It started with a "let's give it a try" attitude.
To his surprise, the wilted broccoli perked up at the touch of the Spiritual Spring water, swelling visibly, and soon the once yellowed and dried pellets plumped up instantaneously.
Even the soft roots straightened up.
The seeds that had just been planted also burst through the soil in an instant, growing into small seedlings.
The broccoli here was actually what's called broccoli.
You should know, broccoli wasn't cheap these days.
Gu Chen hurriedly scooped more water to sprinkle on them.
As expected, the broccoli shot up in size, and in an instant, what was originally the size of a small finger grew to the size of a small mushroom.
The original seedlings had also grown quite a bit.
Overjoyed, Gu Chen hurriedly watered them again, and this time, the broccoli grew even larger, about the size of a fist.
Now, Gu Chen was really curious—it was growing too fast, wasn't it?
If he kept watering it like this, just how big could it grow?
He hurriedly scooped some more Spirit Spring Water to pour onto the land, but strangely, this time the broccoli didn't grow any larger.
Just as he was wondering why,
he suddenly heard a notification sound in his ear.
"Watering is limited to three times; 12 hours later, everything planted in the Spirit Field will grow automatically."
Hearing about the 12 hours, Gu Chen's brow twitched.
Does that mean he only needed to wait one night?
Will they be fully grown by tomorrow?
This system was kind of interesting.
While he was pondering this, he heard the sound of a door opening from the yard.
Without time to think further, Gu Chen swiftly exited the space.
Tangtang bounced in, running to Gu Chen with her hands spread for a hug.
"Daddy, Tangtang missed you~"
The little one acted so adorably, her soft voice incredibly sweet to hear.
Gu Chen's heart melted.
He stroked Tangtang's head, then kissed her cheek with a "smack."
"Daddy missed you too."
The child's face was QQ bouncy, her skin soft and incredibly delicate, too pleasant to the touch.
Tangtang pouted her rosy lips when Gu Chen kissed her, and with her little chubby hands clasping his head, she also gave a "smack" to his face in return.
Then she smiled with eyes curved in joy.
"Daddy, Tangtang wants to sleep with you~"
Gu Chen was taken aback for a moment.
"Okay!"
He agreed with full confidence.
Still, he was somewhat anxious inside.
After all, this was the first time in his two lifetimes that he had slept with Tangtang.
Seeing how readily Gu Chen agreed,
Ji Pianran next to him didn't speak but looked at him doubtfully.
Could he really handle it?
The little milk bun in her arms was over the moon, now smiling to reveal a small set of white teeth.
"Yay, Tangtang is going to sleep with Daddy tonight~"
Seeing the expression on Ji Pianran's face, Gu Chen knew she was worried he couldn't handle it, but he said nothing.
He just chuckled sheepishly.
"So, Tangtang, you'll sleep with me tonight?"
Ji Pianran nodded, "Okay, then..." She paused mid-sentence, suddenly bowing her head, her earlobes blushing. "I leave Tangtang to you."
She wanted to take a bath, but somehow saying this directly to Gu Chen felt a bit strange.
After all, he was rarely at home, and whenever Ji Pianran wanted to bathe, she always entrusted Tangtang to Aunt Zhang's care.
Gu Chen watched with a look of confusion.
This person, just fine a moment ago, seemed all of a sudden shy, didn't she?
But he didn't ask any more questions.
After all, it was his responsibility to put his child to bed.
He nodded, "Okay, don't worry."
With that, he carried Tangtang to his own room.
Father and daughter lay on the hardwood bed, and no matter how Gu Chen tried to get comfortable, he felt terribly uneasy, though Tangtang seemed not to mind at all.
She was already used to it.
Because Ji Pianran's bed was the same, a dry wooden board with a thin mattress on top, that was the bed.
Gu Chen held Tangtang in his arms and began to lull her to sleep.
"Cinderella," "Long-nosed Pinocchio."
And the story of the little duck.
He talked about whatever came to mind.
But he could only remember the gist of these stories, with all the details basically forgotten.
In any case, he made up one line here and another there.
After about half an hour of storytelling, Tangtang finally fell asleep.
Seeing that the little girl was still.
Gu Chen then quietly climbed out of bed, planning to go out to the yard for a smoke.
The moon outside was very round, and the stars were particularly bright.
Gu Chen had just taken out his cigarette and was fumbling in his pocket for the lighter when he was about to light up.
He heard the sound of running water coming from the kitchen.
The bungalow had a large yard and many rooms.
The kitchen was right opposite Gu Chen's room, and the one next to it belonged to Ji Pianran.
Gu Chen jumped, instinctively glancing into Ji Pianran's room.
He discovered that indeed, the light was off.
She must have already gone to bed by now.
So why was there the sound of water from the kitchen?
The more Gu Chen thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong.
Rural bungalows are not like city houses; the walls are low and small coal piles are set up outside, making it easy to climb up onto the roof.
Moreover, it was just before the New Year.
A time when households are storing up their New Year goods.
He wondered if someone could be trying to steal the meat or something else from the house.
With that in mind, he headed for the kitchen.
Without another word, he pushed open the kitchen door.
A mist of steam hit him in the face.
By the light of the moon, he caught sight of Ji Pianran bathing in a wooden tub.
Her skin was very white, her figure slender.
Her neck was even longer and more elegant.
Startled by the noise, Ji Pianran quickly sank deeper into the water.
"Who is it?"
Her voice was frantic.
Gu Chen, who had come in fists clenched ready to catch a thief, was taken aback by the sight and his fists immediately loosened.
He stammered out his words, "I, I thought there was a burglar in the house, I didn't realize you were taking a bath..."
Ji Pianran could never have imagined exposing herself completely bare before Gu Chen in this manner.
Her face turned red with embarrassment.
Fortunately, she hadn't turned on the light, so Gu Chen didn't see.
"We, we won't have thieves, um, you can go out first, I'll be done with my bath soon," she managed to say, her voice trembling with nervousness.
This was the first time Ji Pianran had been seen so nakedly by Gu Chen.
And considering their current relationship.
Which was already extremely tense.
Having Gu Chen see her body at a time like this made her feel incredibly awkward.
Gu Chen's throat suddenly felt tight at that moment.
He swallowed and walked out with his head down.
He hadn't realized before how good Ji Pianran's figure really was; just a view of her back.
Had already made Gu Chen feel disconcerted.
He was nervous yet secretly thrilled.
Nervous because he had seen Ji Pianran bathing.
Thrilled because he had been reborn!
He was glad he had been reborn.
Actually, when they first got married, Ji Pianran was quite good to him, always prioritizing him with any delicacies, and she learned her needlework after marrying Gu Chen.
Initially, she only wanted to make him a pair of well-fitting shoes.
But at that time, Gu Chen did not appreciate it, thinking that Ji Pianran's handiwork was poor.
That pair of shoes is still in the cupboard to this day.