Chapter 115 - 113 — Beyond Moon Spring: The Forgotten Garden

Chapter 115: Chapter 113 — Beyond Moon Spring: The Forgotten Garden

The first thing Lin Yue noticed that morning was the peaches.

The second thing she noticed was her husband.

The third thing was that her husband was holding a wooden stick and looking extremely suspicious.

"Shen Rui?"

He turned.

"Good morning."

"Why are you holding that?"

"To protect myself."

"From what?"

A loud bleat came from behind the courtyard wall.

Lin Yue looked toward the sound.

Then she looked at the wooden stick.

"Pepper?"

Shen Rui nodded solemnly.

"Your assistant has developed an unhealthy interest in my belongings."

Lin Yue laughed.

"Perhaps he wants to help you with your work."

"He helped himself to my measuring cord, two wooden pegs, and yesterday’s lunch."

"Perhaps he is collecting tools."

"He ate the lunch."

"An enthusiastic assistant, then."

Shen Rui placed the stick against the wall and walked over to her.

"You seem unusually cheerful this morning."

"I am going to explore a forgotten garden."

"And I am going to spend the day preventing you from climbing into holes, stepping on loose stones, and adopting every unusual plant we encounter."

Lin Yue smiled.

"You make it sound as though I am troublesome."

He gently adjusted the ribbon holding her hair.

"You are."

She narrowed her eyes.

He kissed her forehead.

"My favourite kind of troublesome."

Lin Yue laughed and took his hand.

"Come on, husband. We have a garden to discover."

Their expedition began at Moon Spring.

Auntie Qiao was already waiting beneath the pavilion with a small basket.

"I thought you might need these," she said.

Lin Yue looked inside.

Fresh peaches.

Not ordinary peaches, either.

They were small, pale pink fruits with a delicate fragrance.

"Where did these come from?"

"From the old Moon Garden. Someone left them at the entrance yesterday."

Shen Rui examined the basket.

"Someone has been visiting recently?"

Auntie Qiao nodded.

"I found the basket yesterday afternoon. The peaches were freshly picked."

Lin Yue picked one up.

Its skin was smooth, and a little green leaf remained attached to the stem.

"Do you know who left them?"

"No. But I suspect it may be someone who knows the old garden better than I do."

She handed Lin Yue a folded piece of paper.

"This was tucked beneath the basket."

Lin Yue unfolded it.

There were only a few words written in neat handwriting.

THE GARDEN IS STILL GROWING. PLEASE DO NOT LET IT BE FORGOTTEN AGAIN.

Lin Yue read it twice.

Shen Rui leaned over her shoulder.

"Someone wants the garden restored."

"Or someone has been taking care of it all this time."

Auntie Qiao smiled faintly.

"Perhaps you will meet them."

Lin Yue folded the note carefully.

"Then let’s find out."

Beyond Moon Spring, the path became narrower.

Old stone steps climbed the hillside, almost hidden beneath vines and fallen leaves.

Shen Rui walked ahead, clearing the branches with a small pruning knife.

Lin Yue followed, carrying the basket of peaches.

"Be careful," he reminded her.

"I am being careful."

"You are looking at the plants instead of the path."

"Both are important."

"Not when one of them causes you to fall."

She smiled.

"Are you always this protective?"

"Only when my wife insists on studying flowers while walking uphill."

Lin Yue reached the next step and stopped.

"Shen Rui."

"Yes?"

"Look."

A tiny cluster of blue flowers grew between two stones.

Their petals were delicate, almost translucent in the morning sunlight.

Shen Rui turned back.

"Another unusual plant?"

"Not necessarily. But look how they have grown between the stones."

She crouched to examine them.

He waited patiently.

Then he held out his hand.

"Ready?"

Lin Yue took it.

"Ready."

He helped her up the remaining steps.

At the top, the trees opened into a small clearing.

And there it was.

The forgotten Moon Garden.

The garden was larger than they had expected.

Old stone pathways divided several planting areas. Fruit trees grew along the outer boundary, while medicinal herbs covered the raised beds.

At the far end stood a greenhouse.

Its wooden frame was weathered, but the glass panels were surprisingly intact.

A small water channel ran beside it.

The garden was clearly old.

Yet it was not entirely abandoned.

Lin Yue noticed that several beds had been recently cleared.

