Chapter 120

Qing Mengzhu didn't know how to make this dish, and asked curiously, "How do you make osmanthus-flavored lotus root? I want to try it too. We always use lotus root in soups; it seems difficult to find more ways to cook it."

Zhou Yan: "I'll have someone send some over to you later. This dish takes too long to make, so you should try it first and see if you like it. If you do, we can make it later."

Qing Mengzhu agreed, "Thank you, Brother Zhou!"

After careful consideration, Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi decided to sell their many lotus roots to the Interstellar Mall.

The price of 12.5 Star Coins per pound isn't very high, but it's much more cost-effective than selling it outside.

Lotus root has never been considered a high-end ingredient, and it doesn't fetch a high price when sold elsewhere.

After deducting the lotus roots and sprouts to be used as seed, their family had about 4,200 jin of lotus roots left.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi sold 4,000 jin of goods to the Interstellar Mall and received a total of 50,000 Star Coins.

Their hard work of planting lotuses for more than half a year was worthwhile.

After the Interstellar Mall absorbed the substances from the lotus root, they immediately used a grass shredder to crush it and then sent it to the composting pond to mix it with the previous fertilizer.

Qing Mengzhu also specially added several packets of EM bacteria to allow the lotus roots and radishes to ferment quickly.

As for the remaining lotus roots, they didn't want to make lotus root starch, so they soaked them in water and ate them slowly.

The weather is cold, so it can be stored for a relatively long time even when soaked in water containing Spirit Pearl Dregs, and there's no need to worry about it spoiling for now.

Besides making soup, Qing Mengzhu and his team also made a series of delicious dishes such as lotus root meatballs, lotus root sandwiches, and diced lotus root.

Every now and then they would go to the pond to catch shrimp to eat, but the number of shrimp was relatively limited, and Qing Mengzhu hoped that more shrimp could be bred next year, so they couldn't catch too many.

As for the lotus sprouts they placed in the greenhouse to germinate, it's unclear whether it was because the lotus sprouts themselves were of good quality or because they were soaked in bamboo vinegar, but this batch of lotus sprouts also grew very well.

Within a few days, the lotus sprouts began to take root and their tips swelled up. Once they grew a little longer, they could be transplanted into the pond.

Taking advantage of the good weather, Qing Mengzhu personally plowed the pond and added new organic fertilizer. Now the pond is ready to be planted with lotus roots.

As New Year's Day approached, Ming Chunxi and his colleagues were actually not that busy.

With their previous work finished, they have returned to a two-day weekend schedule, and now they can rest on Saturdays and Sundays.

On Saturday, Qing Mengzhu got up early and took Ming Chunxi up the mountain to dig for winter bamboo shoots.

Two dogs followed behind them energetically, even helping to carry the hoe—they wanted to carry it themselves, Qing Mengzhu wouldn't give it to them, and they barked in protest.

There were many people on the road, and when they saw how well-behaved the Dharma Protector and Guard were, even helping to fetch the hoe, they would always praise them, making the guardians so happy that their tails never went down.

Qing Mengzhu glanced back at them and couldn't stop laughing.

Ming Chunxi also smiled.

Their dog is really cute.

The two adorable dogs weren't so friendly after they followed them up the mountain.

The owl saw them, flew nearby, and circled overhead.

Before it even got close, the Dharma Protector and Guard barked loudly, warning it not to approach.

The owl had just stolen their shrimp, and the two dogs were furious, now acting like sworn enemies. They would pounce on the owl and bite it if it dared to come down.

Qing Mengzhu patted the Dharma Protector and the Guard: "Alright, stop barking, it's flown far away."

Dharma Protector and Guard: "Woof woof!"

Ming Chunxi looked up at the owl. "It looks like it's carrying something in its mouth?"

Qing Mengzhu squinted and looked on, "Really? I didn't see anything?"

Ming Chunxi: "It's carrying something in its mouth."

Perhaps because the two of them had the dog under control, the owl circled once and then suddenly flew towards them.

Now Qing Mengzhu could see clearly that the owl was indeed carrying something in its beak.

