Chapter Seventy-Two: Human or Ghost

  "Here." Song Wen came before Huang Xiaojun, smiling and saying.

  "Uh-huh."

  Huang Xiaojun responded with a sound, looking at him carrying the hoe, and suddenly thought of Stephen Chow holding a DRYMARTINI in "From Beijing with Love" with a hint of elegance.

  The same sloppy man exudes a suffocating charm that makes you irresistible.

  Her messy heart suddenly started beating "thump thump thump" at this moment, and she couldn't help but scold herself silently, thinking when did she become so infatuated. It's all because of her age and the old man at home nagging that made her have an urge to get married whenever she saw a man who felt right.

  She admitted that the man in front of her was a bit handsome and had some charm, the dishes he cooked were also delicious, and he took good care of his family. He was a model for men among women, but even so, it wasn't enough to make her rush over like a moth to flame, was it? She didn't understand him at all, in fact she knew nothing about him, shouldn't they get to know each other first?

  Also don't know what thought of, face suddenly a piece of blush.

  "What's wrong with you!" Seeing her face slightly red, Song Wen asked with concern.

  A masculine aura rushed forward, making people infatuated. That little heart beat more and more violently. Huang Xiaojun involuntarily took a step back.

  "Nothing... nothing at all."

  It also felt like the conversation between the two was too ambiguous, as if they were pouring out their hearts to each other like long-lost lovers. She couldn't help but bite her lip tightly, lowering her head in a fluster and fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.

  At that moment, Song Wen's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a white flash before him, and it seemed like there was also a faint scar, and even a hint of redness on the milky white scar. For an instant, his chest surged with an inexplicable emotion, and two streams of hot blood were about to burst out from his nostrils. He hastily took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed it.

  Chi Qiao Sheng saw Huang Xiao Jun's coquettish and childish posture, exchanged a glance with Qin Fu, and burst out laughing.

  Although Huang Xiaojun had many suitors around her, they had never seen anything like this before.

  "Mr. Chi and Mr. Qin, please come in."

  Song Wen called out to Chi Qiao Sheng and Qin Fu, then took the lead in walking forward. His nose was stuffed with two streams of hot blood, almost making him breathe poorly, if he didn't deal with it soon, later on it would really spurt out, that would be truly humiliating.

  Seeing him walk in first, Chi Qiao Sheng and Qin Fu didn't think much of it either, so they followed together, leaving only Huang Xiao Jun who was still hesitating on the spot. It wasn't until several people had walked a distance that she came to her senses and hurriedly caught up.

  "It's really a picturesque landscape, I didn't expect such a great place here." Qiao Sheng walked and looked around, gazing at the distant mountains, the quiet bamboo forest, and the lake like a piece of jade, and couldn't help but exclaim again.

  "I really didn't expect it, I've been to Songjiapu before, but I didn't know there was such a place here, it's really worth coming. In the summer, if you find a few good friends, come here to fish, drink wine, and play in the water, it's quite enjoyable." Qin Fu nodded beside him.

  "This side is also newly built, how did Grandpa Qin know. Song Wen also has a house in the village below, it's said that he liked this place when he came back from outside and had a house built here, saying he wanted to spend his old age here." Huang Xiaojun said beside him.

  "Hehe, retirement is for us old folks, young people shouldn't have such thoughts."

  The three of them walked towards the courtyard while chatting and breathing in the refreshing air by the lake under the bamboo forest.

  Song Wen rushed back to the yard, leaned over the edge of the pool and blew his nose hard, estimating that he had lost at least a few taels of blood. He didn't know how much food it would take to make up for it. It seemed that he was still too young and too impulsive. Tomorrow, he should get some herbal medicine to brew a soup to calm down the fire, or else he would be in trouble.

  Chi Qiao Sheng and Qin Fu walked into the courtyard, sizing each other up.

  The tall Minnan-style saddle-shaped double-eared building, with red tiles and white strip stones, gives people a sense of rustic intimacy at first sight.

  Under the eaves, a plump little dog curled up on old clothes, it's unknown whether it was sleeping or awake, its small tail wagging constantly.

  Next to it is a cute little cat, the cat mischievously stretches out its paws and keeps scratching the tail of the lively little dog, having endless fun.

