Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Chapter 359 - 190: Planting Willows (Part 2)

Li Changyu asked in surprise, "Plant them by the Little Qing River? Why go all that way? You might as well just stick a few around the courtyard. They’ll look nice when they grow up, too."

Seeing his self-centered attitude, Juhua shot him a disdainful glance. "We’ll plant them by the gate, and by the river. We’ll space them out along the riverbank, and next year, we’ll plant some peach trees. In a few years, when the trees have grown, imagine the Little Qing River in spring. The banks will be shaded in green, with willows swaying gracefully, so elegant and free. The peach trees will show off their red blossoms, with butterflies and bees dancing all around. Then in early summer, the peach trees will be heavy with fruit. Can you imagine what a beautiful sight that would be?"

Li Changyu was stunned by her words—

’What a beautiful sight that would be?’

In his mind’s eye, he began to paint a picture: a riverbank where willows dangled like golden threads and peach blossoms bloomed like rouge, flanking a clear stream as it meandered east.

Qingmu laughed. "He’s definitely planning to live in Qinghui County and build his own estate. He couldn’t care less what happens to the countryside. Hey, when you become a rich gentleman in the future, are you going to come back and visit us?"

Zhang Huai couldn’t help but laugh when he heard that.

Li Changyu snapped out of it. He glanced at Juhua, who was busy herding chickens into a basket, then turned to Qingmu in annoyance. "Who said I’m going to live in Qinghui County? I want to build a house by the mountain, too! Ugh, if my dad hadn’t built our family home so sturdily, I could have just moved over here. But now if I wanted to move, he wouldn’t be willing to abandon that house. Besides, my family doesn’t have that kind of money. I’ll just have to wait until I’ve earned enough to build."

Qingmu asked, puzzled, "But you do business out of town, so of course you should live in Qinghui County. How are you supposed to run your business living in the village?"

Li Changyu sighed in frustration. "Once the business is running smoothly, do I have to personally oversee it all the time? Can’t I just be a hands-off shopkeeper? Besides, if Xiatang Market ever becomes prosperous, I’ll open my shop right at my doorstep. Who would want to stay so far away? From the sound of it, Juhua wants to make our Qingnan Village a beautiful place, and if that happens, I’ll be even less willing to stay away."

He watched Juhua carry the basket of chickens into the house, his heart heavy with worry. ’If I leave now, won’t I be even farther from her? And what’s more, she has Huai Zi by her side.’

Every time he heard her speak, he was astonished. He found himself observing her, trying not to let it show, curious to see what she would say or do next.

He had planned to get closer to her during the New Year, but she had unexpectedly left on the second day of the festival and didn’t return until the fifth.

Though he was worried, he didn’t intend to change his plans.

’From the way Juhua talks, she’s a person of great vision and ideas. Even though I’ve had a few years of schooling, if I can’t make something of myself, I’m afraid I’ll never be worthy of her. That displeased glance she just gave me was clearly mocking my short-sightedness.’

’It was true, though. The beautiful spring and summer scene she painted was something no one could refuse, to say nothing of autumn, with the brilliant expanse of oak trees on Little Qing Mountain and the wild chrysanthemums bursting into bloom in the fields.’

’Living in a place like this, what more could anyone ask for in life?’

Just then, Zhang Huai said to him with a smile, "You’d better hurry, then. A lot of families are planning to build houses over here this year. By the time you decide to build, there might not be any space left."

Li Changyu looked at Zhang Huai’s sincere smile and felt that he had changed somehow. He seemed more at ease, no longer as guarded as he had been in recent days.

’Is he that confident in his plans? Or is it just absolute self-assurance?’

’Whatever the reason, I’m happy about it,’ Li Changyu thought. He was determined to be friends with Huai Zi and Qingmu and didn’t want this situation to make things awkward between them.

’Besides, no matter how they compete, the final choice is up to Juhua, isn’t it? Uncle Zheng and Aunt Zheng will definitely listen to her opinion, so it would be useless even if the elders intervened.’

He chuckled. "Once I’ve saved some money, I’ll buy a plot of land first, just to reserve a spot. Has anyone bought the land next to your house? I’ll buy it, and then we can chat from across our courtyards. With Qingmu around too, it’ll be even more lively."

Zhang Huai laughed. "Then you really do need to hurry. Most people are buying plots to the southwest. The one next to mine hasn’t been bought yet, but it probably will be soon. I heard Changming is planning to build a house here too."

Just as Li Changyu was about to reply, Qingmu came out of the house carrying a sickle, a back basket, and a shovel. He said to the two of them, "Let’s go. We’ll cut some willow branches first, then we can plant the cuttings."

He and Zhang Huai followed him out.

By the time Juhua got to the riverbank, the three of them had already planted quite a few willow cuttings in the loose soil there.

Although the early spring air was still chilly, the earth was gradually warming. The water of the Little Qing River seemed to have come to life as well, no longer as biting as it had been in winter.

Zhang Huai handed her a bare willow branch, a little over a foot long, and smiled. "You try. I just loosened the soil, so it’s easy to stick it in. We, on the other hand, are actually *planting* them."

Juhua took it and pushed it firmly into the turned soil. "Won’t they freeze to death if we plant them now?" she asked. "My brother was going to wait a few days, but since you all were here, we decided to do it now."

Seeing she lacked the strength and had only planted it shallowly, Zhang Huai reached over and pushed the branch in deeper. "They won’t," he said with a laugh. "This stuff is very hardy, it grows easily. As long as the spot isn’t too terrible, almost all of them will survive. Besides, the days are already quite warm. It’s only chilly in the mornings and evenings."

Juhua quickly asked, "Are there any special considerations for where to plant them?"

Zhang Huai glanced at her, a smile in his eyes. Seeing her listening so attentively, he said, "I only know that you shouldn’t water them too much, or the roots will rot. I don’t know anything else."

Juhua laughed. "I thought willows grew best near water, so I was planning to give them plenty."

Zhang Huai said, "You have to be careful right after planting, of course. It’ll be fine once the roots sprout. Juhua, have you met your sister-in-law yet?" he asked, a smile playing in his eyes.

Seeing him looking at her with shining eyes, Juhua smiled slightly. "I have."

Zhang Huai stopped what he was doing and asked earnestly, "Do you like her?"