ctnovel 049 The Room of the Round Gourd
049 The Room of the Round Gourd
[Tuanpiao], also known as Tuanjiao or Tuanbiao, refers to a thatched hut on a plot of land. Farmers lived there, guarding the wheat field and melon field.
Besides the thatched hut, "Tuan Piao" also refers to a type of grass. It is often found in leveling spots where snakes, bats, and foxes drop either dried "Tuan Piao" grass or "Tuan Piao seeds".
As dusk fell, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of the ancient town of Gujing in the distance.
Li Yu left the Bat Cave and went to the South River.
Ding Gu remained on lookout while he and Jiang Yaya, the Snake Princess, went down to the river to wash.
After washing, Li Yu called back Ding Gu, preparing to scoop up some small fish and throw them into Fang Hu's pond.
It's not up to Ding Gu to try and catch it; the gaps between its bones are so wide that even a whale fry could slip through, so there's no way to catch it.
They chose a shallow depression, and Li Yu, along with [Snake Princess], dug up the silt and built a small pool to store water.
A small opening was made in the pond, and [Ding Gu] splashed around in the water, herding the fish into it.
After several attempts, they blocked the opening and caught a pond full of fish. The larger ones were two feet long, while the smaller ones were only a finger's width apart.
Li Yu went to Fanghu to find a pottery jar and happened to run into Thirteen Ants, whom he hadn't seen for two days.
Upon hearing that they were going to catch fish, the little man immediately leaped up and landed on Li Yu's thumb tip. Then, using the momentum, he jumped onto Li Yu's head.
[Thirteen Ants] squeezed into the thicket of hair, grabbed two strands with its tiny hands, and shook them: "Let's go!"
Li Yu's scalp itched from her antics. He shook his head, but heard her cry out "Ah-ya," "Ah-ya," without seeing her fall. Li Yu then ignored her and carried the pottery jar out of the [pot] and into the river.
Ding Gu and Snake Princess had been standing in the pond for quite some time, but their hands were empty of fish.
[Snake Princess] tried to catch fish but couldn't. All the fish stayed far away from her and ran to [Ding Gu]'s side.
[Ding Gu] does scoop fish diligently, but it's a "big sieve," allowing fish of all sizes to swim through the gaps between the metacarpal bones and finger bones. It doesn't seem like it's scooping fish, but rather teasing them.
Li Yu carried a pottery jar into the water, startling the fish, which all swam towards [Ding Gu].
[Thirteen Ants] making a lot of noise—
"Right, right, right!"
"Left, left! Right, right, right!"
"My lord, you're so slow~~"
Li Yu was exasperated and simply ignored her nagging, focusing instead on catching fish.
The pond was tiny, but then three guys came in, and [Snake Princess] intimidated most of it, so the remaining space was naturally even smaller.
So, as Li Yu touched it, he eventually touched Ding Gu's heel. He even pinched out a grayish-brown loach from the mud between its toe bones.
Li Yu went to catch fish again, but all the fish, big and small, circled around Ding Gu and tried to avoid him. Li Yu slapped Ding Gu's thigh bone: "Get out!"
[Ding Gu] obeyed the order, pulled the leg bone out of the mud, and walked out. A few small fish reacted a little slower and were pulled out of the water and onto the shore.
[Thirteen Ants] was overjoyed to see this. She leaped over Li Yu, kicking her head. A small fish jumped from the ground, passing by her. [Thirteen Ants] kicked out, striking the fish squarely in the head.
The little fish swirled as it fell into the earthenware jar, startling Li Yu.
Finding the fish-catching inefficiency too low, Li Yu began scooping water out of the small pond. [Snake Princess] also came to help, swirling her tail and flicking it to push out a considerable amount of river water.
Soon, the water in the small pond dried up, and fish of all sizes were jumping around in the mud. Li Yu shoved the earthenware pot into the mud pit, and he and [Snake Princess] picked up the fish and threw them in.
[Thirteen Ants], holding a small fish as long as herself, jumped to the edge of the jar and threw the fish in.
Seeing the man and snake happily picking fish, [Thirteen Ants] didn't think much of it and jumped in as well.
puff!
With a soft thud, [Thirteen Ants] sank completely into the mud. Li Yu happened to see this, quickly pulled her out, and rinsed her in the water.
She happily hugged Li Yu's finger and said it was fun.
After catching the fish, we put them in a [square pot] and released them into the pond. We then picked out a few larger ones and cooked them in a cauldron to eat.
It was very delicious.
Li Yu and [Thirteen Ants] ate happily, while [Ding Gu] smacked his jawbone.
Li Yu called to Snake Princess to sit down and eat. She sat down, took a fish, tore it open, handed the fish meat to Li Yu, and swallowed the bones herself.
Yeah, that's good too.
After the meal, Li Yu took out his wine pot and rode his donkey to Chenwang Lane.
First, they went to the Wang residence to find Wang Zhang to examine the seeds. The head of the household said that he had an appointment with someone and went to [Sky Courtyard] to see the "biogas digester".
Li Yu then went to his study to read.
After about half an hour, the little maid came running over, eager to hear him talk about the Sky Courtyard, the Bat Cave, or "catching fish in the South River."
The maid sighed and said that it was more fun outside.
