Chapter 52 (continued)

He had never grown most of these plants and knew nothing about them.

Among the plants he was more familiar with, he first ruled out tomatoes and peppers.

He had a premonition that since lotus root cultivation had reached a basic level, tomatoes and peppers wouldn't be far behind.

After several months of learning and practice, he has gained a lot of experience. With a little more effort, his tomato and pepper skills can be improved even further. Adding skill books to these two skills would be a complete waste.

As for the remaining options, after careful consideration, Qing Mengzhu ultimately chose to add the beginner skill book to the bamboo.

The Cloud Mirror Bamboo he purchased was of "Superior Grade," and the mother Cloud Mirror Bamboo was even of "Supreme Grade- -grade quality." If he cultivated it well, the Cloud Mirror Bamboo might be able to be upgraded.

Planting bamboo is the most difficult but has the best prospects, so it would be a real shame not to add skill books to it.

After making the decision, Qing Mengzhu clicked "Extract" and added the beginner skill book to bamboo planting.

He originally thought it would be like extracting other goods, with the skill book first appearing in the real world and then entering his body.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he clicked the request, the Interstellar Mall emitted a burst of light that enveloped him entirely.

He felt a buzzing in his head, as if some kind of "particle" had crashed into it, making his whole head feel uncomfortable.

Qing Mengzhu gritted her teeth and pressed her temples, carefully experiencing the entire process.

After a while, he felt less dizzy and then relaxed his head.

He glanced at his phone and realized that the entire process, from the initial sensation of dizziness to the onset of the vertigo, had taken more than twenty minutes.

And he felt that it only lasted two or three minutes.

He then opened his personal profile.

There are no more skill books in the user center; you can only see the skill books you have used by opening the history.

After confirming that he had already used it, he carefully searched his memory for information on bamboo cultivation.

He doesn't feel anything when he's not thinking, but when he does, his mind suddenly fills with information about "bamboo varieties," "bamboo diseases and pests," and "bamboo cultivation procedures."

He immediately realized that the soil he had prepared in the afternoon for planting bamboo was actually substandard; it was too alkaline, and bamboo should be planted in slightly acidic soil.

The beginner skill book was surprisingly useful. Qing Mengzhu couldn't help but wonder, if the beginner skill book already covered basic planting knowledge, then after using the intermediate, advanced, or even top-level skill books, would one immediately become an expert in a certain crop?

Thinking this, Qing Mengzhu felt a surge of excitement and opened the Interstellar Mall to search.

Then he discovered that the Interstellar Mall did not sell skill books, and he didn't know if they were not for sale and could only be obtained through the lottery pool.

It's a pity. If he had intermediate or advanced skill books, he could save up his Star Coins and buy them. It would be much easier than learning them on his own.

After dawdling for a while, Qing Mengzhu calmed down and remembered that Ming Chunxi would be arriving soon.

He placed the bamboo soaked in Luring Grass on the windowsill and then tidied up the house.

Before the house was even finished being tidied up, the Dharma Protector and the Guard started barking. The Dharma Protector even used its paw to press the doorknob, opened the door, and ran out wagging its tail.

Qing Mengzhu knew from the commotion that Ming Chunxi must have arrived.

Qing Mengzhu went outside to look and saw Ming Chunxi, dressed in a casual shirt and trousers, getting out of the car. Her hair was styled in a different way, looking quite different from before, as if she had just come from a fashion show.

Qing Mengzhu couldn't help but ask, "Did you go to any activities?"

Ming Chunxi: "There was an industry summit during the day, and I didn't have time to change my clothes."

Qing Mengzhu felt his heart pounding. He quickly averted his gaze and said, "I can tell you spend all day in an air-conditioned room or car, otherwise you would definitely be unbearably hot."

Ming Chunxi: "It's alright, but I need to take a shower now."

Qing Mengzhu: "Go ahead, the clothes are still in your closet, I haven't touched them."

So, after Ming Chunxi took the things down, the first thing she did was to wash her hair and take a shower.

