On the second day, the weather was fine and warm, so she got up early and took Yingniang, Rongniang, Liumama, Shuaishuai and others with her, including the servants, a total of twenty or thirty people. They used two carts to carry all the food, utensils, and the large purple peony that had been dug up, and set off in a grand procession for Fangyuan Garden.

  Just after leaving the Xiashan Gate, they had walked about half a mile when Fendama pointed out two riders in front and said to Mudan: "Mudan, isn't that Jiang Gong and Wu Zongguan?"

  Peony took a closer look and saw that the two men were riding their horses at a slow pace, chatting and laughing as they went. At this speed, Peony thought to himself, it wouldn't take long for his large group of people to catch up with them. Since it was impossible to avoid them anyway, Peony spurred on his horse and called out: "Director Jiang, General Wu, you're also setting off at this time? What a coincidence."

  Wu Zhang was about to speak, but Jiang Changyang beat him to it with a smile: "Yes, the weather is great this morning, not cold or hot, perfect for going out. I thought you guys had gone ahead already." He smiled at Peony, his black eyes shining brightly in the morning sun, his young wheat-colored skin radiating healthy and gentle color, his lips overflowing with joy from the heart, looking very pleasant to see.

  Peony couldn't help but steal two more glances at him, smiling: "We have a lot of people and things, so it's always very slow-going." She was wearing a pale green skirt today, a color that wasn't easy to pull off - if you weren't careful, you'd end up looking like a caterpillar, the kind with a green face and mouth. But Peony had good skin tone, and she looked lovely in it. Plus, her lazy, drooping hair bun and the crystal hairpin tucked among her locks made her look even more beautiful.

  Jiang Changyang thought silently, from the time he knew her, she had never made a mistake in dressing. In his heart, he was thinking of Peony's outfit, but his mouth came out with a sentence: "Although we have few people and things, Wu is also quite slow, otherwise we would have arrived early."

  Wu's mouth suddenly formed an "O" shape, and he looked at Jiang Changyang with a hint of anger, not knowing who was intentionally delaying things, but now all the responsibility was being pushed onto him. Jiang Changyang received his angry gaze, and with an unpleasant expression, stared back at him for a moment before Wu tightly closed his mouth and said with a forced smile: "Yes, people get old, their memory gets worse, they often forget things, even their own affairs."

  Jiang Changyang pretended he hadn't heard.

  Peony smiled slightly and introduced Jiang Changyang to Rongniang and Yingniang, who were curiously glancing at him from the side: "Rongniang, Yingniang, this is Jiang..."

  Before the words were finished, Rongniang and Yingniang had exchanged a glance with each other, and in unison laughed: "Hello Uncle Jiang." This Mr. Jiang, I've heard of his name for a long time, but never met him before, it turns out he's such a person. At this moment, looking at him is not bad, just don't know if getting along with him will be as pleasant and amiable as Li family's Tabo (eldest uncle).

  Rongniang and Yingniang were only a few years younger than Mudan, Jiang Changyang and Ou didn't know that they were Mudan's nieces, but thought they were just her friends. At this time, hearing such a title, for a moment, the expressions of both people were somewhat stunned. Ou suddenly curled up the corner of his mouth, just waiting to see Jiang Changyang's joke.

  Whether male or female, no one likes to be called old. Peony also noticed Jiang Changyang's expression and didn't rush to explain the identity of Rongniang and Yingniang, playfully looking at Jiang Changyang, waiting to see how he would react.

  Jiang Changyang adjusted quickly after being stunned and smiled calmly: "Hello." Then he looked at Peony: "Is this your niece?"

  "Ah, it's my elder brother's eldest and second daughters."

  Jiang Changyang suddenly burst out laughing, leaving Mudan bewildered. Rongniang and Yingniang were utterly embarrassed. Mudan couldn't help but ask: "What's so funny? Did we do something wrong?"

