Mountain God’s Forest Farm – CH57

Chapter 57: The Sound of a Heartbeat

Ying Kongtu hurriedly contacted the person who said they had seen pondweed before.

That person was very enthusiastic and went to communicate with the village.

In the end, they said that a little pondweed was not some precious thing. If the mountain god wanted it, they could directly send him a few plants.

[Lord Mountain God, please leave me an address. I’ll send it to you by express delivery in the next two days.] the other party said warmly.

Ying Kongtu:

[No, no, no, that would trouble you too much.]

[I want it to purify a body of water, so I need a bit more pondweed. Could I buy some from you?]

[How much is “a bit more”? We don’t have that much either. Only a few ponds around the village still have it.]

[The more the better? Ideally, ten or twenty thousand plants?]

[That much? I’ll discuss it with the villagers and get back to you.]

The village that grew pondweed was called Shiwanshan, an ancient village deep in the mountains.

Their village still preserved many mysterious traditions to this day and had close ties with the Special Management Bureau.

Toward Ying Kongtu, who was a mountain god, they were exceptionally friendly.

Very soon, the other party agreed. They would prepare twenty thousand pondweed plants and send them to Ying Kongtu.

Ying Kongtu spoke with the people of Shiwanshan over the phone and asked, “Should I pay with money?”

Thinking that ordinary non-humans were not very used to trading with money, Ying Kongtu added, “If not money, honey is fine too, but you’ll have to wait a few months. I don’t have honey on hand right now.”

“Or, after I have some good medicinal herbs, fruit trees, or vegetables in the future, I can settle the account then.”

The other party laughed. “You’re too polite. Money is fine. Just give whatever you think is appropriate.”

Ying Kongtu breathed a sigh of relief and said gratefully, “Thank you so much. Then send me an account number, and I’ll transfer the money to you when the time comes.”

It was best if he could settle the bill with money. That way, he would not have to rack his brains thinking about what he could scrape together to trade.

He had too few usable things on hand.

Ying Kongtu had bought pondweed of pretty good quality, and he was in an excellent mood.

Within a few days, the people of Shiwanshan sent over half a truckload of pondweed.

They had cut the pondweed into neat little segments, each segment carrying fresh bud points.

Then, according to the standard of one hundred plants per bundle, they bundled two hundred bundles neatly, carefully packaged them, and sent them over.

The packaging was neat and meticulous. Even the delivery courier who brought the parcel over expressed amazement, saying that in all his years of delivering packages, he had truly rarely seen a parcel packaged with such care.

After Ying Kongtu woke up, he had often felt human kindness.

Still, the sincere and honest way the people of Shiwanshan handled matters filled Ying Kongtu’s heart with mixed emotions.

After carefully checking everything, he thanked the people of Shiwanshan again and transferred one hundred thousand yuan to their account.

The market price of pondweed was already more than one yuan per plant.

This pondweed had slightly transcended the category of ordinary plants. Giving five yuan per plant was not considered high.

Ying Kongtu silently remembered this favor in his heart.

Wen Zhongshan looked at the pondweed. “Its name has the word ‘vegetable’ in it. Does that mean it counts as a vegetable?”

“You can treat it as a vegetable, but ordinary people generally don’t eat it. Compared with the taste of other vegetables, its flavor is rather special. It’s the kind that people who like it will really like, and people who don’t like it won’t be able to accept at all.”

The two moved the bundles of pondweed under the eaves and watered them to keep them fresh.

Ying Kongtu even specially cast the mountain god’s blessing to increase their vitality.

He hoped these pondweed plants could grow smoothly in Ai Lake, Ying Kongtu thought.

“Tomorrow, let’s go plant the pondweed. We’ll go in the morning and plant it when the temperature rises a little.”

“Okay. I also want to go see the fish eggs.”

“The fish eggs are fine. Xian Niao and the others go check on them every day.” Ying Kongtu was reminded by him. “Remember to have Xian Niao and the others patrol other mountains tomorrow.”

They were going into the lake to plant pondweed. If Xian Niao and the others followed, they would definitely splash around in the lake too.

The weather was still a little cold. They had only washed the cats and wolves before the New Year, and Ying Kongtu did not want to wash them again at this time.

Their underfur was really too thick. If it got stained with muddy water, washing and drying it would be unbearable even for a mountain god.

The next day, Ying Kongtu communicated with Tiaozhu and Xian Niao and entrusted them with patrolling the mountains.

He said that for the next two days, he and Wen Zhongshan would both be busy, so the patrol work could only be left to them.