  Next to it is a stone mill about two palm sizes, and an old stone mortar used for pounding rice, giving off a very nostalgic flavor.

  This stone millstone was picked up by Song Wen from the village, now people use machines, these old things are abandoned. Song Wen thought it was a pity to throw it away on the side of the road, so he asked Song Hu for help to carry it back home, and in the future when they want to grind something or pound something, they can also use it, instead of running down the mountain.

  The two men sized up the yard, nodded secretly, and felt that this small courtyard was quite to their taste.

  Suddenly, Chi Qiao Sheng was attracted by an old plum blossom on a corner flower stand.

  He couldn't believe his eyes as he walked to the side of the winter plum, looking at the old winter plum that had sprouted flower buds, grown bright green leaves and new branches, trembling with fear, stretching out his hand to touch it, unable to believe, can't believe, hard to believe.

  "Is... is this my Crane's Cry in the Clouds?"

  "Yes." Song Wen replied beside him.

  "It's really... it's really... my crane's cry echoes in the clouds, haha! The old man has opened his eyes!" Chi Qiao Sheng threw back his head and laughed loudly, his face filled with joy, relief and other emotions, as tears of excitement streamed down his cheeks.

  Song Wen couldn't understand the old man's emotions and felt that there was nothing to cry about. Only Qin Fu understood, comforting him by patting his shoulder.

  This old pot of jasmine is a legacy from Chi Qiao Sheng's ancestors, accompanying him as he grew up, witnessing his birth, growth and success. It has become not only a potted landscape but also Chi Qiao Sheng's family, friends and lifelong confidant. Although this confidant cannot speak, whenever he feels joyful, successful, angry, lonely, helpless or happy, he always comes to its side to whisper to it softly, letting it share all his feelings. Because it is his best listening partner.

  "Grandpa, you should be happy instead, why are you crying?"

  Huang Xiaojun rushed forward to comfort her, but upon closer inspection, she was shocked and couldn't speak.

  She thought Lao Gan was just alive, but actually wasn't.

  On the old branches of the winter plum, buds, leaves and new twigs have all sprouted again. The whole tree has been rejuvenated, exuding a thriving vitality that is even more vibrant than when it was alive before, with an extra dose of life force bursting forth.

  It's hard not to think of Song Wen when looking at this person's methods, which are truly too bizarre and unbelievable. If curing that old Osmanthus tree was just luck, then saving this ancient Prunus mume is a miracle, a miracle he created.

  He couldn't believe it and asked Song Wen in surprise: "Are you human or ghost?!"

  This old withered plum blossom has been seen by many gardening experts who all said it couldn't be saved, but unexpectedly he managed to revive it and now it's even more vibrant than before. Anyone with eyes that can see wouldn't believe the reality unfolding before their eyes.

  "What do you think?" Song Wen asked back.

  "How do I know?"

  Huang Xiaojun glared at him with a bad temper, couldn't help but stretch out her hand to pinch his face, wanting to see if the person in front of her was really human, yet completely unaware that this action was so ambiguous, so un-ladylike, and so inconsistent with her character.

  Song Wen took a look and hastily moved his head back, snatching the hand that was about to scratch her face, but she pinched his ear instead.

  "Wow... let go."

  Huang Xiaojun pinched and pulled lightly, feeling that it was indeed a person, then nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, it's a person."

  Song Wen only felt a group of crows flying over his head, and then another group of crows flew back. You're a banana pancake.

  "Of course it's human."

  Song Wen irritably rubbed his ears, originally thinking Huang Xiaojun was gentle and ladylike, a kind of elegant and refined fairy-like figure who couldn't be offended. Unexpectedly, she also had curiosity and gossipy desires like ordinary women. Alas, nowadays' women are indeed not to be judged by appearance.

  He couldn't help but say to Pool Jiao beside him: "Pool Lao, isn't she your granddaughter? Why don't you manage her?"

  "Hehe, I can't control it."

  Qiao Sheng looked at them bickering and smiled, stroking his white goatee, then looked at Lao Gan's preserved plum and sighed: "Little friend, you really saved my life!"

