[Old Deng's wish to win a prize in the tea competition has been fulfilled. For a large tea company, it's an insignificant award, but for a couple running a tea farm, it might just be a wonderful beginning they've never experienced before. Let's aim for higher-level tea competitions! City-level, provincial, cross-strait competitions....]
[Deng, is my fire safe under your eaves?]
[Wish Power +1]
As Yu Zhenghong joyfully accepted his award and got surrounded and scrutinized by the tea merchants, Ansheng's wish list also gained some resolution, with 1 point of Wish Power added to it.
"Ah Qing...do you think your little fox is acting a bit strange, like... inexplicably smug?"
Sitting on the sofa in the village committee, Mo Yiqing glanced at the little fox in her arms. The little fox was sitting upright on her lap, its head tilted back, almost as if it was about to kick back and relax.
Even without Ah Qing translating, Mo Yiqing could see the human-like smugness on the little fox's cheeks.
"I don't think so..."
Ah Qing looked at the little fox and said, "Maybe it's learning from those cute pet videos online again..."
After saying that, Ah Qing got busy again. Many elders had come to the village committee, and she needed to help serve tea and greet them, leaving no time to livestream or take videos.
Having a prize winner in the village was beneficial to the reputation of Changxi Town.
As the winner of the Qing'an Oolong category, Yu Zhenghong's family was busy greeting guests non-stop.
And only now did Yu Zhenghong get a chance to taste the award-winning tea from his own family's tea field, the 'Qing'an Oolong'.
...…
By the time everything was wrapped up and they had dinner in town, it was already 9 PM.
"So...to celebrate the end of the tea competition, how about we have a meal together tomorrow?"
"The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall we ordered before has been delayed so many times it's already been soaked for the second round."
Back at home, slumped on the sofa, Mo Yiqing looked at Ah Qing and said, "I'll have them start preparing the ingredients later, and they should be able to deliver it tomorrow night."
Mo Yiqing had come here to take refuge and also to satisfy her craving for authentic Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
Yin Pengfei served as a convenient excuse. If he hadn't disturbed her good friend's boundaries, Mo Yiqing wouldn't have planned to cut ties with him, as having him around really helped to avoid a ton of meaningless socializing.
He had his own scams, while she had her own plans, and their collaboration benefited both.
Originally, Mo Yiqing intended to stay with Ah Qing for a few days, enjoy some meals, and then head home after the charades, but she coincidentally ended up helping Ah Qing's family with the tea competition, and took the chance to pet the fox a couple more times.
Now that the tea competition was over, they could ask the restaurant to serve Buddha Jumps Over the Wall at any time.
Mo Yiqing also thought about going home and finishing her summer observation assignments.
"Huh? Are you leaving so soon?" Ah Qing, also slumped on the sofa, looked at Mo Yiqing with surprise and said, "But...I might need some more time to pack up."
"No hurry, it's just that since your family won, we should have a meal to celebrate together. As for me, I also need a few days to buy some souvenirs to take back." Mo Yiqing smiled brightly, hugged Ah Qing and said, "I can also show you my Ah Bai, he's huge."
"Hmm?"
Ansheng, who had just come out of the kitchen carrying a can of cola, heard Ah Qing and Mo Yiqing talking and the little fox's face instantly lit up with curiosity.
"Is there a stop at Momo's house in our travel plans?"
Ansheng often went out for walks at night and wasn't aware that during his outings, Yu Xueqing and Mo Yiqing had already planned a trip to Zen City.
Or rather, Momo had invited Ah Qing to visit, and this time it was her turn to play tour guide for Ah Qing.
Nicely enough, after their trip, the two could return to school together, making the journey less dull.
'Ooh ooh ooh? Are we going to Momo's house? But there are so many friends, I'm afraid I won't have time to say goodbye to everyone...'
"Sorry, Xiaolan...."
Seeing the little fox run over, listening to it inquire excitedly, Ah Qing appeared apologetic and stroked the little fox's head, saying:
"We are indeed going to Momo's house, but...." Thinking about the sadness of parting, Ah Qing's tone grew somber and she said:
"You have to stay home because Momo and I are flying directly to Chang'an for school after the trip. But don't worry, I'll come back to pet you during Mid-Autumn and National Day..."
Hearing this, Ansheng looked as though he'd been struck by lightning, staring at Ah Qing in disbelief and whimpering:
"You're going to eat salmon yee sang and roast pigeon without me, fine, but are you seriously thinking of leaving me, a mere fox, at home?"
"Pah! Heartless woman! Do you even have a conscience?"
"No, no, I'm not letting you go back to the wild. While I'm away, Mom and Dad will take care of you. They absolutely adore you..."
"You might as well just let me go back to the wild for all I care." Ansheng's face fell, and the little fox collapsed on the sofa and played dead, inwardly plotting to have Lin Bingyun book him a flight ticket to Chang'an.
"......"
Seeing the little fox stretch its legs and become a fox popsicle, Ah Qing and Mo Yiqing couldn't help but laugh and tried to coax the now-stick-straight popsicle, but to no avail.
Because of this.
Ah Qing reluctantly opened two cans of cold cola, letting Xiaolan drink freely in front of her, and piled dried meat and all kinds of snacks in front of Xiaolan, too.
"Can I bring him?"
"Sorry, the school...."
"Don't say it, I get it. When I first get to your school, I'm going to order the stray pets to take turns pooping in the principal's office."
Watching Ah Qing and Xiaolan, Mo Yiqing's expression was somewhat hesitant, but after pondering, she kept quiet.
The house she rented near the school wasn't really rented; it was her property.
The school dorms didn't allow pets, but she could keep her own pet in her house!
However, Mo Yiqing thought about it and realized that during class, Xiaolan would have to stay at home. With her place being so messy and her sisters constantly visiting to play with the fox, it'd be hard to manage.
Maybe once or twice they could pretend her cousin was her boyfriend, but with visits every day, where could she find that many fake boyfriends?
Mo Yiqing decided not to speak, looked at the pitiful little fox, and prepared to roast an ostrich leg tomorrow as compensation.
...…
At 11:30 PM, with a full belly, Ansheng stepped out of the house with dissatisfaction on his face:
"What a lousy school. What's wrong with bringing along a fox when I haven't even eaten your school's rice for free."
"Every day, they just know how to persecute me. Wait till I finish handling the Spirit Beast Gang...pah, the Stray Pet Mutual Aid Society affairs, then I'll mess with you too."
Preemptively judging the unseen principal with the highest malice, suspecting the principal pees fractured, has alopecia, and foot odor...
"Master Fox over here....."
Ansheng had just climbed over the wall when Su Qiyuan, who was waiting on the opposite road, quickly raised a chicken leg that had already gone cold and signaled quietly to Master Fox.
"Hmm?"
Seeing the chicken leg, Ansheng paused, a black line forming on his face.