“Good granddaughter, you’ve never been to the mountains before; how do you know so many things? You even know that hedgehog fruit is edible?” Li Fujin wasn’t suspicious of Li Menglan; he was simply curious and wanted to know what was going on.
Li Menglan had already thought of a plan on the way back: “Dad, Mom, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, all of you come over and sit down. I’ll only say this once; I won’t bring it up again in the future, and you’re not allowed to ask again, nor can you tell anyone else about it.” Li Menglan deliberately put on a stern little face and spoke with utter seriousness.
“Lan girl, what matter is so serious?” Zhang Yuniang looked at Li Menglan with a face full of surprise.
“Ah… Wife, don’t ask yet. Let’s first hear what Lan girl has to say.” Li Dazhu was truly a good man—just one step shy of being a perfectly devoted father.
“Good granddaughter, your dad, mom, and brothers are all here. Can you tell us what this is about now?” Li Fujin said with a smile.
“You must promise me that this matter will not be leaked.” Li Menglan sought guarantees repeatedly.
Uh… What matter? Was it really this serious? Li Fujin, Lin Sanniang, Li Dazhu, Zhang Yuniang… and the two brothers Li Zhiming and Li Zhihao all looked at each other in bewilderment. Driven by curiosity, they gave Li Menglan their promises one by one.
Li Menglan knew that people of ancient times were generally in awe of gods and deities. She had already prepared her speech on the way back; she didn’t want to have to find ways to explain things for half a day every time she did something in the future. This time… Li Menglan planned to use this method to settle the matter thoroughly and once and for all.
Li Menglan deliberated over her words and carefully glanced at her grandfather Li Fujin: “Grandpa, do you believe there are immortals in this world?”
Uh… What? Immortals? From ancient times to the present, immortals had been on the lips of many, yet no one had ever laid eyes on a so-called immortal.
“Good granddaughter, you… why would you ask this?” Li Fujin first froze for a moment, then asked with a face full of pleasant surprise: “Good granddaughter, could it be that you…” Because he was too agitated, Li Fujin’s entire body began to tremble.
With a *swoosh*, every member of the Li family—old and young, male and female—had their eyes shining brilliantly as they stared fixedly at Li Menglan.
Seeing the eager gazes of her family, Li Menglan suddenly felt a little uneasy; uh… would this lie of hers really be alright? But the arrow was already on the string and had to be fired—to hell with it!
“Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, and Eldest Brother, Second Brother.” Li Menglan called out every one of her family members by name: “I know what I’m about to say might sound a bit absurd, but please believe that it is all true.”
“Nonsense. Lan girl, you are your father’s and mother’s daughter. Your mother and father both believe that Lan girl would absolutely never lie to us.” Zhang Yuniang said to Li Menglan with absolute resolve.
Hearing Zhang Yuniang’s words, Li Menglan felt warmth in her heart, further strengthening her resolve to let the Li family live a good life. As for that small sense of guilt in her heart, she directly cast it aside.
“Mn.” Li Fujin and Lin Sanniang also nodded: “Grandpa naturally believes his good granddaughter’s words.”
“Grandma also believes Lan girl wouldn’t lie.”
Moreover, how could the two brothers Li Zhiming and Li Zhihao possibly doubt their only younger sister?
“This is how things are…” Right then, Li Menglan spoke out the excuse she had long since prepared.
There is a saying that goes: whether it is a black cat or a white cat, as long as it catches mice, it is a good cat. This saying applied quite well to Li Menglan. The excuse she used was very old-fashioned… but it was very effective. Especially since… Li Menglan had a family who loved her very much; naturally, they were even less likely to doubt her words.
Li Menglan told her grandfather, grandmother, as well as her father, mother, and brothers that while she had been unconscious, an old man with a white beard would enter her dreams every day; he said he was the mountain god of this Crooked Neck Mountain and had been moved by her father’s filial piety; therefore, he had specifically entered her dreams to tell her that this Crooked Neck Mountain held many treasures, letting her gradually improve her family’s life in the future.
This was also the reason she knew hedgehog fruit was edible? And that red thing called chili peppers—it wasn’t some wild fruit, but rather a type of food that could be eaten as a vegetable.
Li Menglan also knew there were many flaws in what she had just said, and she had long since prepared herself mentally to answer all sorts of questions from the Li family members. One had to say… the Li family was truly kind, and they truly loved Li Menglan. Every person in the Li family simply harbored no suspicions at all; as soon as Li Menglan said it, everyone believed it.
Not only did they believe her without reservation, but each and every one of them was also brimming with excitement; they praised Li Menglan endlessly…
“Hahaha… Grandpa knew it. My good granddaughter is a person blessed with good fortune.” Judging by the voice and tone, it was undoubtedly the head of the Li family—Li Fujin.
“Little Sister, you’re so clever!”
“That’s right, Little Sister, if you see any treasures in the future, just tell Second Brother. Second Brother will help you get them.”
“Lan girl, Dad will go dress a pheasant first. Tonight our whole family will have a good meal.” Li Dazhu’s words were the most pleasing to hear.
Li Menglan hurriedly ran over from Li Fujin’s side: “Dad, I’ll go wash some chili peppers. In a bit, have Mom stir-fry them together with the pheasant. I guarantee all of you will love eating it.”
Kung Pao Chicken, Spicy Chicken Chunks, Mouthwatering Chicken… One after another, fresh, spicy, and delicious delicacy flashed through Li Menglan’s mind. Li Menglan couldn’t help but smack her lips; uh… her stomach also seemed to grow hungry.
“Mom, I’ll go help you start the fire.” Li Zhihao took one look at his younger sister’s expression. Mm… it seemed his own stomach was also starting to grumble.
“Eldest Brother, you help peel some chestnuts. In a bit, I’ll have Mom make something delicious for us.” Li Menglan suddenly thought of the Chestnut Roast Duck she had eaten before. Since chestnuts could be used to stir-fry duck, then what about pheasant? Could chestnuts also be used to stir-fry pheasant? Li Menglan planned to give it a try.
Glancing at her grandfather and grandmother sitting on the stools, Li Menglan decided that while her father was busy dressing the pheasant, she would first make some boiled chestnuts for Li Fujin and Lin Sanniang to taste.
Although it was already late and the Li family had yet to eat dinner, every person had a happy smile on their face, filled with longing for tomorrow. Tonight—in the hearts of the Li family—was an entirely new beginning. The days ahead would definitely get better and better.