Chapter 11: Snow in the Little Green Garden
The Little Green Garden is situated at the foot of the Changxing Mountains. Although named the Little Green Garden, there isn't much green here. It seems to be perpetually stuck in autumn, with deep golden mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and red leaves falling mournfully, desolate yet peaceful.
Though it was the third month of spring, a heavy snow fell that day, covering the autumnal landscape with a thick layer of white.
Li Xiaoer, wearing thick cotton gloves, was sweeping the snow in front of the restaurant, feeling happy.
The Little Green Garden is a small place. The Guangfeng Restaurant where he worked, though one of only two large restaurants in the Town, usually had only lukewarm business.
But thanks to today's heavy snow, the main hall was, unusually, packed. All the patrons were people who usually made a living hunting and gathering medicinal herbs in the Changxing Mountains. Now, with the snow blocking the mountains, they had no choice but to find a place to drink and warm themselves.
His master, Manager Liu, had been bustling back and forth between the hall and the kitchen, occasionally personally cooking a few of his signature dishes, earning endless praise from the customers, which made him beam with joy. It was not unusual for a small business's manager to also be the chef.
At this moment, a short, stocky figure slowly walked along the snow-covered street from the misty end of the long street.
As he approached, Li Xiaoer looked closely and saw that it was a petite young girl wrapped in an extremely thick cotton padded jacket. Her small face, framed by a fluffy cotton hat, was red from the cold, and she carried a half-person-tall luggage on her back, clearly struggling to walk.
The girl walked all the way to the entrance of the Guangfeng Restaurant before Li Xiaoer quickly came to his senses, put down his broom, and went up to her, asking, "Miss, would you like to come in for something warm? Our manager's braised beef is delicious. Eating a bowl on a day like this will warm you all over..."
As he spoke, he reached out to help the young girl, who looked about his age, with her luggage, but she waved him off, saying it wasn't necessary, and pushed open the door, still carrying her luggage.
Inside the hall, a charcoal fire was burning, making it warm.
Li Xiaoer followed closely behind, only to see the girl look around as if searching for someone, then head straight towards the back kitchen.
He spread his arms to stop her, but then heard the girl call out, "Dad!"
A tall, strong, apron-clad middle-aged man poked his head out of the kitchen at the sound.
"By the Supreme God, is it my illusion? Why does it sound like my daughter's voice?"
That was Liu Ruhai, the manager and head chef of the Guangfeng Restaurant.
"I'm back, Dad!"
Li Xiaoer watched as the girl placed her luggage against the wall, then took off her snow-soaked hat and large cotton padded jacket. Her plump figure immediately slimmed down. Her black hair, simply tied in a high ponytail, fell over her shoulders, and her small, melon-seed-shaped face had skin like congealed fat. The parts of her cheeks reddened by the cold became like two rosy clouds when steamed by the indoor warmth, and her round, almond-shaped eyes were as clear as water.
Li Xiaoer was still staring blankly at the girl when a hand slapped him on the back of his head. His master said impatiently, "Stop staring! This is your Liu Sheng Jie!"
"This slow-witted kid is Li Yongbao, your Uncle Li's son. We all call him Xiao Er. He doesn't like to study, and he just came to learn cooking from me this month."
Liu Ruhai saw that Liu Sheng didn't remember him at all, so he added more details to jog her memory.
"Didn't you hold him all day when he was just born, almost dropping him on the ground?"
Upon hearing how dangerous his past had been, Li Xiaoer looked at the girl with a hint of fear.
Liu Sheng finally had some impression: "Oh, so you're that wrinkled, skinny monkey!"
Li Xiaoer remembered that Liu Sheng Jie had always been 'the child of others,' the only Genius in the Little Green Garden who got into a big academy outside. It was said that she even joined the Weaving Institute for public service, a legendary figure with a great future in his parents' eyes. They constantly told him to learn from her, but eventually gave up when they saw he was not material for studying, and told him to learn from her father instead.
He hadn't seen Liu Sheng Jie since she left the Little Green Garden for school. He didn't expect to be ridiculed upon meeting her. Was this how a Genius's mouth was?
Li Xiaoer wanted to cry but had no tears. He made an excuse about being busy and left, covering his face.
Liu Sheng felt a little embarrassed.
"This... I didn't mean to..."
"Don't mind that brat. He's very strong-willed, and his memory is poor. He'll forget about it in a while, guaranteed." Liu Ruhai didn't care much. "Was your journey back smooth?"