Young plants were growing in neat rows.

A few wooden supports had been replaced.

And the entrance was swept clean.

She looked at Shen Rui.

"Someone has been maintaining this place."

He nodded.

"Recently, too."

They approached the greenhouse.

A fresh basket of peaches sat beside the entrance.

Lin Yue looked at the fruit.

Then at the note from Auntie Qiao.

"Perhaps our mysterious gardener is nearby."

Shen Rui examined the greenhouse door.

It was slightly open.

He pushed it gently.

The hinges creaked.

Inside, the air was warm and fragrant.

Several wooden shelves held clay pots, seed trays, and small gardening tools.

On one shelf stood a row of glass jars containing dried seeds.

Lin Yue approached them carefully.

"These are beautifully organised."

She read the handwritten labels.

Moonmist Herb.

Silver Dew Mint.

Golden Bell Flower.

And one jar marked:

PEACH OF THE FIRST LIGHT.

Her eyes widened.

"Shen Rui, look at this."

He examined the jar.

"Is it another peach variety?"

"I think so. But I have never seen this name before."

She looked around the greenhouse.

There were several young peach saplings growing in pots.

Their leaves were healthy, and the soil was moist.

"Someone has been raising these."

Shen Rui examined the wooden bench.

There were fresh wood shavings beneath it.

"Whoever maintains this greenhouse has been repairing the furniture as well."

Lin Yue smiled.

"Perhaps you have found a fellow carpenter."

"Perhaps."

A faint sound came from outside.

A wooden door closing.

They turned.

Someone was there.

"Excuse me."

An elderly man stood near the garden entrance.

He wore a faded brown coat and carried a wooden watering can.

His hair was silver, and his face was weathered by years of working outdoors.

He looked at Lin Yue.

Then at Shen Rui.

Then at the basket of peaches.

"You found the garden."

Lin Yue stepped forward politely.

"Are you the person who has been maintaining it?"

The old man nodded.

"My name is Old Liang. I used to work here when the Moon Garden was still open."

"Then you left the peaches?"

He smiled.

"Some of them."

Shen Rui glanced at the greenhouse.

"You have kept the place in remarkable condition."

"Not by myself. Auntie Qiao helps when she can. A few villagers bring water or clear the paths."

Lin Yue looked surprised.

"So the garden was never completely abandoned."

"Not completely."

Old Liang set down his watering can.

"People stopped visiting. The garden became too expensive to maintain, and the old owners moved away. But the plants did not know that. They kept growing."

Lin Yue smiled.

"Plants are rather stubborn that way."

Old Liang chuckled.

"Perhaps that is why I never managed to leave them alone."

He led them through the garden.

"This section once grew medicinal herbs. That corner was used for fruit trees, and the greenhouse was for seedlings that needed protection from the cold."

Lin Yue examined the planting beds.

Several varieties were unfamiliar to her.

"May I take notes?"

Old Liang looked delighted.

"Of course."

He seemed particularly pleased when Mei’s notebook was mentioned.

"Young people should learn these things. Knowledge is not useful if it remains locked in one person’s head."

Lin Yue nodded.

"That is exactly what I believe."

While Lin Yue and Old Liang discussed the garden, Shen Rui examined the greenhouse structure.

The roof needed a few repairs, and one side panel had become loose.

"I can replace this support," he said.

Old Liang nodded.

"I tried to repair it myself, but the wood was too heavy for me."

Shen Rui studied the frame.

"We can use lighter timber for the upper section and reinforce the base."

Old Liang smiled.

"You speak like someone who understands wood."

"I work with it often."

"Good. Then perhaps you can teach me a few tricks."

Shen Rui laughed.

"I would be happy to."

Lin Yue looked over.

"Are you making friends without me?"

Shen Rui turned.

"Would you prefer that I remain suspicious of everyone?"

"Perhaps."

He smiled.

"Then I shall behave accordingly."

Old Liang chuckled.

"Young people these days."

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow.

"Are we being teased?"

"Certainly," the old man replied.

"Good. I thought we were the only ones doing it."

Shen Rui laughed.

Then a familiar bleat echoed through the garden.

Everyone turned.

Pepper stood at the entrance.

Behind him was Jun.

And behind Jun were three more children.

Lin Yue stared.

"How did you get here?"

Jun pointed at Pepper.

