Especially with watermelons, if they are too crowded, it will affect their growth.
After a day of careful work, the three of them only managed to transplant half of the seedlings.
Shen Xiaoyan took out the buckets Zheng Wei had bought to water the vegetables. She filled each one with water, and while Zheng Wei and Shen Xiaoming were not around, she added a few drops of immortal spring water to each bucket.
The effect of the immortal spring was too miraculous. Shen Xiaoyan only dared to put a few drops in each bucket, just to ensure that these seedlings could survive well.
Thus, the three of them worked for another day before finishing all the seedling transplantation.
All the seeds were used up, but the land was not completely filled. Looking at the still empty spots, Shen Xiaoyan felt a pang of regret. What a waste.
Looking at the empty land, Shen Xiaoyan's eyes suddenly lit up.
If one were to consider fruits with short growth periods, milk fruit would be a good choice. If planted now, they would flower in July and be harvested for the first time in September. By the following year, they would flower in April and yield six harvests a year. Most importantly, milk fruit vines are perennial, much like blueberries. After the first thaw, a little pruning would suffice, making them very convenient and hassle-free.
However, how could she extract the seeds from the milk fruit?
After thinking for a long time, Shen Xiaoyan could not come up with a good method and had to put this idea aside for the time being.
It was now afternoon, and the warm spring sunshine on her body made Shen Xiaoyan feel languid and a little sleepy.
Zheng Wei, being restless at home, went up the mountain again today. Before he left, he assured Shen Xiaoyan that he would take care of his own safety.
Shen Xiaoyan was too lazy to stop him, mainly because she knew she couldn't. So, she let him go.
After Shen Xiaoming had eaten, he returned to his room for a nap. During this period, Shen Xiaoming ate well and rested well. Without enduring beatings and scoldings, and with much less work than before, he looked healthier, which made Shen Xiaoyan quite happy.
Shen Xiaoyan's gaze swept across the courtyard, but she didn't see Luoluo. She wondered where it had taken Baibai to play again.
Ever since Luoluo came out of the space, Shen Xiaoyan hadn't seen it return. Whatever they ate, Luoluo ate too, and it no longer picked its food.
Its greatest joy every day was to take Baibai around to play.
This made Shen Xiaoming extremely indignant. His beloved Baibai had become Luoluo's toy.
However, seeing Baibai always happily playing with Luoluo, Shen Xiaoming could only watch enviously.
"Meow! Miss this cat?"
Just as Shen Xiaoyan was thinking of Luoluo, she heard Luoluo's voice in her mind. Shen Xiaoyan was startled at first, and then she asked, "Where did you run off to again?"
"This cat was helping you," Luoluo said proudly.
"Help me with what?" Shen Xiaoyan replied listlessly. She didn't think this arrogant cat would help her with anything.
"Didn't you want to plant milk fruit? This cat has cultivated one in the space and planted it on Baiyun Peak. You can find an opportunity to ask Zheng Wei to take you up the mountain, and then bring the milk fruit back. Isn't that convenient?"
After hearing this, Shen Xiaoyan immediately clapped her hands happily.
That's right, such a simple method, how could she not have thought of it?
Indeed, it's like being in the thick of it, one can't see clearly.
Seeing that it was still early, Shen Xiaoyan really wanted to go up the mountain to find Zheng Wei right away. But she couldn't. She didn't know the way. What if she couldn't find Zheng Wei and got lost herself? That would be a loss.
With an excited heart, Shen Xiaoyan waited until Zheng Wei returned. Seeing the pheasants and rabbits hanging from Zheng Wei's body, Shen Xiaoyan immediately walked forward with a smile.
"You had a good harvest today."
Zheng Wei nodded, "Yes, it was good."
"Will you go up the mountain again tomorrow?" Shen Xiaoyan asked, looking at Zheng Wei expectantly.
Zheng Wei didn't understand Shen Xiaoyan's intentions but still nodded, "Yes."
"Then can you take me with you?" Shen Xiaoyan said immediately.
