Chapter 106 - 104: The Pavilion, the Peach Blossoms, and One Very Unexpected Guest

Chapter 106: Chapter 104: The Pavilion, the Peach Blossoms, and One Very Unexpected Guest

The morning began with a challenge.

Not a difficult challenge involving ancient secrets, mysterious magic, or a world-threatening disaster.

No.

This particular challenge involved three peach saplings, two stubborn newlyweds, and one elderly woman who appeared to enjoy causing trouble.

"Which one of you is the better gardener?"

Lin Yue looked at the woman standing at the entrance of the Open Garden.

Then she looked at Shen Rui.

Then she looked at the three peach saplings arranged neatly beside the visitor’s cart.

"Good morning to you too, Auntie Feng."

The elderly woman laughed.

"Don’t avoid the question, girl!"

Auntie Feng was a retired orchard keeper from a settlement several days away. She was small, energetic, and possessed the sort of sharp eyes that suggested she could detect a dying plant from across a crowded marketplace.

She had arrived carrying three unusual peach saplings.

Their young trunks were healthy, their leaves glossy, and their roots carefully wrapped in damp cloth.

"I heard about your Peach Tree Promise," she explained. "Planting trees for people who have not yet arrived. Sharing meals with those who need a place. A lovely tradition."

Lin Yue smiled.

"We are trying to make it a yearly custom."

"Then I thought you should have something special to plant."

Auntie Feng pointed to the saplings.

"These are Moonveil peaches. An old variety. They produce sweet, fragrant fruit, but they are rather particular about their growing conditions."

Lin Yue crouched to inspect the leaves.

"Interesting. Where did you obtain them?"

"My family nursery. I have been keeping this variety alive for years."

She paused, then grinned.

"But I did not bring them here simply to give them away."

Shen Rui folded his arms.

"I suspected there would be conditions."

"Of course! Nothing worthwhile comes without a little challenge."

Auntie Feng pointed at Lin Yue.

"You."

Then at Shen Rui.

"And you."

The couple exchanged a glance.

"You must plant the first tree together."

Lin Yue blinked.

"That sounds reasonable."

"Without arguing."

Lin Yue blinked again.

Shen Rui slowly turned his head toward his wife.

Auntie Feng continued, clearly enjoying herself.

"You must agree on the location, the depth of the hole, the soil mixture, the watering schedule, and the direction of the support stakes."

She smiled sweetly.

"If you can manage all that without quarrelling, I shall give you the second sapling for Willowbank."

"And the third?" Lin Yue asked.

Auntie Feng’s grin widened.

"That one goes to whoever wins."

"Wins what?"

"The challenge."

Shen Rui looked suspicious.

"What challenge?"

Auntie Feng pointed at the couple.

"Whoever can convince the other to follow their planting method."

Silence.

Then Lin Yue slowly smiled.

Shen Rui looked at her.

"Oh, no."

"Oh, yes," she replied.

Auntie Feng clapped her hands.

"Excellent! I knew this would be entertaining."

Within ten minutes, the entire Open Garden knew about the challenge.

Within fifteen minutes, the apprentices had gathered around the planting area.

Within twenty minutes, Lumi had announced that it would serve as the official judge.

Nobody had asked it to.

"I shall judge fairly," the little dragon declared, sitting on an overturned basket.

Mei raised her hand.

"Do you know anything about peach trees?"

"Of course."

"What do you know?"

Lumi thought carefully.

"They are delicious."

Mei sighed.

Aster appeared beside the seed table.

"Lumi’s qualifications appear limited."

"I have excellent taste!"

"Your previous evaluation of the pumpkin was based on how easily it could be swallowed."

"It was a very useful evaluation."

Lin Yue arrived carrying a measuring rope.

Shen Rui followed with a spade and a small wooden marker.

Auntie Feng sat comfortably beneath the pavilion.

"Begin!"

Lin Yue examined the ground.

"We should plant the tree near the eastern side. It receives good morning sunlight, and the soil drains well."

Shen Rui looked toward the proposed location.

"Agreed, but we should leave enough space for the mature branches."

"Certainly."

"And the path should remain accessible."

"Of course."

Auntie Feng narrowed her eyes.

"This is going too smoothly."

Lin Yue glanced at her.

"Would you prefer us to argue?"

"Just a little."

Shen Rui placed the spade into the ground.

