The Shock Brought by Chinese Cabbages and White Radishes

Early the next morning.

Xiuniang rose early and did not disturb Gu Zhao. Instead, she fetched a basin of water, intending to boil it on the stove for drinking that day. Yet the moment she entered the kitchen, she froze in shock.

A moment later, Elder He, whom Xiuniang had dragged into the kitchen, also stared wide-eyed.

The previously empty vat was now full of plump, huge, pearly-white rice. More than a dozen Chinese cabbages larger than human heads and white radishes thicker than arms were piled in the corners. Dozens of strings of cured sausages hung from the wall, and a basket of apples sat on the counter.

Elder He grabbed a handful of rice and watched it stream through his fingers like a waterfall, unable to hide his astonishment.

"This... this is..."

"So big! So thick!"

Xiuniang hugged a Chinese cabbage, then looked at the white radish beside her in disbelief. "Were these vegetables grown by the gods?"

"Gu... Great Mage..." Elder He could not help changing his form of address.

The two of them looked at each other amid the kitchen's bounty. They wanted to ask Gu Zhao about it, but remembered his instructions not to disturb him as long as he was in his room.

"Perhaps Young Master Gu was not used to our food, so he went to the county seat and bought some things?" Xiuniang guessed. She had complete faith in Gu Zhao. "Young Master Gu's Mana is so powerful. Going back and forth to the county seat should be easy for him, right?"

"This is not a question of whether it is easy. It is that in the county seat..." Elder He knew Xiu Yue County far better than He Xiuniang did. Since when had the county possessed rice, fruits, and vegetables like these?

When he was young, unwilling to live a quiet life, he had gone to the county seat to find work. Being clever by nature, he had been fortunate enough to take an old accountant as his master and learn literacy and arithmetic. Later, he took over the position and worked as an accountant in the county seat for many years, gaining some experience and worldly knowledge.

Each grain of rice was plump, large, and crystalline. Even the Gentry in the county seat likely could not eat rice this fine, let alone those Chinese cabbages and white radishes. He had never seen vegetables so full and fresh.

By comparison, the cured meat and apples were not particularly eye-catching.

"Steam some rice at noon, then cook some cured meat and vegetables," Elder He said.

Though he did not know how Gu Zhao had produced these things, Elder He knew perfectly well that the scene before him was because Gu Zhao could not stomach the food they had served yesterday.

Compared to this rice and these vegetables, yesterday's wild vegetable porridge, coarse flour flatbreads, and air-dried cured meat had truly been far too rough.

Xiuniang nodded repeatedly, only then noticing that two pure white little jars had appeared on the counter as well.

"What are these?" Xiuniang stepped forward, picked up one of the jars, and removed its lid. Inside was a pile of white powder.

Elder He leaned over and narrowed his eyes. "It looks like salt? Such fine salt!"

Xiuniang's eyes shifted. She dipped out a little with her finger and put it in her mouth, then could not help frowning. Startled, delighted, and wearing a bitter expression all at once, she said, "It really is salt!"

Elder He could not help laughing. Then he saw Xiuniang set down the salt jar and eagerly pick up the other one. "Then what is this? Ah, it is salt too. Coarse salt?"

Elder He looked over and saw that the jar also contained white powder... No, it was not white powder, but fine, granular white sand.

"Wouldn't tasting it tell you?" Elder He said with a smile. It did not look like salt to him, but he did not know what it was either.

Xiuniang licked her lips, first using her saliva to swallow the remaining salt. Then she carefully pinched two or three grains of the fine sand between her fingertips and placed them in her mouth. She swallowed involuntarily, her face full of delight. "So sweet! It is sugar!"

Gu Zhao had slept here the previous night. After buying rice, fruits, vegetables, salt, and sugar from Aunt Jin's Fresh Food Store and delivering them here, he had spent all along meditating and cultivating in the side room, replenishing the Mana within his body. Only after Zi Shi had passed did he finally go to sleep.

