Qiguan Yuan walked to the door and casually flicked the hanging brass wind chime.
Then he pushed open the wooden door, the sound of the hinges turning particularly clear amidst the rain.
He stepped aside to clear the doorway and gestured with his chin towards the people behind him. "The west courtyard is empty. The bedding is in the cupboard; please help yourselves. You can go and tidy up the beds you'll need later."
His voice was soft and slow, which inexplicably added a pleasant quality to listen to.
Shen Yuzhou and Jiang Wantang, two devoted fans of the so-called misty Jiangnan scenery, exchanged a glance, stepped over the threshold in front of the other guests, and stood under the old elm tree in the front yard, looking up at the tree full of red ropes.
Jiang Wantang usually has a quiet and indifferent demeanor. Only when she encounters scenery she likes in Cloud-Hidden Town, the place where her grandmother took her when she was a child, does her joy become more apparent.
Raindrops slid down the red rope and landed on their faces. The two of them inhaled the fresh air, squinted their eyes, and felt incredibly comfortable.
Cheng Yanqiu followed behind them, closed her umbrella, shook off the water, and leaned against the wall.
Lin Yanru walked in, Su He'an's camera followed her, capturing her silhouette as she stepped onto the blue bricks and entered the courtyard.
Ji Shiyu's gaze followed Jiang Wantang closely. Seeing that she was in such a good mood, he couldn't help but stand under the porch, admiring her carefully for a moment. Then he walked over to Jiang Wantang and held an umbrella for her. " A-Wan, stay out of the rain, or you'll catch a cold and feel awful."
Jiang Wantang obediently moved closer to Ji Shiyu.
The photographers filed in, carrying their equipment, their lenses sweeping across every corner of the courtyard.
The moss in the cracks of the blue bricks turned green from the rain, and dried wildflowers were stuck in a rough earthenware pot in the corner of the wall; the branches were wet from the rain, and their color looked much darker.
Paper lanterns hanging from the roof swayed in the wind, their paper dampened by the rain, revealing the bamboo frames beneath.
The vines and leaves climbing the moon gate shone brightly from the rain, and a few tiny white flowers were knocked off by the rain and landed on the blue bricks below the gate, clinging to the ground.
The wooden railings of the corridor have been worn smooth by time, and rainwater runs down the railings, leaving streaks of water on the panels.
Everywhere was spotless.
The visuals are absolutely stunning, and the house itself is truly beautiful. It's so soothing and uplifting, and the comments section is filled with expressions of how much people love this scene.
[What a beautiful old house!]
[It has nothing modern about it]
[This is what true seclusion is all about! If I weren't so inseparable from my phone, I'd really love to rush into living in seclusion in a house like this!]
The photographers took very detailed photos of Qiguan Yuan's residence this time.
This place truly fulfills the fantasies of everyone who harbors a dream of retiring to the mountains and forests.
Some paparazzi did try to find Qiguan Yuan's residence.
After Qiguan Yuan became famous, many media outlets wanted to dig into his background, and starting with the address of Cloud-Hidden Town was the most direct way.
They hired a local guide, brought GPS equipment, and went into the forest.
After walking all day, until dark, I returned to where I started.
Some people didn't believe in superstition and took a different route, but after walking for a day and a half, they ended up back where they started.
I tried several times, but none of them worked.
Some even suspected that Meng Xu had deliberately staged the scene to create the persona of Qiguan Yuan, and posted photos online, claiming that the house did not exist at all.
After the post was published, someone quickly posted screenshots from the program in the comments section, saying, "Doesn't exist? Are these scenes created with special effects?" The person who posted the message did not reply.
However, Qiguan Yuan's residence was only seen once, and since no one actually found the exact location, some people still believed that the house was staged.
Only now, after the photographer carefully captured some details, has it been confirmed that the house truly existed.
The carefree Shen Yuzhou was the first to choose a room.
He pushed open the door to the main room in the west courtyard. The room was small, containing a bed, a table, and a chair. The window had wooden lattice windows covered with white paper, and a small patch of the window was damp from the rain.
He turned around and shouted outside, "This is the room I'm staying in! Wow! This is amazing! I felt so carsick the whole way, and now my head feels so clear! Awesome!!"
Cheng Yanqiu walked past him, pushed open the door next door, glanced at the crazed Shen Yuzhou, and silently began packing her things.
Lin Yanru chose the room at the end of the corridor, and Su He'an followed behind her, placing the camera on the table and starting to adjust the lens.
Ji Shiyu and Jiang Wantang did not stay in the west courtyard; instead, they each chose two rooms on the east side, separated by a courtyard.