"Perhaps we should begin with the hole."

Lin Yue nodded.

"About twice the width of the root ball, with enough room to spread the roots naturally."

"Agreed."

Auntie Feng leaned forward.

"Very well. What about the depth?"

Lin Yue crouched and examined the sapling.

"We must keep the root flare near the soil surface. Planting too deeply could cause problems."

Shen Rui nodded.

"I’ll make sure the hole is not too deep."

He began digging.

After several minutes, Lin Yue inspected the hole.

"That’s enough."

Shen Rui stopped.

She measured the depth.

Then she measured it again.

He watched her.

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

"Then why are you measuring it twice?"

"Because I married a man who built a crooked pavilion."

The apprentices burst into laughter.

Shen Rui closed his eyes.

Auntie Feng slapped her knee.

"Wonderful! Now we’re getting somewhere!"

Shen Rui rested the spade against the ground.

"Madam Shen, are you questioning my professional ability?"

"Not at all, Master Shen."

"Your expression suggests otherwise."

"My expression is one of complete confidence."

"In what?"

"In my measuring skills."

He leaned closer.

"Then perhaps you should measure something else."

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow.

"Such as?"

He smiled.

"Your husband’s patience."

She laughed.

Auntie Feng shook her head.

"Married people are strange."

From the basket, Lumi whispered, "I agree."

The real disagreement began when they prepared the soil.

Lin Yue wanted to mix the existing soil with mature compost and suitable organic matter.

Shen Rui suggested placing a little extra loose soil beneath the roots to ensure they were supported evenly.

Both methods had merit.

Both were reasonable.

And both were defended with considerable enthusiasm.

"I think the mixture should remain fairly close to the surrounding soil," Lin Yue explained. "We don’t want the roots becoming too dependent on a completely different planting medium."

Shen Rui nodded.

"I agree. But the soil beneath the roots should be loosened carefully."

"Certainly."

"And we should avoid compacting it."

"Obviously."

He looked at her.

"Then we agree."

She looked at him.

"Apparently."

Auntie Feng frowned.

"Why are you two agreeing again?"

Lin Yue smiled.

"Because we are married."

"That is not an answer!"

"It is a very good answer," Shen Rui said.

Auntie Feng pointed at him.

"Don’t become clever with me, young man."

Lumi raised a tiny claw.

"I have a suggestion."

Everyone turned.

The dragon looked very serious.

"Why don’t you plant the tree in a cake?"

Silence.

Mei slowly lowered her notebook.

Jun stared at Lumi.

Aster’s projection flickered.

"Please explain your reasoning."

"Cake contains flour, eggs, and sugar. Trees like food. Therefore, cake must be good for trees."

Lin Yue rubbed her forehead.

"Lumi, trees are not dragons."

"Then they are missing out."

Shen Rui gently moved the dragon away from the soil.

"No cake in the planting hole."

Lumi looked betrayed.

"This garden has too many rules."

Eventually, the Moonveil peach sapling was placed in the hole.

Lin Yue carefully spread the roots.

Shen Rui held the trunk steady.

Their hands occasionally brushed as they worked.

"Hold it a little to the left," Lin Yue said.

Shen Rui adjusted the position.

"A little more."

He moved it.

"Now slightly right."

He paused.

"Yue’er."

"Yes?"

"Are we planting a tree or arranging a court dance?"

She smiled.

"A little more to the right."

He obeyed.

Auntie Feng watched them with growing amusement.

"Now straighten the trunk."

Shen Rui looked at the sapling.

"It is straight."

Lin Yue tilted her head.

"Almost."

He looked at her.

"Almost?"

"Perhaps a little to the left."

He adjusted it.

"Now?"

"Too far."

He stared at her.

Lin Yue tried very hard not to laugh.

Then she reached up and placed one hand against his cheek.

"Don’t look so serious. You’re doing wonderfully."

"Am I?"

"Of course."

"Then I expect a reward."

"What reward?"

He lowered his voice.

"A kiss."

Lin Yue glanced toward the apprentices.

"Behave yourself."

"I am behaving."

"You are negotiating during a gardening lesson."

"I am an ambitious man."

She shook her head, smiling.

Then she quickly kissed his cheek.

"Happy?"

"Not entirely."

"Shen Rui!"

He laughed and returned his attention to the tree.