"He followed us!"

His younger sister immediately corrected him.

"He led us."

Pepper trotted toward the greenhouse.

Shen Rui sighed.

"Why am I not surprised?"

Old Liang looked at the goat.

Then his expression changed.

"Ah. That animal."

Lin Yue blinked.

"You know Pepper too?"

Old Liang laughed.

"He used to visit the garden before you found Moon Spring. He once ate half my bean seedlings."

Pepper bleated proudly.

Shen Rui folded his arms.

"So he has a history."

"A long one," Old Liang confirmed.

Lin Yue patted the goat’s head.

"Perhaps he simply likes gardens."

"Then he should learn to admire them without eating them," Shen Rui replied.

Pepper immediately attempted to nibble a nearby leaf.

Shen Rui pointed at him.

"Exactly."

Old Liang brought them to the centre of the garden.

There stood a young peach tree.

Its trunk was thin, but its branches were healthy.

Several small fruits hung among the leaves.

Lin Yue approached slowly.

"Is this the Peach of the First Light?"

Old Liang nodded.

"It is the last tree of its kind that I know of."

"Why is it called that?"

"Because its flowers open very early in the morning, just as the first sunlight touches the garden."

Lin Yue examined the tree.

Its leaves were slightly different from the Moonveil peach trees she had planted at Open Garden.

The fruits were pale gold with a faint pink blush.

"Have you harvested any?"

"Only a few. I keep most of them for seeds."

Old Liang looked at the tree with affection.

"My wife loved this variety. She used to say that its flowers were the prettiest things in the whole garden."

Lin Yue’s expression softened.

"Did she plant it?"

He nodded.

"She planted the first one many years ago. After she passed away, I continued caring for it."

For a moment, the garden became quiet.

Shen Rui rested a hand gently on Lin Yue’s shoulder.

Old Liang smiled.

"She always wanted this garden to become a place where children could learn. She believed that every child should know how to plant something and watch it grow."

Lin Yue looked at the young peach tree.

"Then perhaps we can help make that happen."

Old Liang looked at her.

"You would?"

"Of course. We are already restoring Moon Spring. The Moon Garden could become a teaching garden as well."

Mei opened her notebook.

"We can record the plants and organise lessons."

Jun raised his hand.

"I want to plant a peach tree!"

His younger sister nodded.

"I want to learn how to care for the herbs."

Old Liang looked at the children.

For a moment, his eyes seemed brighter.

"Then perhaps my wife’s wish may finally come true."

Before they left, Old Liang invited them to sit beneath the peach tree.

He brought out a small wooden box.

Inside were several carefully wrapped seeds.

"These are from the Peach of the First Light. I have kept them for many years."

Lin Yue looked at him.

"Are you sure you want to give them to us?"

"I would rather see them growing in another garden than sitting inside this box forever."

She accepted them carefully.

"Thank you. I will take good care of them."

Old Liang smiled.

Then he handed Shen Rui a small piece of paper.

It was a sketch of the greenhouse.

Several measurements had been written beside the drawing.

"I thought you might find this useful."

Shen Rui studied it.

"You have already planned the repairs."

Old Liang nodded.

"I have been waiting for someone who knows how to build properly."

Shen Rui looked up.

"Then I shall do my best."

Lin Yue smiled at him.

"You have found another project."

He sighed.

"I knew you would say that."

"Are you complaining?"

"Not at all."

He leaned closer.

"I simply hope my wife remembers that I am also available for romantic outings."

Lin Yue laughed.

"I thought you enjoyed building things with me."

"I do."

"Then?"

He lowered his voice.

"I also enjoy having you all to myself."

Her cheeks warmed.

Old Liang suddenly cleared his throat.

"I believe I should inspect the far beds."

Lin Yue covered her face.

Shen Rui looked perfectly pleased.

By late afternoon, they had finished exploring the garden.

Lin Yue recorded the different plants, Mei collected measurements, and Shen Rui marked the greenhouse repairs.

Old Liang promised to prepare a list of seeds and seedlings that could be shared with Open Garden.

In return, Lin Yue promised to help establish a small learning programme.

It would not be a large undertaking.

The apprentices would help maintain the garden, the villagers could contribute tools and materials, and Old Liang would teach the children what he knew.

The garden would belong to everyone who cared for it.

