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Lu Ao did not stand on ceremony with him. He went into the goose pen and inspected them himself.

The goslings looked quite sturdy. Each one was bigger than an adult man's fist, much larger than ordinary goslings.

After checking the goslings, Lu Ao readily paid Li Xinyong the remaining balance.

Li Xinyong packed the geese into two duck cages woven from bamboo strips, carried them outside himself, and set them on Lu Ao's tricycle. "If you run into any problems raising geese, just call me."

"Okay, thanks."

"Why be so polite? I should be thanking you." Li Xinyong waved. "Come again when you have time."

Lu Ao drove the geese home. As he passed through Lin Family Village, he happened to see Lin Gongshang riding out on his motorcycle.

When they met, they both stopped to exchange greetings.

Lu Ao found it strange. "Isn't your family hosting guests? Where are you going?"

"I'm going into town to get some medicine." Lin Gongshang said worriedly, "I've got guests staying at my place, right? Last night, I took them squid fishing, and they might have caught a chill from the wind. Two out of the three came down with fevers, so they're resting at my house this afternoon."

Something felt off to Lu Ao. "It's so hot out. How could they catch a cold from the wind?"

"Who knows?" Lin Gongshang spread his hands. "Maybe city people are delicate. A little wind and sun at sea, and they get sick."

"They didn't go to the hospital?"

"Why go to a hospital? We're so far from the county seat, and they still want to have fun for another two days, so they just went to the clinic for a quick checkup. The clinic doesn't have any good medicine, so I have to buy some in town. All right, I won't keep talking. The sooner I go, the sooner I'll be back."

"Fine, go ahead. I'm heading home too."

After Lu Ao got home, he took the goslings straight to the goose pen.

The little geese already looked somewhat grown, but their down had not yet shed. The moment they entered the pen, they all pattered into a corner, flapping their webbed feet and occasionally letting out a "honk."

Lu Ao stood there watching for a while. The fluffy little gray balls huddled together, honking as they dodged from side to side. They were utterly adorable.

Lu Ao left them alone. He prepared fresh water and soaked rice mixed with sweet potato leaves, placed them in the middle of the pen, then locked the door and went out.

He still had to pull weeds in the fields. He would check on them again that evening and give them some medicine to prevent illness.

Lu Ao turned to go back into the courtyard for his tools, but as he turned, a white figure caught the corner of his eye.

Startled, Lu Ao took a closer look and discovered it was Song Zhou.

"Mr. Song?"

"Mm, I came to see you." Song Zhou walked over, spotted the goose pen at once, and asked curiously, "You're raising goslings?"

"I'm raising them myself. It's more convenient," Lu Ao said.

Song Zhou smiled.

Lu Ao had originally intended to head out, but since Song Zhou had come, he had no choice but to postpone it and go inside to make tea for him.

Song Zhou made himself at home, sitting comfortably in the courtyard and gazing up at the sky.

After returning home, Lu Ao had planted a grapevine in one corner of the courtyard.

The vine had only just begun to sprout leaves and was still far from bearing fruit. When the wind blew, its leaves trembled softly, looking especially delicate.

Song Zhou sat at the table where Lu Ao usually drank tea, staring at it in fascination.

When Lu Ao came out and saw him like that, he called softly, "Mr. Song?"

Song Zhou came back to himself.

Lu Ao handed him the tea and asked, "Did you come just to see me?"

"Yes." Song Zhou's eyes were gentle. "How have you been feeling lately?"

"In what way?"

"Physically."

"Not bad?" Lu Ao thought back carefully. "There hasn't been much difference from before."

"Have you drunk the spirit wine I gave you?"

"I have a small cup now and then." Lu Ao felt a little embarrassed. "There's a lot to do at home. I have to fish and drive every day, so I don't dare drink too much."

In truth, Lu Ao had only drunk it twice.

He drank it once when Song Zhou first brought it over. The other time, he had been grilling in the courtyard and poured himself less than half a cup to go with the barbecue.

Song Zhou asked, "How did you feel after drinking it?"

"How did I feel?" Lu Ao hesitated.

He was not much of a drinker. Other than finding the wine Song Zhou had given him exceptionally delicious, he had not felt much else.

He thought about it carefully, then said, "After drinking it, I seemed less likely to get hungry."

Song Zhou pondered this. "It seems the effect isn't obvious. I'll bring you something else next time."

Lu Ao hurriedly refused. "No, no, no. There's no need. I'm not lacking anything here."

Song Zhou smiled. "It's fine. Keep it. As the last Dragon here, you need to stay alive."

After saying that, Song Zhou did not give him a chance to say more. He asked, "Were you planning to go out just now?"

Lu Ao nodded. "I was planning to pull weeds and water the fields."

"Go now?" Song Zhou looked at the few stars already appearing in the sky. "Isn't it a little late?"

"It's all right. The fields have been baking in the sun all day. If I don't water them, the vegetables will wither." Lu Ao added, "There isn't much work, really. I'll be back soon."

Song Zhou listened seriously as he finished, then chuckled. "This is the first time I've seen a nonhuman take farming so seriously."

Lu Ao shrugged. "Can't help it. I have to eat."

"I'll go with you," Song Zhou said.

"Hm? No need. I can go by myself. The fields are dirty, and there are lots of mosquitoes after dark."

Lu Ao himself was not afraid of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes never dared bite him, but bringing Song Zhou along to feed the mosquitoes would not be good.

Song Zhou stood and turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "What's dirty?"

Lu Ao's lively gaze swept over his white robes, the implication clear. "There's mud and water in the fields—"

"What's wrong with mud and water?" Song Zhou sounded somewhat helpless. "Have you forgotten what my true form is?"

Only then did Lu Ao remember that Song Zhou's true form probably had plenty to do with mud and water.

That was like calling a monk bald to his face. Lu Ao felt a little awkward and touched his nose without speaking.

Song Zhou pretended not to notice and asked, "Is your field over there?"

"To the southwest, by the river." Lu Ao picked up his small hoe and hesitated. "Are we walking there?"

"No." Song Zhou lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll take you."