Sun Mei patted her own mouth in frustration, completely flustered with anger, how could she start cursing in front of the child? It seems she's been spending too much time with Sun Liuniang and is getting influenced.
She walked over and gave Zhao Zhitong a pat on the little butt: "You don't learn the good stuff, just the bad."
The slap didn't hurt at all, and Zhao Zhitong, being a tough kid, wasn't scared one bit: "Mom, Auntie was selling children, she's a bad person. Old Mr. Bai said bad people can be scolded."
"Old Mr. Bai? Which grandpa is that?"
Zhao Zhitong said, "My good friend."
There was the presence of Old Mr. Bai in the space, but Sun Mei and her husband didn't know about it, so when they heard Zhao Zhitong say this, they assumed it was Mr. Meng.
"Stop talking nonsense, what friend? Call him Mister, and his surname is Meng. Come back for dinner now, look at your noodles, they're all mushy."
——
The dough from the morning had just about finished rising. After breakfast, Sun Mei started kneading the dough, busy preparing to steam buns.
Zhao Zhitong squatted next to the vegetable patch in the courtyard, staring at the seedlings, and chattering away.
"Vegetables, grow big quickly, when you grow up, I can eat you."
"Why are you growing so slow? I'm getting anxious waiting."
...
Sun Mei came out of the kitchen and saw Zhao Zhitong squatting in the vegetable patch, talking to herself.
She said helplessly, "Staring at them won't make them grow instantly. If you want to eat, we should go up the mountain to dig some wild vegetables, and I'll make vegetable rolls for you, alright?"
Zhao Zhitong swung her small arms, insisting, "But I really want to eat them today."
"I'm telling you, crying and rolling around won't work. The vegetables won't suddenly grow, there's just none. If you keep bouncing around in the garden, if you step on the vegetables, wait for your dad to come back and spank you."
Despite all the persuasion, the stubborn girl just wouldn't come out of the vegetable patch.
Sun Mei, tired of arguing, turned and went back into the kitchen.
It all started when Sun Mei was about to steam buns and Zhao Zhitong, who for some reason said she wanted to eat vegetable rolls. Vegetable rolls, also known as vegetable wraps.
But there were very few vegetables at home, and the ones in the garden weren't ready for harvest. Sun Mei definitely couldn't fulfill her wish.
It's not like she could go up the mountain to dig wild vegetables now.
Although Sun Mei and her husband doted on Zhao Zhitong, they didn't indulge her unreasonably, and wouldn't agree to her unreasonable demands unconditionally.
Thus, Zhao Zhitong began having a standoff with the seedlings in the vegetable garden: "Why are you growing so slow, are you hungry? What do you eat?"
At this moment, Old Mr. Bai in the space's eyes were gleaming brightly, as if he saw hope.
"Girl, do you know another marvelous use of the space?"
Zhao Zhitong was focused on the seedlings and absentmindedly shook her head when she heard Old Mr. Bai's question.
"Then, do you remember me telling you before that the space can be used to grow plants?"
Zhao Zhitong casually nodded: "I remember, but Old Mr. Bai said I need to be a person of great merit, that's so hard. Tongtong can't achieve it."
"Hey, girl, everything must be done step by step. Xunzi said, 'Accumulating earth forms a mountain, wind and rain arise there; accumulating water forms a deep pool, dragons are born there; accumulating good deeds creates virtue, divine clarity and sage wisdom are achieved.'"
Zhao Zhitong looked confused, "I don't understand."
"It means that a mountain is formed by piling earth little by little, and an ocean is formed by gathering water drop by drop. If you consistently do good deeds, it will form a noble character. Throughout history, sages have started from small acts, bit by bit."
Zhao Zhitong, "Who are sages?"
"Sages are the most virtuous, wisest people. The classic example is Confucius, Mr. Kong, who was a man of great virtue, complete knowledge and actions, utmost goodness, whose talents and virtues were revered worldwide, and his thoughts affected entire nations and even the world later."
Zhao Zhitong listened intently, her eyes sparkling with admiration, completely forgetting about the vegetable rolls: "Wow, sages are amazing. I also want to be a sage like Mr. Kong someday."
Old Mr. Bai: "..." This girl really dares to imagine and say.
"Ahem." He coughed to change the topic quickly: "So, girl, your daily good deeds will contribute to your merit.
With long-term accumulation, now the space has a Spiritual Spring. The crops nourished by the Spiritual Spring Water are very sweet and fragrant, and more importantly, they can increase the nutritional value and speed up growth."
This topic shift was a bit abrupt, and Zhao Zhitong was puzzled. She was still immersed in the greatness of sages when Old Mr. Bai suddenly mentioned Spiritual Spring Water.
But she still used her consciousness to look around in the space, but didn't find any spring water: "Spiritual Spring? Where is it?"
Old Mr. Bai, "Here, right here."
Zhao Zhitong looked in Old Mr. Bai's direction but still didn't see it: "Where, where?"
Old Mr. Bai, "Look down at your feet."
Listening to Old Mr. Bai, Zhao Zhitong looked down, and then she saw a small puddle...
Yes, just a small puddle, about the size of the bowl she ate from.
Zhao Zhitong squatted beside the small puddle, examining it left and right, wondering how it differed from her expectations.
"Old Mr. Bai, is this the spring water? Isn't it just a small puddle?"
Old Mr. Bai stroked his beard and laughed heartily: "Hey, girl, remember, never judge by appearances. Even a small spring is still a spring. Now, mix this spring water into the well water and try watering the vegetable garden."
"Oh."
Following Old Mr. Bai's advice, Zhao Zhitong filled a bowl with Spiritual Spring Water from the space, poured half of it into a wooden basin, and fetched some well water from the water tank to mix it.
The ancient basins were wooden, made of thick planks, and now she had it filled with water, making it very heavy.
Zhao Zhitong could only use a ladle, scoop a ladle, run to the garden, sprinkle it, then run back for another scoop.
Like this, over and over, she ran back and forth countless times, her little face flushed all red before finally finishing watering the vegetable garden.
Exhausted and panting, Zhao Zhitong sat down beside the vegetable patch, staring at the seedlings she had just watered.
In the kitchen, Sun Mei watched the busy little figure in the courtyard with a smile on her face.
Her daughter had always been her pride, smart and sensible.
If she ever threw a tantrum wanting something, and Zhao Dong and Sun Mei both thought it shouldn't be bought, after they refused her, she would be unhappy but wouldn't throw unreasonable fits or refuse to give up unless it was bought.
Instead, she would think of her own ways to get what she wanted.
Just like now, seeing that hardworking little figure made her heart soften, and she thought, maybe later she'll thick-skin at Sun Liuniang's place to borrow some vegetables.
At this moment, next to the vegetable garden, Zhao Zhitong, staring at the plants, complained: "Why haven't you grown taller yet?"
Old Mr. Bai stroked his beard, unhurriedly: "Don't rush, girl. Never hurry. There's a process to everything, and you need patience to succeed."
Zhao Zhitong: "?"
She felt like Old Mr. Bai was being profound and mysterious again.