Chapter 117 - 115 — The Orchard Beyond the Northern Slope

Chapter 117: Chapter 115 — The Orchard Beyond the Northern Slope

The trouble began with a peach.

More precisely, it began with Shen Rui placing a perfectly ripe peach on Lin Yue’s breakfast plate.

Lin Yue looked at the fruit.

Then at her husband.

"What’s this?"

"Breakfast."

"I can see that."

"Then why are you asking?"

She narrowed her eyes.

Shen Rui calmly poured her tea.

"You’re being suspiciously generous this morning."

"Am I not allowed to give my wife a peach?"

"Of course you are. But yesterday you mentioned a forgotten orchard, and now you’re feeding me fruit."

He paused.

"Perhaps I simply love my wife."

"Perhaps you’re trying to convince me to go exploring."

"Both can be true."

Lin Yue laughed.

She picked up the peach and took a bite.

"Fine. I’ll go."

Shen Rui looked pleased.

"Excellent."

"But we’re taking the apprentices only if they want to come. And Old Liang should know where we’re going."

"Already arranged."

She stopped chewing.

"You arranged everything?"

"I learned from experience that if I leave the preparations until after breakfast, my wife will somehow turn a short expedition into a three-day agricultural development project."

Lin Yue swallowed her bite.

"That happened only once."

"Twice."

"The second time was unavoidable."

"The third time involved a greenhouse."

She gave him a sweet smile.

"Would you like another peach?"

Shen Rui accepted it.

"I shall consider that a peace offering."

By midmorning, the little expedition was ready.

Old Liang had brought an old map showing the location of the orchard. Mei carried her notebook, while Jun brought a small shovel and a rope.

His younger sister carried water and a cloth bag of snacks.

Lumi arrived wearing a tiny straw hat.

Aster appeared above his head.

"Why are you wearing that?"

"To look professional."

"You are not a professional orchard inspector."

"I am the official representative of the Golden Dragon Bakery."

"You are the only employee."

"Exactly. I represent the entire company."

Lin Yue laughed.

Shen Rui checked the supplies.

"Water, food, gloves, pruning shears, rope, and a first-aid kit. Good."

Jun raised his hand.

"What about Pepper?"

"No," Shen Rui replied immediately.

A familiar bleat sounded from behind a tree.

Everyone turned.

Pepper emerged with a leaf hanging from his mouth.

Shen Rui closed his eyes.

"Of course."

Lin Yue crouched and patted the goat’s head.

"Were you waiting for us?"

Pepper bleated.

"He says he’s coming," Lumi translated confidently.

Aster appeared.

"You do not speak goat."

"I understand his ambitions."

Shen Rui looked at the goat.

"Your ambitions are to eat everything."

Pepper chewed.

Apparently, he considered that a compliment.

The northern slope was farther from the Moon Garden than Lin Yue expected.

A narrow path wound between old trees, passing a small stream before climbing toward a gentle hillside.

The air was cool beneath the canopy.

Birds called from the branches, and patches of sunlight danced across the path.

Old Liang stopped beside a weathered stone marker.

"The orchard is beyond this ridge."

"Do you remember who planted it?" Mei asked.

"Several families. Long ago, the village used to exchange fruit saplings with travelling merchants. Some trees were planted here because the slope receives plenty of morning sunlight."

"Why was it abandoned?" Jun asked.

Old Liang considered the question.

"The path became difficult to maintain. Several trees stopped producing good fruit, and people gradually stopped coming."

Lin Yue examined the ground.

There were signs of old cultivation: shallow drainage channels, stones arranged along the slope, and a few remnants of wooden supports.

"Someone planned this orchard carefully," she said.

Shen Rui nodded.

"The old terraces are still visible."

They continued uphill.

Then Jun suddenly pointed ahead.

"Look!"

Beyond the ridge stood a collection of old fruit trees.

Their branches stretched over the hillside, tangled with vines and wild growth.

Some trees were bare.

Others carried small clusters of fruit.

