For a moment, looking at the potato seedlings soaked by the rain, Fu XinCi calmed her mind and gently placed the tip of her right index finger on them.
Even as the rain continuously pounded her hands and arms, Fu XinCi did not stop, channeling the wood-elemental ability within her body into the potato seedlings.
Only when she felt weary and her face turned pale did she temporarily cease.
She let out a short breath of stale air and took a piece of fruit candy from her space, popping it into her mouth.
Carefully observing the potato seedling, which was as tall as an adult's knee, she worked without pause. It wasn't until the potato seedling flowered that she finally stopped.
Due to her intense focus, Fu XinCi did not notice a radish sprout emerge from beside the potato seedling at some unknown time. Growing from small to large, it thrived alongside the potato seedling.
After a short while, the proud Miss Fu, who saw her masterpiece with undivided attention, was overjoyed.
She was now impatient to pull up the potato seedling, wanting to see how many potatoes this single plant would yield.
Would it be four, or five... or even more?
Fu XinCi rubbed her hands together, feeling she could hardly wait, itching to dig up the potatoes immediately.
However, she lowered her head, looked at her small hands, which resembled chicken claws, and held back. She wanted to attract Qi He and the others, so as not to arouse suspicion from the adults.
Just as Fu XinCi was pondering what she should say next to draw Qi He and the others over, she heard Qi He's anxious voice approaching.
"Fu younger sister, Fu younger sister, where are you? Where has Fu younger sister gone?" Obscured by the rain, Qi He's voice did not carry far, but Fu XinCi could discern the urgency and worry in his words.
Qi He had been pulling enthusiastically just moments ago. When he turned and found Fu younger sister gone, he was instantly terrified.
"XinCi, XinCi?" Qi Shan also panicked. He was her uncle, and it was his undeniable responsibility if his grandniece went missing.
"XinCi, XinCi..." Qi Tian was even more flustered than his brother. He didn't want anything to happen to XinCi, as that would be too great a disservice to their second uncle.
Fu XinCi, she hadn't even found a proper excuse yet, and Qi He and the others were already here...
Alas, she had no choice but to improvise. She wondered if her impromptu performance could convince those boys.
Thinking this, she quickly feigned surprise and called out loudly, "Qi brother, two uncles, I'm here! Quickly come and see what good thing I've found."
"Good thing? What good thing?" Qi He, who had been trembling inwardly just a moment ago, immediately dropped the purslane he was holding upon hearing Fu younger sister's voice and ran towards her. His speed was no less than when he was chasing after steamed buns with pure meat filling.
The Qi Shan brothers, disregarding their bodies being exposed to the rain, also ran quickly behind Qi He.
As Qi He rounded the corner of the wall, he saw Fu younger sister leaning against the wall and, in front of her, a vibrant, dew-kissed radish top. He cried out joyfully, "Trip-the-donkey! Haha, this is great, it's a Trip-the-donkey."
(A common nickname for a type of radish. When fully grown, this radish is as tall as an adult's knee. During harvest, people often stumble and fall over it. Quick-witted and sharp-tongued individuals gave this radish a derogatory nickname, "Trip-the-donkey.")
Fu XinCi looked around and thought to herself, there was no "Trip-the-donkey" here before when it was just her.
Besides, if there were donkeys, that would be great. She would find a way to catch one, and then her grandfather wouldn't have to carry Yu'er on his back every day for their journeys.
Qi He was unaware that Fu younger sister's thoughts had been led astray by his shout of "Trip-the-donkey." When he reached Fu XinCi with a joyous expression, unable to contain his delight, he said, "Fu younger sister, you're so lucky."
After speaking, Qi He squatted down, preparing to pull up the radish.
Fu XinCi: She recognized radishes. Now, she was not only curious why a radish was called "Trip-the-donkey," but even more curious about when a large radish had grown here.
Could it be? Upon considering a possibility, Fu XinCi was taken aback. No wonder she had felt so dizzy earlier. It turned out she hadn't controlled her wood-elemental skills well.
However, it was a happy accident. This large radish had grown very well, with its greens lush and full of moisture.
When the Qi Shan brothers ran over, they were also stunned by such a large radish.
Qi Tian, disregarding his clothes being soaked by the rain, said with delight, "This one big radish will be enough for each of us to have a piece."
After saying this, Qi Tian realized he had overstepped and immediately fell silent.
Qi He, however, paid no mind. Without anyone's help, he strained to pull the large radish out of the soil and shouted triumphantly to show everyone.
"Qi Shan, Qi Tian, quickly look at how this big radish grew. This is the first time I've seen one this large."
"Yes, this big radish is truly great," the Qi Shan brothers replied in unison. They too had never seen such a large radish before, and their joy was evident on their faces.
Watching the three of them excitedly about to celebrate, Fu XinCi couldn't help but press her forehead. The potato seedling was clearly growing right alongside the large radish, even more conspicuous than the radish, yet why had these three dullards not seen it?
Just as Fu XinCi was silently complaining that this was not scientific, Qi He spoke, "Fu younger sister, let's go back."
"Yes, our harvest today is quite bountiful," Qi Tian added casually.
Fu XinCi: "..."
Seeing that Fu younger sister did not respond, Qi He looked at her with some confusion and urged, "Fu younger sister, let's go back." Qi He was very concerned that Fu younger sister's clothes would get soaked by the rain.
"Yes, Qi He is right. Xiao Ci, let's go back," Qi Shan also agreed.
From the reactions of the three, Fu XinCi was now certain of one thing: these three boys in front of her did not recognize potato seedlings.
She silently grumbled to herself again: This is not scientific.
She could understand the Qi Shan brothers not recognizing potato seedlings, as they had grown up in the Duke's mansion.
But for Qi He, who grew up in the village, to not recognize potato seedlings was somewhat inexplicable.
Just as Fu XinCi was lost in her own thoughts, Qi He, seeing that Fu younger sister was not speaking, became anxious. "Fu younger sister, what's wrong?"
Fu XinCi helplessly hid her almost rolling eyeballs and pointed to the potato seedling at her feet, asking Qi He, "Qi brother, don't you recognize potatoes?"
"Potatoes? What potatoes? I've never heard of them."
"Potatoes? I've heard of them," Qi Shan quickly answered before his niece could ask him. "Potatoes are a new crop that has appeared in the last few years. The manor of a classmate of mine grows them."
After saying this, Qi Shan paused before continuing, "The Duke's manor also grows them, but our branch hasn't been allocated any."