Zhou Li stayed with Zheng Zhilan for five days.

There were intermittent rains for the first three days, and by the fifth day, the sun had dried up the earth again.

On the small hill behind, a group of sheep scattered to eat grass, like clusters of white cotton. A group of dogs lay under the shade of trees around, occasionally glancing up.

Zhou Li and Zheng Zhilan stood by a mountain ridge, picking a raspberry called Red Bubble.

The raspberries bear very well, and Zhou Li has seen this thing in the countryside when he was a child, but it doesn't grow as well as here. The raspberries here are like artificially cultivated ones, big and red, densely growing on the vines, dyeing the mountain ridges red.

Vines with thorns, Zhou Li is very careful.

He followed Zheng Zhilan's instructions and chose the bright red and plump ones to pick while eating.

Once cooked, it becomes sweet, while if it's not, it's a bit sour. Zhou Li occasionally hands a pill to Zheng Zhilan, saying that she actually prefers something slightly sour.

It's just morning, but the sun is already scorching hot on top of people's heads.

Zhou Li glanced at the dustpan held by Zheng Zhilan and saw that a layer had already been laid. He asked, "Is that enough

Zheng Zhilan reached out to touch it and said, "That's enough

So the two of them walked back.

Returning is the way down the mountain, with Zhou Li walking ahead and occasionally glancing back at Zheng Zhilan.

Zheng Zhilan quickly smiled and said, "It's okay, you can go. I won't fall

Zhou Li finally felt at ease.

After a while, he said, "I'm going back. I've been here too long, and if I stay at home any longer, my family will worry

There was no sound coming from behind.

As Zhou Li was about to turn his head, Zheng Zhilan's voice rang out, "Yes, when will you leave

In the afternoon

In the afternoon

What's wrong

It's nothing, if we leave this afternoon, I don't know if the ice cream can freeze, should it

Okay

Do you want to learn 'Golden Thread'

Come back next time

Okay

If you come to Yancheng, remember to find me too

Okay, I'll bring you a few more books. Some of them have solid and useful content. I forgot which ones, so I'll ask Qinghe to help me find them when I go back. "Zheng Zhilan recognized some words, but she still relied on Qinghe for reading." Your bag should be able to hold it. After you finish reading it, you can give it back to the abbot of Zhihong Temple. Anyway, I will eventually return it

Thank you then

The conversation gradually became silent.

As he was approaching the courtyard, Zhou Li suddenly asked, "Did your parents and elders all die due to mudslides

No

Zheng Zhilan's voice seemed to never make waves: "My mother had a difficult childbirth when I was born. She didn't die at the time, but died of illness a month later. When my father was eight years old, he told me he was going to accompany my mother, and he said he was sorry, so he took medicine. He drank paraquat, which couldn't be cured. Afterwards, I was raised by my grandparents, with the help of my uncles, but my grandparents were also old and sick, and gradually passed away

Zhou Li suddenly felt a bit speechless, and it took him a while before he whispered, "Then you must have suffered a lot

It's okay

Zheng Zhilan paused for a moment and said, "I did have some unpleasant words when I was a child, but my father was pretty good. I remember one night he held me and said to me, 'No matter how hard it is to conceive or how painful it is to give birth, it's all an adult's choice and has nothing to do with the child.'

He said it was he and my mother who made the decision to bring me into this world, saying that I don't owe them anything

He said he was sorry for bringing me here, but he couldn't show me a beautiful world

Actually, what I saw wasn't too bad either

Zheng Zhilan spoke in a slow and leisurely tone from behind, trying to identify the path: "He thought I was young at that time and couldn't remember, but in fact, I remember very clearly that there were many stars that night

Upon returning home, Zheng Zhilan began making ice cream.

She poured the yogurt she bought into a basin and added honey if it wasn't sweet enough. She washed the raisins and picked raspberries and poured them in. After stirring evenly, she poured them into a mold and added a wooden stick. After putting them in the refrigerator, she asked Zhou Li to help adjust the power to the maximum.

After having lunch, Zhou Li and Huai Xu successfully tasted this homemade ice cream.

After being frozen, the taste of raspberries has been slightly discounted. Putting them in ice cream can be considered as adding color and flavor. I don't know if it has a psychological effect, but Zhou Li thinks it's still delicious.

Huaixu also agreed as usual.

After eating the popsicle, Zhou Li was about to leave.

Zheng Zhilan stood outside the yard to see them off, waved her hand to them, and watched Zhou Li's back walk further and further away.

