"It's about the manners and etiquette of young ladies, not just affectations," Old Medicine Master chuckled, gently reprimanding Xiangbei.
He understood her thoughts and saw the enthusiasm of the hunters in these mountains for a better life in recent days, which actually mirrored his own long-standing wish.
This time, his daughter-in-law returned assertively, displaying the demeanor befitting the eldest daughter nurtured in a family of military achievements. His son, however, always behaved the same way in front of her, obedient and submissive. It was tough on Xiaobei, who was even less favored than Jingjing.
Traveling over mountains and collecting herbs, it might be challenging for her to become the refined young lady his daughter-in-law desired. Nevertheless, considering how this child had been helping him manage the household since she was eleven or twelve, he was willing to play the villain if it meant protecting her a bit more.
"Xiaobei, Grandfather understands you. She is your mother, and in doing so, she believes it's for your own good, wanting to make amends for you. How many people do you know who endure mistreatment but still insist on giving away their money? She might be a bit too impatient, not explaining things well to you. Would it be alright if Grandfather talks to her? Let's give it a year before discussing marriage, alright? But during this year, make sure to get along well with your mother."
"Really?! Thank you, Grandfather." Xiangbei happily hugged her grandfather and then dashed back to her room like a gust of wind.
Closing the door, she entered her space, skipping the usual practice of Tai Chi KongFu, breathing and instead grabbed paper and pen to jot down various plans.
One year was a short time, but with her space "20 times accelerated time flow" acting as a cheat tool, it should be manageable, right?
The new school in Southern Nan Street would initially offer courses in literacy, numeracy, bookkeeping, basic arithmetic, supermarket and store management, customer service, cashiering, warehousing, and understanding and promoting new products.
Along the street, businesses would include North-South Supermarket, fast food delivery, bathing and beauty leisure tea bars, and a carriage station—providing practical training grounds for the new curriculum, focusing on cultivating talents for the future chain development of city inns and N-S Supermarkets.
From the redesign plans of Nan Street to the content of the new school's courses, Xiangbei ate fruit and hot spring eggs when hungry, drank coconut juice when thirsty, and switched to writing or drawing at the bamboo house by the shore of Lagoon when tired.
When feeling fatigued, she practiced Tai Chi and meditated in the Jade Snowflake Cave. After about seven or eight days, looking at the thick five volumes of pencil manuscripts bound with bamboo silk in her hands, Xiangbei took a long breath, whimsically stripped off her outer clothes, shoes, and socks, and ran into the calm and blue waters of the coral bay.
She swam freely and played with the fish. This was her world, serene and undisturbed—a sanctuary she created for herself and the ultimate assurance in this otherworldly realm.
Calculating the time, it should be dawn outside. Xiangbei emerged from the water and returned to Fuhai Pavilion, opening the parcel prepared by Cheng Mo.
She chose the outfit she wore when they went to Dongbin together, adorned with a pearl necklace. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, instinctively selecting memories that involved him.
Shaking her head to dispel any irrelevant thoughts, Xiangbei arrived at the waterfall valley to search for the several herbs her grandfather needed: Chuan Xiong, Long Zao (modernly called Ze Lan or land potato sprouts), Dan Shen, and Shen San Qi. Long Zao, like Dan Shen, was not uncommon in these mountains, and Shen San Qi could be found in the nearby hot spring valley. However, Chuan Xiong, abundant in Sichuan, Yunnan, and the mountains of Hunan and Hubei, seemed elusive within the unlocked range of her space. Perhaps she should inquire with Cheng Mo through a letter.
As she prepared to leave with a few medicinal herbs, Xiangbei's attention was drawn to several giant trees near the waterfall – ancient tea trees! At an elevation above 1000 meters, with mist spraying from the valley and the hot spring creating a humid and warm atmosphere, it was indeed an ideal environment for tea tree growth.
This meant that outside her space, there should be a similar community of these ancient tea trees in the mountain valley. Given the transition from spring to summer, she pondered whether to produce a batch of red tea for the Southern Seas region.