"If Ah Qing were a guy, I'd definitely give her some good relationship advice."
"With all my years of dating experience, there's no romantic problem I haven't seen."
Following the directions Ah Qing pointed out, Yu Zhengxi drove towards the ancestral home, continuously muttering and sharing some romantic tips with Ah Qing.
However, Li Qiuxia, in the passenger seat, rolled her eyes and repeatedly interrupted his nonsense.
"Hmm...."
Ah Qing listened but seemed distracted.
A sweet romance might be nice, but deep down, Ah Qing felt something was off.
Maybe it was because of her studies at the College of Agriculture, where break-up seasons typically peaked around spring planting and autumn harvest.
Just imagining having a boyfriend, only for him to watch her suspiciously and say, "What? You want to take me home to meet your parents? Nonsense! You just want to trick me into helping with tea picking, you cunning girl!"
The mere thought made Ah Qing feel uncomfortable.
"Studying at the Agricultural College and looking for a boyfriend might be a bit tough...." Ah Qing thought for a moment, then spoke to her uncle.
"How can that be? Graduates from Xinxing Agricultural Science College are in high demand once they graduate." Yu Zhengxi was a bit taken aback by Ah Qing's words and didn't understand why she said it was hard for students at the Agricultural College to discuss marriage.
"Xiaolan..."
Ah Qing showed a subtle expression, turned to the little fox, and asked, "Shall we climb the mountain together to pick autumn tea during the National Day holiday?"
"........"
The little fox shifted its rear, tilting its head in puzzlement at Ah Qing.
The fox seemed to understand something yet seemed clueless, looking at Ah Qing with a bewildered expression.
"Uncle...." Ah Qing called out, utterly helpless.
"......" Yu Zhengxi was speechless, his expression tense, and he didn't say another word.
Just the mention of tea picking was enough for the fox that clung to Ah Qing's leg earlier to dart away, as if taking two more steps would mean being sold off to a remote, mountainous forest.
Even though Ah Qing didn't explicitly say it, it was clear that love was challenging for students at the Agricultural College, as if she had stated everything.
The collective credibility of the faculty and students at the Agricultural College...
It's probably tough to even rent a shared power bank, never mind sharing a table with Bharat.
"So.... what was even said?" Li Qiuxia was mystified by the sudden silence in the car, while the corgi lying on her lap glanced cautiously, licking at the chicken wing in its bowl.
After just one lick, it immediately pulled its head back, watching its mistress with full vigilance, only daring to extend its tongue to lick the food again after several attempts before gobbling up its food.
Great! The mistress wasn't guarding the food! The corgi happily munched on the chicken wing.
Following Ah Qing's directions, Yu Zhengxi wound his way through the village from the back, parking the car by the roadside near the old house.
At the entrance to the old house, Yu Zhenghong was already waiting at the gate, waving at Yu Zhengxi.
"How about exhibiting some traditional virtues? It's super effective." Seeing Yu Zhengxi getting out of the car, Yu Zhenghong approached with a smile, patting his shoulder and quietly inquiring.
"It's a state-owned enterprise, better not." Yu Zhengxi chuckled and replied, "If someone reports it to the unit, the old leader might strangle me...."
Even as he said this, back home, he casually drew the curtains, lit incense for his ancestors, then added incense for Mazu, and lit incense sticks for the local Mountain God on the altar.
"Hang on, there's a heavyweight player here..." Yu Zhenghong retrieved Master Luckfox from Ah Qing's embrace and placed him in an empty spot on the altar: "Presenting the New Lord!"
"Really? Even the fox can do it?"
"Absolutely, especially when it comes to unexpected wealth, Master Luckfox's power is simply amazing!
Yu Zhenghong seemed deeply serious, muttering under his breath, while Yu Zhengxi nodded with a contemplative expression, pondering on the tradition.
Ah Qing looked on helplessly at her father, uncle, and third uncle forming the 'Traditional Virtue Research Group.'
Wasn't it agreed not to delve into traditional virtues?
With the curtains drawn, the old leader seemed not to mind anymore.
"What's everyone looking into? It's time to eat!"
Yu Jingwen, wearing an apron, called out to the men from the kitchen.
"Alright!"
Yu Zhenghong laughed heartily, "Let's go, let's eat first, and after the meal, I'll show you a precious treasure of mine.....
"The aroma of that tea is extraordinary, it can perfectly match up to the golden horse eyebrows from the core production area."
"It's just a pity there's too little of it. I asked Old Chen, and he advised me against inquiring further...." Yu Zhenghong sighed wistfully.
Although the tea master brought in by Old Chen was excellent, the output was unfortunately minimal, barely producing a box (thirty pounds) each time he crafted tea.
Then again, considering the master's age, one could easily overlook such matters.
"Why are you lurking under the table? It's mealtime already."
Ansheng walked out from the bathroom, noticing the pitiful little corgi hiding under the coffee table, casting hopeful glances toward the dining area, and made a sarcastic remark with a smirk.
"Woo woo...." The corgi, feeling pitiful, made room for Master Luckfox and said,
"Impossible, the mistress is very protective of her food....."
"There was once a fierce big dog in the neighborhood that got its neck twisted by the mistress after eating food, with its severed head dangling lifelessly, its eyes bulging....
"You should come too, the mistress is downright dangerous....."
According to the corgi, a black, yellow-mouthed drooling big dog once attacked a pedestrian in the neighborhood to snatch food, only for Li Qiuxia to step in, crushing its spine and twisting its neck barehanded.
In the corgi's mind, all food is under its mistress's control.
If she doesn't allow it, then eating is prohibited; eating would lead to death.
If she does allow it, it's still necessary to stay vigilant in case the mistress guards her food and bites me, absolute terror.
"Black, yellow-mouthed, large dog....." Ansheng was taken aback, asking, "Rottweiler? Your mistress can hunt down the renowned powerful Rottweiler barehanded?"
Though Rottweilers are technically medium-sized dogs, they're known for their formidable combat strength, with strong, muscular bodies, being one of the banned fierce dog breeds in urban areas.
A healthy Rottweiler can even weigh over a hundred pounds, making even bear-like Alaskas tuck their tails behind their owners when faced with these creatures.
"Awoo...." The corgi thought for a moment and responded affirmatively.
"Goodness, Ah Qing's uncle's got himself a blessed life!" Ansheng muttered amusingly.
If Li Qiuxia could kill a Rottweiler in two moves, she could just as easily crush Ah Qing's uncle in a jiffy.
Only to say, Ah Qing's uncle probably has an incredibly stiff neck, immune to any awkward sleeping positions.
Although invited to dinner, the moment Li Qiuxia picked up her chopsticks, the corgi retreated from under the table to beneath the sofa, showing irrepressible alarm, shivering slightly.
"Goodness.... "
"In the future, for dog training, don't send them to stray homes, just send them to Ah Qing's aunt."
Ansheng remarked wryly, shaking their head, before hopping onto Ah Qing's lap, completely unworried about Li Qiuxia's possible food-guarding behavior.
I'm just happy not guarding food myself.
She dares to guard food?
Want to fight? Bring out your ground combat vehicle.