"You don't need them anymore?" Wei Xunzhou's answer was evasive.
From the day the sprouts emerged, the wheat seedlings grew faster each day, and within a few days they were a hand tall. This surprised Di Yao.
Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction.
But destruction came in an instant. One evening, the seedlings were lush and vibrant; the next morning, they had completely changed.
Black spread from the roots to the tips, and all the seedlings went limp, losing the vitality of the day before—exactly like what she had seen at Xiang Yun's home.
"I used the best water, so why is there no change..." Di Yao crouched by the field, propping her face in her hands, feeling frustrated.
Though the outcome was within her expectations, she refused to give up.
So she pulled out the dead seedlings and immediately started a second attempt.
Before leaving, she soaked the remaining wheat seeds in water, planning to plant them when she got home.
As Di Yao was heading out with the rotten seedlings, Wei Xunzhou came out. Hearing him, she instinctively hid the seedlings behind her back and smiled to greet him.
Wei Xunzhou stood on the steps, looking down at her, taking in everything, but surprisingly didn't mock her.
"Need help?"
"Huh?" Di Yao's grip loosened, and some seedlings fell to the ground. She crouched to pick them up while formulating a response.
This was the first time Wei Xunzhou had offered to help her, and it was a great opportunity. He was stubborn and awkward, easily regretting and retreating if he didn't get a response, and he never admitted defeat.
But at the moment, Di Yao couldn't think of anything he could do.
"Seeds?" Before she finished, she shook her head. "No, no, Golden Rooster Mountain is too dangerous. I'd be worried if you went alone."
"Watering? But I just watered..." She bit her lower lip in embarrassment, still no ideas.
The conditions were too limited, and she couldn't expect him to get fertilizer, since she couldn't even get it herself.
"There's really nothing for you to help with right now. Maybe you should just rest at home?" Di Yao smiled at him.
She had to waste such a good opportunity.
Wei Xunzhou said nothing, just nodded and went back inside.
Di Yao took the rotten seedlings to Meng Po and showed them to her.
But even the knowledgeable Meng Po had her limits, and Di Yao only got one useful piece of information.
Every year during Grain Rain, the Underworld experienced a heavy rain that lasted three days and three nights without stopping. After the rain, every inch of soil in the city emitted a very peculiar smell, and the land turned darker and darker.
Meng Po said it had been like that for a hundred years without exception, so consistent it seemed unnatural, as if someone was deliberately doing it, and the consequence was that the soil quality was getting worse.
Di Yao asked if Meng Po knew who was behind it, but Meng Po shook her head and said that even if she knew, it wouldn't help. Besides, Di Yao's farming plan shouldn't attract too much attention, or it would be hard to manage.
Although Meng Po didn't say it outright, she tactfully advised Di Yao to let go of these thoughts. Instead of exhausting herself all day, she might as well rest at home.
Feeling dizzy, Di Yao changed the subject to distract Meng Po.
Before, only Wei Xunzhou opposed her, but now even Meng Po was urging her to give up.
But Di Yao refused to quit. No one succeeds on the first try; she had only just begun. She would need to try several times before she could give up for good.
She went home early that afternoon and headed straight to the side room, where she found a large cloth bag. Driven by determination, she thought only by collecting more seeds from Golden Rooster Mountain could she calm down.
But she ran into Wei Xunzhou, who had just returned.
In his hand was a small bamboo basket that Di Yao had never seen at home before.
It was exquisitely made and could be hung on the waist, leaving both hands free—perfect for collecting seeds on Golden Rooster Mountain. So Di Yao asked to borrow it.
When he handed it over, her hands were so weak she almost dropped it.
The basket was heavy, and inside it was full of wheat seeds.
Di Yao's eyes widened. She grabbed Wei Xunzhou's arm and asked, "Husband, where did you get these seeds?"
There were many more than what she had collected last time.
"You don't need them anymore?" Wei Xunzhou dodged the question.
Di Yao scooped up a handful of grains, brought them to her nose, and smelled them. They were genuine wheat seeds, enough to last her for a while.
"I do! Of course I do!" With the seeds in hand, Di Yao had no excuse to go out. She hugged the basket and followed Wei Xunzhou inside. "Husband, those vicious chickens on the mountain didn't hurt you, did they?"
She glanced at his clean clothes and added, "Or maybe they can't hurt you either?"
One question after another. Wei Xunzhou didn't know which to answer. "Curious?"
"Mm-hmm!" Di Yao gently shook the basket, the grains rustling against the bamboo. "Husband, listen—it's curious too."
"Next time you go, you'll find out?" He only dropped that tantalizing remark and refused to say more.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Di Yao tripped on the steps and lost her balance, falling face-first toward the ground.
She thought she would surely knock out her front teeth, but at the critical moment, Wei Xunzhou opened his arms, wrapped them around her, and held her tight.
"Careful."
Once she was steady, the grip on her arms relaxed. After the muscles tightened and quickly released, Wei Xunzhou's hands trembled slightly.