  Jiang Changyang waved his hand and said, "No, I think I'm really lucky to have you around. At just twenty years old, I've already been called 'uncle' by such a big girl."

  Wu's face twitched. At twenty, you're not old, but you're not young either. Others at your age can ride horses, why do you need to explain yourself?

  Peony suddenly realized that he was already twenty years old. After a moment's thought, she smiled and said: "I suppose Mr. Jiang is also getting married soon? At that time, you must tell me, so I can prepare a generous gift." She had long known from Baizhi's mouth that Jiang Changyang had never been married, and this question was intentional.

  Jiang Changyang swiftly glanced at her and lowered his head, muttering a sentence under his breath.

  Peony didn't hear clearly, and looked at him inquiringly. Wu loudly said: "Don't be afraid of He Niang laughing, my family's master has a high vision, is both heroic and capable, and has a good heart, who knows which family's daughter has this blessing!" Before the words fell, he was whipped by Jiang Changyang.

  Peony glanced sideways, but after seeing Jiang Changyang make Wu shut up, he didn't look at anyone else, only focusing on the distant rice fields that had been harvested. He didn't know his face was already red to the roots of his ears. Anyone could tell he was actually shy. Peony lowered her head and smiled slightly.

  Lin's mother, who had been observing the situation by the car window, exchanged a smile with Fang Danni and withdrew her head, hiding in the shadows to carefully observe Jiang Changyang's every move, every word, and every expression.

  It was the inquisitive Yingniang and Rongniang who finally rescued Jiang Changyang from his embarrassing predicament, and by the time they reached his villa, he had already told them all about the names, habits of various birds that appeared in the fields and grounds.

  Wu reminded him in a timely manner: "Sir, we've arrived at our village."

  Jiang Changyang glanced at the sky and said without thinking, "I heard that picking peonies takes a lot of time. I think we should just follow He Niang to Fangyuan together and pick out the flowers first, so as not to delay He Niang." As he spoke, he looked inquiringly at Peony: "I wonder how He Niang has arranged things? Is it convenient?"

  It wasn't urgent anyway, and Fangyuan wasn't that far away. He could have come over after lunch and it wouldn't have been late, but since he had already spoken up, Peony couldn't very well refuse him either. So she smiled and said: "I was planning to get this done today anyway, the sooner the better."

  Jiang Changyang whispered a few words to Wu, who nodded and quickly turned his horse into the small path, heading straight for Jiang's village. Peony asked, "Isn't General Wu going with us?"

  Jiang Changyang smiled: "I'll let him go to the villa to fetch something. He'll be back soon."

  As soon as the crowd arrived at Fang Garden, they saw Wu Zong chasing after them on horseback, with a bamboo basket hanging from the saddle, dripping with water. Seeing Peony looking over, he smiled and said, "I brought my own provisions."

  Peony smiled, and in her heart she secretly guessed that the bamboo basket must be aquatic products, but didn't know if it was fish. Yingniang couldn't help herself, leaned over and said: "Director Ou, there's still water dripping from inside, what is it?"

  Wu Xiaoxiao mysteriously opened a slit in the bamboo basket for her to see, and Yingniang couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice as soon as she saw it. Rongniang also couldn't help herself and quickly jumped off the horse to take a look.

  Peony tossed the reins and whip to a nearby servant and laughed: "What is it? What makes you two so surprised?"

  Rong Niang clenched her fists tightly and couldn't help but show a joyful expression on her face. She whispered: "Auntie, it's crab!"

  Peony slightly furrowed her brow upon hearing this. Crabs were a delicacy at the time, cherished by many people. Even in households like He's that loved to eat and could afford it, they weren't often served, and when they were, it was usually processed fermented crabs or sugar-coated crabs - live crabs were rarely seen. No wonder Rongniang and Yingniang were so excited.