And at the centre of the orchard stood an enormous tree with a wide, twisting trunk.

Lin Yue’s eyes widened.

"That’s beautiful."

Old Liang smiled.

"The oldest tree in the orchard."

"What kind of fruit does it produce?"

"Golden pears."

Jun gasped.

"Golden?"

"Not actual gold," his sister reminded him.

Jun looked disappointed.

"I knew that."

"You were already imagining selling them."

"I was imagining eating them."

"That’s worse."

The orchard was a delightful mess.

Wild grass covered the lower terraces, and fallen branches lay scattered between the trees.

But beneath the untidiness, Lin Yue noticed something interesting.

Several trees were still healthy.

Their roots had grown deep into the hillside, and the soil around them was covered with fallen leaves.

Some smaller trees had even appeared naturally.

"Look here," she said, kneeling beside a young sapling.

Shen Rui crouched beside her.

"Another fruit tree?"

"It appears to be a pear seedling. It may have grown from a fallen fruit."

She gently cleared a little grass around its base.

"We shouldn’t remove it. If it’s healthy, we can protect it and see how it develops."

Old Liang came closer.

"There used to be several pear trees along this terrace."

"Then perhaps we can restore this section first."

Lin Yue walked around the old tree, examining its branches.

Some were damaged, but the trunk looked strong.

"The orchard isn’t dead. It’s simply been neglected."

Shen Rui studied the hillside.

"The old drainage channels are partly blocked. If we clear them, rainwater should move away from the roots instead of collecting around the trunks."

"Exactly. We can start with the upper channel."

He smiled.

"I knew you would say that."

Lin Yue looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because you always find something to repair."

"And you always volunteer to repair it."

"Perhaps we are a very suitable pair."

She smiled.

"Perhaps."

He reached for her hand.

"Definitely."

Their inspection was interrupted by a loud rustling sound.

Then a branch shook.

Then something round dropped from above.

Thump!

A golden pear landed directly beside Jun’s foot.

He stared at it.

Everyone stared at it.

Then another pear fell.

Thump!

And another.

Jun slowly looked up.

"Are the trees giving us gifts?"

Lin Yue laughed.

"Possibly. But we should check whether the fruit is ripe before eating it."

Lumi was already reaching for one.

Aster blocked him with a glowing panel.

"Wash it first."

Lumi sighed.

"Why must everything involve waiting?"

"Because you have previously eaten fruit directly from the ground."

"That was a different fruit."

"An important distinction, apparently."

Shen Rui picked up one of the pears and examined it.

"This one looks ripe."

He wiped it clean with a cloth and handed it to Lin Yue.

She took a bite.

Her expression changed.

Shen Rui watched her.

"Well?"

Lin Yue chewed thoughtfully.

Then her eyes brightened.

"Sweet."

"Very sweet?"

"Crisp, fragrant, and slightly floral. The flesh is firm, but not dry."

Old Liang smiled.

"Then the old golden pear tree still remembers how to produce good fruit."

Jun reached for another.

His sister caught his sleeve.

"Wait."

"What?"

"We haven’t washed them."

Jun looked at the pear in his hand.

Then at his sister.

Then at the pear again.

"This family has too many rules."

After collecting several fallen fruits, Lin Yue began examining the trees more carefully.

The orchard contained at least four varieties of fruit.

There were golden pears, small red plums, pale green apples, and a few trees bearing dark purple fruit that Old Liang couldn’t immediately identify.

One of the purple-fruited trees stood near the edge of the orchard.

Its branches were covered with clusters of small fruit.

Lin Yue picked up a fallen one.

"Have you seen these before?"

Old Liang shook his head.

"I remember the tree, but I don’t remember its name."

She cut one open with a small knife.

The flesh was pale and fragrant.

"Perhaps we should identify it before eating more."

Lumi leaned closer.

"Can I smell it?"

"Certainly."

He sniffed.

Then sniffed again.

His eyes widened.

"Smells like cake!"

