Cheng Xiaofan's trip to White Python Lake this time was to visit Ye Shisan and discuss finding him a companion.
Hearing Ye Shisan say this, Cheng Xiaofan realized that he had no thoughts about a companion at all.
Everyone has their own way of living, and he couldn't interfere with others' lives.
Since Ye Shisan was used to living alone, Cheng Xiaofan stopped considering that matter.
Ye Shisan opened up, and his words flowed more freely: "Mr. Cheng, this White Python Lake is truly a paradise. Besides the groundhogs who play chess with me, sometimes dragonfish fly over and bring me lotus roots."
"Sometimes, when the sun sets, those bay horses dance on the lake's surface, kicking up waves against the fiery sunset sky, leaping and frolicking!"
"In the early morning, when the sky just brightens, the Boer goats no longer need the groundhogs to control them. They neatly and orderly emerge from their pens, in groups of three or five, like white clouds floating amidst the emerald green grass on the lake's shore."
"Egrets and various water birds skim across the lake, facing the morning sun, displaying their most beautiful songs, dancing gracefully and singing aloud!"
Speaking of this, he smiled slightly at Cheng Xiaofan, "Mr. Cheng, do you know what idea I had when I was refining those bricks?"
"I want to use the bricks I made myself to build a road around White Python Lake!"
"The road doesn't need to be wide, nor too narrow, just enough for two or three people to walk side by side."
"This place is not suitable for cars, as cars would pollute the environment!"
Cheng Xiaofan nodded thoughtfully and said, "Old Ye, I understand what you mean. In the future, this place will not be fully open to the public."
"The environment here should always be maintained with a poetic tranquility, and it should also be the pure wonderland that people yearn for most!"
Ye Shisan smiled and said, "Mr. Cheng, these are just a few personal thoughts I've had after living here for a while!"
Cheng Xiaofan laughed heartily and said, "Old Ye, your idea is absolutely correct, and I will certainly consider it carefully!"
The two chatted all afternoon. As evening approached, Ye Shisan began to cook.
There were fish in the pool near the kitchen, lotus roots delivered by the dragonfish, and various seasonal vegetables planted by Ye Shisan. In a short while, a table full of dishes was prepared.
In fact, two people couldn't possibly eat so many dishes.
However, while preparing these dishes, Ye Shisan had considered the group of groundhogs.
Even if Cheng Xiaofan wasn't here, he would still cook several dishes and eat them with the groundhogs.
Shortly after the dishes were served, a joyful squeaking sound was heard approaching from outside, signaling the return of the groundhogs.
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
The nine fiery red groundhogs, upon entering the house, rushed to Cheng Xiaofan, wagging their tails and chattering incessantly!
"Master, we finally see you!"
"Master, we missed you so much!"
"Master, you're getting more handsome!"
Cheng Xiaofan squatted down, gently stroking each groundhog, and said with a smile, "You've all worked hard during this time!"
"I heard from Old Ye that besides herding sheep, you also cooperated with Old Ye in digging caves, transporting soil, and making bricks. I didn't expect you to be so capable!"
"Master, this is what we should do!" the nine groundhogs said in unison.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled, "Old Ye, can you communicate with the groundhogs in words now?"
Ye Shisan said with a wry smile, "Not yet, but we can communicate through gestures, and there are no obstacles at all!"
Cheng Xiaofan said, "That's good too!"
Ye Shisan said, "Mr. Cheng, let's start eating. I still have a lot of your Thousand Day Drunk wine here, let's have a couple of drinks!"
Cheng Xiaofan said, "Alright, let's have a few drinks!"
Ye Shisan immediately took a bottle of Thousand Day Drunk wine from the cupboard and poured a full glass for Cheng Xiaofan and himself. He smiled and said, "Mr. Cheng, I saw a comment about you on the martial arts forum saying you have a great capacity for alcohol and can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."
"After we finish this bottle, we'll drink some of the wild persimmon wine I brewed!"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "I don't see any wild persimmon trees here. Where did you get the wild persimmons to brew wine?"
Ye Shisan chuckled, "Past the terraced mountains, and over another mountain, there is a large grove of wild persimmon trees, laden with fiery red wild persimmons. It's very beautiful."
"I picked several large baskets and brewed two large vats of wild persimmon wine."
"When you go back, I'll bring you more wild persimmon wine and persimmons for your parents and Goddess Bai to try."
Cheng Xiaofan nodded repeatedly and said, "Good, good, good. I've never tasted wild persimmon wine before. After I finish this glass of white wine, please get me some wild persimmon wine to try!"
Ye Shisan smiled and said, "Okay, Mr. Cheng, follow me. I'll get it for you right away!"
He then led Cheng Xiaofan to the backyard, next to a mountain wall, where there was a natural cave.
Walking into the depths of the cave, Cheng Xiaofan immediately noticed two large vats placed there.
By estimation, each vat seemed to hold nearly two hundred jin of wild persimmon wine.
Ye Shisan lifted the lid of one of the vats, and a rich, intoxicating aroma immediately filled the entire cave.
Just by smelling the aroma, Cheng Xiaofan could tell it was good wine.
Ye Shisan said, "I opened this vat of wild persimmon wine last night and had a few sips. It tasted quite good."
He used a large ceramic jar to scoop out a full jar.
The wine was amber-colored, very transparent, and had a certain viscosity when gently shaken.
Cheng Xiaofan reached out, took it, and with a slurp, took a sip. He smacked his lips a few times. It was slightly sour and sweet. After swallowing, the rich aroma lingered between his teeth and tongue, never fading.
He couldn't help but nod and say, "This wild persimmon wine is excellent. Not only does it taste good, but it also has the effects of moistening the lungs, quenching thirst, nourishing the stomach, supplementing the kidneys, reducing swelling, and detoxifying."
Ye Shisan's eyes widened in surprise, "Mr. Cheng, after just one sip of this wine, you can know all these health benefits and some medicinal effects."
Cheng Xiaofan laughed heartily, "Old Ye, you might not believe it, but my sense of smell is like a detector. As long as I smell any food, I can know its nutritional components and value!"
"This even includes what steps you took when brewing the wild persimmon wine, or what ingredients you used!"
Ye Shisan smiled and said, "Mr. Cheng, you are truly amazing!"
Returning to the dining room, the two continued to drink.
Cheng Xiaofan found the wild persimmon wine to be quite good. After draining his glass of white wine in one gulp, he began to savor the wild persimmon wine from the ceramic jar.
The wild persimmon wine tasted good and was quite smooth when drunk. However, it had a strong after-effect.
But no matter how strong the wine was, there was no wine in the world that could get Cheng Xiaofan drunk. He drank more than ten cups before he stopped.
"Alright, I've had enough to drink, and I've eaten enough," Cheng Xiaofan said, letting out a satisfied burp.
Ye Shisan smiled and said, "If you're not going back tonight, you can stay here. This is your villa anyway, and your room upstairs is ready!"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "I can't. I was abroad for a few days and just got back today. If I don't go back, my family will surely have something to say."