Tiaozhu looked at Ying Kongtu with both eyes and agreed with an extremely solemn expression, “Meow-ao.”

With Tiaozhu and Xian Niao leading the patrol, Ying Kongtu and Wen Zhongshan went up the mountain to plant pondweed after breakfast.

In the early spring morning, Ai Lake looked somewhat blue under the sunlight.

Because there had been a lot of melted ice and snow recently, Ai Lake’s water level was higher than before. It appeared blue and shimmering, carrying a different sort of spiritual air.

Looking into the lake from the shore, they could no longer see the fish eggs hidden in the lake mud.

The little fish were absorbing nutrients and working hard to hatch. Their color had faded, turning toward semi-transparency.

Even if people walked very close, they would not easily discover their existence.

Because of this, they had become even safer.

“All right, we can plant the vegetables.” Ying Kongtu reached out and touched the lake water. Feeling that the temperature was still bearable, he said, “Let’s plant separately. One or two plants per square meter will be enough.”

“Just plant them anywhere?”

“Bury the bud points in the lake mud.” Ying Kongtu took a pondweed plant and demonstrated for Wen Zhongshan. “Like this.”

The lake water was clear enough, so Wen Zhongshan could see clearly. “It feels a little like transplanting rice seedlings.”

“Now that you mention it, it really does.”

The two separated and slowly planted the pondweed.

The water near the shore was relatively shallow. They only had to roll up their trouser legs and stand in the lake mud, bending down to plant the pondweed in the water.

The farther they went toward the center, the deeper the water became, and the wetter their bodies became.

The longer they soaked, the colder they felt.

“No, I can’t.” Ying Kongtu suddenly straightened up and wiped his face. “It’s really too cold. Let’s go up and bask in the sun first, then think of a way.”

As he went up, Ying Kongtu could not help muttering, “Why is it so cold now? I never felt it was this cold before.”

In such cold water, even non-humans could catch a cold.

Wen Zhongshan walked over from the other side. Seeing that Ying Kongtu’s lips were dark with cold, his half-long black hair stuck to his pale skin, and water was still dripping steadily from his clothes, he became a little dazed.

“What’s wrong?” Ying Kongtu wrung the water from his sleeve and looked up, only to see Wen Zhongshan’s expression.

“Don’t wring it out. Take it off first and put on your coat directly,” Wen Zhongshan said.

Their coats had been placed to the side and were completely dry.

Ying Kongtu readily took off his base layer and went to put on his coat.

Wen Zhongshan stood to the side.

Ying Kongtu was putting his hand into the sleeve. Seeing him standing there, he indicated with his eyes, “You should change too. Aren’t you cold?”

Wen Zhongshan looked at Ying Kongtu silently, then turned his back and raised his hand to take off his shirt.

Ying Kongtu would feel uncomfortable seeing his body, so Wen Zhongshan usually turned his back to Ying Kongtu when changing clothes.

Ying Kongtu watched his movements and did not pay much attention at first.

Because it was only his back, the impact of his body on Ying Kongtu was not too great.

But at this moment, looking at his body, Ying Kongtu’s gaze suddenly felt as if it had been burned.

Wen Zhongshan’s figure was very good. His waist was lean and strong, and his legs were especially long beyond reason.

In love, Ying Kongtu had always “begun with affection and stopped at propriety.”

He could accept kissing Wen Zhongshan. Sometimes, he would also feel that the expression Wen Zhongshan showed when they kissed was very interesting.

For a mountain god, hugging and kissing were already close enough. He was somewhat resistant to further intimacy.

That was too much.

To him, having his body and mind thoroughly invaded, having the boundary completely broken, and pushing the relationship directly into a place he had never been before was very risky and also tested his courage.

Wen Zhongshan understood his concerns and had never urged him.

At this moment, the two of them were drenched, and the world around them was bright and pale. There was no one else, nor any other intelligent being.

Those worries and fears seemed to suddenly be turned out under the sunlight to be aired.

The thoughts in people’s hearts could not be hidden at all.

Ying Kongtu became a little dazed.

He pressed his lips together and looked at Wen Zhongshan, who had his back to him.

Wen Zhongshan’s muscle lines were beautiful, and his skin was very pale. Standing in front of Ying Kongtu, he made it impossible for Ying Kongtu to ignore him.

The sound of blood flowing, the sound of his heartbeat, the sound of the wind.

Ying Kongtu suddenly sensed desire in this scene, affection leaning toward lust. His heartbeat also abruptly grew louder, rumbling like thunder.