At this time of year, she would have already gone out with her young mistress to enjoy the spring scenery and fly kites in the countryside.
But right now, I can only stay cooped up in the inner courtyard, feeling utterly bored.
In the evening, with Mr. Li around, they chatted happily. But the young lady said that she couldn't disturb Mr. Li's studies, so she could only stay in the study for a quarter of an hour.
They had only been talking for a short while when a quarter of an hour had passed. The little maid walked towards the inner courtyard with a bitter face, turning back every few steps.
Li Yu found it amusing, so he handed over the [Magpie Mirror/Hero]: "Take this mirror to your young lady. If I encounter anything interesting, I'll tell you about it."
The maid returned, examined the half-bronze mirror shaped like a magpie, and asked in confusion, "What did you say to us, sir?"
"Take it over first," Li Yu said, then added, "Don't keep it for too long; give it to your wife as soon as possible."
The little maid protested, "Why won't I play with it?"
Li Yu said, "I've cast a spell. If you hold onto this mirror for too long, it will turn into a magpie and fly away."
The maid pouted, "My lord is bluffing me again."
Taking the mirror back to the inner room, Little Sparrow handed the bronze mirror to Wang Rong.
Wang Rong frowned: "You took Li Langjun's things again?"
Little Sparrow hurriedly shook her head and relayed everything Li Yu had said. Wang Rong took the bronze mirror and looked at himself, his face immediately turning red with embarrassment.
Little Sparrow didn't know many words and couldn't recognize the function of the [Magpie Mirror], but seeing the strange look on Wang Rong's face, she knew that this bronze mirror must be an interesting object.
She asked Wang Rong, "Young lady, will this mirror really turn into a magpie?"
Wang Rong thought for a moment and handed her the mirror: "You can play for a while. Remember, stay indoors and don't go out."
Little Sparrow nodded eagerly. She took the mirror, looked at herself and the candlelight, but soon lost interest. Just as she was about to hand it back to the young lady, she suddenly noticed the mirror move, which startled her.
The bronze mirror slipped from his hand, and before it even hit the ground, the magpie on the back of the mirror came to life.
The mirror-like surface, like mercury, seeped into the magpie's feathers, adding a touch of the mysterious.
The magpie spread its wings and flew away, but the young lady of the Wang family had already closed the door, so it could not get out and could only flap its wings inside the house.
The little sparrow hopped and jumped to catch it, but couldn't reach it.
When Wang Rong walked over and was about ten feet away from the magpie, the magpie suddenly flew towards her.
Wang Rong stretched out his palm, and a magpie landed on it, bowing its head and folding its wings, transforming into half of a bronze mirror.
The little sparrow exclaimed how fun it was and asked the young lady how the mirror was so magical, but refused to play with her.
The young lady said that it was Li Langjun who had cast a spell, and Xiao Que'er suddenly understood.
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At the hour of You (5-7 PM), Wang Zhang returned.
He didn't mention the "biogas digester" to Li Yu, but spoke of Wang Bin with great concern.
He went to the Sky House today, thinking that his "disobedient son" would either cause trouble in the house or simply leave the house to find his so-called sworn brother.
However, they found Wang Bin silently guarding the Sky Monument, holding the Jade Sword. When a strange person spoke to him, he responded calmly.
He seemed like a completely different person.
When Wang Zhang spoke to him, he lost his usual flippant and frivolous manner.
Although Wang Zhang was pleased to see this change in Wang Bin, he was still worried.
Li Yu then told him about "Wang Bin being set up," and said that he had asked Wang Bin to guard the monument to do his part for [Sky Academy] and to cultivate his mind and character.
Wang Zhang sighed a few times and said that it was for the best.
Li Yu took out the [Tuanpiao Seed] and asked Wang Zhang to identify it.
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'Dumpling Seeds'
[Rank] Yellow.
[Attribute] Planted in [fertile soil], it yields [round gourd] in one year.
[Description] In the fields of Lu'an, Shanxi, there is a hollow grass gourd woven from sorghum stalks, with no doors or openings around it, and its shape is quite similar to a pavilion. The locals say that this is the dwelling place of a fox spirit. —From "Dunzhai Oubi"
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In the [Dream], players or natives travel and stay in hotels. Natives mostly stay in hotels and inns, while players prefer to camp outdoors.
There are two types of equipment that are most popular among camping enthusiasts.
Firstly, it is the [Jade Maiden's Chamber];
Secondly, it is [a room with a round gourd shape].
Let's leave aside the Jade Maiden's Chamber for now and just talk about the Round Gourd Room.
[Tuanpiao] is an annual herbaceous plant that has only one leaf from birth until it withers and dies.
Players who obtain nine leaves can weave them into a [Gourd House]. Normally, it looks like just a ball of grass, but if placed in the wild, it can transform into a grass hut, providing shelter from the wind and rain, and a place to sleep peacefully.
If you obtain thirty-six leaves, then there will be a story of "a fox asking a man to come out, prepare a feast, and invite the host to dinner".
If one obtains the eighty-one leaves, then "upon entering the room, one will find cinnabar and azure radiance, mountains and seas arranged in a riot of colors, enchanting boys and beautiful girls, and a variety of singing and dancing arts," with everything imaginable.