  Jiang Changyang observed Peony's expression on the side, but saw that she was calm and didn't seem as excited as he had imagined, so he carefully said: "It was given by a friend during Mid-Autumn Festival. I'm the only one in my household, eating anything is tasteless, it would be a waste. Besides, solo pleasure is not as good as shared pleasure, I hope you won't mind."

  "Ah, this isn't ordinary ingredients, I'm afraid it's a bit of an extravagance."

  Jiang Changyang was somewhat displeased, pursed his lips and said: "It's just food after all, it'll all end up in the belly anyway. Forcing someone to eat something they don't like is a waste."

  The peony smiled slightly and beckoned to Ah Tao, sending these crabs to the kitchen, thinking that since Zhou Ba Niang could make frogs, making these crabs should be no problem.

  Jiang Changyang was delighted to see Peony busy arranging for Yingniang and Rongniang, transplanting that one purple-stained peony, and didn't want anyone to take care of it. He led Wu Yidao by himself in the already roughly scaled Fragrant Garden, wandering around and chatting with the workers, and even enthusiastically corrected a few mistakes made by the workers unintentionally.

  Zhou Banniang did not disappoint Peony, and a delicious meal was eaten to everyone's satisfaction. Jiang Changyang saw that after eating one crab, Peony washed his hands and didn't eat anymore, but his expression clearly showed that he still wanted more, and couldn't help saying: "If you like it, why don't you have a little more?" He always thought Peony was a bit too thin, if he were to gain some weight, who knows what he would look like?

  "Peony said calmly, 'I'm not in good health, so I don't dare to eat too much of such cold food. Not to mention this, even sashimi I don't dare to eat too much, just enough to satisfy my tongue. It's better to save it and eat slowly to appreciate the flavor.'"

  Where is there such a self-exposure? It's this body that's not good enough to kill people! Obviously, it's already fine now! Such a good opportunity, don't grasp it, want to scare people away? Lin Mama heard it and was in a hurry, couldn't help but pulled Mudan's sleeve with force.

  Peony quietly pulled her sleeve out of Lin's mother's hand and smoothed it. Her poor health had never been a secret, and rumors were flying everywhere. What was the point of deceiving oneself and others, and being looked down upon?

  Jiang Changyang saw the small movements of the two, smiled lightly, and wiped his hands with the handkerchief handed over by Xu'er. "He said that it's true, anything is more flavorful when you can't get enough of it, and even a good body needs to be cherished in order to be better."

  Yingniang and Rongniang listened, stopped their hands, and stared at Peony. Peony smiled: "You two are different from me, you can eat one more, but too many is not good."

  Jiang Changyang saw Yingniang and Rongniang looking constrained, so he stood up with a smile: "He Niang, if you've finished eating, why not go together to pick peonies? I heard that in your nursery, there are many varieties, and even the little monk Ru Man can't count them on his fingers and toes. Shall we take a look?"

  "Is there anything that can't be done? Why don't we just settle this once and for all. Please wait a moment, I'll go change into some more convenient clothes and bring my tools."

  Jiang Changyang slightly nodded, watching Peony leave with Lin's mother closely following behind her, frowning and speaking to Peony in a serious tone. Peony just smiled and didn't say a word. Seeing Lin's mother getting anxious, almost jumping up, she reached out to pat her back reassuringly and said something softly. Lin's mother looked helpless, lightly poked Peony's head with her finger. Peony wasn't angry, smiling sweetly at her. Lin's mother also smiled, looking indulgent.

  Wu said from the side: "He Niang's temper is really good, if it were my wet nurse who dared to poke my head, see if I wouldn't heavily slap her hand and tell her that I want to chop off her hand to feed the wolves."

  Jiang Changyang's eyes swept to Yu He, who was standing not far away waiting to take him to the nursery, and instantly retracted the smile on his lips, staring at him: "Too much talk is useless!"

  Wu Wei Kui said: "Sir, what has this humble person done wrong again?"

