Chapter 101

During dinner, while eating fish, he kept muttering at the table, "A fish took the bait, but unfortunately I wasn't lucky. That fish was also very strong and it bit through the rope and got away."

Qing Mengzhu nodded, used a serving spoon to scoop two spoonfuls of fish broth from the tomato-braised fish and mixed it with rice, then looked at Ming Chunxi with a questioning gaze, asking if she wanted some.

Ming Chunxi's answer was to extend the bowl.

Watching their interaction, Zhao Hexi said, "Don't you believe me? I really caught one. Maybe it's a bream."

Qing Mengzhu: "Believe me, let Little Otter take you tomorrow; the chances of catching a tadpole will be much greater."

Zhao Hexi: "That makes sense! I'll observe where the Little Otter frequent tomorrow and then go fishing near them."

Wild pufferfish are fresh and fragrant, with no fishy smell at all.

Three people and four animals ate the whole fish, and afterwards, everyone was reluctant to leave.

Zhao Hexi praised the Little Otter a long time, wishing she could pick it up and pet it.

Qing Mengzhu had to remind him, "Stop praising him, or the Dharma Protector and Guard will get jealous."

Zhao Hexi glanced at the dog beside him. "Is it really that bad?"

Qing Mengzhu said lazily, "Anyway, don't blame me for not warning you when they get jealous."

Ming Chunxi: "Too late, she's already jealous."

Zhao Hexi quickly looked at the Dharma Protector, but the Dharma Protector turned his back to him, completely ignoring him.

Both of Qing Mengzhu's dogs are very intelligent, but also have very strong tempers.

Zhao Hexi offended the two dogs, and now the two dogs won't even look at him.

As for Chi Hu, he only likes Qing Mengzhu. Even Ming Chunxi doesn't really win Chi Hu's favor, let alone Zhao Hexi.

In the end, only the otter was willing to talk to Zhao Hexi.

Soon, Tan Wenlei and the others learned that Zhao Hexi had offended the two dogs, and they watched with amusement, saying, "Manager Zhao, don't you have to spend some Dharma Protector to coax those dogs back?"

Zhao Hexi: "Even if I pay, it's no use; they won't eat what I buy."

Tan Wenlei exclaimed in surprise, "So ambitious?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Don't listen to his nonsense. It's because I did a good job of training them to refuse food. Our Dharma Protector and Guard don't eat anything from outside at all. They won't eat food from anyone else's hands except when Ming Chunxi and I feed them."

They would eat the food from the dog bowl, but Qing Mengzhu didn't remind Zhao Hexi that she could put the food in the dog bowl. Occasionally, it was quite amusing to watch Zhao Hexi and outmaneuver the two dogs.

Zhao Hexi sighed, "Then I'm doomed. I won't be liked by the two little ones anymore."

Tan Wenlei: "Don't they like to go up the mountain to find wild produce? Why don't you take them up the mountain and coax them a little?"

Zhao Hexi: "What kinds of mountain products are available in the mountains now?"

Tan Wenlei: "There are so many! Just the fruits alone include wild kiwis, chestnuts, and jujubes... If we're looking for food, we can still find shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and other mushrooms now, but we probably won't be able to find them in another half month."

Zhao Hexi's eyes lit up, and she looked at Qing Mengzhu: "How about we go up the mountain for a visit this weekend?"

Qing Mengzhu thought for a moment, "Let me ask Chunxi if she's free?"

Qing Mengzhu discussed this matter with Ming Chunxi, and Ming Chunxi agreed, "I'm free on Sunday."

Qing Mengzhu in confusion, "I remember your company has a team-building event this week?"

Ming Chunxi hugged him. "Team building activities won't be held on Sundays, they'll all be on weekdays, otherwise my subordinates will yell at me to death."

Qing Mengzhu: "Being a leader isn't easy for you."

Ming Chunxi: "It's easier to be a boss; we're just the boss's shield."

Qing Mengzhu patted Ming Chunxi reassuringly. "Then let's go into the mountains to relax this Sunday. I've inquired, and we need to go to a mountain further away to find more local produce. We can pick the last batch of mushrooms this year; once it gets colder, there probably won't be any left."

Ming Chunxi: "Okay."

Qing Mengzhu originally only intended to bring two dogs with them when they went into the mountains.