After he finished showering and came out, having changed into casual clothes, Qing Mengzhu felt that the heart in her chest finally calmed down a bit.

Ming Chunxi looked around Qing Mengzhu's house. "Why do I feel like there are changes in the house again?"

Qing Mengzhu: "I slightly changed the old furniture and accessories."

Zhou Yan and his family rented a courtyard and decorated it beautifully. Inspired by what they saw, Qing Mengzhu tidied up the house inside and out, making it even more in line with his personal style.

Ming Chunxi nodded. "No wonder."

Qing Mengzhu: "Go to sleep early, you must be very tired today."

Ming Chunxi: "It's tiring, let's chat and relax, and let my hair dry naturally so I don't have to blow-dry it."

So, Qing Mengzhu's plan changed from the two of them going back to sleep to chatting and watching the stars in the courtyard.

The two dogs, who had been keeping them company with great energy, couldn't stay awake for long and, accompanied by the sound of talking, crawled into their bed and fell asleep.

Qing Mengzhu had promised to take Ming Chunxi to make lotus tea, so the next morning they got up and went to the lotus pond.

Feng Ningxiang and the other two had already come over to help pick vegetables, and greeted them when they saw them.

Qing Mengzhu went over to take a look, and the vegetable picking process went smoothly today, so he didn't need to do anything. He then took Ming Chunxi to the pond.

A large patch of bright red lotus flowers grew in the pond, but because the sun had not yet risen, many of the lotus flowers had not yet opened.

Even the lotus flowers that have bloomed have only opened a little.

A thin mist shrouded the pond, making the lotus flowers appear even more delicate and extraordinary.

Ming Chunxi looked at the lotus and said, "The lotus is even more beautiful than before."

Qing Mengzhu knew this was thanks to Spirit Pearl Dregs, and nodded, saying, "Indeed, it's growing better and better. Let's go down to the water from the side and pick the flower buds later, but don't pick the ones that have already opened, because the fragrance of the opened flowers has dissipated."

Ming Chunxi agreed, "I understand."

Qing Mengzhu, wearing waterproof pants, went into the water first, and then reached out his hand for Ming Chunxi to take his hand and get down, so that Ming Chunxi would not slip and fall into the pond because he was not familiar with the pond and the silt at the bottom was too thick.

Ming Chunxi was also wearing waterproof pants, but they looked a bit too big for him because he was so tall.

However, he himself did not seem to be bothered by this, and even had a slight smile on his face, looking like he was in a good mood.

The two went into the water and used small sickles to pick lotus buds.

Qing Mengzhu picked large, fluffy, and unopened flower buds and showed them to Ming Chunxi. These buds were the most mature, with perfect aroma and shape, and were perfect for making lotus tea.

After Ming Chunxi finished reading, she picked the same flower buds as him.

The two were walking in the pond when, as they approached the center, Ming Chunxi suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?"

Qing Mengzhu turned around. "What's wrong?"

Ming Chunxi tried to bend down and touch it. "I stepped on something hard."

Qing Mengzhu immediately reached out and grabbed his arm. "Wait! I'll help you."

They were almost at the center of the pond. Qing Mengzhu thought Ming Chunxi had stepped on some Spirit Pearl Dregs and was anxious. At this moment, she held Ming Chunxi's arm with no romantic thoughts, only full of worry.

Ming Chunxi's face showed a rare hint of doubt. "No need, I can do it myself."

Qing Mengzhu said nervously, "Don't move. You don't know what's going on down there. Leave it to me."

So, Qing Mengzhu, still holding Ming Chunxi with one arm, bent down and reached down.

Unexpectedly, he touched something round and hard, which relieved him.

What's underneath is definitely not Spirit Pearl Dregs; Spirit Pearl Dregs is wrapped in a mesh bag, and it doesn't feel like this.

Qing Mengzhu couldn't remember what was underneath, so she picked it up to look at it.

The thing underneath was heavier than he had imagined. He picked it up with some difficulty and discovered that it was a huge clam.