"Don't even get me started. As soon as I got off the carriage, I found the snow was everywhere, freezing me and making my nose run. I quickly bought a hat, jacket, boots, and gloves at the station. That shopkeeper was so cunning, secretly raising prices a lot because of the heavy snow..."
"The weather in the Changxing Mountains is even harder to predict than your mother's temper, there's nothing for it..."
"Dad, you shouldn't say that. Mom would skin you if she heard."
Liu Ruhai quickly shut up and helped his daughter lift the luggage by the wall. It was so heavy that his body swayed. "What's all this, you brought so many things?"
"Hiss, Dad, be careful, don't bump or scratch anything. Inside are the refined iron pot, knives, and other miscellaneous things I bought for you. Didn't you always say the city's craftsmanship is good? Seeing how greedy you are, I also bought some Li County pickled pears, cured ham, Dragon's Beard candy... And for Mom, I bought a Formation Plate, carving knives, and Spiritual Crystals, they're very precious."
"Oh, my child, you're just coming home, why be so polite and thoughtful? Besides, your dad isn't that greedy."
"Then, you don't want them?"
"No, I do! These are all from my precious daughter's filial piety!"
The two bickered as they passed through the restaurant's main hall and backyard, arriving at the small courtyard where the family lived.
The small courtyard was not large, but it was elegantly and serenely arranged, clearly meticulously cared for. A few strong bamboos in the corner of the wall and a few old plum trees under the eaves, adorned with snowflakes, exuded a unique charm.
Liu Sheng looked at the familiar and warm courtyard, feeling a warmth in her heart.
"I'll go get busy, I still need to make delicious food for you. You go see your mother first." Liu Ruhai placed the luggage in the main hall and turned to Liu Sheng.
"Dad, I want pig trotters soup!" Liu Sheng called out to Liu Ruhai's retreating back.
"I know, you always love that, my child."
Liu Ruhai waved his hand backward, indicating he knew.
Liu Sheng's mother, Ling Youlian, was the only Artifact Refiner in the Town. Her craftsmanship was excellent, and people usually sought her out for any Spiritual Artifacts that needed forging or repair. Liu Sheng's excellence in Artifact Refining might be partly due to her innate talent, partly inherited from her mother, and partly from family tradition.
Ling Youlian's Artifact Refining workshop was built in a corner of the small courtyard. Liu Sheng pushed open the door to her mother's workshop, and a warm aura rushed towards her.
The room was filled with various Materials and tools for Artifact Refining. In the center was a small Artifact Refining furnace, its fire burning brightly, emitting a soft glow.
A graceful and tall middle-aged woman was sitting attentively at her workbench, holding a half-finished Spiritual Artifact, meticulously carving it.
Hearing the door open, Ling Youlian looked up and saw Liu Sheng standing at the doorway, immediately filled with joyful surprise: "Sheng Sheng, why are you back?"
Liu Sheng walked forward and gently hugged her mother: "Mom, I missed you all, so I came back to see you."
Ling Youlian put down her tools and hugged Liu Sheng back, her face full of loving kindness.
"That's good. Come home and eat some of your dad's delicious food to nourish yourself. Look how thin you've become. Was it very hard for you outside?"
"Mom, it wasn't hard. My superiors and colleagues are all very good to me."
Liu Sheng shook her head, her eyes welling up, and buried her head in her mother's embrace to prevent her mother from seeing it.
In front of her mother, she always seemed unable to resist reverting to the unruly, noisy little girl she once was.
She took out the specially prepared gifts, packed in a large bag, and handed them to Ling Youlian: "Mom, I also earned money. Look, these are the things I bought for you."
Ling Youlian took them, took them out one by one, and examined them carefully, unable to put them down, her eyes revealing joy: "These things are of superior quality, and I can use them. You chose them so well. Thank you, Sheng Sheng."
"But you also need to save some money for yourself! Things outside are expensive, and you need money everywhere!" Ling Youlian said with a hint of disapproval, chastising her, "Not to mention, you'll get married someday and have your own small family. There will be many places to spend money."
"Mom, I'm not getting married. I want to be Mom's treasure forever." Liu Sheng blinked her eyes and whined, "Besides, I want to get promoted and get rich, I want to achieve success and fame, and I want to be a respected Artifact Refiner like Mom."
Ling Youlian listened, smiled, and patted Liu Sheng's head, full of doting affection.
"Good, good, my Sheng Sheng is the most amazing. You will definitely become a great Artifact Refiner in the future and earn lots and lots of money."