Chapter 639: Going to Pick Tea

“Yeah, what about that tour guide you promised to find for me?” The timing was just about right. It was time to visit Wuyi Mountain and West Lake to see if he could get some Dahongpao and West Lake Longjing Tea seeds to plant in his courtyard. If he didn’t act soon, the courtyard would be completely taken over by medicinal herbs, and there’d be no room left to plant anything.

“No problem. Just give me a call when you’re getting close, and I’ll have her go pick you up,” Xu Ye promised confidently, though inwardly he was sighing. ‘Sigh, looks like it’ll be a long while before I can bum a ride in Bin’s car again.’

“Okay, I’ll head out tomorrow. I’ll be driving, so it’ll probably take two or three days to get there.” With the new car, the journey would not only be more comfortable but also save a good deal of time.

“Mm, I’ll contact her right now, then.” Xu Ye nodded, pulled out his phone, and started messaging his friend. Shen Yibin parked the car in front of the shop. The impressive new vehicle once again drew gasps of surprise from the girls. After getting Shen Yibin’s permission, they even took it for a few test drives.

“Boss, you’re going on another long trip? If you find anything good this time, don’t forget about me!” Xia Shixuan thought Shen Yibin was going out to collect pets again, so she put in her request in advance.

“I’m just going out for a look around this time. If I come across any interesting local specialties, I’ll definitely bring some back for you all.” Shen Yibin felt a little embarrassed. She, Sylvie, and Bai Yanni had asked him countless times, but he still hadn’t found a suitable pet for them.

“Sigh, we won’t get to eat the boss’s cooking for a long time again. Looks like my diet plan has a good chance of succeeding now,” Xie Nannan said, rubbing her perfectly flat stomach.

“Don’t worry, Boss. We’ll take good care of the shop.” Li Shiqing’s response was much more mature than the others, which made Shen Yibin quite happy. ‘Shi Qing is so sensible.’

“I’ll be in the shop all day today, so I’ll make sure you all eat and drink well. If you need anything, just come find me upstairs.” After speaking, Shen Yibin went straight to the second floor. He brewed a cup of tea, sat on the sofa, and started looking up information about his destination on his phone while he drank. ‘What are the local specialties in Fujian? Any signature dishes? Should I find a famous local restaurant and learn a few regional recipes? I wonder if they have any special techniques for cooking people from Guangdong? Hmm, but the ingredients for that seem hard to get, and Shi Qing and the others probably wouldn’t like the taste anyway, right?’

‘I’ll just camp in the wild for the two days on the road. I should see if there are any suitable spots along the way. Ideally, somewhere rich in rare medicinal herbs, so I can take Turtle Immortal for a look around and see if we find anything new. I have to remember to pack the tent and other gear Qi Jian gave me last time before I leave tonight; that tent is so much more comfortable than my old one.’

He continued planning, searching the map for suitable locations. He was busy right up until noon, when he went to the kitchen to make lunch. After eating, he went back to gathering information and finally found what he was looking for by dinnertime. After making dinner, he also found a good spot for the girls to practice the Turtle Breathing Technique in the shop. The transparent glass ceiling allowed moonlight to stream in, so they could train on the second floor without having to go outside. The shop also had many flowers and plants that purified the air, which saved them the trouble of finding another location.

Back at the manor, he first took Turtle Immortal to the riverbank to continue practicing the Turtle Breathing Technique. When they arrived, they saw Wen Yuan was already lying on the large rock. He was probably getting on in years and had started to realize the importance of good health; he trained more diligently than anyone.

Fortunately, there were plenty of other spots to practice along the riverbank. Shen Yibin found another large rock and climbed onto it. ‘If it were a girl, I might consider squeezing in next to her, but for a guy? Forget it.’

When he finished practicing, he took several deep breaths and felt exceptionally refreshed and clear-headed. Shen Yibin figured that if he were thrown into the Yunshui River right now, he could swim a long distance underwater. His training over this period had greatly improved his lungs and respiratory system, which in turn had sharpened his sense of smell. This was a huge boost to his cooking skills. Even Hah’Er had been eating more than usual the past two days. It seemed he would have to increase its exercise regimen after he got back.

“Let’s go, time to head back and pack. I’m taking you guys out for a trip tomorrow!” Shen Yibin patted Hah’Er’s head, waved goodbye to Wen Yuan, and strolled back to his house. He started packing: tent, sleeping bags, portable outdoor cookware, dried rations, drinking water… In no time, he had stuffed several large bags.

‘This time, I plan to bring Turtle Immortal and Xiaoliu along. Turtle Immortal will be essential for finding medicinal herbs along the way. I’ve also heard that the mother Dahongpao trees on Wuyi Mountain grow on sheer cliffs, so bringing Xiaoliu might be crucial. Besides, letting Xiaoliu spend all day and night with Turtle Immortal on the road is a good chance to build up their relationship. That’s even more important than finding the tea seeds.’

After a wonderful night’s rest, Shen Yibin woke up full of energy just as the sun was rising, completely free of his usual habit of sleeping in. After waking up and eating breakfast, he took the pets out for a bit of exercise. Before eight o’clock, Hah’Er, Turtle Immortal, Xiaoliu, and Maphario piled into the car at Shen Yibin’s call, and they set off toward Wuyi Mountain.

Although both were in the southern part of the country, Yunzhong City was in the southwest and Wuyi Mountain was in the southeast. They were nearly two thousand kilometers apart, so it was a long journey ahead.

Luckily, the new car’s performance and comfort were both excellent, a world of difference compared to his old beater. Hah’Er and the others lounged comfortably in the vehicle, occasionally opening the mini-fridge to grab drinks and snacks. Xiaoliu had even brought a bottle of Monkey Wine on board, but whenever Hah’Er and Maphario asked for some, he looked pained to share it—though he didn’t mind giving some to Turtle Immortal.

“Hey, you guys take it easy on the drinking. Don’t make the whole car stink of booze, or the traffic police will pull me over for a DUI,” Shen Yibin joked.

At noon, they grabbed a quick bite at a rest stop. In the evening, they got off the expressway onto a national highway, found their predetermined spot, set up the tent, and cooked a meal to fill their stomachs. Afterward, he took Turtle Immortal for a stroll through the woods, and both Shen Yibin and Maphario found quite a few good things.

The second day was much the same. Shen Yibin’s advance research paid off; in the mountain forest where they camped, they found some rare herbs no less precious than Dendrobium officinale and Cordyceps, leaving him very satisfied.

It wasn’t until noon on the third day that Shen Yibin’s car finally entered the Wuyi Mountain area.