Chapter 95

When Qing Mengzhu and the others walked over, the flower buds were slowly opening.

Starting from the crack, layers of petals, like a thin mist, unfolded, dreamlike and breathtakingly beautiful.

The two stared in awe at the flower before them, momentarily at a loss for words to describe it.

It was so beautiful, a beauty that seemed to touch the soul, that both of them fell silent.

They stood quietly by the window, admiring it until it was fully open and the fragrance reached its peak.

Just then, a dog barked outside the window.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi looked out together and saw that the Dharma Protector and the Guard had also walked to the windowsill at some point and were looking up at the blooming Morning Glory Flower.

The fragrance of flowers wafted out of the half-open window, filling the entire courtyard.

Meeting the gazes of his two masters, the Dharma Protector couldn't help but bark again. "Woof, woof!"

The Guard joined in, barking, "Woof woof!"

They seemed to be equally awestruck by the flower.

Chapter 95

These flowers called "Morning Glory" are absolutely gorgeous.

Qing Mengzhu murmured, "No wonder the Interstellar Mall said that participants must upload on time and that interception is prohibited. It turns out that people who see flower-shaped images really do want to intercept them."

Ming Chunxi: "I'm taking a day off. I'll be working from home today and enjoy the view a bit more."

Qing Mengzhu: "Then I'll also ask for leave and not go to the fields."

The two simply moved the flowerpot to the yard, brewed lotus tea, found some biscuits and dried meat and put them on the table, enjoying their tea while admiring the flower.

The Dharma Protector and Guard seemed to appreciate the beauty of the flower as well; instead of going out, they lay down beside the two of them, gazing at the flower.

The Morning Glory Flower is so beautiful; every time I see it, it's gone forever.

The two enjoyed the flower for a limited time, experiencing a wonderful feeling of stealing a moment of leisure from their busy lives.

Immersed in the fragrance, both of them were in very pleasant mood.

With five minutes left in the match, Qing Mengzhu reluctantly handed the flower over to the Interstellar Mall.

The Interstellar Mall indicated that the match results would be announced in four days, and asked him to wait patiently and check back promptly.

Qing Mengzhu asked Ming Chunxi, "What place do you think our flowers will get?"

Ming Chunxi: "Top three, my intuition tells me it'll be second or third."

Qing Mengzhu in surprise, "So confident?"

Ming Chunxi: "It's so beautiful, it's hard to imagine many flowers outshining it."

Qing Mengzhu thought for a moment and said, "Flowers grown in cultivation worlds are probably more beautiful; their Spiritual Power is too overpowered."

The two awaited the result of the match with anticipation.

The results were announced at around 2 a. m. on the fourth day. I don't know which dimension's time it was; there might be a time difference with their dimension.

Qing Mengzhu yawned and pulled Ming Chunxi along as they stayed up all night waiting.

At 2:13 PM, as soon as the match results were announced, they checked them immediately.

"Second place!" Qing Mengzhu excitedly grabbed Ming Chunxi's arm when she saw the rankings posted backstage. "You were right! It really is second place!"

Ming Chunxi said, "Let's see what the flowers grown by the first place winner look like."

"Okay, let me see." Qing Mengzhu clicked on the competition page, then opened the picture of the first-place flower. "Wow, so beautiful!"

The first-place Morning Glory Flower is actually pure white, a cool-toned white, with petals still as thin as mist. Both its color and shape are beautiful in a way that feels distant.

Qing Mengzhu stared at the flower and murmured, "I'm convinced."

Ming Chunxi didn't speak, but pursed his lips. It was clear that he was also convinced.

Qing Mengzhu then checked the information of the first-place winner. "As expected, they come from a cultivation world. I knew it! They have spiritual energy there; everything they grow is exceptionally good."

Ming Chunxi: "We're doing quite well with ours, and it will only get better in the future."

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, let me check if the bonus has arrived."

The second place winner receives a prize of 5,000 Star Coins. Qing Mengzhu entered the competition specifically for these 5,000 Star Coins. Now that the results are in, the most important thing is to verify the Star Coins.

