Chapter 2330

Of course, a villa is convenient as long as one has a car; it can be bought anywhere.

Zhu Yanyi looked at her new home. The villa had been slightly renovated. A high wall now surrounded the property, keeping outsiders out. Inside the wall, many evergreen plants were growing. These plants required no special care.

A deep ditch ran around the perimeter of the wall. Lotus seeds had been planted in it. It was not yet spring, so nothing had sprouted. Only withered lotus leaves remained. However, the seeds were buried. They would bloom this summer. Zhu Yanyi had used her wood ability to nurture the lotus seeds, ensuring they would definitely flower.

On both sides of the ditch, Guanyin bamboo was planted. It was very ornamental.

Zhu Yanyi held Yan Aohan’s hand and walked around the exterior before entering the house.

The interior decoration was simple. The colors were a mix of pale blue and pale yellow, making the space look very clean. The living room sofa was pale yellow and very stylish.

It was obvious that Yan Ao’an had designed the layout. He used a duplex style and maximized the space, making the villa feel spacious and airy. Living here would surely improve one’s mood.

“The renovation was done quickly. You had everything arranged in such a short time,” Zhu Yanyi said to Yan Aohan, impressed.

“It is our home, so speed was important. I avoided using paint. We used tiles for the floors and walls. If we had used paint, we could not have moved in yet due to the smell,” Yan Aohan said seriously.

Paint has a strong odor that needs time to dissipate.

Zhu Yanyi smiled. “I didn’t insist on paint. This layout is excellent. I thought it might still be a rough shell, with just a door installed. I didn’t expect it to be fully decorated.”

She looked at her. “You hired more people, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I hired two construction teams to work simultaneously. That is why it was so fast. I also paid double the price,” Yan Aohan admitted without hiding anything.

“Our home should be comfortable. I preferred to spend more money to rush the work. Fortunately, these two teams are reliable. They completed the tasks I assigned efficiently. That is why it is done.”

Yan Aohan was satisfied with the result.

Zhu Yanyi smiled helplessly. “They had no choice but to work hard for a client like you.”

She was only joking. She knew Yan Aohan likely hired veterans who were self-reliant. She approved of their independence.

After touring the house, they did some tidying. Because they had hired hourly cleaners, the house was already clean. Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan only needed to arrange their bedroom. They made the bed and placed the mattresses. Then they went to the kitchen.

Zhu Yanyi sterilized the kitchenware with high heat. She took some food from her Ruyi Space and put it in the refrigerator. The kitchen was now ready.

Once everything was settled, Zhu Yanyi surveyed her new home and nodded in satisfaction. She turned to Yan Aohan. “Let’s go for a walk after dinner. We should get familiar with the neighborhood.”

Yan Aohan naturally agreed. After dinner and a quick cleanup, the couple went out together.

The wind by the Yong River was strong. It was still spring, and late spring cold snaps were common. However, as cultivators, they did not fear the cold. To avoid drawing attention, they both wore down jackets.

“The water in the Yong River is quite clear,” Yan Aohan said to Zhu Yanyi.

Zhu Yanyi nodded. “It is clear for now. I wonder if it will stay that way.”

Zhu Yanyi knew that in her previous life, many rivers were heavily polluted. When pollution became too severe to clean, people would fill in the rivers. This caused problems later, such as difficulty finding water sources during fires.

“Didn’t you ask Shangguan Jiacheng and Zhibin to research water purifiers?” Yan Aohan asked with a smile.

“Yes,” Zhu Yanyi sighed slightly. “But research without clear leads takes time. It is not ready yet. However, I have thought about it. When I return to the capital, if they still have no progress, I will give them some basic information from the technological plane.”

Yan Aohan nodded in agreement. If not for preventing human greed from growing too large, he would not have let them face such challenges.

Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan walked along the Yong River. The environment here was quite wild. Most importantly, Zhu Yanyi discovered a large area of reeds.

Reed roots can be used in medicine. They are the rhizomes of the reed, a tall aquatic grass. In traditional medicine, they clear heat, generate fluids, relieve irritability, stop vomiting, and promote urination. They treat symptoms like fever with thirst, lung heat cough, lung abscess with pus, and painful urination.

Reed roots can be boiled with kudzu root and imperata root to make a health-preserving soup called "Three Roots Soup." This prevents and treats fever, stomach heat vomiting, lung heat cough, lung abscess, and painful urination.

Reed roots can also be boiled with dandelion and fish mint to prevent and treat appendicitis.

Although reed roots look ordinary, they are very useful. Most people ignore them because they seem too common.

Seeing such a large patch of reeds, Zhu Yanyi pulled Yan Aohan to dig up many reed roots to take home.

“Since you like this place, I can have it bought and protected,” Yan Aohan said, seeing how much Zhu Yanyi liked the reed forest.

Zhu Yanyi tilted her head and thought. “If possible, I hope to keep this area in its natural state. First, the wild reeds here have strong medicinal properties. Second, preserving the natural environment protects wildlife. I noticed many wild ducks here. In a few days, we can secretly look for wild duck eggs.”

Seeing Zhu Yanyi’s playful side, Yan Aohan chuckled. “Since you like it, I will have it preserved.”

