She led the whole village to prosperity by raising koi fish.

Chapter 26 A Mountain Climbing Trip

When Zhou Xi heard from the villagers that Young Master Zhao had come to the village, she was overjoyed. She felt that her chance had come to get closer to Young Master Zhao. So she sent her younger brother to invite Su Yuning and Young Master Zhao to go hiking, and they, who happened to be free, agreed.

Afterwards, Su Yuning thoughtfully carried a bamboo basket for Young Master Zhao, and also carried a basket for herself. She also brought the shovel from home, and even an empty gourd, truly making sure she was prepared for any eventuality.

Young Master Zhao took the basket off and placed it on the ground, then asked, puzzled, "Shouldn't we travel light when climbing mountains? Why are we carrying baskets? It looks like we're fleeing a famine."

Su Yuning smiled and explained to him, "There are many wild fruits and vegetables on the mountain. We can pick some. When climbing a mountain, we can't just focus on the scenery; picking is the most important thing."

Young Master Zhao was both amused and exasperated. “Don’t worry, you won’t lack food or clothing while you’re with me. The two of us won’t need to go to great lengths to gather wild vegetables and fruits.”

Su Yuning was a little unhappy with his words. "I just told you to go collect the data, so why are you lecturing me? It's utterly ridiculous!"

"Okay, okay, don't be angry, I'll listen to you!" Young Master Zhao quickly coaxed Su Yuning to calm down, then obediently carried the basket and set off with Su Yuning.

The group met at the foot of the back mountain. Zhou Xi was overjoyed to see them and quickly reached out to greet them.

"You've arrived! It's been a long time, Young Master Zhao!"

Zhao Shouyi smiled politely and replied, "Long time no see!"

Su Yuning asked Zhou Xi curiously, "Sister Zhou, what are our plans for hiking today?"

Zhou Xi replied, "Of course! I brought two bows and arrows, and I can teach the two of you how to shoot arrows. Once you've learned how to shoot arrows, you can go hunting in the mountains on your own."

Zhao Shouyi scoffed, "Tch, what's so difficult about hunting? I could shoot arrows when I was five or six years old."

At this moment, Su Yuning responded, "I don't know how yet, Sister Zhou Xi, can you teach me?"

Zhou Xi nodded in agreement, and then extended an invitation to Young Master Zhao, "Since you can shoot arrows, how about we have a contest when we get to the mountain?"

"Sure, what should we compete in?" Zhao Shouyi asked slowly, his arms crossed.

Zhou Xi thought for a moment, then answered, "The rules of the competition are as follows: each person has ten arrows, and whoever hits the most prey wins!"

"Okay, but you're not allowed to cry if you lose," Young Master Zhao replied with a smile. Zhou Xi readily agreed, "No problem!"

And so, the group chatted and laughed as they walked up the mountain.

Just then, Yang Yuxuan, the blacksmith's son, arrived at the Su family's house in Xinghua Village after asking around.

"Uncle, why are you home alone? Where are your son and daughter?" Yang Yuxuan asked as soon as she entered the door.

Old Su recognized the man but couldn't place where he'd seen him before, so he could only ask, "Who are you?"

Yang Yuxuan replied with a smile, "I am Yang the blacksmith's son. My name is Yang Yuxuan, and my sister is your daughter-in-law!"

Old Su then realized that it was his in-laws' son, so he quickly and warmly invited him to sit down.

Yang Yuxuan wasn't shy at all; she simply pulled up a stool and sat down.

"Uncle, where are my sister and brother-in-law?"

“They separated from us and live in the back house. Your nephew lives in the back house too,” Old Su told him in detail. “Did your parents send you here? Did they come with you?”

Yang Yuxuan shook her head, "They didn't come, I came by myself. I really wanted to see my little nephew, and I also missed my sister, so I brought her some good food."

“You two are siblings, and it’s only natural that you miss each other. I’ll take you with me!” Old Su replied with a smile, and then led him to the eldest son’s house in the Su family.

