"I often came here to relax when I first arrived at the fishing village," Lu Xunguang explained softly. Li Ying nodded and said, "The scenery here is pleasant. It's really a good place to clear one's mind and unwind."
The two strolled under the tree for a while. Li Ying casually said, "In my hometown, ancient trees like this one are generally regarded as excellent places for making wishes."
Writing one's wishes or the names of oneself and one's sweetheart on a red silk and tying it high on the treetop seems to ensure that all one's desires will come true.
Li Ying always regarded such things as just a gimmick for scenic spots to attract tourists and never took them seriously. Now that she mentioned it, she just thought that she could do the same to promote this big banyan tree as a new scenic spot.
She didn't notice at all that after hearing her words, although Lu Xunguang remained silent, there was a faint glimmer in his eyes, as if he had secretly made up his mind.
Li Ying walked around the banyan tree. Looking at the banyan seeds on the ground, she seemed to remember something, and a new idea suddenly came to her mind.
She didn't have time to waste. She just quickly thanked Lu Xunguang, picked up a handful of banyan seeds, and went straight back to the village.
Grandma Sun had just bought several chicks and raised them in the yard. Li Ying casually scattered the banyan seeds to them. The chicks flapped their little wings and chirped, enjoying the new feed very much.
Banyan seeds are rich in nutrients. The tender chickens that grow up eating tree seeds, coconut meat, and fish and shrimp have more delicious meat. As long as they are raised in a standardized way, it's not difficult to breed the world - famous "Wenchang Chicken"!
Li Ying was so overjoyed that she didn't notice that there was a sneaky figure behind her who had seen all her actions clearly and quietly hid in the night to report.
She was eager to share this good news with Lu Xunguang. Sure enough, he was still waiting for her under the banyan tree.
Fine beads of sweat oozed from the man's forehead, but his eyes were always stubbornly fixed on a small branch protruding from the treetop.
In mid - air, a red silk fluttered down and landed right at her feet.
This man didn't follow her just now. It turned out that he had been trying to hang the red silk to make a wish!
Li Ying smiled and said, "Brother Lu, do you believe in this too?"
She curiously picked up the red silk and checked it. There were only a few words on it.
"May Ah Ying get all she wishes for and encounter only smooth roads."
Li Ying was stunned and deeply touched.
Was this... his wish?
That narrow silk ribbon, though light and delicate, carried Lu Xunguang's innumerable feelings. It seemed to weigh a thousand catties in her hand and was even a bit burning.
Li Ying said shyly, "Brother Lu, actually, it doesn't matter if you can't hang it on the highest branch. Moreover, with your good skills, you can use your martial arts to climb the tree..."
Her original intention was not to let Lu Xunguang go to so much trouble, but this stubborn man just stared at her fixedly and stubbornly said, "No. Only with sincerity can the wish come true. Since it concerns your fortune, we can't take shortcuts or be careless."
Li Ying couldn't help laughing, but looking at his serious look, she just couldn't say the words "The so - called fortune is illusory. Don't take it seriously."
Many tourists gathered around them. After hearing that hanging red silk on this big banyan tree could bring good luck, they all somehow learned how to do it on their own and hung the red silks with their own and their sweethearts' names and birth dates on the tree.
It took Lu Xunguang a long time to finally throw the red silk onto the treetop. Only his silk ribbon was fluttering high in the wind, really making people envious.
Some men who tried to imitate him found that it was extremely difficult and gave up one after another.
The girls all cast envious looks at Li Ying and vied with each other to praise her for finding such an outstanding husband.
Li Ying blushed. She wanted to explain subconsciously that there was nothing between her and Lu Xunguang, but seeing that the man seemed to be quite pleased and the sweat on his forehead hadn't faded yet, she couldn't bear to dampen his enthusiasm and actually tacitly agreed.
It was getting late. The two went back to their rooms to rest. Before they fell asleep, they suddenly heard a scream outside.
"Something's wrong! Something's wrong! The noble guests are in danger!"
Half - asleep and half - awake, Li Ying did a sit - up and sat up straight.
In this fishing village, the only ones who could be called "noble guests" were the master and Lian Ji.
They were her biggest backers now. They must not have any accidents!
She didn't care about her tiredness. She quickly put on a piece of clothing and rushed to the beach!
The master had followed the local customs and didn't go back to the inn tonight. Instead, he was camping in the biggest tent.
When Li Ying arrived, the master had a livid face. Lian Ji beside him was crying piteously. She was shivering all over and clinging to the master like an octopus. Her cherry - like lips had lost their color. She was really pitiful.
"Hubby, save me! This village is haunted! There... there are ghosts!"
Lian Ji said in a trembling voice with a terrified look on her face. The master frowned slightly after hearing this.
"The wise do not talk about strange, violent, chaotic, and supernatural things. The talk of ghosts and gods is nonsense. Lian Ji, don't talk nonsense."
Hearing this, Lian Ji looked even more panicked.
"Hubby! I'm not scaring you. There really are ghosts! Just now when I was about to turn off the light and go to sleep, I heard a woman's crying outside the window. When I got up to look, I saw a pale ghost floating outside the tent!"
She spoke so seriously. It was midnight, and a gust of cold wind blew at just the right moment. Everyone felt a chill on the back of their necks and couldn't help feeling a little scared.
"Hubby, I also heard the ghost muttering something like 'Hearing that you have changed your heart, I've come to bid farewell'. Could it be..."
Seeing the master's expression suddenly become more solemn, a faint look of joy flashed across Lian Ji's face, but then she said in a panicked voice, "Hubby, this place is really strange. It's not suitable to stay for long! I'm so scared. Let's set off back to the capital quickly at dawn?"
Du Zhong, who had rushed over after hearing the news, interrupted, "Master, you can't! You still have a lot of business to discuss with Miss Li. You mustn't leave in such a hurry. Please think twice!"
The master remained silent, obviously still considering. Lian Ji said angrily, "Du Zhong, you're so bold. How dare you make decisions for hubby?"
Du Zhong was indignant but didn't say anything more. Li Ying, however, seeing Lian Ji's confident look, was sure that this woman was going to play some tricks again.
She understood what was going on, but still pretended to look embarrassed on her face. She bowed to the master.
"Master, Mrs. Lian keeps saying that she has encountered something strange in our village. This is no joke. If it spreads, I'm afraid the tourism industry in the fishing village will die out before it even starts. We need some solid evidence. We can't just make false accusations."
Lian Ji snorted and said, "You're such a sharp - tongued country girl! Fine. Then please invite the Taoist priest to give you an explanation!"