"Wife, your idea of planting medicinal herbs in the small garden is quite good," Mo Lingxi flattered. "It's better than planting those flowers and plants. I'm tired of seeing those flowers and plants, and they're not very useful. Medicinal herbs are much more beneficial."
Sheng Lengshuang gave him a look of appreciation. "I thought so too. I don't plan to touch the large garden. Our home can't be too unconventional; some things should remain as they are."
Mo Lingxi chimed in, "Wife, aren't some flowers and plants also medicinal herbs? If you plant those flowers and plants in the large garden, no one will mind if visitors come."
Sheng Lengshuang found this idea to be truly excellent. After pondering it, she said, "Later, I'll discuss it with my parents. If they agree, I'll convert the large garden into a medicinal garden."
"Let me tell you, planting some medicinal herbs is also beneficial for daily life."
Mo Lingxi's eyes darted. "Wife, why don't you, when you have time, convert the Prince's mansion garden into a medicinal garden too?"
"It would be better if you handled this matter, as you know best which medicinal herbs you like to plant."
Little Feng, standing nearby, rolled his eyes to the heavens. Even as a child, he could clearly see his father's intentions.
Sheng Lengshuang's smile remained unchanged. "You are the master of the Mingrui Prince's mansion. You make the decisions for your mansion. I cannot casually make decisions."
Mo Lingxi dared not force her to do anything she was unwilling to do. "If we truly get married in the future, that will be where you live. As the mistress of the house, it's only right for you to decide."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Lengshuang said coolly, "I forgot to tell you, I plan to live at my home after marriage to accompany my parents."
Little Feng gave a thumbs-up, full of admiration. Mother was indeed formidable.
Mo Lingxi said without hesitation, "I'll listen to my wife! Wherever my wife says we'll live, that's where we'll live. Besides, we should naturally accompany our in-laws."
What a joke! He was not like some fools who would go against their wives for the sake of face.
Sheng Lengshuang gave him a look that said, "You know better," and continued planting medicinal herbs.
Mo Lingxi felt a sense of relief, knowing he had passed this hurdle.
There were still several more hurdles to overcome, and he could not relax.
After finishing the planting, Sheng Lengshuang took Little Feng to the pharmacy to study. She assigned Mo Lingxi a task. "Aren't you going to learn from my father? Go find my father."
Then, Mo Lingxi went to learn from General Sheng.
General Sheng had just finished his official duties and was preparing to spend some time with his grandson. Seeing Mo Lingxi arrive, he bowed. "Prince Mingrui, have you finished accompanying my daughter?"
Mo Lingxi hummed in response. "Sheng Lengshuang is teaching Little Feng medical skills, and I didn't want to disturb them."
Upon hearing this, General Sheng changed direction and headed towards Madam Sheng's courtyard. "I don't think Prince Mingrui needs to continue learning from me anymore."
Mo Lingxi stated that he still had much to learn. "I'm not very good at speaking and always make Sheng Lengshuang angry."
General Sheng looked at him with a peculiar gaze. This one was truly a talent. It was fortunate that Leng Shuang had a good temper, otherwise, she would have kicked Prince Mingrui out long ago.
Arriving at Madam Sheng's courtyard, they saw Madam Sheng seemingly packing things. General Sheng quickly went to help and then helped Madam Sheng to sit down.
"Madam, leave these tiring tasks to me. How can you trouble yourself?"
Madam Sheng curtsied to Mo Lingxi and said to General Sheng with a playful smile, "It's not that tiring, I consider it exercise."
Mo Lingxi sat quietly, observing and learning.
General Sheng put on a stern face. "That won't do. Madam should be well taken care of. These matters can be handled by me or the servants."
Madam Sheng chuckled. "Alright, alright, I'll leave it all to you from now on. By the way, where are Leng Shuang and Little Feng?"
The couple chatted.
Mo Lingxi felt he had learned something. He truly had a lot to learn, and it was no wonder his wife wanted him to follow her father to study.
...
One day, Sheng Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi went to the outskirts to handle some matters.
As usual, Sheng Lengshuang inspected the medicinal herbs and fruit trees planted in the mountains. Seeing that the medicinal herbs and fruit trees were growing well, she planned to expand the planting scale.
Looking down from halfway up the mountain, she saw many fields belonged to her, but she didn't plan to touch them. There were no empty fields, and planting more in the mountains...
She stroked her chin, pondering for a long time. Planting more in the mountains wasn't impossible, but she didn't want to plant fruit trees anymore; the fruit trees on this entire mountain would be more than enough in a few years.
If not fruit trees, what else could be planted besides medicinal herbs?
"Wife, what are you thinking about?" Mo Lingxi asked.
Sheng Lengshuang shared her thoughts. "You say, if we don't plant fruit trees, what else can we plant?"
Mo Lingxi thought for a moment. "Plant some grain?"
He really hadn't researched this area.
Sheng Lengshuang shook her head, indicating it wouldn't work. "Planting grain is not only insufficient in terms of space but also easily causes soil erosion, which is very bad for the ecological balance of the entire mountain."
Mo Lingxi supported her as they walked towards the foot of the mountain. "There's no rush for this matter; we can think about it slowly."
Sheng Lengshuang also knew that this couldn't be rushed.
The two did not return to the manor to rest but instead wandered among the fields.
Looking at the people working, Sheng Lengshuang let out a comfortable sigh. "Now I feel that this place is quite good, that my life is going well. For the people here, they don't think this place is good."
Their perspectives naturally differed based on their positions.
Mo Lingxi said, "If you like it, we can stay here for a few more days, as if we're traveling."
Sheng Lengshuang didn't have this idea. "Whether we stay or not makes no difference."
"Did something happen?"
"Nothing happened, I just had a thought. You're thinking too much."
The two chatted as they walked, stopping and starting.
Suddenly, Sheng Lengshuang heard a child's voice.
"Mom, Mom, I want to eat bamboo shoots. The bamboo shoots you made last time were so delicious," said a thin, small boy of three or four years old, clinging to his mother who was working. "Especially the bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat, they were really delicious."
He savored the memory and swallowed.
The child's mother felt both pained and guilty. "Good boy, wait a bit longer, and Mom will buy you meat. But those bamboo shoots are only available in spring. Where can you find bamboo shoots at this season?"
Upon hearing that they would eat meat, the child stopped pestering for bamboo shoots. "Then Mom, you promised. We'll eat meat after a while. I dream of eating meat; meat is really delicious."
Sheng Lengshuang did not let her sympathy overflow, nor did she do anything. She was well aware that there were too many people like this mother and son, and they were not people she could or should help.
Everyone has their own life, and interfering carelessly can lead to unfavorable developments.
"Mo Lingxi, what do you think about us planting bamboo on the mountain? In spring, there will be bamboo shoots, and bamboo can be made into various useful items."
Mo Lingxi thought this was a good idea. "Many bamboo shoots are not edible, so we need to choose carefully. Also, we need to decide whether you want to plant precious bamboo or ordinary bamboo."
Sheng Lengshuang knew there was much knowledge in this area. "I plan to ask someone knowledgeable about this. Do you have anyone to recommend?"