Chapter 11: Brief Respite
The next day, Xilutiya went to the Apothecary Guild to buy the Herb Identification Guide. The clerk kindly gave her a “Hemostatic Potion Recipe” as a gift. But the Gardener Guild was much more rudimentary. Jiaoshi City is not a very affluent place, and few people care about growing flowers and gardening. They only sell common flower seeds here, no cornflower, and the knowledge books on gardening are also quite thin.
She placed the wooden chair in the small courtyard behind the house. Xilutiya sat down, then placed the book《Herb Identification Guide》 on her knees and opened it to read.
The courtyard in the afternoon was exceptionally quiet. A little light shone into the courtyard, falling on the empty ground by her feet, bright but not dazzling.
The yellowish paper pages, clearly printed text and herb illustrations, emitted a faint ink scent after being opened, making one feel that the high price was indeed somewhat justified.
After nearly ten days in this world, Xilutiya had been encountering new things almost every day, stepping into one unfamiliar and strange environment after another. Only now could she slightly relax, leaning quietly against the chair back, spending a completely peaceful afternoon.
The sunlight in the courtyard slowly moved, from not reaching her at first to gradually shining on Xilutiya’s calves, bringing waves of warmth.
Her slender fingertips gently slid over the pages, flipping one over. After reading a chapter introduction, Xilutiya lifted her head, facing the sunlit courtyard. A faint cheerfulness and happiness rose in her heart. She really wanted to take a nap in this breezy afternoon.
She marked the page in the book and placed it on the small table beside her. She drew her calves back a bit, lightly stepping on the crossbar under the chair, then rested her head on one side of the chair back and closed her eyes.
In such a serene and relaxed state, a few strands of hair gently swayed on the side of her cheek, but they didn’t disturb her little nap. Her eyebrows relaxed, and her soft face showed a bit of cuteness and innocence in the afternoon glow.
The chirping of insects in the trees continued. Under the tender green and goose-yellow leaves, this maiden quietly fell into a deep sleep as time slowly passed.
……
Several hours later, the sound of a lock turning and a door being pushed open echoed in the house. A lively, bouncing figure came in. She looked around the house once, then found Xilutiya napping in the backyard.
“Tiya~ I’m back.” Talil came to the side of the sleeping Xilutiya, placing both hands on the wooden chair’s armrests, her eyes curiously scanning this maiden.
The sleeping Xilutiya wasn’t as clever as when awake, but had another kind of cuteness. Talil suddenly had this thought.
Then the maiden beneath her opened her eyes, lightly shaking her head and hair, and sat up.
“Talil is back.” Her soft voice carried a bit of laziness, exceptionally sweet and sticky, as if this was the sound she should have.
“Yeah, get up, Tiya~” She helped Xilutiya sit up properly, then ran from the living room hugging a light green melon, similar in size to the watermelons in Xilutiya’s memory.
“This is from Uncle Hook. I helped out there this morning~” Hook used to be a resident of Fir Village and now sells fruit in Jiaoshi City, also doing some other small business.
“I thought of Tiya right away and brought it back to eat together.” Talil said she was a good sister and wouldn’t forget Tiya.
“Thank you, Talil.” The maiden smiled and replied. Talil’s carefree enthusiasm dispelled the unease and tension she felt upon arriving in this strange world.
“Let’s cut the melon. It won’t taste good if left too long.” Talil said impatiently.
“Okay.” Xilutiya thought for a moment, found a kitchen knife in the kitchen cabinet, and the two simply rinsed the melon skin with stored clear water in the kitchen before cutting it open.
After cutting open the light green melon, the inside was tender yellow flesh with quite a few white seeds. The two held melon slices and stood in the backyard to eat. There were no outsiders here anyway, so no need to be too formal.
After biting into the melon flesh, the clear sweet juice overflowed, jolting Xilutiya’s spirits and sobering her up quite a bit.
It’s very delicious. Though not as sweet as watermelon, it has another woody, sweet taste that lingers.
“What kind of melon is this?” She couldn’t help but ask.
“This is ‘Rongye Melon’. People plant it on the sunny mountain slopes around Jiaoshi City and bring it to the city to sell, but it spoils easily, so it’s hard to find in other places.” Talil knew Tiya would be interested and had specially asked Uncle Hook before coming back.
“Eh?” At Talil’s quick answer behavior, Tiya tilted her head slightly and soon understood the reason.
This child must have prepared the answer in advance.
“Thank you.” She brushed the hair in front of her and replied, a faint warmth flowing in her heart.
“Hmph hmph.” Talil proudly patted her chest lightly, indicating she was also very useful.
“Come on, there’s still a lot left. Uncle Hook said it can’t be kept long and is best eaten today.” The two returned to the kitchen to cut more melon.
“Eh, but I’m a bit full.”
“No, you must finish it.” Talil pushed the helpless Xilutiya to continue.
In the end, the two still didn’t finish it and decided to save some for the night.
In the evening, the two went to Winnie’s house again. Today, Winnie had anticipated it and prepared a sumptuous dinner.
During dinner, Anchel told everyone about what he had inquired at the Merchant Guild today.
“The Merchant Guild has a job for liaising and delivering messages. The work involves delivering various letters, items, and notices around the city on weekdays. The pay isn’t high, only 2.4 silver coins, but it’s relatively easy.”
“Ah, I like this one!” Talil raised her hand.
Winnie and Anchel weren’t surprised at all. They knew Talil would like such work.
“Then there’s Scholar Edson. Unfortunately, he said he doesn’t have time to give lessons, but I got another piece of news: Scholar Edson’s teacher, Mr. Heide who retired before, will probably resume classes next month and teach a batch of students.”
“Ah, Teacher Heide is teaching again?” Winnie covered her mouth in surprise.
“When I graduated, the teacher said he would enjoy his later years and not teach anymore. Why did he change his mind this time?”
“Not sure, maybe there are other reasons.”
“Since Scholar Heide is resuming lessons, for Miss Tiya, it should be the best opportunity. He is the most knowledgeable person in Jiaoshi City, with no better mentor than him.”
“It starts next month. I can ask the teacher if there are any restrictions for this recruitment.” Winnie thought for a moment.
“In the meantime, I’ll check Miss Tiya’s basic knowledge.”
Although she had received education in her previous life, she was still very unfamiliar with this world. Xilutiya quickly agreed.
“Good, then starting tomorrow, you two must come to my place every morning to study.” Winnie held up a finger.
“Ah, do I have to come too? Brother-in-law said he found me a job.” Talil protested.
“He did find one, but there are still a few days before starting work. Don’t think about playing truant.” Winnie brought out her authority as the eldest sister.
“Uh, I’m not playing truant. I even helped at Uncle Hook’s yesterday.” Talil defended herself.
“Yes, but you know you can’t be as willful as a child anymore.”
“Alright.” Knowing her sister was doing it for her own good, Talil could only lower her head and agree.
Seeing Talil repeatedly deflated in front of Winnie, Xilutiya found it amusing and heartwarming, reminding her of companions she grew up with.
Are they living well now too?
Thanks to YouxieQ, xxxxds, Jiantian, Fenqi
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