Protecting the environment also reduced pollution.

Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan brought the washed reed roots home. At the gate, they saw someone looking around.

They walked over curiously. It was a woman who looked about thirty years old.

“Hello, sister. Why are you looking around our gate? Is there something you need?” Zhu Yanyi asked.

The woman was startled, not expecting them to come from behind. Then she smiled. “Hello. We are your neighbors. We live in the villa to the left.”

“Oh, hello,” Zhu Yanyi greeted with a smile. “Do you need something from us?”

“I saw you planted Sichuan pepper trees in your garden. My supply ran out. May I come in and pick some?” The woman said, her eyes fixed on the pepper trees.

Her eye was good. Zhu Yanyi had nurtured these peppers with her wood ability, so they were excellent.

Zhu Yanyi paused, then shook her head. “No. The supermarket outside is still open. You can buy some there if you hurry.”

Zhu Yanyi was not stingy with fresh peppers. However, she noticed a calculating look in the woman’s eyes. She suspected the woman had ulterior motives.

Zhu Yanyi did not like offending people, but she would not allow anyone to scheme against her. So she refused naturally.

The woman did not expect a direct refusal. She assumed most people would agree to such a request. But this young woman, though appearing to be in her twenties, seemed hard to fool.

“We are neighbors,” the woman reminded her.

“I know. You already mentioned it. But these peppers are mine. I do not like giving them to others. Mostly, I do not like strangers entering my garden. Sorry. Please go to the supermarket quickly, or your cooking will be late,” Zhu Yanyi said kindly.

The woman glared at Zhu Yanyi. Realizing she would not get the peppers, she turned and walked away, muttering, “What is so special about some peppers? I will buy a tree to plant tomorrow.”

Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan had keen senses, including hearing. They heard the muttering clearly. They looked at each other but said nothing.

Just as they were about to enter, a woman from the right side came out. “Gossip Wang is leaving?”

“Gossip Wang?” Zhu Yanyi was surprised. She did not know this person. “I have never heard of her.”

“She is the owner of the villa to your left. She is very nosy. She spreads every little detail. She relies on her husband’s reputation as a surgeon at Yong City People’s Hospital,” the woman said with disdain.

Zhu Yanyi smiled. “So that is how she got the nickname Gossip Wang?” she asked curiously.

“She is nosy, and her maiden name is Wang. So people behind her back call her Gossip Wang. Remember, do not give her anything or lend her things. She only takes and never gives back. Most people in this community have been tricked by her,” the woman said angrily. Her expression confirmed she had been victimized many times.

Zhu Yanyi thanked her with a smile. “Thank you for the warning. I will remember.”

“We are neighbors. It is only right to warn you,” the woman said seriously.

Zhu Yanyi thanked her again. Since the woman meant well, Zhu Yanyi picked some Sichuan peppers and gave them to her.

Inside the house, Yan Aohan looked at Zhu Yanyi. “You refused the first person who asked for peppers, but you gave them to the second person who did not ask.”

“The first person clearly had ulterior motives. Although her tricks are nothing to us, I dislike trouble, so I refused. The second person’s intentions were unclear, but she actively told us something. Even if she gossips, her intent was good. She wanted to prevent us from being taken advantage of. Since we accepted her kindness, we should reciprocate,” Zhu Yanyi explained her thoughts to Yan Aohan.

Yan Aohan thought about it and found it interesting. He did not ask further.

The next day was Sunday. Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan woke up early and went out for a run. They planned to eat breakfast outside and then visit the nearby market.

They ran about four kilometers back and forth, then went to eat breakfast together.

The breakfast shop was next to the market. It was small but very clean. Since it was Sunday, the morning rush had not peaked yet, so there were empty tables when they arrived.

Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan each ordered a bowl of noodle soup with different toppings. Zhu Yanyi chose snow vegetable and shredded pork. Yan Aohan chose braised pork. Zhu Yanyi also ordered a portion of Shili Xiang (Ten-Mile Fragrance). They began to eat.

“Have you heard? A divine doctor is coming to the People’s Hospital,” someone said nearby.

“I heard that too. He was originally a divine doctor at the First Hospital in the capital. He is from Yong City, so he plans to practice here for a month to give back to the community,” another person said, knowing quite a bit.

“Do you think this divine doctor can cure Old Seven’s legs?”

“I am not sure. But didn’t the surgeon at the People’s Hospital say Old Seven’s legs were hopeless? That is why they were amputated.”

“That is true. Once amputated, how can new legs grow?”

“He is a divine doctor. Do you know what that means? I heard in the capital, he cured cerebral palsy. I also heard he cured someone with severed hands and feet. Maybe Old Seven has hope.”

“Sigh, Old Zhou, where did you hear this? Is the information accurate?”

“My uncle is from the capital. He knows things there. The capital’s divine doctor is very famous. Even high-ranking officials and international friends specifically request his treatment. You can see how powerful he is.”

“If that is true, I will go find Old Seven later and tell him to try tomorrow. By the way, is the divine doctor working tomorrow?”

“I heard the divine doctor starts work tomorrow. He is not here today. But if it is tomorrow, we have time to prepare. We can go see then.”