Chapter 398: Plum Blossom Footprints

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Lele, drink your milk first. Mommy will prepare something delicious for you,” Gu Zi offered the milk bottle to her. Lele sat on the sofa, accepting the bottle and sipping from it, nodding her head at her mother in agreement.

With that, Gu Zi retreated to the kitchen. She had planned a simple breakfast, steaming a portion of bird’s nest soup that her little girl could also partake in, and boiling four pigeon eggs, two for each of them, which would be sufficient.

As she prepared breakfast, Gu Zi’s mind wandered to the tasks she had planned for the day. She intended to dig up a plot of land that morning, to plant mint and other herbs. Her gaze drifted towards the door, and flashes of the passionate love-making from the previous night filled her mind. The thought of Su Shen brought an uncontrollable smile to her lips.

People often say that sudden tears are less frightening than sudden laughter. Tears suggest a return to clarity, while laughter implies a fascination with someone or something. For a man and a woman, this could signal the beginning of love.

Gu Zi had always been resistant to the idea of falling head over heels in love. She believed that the union of a man and a woman was essentially an exchange of values. Therefore, it was crucial to remain clear-headed in a relationship. Conversely, she was afraid of being love-struck.

However, now that she found herself smiling foolishly at the thought of Su Shen, Gu Zi felt no sense of crisis. Perhaps it was because he had truly been wonderful. Gu Zi was not one to be easily swayed. If it were not for his sincere and heartfelt efforts, he would not have been able to awaken her love-struck heart.

Gu Zi felt that starting to love him was a good choice. Energized by these thoughts, she found herself humming a tune as she dug up the soil in the yard.

That day, she did not tether Big Yellow, the dog. Big Yellow was free to roam around the yard and the house. However, Big Yellow seemed particularly attached to Gu Zi, following her wherever she went. When Gu Zi was digging, Big Yellow would circle around the plot of soil, occasionally running into it and rubbing against Gu Zi’s pant leg. Only when Gu Zi crouched down to pat its head would it willingly leave.

As it moved away, it left behind a trail of distinct plum blossom footprints. These caught the attention of little Lele, who observed them for a long time, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Following Big Yellow’s example, Lele too ran to Gu Zi’s side and then moved away, looking back at the path she had taken. However, she found no plum blossom footprints. How could this be?

Lele looked at the plum blossom footprints and then at her own, momentarily stunned and questioning her existence. Then, with a pout, she ran to find her mother, calling out, “Mommy, Mommy, Big Yellow, Big Yellow!”

Although Gu Zi was busy working, she had been keeping an eye on Lele. She had seen all of Lele’s actions and knew that Lele was upset because she could not make footprints like Big Yellow’s. This was the adorable aspect of human children.

Gu Zi set down the hoe in her hand and cradled the little girl, soothing her as she explained, “Big Yellow’s paws are different from our feet, so his paw prints look like this. Big Yellow, come here and show Lele.”

Upon hearing Gu Zi’s call, Big Yellow immediately turned and ran over. He lay down on the ground, extending his paw as per Gu Zi’s request, allowing Gu Zi to hold it up for the little girl to see.

The little girl glanced at her own foot, then at Big Yellow’s paw. It seemed as though she understood something in that moment. Her eyes, still brimming with unshed tears, suddenly sparkled with laughter. The little girl then resumed her joyful play with Big Yellow, while Gu Zi returned to her work.

“Gu Zi, open the door. I’ve brought over the seedlings you wanted,” Aunt Zhang’s voice, filled with her usual cheerfulness, echoed from outside the courtyard. Gu Zi set down his tools and went to open the door. Outside, Aunt Zhang held a small basket, filled with a few seedlings that Gu Zi had purchased from her. They looked freshly dug from the earth, their vibrant green color radiating freshness.

When Gu Zi had told her she wanted to buy her seedlings, Aunt Zhang had immediately responded, “You can just take them, no need to be so formal about buying.”

As the old saying goes, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative. Aunt Zhang was genuinely willing to give them away for free. The snacks that Gu Zi casually gave to her grandson, Shi Tou, were more than enough to cover the cost of these seedlings. These seedlings were plentiful in the fields and not worth much.

Gu Zi took the basket and invited her in, “Thank you, Aunt Zhang. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?” She had already given her the money, originally planning to dig up the soil and fetch the seedlings from Aunt Zhang’s house herself. She hadn’t expected Aunt Zhang to deliver them.

Her thoughts were different. Even though Aunt Zhang didn’t want the money, she insisted on buying them. These seedlings were nurtured with someone else’s sweat and effort, and she believed they were worth paying for..