Chapter 37: Planting All the Fruit Trees
The things I got from those two lottery draws were both excellent and very practical.
Lottery draws were so satisfying.
’I hope I can trigger another quest with a lottery draw reward soon.’
It was already noon. Time to make something to eat.
There were two cabbages in the Storage Pavilion, a gift from an old man yesterday. But I didn’t have the other ingredients to make Cabbage in Clear Broth.
Otherwise, Li You would have been tempted to whip up some Cabbage in Clear Broth just to taste it.
’A bowl of beef noodles will do.’
After he finished eating, he lay back in the rocking chair by the restaurant’s entrance, closing his eyes to rest.
Suddenly, a piercing, resonant cry echoed from the sky.
’What kind of bird is that? Its cry is so sharp and loud.’
Li You opened his eyes.
He saw two large, white birds gliding across the sky.
’They’re Red-crowned Cranes.’
Li You felt a jolt of pleasant surprise. He hadn’t expected to see Red-crowned Cranes flying over today.
’No wonder their calls are so sharp and resonant.’
Red-crowned Cranes, known as "immortal cranes" in ancient times, have calls that can be heard from over five kilometers away.
Li You kept his eyes on the two Red-crowned Cranes, watching as they followed the gorge for a while before gradually descending.
’Could their habitat be right here in Jiulong Gorge?’
This delighted Li You even more.
Jiulong Gorge stretched for over thirty kilometers, and with many sections that were rarely visited, it wasn’t impossible for Red-crowned Cranes to have a habitat there.
’This is a great thing.’
If the Red-crowned Cranes could come and hang around this part of the gorge from time to time, they would definitely become a major feature for the restaurant. Customers who saw them would be thrilled.
It was something to look forward to.
After the Red-crowned Cranes disappeared from sight, Li You closed his eyes and went back to resting.
Then he fell asleep.
He woke up to find it was already two in the afternoon.
A little while later, a motorized tricycle pulled into the parking lot.
It was loaded with tree saplings.
Luo Yunlin had arrived with the fruit tree saplings.
Li You quickly got up and walked toward the parking lot.
Luo Yunlin climbed out of the driver’s cab and looked the restaurant over.
As Li You approached, he smiled. "Brother Luo, thanks for making the trip."
Luo Yunlin said, "Don’t mention it, Xiaoli. Is this place really suitable for a restaurant?"
Li You said, "You can enjoy a meal while taking in the beautiful scenery. Every customer who’s come in has given it great reviews."
Luo Yunlin nodded. "It’s certainly a great spot for sightseeing. Come on, Xiaoli. Let’s go take a look at where you plan to plant the fruit trees."
"Alright. This way, Brother Luo."
Li You led Luo Yunlin to the area in front of the restaurant that he had designated for the orchard.
Luo Yunlin examined it carefully for a moment, tested the depth of the soil, and nodded. "Should be fine. You can plant them here."
Li You’s eyes lit up. ’Luo Yunlin is an absolute expert on fruit trees. If he says it’s fine, then it’s definitely fine.’
After a moment, Luo Yunlin added, "These loquat, fig, and wild peach trees are all wild, I take it?"
Li You nodded. "They’re wild."
Luo Yunlin said, "Even though they’re wild, they’re in pretty good condition."
Li You said, "I thought so, too. The loquats are quite sweet and large."
Luo Yunlin nodded. "Alright, Xiaoli, let’s go move the saplings over."
"Okay."
The two of them returned to the parking lot. Luo Yunlin said, "Two plum trees, five grapevines, five kiwifruit vines, and three ponkan trees. Xiaoli, why don’t you check if these are the ones you picked out yesterday?"
Li You said, "I have complete faith in you, Brother Luo."
Luo Yunlin smiled. "Thanks, Xiaoli."
Then the two of them worked together to unload all the saplings from the truck.
And then carried them to the orchard area.
After everything was moved to the orchard area, Luo Yunlin said, "Xiaoli, go grab a hoe. We’ll plant them right now."
Li You asked, "Brother Luo, is the planting included too?"