Mei quietly wrote something in her notebook.

Jun leaned over.

"What are you recording?"

"An observation."

"What observation?"

Mei turned the notebook away.

"Marriage appears to improve cooperation."

Aster added, "And may increase the frequency of unnecessary smiling."

Lin Yue heard them.

She decided not to ask what else they had recorded.

Once the soil had been returned around the roots, Shen Rui brought over two wooden support stakes.

They were smooth, carefully shaped, and almost perfectly straight.

Lin Yue inspected them.

"Very nice."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Only very nice?"

"Excellent."

"Better."

She tapped one of the stakes.

"You made these yourself?"

"Last night."

"While I was preparing the planting schedule?"

"Yes."

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I wanted to surprise you."

Lin Yue looked at him for a moment.

Then she smiled.

He had made the stakes in the evening, after a long day of work, simply because he wanted their new tree to have the best possible start.

She reached for his hand.

"Thank you."

Shen Rui squeezed her fingers.

"It’s only a pair of stakes."

"It’s never only the thing itself."

His expression softened.

Before he could reply, Auntie Feng called out.

"Are you finished whispering?"

Lin Yue turned.

"Yes!"

"Good. I want to see whether you can tie the tree properly."

Shen Rui took the soft support ties and secured the sapling.

He adjusted the tension carefully, ensuring that the trunk had enough freedom to move naturally.

Lin Yue checked his work.

Then she nodded.

"Perfect."

He smiled.

"Finally."

Auntie Feng stood up and inspected the tree from every side.

She circled it once.

Then twice.

She crouched to examine the soil.

Finally, she looked at the couple.

"You passed."

Lumi gasped.

"Does that mean cake?"

"No."

The dragon sagged.

Auntie Feng laughed.

"You two did not argue as much as I expected. But you listened to each other, and that is more important than winning."

She reached into her cart and brought out the second sapling.

"This one is for Willowbank."

Lin Yue accepted it carefully.

"Thank you, Auntie Feng."

"And the third?"

Auntie Feng smiled.

"That one will be planted by the apprentices."

Mei’s eyes widened.

"By us?"

"Yes. But you must decide where it belongs."

The children immediately gathered around the remaining sapling.

Jun suggested planting it near the children’s garden.

His younger sister wanted it beside the kitchen.

One apprentice proposed planting it near the entrance so visitors could see it.

They began discussing the possibilities with great seriousness.

Lin Yue watched them, pleased.

The decision was theirs.

And whatever they chose, the tree would become part of their shared garden.

The planting ceremony turned into an unexpected celebration.

Auntie Feng taught the apprentices how to inspect roots before planting.

Lin Yue explained how to prepare the soil.

Shen Rui helped them position the support stakes.

Even Moss, who had been brought over from the garden’s outer boundary, offered a contribution.

"Do not plant it too close to my territory," he grumbled.

Mei looked at him.

"Where is your territory?"

"Everywhere I can see."

"That is a very large area."

"Correct."

Jun pointed toward a patch of ground.

"What about there?"

Moss considered it.

"Acceptable."

The children began digging.

Unfortunately, Lumi decided that the hole needed a little magical assistance.

It took a deep breath.

Lin Yue immediately noticed.

"Lumi, no."

The dragon froze.

"I was only helping."

"Your last attempt to help a turnip resulted in glowing mushrooms."

"That was an improvement."

"Not today."

Lumi sighed dramatically.

"Very well. I shall supervise."

It climbed onto a nearby stone and folded its wings.

For approximately thirty seconds, it behaved.

Then a butterfly landed on its nose.

Lumi sneezed.

A tiny golden spark drifted through the air.

Everyone watched as it landed on the wooden marker beside the sapling.

The marker shimmered briefly.

A small golden leaf appeared on its surface.

Aster scanned it.

"No significant magical alteration detected."

Lin Yue approached the marker.

The leaf was simply glowing.

She smiled.

"Perhaps we should leave it."

Mei looked delighted.

"Can we name the tree?"

"Of course," Lin Yue replied.

The children gathered around the marker.

After much discussion, they chose a name.

Little Promise.

Because it was a tree planted by children who hoped that other children would one day sit beneath its branches.

Lin Yue felt her heart warm.

"That is a beautiful name."

Shen Rui stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You look pleased."

"I am."

"More pleased than when I made the support stakes?"

She tilted her head.

