lasted for several centuries without all that mess that happened at the end of a dynasty. Supernatural powers had contributed quite a bit as well, Lu Zheng thought.

Cultivation required talent; no matter how wealthy one was, money was merely one condition. The Netherworld was even less subject to the control of the living. Those wealthy people probably knew the truth—who would want to drive a ghostly being into existence to deal with them?

"Let's buy some Peach Blossom Pastry."

Ignoring all the astonished gazes, Liu Qingquan pulled her sister along and skipped over to a small vendor carrying a shoulder pole.

"Is your Peach Blossom Pastry tasty?"

"Tasty, tasty!" The vendor was a child who looked only eleven or twelve. "This Peach Blossom Pastry was made with fresh flowers my mother picked this morning and kneaded into pastry. It's freshest this way—we would never use overnight peach blossoms to fool people!"

"Let me see. Oh my, the pastries are quite large. I'd probably be full after eating just one."

"How much is one of these pastries?" Liu Qingyan stepped forward to ask.

"Three copper coins each, and they're full-sized!"

"Give us three." Lu Zheng handed over ten copper coins as he spoke.

"Young Master, three cost nine copper coins. You gave one too many."

"Keep it. Buy yourself a piece of candy on your way home."

"Hehe, thank you, Young Master!" The vendor selected three that were still warm from deep within his load, wrapped them in paper, and handed them to Lu Zheng.

"Lu Lang."

Lu Zheng waved a hand. "Don't take it to heart. It's not some precious food."

Liu Qingyan smiled faintly and withdrew her hand from the money pouch at her waist.

By then, Liu Qingquan had already wandered over to another vendor.

"What is this?"

"This is a peachwood Peace Talisman." The vendor hurriedly introduced it. "Peachwood can suppress calamities and ward off evil, subdue demons and banish ghosts. Tonglin County has excellent feng shui and such a peach forest. This Peace Talisman is made from branches of the Old Peach Tree in the forest. As long as you wear it on your person, you'll be safe for your whole life!"

Liu Qingquan blinked as she looked at the palm-sized Peace Talisman in her hand. "This Peace Talisman can subdue demons and banish ghosts?"

"That's right!"

Liu Qingquan turned back to Liu Qingyan. Liu Qingyan smiled. "It's merely to pray for peace and seek good fortune. If you like it, then buy one and hang it at home."

"I don't like it." Liu Qingquan pouted and shook her head. "It's not as pretty as jewelry."

The vendor's face fell.

She skipped over to the next stall. This peddler sold toys, also carved from peachwood.

Liu Qingquan picked through them for a while before choosing a small wooden mouse, chubby and round and very cute.

Peach blossoms drifted like mist and clouds, bewitching the eye; a few pink butterflies clung to the branches.

A beauty leaned against the flowers, fair as the blooms; who knew from where that hidden fragrance came?

Liu Qingquan ran back and forth through the Peach Forest with the little wooden mouse in hand. She did not go too far, merely hopping and playing around the peach trees near Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan, having the time of her life.

Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan walked together, admiring the peach trees in all their myriad forms and the incomparably beautiful peach blossoms.

Liu Qingyan said nothing, so Lu Zheng could only make conversation out of thin air.

"That tree looks a little like a porter carrying a shoulder pole."

"That tree seems to have more peach blossoms than the others. It's pretty."

"Hey, look at that tree. It looks like an old woman running with a cane."

"Pfft!"

Liu Qingyan raised her sleeve to cover her mouth, yet she still could not stop herself from laughing aloud. The image was far too vivid—and far too absurd.

Yet when she followed Lu Zheng's pointing finger and considered his words, the more Liu Qingyan looked, the more that peach tree resembled a hunched old crone with a head full of fluffy hair, clutching a cane as she hurried along in a brisk little run.

"How did you even think of... of an old crone running?"

"Doesn't it look like one?"

"It does!" Liu Qingyan lowered her sleeve, revealing a smile that was charming in both delight and reproach, as though she blamed Lu Zheng a little for making her lose composure. "But if you hadn't said it, I would never have thought of it."

Lu Zheng shrugged and said nothing. Nowadays, if one's imagination was not broad enough, one could not even write webnovels.

Liu Qingyan was from ancient times, while Lu Zheng was a modern man. He might not have jokes pouring from his mouth at every turn, but at the very least, there would be no awkward silence.

As they walked and chatted, Liu Qingyan gradually began speaking more.

"Father's medical skills are actually quite good. Besides thoroughly reading medical books, he also has an extraordinary hand with acupuncture."

"There's a very annoying person back in our hometown. Though his influence is too great and we can't provoke him, we can still hide from him. He can't chase us all the way to Tonglin County."

"The two bottles of fruit wine you gave us were finished over our two meals yesterday. They were really delicious."

"Elder Sister!"

Liu Qingquan emerged from behind a peach tree not far from the two of them.

Behind her stood a peerlessly beautiful woman dressed in a pink cloud-brocade palace gown embroidered with a hundred butterflies amid flowers.

Thanks to fellow reader Silence Is Gold 102 for the five-hundred reward