Xiangbei's wife, picked up by Tong Ding Shan while collecting herbs, may not be familiar with household chores, but she has a straightforward and generous temperament, displaying proper respect for elders and acting with moderation. Despite forgetting past events, she possesses impressive martial skills, moving seamlessly between tension and relaxation. On regular days, she enjoys practicing martial arts with the younger members of the family in the stone yard. Xiangbei, immersed in herbal medicine since childhood, rarely participates in these activities, making Jingjing, who is fascinated by martial arts like a wild child, bond with her like a mother and daughter.
The whole family follows Old Master Tong back. Here, the streams from the mountains converge into a winding river. Tong Xi and Jingjing, the two siblings, assist Old Master Tong in crossing the bridge first. This bridge, spanning eight meters in length and three meters in width, is constructed from two long logs, evident from its well-maintained surface indicating regular upkeep. After crossing the bridge, the density of the forest gradually decreases, allowing sunlight to filter through the treetops and cast a golden glow on the pine needles and fallen leaves along the mountain path. As seen in the space, looking into the distance reveals the unique position of this estate, occupying a small peak surrounded by three or four interconnected mountain bodies, closely adjacent to a towering mountain behind. The peak's giant stones are smooth and flat, shaped through decades of renovation and construction, forming the current layout: passing through the stone square, one enters a cluster of wooden houses composed of five or six independent courtyards at the foot of the mountain. Approaching, one can see three to five irregular terraced fields beneath the giant stones. In addition to several circles of mature crop fields, there are patches growing recently sprouted herbs and fields full of purple cloud flowers. The buzzing of bees intertwines into a harmonious melody.
"Lishen, with so many bees, do you think there might be a giant beehive nearby?" Xiangbei asked the only middle-aged woman in the crowd.
"Miss Bei, a few days ago, some boys chased the bees and found a large hive under that stone cliff. But it's not just one; it's a whole area, about five or six of them. They were planning to wait for your return to go harvest honey and roast lamb."
"Great! Let's go back quickly. Please, Uncle Li, make a few more beehives. We not only want to collect honey but also raise bees ourselves to harvest honey whenever we need it." Xiangbei remembered the expanding beehives in her space, and now it's the perfect time to make some beehives for the Tong family.
"Oh, Miss Bei, do you also know the art of raising these wild bees? I've never heard of these beehives before, and I'm not sure if I can make them the way you want." Tong Li expressed his gratitude and joy, tearfully gazing at her since the moment he first saw Xiangbei, finally coming forward to answer her question.
"Uncle Li, I'm sorry to have worried you these past few days. I accidentally fell into a valley, got lost, and was rescued by the manager of Fuhai Building in the town. He taught me many crafting techniques and even signed a contract to buy various mountain goods and hunting products from our mountain. I'll slowly share the experiences of these days when we get home."
"Miss, it's great that you're back. Manager Cheng is an extraordinary person. It's a huge stroke of luck for Miss. Whatever you want to do, Miss, take your time to rest, and Uncle Li will figure out how to do it." Tong Li, the skilled artisan, had already made up his mind. Seeing Miss return safely, he was determined to craft whatever she needed, no matter how challenging.
"Grandpa, this time I fell into a valley and collected many rare herbs. Unfortunately, when I tried to leave, I got lost wandering around. I don't know if I can find my way back next time. However, I took notes on many things and plan to plant them in our medicinal field. Also, about the Mandala flower, can we use it to make some hemp powder like the one in that ancient prescription? We could apply it on arrowheads to hunt larger wild animals, right?"
"You go back and freshen up first, don't keep talking about medicinal herbs. Tell everyone about your experiences later. We're all worried about you." Old Master Tong scolded her lovingly, showing both concern and affection.
"Okay, Grandpa. In a while, when Brother Chen has time, he'll help me bring the luggage to my room. I'll quickly come out after tidying up. Let's talk in detail when we have dinner together. Also, the big bag they brought back from the town has some new food to try. We should eat it quickly before it gets flattened. Everyone, including the new treats from town." As she spoke, everyone had already dispersed through the stone yard, getting busy with their respective tasks.
The gifts brought in by Cheng Mo were diverse and imaginative, ensuring that they would not be easily criticized.
Taking some casual clothes, she quickly took a refreshing bath in the hot spring within her space. She cooked some salted duck eggs by boiling them in the hot spring, scooped up some large prawns from the clear stream to blanch, and then brought out a few clay-baked chickens stored in the Snow Jade Cave. All of these were laid out on the table, creating a moment of tranquility in the air.