Before leaving, Lin Yue stood beneath the Peach of the First Light.

She looked up at its pale golden fruits.

"Do you think we should plant one of these at Open Garden?"

Shen Rui stood beside her.

"I think we should."

"Perhaps beside Little Promise?"

"Then the two trees can keep each other company."

She smiled.

"You always make things sound simple."

"Because they should be."

He brushed a fallen leaf from her hair.

"Not every good thing needs to become a grand undertaking."

Lin Yue looked at him.

"That sounds surprisingly wise."

"I have my moments."

"Very few."

He laughed.

Then he took her hand.

"Come home, wife."

She squeezed his fingers.

"Let’s go, husband."

They were almost at the gate when Jun shouted.

"WAIT!"

Everyone turned.

Pepper was standing beside the greenhouse.

In his mouth was a small piece of paper.

Shen Rui stared at him.

"No."

Pepper chewed.

"Pepper."

The goat swallowed.

Shen Rui slowly walked toward him.

"Please tell me that was not another important document."

Old Liang hurried forward.

Then he laughed.

"Don’t worry. That was an old planting list."

Shen Rui stopped.

Lin Yue burst into laughter.

"You looked terrified."

"I have learned not to underestimate that animal."

Jun patted Pepper proudly.

"He is very helpful."

Shen Rui looked at the goat.

"I am beginning to think he is working against me."

Pepper bleated.

Aster appeared above Lumi’s shoulder.

"Based on observed behaviour, Pepper has demonstrated a consistent preference for disrupting Shen Rui’s activities."

Lumi nodded.

"He is clever."

Shen Rui looked at both of them.

"Neither of you is helping."

Lin Yue laughed and slipped her arm through his.

"Come on. I will make you something nice when we get home."

He glanced at her.

"What?"

"Your favourite peach-honey cake."

His expression softened.

"Two?"

"Two."

"Then I forgive the goat."

Pepper bleated.

"Do not get excited," Shen Rui warned him. "You are still not getting any."

That evening, Lin Yue placed the Peach of the First Light seeds inside the Golden Space.

She selected a small patch of rich soil near the peach orchard.

The seeds were planted carefully, with enough room for future growth.

She watered them and watched the soil settle.

Shen Rui stood beside her.

"Another peach tree?"

"Another little promise."

He looked at her.

"Then perhaps we should name it."

Lin Yue considered the idea.

"First Light?"

He smiled.

"Perfect."

They stood together for a moment, watching the newly planted seeds.

Outside, the courtyard was filled with familiar sounds.

The apprentices were laughing.

Lumi was arguing with Aster about cake portions.

Moss was complaining about Pepper.

And somewhere near the orchard, Jun was announcing that he intended to become the greatest peach grower in the village.

Lin Yue smiled.

Their little kingdom was becoming busier every day.

But she did not mind.

There was room for gardens, friendships, discoveries, and the occasional troublesome goat.

And there was always room for another promise.

Just as Lin Yue was preparing to close the Golden Space, Aster appeared beside her.

"Lin Yue, I have noticed something unusual."

She turned.

"What is it?"

"The old Moon Garden drawing contains another marking."

Aster projected the image.

Lin Yue leaned closer.

Near the northern boundary was a small symbol.

A little wooden structure beside a winding path.

"What is that?"

"The original records identify it as a seed house."

Shen Rui approached.

"A seed house?"

"Yes. According to the surviving notes, it was used to store seeds collected from different regions."

Lin Yue’s eyes brightened.

"A seed collection?"

"Correct. However, its current condition is unknown."

Shen Rui looked at the map.

"Where is it?"

Aster enlarged the image.

The seed house was located beyond the far end of the Moon Garden.

Almost hidden beneath a cluster of trees.

Lin Yue smiled slowly.

"Another forgotten place."

Shen Rui looked at her.

"Are you already planning our next expedition?"

"Perhaps."

He took her hand.

"Then I have one condition."

"What?"

"This time, we bring lunch, proper tools, and no goats."

Lin Yue laughed.

"I can promise the lunch and tools."

"And the goat?"

She glanced toward the courtyard.

A distant bleat answered her.

Shen Rui sighed.

"I knew it."

The forgotten seed house was waiting. And if its records were still intact, Lin Yue might discover something that could change the future of every garden in their little kingdom.