After allowing Li Xian to enter, Xiao Cui closed the gate again. Upon entering the house, Xiao Cui skillfully began boiling water and brewing tea. She was completely at ease here, treating it like her own home, without any hint of being an outsider. In fact, Xiao Cui had been here every day for the past few days, and she was already familiar with all the various items in the house.
Moreover, she had come as part of Li Yueru's dowry, so she could now be considered a member of the Zhuang family.
Here, she was like family, while Li Xian was the guest. Her hosting him was completely natural.
Zhuang Buzhou didn't find this unusual, nor did Li Xian find it inappropriate.
“Mount Buzhou, what exactly happened in the Red Chamber? Also, last night, someone from the Red Chamber came looking for Yueru. How is Yueru now? Is she alright?” Li Xian had no mind for tea now. After they sat down, he quickly asked Zhuang Buzhou.
These were the questions he was most concerned about.
“Second Uncle, please rest assured, Yueru is very safe now. I have used some special methods to temporarily hide Yueru, and the Red Chamber has no way of finding her. As long as she isn't found by the Red Chamber, Yueru will be safe and sound. As for the Red Chamber, it should have already left, but the impact it has had on Qingyun City is just beginning. Both the dead and the living inside will bring immense changes to this place,”
Zhuang Buzhou said slowly.
He only revealed to Li Xian that Yueru was safe. As for the Other Shore Space, he didn't reveal anything at all. The less known about the Other Shore Space, the better; knowing too much could bring disaster.
“This is a letter Yueru wrote to you.”
He took an unopened letter from his embrace and handed it to Li Xian.
Li Xian saw it, quickly took it, tore it open, and rapidly read the family letter. As he read, the expression on his face constantly changed, showing relief, happiness, worry, and more. His emotions appeared very complex.
“Mount Buzhou, I have read Yueru’s family letter. She said in it that she needs some daily necessities. Although I don’t know where she is now, it’s enough as long as she’s safe and sound. If anything happened to her, I really wouldn't be able to account for it to her parents.”
Li Xian let out a soft sigh, looked at Zhuang Buzhou, and said seriously.
“Second Uncle, rest assured, Yueru is also my wife. No matter what, I will ensure her safety.”
Zhuang Buzhou said again.
“That’s good. In that case, I'll leave Yueru to you, Mount Buzhou.” Li Xian nodded his head. He understood Zhuang Buzhou; otherwise, he wouldn't have felt comfortable marrying Li Yueru to him. With the family letter as proof, his trust grew even stronger.
“As for the various supplies Yueru mentioned in her letter, I will take care of procuring them. At this time, there are too many Spirit Masters in the city, so it’s best if you don’t act rashly. The Red Chamber is too strange; if they find Yueru’s whereabouts through some method, that would be terrible. Whatever you need, I’ll have people purchase it in batches. Also, my Li family also has savings, and many things can be transferred from my Li family.”
A shrewd glint flashed in Li Xian’s eyes.
“Alright then, I’ll trouble Second Uncle with these matters.”
Zhuang Buzhou heard this and nodded with a smile, agreeing.
Procuring those items, though not large in quantity, involved many types of goods. With Li Xian, the official, handling it, it was better than him doing it himself, and it wouldn't attract attention.
“Such a vital person as Yueru has simply vanished. If the outside world knew, it would definitely cause controversy. What do you plan to do next?”
Li Xian picked up his teacup, blew on it, took a sip, and asked.
Previously, many Spirit Masters had already seen people from the Red Chamber enter the Zhuang family courtyard. Although they didn't know what happened inside, if Li Yueru didn't appear for a long time, it would certainly cause some controversy and might even bring trouble. The Demon Suppression Division people were arriving soon, and they would definitely intervene and inquire about anything related to the Red Chamber.
“Second Uncle, I plan to leave Qingyun City after some time and travel to other places. Firstly, I can temporarily avoid the turmoil, and secondly, I can also see different sights. You should know that I have always wanted to go out and see different scenery.”
Zhuang Buzhou said calmly.
“Hmm, Qingyun City can’t hold you, and even more so now that you’ve become a Spirit Master. Tell me if you need anything at all. We are all family now. There’s no need for formalities.” Li Xian nodded and said.
Regarding Zhuang Buzhou, from the first glance, he noticed a special temperament about him that was different from ordinary people.
He was no ordinary person; Qingyun City could not contain his footsteps.
Now, it seemed to be true.
However, Li Xian would only feel happy about this situation.
They were family; if one suffered, all suffered; if one prospered, all prospered.
This relationship was extremely close.
He didn't stay too long. After finishing the tea in front of him, Li Xian turned and left. Xiao Cui stayed behind.
Just as Xiao Cui was about to tidy up the tea set, Zhuang Buzhou called out to her.
“Xiao Cui, there’s something I’d like to ask your opinion on.”
“Young Master, just give your orders.” Xiao Cui quickly said upon hearing him.