Qinghe stood beside her for a long time, then turned around and asked, 'Isn't he special?'

Yes

He has such strong spiritual power that he has never seen before

Hmm

Zheng Zhilan lowered her head slightly and saw a cluster of red in a blur. She reached over, picked a peony, and leaned in to take a closer look.

……

Zhou Li and Huai Xu walked towards Zhihong Temple under the sun, the path winding and undulating. Zhou Li quickly broke out in sweat, while Huai Xu smiled.

Zhou Li couldn't help but give him a disdainful glance and said, 'You're still laughing!'

Huaixu continued to enjoy himself foolishly because he really loved the kimchi made by Zheng Zhilan. Therefore, Zheng Zhilan specially brought him a can, so——

How great

What's so good! Everyone else heard what you said! "Zhou Li blushed at the thought.

Hehe

「……」

Too thick skinned, Zhou Li can't afford to provoke him.

More than an hour later, he arrived at Zhihong Temple and saw the old abbot squatting in the courtyard from afar. In front of him was a small stove, fanning it with an old fan.

The old demon sat on the top of the small temple and waved at them.

Zhou Li smiled at the old demon and then approached the abbot, saying, "What are you cooking, abbot

Boil porridge

After the old master finished answering, he turned his head and looked carefully, distinguishing Zhou Li's appearance: "He's a little layman. He just came back now? It seems he found him, right

Found it, thank you, Observer

What are you thanking? Are you feeling hot? Do you want some water

I was just about to beg for some water to drink

Sit down, sit down, I'll pour it for you. It's just cold and white, don't mind, "the old observer stood up.

Well water is enough

Drinking raw food is not good, "the old abbot's voice gradually grew distant, but the mountain was quiet

The old demon on the small temple said to Zhou Li, "You should drink raw water. The water here is mountain spring, very sweet. When it boils, it will die

Is that so

This is the first time Zhou Li has heard such a statement.

Quickly, the old master came out with an enamel jar in his hand and handed it to Zhou Li, saying, "You must have been sunbathing on such a hot day

It's okay

Sit down, sit down, take a break. There's still a long way to go down the mountain

You can take a car to the scenic area

I heard that there is a road blocking the scenic area and it's sinking down. I haven't had a car to go up these days

Oh, then I'll bottle the water and leave

I'll install it for you

Thank you, Observer

Hey! Water isn't worth much, I'm enough to open a factory here, "the old abbot laughed, his face wrinkled again." How many days did you stay with Miss Zheng

Yes, I've been bothering her for a few days

Then you really hit it off. "The old abbot was very kind, making it hard to recall.

Yeah

Good connection! I heard that little girl lives alone in the mountains and her eyes are not very good. Sigh, after all these years, she probably doesn't even have anyone to talk to

The old abbot had already lit the fire, with a red clay stove and a smoked clay pot. He sat on a bamboo bench, asking Zhou Li about his age, studies, and then discussing some external matters.

Zhou Li looked around while speaking.

The Zhihong Temple only has a small house in the middle with three statues, and Zhou Li can only guess and cannot recognize them. Next to it, there should be the place where the old abbot lives. With the door open, you can see an old Eight Immortals table with nothing on it. On the wall, there is a quaint sword hanging. There is also a house that stacks firewood, and next to the firewood room is a very small house with a chimney.

A very poor life and also very quiet.

But unlike Zheng Zhilan's side, the old abbot lives very casually, while Zheng Zhilan is a little girl. Even in the deep mountains, she has her own way to live a refined life.

By her small yard, flowers were planted, grape vines were erected, peach trees and cherries were planted, and there were even more fruit trees behind the house.

There are jujube trees on the mountain.

Zhou Li shook his head and smiled. In just a few days, he actually felt like he had fallen in love with that courtyard.

The firewood in the small stove burned slowly, and the old abbot would occasionally pick up a dried pine nut and pass it in. Zhou Li sat down for a while before saying goodbye to him.

Just as he took a few steps, the old abbot suddenly called out to him.

Zhou Li turned around and saw the old abbot looking up at him, his eyes half closed and looking very small, as if all the old people were like this.

Are there really those gods, ghosts, and monsters in this world

Hmm

Zhou Li was stunned for a moment and unconsciously glanced at the small temple.

When he regained consciousness, he saw the old abbot chuckle and waved his hand, saying to him, "Thank you, young layman. Walk slowly, it's easy to get heatstroke

The old demon on the small temple also smiled at him.

Zhou Li pursed his lips and turned around, walking down the mountain path for a few steps before disappearing from the old master's sight.