The staff brought by Meng Xu also selected rooms one by one.
This house is so big that it could easily accommodate so many people.
It seems that Teacher Qiguan is also a hidden tycoon.
Qiguan Yuan led Pei Yubai and Meng Xu, who wasn't in a hurry to pack, to the main room first.
He took off his straw hat and casually draped it over the wooden frame by the window. His green robe hung down over the edge of the stool, the hem still damp with rainwater.
His silver hair was damp from the rain and clung to the sides of his face; he reached out and brushed it aside.
Pei Yubai sat next to him, and Meng Xu sat opposite him.
Qiguan Yuan picked up the teapot on the table. The teapot was warm. He shook it and poured a cup for Meng Xu.
The tea soup is a light golden color, clear and bright, with a few tea leaves unfurling at the bottom of the cup.
Meng Xu picked up his teacup, took a sip, savored it, and asked, "What are Teacher Qiguan's plans for this episode?"
This is also what Meng Xu is most concerned about.
Qiguan Yuan poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon, and I'm used to spending it here."
He put down his teacup, ran his fingers along the rim, and slowly twirled it. "I'm going on a long trip after the Dragon Boat Festival. If you're not in a hurry, would you mind following my arrangements?"
Meng Xu nodded. "This session will be led by Teacher Qiguan, you can make the arrangements, we'll follow your arrangements throughout."
The rain outside suddenly intensified.
The sound of rain changed from fine to rapid, hitting the tiles and forming streams of water that fell from the eaves, creating neat rows of puddles on the ground.
Qiguan Yuan turned his head to look out the window. The window frame framed the old elm tree in the courtyard. The branches swayed in the wind, and the red rope was wet with rain, its color darker than usual, as if it had turned from red to dark red.
Raindrops slid down the branches and landed on the blue bricks around the tree roots, splashing up tiny droplets.
Meng Xu followed his gaze and looked out. "This rainy scene is quite beautiful. I used to hate rainy days, but now that I see it, it doesn't seem so annoying anymore."
Qiguan Yuan looked out the window, his finger pausing on the rim of his cup. "I actually like rainy days."
He lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of unspoken emotion.
Meng Xu unconsciously lowered his voice as well. "It's probably because it's so quiet here. When your mind is calm, you can appreciate the rain. If it were in the city, I doubt many people would have the leisure to do so."
Qiguan Yuan shook his head slightly, raised his chin, and gestured for him to look at the Tree of Fate in the distance.
Rainwater streamed down the branches and along the red ropes covering the tree; when the wind blew, the branches and ropes swayed together.
Raindrops fell from the highest point, passing through layers of red rope, and landed in the soil around the tree roots, making a soft, fragmented sound, as if they were talking.
"Noise has its advantages." Qiguan Yuan's gaze remained fixed on the direction of the Tree of Fate, not looking away. "I wouldn't call myself a particularly fond person of quiet, but many things, once you get used to them, become your preferences."
"When you've been alone for a long time, you always need to find some excuse to maintain this so-called peace and tranquility."
He paused for a moment. "Look at that tree, the sounds it makes in the wind and rain, doesn't it sound like the whispers of an old friend?"
Meng Xu remained silent.
He held his teacup, the rim pressed against his lower lip, unsure how to respond to those words.
Pei Yubai sat next to Qiguan Yuan and followed his gaze to the Tree of Fate.
It was an old friend again.
He hadn't asked Yuanyuan about that name, but he remembered it.
When Qiguan Yuan first mentioned "old friends" at the Yue Lao Temple, his tone was the same as it is now—light and airy, yet filled with deep longing.
And then, the name I unconsciously called out later.
The old friend must be Yun Yin.
Before he met Yuanyuan, what was Yun Yin's true identity as someone by Yuanyuan's side?
Why is there now only a name and no other information available?
Pei Yubai looked at Qiguan Yuan as he gazed out the window, and couldn't help but tighten his grip on Qiguan Yuan's hand with heartache.
If, as Yuanyuan said, he wasn't always a quiet person, then how long has Yuanyuan been alone before he got used to this loneliness?
He couldn't help but blame the person named Yun Yin for not taking good care of Yuanyuan.
Why has Yuanyuan been waiting here for so long without him showing up?
Qiguan Yuan glanced at him sideways without saying a word, then gently tapped his palm with his fingers.
Shen Yuzhou poked his head in from the doorway, his hair damp from the rain and clinging to his forehead. " Brother Yuan, we're all ready. What's next?"
Behind him stood the others, who had also finished tidying up and arrived at the main room.
Qiguan Yuan stood up from the table, walked to the window, picked up the straw hat draped over the wooden frame, and put it on his head.
