BDSMST -Chapter 18 Spirit-Spring Vegetables Begin to Grow — Astonishing Flavor

The shock brought by that bowl of egg custard stirred no small waves in Gu Xuan’s little world.

He began caring for his “treasures” with even greater devotion. Not only did he clean the chicken coop and pigsty spotless every day, he also followed Jiang Suisui’s example, heading to the foot of the mountain to cut fresh tender grass and wild greens as extra feed for them.

He noticed that ever since they started eating the “nutritious meals” he gathered, the hens laid eggs more frequently, and the pigs grew faster.

This kind of positive feedback gave him a sense of accomplishment he had never experienced before.

Meanwhile, the vegetable plot was changing with each passing day.

Nourished by the spirit-spring water, the seeds produced from the space seemed to have activated some sort of growth accelerator.

Golden-hook cucumbers climbed all over the bamboo trellis, sprouting tender yellow blossoms and hanging with straight, emerald-green young cucumbers.

The purple-skinned eggplants gleamed with a glossy sheen, heavy and full as they dangled from their branches.

The flame peppers burned bright red like clusters of fire, especially striking against the green leaves.

But the most dramatic change was in Gu Xuan’s own little “private plot” of jade-green cabbages.

In just over twenty days, the tiny seedlings that had once been no bigger than fingernails had grown into cabbages as thick as bowls and nearly a foot tall.

Each plant stood vigorous and proud, with thick leaves, tightly wrapped hearts, and a fresh, dripping-green color that instantly whetted the appetite.

That afternoon, Jiang Suisui brought Gu Xuan to the vegetable field.

“The cabbages you planted are ready to eat,” she said, pointing at the lush green patch.

“Really?” Gu Xuan’s eyes lit up immediately.

He crouched down and touched one cabbage’s thick leaf. It felt firm and moist.

“Pick one yourself. We’ll eat it tonight,” Jiang Suisui said.

Like a general inspecting his troops, Gu Xuan examined the small patch carefully, selecting and reselecting.

In the end, he chose the biggest and strongest one.

Imitating Jiang Suisui, he gripped the base of the cabbage and twisted hard.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, the cabbage—grown from his countless efforts—was pulled whole from the soil.

He hugged the cabbage, which was larger than his own head, his heart heavy with the joy of harvest.

That evening’s dinner was unprecedentedly simple—and unprecedentedly grand.

The main dish was that jade-green cabbage.

Jiang Suisui used minimal seasoning. She washed the cabbage and tore it into large pieces by hand. A little pork lard went into the hot wok; once melted, she added a few slices of garlic to release their fragrance, then tossed in the cabbage and stir-fried it quickly over high heat.

She added only a small pinch of salt—no water at all.

The cabbage’s own moisture was quickly drawn out by the heat, blending perfectly with the lard and garlic aroma.

An indescribable sweet fragrance instantly filled the courtyard.

When the plate of seemingly ordinary “stir-fried cabbage”—only greener and brighter than usual—was set on the table, Gu Xuan was already salivating uncontrollably.

The staple was white rice porridge made from “Purple Jade Rice” grown in the space. Each grain was plump; the porridge was thick and sticky, with a rich layer of rice oil floating on top.

Gu Xuan eagerly picked up a chopstickful of cabbage.

The moment it entered his mouth, his eyes widened in shock.

Sweet!

A pure, refreshing sweetness spread instantly across his tongue.

It wasn’t the cloying sweetness of sugar, nor the fragrant sweetness of fruit—it was the most primal, most ultimate fresh sweetness that belonged to the vegetable itself.

Then came the texture.

The stalks were crisp, like biting into tender water chestnuts, without a trace of coarse fiber. The leaves were soft and juicy, almost melting on contact.

He hardly needed to chew; the sweet juices burst and spread throughout his mouth.

It was unbelievably delicious.

Back at the Marquis’ residence, he had hated eating greens the most. Even the famous “boiled cabbage” prepared by imperial chefs with superior broth and abalone sauce had seemed bland to him.

But today, he discovered that the simplest stir-fried cabbage could taste this extraordinary.

He stopped talking altogether, devouring bite after bite like a whirlwind.

Most of the large plate of cabbage ended up in his stomach.

In the end, he poured the remaining sauce—mixed with vegetable juices and lard—into his rice porridge, stirred it, and slurped everything clean.

After finishing, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his round belly and letting out a satisfied sigh.

Looking out at the vegetable field bathed in moonlight, quiet and beautiful, he felt—for the first time—a sense of reverence for farming.

He glanced at Jiang Suisui, who was clearing the dishes.

This woman—though annoying—seemed to possess some kind of magic.

She could turn the most ordinary seeds into the most delicious vegetables.

She could turn the most unruly version of himself into a… little farmer who could plant crops, raise pigs, and cheer wildly over a single egg.

“Why are you staring at me?” Jiang Suisui asked, noticing his gaze.

“N-nothing.” Gu Xuan quickly looked away, though the tips of his ears quietly turned red.

Clearing his throat, he asked in an intentionally casual tone, “Um… when can we sell the rest of the vegetables in the field? Will we be able to trade them for lots and lots of money?”

He was already calculating how to use the money from selling vegetables to buy a calf—or perhaps a few lambs.

After all, his grand livestock enterprise was only just beginning.