Splash…
"Since you've done the most work, you drink more." Mu Liang drenched the tea tree lavishly, then sealed the barrel to keep the fish's water from overflowing.
"Wow! It's a green tree!" Mino raced forward, blue eyes sparkling. "Mu Liang, have trees always looked like this?"
"Of course—haven't you seen one?" Mu Liang asked, surprised.
"I have, but they were all withered," Mino shook her head. "I never imagined trees really look like this."
"This is a tea tree." Mu Liang's tone held mixed emotions. "Tea leaves steeped in water taste excellent." He hadn't realized Mino had never seen living green trees; when had the Wasteland-like world begun, and how did people obtain seeds?
"Can we brew tea tonight?" Mino asked shyly, "Just a little—I'm curious."
"Of course—any amount." Mu Liang indulged her.
"Just a little," Mino teased with finger gestures.
"Pick the tender leaves and buds—they make the best tea," Mu Liang instructed gently.
"Okay." Mino's eyes lit up as she approached the tree carefully.
Moments later:
"Wow!" Mino exclaimed. "The tea leaves are beautiful."
"Was this tea tree transplanted from Blood Beard's vault too?" Li Yue approached, muddy face awed by the tall tree.
"Something like that." Mu Liang's smile carried hidden meaning.
"This tea tree alone could fetch tens of thousands of pounds of jerky. He's so rich…" Li Yue realized mid-sentence and playfully teased him, "Turns out the truly wealthy one is you."
"You can enjoy this wealth too." Mu Liang spoke with deeper intent.
"Huh?" Li Yue blinked, uncertain.
"Have you seen a tea tree before?" Mu Liang asked.
"Yes, but only half this height." Li Yue's jaw clenched—memories of past hardship arose.
"Sounds like you had a bad experience," Mu Liang said, noting her restrained emotion.
"It's past."
Li Yue's voice remained cool as she shifted topics. "You must guard this tree carefully—people will try to steal it." She had never seen so large a tea tree; to some, it was a rare treasure.
Mu Liang nodded with a smile. "If we trade tea leaves, we might get some Feral Beast Crystals?" he asked.
"Yes, but only a few would trade," Li Yue warned. "Those who want tea leaves aren't short on crystals. If they learn you have this tree, they may try to seize it."
"Then we'll see who takes it." Mu Liang's lips curled in a playful smirk.
"Ah! Angel's Wing is planted here too." Li Yue brightened as she spied the flower under the tea tree. She ran over and inspected it happily.
Mu Liang watched the two girls entering the house and glanced at the sky. "It's already dusk."
"Time for dinner." He lifted the barrel and headed inside.
"Wait for me!" Mino covered her pockets and chased after him.
"This life is wonderful," Li Yue murmured, watching them go in. She looked at the sky, then down at Angel's Wing.
"Maybe I should cover it for safety." She whispered.
A moment later, she spotted Three-Colored Lizard's silhouette on the ridge. Li Yue smiled to herself and walked back inside. With such a Feral Beast guarding the garden, what need was there for coverings?
At the door, she heard Mino's eager voice:
"Mu Liang, how's the warehouse?"
"It's great—better than I imagined." Mu Liang praised her work.
"Heeheehee…" Mino beamed.
"Li Yue helped a lot too—she laid those stone bricks in a flash," Mino admired.
"You two should eat more tonight." Mu Liang left the warehouse and approached Li Yue at the table.
"Thank you for your hard work today." he said softly.
"It's what I should do." Li Yue's face remained cool but her lips curved slightly.
Mino exited the warehouse and saw Li Yue at the table, feeling shy. She hurried off, pretending to fetch more items.
"I'll help," Li Yue stood to follow.
Mino froze. "No, I can handle it," she stammered.
"Two people will be faster." Li Yue smiled and entered the warehouse with a bolt of cloth.
Mu Liang leaned close to Mino and whispered, "Don't be afraid—she's nice. You can be friends."
"I'll try…" Mino's ears drooped.
That afternoon, building the warehouse and room, the two girls exchanged only necessary words else remained silent at work. Mu Liang softly said, "Don't force yourself."
"Mhm." Mino nodded and carried cloth inside.
Mu Liang, cutting tomatoes for soup, pondered how he'd never realized Mino was shy. Then it dawned on him: at first, she'd thought he was dead; then he'd lain immobile for days, and weak for two more.
"So that's why Mino is shy around me—she thought I was a ghost." Mu Liang shook his head with a wry smile.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。