Braised Dragon with Soy Sauce

Chapter 10

Because of these privileges, Mo Yuming eagerly headed towards their "neighboring country"—Xianghe Valley—in the second month after arriving in this world.

He longed to see what the magical beasts living on this land looked like, and why they had been able to keep outsiders like them away while maintaining a friendly neighborly relationship with them for so long.

In addition, Mo Yuming also wanted to explore the special features of Xianghe Valley, to find out just how big it was, and what the end of Xianghe Valley looked like.

For this long journey, Mo Yuming and Xinlan each prepared a cooked grain of rice before embarking on their adventure.

Grains are undoubtedly their ideal dry food, as they are lightweight and portable, and are one of their current favorite foods.

Its aroma is delightful, and its taste is sweet, glutinous, and refreshing. Just two grains of rice are enough to satisfy their food needs for more than ten days.

This specialty product, which is only produced in Xianghe Valley, has a remarkable characteristic: it is rich in nutrients, mild in nature, and provides a long-lasting feeling of fullness.

An average adult can sustain their body's needs for seven days by eating one grain of rice. If an average person carries one grain of rice as a staple food, they can go seven or eight days without having to look for food.

In fact, they didn't need to carry food when they went out; it was Mo Yuming, who was an alien, who suggested that they carry food.

In the past, when Xinlan acted alone, she would wander around at will, eating at whichever house she happened to be in, and never felt that there was anything wrong with it.

Moreover, the entire canyon is full of fruit trees, with all kinds of wild fruits hanging in all seasons. As long as you are not picky about food and are not afraid of sour or bitter tastes, there is no need to worry about not finding food.

However, Xinlan did not object. She had no opinion of her own and would fully support and actively cooperate with anything that Mo Yuming found fun.

After all, having something to eat while traveling is the best thing ever.

On the way to Xianghe Valley, you will pass by Zhang the blacksmith's house.

Fifty years ago, Zhang the blacksmith and his wife jumped off a deadly slope together, and fortunately, they both survived, becoming a rare exception in this canyon.

Xinlan used to often run over to their house to play, and she would stay for several days or even longer.

In fact, Xinlan spent most of her life before she was three years old living at Zhang the blacksmith's house and being raised by Zhang the blacksmith's wife.

If it weren't for Xinlan's mother's insistence on entrusting Xinlan to Old Mo before her death, Zhang the blacksmith and his wife might be raising Xinlan now.

The closest house to theirs was that of Zhang the blacksmith, about five miles away.

On the tenth day after Mo Yuming arrived, Xinlan took him to visit him.

The two elderly people were overjoyed and insisted that the children stay and play all day, doing everything they could to prepare delicious food and fun activities for them, making the two little ones almost forget to leave.

However, because Mo Yuming was eager to reach Xianghe Valley as soon as possible, the two did not linger at Zhang the blacksmith's house for long. After resting for a while, they set off again.

Before they left, Grandma Zhang gave each of them a fruit that looked like a red apple. This crisp and sweet fruit was arguably the most delicious food in the canyon.

Mo Yuming, who was searching for wild fruits to eat everywhere, already recognized this kind of wild fruit and had eaten it several times. However, it was always green and tasted slightly sour because it was picked before it was ripe.

However, he had never eaten such ripe fruit before, because there was a type of flying magical beast that particularly liked to eat such ripe fruit.

A few days before these fruits are about to ripen, flocks of animals fly to the trees to wait for them to ripen. Once ripe, they immediately peck at the fruit, making it very difficult for humans to pick them.

Upon seeing the fruit in his hand, Mo Yuming's heart skipped a beat.

With his experience of two lifetimes, he instantly understood that these two fruits were not obtained by chance. They must have been prepared for them by the two old men with great effort, and they may even have encountered attacks from ferocious birds and magical beasts.

At this moment, Mo Yuming felt as if he were in an incomparably warm and loving current.

