Valle del Hombre Salvaje de Qingshan

Capítulo 57

"Your boss is quite an interesting person. I'm curious to see what kind of dishes he'll prepare for me." After Mo Xibei walked away, the young master smiled and looked at the door, speaking to Xiu Wen, who had remained silent inside the room.

"All I can say is, let's wait and see," Xiu Wen replied briefly, glancing towards the door.

Half an hour later, Mo Xibei returned, accompanied by six brightly dressed young women. One, with her hair elaborately styled in a bun, carried a food box and followed her in single file. Each girl wore a different fresh flower in her hair, but no perfume was applied to her body. After entering the room, they stood in a neat row. A moment later, a faint floral fragrance filled the room.

"Is the boss perhaps unable to prepare any special dishes and instead planning a 'beauty feast' for me?" the young master asked with a slight smile. He stared at Mo Xibei with great interest. The food box was tightly sealed, making it impossible to discern the contents or detect any aroma.

"Whether this is special or not, you'll only know after you've tasted it." Mo Xibei, on the other hand, was delighted and showed no sign of embarrassment. He personally took the food boxes, opened them one by one on the table, and arranged them neatly.

The young master and Xiu Wen were both very curious and gathered around the table to examine the food closely. The first dish was a vibrant mix of white and green, with a side dish of yellow condiments. The second dish consisted of dozens of diced fresh fruits, accompanied by a thick, milky sauce. The third dish was quite peculiar, a large, bright red plate with plenty of chili peppers and garlic. The ingredients inside resembled shrimp, but were much larger and had claws, though they weren't crabs. The fourth dish was also predominantly red, with chili peppers and small, bone-in meat pieces each making up about half the table, along with a generous amount of Sichuan peppercorns. The fifth food box contained a bowl of thick, white soup, its ingredients unclear, but a milky aroma wafted out as soon as the lid was opened. The young master and Xiu Wen exchanged a glance, then focused their attention on the sixth food box. Mo Xibei calmly opened it; inside was nothing special: a bowl of white rice, two pairs of silver chopsticks, and two silver spoons—nothing more.

"Is this the dish the boss prepared according to my taste?" The young master sat down and asked Mo Xibei.

“That’s right, these are all.” Mo Xibei nodded, picked up a pair of silver chopsticks, poured the seasoning from the first dish into the dish, mixed it quickly, then poured the seasoning from the second dish onto the dish, and then indicated that it was ready to taste.

The young master remained unmoved. Mo Xibei hesitated for a moment, then sat down opposite him and began to eat each dish. The host ate before the guest, causing the young women standing nearby to pause in surprise. Mo Xibei waved for them to leave, swallowed a mouthful of soup, rinsed his mouth with tea after a moment, and then smiled at the young master, saying, "I am extremely satisfied with these dishes. I wonder if you will be satisfied as well, sir."

The young master tucked his fan into the eight-treasure fan pouch at his waist and tasted the first dish. The white dish was tofu, which he recognized. The other dish, white on top and green on the bottom, was scallions, which he had only seen occasionally when he ran into the kitchen as a child. But he had never eaten such large pieces of scallions in a dish before. He took a bite and found it slightly spicy with a hint of sweetness and a rich, savory sauce flavor. It was very unique. He couldn't help but take another bite before asking, "Is this tofu with sauce?"

“Wrong,” Mo Xibei shook his head, “This is called crystal clear.”

The young master remained silent and ate the second dish. The fruit was fresh and juicy, with various flavors. The white, milky, viscous dressing on top of the fruit was sweet and palatable, neutralizing the slight sourness of the fruit and highlighting its sweetness and refreshing taste. Before he could ask, Mo Xibei had already explained, "This dish is called Childhood Sweethearts."

"What do you mean by that?" The young master raised an eyebrow slightly. It was true that there were plums among the fruits, but the idea of childhood sweethearts was a bit far-fetched.

“The fruits I’ve chosen are all sweet with a hint of tartness, much like the emotions of youth—mostly sweet, but occasionally a little sour,” Mo Xibei remarked. The young master picked up a third dish. When Mo Xibei ate the shrimp-like thing earlier, he had torn off the top half, leaving only the bottom half, peeling and extracting the flesh. The young master did the same. The flavor was spicy and tender, and the texture was surprisingly good. He couldn’t resist eating another one before asking Mo Xibei, “What’s this strange name?”

"You have to give up something to gain something," Mo Xibei explained. "In my hometown, we call this kind of shrimp 'Lagu.' It has a big body and a small tail. Although the body is big, it is inedible. Although the tail is small, it is very delicious when cooked with spicy sauce. When eating it, you have to discard the body and head first in order to enjoy the deliciousness."