"On rainy days, we can only do things indoors."
He loosely tied the ribbon of his straw hat around his chin, turned around and looked at the people standing at the door. "I went to pick some wine-making herbs today, originally intending to brew some wine. If you don't mind, you can come and help me brew it."
Shen Yuzhou was the first to step in. "What kind of wine are you brewing?" His eyes sparkled.
Everyone was eager to try it out; they really wanted to experience that kind of secluded life!
That sounds amazing!
Qiguan Yuan picked up the bamboo basket from the windowsill. The basket contained purple medicinal herbs, their petals glistening with raindrops, their color deep in the dim light.
He placed the bamboo basket on the table, and took down several pottery jars and a stone mortar from the shelf next to him, placing them on the table.
"The wine-making flower is used to brew sweet wine. First, pick the petals, wash them, dry them, then pound them into a paste with a stone mortar and pestle, mix them with glutinous rice flour, and roll them into balls." Qiguan Yuan explained each step very clearly.
Shen Yuzhou rolled up his sleeves, picked up a medicinal herb flower from the bamboo basket, and examined it in his palm. "That's all?"
Qiguan Yuan glanced at him, his eyes smiling, "Watch it once, do it once, do it again, and you won't find it so simple anymore."
Shen Yuzhou plucked the petals from the flower stem and placed them in the bowl beside him.
Cheng Yanqiu rolled up her sleeves, sat down next to him, and began picking flower petals.
Lin Yanru moved a chair and sat at the other end of the table, with Su He'an sitting next to her, pointing the camera at the bowl of flower petals on the table.
Ji Shiyu stood in front of the chopping board, picked up the stone mortar, rinsed it with water, and turned it upside down to drain.
Jiang Wantang stood beside him and poured the picked flower petals into the stone mortar.
A few people sat around the table, each doing their own thing. Occasionally someone would ask a question, Qiguan Yuan would answer with a soft voice and slow pace. The silence was broken by the sound of rain outside the window.
The viewers in the live stream felt really good.
This is what a harmonious life should be like! Unlike some variety shows where the guests are scheming against each other, and even the couples seem to have a artificial, artificial flavor.
It's good-looking, I love watching it, and I'll watch it a lot.
Pei Yubai did not go.
He turned and walked out through the back door of the main house, crossed a wooden corridor, and arrived at the woodshed.
In the corner of the woodshed, there was a half-basket of wild mulberries, purplish-black in color and not very big.
He originally intended to help Yuanyuan bring over the tools she needed for brewing wine, but seeing these mulberries gave him some ideas.
He squatted down, reached out and took one, putting it in his mouth. It was sour, with a slightly astringent taste.
He carried the basket to the well, filled a bucket with water, and squatted down beside the well to wash the mulberries one by one.
The water was very cold, and when it hit his fingers, they turned slightly red from the cold well water, but it was indeed very comfortable.
He placed the washed mulberries in a clean bamboo tray, carried it to the eaves next to the woodshed, and took a clean earthenware jar from the shelf.
When Qiguan Yuan came out of the main house, there was no one under the eaves.
He walked towards the woodshed, turned through a moon gate, and saw Pei Yubai squatting by the well, holding a purplish-black mulberry in his hand, putting it into a pottery jar.
The bottom of the earthenware jar was lined with mulberries, and a layer of rock sugar was sprinkled on top.
Pei Yubai's fingers were stained with purple juice, and his sleeves were half-wet. He squatted by the well, his back to him, fiddling with something.
Qiguan Yuan walked over and squatted down next to him.
Well water overflowed from the rim of the bucket, soaking a small patch of the ground.
He reached out, his fingers dipped in the cool well water, and pressed them against Pei Yubai's ear.
Pei Yubai's ears twitched from the cold, and he turned his head.
Qiguan Yuan's fingers were still pressed against his earlobe, not withdrawn.
"What are you doing behind my back, Pei Yubai?"
Pei Yubai removed his hand from his ear and warmed it in his lap as he crouched down. " Yuanyuan likes sweets."
He glanced down at the layer of mulberries in the earthenware jar. "I'll make you some mulberry wine."
Qiguan Yuan's fingers paused for a moment in his palm.
The coolness of the well water slowly seeped through Pei Yubai's palm. His fingers curled slightly, but he didn't pull them out. Feeling the warmth emanating from Pei Yubai's hand, which was held in his arms, Qiguan Yuan was slightly dazed.
After a long while, he looked at the purplish-black mulberries in the earthenware jar, then glanced at Pei Yubai's fingers stained with juice, and smiled slightly, "Okay."