That kind of selfless care had appeared in his life, and although it was a long time ago, he always kept it in his heart and never forgot it.

In real life, when an adult gives a child a piece of fruit or a piece of candy, it may seem insignificant to an ordinary child; it's just too commonplace.

Those pampered children might refuse to accept it because it doesn't suit their taste, or even throw it away directly.

However, as an orphan, he knew all too well how precious that piece of fruit or hard candy was to him. He had longed to have it, but it was always just out of reach.

Later, Old Man Mo adopted him, giving him his first taste of home. Although life was poor, he was content.

Just as he was basking in this rare family affection, little did he know that his good fortune would not last long, and only a few years later, Old Man Mo passed away.

He had originally planned to repay his parents for raising him after he grew up and earned money, but he lost everything again, and his heart was filled with disappointment and helplessness.

Now, in this distant other world, he, in his second life, has once again experienced such kinship. How could he not be extremely excited?

His eyes instantly welled up with tears. He gripped the fruit tightly and thanked them repeatedly.

Grandma Zhang could never understand the special feelings in Mo Yuming's heart. She only thought that the little boy in front of her was a well-educated, polite, affectionate, and reasonable child.

She said to Mo Yuming with full approval:

"Silly child, it's just a piece of fruit, no need to be so polite, it's too formal."

Don't do that again next time you come to Grandma's! Alright, alright, I'm sure you're in a hurry, so stop dawdling and hurry on your way! Remember to come back to Grandma's again sometime."

"Okay! Goodbye, Grandpa and Grandma!"

Goodbye, Grandpa and Grandma!

Xinlan also said goodbye. Then, she walked happily forward with Mo Yuming.

But the elderly Zhang and his wife stood at their doorstep, quietly watching the two small, thin figures gradually disappear.

Only after the two figures had completely disappeared did they return to the house, feeling dejected. Grandma Zhang couldn't help but secretly wipe away a tear.

Zhang the blacksmith glanced at his wife, knowing she was thinking of something, and said softly:

"Don't think about it anymore, it's been decades, there's no use thinking about it now."

"A child is the apple of a mother's eye; what parent in the world doesn't worry about their children?"

When we left them, Jin'er and Yin'er weren't much older than those two children.

Without their parents by their side, they must have suffered a lot.

...Ugh...It's all your parents' fault! ...Golden, Silver...please don't blame your parents for being heartless and abandoning you...

"My parents were really forced into this situation..."

Hu San Niang sobbed softly. A torrent of guilt and longing surged within her. Her heart was filled with worry and regret for her children; the pain of their past separation pierced her heart even more intensely at this moment.

"Stop crying! Okay? What's the use of crying?"

If we could go back, who would want to stay in this place? Who wouldn't want to be back with their children!

Iron Bridge couldn't help but get teary-eyed.

Before he could finish speaking, he waved his hand impatiently, hunched over, walked to the recliner next to the iron furnace, plopped down, and began to doze off.

Inside the iron furnace was a pile of extinguished charcoal ash, and the forging hammer, pliers, and other tools placed beside the furnace were covered in dust, indicating that they hadn't been used for a long time.

After grieving alone for a while, Hu San Niang returned to the courtyard.

She absentmindedly tidied up her belongings briefly, then went back into her room and didn't come out again. At that moment, the sun had just climbed above the treetops and begun to shine upon the earth.

"Brother Yuming, once you enter that forest of fiery maple trees, you'll be at Grandpa Li's house."

Grandpa Li's house is the closest to Xianghe Valley. Let's stay at Grandpa Li's tonight, and maybe we can get to Xianghe Valley early tomorrow morning. We might even run into Grandpa Li!

Xinlan pointed to a maple forest in front of her and said with a happy expression.

"Okay! We've been walking for almost a whole day, and I'm really tired."

Mo Yuming responded.

After three days of trekking, the two finally arrived at a forest that resembled a sea of ​​fire.