When Yang Yuxuan saw her sister, she jumped and danced with excitement, "Sister, I missed you so much! We've finally met!"

Yang Yuyan was also very excited. She held her younger brother's hand and looked him up and down, then replied with a smile, "Little brother, you've grown taller again! You look like an adult now."

"Where's your little nephew?" Yang Yuxuan asked. His sister quickly brought the baby in the cradle over to show him. "Look, this is your little nephew. He's so naughty now. He sleeps soundly during the day, but cries and fusses at night. He's a little night owl."

"May I hold him?" Yang Yuxuan asked. Yang Yuyan nodded and gently handed the swaddled baby to him. Yang Yuxuan held his little nephew carefully, feeling overjoyed.

"He looks so cute! He's so chubby and fair-skinned, so handsome!"

“You were just like this when you were little, chubby and fair-skinned. You’ve grown into a young man in just a few days,” Yang Yuyan said gently. “Put him down; he’ll be more comfortable sleeping lying down.”

"Oh, I understand." Yang Yuxuan gently placed the baby into the cradle, then handed Yang Yuyan an exquisite box containing a longevity lock made of pure gold.

"This is a gift for my nephew."

"Okay, thank you." Yang Yuyan smiled sweetly.

At this moment, the woman brought the postpartum meal to the table. "Yuyan, I made you braised pork trotters with soybeans and kelp and pork rib soup. Come and eat."

"Okay," Yu Yan replied and went to eat.

At this moment, the woman smiled and asked Yang Yuxuan, "Xuanxuan, have you eaten? What would you like to eat? Auntie will make it for you!"

Yang Yuxuan waved her hand and declined, saying, "Auntie, there's no need to trouble yourself. I already bought wontons and ate them on my way here."

At this moment, Yu Yan asked her younger brother, "Xuan Xuan, what brings you here today?"

Yang Yuxuan nodded, "Yes, I'm here to find someone."

"Looking for someone? Who are you looking for?" the woman and Yu Yan asked in unison.

Yang Yuxuan replied, "Su Yuning. I felt she was a very nice person the moment I met her. She's not only beautiful but also has a great presence, so I want to be friends with her."

Yu Yan teased with a smile, "Are you sure you're friends, and not boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Yang Yuxuan nodded, "I'm sure. I haven't learned how to manage a business yet, so I can't give her a future. We can only start as ordinary friends. If I manage the family business well in the future, I think I will come and propose marriage."

"Heh~" The woman gave a bitter laugh, then told him about Su Yuning's itinerary. Yang Yuxuan hurriedly went to catch up with Su Yuning, without even saying goodbye to them.

Watching Yang Yuxuan's departing figure, the woman couldn't help but sigh, "A family with a daughter will have many suitors. It seems this child also likes Yu Ning!" Yu Yan nodded in agreement, "Yes, I can tell."

Yang Yuyan only ate a few bites of ribs before putting down her chopsticks and sitting by the bed to fold diapers.

The woman asked, puzzled, "Daughter-in-law, is the food not to your liking? Why are you eating so little?"

Yang Yuyan gave an awkward smile and then replied, "I've been eating greasy food lately and I'm not feeling like eating anymore. How about you make me something light?"

The woman asked, "Alright, how about making red date and millet porridge and loofah soup for the next meal?"

Yang Yuyan quickly nodded in agreement, "Sure, of course! I've been wanting to eat something light for a while now."

At this moment, the woman spoke to her gently, saying, "Daughter-in-law, we are family. You don't need to be reserved with me. Just tell me what you want to eat or drink, so I can prepare the ingredients and cook for you in advance."

The daughter-in-law quickly explained, "Mother, I'm not being reserved, I just don't want you to work too hard, so sometimes I keep it from you."

The woman took her hand and responded affectionately, "Silly girl, it's only right for a mother-in-law to serve her daughter-in-law. From now on, let's be honest with each other and not speak like family."

The daughter-in-law quickly nodded in agreement.

