CH 67

Goudan took a few of his favorite window stickers and handed them to Xiaomi, "Look, these are my favorites." He kept hiding them under his pillow and was not willing to take them out. He was afraid that other villagers would snatch them away.

After seeing the window stickers, Xiaomi very much agreed with Goudan, "It's really good-looking." 

At first, Goudan was still a little bit reluctant, but seeing that Xiaomi liked it, he said, "If you like it, I will give it to you."

Xiaomi knew Goudan didn’t actually want to give them up, so she only chose one, "I want this, thank you Aunt Cao, thank you Goudan."

Goudan saw that Xiaomi only chose one, and he could keep a few more. He was very happy. "You're welcome."

Cao Lan called Gong Qingyao and Qin Ze to sit down, and Qin Ze said, "We came to take a look because Xiaomi said that your window stickers are cut very well."

Gong Qingyao sat aside in agreement. Qin Ze picked up one window sticker on the table and looked at it. It was a very cute pig shape. Under Cao Lan's hands, this pig looked naïve and chubby and very cute.

Seeing Qin Ze watching for a long time, Xiaomi on the side asked, "Is it good-looking?"

Qin Ze didn't hesitate to praise, "Very good-looking."

Cao Lan was a little embarrassed, "These are just little things that I do." Qin Ze was not an ordinary person, so these simple things wouldn’t enter his eyes.

Qin Ze said, "The window stickers are one of the cultural customs for the New Year. This window sticker is good even if it is brought to a big city outside."

Cao Lan thought that Qin Ze only was acting to comfort her, but she was still a little touched, "Thank you."

Qin Ze put down the stickers and looked at Cao Lan, "If you want, I can help sell the stickers you cut next year."

Cao Lan was taken aback for a moment, "You can still sell stickers?" After cutting stickers for so many years Cao Lan never thought that this could still be sold for money.

"Not everyone knows how to cut window stickers. Many people will choose to buy them during the Chinese New Year. Your window stickers are very beautiful. If you like, I can help sell them for you." Qin Ze said.

Cao Lan was immediately excited, "Really? Wouldn't it be too troublesome?"

Qin Ze said, "It's not troublesome, it's just that the time to sell window stickers is only on the twelfth lunar month. But there are also advantages to this, you have more time to prepare and stock up."

"Thank you so much." Cao Lan stood up, not knowing how to express her gratefulness.

"When this New Year passed, I will send you the materials. I will collect the finished stickers in the following twelfth lunar month." Qin Ze has already thought about the system.

Cao Lan seemed to have no idea what to say except to say thank you.

"This elder brother is really a good person." Goudan said to Xiaomi on the side.

Xiaomi corrected, "It is Uncle Qin Ze."

"Oh, Uncle Qin Ze." Goudan immediately corrected the name.

"But he is really a good person. In addition to helping your mom sell window stickers, he also helps sell Uncle Niu’s bacon and Aunt Sun’s eggs." Xiaomi said.

Gong Qingyao glanced at Qin Ze, and Qin Ze said, "I only helped if they were good." The help would be useless if the things were not originally good.

Everyone chatted for a while before heading back. Seeing that the one hour time was almost over, Xiaomi was a little bit reluctant, "Sister Qingyao, are you going back to the mountain?"

Qin Ze asked, "You wouldn’t join the reunion dinner?"

Seeing two pairs of eyes staring at her with anticipation, Gong Qingyao said, "I’ll stay."

Xiaomi and Qin Ze instantly became happy. Every household would set off firecrackers before eating New Year's Eve dinner, and Feifei was woken up by the sound. This troublemaker also ran down from the mountain.

Lu Qianqian on the side said, "The New Year in the mountains is so festive. Nowadays, everyone in the city only had a meal and sat watching the Spring Festival Gala. It didn't mean anything at all."

This was also the first time Gong Qingyao felt that New Year was a bit interesting. Grandma Qian had prepared a large table of dishes, but still busy in the kitchen. When Gong Qingyao went back, they all joined to help.

"There must be fish during the New Year, which means there will be abundance next year, and there are tangyuan (sweet rice balls), which means there..."

Grandma Qian didn't finish her words, she was taken over by Xiaomi, "will be family reunion."

(TN: Chinese New Year Food: Top 7 Lucky Foods and Symbolism, read more here) 

Qin Ze couldn't help laughing. The girl Xiaomi was really cute. .

Xiaomi said, "Grandma say this every Chinese New Year, so I know it well."

"Grandma Qian is right, we must keep in mind the customs and traditions." Qin Ze said.

It was rare for Xiaomi not to refute Qin Ze.

This New Year’s Eve dinner was very rich. Gong Qingyao returned to the cave to practice after eating. Then Gong Qingyao never went down the mountain again. 

…

The afternoon on the 14th of the first lunar month, Gong Qingyao opened her eyes and moved to the cave entrance.

That's right, Gong Qingyao, who had broken through the eighth level of Qi training, could move her position instantaneously, but not too far away yet.

Lu Qianqian was faster than Gong Qingyao this time. She had already broken through the fourth layer of ghost cultivation, and the surrounding yin energy around her was also rich. Seeing Gong Qingyao breakthrough, she happily came to congratulate.

Feifei stood up and shook his body.

Lu Qianqian asked, "Feifei, when can you break through again?" Except for the first time she saw Feifei, it seemed that he had never broken through after.