  Jiang Changyang glared at him with a bad temper, but immediately smiled and said in a low voice: "When I was young, my temper was indeed not good, but that woman is not a good thing either. Can't you just put it away? I'm not just throwing you a purse, how can you remember the grudge so clearly? How many days have you been against me?"

  Wu said in a low voice, "I don't even know who the person is that's holding a grudge." This attitude was so good, it was clear that she was afraid of being overheard by the young servant girl, which was why she spoke in such a humble and reserved manner.

  Jiang Changyang stood in the nursery, looking around and listening to Yu He's enthusiastic introduction. The nursery was divided into several large blocks, one of which was planted with many peonies that had been bought at a low price for use as rootstock. These peonies were not treated differently just because they were not of good quality, but were still well cared for and thriving. Another block was planted with paeonia, also left to be used as rootstock. There were small grass sheds made of bamboo screens that shaded the newly grafted peonies, and there were also high-priced, famous peonies growing vigorously.

  Chiang Chang-yang said with certainty: "In the future, this garden will surely become a famous garden in Beijing."

  Yu He smiled with curved eyebrows: "Thanks to Jiang Gong's auspicious words. If it really is so, then my family's daughter won't have wasted all her thoughts and become like this."

  Jiang Changyang smiled and said, "Heaven will not disappoint those who are diligent, she won't be working hard for nothing."

  Yu He's eyes rolled around, and she deliberately led him to a thatched hut, pointing at several newly grafted peonies for him to see: "Look, these are specially grafted by my mother for you. There's Yu Lou Dian Cui, Yao Huang, Wei Zi, and another one is Er Qiao. The grafting wood and scions were carefully selected."

  Jiang Changyang looked silently for a long time, then asked: "I remember that He Niang planted a batch of seeds some time ago. Have they sprouted? Where are they? Why haven't I seen them?"

  Yu He Meng led him over, pointing at several ridges covered with straw curtains on the ground: "It's right here."

  Jiang Changyang curiously lifted the grass curtain and took a look, only to see a bare patch of mud with a few green shoots about the size of millet grains scattered on it. He said, "Is this really a peony seedling?"

  The peony had already changed into a simple and easy-to-work-in dress, and without even looking, she said with certainty: "No, it's wild grass." As she spoke, she squatted down and ruthlessly pulled up the few stalks of wild grass, tossing them aside.

  As the peony approached, a delicate fragrance like an arrow shot into Jiang Changyang's nostrils and accurately entered his lungs, then transmitted this scent to his brain. He felt dizzy, only knowing it smelled great, but couldn't distinguish what kind of fragrance it was. He heard his own voice dryly saying in his ear: "I remember you planted it a long time ago, yet it didn't sprout for so long, could it be that it won't sprout at all? Or is the seed too old?"

  The surroundings were silent. Wu Hen Ti stared at him with an iron face, and he suddenly realized that he had said something wrong in his daze, but didn't know how to make amends, and could only look at Peony apologetically: "I don't understand anything, don't be angry." He just hoped she wasn't the kind of person who attached too much importance to omens, thinking that because of one sentence he would cause the entire field of peonies not to sprout.

  The peony just smiled slightly and said lightly, "I won't get angry. After the peony is planted, it can send out young roots 10 days later, and then continue to grow downward, which we can't see from above. To see the sprouts come out of the ground, you have to wait until next spring, around late February or early March when they basically all emerge.

  It takes a long time to listen, Jiang Changyang decided: "When will it bloom?"

  "Growing very slowly, it takes many years to get through."

  Jiang Changyang exclaimed, "Ah!", and couldn't help but say: "Isn't that a bad deal?"

  "Look, those peonies and paeonias over there are quite lush. So, it's mainly up to them for grafting. Alright, come and pick the flowers you want to graft. Does your mother like subtle colors or bright contrasting ones?"

  Jiang Changyang was still regretting his previous mistake, and somewhat sullenly said: "I don't understand this at all, I'm not as skilled as you are, so just help me decide."