Luo Yunlin laughed. "Planting fruit trees seems simple, but there are a lot of details to get right. Different trees have different requirements. If you plant them the wrong way, it will affect their growth down the line."
Li You was very grateful. He thanked him and went to grab the hoe from the front of the restaurant.
"Brother Luo, I’ll do the digging, you give the directions."
Luo Yunlin nodded. "Alright."
And just like that, under Luo Yunlin’s direction, all fifteen fruit tree saplings were planted.
Li You also picked up a great deal of knowledge about planting fruit trees in the process.
Finally, they watered them.
Once they were watered, the work was done.
Li You transferred the payment to Luo Yunlin.
"Thank you for the business. Wishing you great success," Luo Yunlin said with a smile.
Then he said his goodbyes and prepared to leave.
Li You quickly stopped him. "Brother Luo, you’ve been working for a while. Come inside and rest for a bit."
Luo Yunlin thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, that sounds good."
After showing Luo Yunlin to a seat inside, Li You poured him a glass of water. "Brother Luo," he said, "you’ve been working hard, you must be a bit hungry. Let me make you a bowl of noodles so you can taste my cooking."
Luo Yunlin quickly waved him off. "Xiaoli, no, no, there’s no need. It’s still early, I’m not hungry."
Li You said, "Brother Luo, you gave me all those cherries yesterday, and I didn’t refuse. So don’t you refuse either. It’s just a taste of my cooking."
"Well..." Luo Yunlin thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright then, I’ll try your cooking."
Li You smiled. "That’s more like it. Just wait a moment, it’ll be ready soon."
Soon, Li You had prepared a bowl of beef noodles and served it to Luo Yunlin.
Luo Yunlin’s eyes went wide with surprise when he saw it. "Xiaoli, your skills are really something! Just looking at these noodles, I can tell they’re delicious."
Li You smiled. "Give it a try, Brother Luo."
Luo Yunlin nodded, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat.
After just one bite, he looked up in disbelief. "Xiaoli, this is incredible! I had no idea your cooking was this good."
Li You said, "I’m glad you like it, Brother Luo. You go ahead and eat."
Luo Yunlin nodded. "You go on, go on and do what you need to. I’ve seriously never had noodles this delicious before."
Li You went back into the kitchen. He was going to make another four bowls of beef noodles and pack them up for Luo Yunlin to take home for his family to try.
Luo Yunlin had a wife, a child, and his parents at home.
By the time the four bowls of beef noodles were packed up, Luo Yunlin had finished eating.
Li You brought the packed noodles over. "Brother Luo, take these back for your wife, your parents, and young Luo Yang to try as well."
Luo Yunlin waved his hands frantically. "Xiaoli, I can’t, I can’t, I absolutely can’t accept this. You’re running a business, how can I just take so much from you? No, no."
Li You said, "Brother Luo, they’re already made. It would be a waste if you don’t take them. It’s not like it’s some extravagant feast. It’s just a few bowls of noodles, a small token of my appreciation."
Luo Yunlin replied, "But your noodles are better than any extravagant feast! How about this, Xiaoli, let me pay you for them. You’re running a business, you should be charging for your food."
Li You shook his head again and again. "Brother Luo, now you’re being too formal!"
"Well..."
In the end, Luo Yunlin nodded. "Xiaoli, this is really too much! I feel bad, eating here and then taking more to go."
Li You laughed. "What’s the big deal? Didn’t I accept your gift yesterday?"
Luo Yunlin said, "That’s different. A few cherries can’t compare to noodles this delicious. When I take them home and they try them, they’re going to be so surprised. They’ve never had anything like this before!"
Li You said, "I’m just happy if they enjoy it."
After thanking him again, Luo Yunlin left with the noodles in hand.
Li You walked Luo Yunlin to the parking lot.
"I’m off, Xiaoli. If you have any problems with the fruit trees, give me a call anytime."
"Okay, Brother Luo. Drive safe."
Luo Yunlin drove away in his tricycle.
It was already five in the afternoon. Time to pack up and head home.
...