CHAPTER 153: CHAPTER 153: FALLING INTO WATER (SECOND UPDATE)

Xia Guagua glared menacingly at Lu Yuanfeng.

Lu Yuanfeng had heard Xia Guagua’s shameless talk countless times and had lost interest in arguing with her.

After tidying up everything at home and preparing the tools that Shuangshuang needed, Lu Yuanfeng gave a few instructions to Yuanbao and locked him inside the house.

This was to prevent Xia Guagua from sneaking into his room when he wasn’t around.

Completely ignored, Xia Guagua clenched her fists tightly, her makeup-covered face twisted, her long nails dug into her flesh without feeling any pain.

Yuan Feng brother is hers, and no one can take him away, no one...

Xia Guagua took a deep breath, picked up a wooden stick from the ground, and followed in the direction of Lu Yuanfeng...

Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng agreed to meet at the village entrance; the lotus harvesting area was in Niu Village, relatively close to Er Gui Village, only a half-hour walk away.

Seeing Mu Shuangshuang, Lu Yuanfeng instinctively straightened his chest, as if echoing Mu Shuangshuang’s words that men should stand tall.

Neither mentioned last night’s events, and Mu Shuangshuang simply regarded it as ancient conservatism, feeling nothing was amiss.

When they arrived at Lotus Pond River, it was quiet at the head of the river, not a single person, but along the riverbanks, broken lotus stems surrounded by villagers with bamboo poles made an unexpected circle.

On the river’s surface, in places out of reach, a large cluster of lotus pods grew particularly temptingly, and Mu Shuangshuang’s eyes were fixed intently.

The lotus pods and red flowers before her, interconnected in shades of green and pink, made a beautiful picture unseen in modern times by Mu Shuangshuang.

"So beautiful!" Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t help but exclaim.

Lu Yuanfeng was also influenced by Mu Shuangshuang. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t notice such scenery, but now he found it exceedingly beautiful.

"Do you want a lotus leaf? I’ll pick one for you?" Lu Yuanfeng’s cheeks reddened slightly, his gaze quietly lowering as he spoke.

"Haha, for me?" Mu Shuangshuang found it amusing, considering if at her age, she needed a red flower as an accessory?

"Yes, for you." Lu Yuanfeng nodded firmly.

"Forget it, it’s useless for me. Instead of that, let’s quickly get to work. Maybe we’ll have a big harvest by tomorrow."

Mu Shuangshuang gazed intently at the riverbed, already feeling impatient.

Lu Yuanfeng felt a bit disappointed but still prepared to follow Mu Shuangshuang’s focus on the task at hand.

He laid down the tools he had brought one by one. Before this, Mu Shuangshuang still used a wooden stick to test the water, and the underwater weeds had grown wildly. When a bamboo pole was lowered and pulled up, a long section of weeds came with it.

It seemed that the lotus pods in Lotus Pond River were indeed hard to harvest.

"Luckily, we prepared tools," Mu Shuangshuang said with a cheerful smile.

Long bamboo poles, thin iron wire, fishing nets, and a sickle were bound to the bamboo poles to make a long sickle.

The fishing net was threaded with iron wire to form a ring, which was then tied to another bamboo pole to create a simple net cover.

Lu Yuanfeng’s eyes lit up, instantly understanding Mu Shuangshuang’s intention.

"Shuangshuang, you want us to cut the lotus pods with one and use this net to catch them?"

"Smart, Lu Yuanfeng, you’re not dumb at all."

Unable to get into the river, unable to use boats and rafts, they could only find a way from the riverbank. Mu Shuangshuang had simulated this plan in her mind several times, and as long as they coordinated well, it shouldn’t be slower than picking with one hand.

This approach was novel to Lu Yuanfeng. He held up the bamboo pole with the net cover and said excitedly, "Let’s start!"

"Okay!"

On the riverbank of Lotus Pond River, a man and a woman each wielded a long bamboo pole, and as the woman moved her hand, three or four large, beautiful lotus pods quickly landed in the net.

Both were doing this for the first time, but they cooperated exceptionally well, and Mu Shuangshuang even found waving the sickle particularly amusing.

In a short while, they harvested a netful of lotus pods. Lu Yuanfeng dragged the net back and dumped the pods into the burlap sack they had brought.

Thus, the two laughed and picked lotus pods, and by the end of the morning, had filled a burlap sack with them.

...

"I told you, these lotus pods are truly wonderful, both tender and sweet," Mu Shuangshuang said, sitting by the river with a large lotus pod in hand, occasionally popping a tender white Lianzi into her mouth.

Lu Yuanfeng sat not far away, with the burlap sack of Lianzi at his feet.

"Eat more, they’re tender and surely sweet," Lu Yuanfeng said, taking out another large and tender lotus pod from the sack and handing it to Mu Shuangshuang, who already had a few by her side.

"Enough, enough, I haven’t finished what’s in my hand," Mu Shuangshuang waved her hand and then pointed to the lotus pods beside her. Lu Yuanfeng nodded with understanding and started shelling the lotus pods.

"By the way, Lu Yuanfeng, I heard you joined the military camp at twelve. Can you tell me about the military life? No need for something in-depth, just the basics will do," Mu Shuangshuang asked curiously, knowing that, as she worked in security, many things were classified, so it was okay if Lu Yuanfeng couldn’t say much.

Lu Yuanfeng thought for a moment before speaking.

"Actually, there’s nothing special about it. I joined the military camp because my family was too poor. By going, I could at least lighten my mother’s burden."

Lu Yuanfeng’s family once owned fields and land, but due to Lu Xiao’s gambling addiction, he became more reckless after marrying Lu Yuanfeng’s mother.

This once-decent family fell into exceedingly difficult times.

Mu Shuangshuang put down the lotus pod in her hand, propped her head, and listened to Lu Yuanfeng speak.

"When I first went to the camp, everything felt unfamiliar. People didn’t know each other, and talking felt awkward.

But after just three days, we got to know each other, trained together, endured hardships together, and it was especially joyful.

Shuangshuang, you know? I trained at the foot of a mountain in the Northwest for two years, and I became familiar with every grass and tree there.

Sometimes, I even felt like staying there for a lifetime wouldn’t be bad. Later, when we went to the battlefield and fought against Chen Country, going into battle with my brothers.

I finally understood what it meant for a man to aspire to make his mark everywhere. I even felt it wouldn’t matter if I died on the battlefield, as long as I could do something for Da Ning, protect the people and their homes."

Mu Shuangshuang felt thrillingly inspired by Lu Yuanfeng’s account, and she greatly admired his experiences.

Every time she met him, she couldn’t help but recall her college days, training every day, tired but happy.

"Lu Yuanfeng, if you were given another chance, would you enter the military camp again?" Mu Shuangshuang suddenly grew curious.

"I..." Lu Yuanfeng was about to answer when Xia Guagua suddenly rushed out from behind Mu Shuangshuang, swinging the wooden stick she held.

"Shuangshuang, watch out!"

Lu Yuanfeng exerted force with his hand, trying to pull Mu Shuangshuang away, but heard a loud "thud." Before he could react, a splash rose from the water.

(Who fell into the water? I guess it’s... betting a pack of spicy strips, and if you lose, hand over the recommendation votes by tomorrow!)