  Peony saw that he was somewhat dispirited and couldn't understand why his interest had suddenly waned, so she enthusiastically recommended a few options to him: "One option is to use Zhao Fen, Bai Yu, Luo Yang Hong, and Er Qiao for grafting, which will bloom earlier; another option is to use Hu Hong, Lan Tian Yu, Yao Huang, and Luo Yang Hong for grafting, which is mid-blooming; or you can use Dou Lu, Zi Yun Xian, and Sheng Dan Lu for grafting, which is late-blooming. Which one do you think your wife would like better? Or perhaps her birthday is at a certain time?"

  Jiang Changyang couldn't help but mock himself when he heard her gentle words, and smiled: "Her birthday isn't in the spring, you think that's the most beautiful one, I believe your taste."

  Madam Wang is a person who loves and hates clearly, I think she would like more vibrant colors with stronger contrasts. Peony made up her mind: "Then let's use Hu Hong, Blue Tianyu, Yao Huang, and Luoyang Red to receive them." She smiled at Jiang Changyang: "If your mother doesn't like it, don't blame me for it."

  Jiang Changyang hastily flashed a row of white teeth: "Won't happen, won't happen."

  The peony carefully selected a one-foot-high, single-stemmed, multi-branched Luoyang red as the stock, and carefully examined it up and down. With a sharp small knife in hand, he skillfully cut the base of the previously prepared Hu Hong's one-year-old shoot into a wedge shape with one side slightly thicker and the other side slightly thinner, leaving about half an inch on the cutting surface. Next, he took a relatively sturdy branch of Luoyang red in his hand, and nimbly flattened its top end. On the cross-section, about two-fifths from the top, he vertically cut a slit about half an inch long as the interface, inserted the base of the Hu Hong shoot, and made the two form a staggered arrangement. Then, he wrapped it tightly with hemp from top to bottom, and neatly sealed the gap between the stock and the scion with wax.

  Thus, Peony finally breathed a sigh of relief and, in an orderly manner, grafted the buds of several flower varieties with different colors and shapes but similar flowering periods and growth habits, such as Blue Danube, Yao Huang, and An Hong, onto that branch of Hu Red.

  In the process, Jiang Changyang was staring at her with a serious expression on his face. From her focused gaze to her slightly trembling eyelashes, from her small and delicate nose that had a few fine hairs of sweat to her tightly pursed lips that were somewhat distorted due to her intense focus, and then to her slender and pale hands. Those hands were not large, and under the white jade-like skin, faintly visible blue fine blood vessels could be seen, looking very fragile, completely incomparable to his thick-boned hands. However, when she cut down those valuable flower buds with her knife, there was no hesitation at all, extremely decisive and efficient, without any dragging or delay.

  Jiang Changyang couldn't help but lift his palm to take a look, he believed that when Peony held the small knife to cut flower buds, it was the same as when he held the knife to do what he should be doing. In their respective fields, in operating that knife, he and she were equally perfect.

  When the peony finally connected its last bud, he let out a soft sigh and curiously looked at the reborn peony, saying in a low voice: "So, next spring it can bloom with several colors?"

  "Hmm, as long as it's managed properly, it should be fine. Next spring, about half of the buds will bloom, but it'll take another year for it to reach its peak." Peony picked up a small knife and carefully removed all the sprouts from the base of the tree stump, then wiped away all the axillary buds and adventitious buds on the branches. He personally fertilized and watered it, and asked Wu to move the flower to the grass shed to avoid the rain.

  Wu Gang was about to reach out and hug the flower pot, but Jiang Changyang had already squatted down and hugged the flower pot, saying: "I'll do it." After speaking, he carefully carried the flower pot under the thatched shed, seeing that the flower pot was tilted and couldn't be placed flat, so he picked up a small stone to level the flower pot.

  Wu didn't even bother arguing with him and just lazily smiled as he watched his movements.