While Mu Chenyan went to see her future grandparents-in-law, the others at ho had already prepared their adventure gear. Seeing how they still weren't going when the sun was so high up in the sky, Grandfather Xiang frowned.
"Why are you guys still here? Shouldn't you start hiking early in the morning? I know you guys plan on staying the night in the woods but still, isn't it better to start early?"
"We are waiting for Yanyan," answered Raelle.
"Why? She isn't going with you guys."
"No, but she'll stay with you," replied Raelle.
Grandfather Xiang sighed, "Am I a kid? Why do I need supervision? This is my family ho. Even the house help here are people who have stayed with our family for generations. You have nothing to worry about. Just leave. Besides, your father is here too."
"I seem to be not very trustworthy," said Xiang Hulin.
Grandfather Xiang didn't respond to his son but turned to the rest, "You all should go now. Don't be an eyesore here. If anything, I'd love to be alone right now. You too, Hulin. Go and find your childhood friends or sothing."
"I don't think so," said Xiang Hulin. "You kids should really go. You have nothing to worry about. I am here. I'll take care of my father."
"Then we'll leave Grandpa to you, Dad," said Xiang Weimin as he took the lead to walk out.
"Take soone to show you guys the way," ca Grandfather Xiang's voice from behind.
"Father, let them be. If they can't even find their own way, then they better just stay ho and not go out," said Xiang Hulin.
"We can find our way, Grandpa," shouted Xiang Wai. "I'm good at this."
"Says the person who can't even see straight," said Hyson.
"Let's start this journey on a good note, bro!"
"Sure!"
And this way, the group started their hiking journey. They started slowly since it had rained yesterday and the path was still not easy to tread. However, no one complained. And they didn't want to wait for another day too. So, this hiking had to happen today.
"You better find the treasure, little bro!" said Xiang Wai to Hyson. "Or I'll be so pissed off."
"I don't care about your emotions," replied Hyson.
"By the way, do we even have a map? How are we gonna find the treasure?" asked Xiang Wai.
"Even if there is a map, I won't show it to you," said Hyson.
"I want Uncle Fai!" said Justin to his father and opened his arms towards Hyson.
"Oh, my nephew is so cute," said Hyson as he put him on his shoulders. Justin seems to love sitting on his shoulders now. "Don't throw him. It's not an easy path," reminded Xiang Weimin.
"Don't underestimate , Ge!" said Hyson.
"Sure," said Xiang Weimin. "My son is already stolen from . I can't believe it."
"Don't be so sour about it, Ge," said Xiang Wai. "It was sothing to be expected."
"That's so not comforting, Wai!"
"I wasn't trying to comfort you," she responded. "Raelle, why are you so quiet today?"
"I don't wanna waste my brain cells on talking to you," said Raelle. "Anyway, don't you know? I don't like talking that much."
"Just say, you don't like talking to ."
"That too."
"Oh, look what I found!" yelled Hyson from ahead and brought Justin to see his treasure. "Do you know what this is, Justin?"
"What is it?" asked Justin curiously. "These flowers are sweet-scented."
"These are honeysuckle," replied Hyson. "Do you know that honeysuckles are very magical? You can eat their flowers as they have antioxidants in them. They have been used in traditional dicine for centuries. And all species of honeysuckle have different dical properties. Interesting, right?"
"Yes!" answered Justin with his bright eyes. "What else?"
"Honeysuckles are the favorite food of hummingbirds."
"So, if we stay here to wait. We can see hummingbirds coming here?" asked Justin.
"That's highly possible." He paused and added, "Honeysuckles have a long flowering period too. They bloom throughout the sumr. I recently learned that they are used in natural skin care products too. It's a very resilient plant too."
"You know a lot," said Justin.
"I have my specialties too," replied Hyson. "I only act like I'm stupid. In reality, I'm smarter than you think. I just hide my intelligence so that my best friend doesn't feel like I'm overshadowing her."
"You can talk without bringing up my na in your conversation," said Raelle.
"But I can't live without you, Ellie!" "That is so exaggerated," said Shui Xian. "But I'm still able to believe in it."
Hyson chuckled in response. Justin pointed at the plant near Hyson's feet and asked, "Is that mint?"
Hyson looked down and nodded, "That's indeed mint. In fact, this is wild mint. Do you know that mint can be used to get rid of mosquitos?"
"Really?"
"Yes. Place a bunch on your window sill and the mosquitos won't co inside."
"Cool!"
"Are we on a science trip?" asked Raelle.
"No. More like natural science," replied Shui Xian.
"Also, if you boil dried peach leaves, honeysuckle, and mint. It could be used to get rid of prickly heat."
"How do you know even that?" asked Justin. "Do you know traditional dicine?"
"No," answered Hyson. "This is common knowledge in the countryside. You don't have to be a doctor to know about these things."
"Oh. It seems cool to live in the countryside. Can I go too?"
"City kids should stay in cities. It's not that fun in the countryside."
Justin's face fell when he heard that.
Seeing this, Hyson said, "Fine. We'll take you to visit and experience."
"Yay!" "Why do I feel like I got tricked?" asked Hyson.
"Because you did," said Raelle.
"No way? Right?"
"You did," emphasized Raelle.
"How?" asked Hyson. "Where did he learn this trick?"
"Your influence is already there," said Xiang Wai. "Where else will he learn from?"
"Is it okay to bla everything bad on ?"
"I think it's okay," said Xiang Wai.
"Is it really okay, guys?" "No more argunt," said Xiang Weimin. "Can't you see where we are? Is this a place to argue?"
"There is supposed to be a specific place for argunts?" asked Xiang Wai.
"If you speak a little less, the sky won't fall down."
"What if it did?" asked Xiang Wai.
"Uncle Fai, tell more about other things. What about that over there?" Justin urged Hyson to talk more. He seed to be using Hyson as an encyclopedia of plants right now and Hyson was helpless about it too. He seed to have done this to himself. He couldn't bla anyone else now. He could only go along with it.
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