Early the next morning, sunlight filtered through the swaying leaves and scattered across the small courtyard in patches of gold.
Mu Yuqing got up early and headed straight into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
She skillfully took out flour, eggs, and a few vegetables from the cupboard, planning to make a hearty pot of savory dough drop soup.
Soon, the crisp sounds of pots and pans echoed through the kitchen.
Mu Yuqing poured flour into a large bowl and slowly added water while stirring continuously with chopsticks until small dough crumbles formed. After that, she beat the eggs, fried them into a golden omelet, and sliced it into thin strips.
Once the water in the pot came to a boil, she added the dough drops, egg strips, and chopped vegetables. Finally, she stirred in a spoonful of lard and a pinch of salt for seasoning.
The fragrant breakfast was complete.
By the time Mu Yuqing carried the steaming bowl to the table, the two children were already gathered around eagerly, their eyes shining with anticipation.
“Wow, Mother, this smells amazing!” Yang Xingchen exclaimed excitedly.
Yue’er and Qingyun also nodded repeatedly. They immediately picked up their spoons and started eating.
The dough drops were soft and chewy, while the broth was fresh and rich. Every bite was warm and comforting.
“Mother, these little dough pieces are so delicious! They taste much better than the mush we used to eat!” Yue’er said happily.
Her once-thin face had gained some softness recently, making her look even cuter than before.
Looking up at Mu Yuqing expectantly, she asked, “Can we eat this again at noon?”
Mu Yuqing smiled and gently patted Yue’er’s head.
“Of course. I’ll make an even better deluxe version for lunch. But for now, hurry and finish eating. We still have crawfish to catch at the foot of the mountain.”
The moment they heard about catching crawfish, everyone became even more excited and quickly finished breakfast.
For a while, laughter filled the courtyard, making the entire place feel lively and warm.
After eating, they set out carrying the house’s only two pairs of fire tongs along with a large back basket.
The foot of the mountain was not far away. It was located just behind the estate, only a short five-minute walk.
But the moment Mu Yuqing arrived, she stopped in astonishment.
The scenery before her was unbelievably strange.
Although winter was approaching everywhere else, this area remained lush and green, as vibrant as spring. Flowers and grass flourished everywhere, brimming with life.
Even the temperature felt noticeably warmer than the surrounding areas.
The instant Chen’er and Yue’er arrived, they kicked off their shoes and ran straight toward the ditch.
Seeing them about to jump in, Mu Yuqing hurriedly shouted, “Wait! The water must be freezing, don’t go in yet…”
Before she could finish speaking, the two little troublemakers had already splashed into the water.
“Mother, the water isn’t cold at all!” Yue’er called out happily, her face glowing with excitement. “It’s warm and feels really nice!”
Mu Yuqing looked doubtful.
She crouched down and cautiously dipped her hand into the stream.
The next second, surprise flashed across her face.
The water was actually warm.
“How is that possible?” Mu Yuqing muttered softly. “Could there really be a hidden hot spring nearby? But where would the source be?”
After giving Qingyun a few quick instructions to search the surrounding area, Mu Yuqing rolled up her sleeves and climbed into the ditch with the children.
The number of crawfish there was astonishing.
Although they had not reached plague levels, there were still far too many to count.
In less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the large basket was already completely full.
By Mu Yuqing’s estimate, they had caught at least fifty or sixty catties.
Looking at the overflowing basket, a sudden idea appeared in her mind.
If she cooked these properly, she could definitely sell them for silver.
The more she thought about it, the happier she became.
“Chen’er, Yue’er, we’re going home now!” she called out cheerfully.
“Coming, Mother!”
The two children immediately climbed ashore without hesitation.
Both of them were still thinking about the “deluxe” dough drop soup Mu Yuqing had promised to make for lunch.
Meanwhile, Mu Yuqing was worrying about how they would carry such a heavy basket back home when Qingyun finally returned.
The moment Qingyun saw the mountain of crawfish, she froze in shock for a brief moment.
Without saying a word, she walked over calmly.
Mu Yuqing had just been about to suggest carrying the basket together when Qingyun suddenly crouched down, lifted the enormous basket onto her back with ease, and stood up effortlessly.
Yue’er immediately clapped excitedly.
“Sister Qingyun is so strong!”
“It’s nothing,” Qingyun replied casually.
Compared to the brutal training from her past, where her master forced them to run while carrying loads of more than a hundred catties, this amount of weight was insignificant.
On the way home, Qingyun could barely contain her excitement as she shared her discovery.
“Madam, I found it! There really is a natural hot spring hidden nearby!”
She gestured animatedly while speaking.
“The water is crystal clear and steaming hot. It looks amazing! And the source is less than a hundred meters away from the house at the foot of the mountain!”
Mu Yuqing’s eyes widened in disbelief.
A moment later, shock turned into pure delight.
She clapped her hands excitedly like a child.
“That’s wonderful! Once I earn enough silver, I’m buying this entire back mountain and building a huge hot spring villa here. Every winter, we’ll soak in the hot spring, drink fine wine, eat delicious pastries, and enjoy life properly.”
The more she imagined it, the more excited she became.
“Just thinking about it already makes me happy, hahaha…”
Mu Yuqing laughed brightly, her mind already painting a beautiful picture of their future life.