“Are you done?” Wen Zhongshan finished changing and turned back, only to see Ying Kongtu frozen in place, his clothes not yet changed and his hair still dripping water.

The dripping water made his eyes even grayer-blue. His half-long hair clung to his pale face, making him look somewhat fragile.

“Kongtu?” Wen Zhongshan touched his forehead in concern.

Ying Kongtu grabbed his palm and pulled his hand down. “I’m fine.”

Ying Kongtu placed his other hand against his chest and said softly, “I’m just a little, a little…”

He did not know how to describe this feeling. In the end, he licked his lips.

Wen Zhongshan looked at him and suddenly understood. He lowered his head and kissed him. “It’s okay.”

“We’ll take it slowly,” Wen Zhongshan said in a low voice.

Ying Kongtu held Wen Zhongshan’s waist, feeling his solid and burning muscles, smelling the scent of his body. His heart felt a little nervous, and also a little curious.

Wen Zhongshan lowered his head and kissed him.

Their lips were cool, yet the kiss was scorching.

They exchanged breaths. Their heartbeats gradually synchronized, ringing in their ears.

Sunlight scattered down, drying the water droplets on their bodies and warming their skin.

When they separated, Ying Kongtu even felt a little hot. He did not know whether it was the heat of being flushed and embarrassed, or whether it was truly the sun making him warm.

“Let’s go back first.” Ying Kongtu turned his head away somewhat awkwardly and wiped his lips. “It’s too cold. We’ll go back, get some tools, and come up again to plant.”

Wen Zhongshan smiled, stretched out his hand, and lightly touched his hair. “Okay.”

“We can just put the pondweed in the lake. They can stay fresh in the water.”

Ying Kongtu busily carried the pondweed and immersed it in the lake, putting it away in a few quick motions.

Wen Zhongshan helped from the side.

After Ying Kongtu briefly handled the pondweed, he called Wen Zhongshan to go down the mountain first.

He walked very quickly. Wen Zhongshan followed behind him, roughly able to sense his mood. A smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

Wen Zhongshan reached out and touched his chest. His heart also felt full and swollen.

Looking at the mountain god ahead, moving through the mountains like an elf, he also quickened his pace.

After going down the mountain, Ying Kongtu calmed down a little, on the condition that he did not look into Wen Zhongshan’s eyes.

The pondweed had not come easily.

Ying Kongtu did not want to waste it. Although his mind was in a mess, he still went up the mountain to cut bamboo and made bamboo poles with hooks at the ends.

When they went up the mountain again, they used the specially made bamboo poles to gently press the pondweed into the lake mud.

The bud points of the pondweed went deep into the lake mud. They should grow out soon.

Twenty thousand pondweed plants could not be planted in a day or two.

The two did not delay too long on the mountain. Once they had planted enough for the day, they went down.

The pondweed could be stored in the lake water, and it would not spoil in a short time. There was no rush.

The two arrived home first.

After quite a while, Tiaozhu slipped in through the cat door, stood on its hind legs, used its front paws to pull at the latch, and opened the courtyard gate to let its companions in.

Only then did Tiaozhu discover that they were home.

“Meow-ao!” Tiaozhu stared at them and let out a dissatisfied cry, as if accusing them of why they had not opened the door when they were already home.

“We didn’t make it in time.” Wen Zhongshan, who roughly understood what Tiaozhu meant, said, “We heard the sound and were just about to open it, but you had already come in.”

“Meow-ao.” Tiaozhu looked at him suspiciously, feeling that the atmosphere seemed a little strange.

Xian Niao soon brought Dart and Jingwei in through the opened courtyard gate.

Tiaozhu’s attention was diverted. It immediately walked over and lay down in the nest with Xian Niao and the others.

Wen Zhongshan went to pour water for them, then took out food and added it for them.

The furry ones ate their food with great satisfaction.

After taking care of the furry ones, Wen Zhongshan went to the kitchen to wash his hands. When he passed by Ying Kongtu, he said, “Once Tiaozhu and the others come back, the house becomes lively.”

Ying Kongtu nodded.

Wen Zhongshan looked at him and asked in a low voice, “Do you want to stay at my place tonight? It’s quieter there.”

Author’s Note:

Cats in the county had begun a trend of bringing gifts to their owners—birds from the sky, fish from the water, mice from holes.

Dart was disdainful and felt that its owner did not need that at all.

Then, in the end, it still could not hold back. It went to dig out a hibernating snake and carried it to Ying Kongtu’s pillow.

Ying Kongtu’s pupils shook: !!!

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