Tiger Owl

Chapter 275 Watermelon Seedlings
The extremely intelligent Xu Wei immediately understood. She gently held Sun Shangxiang's hand and said, "You are my best friend. I understand you better than anyone else, Shangxiang. Actually, I noticed it a long time ago. It was the way you looked at my husband."

"I didn't!" Sun Shangxiang hurriedly shook her head. "I...I..."

She couldn't continue. Finally, she lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Yunqing, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have developed those feelings for your husband."

Xu Wei didn't let go of her hand. She said softly, "Let's not talk about feelings or whether it will really happen. Let's just talk about a hypothetical situation. If... I mean, if we are willing to accept you, but can't give you the position of our legal wife, can you accept that?"

Sun Shangxiang bit her lip. "I...I don't know!"

Xu Wei laughed, "So don't overthink it. If you can't even get past your own hurdle, how will you get past your mother and brother? How could they possibly agree to you not being their legal wife!"

"But...but I want to marry a man I love."

"Then go find a man you like, but who can also marry you as his legal wife."

"The man I like."

Sun Shangxiang was bewildered. The image of the man who gently served food to Xu Wei during the meal flashed through her mind again, and the tenderness in his eyes melted her heart.

In the afternoon, Gan Ning returned home. He didn't go straight to his study, but instead went excitedly to the back garden, where he had planted a few watermelon seeds half a month ago.

He originally thought it wouldn't sprout, but yesterday he accidentally discovered that three tender shoots had grown, which gave him a sense of anticipation.

There is a small vegetable garden in the backyard, about one-tenth of an acre, mainly for growing beans, but this year he doesn't plan to grow beans; he plans to grow some melons and fruits instead.

It's mid-March now, which is mid-April in the Gregorian calendar, and the soil temperature is just right.

Gan Ning arrived at the vegetable garden, squatted down and carefully examined the three watermelon seedlings. They were growing very thick and seemed to have grown taller than yesterday. It had just rained lightly today, so there was no need to water them. The soil was also fertile enough, so there was no need to apply any extra fertilizer.

Once it grows a little bigger, we can build it a frame.

"General, what are you doing?" A soft voice came from behind.

When Gan Ning turned around, he saw Sun Shangxiang behind him. She was wearing a red warrior outfit with a long sword on her back. Her face was slightly flushed, and there were fine beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Are you practicing swordsmanship?" Gan Ning asked with a smile.

Sun Shangxiang nodded gently, "I come to the garden to practice my sword for a while every day at this time."

Gan Ning smiled and pointed to the three seedlings in the soil, "I planted some watermelon seeds, and they've sprouted!"

"Watermelon?" Sun Shangxiang's eyes lit up. "My favorite, but I've never seen how it grows."

She walked over lightly, squatted down, and looked at the three seedlings with bright eyes. "Are these the ones?"

Gan Ning nodded. "They're too close together and will affect each other. I need to move the two seedlings to the other side."

"Can I help you?" Sun Shangxiang whispered.

Gan Ning nodded. "Give me your dagger!"

Sun Shangxiang quickly pulled a dagger from her boot cover and handed it to Gan Ning. Gan Ning used the dagger to dig up the seedling along with the soil around it and transplanted it to the northeast corner.

Sun Shangxiang then drew another dagger and, imitating Gan Ning, carefully dug up another seedling along with the soil, and quickly walked to the northwest corner.

Watching Gan Ning dig and plant, she followed suit and planted another seedling.

"General, should we water it?"

Gan Ning shook his head and returned the dagger to her.

"The soil is already moist, so there's no need for extra watering. If you water it too much, the roots will rot."

"The plum rain season starts next month, what will we do then?" This is also what Gan Ning is worried about. In his previous life, he had tried to grow gourds, but failed twice because too much rain rotted the roots.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Let's build a shed then! This place is on higher ground, so building a shed should be fine."

As Sun Shangxiang gazed at the seedlings she had transplanted with her own hands, her heart gently intertwined with the seedlings.

She pursed her lips and whispered, "How about I take charge of watering from now on?"

Gan Ning glanced at her, smiled and nodded, "Okay! One teacup of water is enough for each seedling, no need for too much."

"I understand, I promise to come and water it every morning."

Just then, a maid ran over and said, "Master, Madam requests your presence in the dining room."

It was time for dinner, and Gan Ning smiled and said to Sun Shangxiang, "Let's go eat!"

Sun Shangxiang originally intended to go back to her room to change her clothes, but for some reason, she inexplicably followed Gan Ning to the dining hall, carrying two mud-covered daggers in her hands.

"General, is there any news from Jiangdong?" Sun Shangxiang asked in a low voice.

Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Sun Ben may be about to attack Jiangdong."

Sun Shangxiang was startled, "Didn't Jiangdong sign a seven-year peace treaty with Cao Cao?"

Gan Ning smiled faintly, "What's the point of an agreement between a wolf and a sheep?"

"But."

Sun Shangxiang felt a little anxious. "What if the general..."

Gan Ning shook his head. "This time it won't happen. It's not that I don't want to help, but Cao Cao has amassed 300,000 troops and thousands of warships on the other side of the Yangtze River in Chaisang. I can barely protect myself now, let alone save Jiangdong. However, Jiangdong has learned from the last lesson and shouldn't let Sun Ben succeed so easily. You don't need to worry too much."

How could Sun Shangxiang not be worried? Last time, Jiangdong escaped disaster because of Gan Ning's rescue. This time, if they can't save them, how can Jiangdong escape disaster again?

Sun Shangxiang felt anxious. What should be done about Jiangdong?
Upon entering the dining hall, Da Qiao was taken aback to see that the two men's hands were covered in mud. She quickly arranged for a maid to fetch water for them to wash their hands.

"Husband, where have you been?" Da Qiao asked softly after sitting down.

Gan Ning smiled and said, "I planted a few watermelon seedlings in the vegetable garden in the backyard, and I happened to run into Shang Xiang, so she helped me plant them too."

"Oh—" Da Qiao remained silent.

Xu Wei gave Sun Shangxiang a meaningful look. She hadn't changed her clothes or put her sword back; she had just come with her husband like this. Did she think she couldn't understand what this little girl was thinking?
After dinner, Gan Ning returned to his study. Not long after, Da Qiao brought her husband ginseng tea.

Gan Ning pointed to the chair opposite him, indicating that his wife should sit down.

"Husband, what is it?"

Gan Ning hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does Shangxiang want to go home?"

"She didn't mention it. Did something happen?"

Gan Ning nodded. "We received a message from the Jiangdong Liaison Office today that her mother is ill and they sent a message hoping she will return."

"Oh! Her mother is sick?"

Gan Ning shook his head. "Actually, she wasn't really sick. It was because Cao Cao wanted his son Cao Zhi to marry Shang Xiang, and her mother wanted Shang Xiang to go back and complete the marriage, so she used the excuse of being sick."

(End of this chapter)