Aster appeared.

"Your sense of smell is heavily influenced by your profession."

"I have an excellent professional nose."

Shen Rui laughed.

Lin Yue examined the fruit more closely.

It reminded her of a small plum, but the skin and flesh were different.

She collected several samples and placed them in a cloth bag.

"We can compare the leaves and seeds later. For now, let’s record it as an unidentified purple fruit."

Jun looked at the tree.

"Can we name it?"

"Not until we know what it is."

"What about Purple Delicious?"

His sister shook her head.

"That sounds like something you would name after eating too much."

Lin Yue laughed.

"Let’s leave the naming to the records for now."

The real surprise came when Shen Rui discovered an old wooden structure beneath a tangle of vines.

At first, it looked like a broken storage shed.

But after clearing the vines around the entrance, they found a small stone-lined room.

"Was this part of the orchard?" Shen Rui asked.

Old Liang approached slowly.

"I’ve never seen this before."

The wooden door was partly buried beneath fallen leaves.

Shen Rui examined the frame.

"It’s old, but the stone foundation appears stable. We should clear the entrance carefully."

Lin Yue nodded.

The apprentices stood back while Shen Rui and Old Liang removed the loose branches.

After a little work, the door opened.

Inside was a narrow storage room.

There were empty wooden crates, several broken baskets, and a small table.

On the wall hung an old board with faded writing.

Mei wiped away the dust.

"Look!"

The words became visible.

ORCHARD HARVEST RECORD

Lin Yue stepped closer.

The room had once been used to record fruit harvests.

A stack of old papers rested inside a wooden drawer.

She carefully opened it.

The first pages listed the names of families who had planted trees in the orchard.

The following pages recorded the fruit varieties, harvest seasons, and the number of baskets collected each year.

But one entry caught her attention.

The eastern terrace produces the earliest golden pears. The western terrace bears the sweetest red plums. The lower slope is suitable for the purple fruit, which ripens after the first autumn rain.

Lin Yue smiled.

"This is wonderful."

Old Liang looked over her shoulder.

"These records could help us understand the orchard."

"And we can compare them with what we’re seeing today."

Mei immediately opened her notebook.

"I’ll copy the information."

Jun looked around the little room.

"Does this mean we found treasure?"

Lin Yue glanced at the old records.

"Actually, yes."

Jun’s eyes widened.

"Gold?"

"Knowledge."

His shoulders dropped.

"Oh."

Shen Rui chuckled.

"Knowledge can be more valuable than gold."

Jun thought about this.

"Can knowledge buy cakes?"

Lumi immediately raised his head.

"Now you’re asking the important questions."

By early afternoon, they had gathered enough information to plan the first restoration work.

The orchard did not need to be completely replanted.

Many of the old trees were still alive, and some younger saplings were growing naturally.

Lin Yue suggested dividing the work into small sections.

First, they would clear the drainage channels.

Next, they would remove invasive vines without damaging the fruit trees.

After that, they would prune only the damaged branches and improve the paths.

Finally, they would identify the unusual fruit varieties and collect seeds or cuttings where appropriate.

"We shouldn’t rush," she explained. "The old trees have survived for years. We should give them time to recover properly."

Old Liang nodded.

"I agree."

Mei wrote everything down.

Jun looked at the long list.

"That’s a lot of work."

His younger sister patted his shoulder.

"Don’t worry. You can start by picking up the fallen branches."

Jun stared at her.

"Why do I always get the branches?"

"Because you keep volunteering for adventures."

Lin Yue laughed.

Shen Rui leaned toward her.

"Your apprentices are learning quickly."

"They’re becoming very capable."

"And very good at assigning work."

She smiled.

"Perhaps they learned that from us."

He looked at her.

"I don’t remember assigning you any work."

"You assigned me the responsibility of being your wife."

Shen Rui paused.

Then he smiled.

"That is a responsibility I intend to keep for a very long time."

Lin Yue’s cheeks warmed.

She looked away.

