Chapter 256

Chapter 256

There was good news: several kinds of fruit in her courtyard had ripened.

Carrying the egg, Jiang Yunsui summoned two dogs, one wolf, and two chickens, then hurried next door with Fat Chef.

The sight inside stunned her. Her fruit trees had grown tall and were laden with heavy fruit.

Grapevines occupied the largest part of the courtyard. Being climbing plants, they spread aggressively. A trellis about two meters high had been built for them. Dense vines climbed overhead, while clusters of round purple grapes hung below in inviting bunches.

They were not ripe yet and needed more time.

The strongest fragrance came from the peaches. She had planted five peach trees because their blossoms were beautiful and their fruit delicious. Their only flaw was attracting insects, but with Shen Qingzhu’s insect repellent, all five had grown tall and sturdy. Their fruit was larger than an adult’s fist.

This was naturally the result of Jiang Yunsui cultivating in the courtyard and using Imperial Flowing Essence to improve the saplings.

Now countless heavy peaches bent the branches. Their green skin was flushed rouge-red, and they looked beautiful.

Jiang Yunsui rose onto her toes, impatiently plucked one, wiped it casually, and bit down.

Crunch.

Delicious!

Most fruit in this age was small and less tasty than improved varieties from later generations. Of course, even those could not compare with fruit grown by spirits.

Now the fruit grown by her, Little Mushroom, was the best in the entire world!

At least, she believed so.

“You eat one too, Fat Grandpa.”

“Pick some for Zuozuo and Youyou too.”

“Pick lots. Put them in the basket.”

Her short legs could not reach the high branches, but Fat Chef could. Soon the basket was full.

Still unsatisfied, she said, “Didn’t I plant watermelons too? They should be ready now, right?”

She had missed last year’s crop, but Nanny Zhou and the others had saved the seeds and planted them again. Jiang Yunsui had returned at precisely the right time.

Fat Chef said, “We’ve been waiting for you. Not one watermelon in your courtyard has been picked. Come on, let’s look.”

Large, round, green melons lay quietly among the vines. Jiang Yunsui ran in, knocked on them, and pressed her ear against their rinds.

“This one’s ripe.”

“Fat Grandpa, this one too.”

“And this one…”

He laughed helplessly. “My little ancestor, how can you eat so many?”

“We can. There are lots of people.”

“But the two of us can’t carry all those.”

Too excited to listen, she darted wildly through the melon patch. “Pick them first. We’ll call people to carry them later.”

After choosing more than ten, she studied the basket of peaches and rubbed her chubby chin.
“Fat Grandpa, let’s get baskets and pick peaches!”

She sounded magnificently generous. Every tree here belonged to her; she could pick as much as she wanted!

The trees had been growing for over two years, and she had never tasted their fruit. Now that she had finally returned at harvest time, Little Mushroom was excessively excited.

She placed the egg in a woven nest, told Zuozuo and Youyou to guard it, rolled up her sleeves, and climbed a tree.

By the time Fat Chef returned with two servants and baskets, she was already hanging from a branch.

“My little ancestor! You really know how to cause trouble!”

She grinned down at them, both adorable and infuriating. Since she was already up there, they could only watch carefully.

When she stood to pick fruit, everyone below held their breath.

“You two pick peaches. I’ll watch her,” Fat Chef said gruffly, never taking his eyes from the bouncing child.

After tossing down several peaches, Jiang Yunsui lived up to expectations and fell.

Fat Chef caught her.

“All right. You’ve had your fun.”

Her eyes curved. “Fat Grandpa, let me ride on your shoulders and pick. I can get lots more.”

Clearly, she had not had enough.

What could he do but indulge her? “Fine. Come ride the big horse.”

Now she could reach many more. Those still too high would be left to people with qinggong.

Finally, they returned next door with several baskets of peaches and more than ten watermelons.

“Where’s Xiao Xing?”

She remembered leaving him here.

“That child? Funny story. He’s General Zhao’s son, the one kidnappers abducted.”

Jiang Yunsui stared. “What?”

Fat Chef laughed. “The Zhao family has had one son per generation, and he’s the only son of this generation. They searched for ages after he was taken. Who’d have thought you would pick him up and bring him home?”

Everyone knew the boy had nearly frozen to death before Jiang Yunsui found him.

She blinked. “What a coincidence.”

“It certainly was. After he regained some weight here, General Zhao happened to see him and recognized him immediately. I always thought the boy looked familiar, but couldn’t remember why. He has General Zhao’s very eyes and brows. The men in their family all look alike.”

Jiang Yunsui was delighted that her friend was no beggar and had found his family. Children were happier with parents.

As soon as Jiang Yunsui and Fat Chef returned to the neighboring Ji Mansion, a servant announced that General Zhao had arrived with his son.

Xiao Xing was General Zhao’s only son, born late in his life, so naturally he was treasured.

When they met again, Xiao Xing was plumper and fairer. He wore sapphire-blue brocade, precious ornaments, and jeweled hair decorations. He looked like a wealthy young lord-utterly unlike the little beggar from before.

“Yunsui!”

Xiao Xing-or rather, Zhao Jin now-ran over delightedly. “You’re finally back.”

“Xiao Xing, you got so fat!”

Zhao Jin scratched his head bashfully. “Hehe. I found Father and Mother, and they take wonderful care of me. I only made it home because of you.”