With their deep red trunks and bright red leaves, the trees look like dancing flames when a gentle breeze blows.

This mangrove forest is different from the mangrove forest in Ramu Valley. This forest is composed of a group of trees called fire maple.

The color of the leaves of the fire maple tree does not remain red all year round; it changes with the seasons.

It is green in spring, turns yellow in summer, and only turns red in autumn.

The red leaves begin to fall in winter, but not all of them will. Many leaves will remain on the trees until green leaves sprout the following spring. Therefore, this grove remains red for most of the year.

Mo Yuming's residence is located right next to the other end of Ruimu Valley. To get to Xianghe Valley, one has to cross almost the entire Yishi Valley.

Although the entire Yishi Valley is only about a hundred miles long, Xinlan had never traveled such a long distance before, nor had she ever been to Xianghe Valley. However, they knew that they would not go astray, much less get lost.

When Xinlan was just learning to walk, her grandfather had told her many times that most of the other grandparents lived in Yishi Valley and built their houses next to the stream that flowed past their houses.

The distance between them ranged from one or two miles to about ten miles.

As long as you follow the stream, you won't get lost. This stream flows from Ruimu Valley through Yishi Valley, then into Xianghe Valley, and from Xianghe Valley it flows into the deeper parts of the canyon.

Following the stream will lead you to Xianghe Valley, while going against the stream will lead you to Ruimu Valley.

In Yishi Valley, the closest house to theirs is Grandpa Zhang's house, followed by Grandma Huang's house, Grandpa Sun's house... while the furthest house is Grandpa Li's house, which has a grove of fiery maple trees in front of it.

After passing Grandpa Li's house, and then going through a grove of bushes, you'll reach Xianghe Valley.

Old Mo once said to Xinlan:

"Little girl, Grandpa has to go on house calls everywhere and can't be with you often. If you don't want to have fun anymore, you can go play at other grandpas and grandmas' houses."

The other grandparents also love Xiaoya just as much; their home is Xiaoya's home too!

……

As soon as you enter the fiery maple forest, the deep red trunks and bright red leaves intertwine to create a dazzling display of colors, as if you were in a dreamlike sea of ​​fire.

A gentle breeze rustled the maple leaves, as if whispering ancient tales. Xinlan called out towards a small wooden house nestled in the woods:

"Is Grandpa home? It's me, Xinlan!"

The crisp sound echoed in the air. At this moment, the maple forest shone with a flame-like light under the afterglow of the setting sun. The deep red trunks and bright red leaves complemented each other, like a magnificent painting.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, making them dance like flickering flames.

Beside the woods, the babbling brook shimmered in the golden sunlight, like a graceful ribbon stretching into the distance.

The stream is crystal clear, and you can see the sand and pebbles at the bottom and the small fish swimming around.

The grass by the stream swayed gently in the breeze, as if welcoming their arrival.

Xinlan's clear and crisp calls sounded especially beautiful amidst the picturesque scenery.

She gazed expectantly in the direction of Grandpa Li's house, feeling both excited and nervous, wondering if Grandpa Li was home.

Mo Yuming was also captivated by the beautiful scenery. He stood quietly to the side, admiring the fairyland-like forest of fiery maple trees and the babbling brook. In this tranquil and beautiful moment, they seemed to merge with nature, forgetting the fatigue of their journey.

The haphazardly growing vines did not diminish the charm of the wooden house; on the contrary, they harmonized the surrounding fiery maple forest, creating a scene that seemed perfectly natural.

The scattered fiery red leaves on the roof tiles, the emerald green and deep blue grass on the ground, the colorful wildflowers and the fiery red maple forest complement each other, creating a dreamlike and enchanting scene, like a fairyland on earth.

Mo Yuming originally thought that the wild grass with its colorful flowers, the strangely colored trees, the round houses built around the spruce trees, and the clear streams that flowed by did indeed have a transcendent and otherworldly charm.

