Chapter 447: The Matchmaker Deserves Eighteen Pork Trotters

A pot of strong tea gradually faded in color. After finishing the last of it in his cup, Lei Ben stood up and said, “Mr. Gu, it’s about time. The two of us will be heading back now.”

“You’ve probably not had much rest since your return,” Gu Ning’an said.

“Let us see you off,” Gu Ning’an stood as well.

“Heh, alright then!”

When the three reached the courtyard gate, Lei Ben turned around and said, “Sir, no need to come further. We’ll visit you another day—and bring some pork trotters for you.”

“According to the old custom, a matchmaker deserves eighteen pork trotters!”

Gu Ning’an smiled and said, “That won’t be necessary. I’m no matchmaker—your fate is your own.”

“Haha~” Lei Ben laughed heartily. “Then we won’t disturb you any longer. Until next time, Mr. Gu.”

Beside him, Zhou Qianqian also pressed down on the wooden box before turning.

[Mr. Gu!]

[Until next time!]

As Gu Ning’an replied with a “Until next time,” his peripheral vision caught sight of the kumquat tree rising over the courtyard wall. Seeing no reaction, he cleared his throat and gave a soft “ahem.”

Suddenly, a gentle breeze passed through. The kumquat tree swayed its branches lightly. Among the many fruits, a plump, round, and enticingly vibrant kumquat seemed to respond to some invisible force. It slowly detached from the branch, drew a graceful arc in the air, flew over the courtyard wall, and stopped right in front of Zhou Qianqian.

“What the—!”

Staring at the floating kumquat in front of his wife, Lei Ben froze for a moment before quickly turning back. “Mr. Gu, this fruit…”

Still standing at the gate, Gu Ning’an smiled and said, “You two have been calling it ‘Tree Grandpa’ for so long—it’s only giving you a fruit.”

Anyone who had lived long in Lexiang County had smelled the fragrance of the kumquat tree in the Ansi Courtyard.

Everyone knew the fruit was extraordinary, but no one had ever dared covet it.

After all, that was an immortal’s residence. Even if the immortal wasn’t home, the kumquat tree itself was spiritual—no one dared to steal from it.

Lei Ben had interacted with the kumquat tree for years and had brought his wife along several times. Never once had the tree offered them a fruit.

But now that Mr. Gu had returned, the tree offered one immediately. Even if Mr. Gu said it was the tree’s gift, the couple knew well—without Mr. Gu’s approval, Tree Grandpa would never have offered it.

“Mr. Gu, this fruit is too precious…” Lei Ben knew full well the fruit’s value. He also believed it might help his wife speak again. Even so, he hesitated.

Gu Ning’an waved a hand and chuckled. “It’s just one fruit. And that wooden box you left behind isn’t light either. Better you eat it than keep carrying that around.”

“Otherwise, next time you bring those trotters—even if it’s not eighteen, just two—you won’t have the hands to carry them.”

Hearing that, Lei Ben was about to kneel in gratitude.

But just as his knee bent, an invisible force lifted him back up.

“Kneeling at every turn—do you not see me as a friend?” Gu Ning’an raised his hand slightly, and Lei Ben straightened up as if pulled by strings.

Lei Ben quickly cupped his hands. “Mr. Gu! Thank you! And thank you too, Tree Grandpa! If you ever need anything, just say the word!”

“I, Lei Ben, would walk through fire and water without hesitation!”

Beside him, Zhou Qianqian also bowed with the wooden box raised in her hands. A bamboo slip on it read:

[Mr. Gu! Thank you!]

Creak—

The courtyard gate closed. Gu Ning’an’s voice drifted from within:

“Alright then, head on home. I’ll be waiting for those trotters.”

Outside the courtyard, the couple exchanged a joyful glance. Zhou Qianqian gently held the hovering kumquat and began to eat it one bite at a time.

After she had eaten about half, a warm current rose in her throat.

Lei Ben asked eagerly, “How does it taste?”

Zhou Qianqian held out the remaining half. “Very sweet. Here, husband, you eat some too.”

Swish!

As her sweet, clear voice sounded in his ear, Lei Ben’s eyes instantly turned red. He shook his head. “Dear, you eat it. Finish the rest! This fruit is amazing!”

Zhou Qianqian shook her head. “Big Bear, you eat. I can already talk… But if Mr. Gu gave us this fruit, it’s surely not just so I can speak again.”

“If I eat it all and you don’t even get a taste… You’re already older than me—if you pass before me, what will I do?”

“But…” Lei Ben was stunned. Before he could say more, his usually gentle wife suddenly shoved the rest of the kumquat into his mouth and clamped his jaw shut.

Zhou Qianqian said firmly, “Eat!”

Seeing her determined gaze, Lei Ben swallowed the remaining fruit.

Zhou Qianqian moved her hands away. “Open your mouth. Let me see if you ate it all!”

Lei Ben: “Ahh~~”

Zhou Qianqian checked and smiled. “Good job!”

They held each other’s gaze for a moment before Lei Ben took her hand once again, turned toward the Ansi Courtyard, and bowed deeply.

Together, they said, “Thank you, Mr. Gu. Thank you, Tree Grandpa.”

No voice answered from within.

But the kumquat tree shook its branches gently with a soft rustling sound, as if in reply.

After the couple stood in thanks for a moment, Lei Ben seemed to think of something and shouted toward the courtyard, “Mr. Gu, what flavor trotters do you like? Braised or stewed…?”

Beside him, Zhou Qianqian added, “Eighteen pork trotters—surely one of them will be to your taste!”

Lei Ben nodded. “Makes sense. Let’s go to the market early tomorrow to buy trotters. For now, let’s head home. When our parents hear you can speak again, they’ll be overjoyed!”

“Mm!” Zhou Qianqian took Lei Ben’s arm, and the two walked toward the alley’s end.

Just as they reached the alley’s mouth, a voice called out to them:

“One trotter is enough. Braised, please. Don’t really bring eighteen—it’s wasteful…”

Upon hearing this, Lei Ben turned back with a grin. “Alright! Just wait and see, Mr. Gu. My wife’s cooking skills are top-notch!”

Inside the courtyard, under the kumquat tree, Gu Ning’an smiled and shook his head. Then he looked to the side and said, “That couple’s pretty amusing, don’t you think, Tree Grandpa?”

The kumquat tree gave a little shudder, as if not entirely used to being called “Tree Grandpa.”

Yet oddly, there was a strange, rebellious thrill to it…

Clap clap!

Gu Ning’an gently patted the tree trunk, turned, and walked into the inner house. As he did, he added, “Fetch yourself some water and give your roots a good soak. The soil beneath you is cracked and dry.”

Kumquat tree: What kind of tree waters itself?

Bang!

As Gu Ning’an disappeared into the inner house and the door shut behind him, two long branches of the kumquat tree reached down, lifted a bucket from the corner, and began stretching toward the courtyard well…