According to the customs of this era, she was a dowry maid. Having come here, she was now a member of the Zhuang family. There was no need to ask for her opinion; any matter could simply be ordered. Being addressed so formally made her feel somewhat overwhelmed, yet deep down, she felt a strange sense of emotion.
That was, it felt very comfortable.
He was very different from the other people she had encountered before.
“Yueru is currently in a hidden place. You and Yueru have been together for many years, and I want to ask you if you are willing to go with her and keep her company. That way, you can have each other’s companionship and not be too lonely.”
Zhuang Buzhou looked earnestly into Xiao Cui’s eyes and said gently, “Of course, it doesn’t matter whether you are willing or not. My Zhuang family will always have a place for you. This is for you to decide. This is your freedom.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui felt a surge of emotion and quickly nodded, saying, “Young Master, no need to consider. Xiao Cui is willing. It would be wonderful to be able to accompany Young Miss. Xiao Cui is also very happy to be by Young Master’s side.”
Being with Zhuang Buzhou, she could feel a very special kind of respect. Although she couldn't articulate it, she could feel it.
This human respect made him exude a special personal charm.
For the opposite sex, it had an even more special appeal.
“Good, in that case, I will send you over later.”
Zhuang Buzhou heard this, nodded his head, and said.
Xiao Cui making such a choice was naturally for the best; this could be considered a happy outcome for everyone.
For Zhuang Buzhou, it was just one more person in the Other Shore Space, completely not an issue.
“That’s wonderful! I can be with Young Miss again.”
Xiao Cui was also very happy.
No matter where she was, being with her Young Miss meant she feared nothing. They had been close friends since childhood, and Li Yueru had never treated her as a servant or maid.
“Hmm, that’s good. You go ahead and pack your and Yueru’s things—clothes, daily necessities, and so on. Don’t leave anything behind. Once you go this time, you probably won’t be able to come out easily again.” Zhuang Buzhou nodded and instructed.
“Understood, Young Master.”
Xiao Cui smiled sweetly and agreed.
Li Xian was indeed very efficient. Soon, servants from the Li Mansion arrived at the Zhuang family with various items.
First were Li Yueru's various clothes and personal items. There were existing ones, and also some bought from the clothing store today. These alone filled several large boxes. There were also chickens, ducks, and geese, three pairs of each were sent over, along with various vegetable and fruit seeds that could be found in the city. Even enough grain for two or three people for a year was prepared. All kinds of items were fully purchased, including tableware and jewelry, truly everything imaginable.
It was more thorough than moving house.
After dropping off the items, the people from the Li family, seemingly having received instructions, did not linger and left immediately.
Naturally, all these items filling the room were swiftly brought into the Other Shore Space.
After completing these tasks, Xiao Cui was then sent into the Other Shore Space as well.
In the Other Shore Space, after Xiao Cui and Li Yueru met, their joy was, of course, beyond words. After witnessing the marvel of the Other Shore Space firsthand, Xiao Cui grew even more reverent and admiring of Zhuang Buzhou.
Her gaze had changed.
Subsequently, the three of them together planned the space.
First, they tilled a vegetable garden and sowed various vegetable and fruit seeds. Of course, to be precise, the varieties of these seeds were not many, only a few kinds: Chinese cabbage, regular cabbage, wild vegetables, chili peppers, cucumbers, winter melons, pumpkins, and so on. There were no others. In this era, the development and knowledge of various foods were far less abundant than in his previous life. One could only say it was ordinary.
They also built a chicken coop, a duck pen, and a goose cage. The space was a bit small now, so they couldn't let them run around freely. If they were to ruin the medicinal herbs, vegetables, and fruits in the ground, that would not be good.
In the pond, various live fish specially sourced by the Li family were placed.
Carp, grass carp, yellow eels, loaches, small Dragon prawns, as well as captured frogs, bullfrogs, and pond snails from ditches. There weren't many of each, but once placed in the pond, they would quickly multiply. Before long, they would be able to taste various delicious fish.
Thinking of delicious fish soup, crispy yellow eels, tasty loaches, spicy small Dragon prawns, stir-fried bullfrogs, and spicy pond snails.
Immediately, he couldn't help but drool.
Unfortunately, there were still too few seasonings here, so it was impossible to achieve the richness of his previous life. He could only collect them slowly in the future.
What could be found were ginger, spring onions, and garlic. These had also been sent over and were already planted, so they would be self-sufficient in the future.
Another plot of farmland was opened nearby, and rice seeds were sown. Not much was planted, only about half an acre.
“Alright, in our Other Shore Space, the growth rate is ten times that of the outside world. These planted seeds will quickly take root, sprout, and grow again. Moreover, the growing environment here can adapt to all species and continuously optimize them, even leading to evolution. The reproduction speed is faster, and the taste is even more delicious.”
Zhuang Buzhou said, clapping his hands with a smile.