"The baby was crying at night, and you stayed up quite late too. You should get some sleep too, he's asleep now. I'm going to the neighboring village to buy some loofah," the woman said warmly.

"Okay, Mom, please lock the door when you go out. I'm afraid I'll fall asleep and no one will be watching the child," the daughter-in-law reminded her.

"Okay, I understand. Sleep soundly." The woman replied, then quietly walked out, closed the door, and locked it from the outside.

After doing all this, the woman went to the next village to buy loofah.

On the other side of the mountain, a group of people were walking uphill when they heard someone shouting from behind, "Su Yuning! Where are you! I'm coming to find you!"

"Anyone else coming?" Zhou Xi asked curiously. "Su Yuning, who else did you invite to go hiking with?"

Su Yuning was completely confused. "No, when we arrived, it was just me and Young Master Zhao."

"Su Yuning! Where are you? Answer me if you hear me!" Just then, shouts came from down the mountain again.

"His voice sounds a little unfamiliar, but since he knows your name, he must know you," Zhou Xi concluded.

"Let's send someone down to meet him, otherwise what if he gets lost?" Zhou Dong kindly reminded him.

“I’ll go! I know the mountain roads better.” Zhou Xi volunteered and then went down the mountain with ease.

Before long, Zhou Xi brought the people from the foot of the mountain to them. Su Yuning looked closely and realized that the person who came was Yang Yuxuan!

"Yang Yuxuan, why aren't you staying at home? What are you doing here?" Su Yuning asked, puzzled.

Yang Yuxuan, panting from the climb, replied, "I came here specifically to find you."

"Looking for me?" Su Yuning pointed to herself and asked curiously.

"Yes, I'd like to be friends with you. Would you be willing?" Yang Yuxuan replied frankly.

Su Yuning pulled Zhao Gongzi over and introduced him, "I already have a boyfriend, so I can't date you."

This made Zhou Xi angry, and she glared at her from the side.

"I know, I meant ordinary friends, I don't know if you agree?" Yang Yuxuan pressed.

Su Yuning couldn't refuse now, since the two families were related, so she could only nod and reply, "Okay."

"Hey, Young Master Zhao, we agreed on an archery competition, are you still going to participate?" Zhou Xi asked from the side.

“Sure,” Zhao Shouyi nodded in agreement, and then he and Zhou Xi began hunting at the same time. One went east, and the other went west. Before long, they had run out of arrows. Zhou Xi had shot two rabbits and a pheasant. Zhao Shouyi, on the other hand, had received professional training and accompanied his father, the Emperor, on hunts every year, so he shot even more prey.

"You win!" Zhou Xi conceded defeat. "I'm willing to accept my loss, so I'll give you the bow and arrows."

“No need. You’re a hunter from the mountains. How can you live without a bow and arrow? Keep the bow and arrow. You can be in charge of making barbecue for everyone later,” Young Master Zhao offered.

"Yes, that's fine too." Zhou Xi nodded in agreement.

"It's almost lunchtime, shall we gather some wild fruits and mushrooms?" Su Yuning suggested.

"Roasted mushrooms are fine, but wild fruits can't be roasted, so it's best not to pick them," Zhou Dong responded.

"I don't recognize any wild vegetables or fruits. What if I pick a poisonous one?" asked Yang Yuxuan, who was used to a life of luxury.

“How about this, come with me! I’ll teach you to recognize wild fruits and vegetables, but you have to become my apprentice!” Zhou Xi offered.

"Okay," Yang Yuxuan readily agreed, and then went to collect the materials with her.

Su Yuning and Young Master Zhao were picking mushrooms nearby. Because of the rain that night, the mushrooms in the deep mountains were growing exceptionally well, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. They resembled tiny umbrellas, dotting the mountain meadows and forests. Some mushrooms were white, while others displayed vibrant colors such as red and yellow. These mushrooms were not only numerous but also very large, some even larger than a human hand. Bathed in sunlight, they appeared vibrant and full of life.