"Stop saying things like that when everyone is nearby."

"Why?"

"Because you’re making it difficult to concentrate."

"Then perhaps I should say it more often."

She nudged his arm.

"Shen Rui!"

He laughed.

Lunch was served beneath the golden pear tree.

The fruit was washed, the rice rolls were shared, and the apprentices sat in a circle.

Lumi received a small piece of golden pear.

He took one bite.

Then another.

Then he closed his eyes dramatically.

"This is magnificent."

Lin Yue smiled.

"Do you like it?"

"I have discovered the next signature flavour of the Golden Dragon Bakery!"

Shen Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Golden pear cake?"

"Golden pear honey tart! Golden pear buns! Golden pear pudding!"

Aster appeared.

"Your proposed menu currently contains no vegetables."

Lumi looked offended.

"Vegetables are not the foundation of a successful bakery."

"Neither is eating all the ingredients before production."

Lumi quietly moved the remaining pear away from Aster.

Meanwhile, Old Liang was looking through the harvest records.

He pointed to an old drawing.

"Here. This shows the arrangement of the trees before the orchard was abandoned."

Lin Yue examined it.

The original orchard had been divided into four terraces.

Each terrace had a different fruit variety, with a small open space at the centre.

"What was this area used for?" she asked.

Old Liang smiled.

"Harvest gatherings."

"Gatherings?"

"Families would bring baskets of fruit, and everyone would share the first harvest of the season. Children would help pick the fruit, and the older farmers would exchange planting advice."

Lin Yue looked at the drawing again.

A small open space.

Several trees.

A place where people could gather.

"Then perhaps we should restore that space too."

Shen Rui followed her gaze.

"A resting pavilion?"

"Nothing too elaborate. Just a shaded place with benches and a table."

"I can help design it."

"Together with the villagers?"

"Of course."

She smiled.

"Good. I don’t want you building another pavilion by yourself."

He gave her a wounded look.

"Have I ever done that?"

Lin Yue counted on her fingers.

"Once at Willowbank. Once at the tea hill. And once when you said you were only repairing a bench."

"That bench needed considerable attention."

"It became a pavilion."

"A very useful pavilion."

She laughed so hard that she nearly dropped her pear.

The afternoon passed with more discoveries.

Near the lower terrace, Mei found a row of young red plum saplings.

Jun discovered an old stone basin that could be cleaned and used to collect rainwater.

His sister found a small patch of wild mint growing beside the path.

And Pepper—

Pepper found the harvest records.

More precisely, he found the cloth bag Lin Yue had placed beside the old table.

Before anyone noticed, he had managed to pull it halfway across the clearing.

The bag contained several fallen pears.

Shen Rui caught him just before he could disappear behind the trees.

"Pepper."

The goat stopped.

He looked at Shen Rui.

Then at the bag.

Then back at Shen Rui.

"Don’t even think about it."

Pepper bleated.

Lumi translated.

"He says the pears are lonely."

"They’re fruit."

"He says fruit also needs companionship."

Shen Rui retrieved the bag.

"Tell him he can have one after dinner."

Pepper immediately brightened.

Lin Yue laughed.

"You’ve negotiated with a goat."

"I have negotiated with more difficult people."

She looked at him.

"Such as?"

"My wife."

Lin Yue gasped.

"How dare you!"

He grinned.

"You are very persuasive."

"And you are very fortunate."

"I agree."

He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Pepper bleated loudly.

Lumi clapped.

Aster recorded the incident.

"Public display of affection: interrupted by livestock."

Lin Yue covered her face.

Shen Rui merely laughed.

Before leaving, Lin Yue returned to the golden pear tree.

She examined the trunk once more and noticed a small wooden marker half buried in the soil.

She carefully pulled it free.

The writing was faded, but still readable.

THE FIRST GOLDEN PEAR — PLANTED BY THE CHILDREN OF THE HILL VILLAGE.

Lin Yue turned toward Old Liang.

"Do you know anything about this?"

Old Liang studied the marker.