The young master didn't rush to eat the fourth dish. Instead, he used his chopsticks to stir it. Hidden inside the chili peppers were many small pieces of meat. He picked one up and put it in his mouth. His tongue went numb for a moment, followed by a wonderful aroma that filled his mouth. After swallowing the meat, his tongue still felt spicy, which wasn't quite enough. So he ate another piece to continue numbing his tongue. After several bites, seeing that Mo Xibei still didn't say anything, he couldn't help but ask, "What philosophy of life is in this dish?"

"A dish is just a dish, what life philosophy could it possibly have?" Mo Xibei smiled and blinked innocently. "The name of this dish is quite fitting, it's called Spicy Chicken Cubes. If you find it too spicy, you might as well have some Green Plum Bamboo Shoots, or you can have some rice with it. Oh, and this soup is also quite good."

The young gentleman went to drink the soup, but to his surprise, it wasn't chicken or fish soup at all. It was a sweet soup, and after a couple of sips, he found it to be very creamy without any fishy or gamey taste. There was even corn in the soup. He recognized this kind of corn; it was a seed that Zheng He brought back from the Western Seas. It wasn't widely cultivated in the countryside, but it was sometimes supplied to local areas every year. He had never eaten it like this before, though it was tender, smooth, and sweet.

The numbing and spicy sensation in his mouth subsided, and he couldn't help but taste it again. Mo Xibei, who had been standing by, finally said, "I have fulfilled all of your requests, young master. I wonder if you are satisfied?"

"It's flashy and clever, but it does meet my requirements, so I'll consider it a success." The young master nodded. "I will send someone to deliver the generous gift I promised you within a few days."

"Thank you very much." Mo Xibei nodded.

"The boss is a very interesting person. Tomorrow, I have invited a variety show troupe from the Western Regions to perform at my home. I wonder if the boss would be willing to grace my humble abode with his presence and join us for some fun?" The young master got up, but stopped at the door and asked Mo Xibei.

"Tomorrow? I'm afraid that won't work." Mo Xibei frowned, feeling that he had been too curious and had shown off too much today, and was inclined to refuse.

I'm calling for recommendation votes for next month. I'll be resting tomorrow and try to update twice, haha. First, I wish everyone a Happy New Year!!!

Volume Two: Traces Left by the Wind, Chapter Thirteen: Considerations (Part Two)

"Oh!" The young master nodded, saying with a hint of regret, "That's a real pity. This acrobatic troupe from the Western Regions is only staying in the capital for two days. I heard that their performances are very exciting. My family spent a lot of money to persuade the troupe leader to come all this way."

"Brother Mo!" Just as Mo Xibei was about to say that it was indeed a pity, footsteps sounded in the corridor, and a girl rushed to the door of the elegant room. She called out once and then pushed the door open.

At that moment, the young master was standing at the door. He was caught off guard and almost hit by the door, so he instinctively pushed it away.

"Ah!" The girl outside the door exclaimed in surprise. Her voice was so delicate that it almost penetrated to the bone. The young man quickly pulled the door open again. Mo Xibei was familiar with that voice. In an instant, she suddenly had a strange feeling.

As the door opened, Murong Lianyun clutched her hand, trembling with pain, tears welling in her eyes. She had become slightly thinner these past few days, her chin sharper, making her face appear even more delicate. Only her large, pitiful eyes blinked like those of a frightened animal. Her simple clothes made her look exceptionally beautiful and refined. Even a woman like Mo Xibei felt a slight tremor at her sight. The young man was naturally taken aback and almost involuntarily stepped forward, taking her slender hand that had been caught in the door, and softly asked, "Miss, is your hand alright?"

Murong Lianyun seemed caught off guard by the young man's sudden grasp of her hand. Her face flushed almost instantly, and she quickly withdrew her hand, stepping back to hide it behind her back. Her gaze swept over the young man's face before turning to Mo Xibei, who was approaching her, and she said awkwardly, "Brother Mo, touch it... I don't know what it ate, it's convulsing." With that, tears streamed down her face.

These days, in the building, Murong Lianyun still calls Mo Xibei "Big Brother," a name Mo Xibei specifically instructed her to use for convenience. Diandian is a rabbit the family cook bought a few days ago, and Mo Xibei casually named it Diandian because its white fur has a few black spots. Strangely enough, this rabbit is exceptionally intelligent. No one has taught it anything, but it's very clean, relieving itself in the designated spot every day. It also has a natural love for following people, often following Mo Xibei closely. Whenever Mo Xibei eats, it stands on its hind legs, looking at her pitifully, almost bowing. Mo Xibei jokingly calls it "Rabbit Dog." She usually adores it, but now, hearing this, she's a little worried.