Gong Qingyao didn't know what level Feifei was, and what his limit was. 

Feifei snorted disdainfully after hearing this question, and then walked out of the cave.

Lu Qianqian stuck out her tongue, "This little beast is quite arrogant." 

…

At the foot of the mountain, Qin Ze was talking to Wu Tiezhu, when he turned around and saw Gong Qingyao walking down the mountain. He haven't seen Gong Qingyao for only a couple of weeks, but she seemed to be more beautiful, like a real fairy. Qin Ze could also feel the aura of Gong Qingyao from a long distance.

Qin Ze didn't pay attention on how strong Gong Qingyao's aura was now. He ran directly, "Qingyao, is the training complete?"

"Yeah." Gong Qingyao was in a good mood. She was only two levels short in her cultivation.

Wu Tiezhu and Wang Dashan had always known that Gong Qingyao was not an ordinary person. As they heard what Qin Ze said, they all walked over, "Congratulations Qingyao."

"Thank you." Gong Qingyao said.

"Are you planning to return to the capital now?" Qin Ze asked.

There were indeed many things to do in the capital, "Hmm."

"When are you leaving?" Wu Tiezhu asked, Gong Qingyao had yet to stay at his house for a meal this time.

"Now." As she had completed the training, Gong Qingyao decided to leave immediately.

Qin Ze said, "Wait for me, let's go together."

Qin Ze quickly returned to his cave to pack his luggage, while Gong Qingyao went to bid farewell to the Xiaomi family, and then the two rushed to town directly.

Since the Spring Festival celebration was not over yet, the night trains from the town to the city were not yet opened. The two had to stay in town and rest overnight, but many hotels were still closed also.

The two had to follow the highway to find a hotel where they could stay. Although the Lantern Festival was not yet there, many shops were selling lanterns already. Qin Ze saw a rabbit lantern made of red paper and ran forward to buy it. He lighted the candle inside and handed it to Gong Qingyao.

Although Gong Qingyao’s appearance was still like a little girl, her heart was very mature, so she had no interest in such lantern.

Seeing Gong Qingyao's delay in picking up, Qin Ze said, "Look, everyone has lanterns in their hands, and we have to do the same." 

Gong Qingyao still didn't pick it up. She looked like a person who was not a person.

Qin Ze said again, "This rabbit is really very cute, and it has a little New Year atmosphere when held. By the way, it can also illuminate the road."

Gong Qingyao still didn't pick it up. She had broken through the eighth level in her Qi training. She had very good eyesight. Even without lights, she could walk freely.

"Today is the Lantern Festival. Just hold it and feel the atmosphere for a while. If it still feels bad, how about I hold it?" Qin Ze handed it to Gong Qingyao again.

Gong Qingyao took it. The rabbits were not very realistic, but it was undeniable that they were a bit cute. The candles inside were very thin candles often used on cakes, so they won’t last long. Holding it in her hand didn't seem to give any special feelings. If she had to say it, Gong Qingyao felt that she could only feel the joy of everyone celebrating the Lantern Festival. 

Lu Qianqian clapped her hands, "Master needed something like this to avoid looking too cold and inhumane."

Seeing Gong Qingyao didn't hand the lantern back to himself, Qin Ze secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He suddenly felt that walking with Gong Qingyao on the road like this was also very beautiful. How much he hoped that they would never find a hotel. They walked down all the way, but after only one turn, a hotel appeared in front of them.

Qin Ze: ...

The hotel still had rooms available. When registering the ID cards for both of them, Qin Ze's phone rang. As soon as he connected the call, he heard a roar from the other side. Everyone in the lobby of the hotel heard the roar. 

As far as the matter was concerned, Qin Ze could run around on normal days. But he dared to not stay at home peacefully during the Chinese New Year while there was still old man at home.

"I know. I'll be back tomorrow to spend the Lantern Festival with Grandpa." Qin Ze hung up the phone directly after speaking.

Gong Qingyao seemed to be able to guess who the caller was.

Qin Ze gave Gong Qingyao a big smile. The Qin family's old man must have gone crazy at home, and they called him back when they couldn't calm the old man down. After all, in the entire Qin family, only Qin Ze could handle the old man.

Early the next morning, Gong Qingyao and Qin Ze got on the bus to T City.

Last night, Qin Ze explained his thoughts and said directly to Gong Qingyao in the bus, "I think the mountains in Hongyan Village are pretty good. I want to buy them all, what do you think?"

"Yes." Gong Qingyao originally also planned to buy them, but she had insufficient funds in hand.

"How if we cooperate?" Qin Ze asked. He knew that Gong Qingyao was willing to help Hongyan Village.

Gong Qingyao was a little puzzled, "How to?"

"I bought the mountain, you will help to adjust the feng shui there. We will take the health retreat route, so that the economy of Hongyan Village can also be driven. What do you think of it?" Qin Ze had been thinking about how to help Hongyan Village these few days. Last night, he finally decided his plans. He knew that there were many poor villages in the country. He hoped to help one by one if he was able. What's more, this was Gong Qingyao's favorite place.

Gong Qingyao shook his head, "Feng Shui there is already good, so I don't need to adjust it."

"That's not all." Qin Ze said, "These caves will be rebuilt, and some furnitures will be placed in at that time. What if we collide with the originally good feng shui? So this definitely needs your help."