Then he smiled.

"I remember hearing about it. The children planted this tree many years ago. Their parents thought it would be amusing to let them choose a place and plant something together."

He looked up at the branches.

"Apparently, it grew better than anyone expected."

Lin Yue looked at the enormous tree.

Its branches were full of fruit.

A tree planted by children had become the heart of the orchard.

"Then we should keep this marker," she said.

Mei nodded.

"I’ll record its location."

"And when the orchard is restored, perhaps we can invite the children to plant new trees here."

Jun raised his hand.

"Can we plant one too?"

"Of course."

"Can mine be a golden pear?"

"We’ll see whether we can find a suitable sapling."

Jun grinned.

"I shall name it Jun’s Magnificent Pear Tree."

His sister sighed.

"Please don’t."

Lin Yue laughed.

"Perhaps we can let the children choose the names together."

Old Liang looked at the old tree.

His eyes softened.

"My wife would have liked that."

The journey home was slower than the journey there.

They carried fruit, notes, and a few carefully collected samples.

Shen Rui walked beside Lin Yue, carrying the heavier basket.

She reached for it.

"I can carry that."

"No."

"It’s not that heavy."

"I know."

"Then why won’t you let me?"

"Because I enjoy carrying things for my wife."

Lin Yue looked at him.

"That’s a very convenient excuse."

"Would you prefer that I say I want to impress you?"

She smiled.

"You don’t need to impress me."

He glanced at her.

"Then what should I do?"

"Keep walking beside me."

His expression softened.

"That I can do."

Their hands found each other.

Behind them, the apprentices were arguing about who would get to plant the first new pear tree.

Lumi was already planning a bakery menu.

Pepper was trying to chew a leaf.

And Old Liang was carrying the old harvest record as carefully as if it were a treasure chest.

Lin Yue looked back at the orchard.

It had been forgotten for years.

But now, its old paths would soon be filled with footsteps again.

That evening, Lin Yue placed the purple fruit samples on a table in Golden Space.

She carefully labelled each one.

Beside them, the first Cloudrunner Bean seedling had begun to emerge from its tray.

Shen Rui entered with two cups of tea.

"Still working?"

"Just finishing the records."

He placed the cups down.

Then he looked at the samples.

"Have you decided what to do with the purple fruit?"

"Not yet. I want to identify it properly before we propagate it."

He nodded.

"Then tomorrow?"

Lin Yue smiled.

"Tomorrow, we’ll inspect the leaves and seeds."

Shen Rui looked at her.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

He sighed.

"I was hoping tomorrow might be our day off."

Lin Yue blinked.

Then she laughed.

"Didn’t you promise to help repair the seed house roof?"

"I did."

"And didn’t you offer to design a resting pavilion for the orchard?"

"I did."

"And didn’t you say you wanted to walk beside me?"

Shen Rui looked at her.

"That last one doesn’t sound like work."

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Then perhaps we can take a little walk tomorrow before starting."

He smiled.

"Just the two of us?"

"Just the two of us."

"No apprentices?"

"No apprentices."

"No Lumi?"

"Absolutely no Lumi."

From somewhere behind the door came a small voice.

"I heard that!"

Lin Yue closed her eyes.

Shen Rui began laughing.

"And no goats?" he asked.

She smiled.

"That depends on whether Pepper finds us."

He shook his head.

"Then I’ll prepare two lunches."

"Why two?"

"One for us."

"And the other?"

"For the goat."

Lin Yue burst into laughter.

He kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, my busy little farmer."

"Goodnight, my hardworking carpenter."

As they settled down for the evening, Lin Yue glanced once more at the purple fruit samples.

The forgotten orchard had given them more than a new project.

It had given them a new mystery to solve, a new tradition to restore, and perhaps another delicious discovery for their little kingdom.

But the next morning, she intended to keep her promise.

A quiet walk.

No work.

No apprentices.

No bakery.

And absolutely no goats.

At least, that was the plan.

To be continued...