"What are 'dots'?" The young master seemed a bit confused. Seeing Murong Lianyun's tears, he grew somewhat anxious. He said, "I know a little about medicine. Why don't you take me to see if I can help?"

"Really?" Murong Lianyun stood upside down, her face full of surprise, tears still glistening in the corners of her eyes, but a bright smile bloomed on her face. The entire corridor instantly brightened up. She grabbed the young man and ran downstairs.

“This Miss Murong…” Xiu Wen stood behind Mo Xibei, arms crossed, said this half sentence, then walked around Mo Xibei and left on his own.

Mo Xibei also sighed, but he didn't feel relieved at all.

When she returned to the inner courtyard, in front of Dian Dian's nest, Murong Lianyun was nestled in the arms of the young master, crying sadly. The young master was obviously patiently comforting her, and neither of them noticed Mo Xibei approaching.

Squatting in front of the nest, Diandian no longer ran out as quickly as usual, rubbing its nose against Mo Xibei's hand, nor did it lick her with its little pink tongue. In fact, it lay motionless in the nest forever. Mo Xibei reached out and stroked its fur. The once smooth white fur was dry and stiff today, no longer warm.

"I didn't know that Diandian was... a rabbit." After Lian Yun finally stopped crying, the young master said to Mo Xibei with a little embarrassment, "I know a little about treating people, but I can't help rabbits... rabbits."

"Young master, you're too kind. It's just a rabbit." Mo Xibei stood up, quickly swallowed his tears, and answered calmly. He then reached out and pulled Murong Lianyun over. A maid had already rushed over and, seeing Mo Xibei's expression, quickly stepped forward, half-dragging and half-supporting Lianyun, and carried her back.

"Who is this young lady in your household?" The young man asked after a long while, his gaze following Murong Lianyun's figure as she disappeared at the bend in the path.

“Oh, a friend,” Mo Xibei said casually.

"Would you like to stay here? Where is your home?" the young man continued to ask.

“There are many things about a young lady that I cannot disclose, even if you ask,” Mo Xibei said with a faint smile. “I’ve taken up a lot of your time, and I suppose you have other matters to attend to, so I won’t linger any longer.”

Having said that, the young man had no choice but to take his leave. However, that evening, a young boy dressed in a brand-new blue cloth shirt and a small hat, dressed as a servant, came to deliver a long-haired rabbit, saying it was for the girl whose rabbit had died during the day to enjoy.

After dismissing the servants, Mo Xibei hugged the Angora rabbit to her chest. These rabbits were tributes from the West, not from the imperial palace, and were incredibly rare, worth a fortune. Mo Xibei was now certain that the young man from earlier that day was the same young man who had come with Huang Jin that night, and very likely the current emperor. However, Murong Lianyun's sudden appearance today raised her suspicions. Had Murong Lianyun also discovered something, or perhaps even been planning something?

She didn't hand the rabbit over to Lianyun, but secretly took it to Chunfeng Ruyi Tower and entrusted it to the staff to take care of. She kept it in her own private room. Diandian was her pet rabbit, so she had no problem keeping it. Besides, since she had become suspicious of Murong Lianyun, how could she possibly send something that revealed her identity to someone who might have ulterior motives?

For the next few days, the young master came almost every day. Mu Feinan still hadn't returned. Mo Xibei had plenty of free time, so he talked to him every day. Several times, the young master mentioned Murong Lianyun, but Mo Xibei changed the subject. So, he stopped mentioning it. On the contrary, he seemed more interested in Mo Xibei's affairs, asking about everything from when he was a few years old, no matter how small, and wouldn't let go. So, Mo Xibei lamented that he had shot himself in the foot.

On the other hand, Murong Lianyun also quieted down and stopped coming to the front. Apart from learning some housekeeping skills from Honglu, he spent most of his time staying in his room and not going out. Honglu, following Mo Xibei's instructions, tried to stay by Lianyun's side during the day, and nothing happened.

Waaah, I found comments saying I'm too slow, it's so painful... My right eye hurt a lot yesterday, and my vision was blurry. I was worried about overusing my eyes, so I used eye drops, but it didn't help. I was scared and went to sleep. I didn't dare go online during the day today. I'm innocent! This month, the company layoffs have been so upsetting, and my body is protesting everywhere... Waaah, it won't be like this next month. I'll update an extra chapter today to make up for yesterday's.