The Interstellar Mall was as efficient as ever. When Qing Mengzhu opened her personal center, the bonus of 5,000 Star Coins had already been credited to her account.

He now has 18,321 Star Coins in his personal center, enough to buy pepper seeds.

Qing Mengzhu looked at Ming Chunxi: "Shall we buy it?"

Ming Chunxi: "Buy!"

Qing Mengzhu bought the pepper seeds she had previously collected. "Alright, it's safe to take them now."

Ming Chunxi pulled back the covers. "Go to sleep."

They went to bed late, but woke up early the next day as usual.

After washing up, Qing Mengzhu sat in a chair, looking happily at the peppercorn seeds in her personal center.

He was worried that the peppercorn seeds would be discontinued, but luckily they managed to buy them.

Ming Chunxi came over after washing up. Seeing his unusually vivid expression, she couldn't help but kiss his cheek. "Want to take it out and let me see?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Lift it!"

Qing Mengzhu retrieved the packet of seeds from her personal center.

As soon as it's extracted, the rich aroma of Sichuan peppercorns fills the entire bedroom. It's fragrant but not overpowering, not too numbing, and has a warm, mellow aroma reminiscent of roasting.

At that moment, Qing Mengzhu realized with absolute clarity that Sichuan peppercorns were indeed a spice, and a high-quality one at that.

Qing Mengzhu sniffed carefully, then held it up to Ming Chunxi's nose. "Smell it, the aroma of this peppercorn is particularly complex."

Ming Chunxi lowered her head and smelled it. "It is indeed a very complex fragrance."

Qing Mengzhu took another sniff. "It smells so good! If the peppercorns we grow could reach this quality, they would definitely be very popular."

The seeds of Sichuan pepper have arrived, Qing Mengzhu can't wait to start cultivating seedlings, hoping to plant the Sichuan pepper as soon as possible.

He asked other experienced farmers, and they said that Sichuan pepper seeds are different from other seeds. When planting them, they need to soak them in alkaline water for two hours, then wash them clean and soak them in fresh water for a day.

Qing Mengzhu guessed that it might be because Sichuan peppercorns are rich in oil, so they need to be soaked and washed in alkaline water to make them easier to sprout.

Following the instructions, he soaked it in alkaline water and then in clean water, but he did one more step than others: he also soaked it in bamboo vinegar.

The bamboo vinegar solution worked very well when I planted Morning Glory Flower before, and I hope it will have the same effect when I plant Sichuan pepper this time.

Qing Mengzhu transferred the soaked seeds into seedling cups and placed them in the field to cultivate seedlings.

Afterwards, he took some time to call Qing Yukai and ask him about renting the mountain.

As the village party secretary, Qing Yukai knows the village's situation best, so asking him will save you a lot of trouble.

Qing Yukai was a little surprised when he received the call, "You want to rent the mountain again? Are you expanding your business?"

Qing Mengzhu: "It has nothing to do with the company. I'm renting it personally; I want to grow some Sichuan peppercorns."

Qing Yukai: "Oh, I remember now, you just bought some Sichuan pepper seeds these past few days. You want to plant them on the mountain, right? How many do you want to plant?"

Qing Mengzhu bought a total of 3,211 pepper seeds from the Interstellar Mall. The quality of these pepper seeds is good, and it is estimated that there will be 3,200 seedlings.

Qing Mengzhu estimated it and said, "About three thousand two hundred trees."

Qing Yukai: "Three thousand two hundred trees—I remember the pepper trees aren't very big, they don't take up much space. Are these pepper trees far from filling an entire mountain?"

Qing Mengzhu and said, "Do you have another suggestion?"

Qing Yukai: "I mainly want to understand. But if that's the case, I really suggest you don't need to rent the mountain, renting terraced fields will suffice."

Qing Mengzhu: "Terraced fields?"

Qing Yukai: "Yes, don't many mountains in our village have terraced fields? Nobody farms them anymore. Renting terraced fields should be easy for you, and it's cheaper than renting an entire mountain."

Qing Mengzhu hadn't thought of that, "I'll go ask."