  "I don't dare to say, it's actually also luck, I didn't even know if I could save him."

  Huang Xiaojun slightly pursed her lips, feeling that this person was full of nonsense. When she cured the old Osmanthus tree before, it seemed like he also said it was luck, and this time he said it was luck again. Did he use up all his luck on curing trees? Who would believe that.

  After taking a look, Chi Qiao Sheng slightly calmed down his excited mood and carefully examined the old Lao Gan Lan Mei. Qin Fu was also watching from the side, probably only he and Chi Qiao Sheng understood this old Lao Gan Lan Mei best in this world.

  After a careful examination, Chi Qiao Sheng had already clearly known in his heart that this old dried plum was saved.

  Looking at Song Wen, I feel that this young man is really not simple. As the owner of Lao Guan Mei, he certainly knows about Lao Guan Mei's condition, but unexpectedly, it was cured by this young man in front of him, and even more robust and full of vitality than before, it's simply too unbelievable.

  Qin Fu also had an unbelievable look on his face, he was originally going to buy a pot and "Crane's Cry Cloud Fly" this old bonsai plum blossom similar potted landscape to replace the dead old bonsai plum blossom, so that Chi Qiao wouldn't see the dead plum blossom incident, didn't expect this plum blossom actually got cured by him, unbelievable, too unbelievable.

  He had a lot to say, but at this time he didn't know where to start. He patted Song Wen's shoulder and said, "Good kid, you have a future."

  This remark doesn't sound quite right coming from Song Wen; it's more like something a high-ranking official would say when inspecting low-ranking soldiers.

  "Little friend, I don't know if this old Lao Jiang's illness has been cured or not?" Although he understood that Lao Jiang's illness had already been cured, Chi Qiao Sheng still had some doubts and wanted to personally hear the confirmation from Song Wen.

  "Uh-huh, it's completely fine."

  "Then can I take it back?" Qiao Sheng asked eagerly.

  "Of course."

  "Really."

  "Of course it's true."

  Qiao Sheng was so excited that he almost jumped up, turned around and hugged Lao Gan's Mei just to leave. But he didn't expect that he had been ill for a long time, his body was still very weak, although he hugged her, but his feet were soft, and he fell to the ground.

  Song Wen hastily supported and carried over Old Master Huang Mei.

  Although she almost fell down, Chi Qiao Sheng didn't mind, and happily moved the bonsai with Song Wen, calling for Qin Fu and Huang Xiao Jun to go back together.

  Qin Fu and Huang Xiao Jun saw him like this, couldn't help but smile bitterly, and had no choice but to follow up.

  Chi Qiao Sheng had the bonsai moved into the car and urged Huang Xiao Jun to hurry back, with a heart as swift as an arrow returning home.

  This old lantern accompanied him for nearly a lifetime, the emotions in it are beyond others' understanding. Without this old lantern by his side, he couldn't sleep well day and night. Now that he sees the lantern is fine, how could he not be overjoyed? To the point where he even forgot the most basic etiquette.

  It wasn't until the car had driven halfway there that Chi Qiao Sheng realized he was being rude.

  Arrived at someone's home, didn't even have a sip of tea or say a few words, took the thing and left without thanking them. Can't help but feel annoyed in my heart, having lived for so many years, yet forgetting this most basic thing. The car is almost home, turning back now would be too late, can only make it up another day by visiting again to thank them in person.

  He brought back the old plum blossom, Qi Jiao Sheng pruned it again, and then called his friends to come over, showing off his reborn old plum blossom, and boasting about Song Wen's tree-growing skills. He said how great he was, how divine his techniques were, and boasted that he was one of a kind in the world, with only one person like him left on earth.

  However, those old friends of his obviously didn't believe it, but the miracle of Lao Gan's plum blossoms was real. Just a while ago, they had all seen that Lao Gan's plum blossoms were almost dead.

  But they would never believe that a young man of less than thirty had such mastery over the trees, everything could only be attributed to a miracle. But even so, they still remembered the name Song Wen in their hearts.

  Under Qiao Sheng's promotion, Song Wen has gained some reputation in the flower circle of Nanzhou, but this reputation is not taken seriously by anyone, because no one believes that he can revive a withered old tree.