Just before they were about to set off, the red fox ran over and stuck to Qing Mengzhu's feet, refusing to leave no matter how hard she tried to shoo it away.

The red fox arrived, and the otter ran over too, looking at them with its big, round eyes. Its expression was still a little blank, as if it didn't quite understand why everyone else had gone into the mountains, leaving it behind.

Qing Mengzhu squatted down and reasoned with the otter. "Little Otter, you're not suited for the mountain environment. Stay home and wait for us; we'll bring you food."

The otter tilted its head back and whimpered.

Qing Mengzhu touched its paws. "Look at your paws, they're not suitable for walking in the mountains at all. You'll have a lot of discomfort going into the mountains."

The otter held onto Qing Mengzhu's hand, preventing Qing Mengzhu from moving.

The little guy didn't use much force, Qing Mengzhu's heart melted when he was hugged; he couldn't even pry open the otter's claws.

Ming Chunxi said, "Take it with you. If it's really necessary, put it in the basket on your back, and I'll carry it."

Zhao Hexi was more optimistic. "Maybe walking this distance will be no problem for Little Otter, and he won't need anyone to carry him."

Qing Mengzhu looked at the otter. "Alright, we can consider this taking our animal friends into the mountains for fun."

Author's Note:

See you tomorrow!

Chapter 101

Qing Mengzhu defined their trip into the mountains as an autumn outing, so they didn't expect to actually pick anything. Instead, they brought a lot of snacks, fruits, and even outdoor chairs.

They can drive directly to the mountainside, unfold the seats, and rest there.

Zhao Hexi felt a little strange. "Have the deep mountains been developed so much now? You can even go to the mountains to drink tea?"

Qing Mengzhu explained, "Not every mountain is developed so well. When the wind turbines were installed in the mountain we're going to, the staff cleared the road and specially created a flat area halfway up the mountain for large trucks to turn around. We can rest on that flat area."

Zhao Hexi: "You've done a very thorough investigation!"

Qing Mengzhu: "That's right, I've already planned the route. I'll send you a copy later. I even made a special jungle map."

Zhao Hexi was immediately moved. "Mengzhu, you're so wonderful! I want to marry you!"

As she spoke, Zhao Hexi tried to give her a bear hug, but Qing Mengzhu ducked and dodged, saying, "If you want to repay me with your body, you don't need to get married. You can be my eldest son."

Seeing that Qing Mengzhu had successfully dodged, Ming Chunxi even glared at her with a sharp look. Zhao Hexi turned around and hugged Ming Chunxi, saying, "Then am I on the same generation as the Dharma Protector?"

Qing Mengzhu wanted to kick his butt. "You might even have to be their little brother, with your husky-like antics!"

Zhao Hexi looked up and saw Ming Chunxi's speechless expression, then burst into laughter. "I'm not playing anymore, hahaha, you guys are too funny!"

Qing Mengzhu went out in her car, Ming Chunxi sat in the passenger seat.

Zhao Hexi ran to the back seat and grabbed a spot. Two dogs, a red fox, and an otter ran up and squeezed together.

Zhao Hexi held a fluffy creature in her left hand and another in her right, and happily squinted her eyes.

They drove directly to the mountainside, making the journey much easier than before.

Everyone was full of energy after getting off the bus.

Zhao Hexi took out his phone and looked at the jungle map Qing Mengzhu had made. "Our first stop is to pick jujubes, right?"

Qing Mengzhu took a bamboo pole out of the car. "Yes, the jujubes are tastier, and it's more satisfying to pick them."

Zhao Hexi zoomed in on the map. "You don't seem to have marked Mushroom Nest this time?"

Qing Mengzhu: "I rarely come here. Let's see how it goes. Let's pick the wild fruits first."

Qing Mengzhu led the way and soon brought them to a tall jujube tree.

Zhao Hexi looked up in surprise. "How come this tree is so tall? It's over ten meters tall!"

Qing Mengzhu: "Otherwise, why do you think I would bring a bamboo pole?"

This Japanese jujube tree is quite old; Qing Mengzhu knew there was a Japanese jujube tree here when she was a child.

Back then, they would occasionally go into the mountains. They used to stand under the trees and sigh at the towering canopies. Now, with bamboo poles, things are much easier.