"Do you want me to compare?"

"Not particularly."

"Then stop asking dangerous questions."

He laughed and rested his chin lightly against her shoulder.

For a moment, they watched the children finish planting.

Auntie Feng stood beside them, smiling.

Then she quietly said, "Your garden feels like my childhood orchard."

Lin Yue turned.

"Really?"

"Yes. People working together. Children running between the trees. Someone always arguing about food."

Lumi looked up.

"I heard that."

Auntie Feng chuckled.

"Some things never change."

By late afternoon, the three saplings had been planted.

One belonged to the Open Garden.

One would soon travel to Willowbank.

And the third, Little Promise, belonged to the next generation.

Auntie Feng was preparing to leave when she noticed Shen Rui examining the pavilion drawings.

"Are you still working on that meeting place?"

"Yes," he answered. "We are discussing the design with the Willowbank builders."

She studied the sketches.

"Interesting."

Lin Yue glanced at her.

"Do you have experience with construction too?"

"Not much. But I have seen many pavilions built over the years."

Auntie Feng tapped one corner of the drawing.

"This part should be wider. Elderly people need more room to move comfortably, especially when carrying baskets."

Shen Rui immediately made a note.

"And here," she continued, "you should have a low bench. Children can sit there without blocking the main walkway."

Lin Yue smiled.

"You have thought about this quite carefully."

"Of course. A pavilion should be built for the people who use it, not simply for the person who draws it."

Shen Rui looked up.

"That is exactly what I told the Willowbank builders."

Auntie Feng nodded approvingly.

"Then perhaps you will make a good architect after all."

Lin Yue covered her mouth.

Shen Rui turned toward her.

"Don’t."

"I haven’t said anything."

"Your face has."

Auntie Feng looked between them.

"What?"

Lin Yue finally gave in.

"I was only thinking that my husband has come a long way from the pavilion with the crooked beam."

Auntie Feng’s eyes brightened.

"The crooked pavilion?"

Shen Rui looked toward the heavens.

"Must this building follow me everywhere?"

Auntie Feng laughed so hard that she had to hold onto her cart.

"Oh, I must see it before I leave!"

"No," Shen Rui said immediately.

"Yes," Lin Yue answered.

He turned toward her.

"Yue’er."

She smiled sweetly.

"Don’t worry. I’ll give you a proper introduction."

That evening, Auntie Feng stayed for dinner.

The kitchen was busy preparing a meal for the visitors, apprentices, and everyone who had helped with the planting.

The cooks had prepared vegetable stew, steamed buns, roasted mushrooms, and a large tray of peach cakes.

Lumi had appointed itself chief quality inspector.

It had already inspected three cakes.

Then a fourth.

Then a fifth.

Yan caught it reaching for the sixth.

"Lumi."

The dragon froze.

"I am checking the consistency."

"You have already checked five."

"I am very thorough."

Yan placed the tray on a higher shelf.

Lumi stared upward.

"This kitchen has become unfriendly."

Auntie Qiao laughed.

"Come here, little troublemaker. You can help me carry the plates."

Lumi brightened.

"Will I receive a cake?"

"You will receive a plate."

"Can I eat the plate?"

"No."

The dragon looked disappointed.

At the dining table, Auntie Feng listened as Lin Yue described the plans for Willowbank’s orchard.

She offered advice about several old fruit varieties and promised to bring a few more young saplings in the coming season.

Shen Rui discussed the pavilion design with the local builders.

Mei showed everyone her planting records.

Jun proudly announced that he could now identify three different types of peach leaves.

His younger sister corrected him.

"Four. You forgot the one with the tiny curled edge."

Jun frowned.

"I knew that."

"No, you didn’t."

"I was testing you."

"You were not."

Their argument reminded Lin Yue of herself and Shen Rui.

She glanced toward her husband.

He was listening to one of the builders while absentmindedly placing the best piece of roasted mushroom onto her plate.

She smiled.

He noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You are looking at me again."

"Am I not allowed?"

"You are allowed."

He leaned closer.

"But I would like to know why."

She picked up the mushroom.

"Because I married a man who remembers what I like."

He smiled.

"I remember many things."

"Such as?"

"That you dislike overly sweet tea."

"Correct."

"That you forget to eat when you are working."

"Unfortunately."

"That you always steal the last peach."

She paused.

