"Self-sufficient and well-provided for." Yebai stretched out his long arms and hugged his wife by the shoulders, proudly teasing her with a secret.
Seeing the look on his face, Gu Nuan was even more curious about what he was up to. She couldn’t help feeling that he had anticipated their outing would eventually lead them to his mountain.
Zhang Sanfeng seemed quite familiar with his brother, his perfect thin lips curling into a mysterious smile as he casually asked, "Is this the place where you and your sister-in-law first met?"
"Yes." Yebai nodded heavily.
A shiver ran down Gu Nuan’s spine at the thought, followed closely by goosebumps. Could it be that he was planning to build a memorial museum on this mountain to commemorate the event?
Only Gu Nuan’s parents didn’t understand a word they were saying.
Three people came down from the mountain, the leader clearly a manager appointed by Xiao Yebai to oversee this area. He was a middle-aged uncle, slightly younger than Gu Nuan’s father.
Xiao Yebai addressed him as Uncle Qi.
Uncle Qi seemed diligent and capable, his skin tanned dark, and his expression a bit stern, reminding one of a middle-aged judge. He said to Xiao Yebai, "Mr. Xiao, you didn’t mention earlier, so no lunch was prepared for the guests."
"No worries," Yebai said, "I told them to fend for themselves; we’ll have food and shelter. At least we’ll be staying here overnight."
Uncle Qi nodded, "Then let’s head up the mountain."
The two men behind him brought down a makeshift stretcher to carry Zhang Sanfeng up the mountain. As for the wheelchair Zhang Sanfeng was using, someone would come back down to fetch it later.
The van driver stayed at the bottom of the mountain to watch over their belongings.
The group ascended the path that Gu Nuan had previously taken, first heading towards the house of Aunt Qiu, the Haunted House being located halfway up the mountain. This required the group to continue deeper and higher into the terrain.
Although Gu Nuan’s parents were advanced in age, being accustomed to physical labor and in good health, climbing the mountain didn’t faze them. Therefore, they were more concerned about their son-in-law, who seemed to lead a pampered life, and whether he could manage the climb.
Xiao Yebai’s arms hung uselessly at his sides, becoming a burden, yet his long legs seemed very accustomed to the terrain, moving agilely like a monkey, effortlessly swift. It’s no wonder Zhang Sanfeng teasingly called him the Monkey King of the mountains.
Gu Nuan, following behind him with one arm, felt it somewhat challenging to keep up with his pace.
The people carrying Zhang Sanfeng reached the destination first.
The others, following behind, couldn’t help but feel a mix of surprise and admiration when they heard Zhang Sanfeng’s warm, elegant voice declaring, "Picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, leisurely I see the southern mountains."
He spoke of a secluded paradise with serene and beautiful scenery.
Upon arriving, Gu Nuan and her parents were indeed surprised. They thought of Aunt Qiu who had taken over the mountainside property inherited from her father, clueless about its management. It was common knowledge that these mountains were barren and no different from wasteland.
But what was the actual situation?
The mountain was not in the depths of a desert; it was located in a warm temperate climate suitable for growth. Left unmanaged, the various wildflowers, trees, and fruits thrived even better without human disturbance.
Uncle Qi, hands clasped behind his back, led the way and introduced to everyone, "Here are some wild fruits that even I have never seen before. We had an agriculture expert look at them, and they are rare species. With a little cultivation, they could be developed into new fruit products for the market."