But upon seeing this beautiful scene before me, I immediately had a sudden realization: Oh! So that's how it is! The name "Yishi Valley" likely comes from this place.

What a secluded paradise! The tranquility and beauty here seem to make one forget all the troubles and noise of the world.

"Who's calling me?"

As a hoarse, aged voice answered, a half-closed window leaf was slowly pushed open, revealing an elderly man with white hair and beard, smiling as he looked out.

The old man's eyes revealed the vicissitudes of life and wisdom, and his gentle smile made people feel extremely warm.

"It's me! Hehe... It's Xinlan! Grandpa, didn't you recognize me?"

Xinlan jumped to the window, made a funny face, and laughed.

Her smile was as bright as sunshine, adding a lively touch to this beautiful scene.

"Hehe, little girl, what brings you to Grandpa's? Come in! Let Grandpa see if you've grown taller!"

The old man said kindly, his eyes full of affection for Xinlan.

Li Mubai's small wooden house is the only wooden house in Yishi Valley that is not surrounded by a string of spruce trees.

The entire cabin is made of wooden planks. Although it is just two small wooden houses, it is unique in the entire canyon.

The reason is simple: Grandpa Li is a highly skilled craftsman with many ancestral crafts he has inherited.

When he first fell into the valley, he found the rows of simple, round thatched houses there rather unappealing. After some searching, he immediately set his sights on this maple forest and built two small wooden houses there, taking advantage of the terrain.

Although the room was simply furnished, it was quite comfortable thanks to Grandpa Li's ingenious design.

It looks much more unique than the tent-like houses of other people in the canyon.

The old wooden house has weathered many years of wind and rain, and the original wood grain and color have been eroded by time, adding a touch of vicissitude.

The wooden planks had turned a dark brown, moss grew on the base of the walls and the roof, and unknown vines climbed the walls, with tiny flowers blooming among the green leaves, like a serene and beautiful painting.

Li Mubai was amused and burst into laughter. He then opened the door and let the two little ones into the house.

"I have a name now, it's Xinlan. From now on, you have to call me Xinlan! Don't call me 'little girl' anymore!"

Dailan pouted and spoke loudly into the room in a serious tone. Her earnest expression was so endearing that it was hard not to laugh.

"Okay! Okay! From now on, Grandpa will call you Xiao...Xin...Lan, is that alright? My little princess! Hehe."

Old Li quickly apologized with a smile, his face full of doting affection.

"Hello grandpa!"

After entering the house, Mo Yuming respectfully greeted the old man. He stood tall and straight, with clear and sincere eyes.

"Oh, it's Yu Ming! Good! He's quite a good lad indeed!"

Xinlan's grandfather, Mo Wen, spent his days running around the canyon and had already told the old folks in the valley about Yu Ming's matter.

Therefore, Mo Yuming's sudden appearance did not surprise anyone much. On the contrary, they had secretly discussed many times how to help Yuming regain his memory, but without any results.

"Xiao...Xinlan, why did you decide to come all this way to Grandpa's place? Are you thinking about Grandpa's maple leaf fruit?"

Li Mubai patted Xinlan's head and said kindly, his eyes filled with affection.

The maple trees outside swayed gently in the breeze, as if they too were curious about the children's purpose in coming.

"I want to look around, visit all the grandpas and grandmas, and then take a look at Xianghe Valley!"

Mo Yuming answered eagerly. His eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation, as if he were full of longing for this journey.

"Oh? I was just passing by. I didn't come for my maple leaf fruit. Looks like I can save it for myself!"

Old Li teased him deliberately, a sly smile on his face.

"no……"

Upon hearing this, Xinlan hurriedly spoke, her face turning bright red, her eyes filled with urgency.

At this moment, the maple forest outside the house shimmered with a flame-like light under the sunlight, complementing the warm atmosphere inside.