"That is a misunderstanding."

"And that you become very quiet when you are tired."

Lin Yue’s expression softened.

He continued gently, "So when you become quiet tonight, I shall take you home before you fall asleep at the table."

She looked at him.

"You are very observant, Master Shen."

"I have had an excellent teacher."

She reached beneath the table and squeezed his hand.

For a moment, the noise of the kitchen faded into the background.

Then Lumi appeared beside them holding a peach cake.

"Master Shen?"

"Yes?"

"Can I have another?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you already had three."

Lumi looked at Lin Yue.

"Madam Shen?"

Lin Yue shook her head.

"Don’t look at me. I am not rescuing you."

The dragon sighed.

"Marriage has made you both unreasonable."

Shen Rui smiled.

"Marriage has made us a team."

Lumi looked at the couple.

Then at the cake.

Then back at them.

"I prefer the old arrangement."

Later that night, Lin Yue and Shen Rui walked through the garden together.

The moon hung above the orchard, illuminating the small leaves of the three new peach saplings.

Lin Yue stopped beside Little Promise.

"Do you think it will grow well here?"

Shen Rui stood beside her.

"With proper care, I believe so."

"Mei will probably visit it every morning."

"Jun will probably measure it every week."

"And his sister will probably argue that it is growing too slowly."

Shen Rui laughed.

"They will take good care of it."

Lin Yue rested her head against his shoulder.

"I like days like this."

"So do I."

"Nothing extraordinary happens, yet somehow everything feels important."

He slipped his arm around her.

"Perhaps that is what makes a home."

She looked up at him.

"Do you think we have become too busy?"

"Sometimes."

"Do you regret it?"

"No."

He paused.

"But I would like to reserve one day each week for you."

Lin Yue blinked.

"For me?"

"For us. No meetings, no orchard inspections, no pavilion designs, and absolutely no unexpected visitors."

She smiled.

"What about Lumi?"

"We shall tell it that the kitchen is closed."

"That will never work."

"Then we shall hide the cakes."

She laughed.

"Poor Lumi."

"Poor us."

He bent and kissed her forehead.

"Tomorrow, we can begin planning our day off."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Why not now?"

"Because I have something else to do first."

"What?"

He took her hand and led her toward the pavilion.

On the bench lay a small wooden box.

Lin Yue looked at him.

"What is this?"

"A gift."

She opened it.

Inside were two small wooden nameplates.

One read:

LIN YUE — GARDEN MASTER.

The other read:

SHEN RUI — HUSBAND, CARPENTER, AND OCCASIONAL FLOUR VICTIM.

Lin Yue burst into laughter.

"Occasional?"

"Would you prefer frequent?"

She lifted the second nameplate.

"You forgot something."

"What?"

"Crooked pavilion specialist."

He sighed.

"I knew you would say that."

She turned the nameplate over.

On the back, he had carved a small peach branch.

Beneath it were the words:

FOR THE WOMAN WHO MAKES EVERY PLACE FEEL LIKE HOME.

Lin Yue’s laughter faded.

She traced the carved letters with her fingertip.

"Shen Rui..."

He watched her quietly.

"I thought you deserved something more permanent than a flower."

She looked up at him.

Then she reached for his hand.

"You are becoming very good at making me speechless."

"Is that a compliment?"

"It is a warning."

He smiled.

She rose onto her toes and kissed him.

This time, there was no apprentice with a notebook, no dragon stealing food, and no visitor asking them to build something.

Just the two of them beneath the peach tree, sharing a quiet moment in the home they had built together.

Until—

CRASH!

A loud noise came from the kitchen.

Then a familiar voice shouted.

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"

Lin Yue closed her eyes.

Shen Rui sighed.

"Lumi."

Another crash followed.

Aster’s calm voice drifted through the night.

"Correction: the incident involved six peach cakes, one overturned basket, and a highly motivated dragon."

Lin Yue leaned against her husband.

"Tomorrow’s day off is beginning to look unlikely."

Shen Rui kissed her forehead.

"Then we shall try again the day after."

She smiled.

"Deal."

And together, they walked toward the kitchen to investigate the latest disaster.

After all, a happy home was not always quiet.

Sometimes it was full of laughter, crooked furniture, stolen cakes, and people who never quite knew what tomorrow would bring.

But that was precisely why Lin Yue loved it.

To be continued...