However, before he could react further, the owl suddenly flew to their diagonal front and dropped what it had snatched at their feet with a "thud".

Qing Mengzhu stared intently, and almost cried out when she saw it clearly—the owl had actually airdropped a mountain rat for them!

It really is a mountain rat!

The mountain rat was just killed and is still convulsing!

Qing Mengzhu looked at the mountain rat in front of her and her lips twitched.

The owl circled in the air, "Coo-coo!"

Qing Mengzhu looked at Ming Chunxi, "What does it mean? Is it taking revenge on us?"

Ming Chunxi looked at the owl. "It shouldn't be that bad. When it retaliated against us before, it defecated right in front of our door."

Qing Mengzhu: "Throwing mountain rats doesn't seem much better than letting them defecate, does it?"

Ming Chunxi: "Mountain rats are its food, so it's unlikely to retaliate by bringing food back—I'm more inclined to think it's repaying a debt."

"Repay?" Qing Mengzhu's lips twitched as he looked at the mountain rat bleeding from its seven orifices. He was almost losing control of his Dharma Protector. "Does it feel it ate our food, so it wants to compensate us with its own?"

Ming Chunxi: "Possibly."

The Dharma Protector and Guard: "Woof! Woof woof!!!"

Whatever the owl's purpose in dropping mountain rats on them, they would neither eat them nor collect them.

The two men studied the situation for a while but couldn't figure out the reason, so they had no choice but to lead their two dogs around the mountain rats that were being airdropped and continue on their way.

An owl flew behind them in the air, cooing.

Seeing that they remained unmoved, the owl followed for a while and then flew away.

Qing Mengzhu and the others went to the bamboo forest where the Soil Fertility Restoration Agent had been applied, put down their things, and prepared to dig for winter bamboo shoots.

Before they could dig, the owl returned, flew diagonally overhead, and airdropped something to them.

The object fell to the ground with a "thud"—it was a large mountain rat, dazed and confused from the fall.

The mountain rat is still alive, but it was half-dead from the fall.

It scrambled to its feet and tried to escape, Dharma Protector lunged forward and pinned the large mountain rat down with its paw. "Woof woof!"

Qing Mengzhu looked at the squeaking mountain rat and her face turned pale.

The owl was still up in the sky, purring, "Coo--coo--"

Dead mountain rats won't do, but a live one will surely be okay, right? Gurgle!

Author's Note:

There will be an extra chapter at 11:59 if the nutrient solution reaches 70,000!

Chapter 120

Qing Mengzhu was truly not worthy of the mountain rat that the owl had given her.

Ming Chunxi saw him take a big step back and made a gesture towards the two dogs.

The two dogs cleverly carried the mountain mouse away to a farther place.

The owl grew anxious, hooting in the sky before flying down to check on Qing Mengzhu and the others. It seemed it wanted to help them retrieve the mountain rat, but hesitated due to the strength of the Dharma Protector and Guard.

Qing Mengzhu said loudly, "Thank you, but we won't eat this stuff."

The owl tilted its head. "Coo-coo?"

Qing Mengzhu crossed her arms and refused, saying, "I won't eat! Don't send us any more!"

The two sides communicated for a while, but it's unclear whether they reached a consensus. In the end, the owl left them and flew away.

Watching the owl's retreating figure, Qing Mengzhu sensed its dejected appearance and felt a pang of guilt.

No matter what, they couldn't accept the mountain rat it sent; it was too strange!

Qing Mengzhu looked at Ming Chunxi, "Why haven't the Dharma Protector returned yet? Could they have really gone to eat mountain rats?"

Ming Chunxi: "Probably not. They don't eat live animals much. They'll be back after playing for a while."

Qing Mengzhu breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't stand the two dogs eating the mountain rats, but he decided to let it go and pretend they weren't eating them as long as he didn't see it.

Qing Mengzhu said, somewhat exhausted, "Let's dig for winter bamboo shoots first, and forget about them."

Ming Chunxi, carrying a hoe, said, "I'll look for it."

Qing Mengzhu: "At seven o'clock, there seems to be a small protrusion over there; there should be bamboo shoots underneath."