"I want to go too," Shen Xiaoming said from the side, unwilling to be outdone.
He had been cooped up for over ten days and really wanted to go out for a walk.
Zheng Wei looked at the siblings, puzzled. Why did they both want to go up the mountain?
"What are you two going up the mountain for?" Zheng Wei asked.
"The fields are all planted, so we can go up the mountain for a stroll," Shen Xiaoyan said cheerfully, with sparkling eyes.
"Yes, Big Brother-in-law, I also want to go out and play. I'm so bored staying at home every day," Shen Xiaoming said, looking at Zheng Wei pleadingly.
Zheng Wei looked at the two pairs of expectant eyes in front of him and finally nodded, "Alright then, we'll go together tomorrow."
Hearing Zheng Wei agree, Shen Xiaoyan's eyes curved into a smile, and Shen Xiaoming let out a cheer.
The next morning, not long after dawn, the three of them had already finished breakfast.
Shen Xiaoyan made scallion pancakes and wrapped them in oiled paper, placing them in a basket. She also brought a bamboo steamer with a lid filled with boiled water.
They wouldn't be back by noon to eat lunch. These would serve as their lunch.
As the three of them walked out of the yard, Shen Xiaoming saw Luoluo and Baibai following them out.
"Sister, they're coming too," Shen Xiaoming pointed at the two cats.
"Let them come. They run into the mountains every day. It's fine," Shen Xiaoyan said nonchalantly.
They walked out of the gate, locked it, and then headed towards Baiyun Peak.
Although they had always lived in Baiyun Zhuang, Shen Xiaoming had never been to Baiyun Peak. Walking on the road now, everything he saw seemed new and interesting.
To accommodate Shen Xiaoming, Zheng Wei and Shen Xiaoyan walked slowly. By the time they reached the edge of Baiyun Peak, they had already walked for more than half an hour.
Shen Xiaoming's face was flushed, and sweat beaded on his forehead. Shen Xiaoyan said to Zheng Wei, "Let's sit here and rest for a while."
Zheng Wei looked at Shen Xiaoming's appearance and nodded in agreement.
The three sat on the ground. A light breeze blew through the woods, bringing a refreshing coolness.
Shen Xiaoming curiously observed his surroundings, occasionally asking Shen Xiaoyan a few questions.
After resting for about fifteen minutes, the three stood up and continued towards the deep mountains.
Luoluo and Baibai walked ahead of the three. Luoluo occasionally looked back to see if they were following.
"Sister, is Luoluo leading us somewhere?" Shen Xiaoming asked after observing for a while. He felt like Luoluo wanted them to follow it.
Shen Xiaoyan naturally knew that Luoluo was leading the way. Otherwise, how would they find the milk fruit?
However, Shen Xiaoyan didn't show it on her face. "It seems so. Shall we follow it and see?"
Shen Xiaoyan said, turning to Zheng Wei to ask for his opinion.
Zheng Wei nodded in agreement, and the three followed Luoluo forward.
After many twists and turns, and after an unknown amount of time, Luoluo finally stopped.
Shen Xiaoyan and the other two carefully observed the scenery in front of them. When they saw the milk fruit vines laden with fruit, a light flashed in Shen Xiaoyan's eyes.
Zheng Wei looked at the scene with curiosity. He had never been to this place and didn't know that these fruits grew here.
Shen Xiaoming took a deep breath and excitedly said to Shen Xiaoyan, "Sister, do you smell a fragrance?"
Shen Xiaoyan nodded, "I do."
The reason milk fruit is called milk fruit is partly because its fruit emits a rich fragrance. This fragrance is not singular but is like that of various fruits.
"This is milk fruit. It emits the fragrance of many fruits," Zheng Wei suddenly said.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Zheng Wei in surprise. How did he know?
"Big Brother-in-law, how do you know?" Shen Xiaoming asked.
Hearing Shen Xiaoming's question, Zheng Wei's eyes flickered. After a moment of silence, he said, "I've seen it in town."