Vegetable picking, taking photographs

When Jing Qingxin returned to the small courtyard, Gao Shen was arranging the pebbles. He had followed the layout she described, using the stones to outline circles that separated the flowerbeds from the vegetable patch. As soon as one stepped into the yard, it was clear at a glance.

“How is it? Does this look all right?” Gao Shen looked up and asked.

Jing Qingxin smiled and nodded her approval. “Yes, it’s very good!”

His gaze fell on the basket she was carrying. With a concerned look, he asked, “Did you go to the riverbank to wash clothes? Everything went well?”

“Yes, of course. We can’t cut ourselves off from the world, can we? Here I am, standing safely before you—what could have happened?” Jing Qingxin replied with a gentle smile. She knew he was worried she might suffer some bullying, especially after all the recent gossip.

“Just be careful when you go out. Or let me go with you next time,” Gao Shen instructed. He knew her to be no pushover, but his concern was another matter entirely. Right now, he wished he could hold her in his hands and protect her from even the slightest unhappiness or grievance.

Jing Qingxin only smiled, not arguing. There was no point—it was just his little stubbornness, his little obstinacy. She was more than happy to accept his care and concern.

“Leave the clothes there. I’ll hang a line to dry them in a bit. I’m almost done here; why don’t you go rest in the main room?” Gao Shen said briskly, tidying up his tools and washing his hands in a basin.

Jing Qingxin took his advice and set down the basket. There really wasn’t a place to hang clothes in the courtyard yet, so she didn’t trouble herself further.

Entering the main room, she slipped into the Flowing Light Brocade space, eager to see how the fruits and vegetables had fared overnight.

The moment her eyes opened inside, she was delighted.

A surge of accomplishment filled her—this was her first time experiencing the joy and excitement of a harvest. Even if most of the credit belonged to the space itself, it couldn’t diminish her happiness.

The vegetables she’d planted last night had already sprouted and unfurled their leaves. The baby bok choy were taking shape—still small, but tender enough to eat. The cucumber and tomato vines had spread out, lush and verdant, bearing clusters of tiny fruit, though only a few were ripening.

Jing Qingxin happily darted out to find a few sticks and twigs, using them to build small trellises in the vegetable patch, supporting the cucumber and tomato vines.

She hadn’t expected the Flowing Light Brocade to be so miraculous! At this rate, they would be eating fresh vegetables by noon.

In her former life, she’d never imagined such a small matter could bring her so much satisfaction and joy. It seemed the wisdom of her ancestors—“Take matters into your own hands, and you’ll have food and clothing”—had its own special resonance.

She then turned to the fruit trees. Yesterday, when she transplanted them, they were just in bloom. But now, three of the trees were already bearing tiny fruits. It would take another day or so for them to be laden with ripe fruit, but at this speed, Jing Qingxin was more than content.

As for the grapes and strawberries, they were still just green leaves trailing along the ground. She’d planted them as seeds only yesterday; naturally, they couldn’t compete with the speed of the transplanted trees.

She watered the vegetables and fruit trees again with creek water, knowing it was key to their rapid growth.

Then, she picked three tomatoes that were turning red and four tender cucumbers, planning to serve them at lunch.

Looking at the vegetables in her hands, Jing Qingxin couldn’t help but laugh softly. Ever since coming to this era, all her attention seemed to center around what to eat and how to eat it.

But whether the matter was great or small, as long as it brought fulfillment, understanding, and contentment, it was happiness.

Stepping out of the space, she watched Gao Shen busying himself in the courtyard and thought that this life was actually quite good. When you have the right person by your side, anywhere can feel like home. But if one’s spirit is ill at ease, even the most luxurious palace would feel uncomfortable.

At noon, she made tomato and egg noodles with the vegetables she’d picked, adding a refreshing cucumber salad on the side. Nourished by the spirit energy of her space, the vegetables tasted far better than anything she’d had before. Gao Shen ate two full bowls of noodles, and Jing Qingxin had an entire bowl herself.

Both of them were full and content. After the meal, they sat together on the wooden bench in the courtyard, basking in the sunlight like plants photosynthesizing.

The breeze was gentle, the sunlight warm, and the person beside her was just right.

Suddenly, Jing Qingxin felt a desire to capture this moment in time. She thought of the mobile phone stashed away in her space. Although there was no signal in this era, some functions still worked—such as the camera.

With that, she beamed, spreading her palm to conjure her pink phone. Seizing the moment while Gao Shen turned his head, she quickly opened the camera app.

“Gao Shen,” she called out.

He instinctively looked over at her, and before he could react, she pressed a gentle kiss to his left cheek. Immediately, there was a soft click.

The entire moment lasted only a few seconds. Gao Shen turned to see Jing Qingxin sitting back, a mysterious object in her hand and a playful smile on her lips.

“Qingxin, what are you doing?” he asked curiously, leaning closer to get a better look.

Jing Qingxin looked at the photo with satisfaction. Though Gao Shen’s expression was a bit serious and surprised by her sudden move, the image radiated harmony.

Seeing him lean in, she handed him the phone, a mischievous smile on her lips.

Just as she expected, Gao Shen stared wide-eyed at the photo on the phone, then took it to examine it more closely.

“What is this?” Instantly, he was fascinated by the palm-sized device.

He marveled at the vivid image. Was this how photographs could be taken? He liked it.

He turned the phone over, studying it with wonder. Gao Shen knew about cameras, had seen them before, but they were never this small, and the pictures had to be developed and were only in black and white.

But this device, the size of his palm, could instantly show a clear, brightly colored photo with a single click.

Jing Qingxin smiled and explained, “It’s a phone.”

“A phone? Not a camera?” Gao Shen asked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Seeing his curiosity, Jing Qingxin took back the phone, switched to the camera app, and leaned on Gao Shen’s shoulder, flashing a sweet smile. But seeing his solemn face in the lens, she couldn’t help but laugh—he looked more like he was being led onto a battlefield than posing for a picture.

She chuckled, “Don’t be so serious. Look at the camera and smile.”

—End of chapter interlude—

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