He had discovered that when he slept here, even if he did not cultivate actively, the Five Thunder Token in his mind would slowly absorb the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. It also improved his physique, stimulated his spiritual sense, enhanced his Mana, and aided his cultivation.

In other words, as long as he remained here, his cultivation would slowly increase with time. Though the gain per unit of time seemed small, trickling water formed a river and grains of sand built a tower. Over time, it could not be underestimated.

"Looks like I will have to live here often in the future." When Gu Zhao awoke, he felt refreshed and clear-headed. "The mountains and the city truly are different."

Sunlight shone through holes in the window paper, illuminating the dust in the air. Though it was somewhat dazzling, it warmed the bedding on the bed until it was toasty. The air also carried a natural scent.

Gu Zhao was looking around the simple yet rather cozy house when he heard activity in the neighboring kitchen. He pushed open the door and walked out, only to see two pairs of bright, shining eyes.

"Young Master Gu!" Elder He hurried forward.

"Young Master!" Xiuniang ran over as well and could not help asking, "Did you bring the vegetables in the kitchen?"

Gu Zhao nodded. "Those are Chinese cabbages and white radishes. They can keep for quite a while, and they are suitable for making pickles or preserved vegetables. If you cannot finish them, you can share some with the villagers."

Gu Zhao had also learned the village customs that day. When everyone was poor enough to make a clinking sound, they had to learn to share and help one another, huddling together for warmth.

"Good, good, good! Many thanks, Young Master!" Elder He bowed repeatedly before saying, "I will have Xiuniang steam some rice and make a couple of side dishes."

"Good." Gu Zhao smiled. "Then I will get to taste Xiuniang's cooking."

Xiuniang's face reddened. She felt both nervous and expectant. "I only know how to make a few simple dishes. Young Master, please do not dislike them."

Elder He chimed in, "Xiuniang is quite skilled. She can steam, boil, roast, and stew. When there is oil at home, she even fries some flatbreads."

Xiuniang did not know why her grandfather was suddenly praising her. Both shy and delighted, she hurried into the kitchen. "I will go cook!"

Gu Zhao patted his forehead. He had remembered the salt and sugar but forgotten the oil. After all, he did not cook much himself.

Other than food, Gu Zhao did not intend to give Elder He and Xiuniang too many things. He would not be staying here for long, after all. If he gave them too many valuable things, he might instead invite disaster upon them. At most, before leaving, he would buy some silver ingots from the modern world for them to keep at the bottom of their chest.

Watching Xiuniang leave, Gu Zhao turned to Elder He. "I have a few questions for you, Elder."

"Please speak, Young Master!" Elder He said hurriedly.

Gu Zhao and Elder He sat in the courtyard. Gu Zhao asked, "Elder, do you still remember what that Female Ghost said the day before yesterday?"

Elder He looked somewhat bewildered, then recalled the key point. "The part about her wanting to sleep with you and absorb your vital essence?"

Gu Zhao, "..."

You really are old but not old at heart. Is that all you can think about?

Gu Zhao said helplessly, "I mean the part where that Female Ghost called herself the Divine Maiden of the Golden Wind Sect."

Elder He's face instantly turned pale. "The Golden Wind Sect? That ghost had backing?"

"You know the Golden Wind Sect?" Gu Zhao's eyes lit up.

"I do not." Elder He denied it. "But any Demonic Beasts or ghosts in this world that have backing are forces capable of arm-wrestling with the Imperial Court!"

Gu Zhao drew a deep breath. There really were monsters in this world.

"To be honest, Elder, I had been cultivating in the mountains before this. My Martial Father did not tell me much either. I have only just left the mountains, so there are many things I do not understand."

Gu Zhao coaxed him along step by step, hoping to pry some more useful information from Elder He.

"Please forgive me, Young Master, but this old man does not know much either. It is all hearsay and scraps of gossip." Elder He understood Gu Zhao's meaning and gave a bitter smile. "If you do not mind, shall I just tell you whatever I know?"

Gu Zhao smiled. "That would be excellent."