CHAPTER 252: CHAPTER 252: SUCH A PERSON

After the raft docked, Duan Yunfei led Shen Qinglan up the hillside.

"Master originally wanted to plant red azaleas, but he found the color too red, like blood, saying it felt inauspicious to look at. So, he planted this mountain of yellow azaleas instead."

Shen Qinglan didn’t speak, she just quietly listened by his side.

"Ahead is a forest where many tea tree mushrooms grow. When we were young, we didn’t know they were edible. Later, I often saw Master picking them, and asked before realizing they could be eaten."

Duan Yunfei looked at Shen Qinglan and asked, "Do you want to pick some?"

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Sure!"

Since moving to the town, she hadn’t ventured into the mountains again.

The two strolled through the azalea forest, eventually reaching the forest Duan Yunfei had mentioned.

Indeed, as he said, there were plenty of tea tree mushrooms growing in the woods.

In her past life, Shen Qinglan had also eaten tea tree mushrooms, mostly found in various soups.

"Master probably has dried ones, since he likes to eat them. Lan Tian and Bai Yun often come to pick them and dry them, saving them for when he returns to eat. When we go back, you should take some dried ones to try."

"Lan Tian and Bai Yun?" Shen Qinglan hesitantly asked: "Are those the two young brothers from before?"

"Yes." Duan Yunfei laughed, "Their names were given by my Master, without any special meaning, just because they roll off the tongue."

"Your Master must be a carefree person." Shen Qinglan stated confidently.

"Indeed." He replied, "Master is like that; apart from being strict with disciples, he doesn’t care much about other things."

Shen Qinglan squatted down and picked quite a few tree mushrooms. Soon, her hands were full.

Duan Yunfei placed the tree mushrooms on the ground, broke some thin branches, and after fiddling for a while, created a simple little basket.

Shen Qinglan watched from the side, sincerely admiring, "You’re quite skillful!"

"I saw Master weaving them when I was young, just learned by watching." He handed the basket to her, "Put them in!"

Shen Qinglan placed all the tea tree mushrooms she had into the basket. Duan Yunfei also picked up the ones on the ground and put them in. They continued picking for a while longer until the basket was full, then returned.

Back at the thatched cottage, Lan Tian made tea for them, while Bai Yun took the tea tree mushrooms to the kitchen to prepare something to eat.

After pouring tea for both of them, Lan Tian made a few sounds to Shen Qinglan.

"Uh..." Shen Qinglan looked at Duan Yunfei and asked, "What is he saying?"

Duan Yunfei laughed and explained, "He’s saying that our humble abode is simple, not much to offer you, please forgive us."

"Is that so?"

Shen Qinglan looked at Lan Tian, who nodded repeatedly.

Then he gestured several times, and Shen Qinglan finally understood.

She laughed and asked Duan Yunfei, "Is he praising me for being smart?"

"You can understand?" Duan Yunfei was surprised.

Shen Qinglan replied, "I can understand the simpler gestures."

"Really smart!" Duan Yunfei laughed and rubbed her head.

Lan Tian’s face turned slightly red, he quickly gestured and hurried out.

"Is he... shy?"

"Probably!" Duan Yunfei was unsure.

Shen Qinglan chuckled, "Such an innocent young boy."

Duan Yunfei looked at the girl across from him, whose eyes sparkled like stars and brows arched in a smile, and the worries pressing on his heart instantly dissipated like wind.

He never thought before that there could be someone in the world, and when you are in gloomy trouble, just seeing her smile could make all the sorrows fade away with her laughter.

He let out a deep sigh, a casual yet silent smile.