Chapter 29: “You’re the one who needs abstinence!”

70.

We strolled to the last section and finally saw the fish. The decoration here was somewhat like an oceanarium, with arched glass corridors housing many marine creatures. They swam in an organized manner, twisting and moving forward.

The ground beneath our feet was also made to resemble water. Suddenly, a plump shark surged up from the depths, frightening me. I screamed and jumped in place, landing against Dr. Wei. Dr. Wei seemed equally startled; he took two steps back until the shark disappeared on the tiled floor. Only then did I realize it was a 3D interactive floor projection.

Damn.

So embarrassing.

Amid the laughter of other visitors, I blushed and pushed Dr. Wei, urging him, “Quick, let’s go quickly.”

Dr. Wei wrapped his arm around my waist, laughing even harder than the elderly folks nearby.

I overheard a lady nearby saying that this area originally had only four sections. The part we were in had been newly opened last year, which is why it’s called a botanical garden. The park manager is currently considering renaming this section, and ticket prices will increase next year. So, visiting now is the most cost-effective option.

I don’t even know how Dr. Wei discovered such niche and obscure attractions, but it’s really interesting.

Aside from the entrance fee, the revenue here is generated from the free market. The so-called free market is the area where things are sold. On both sides of the walkway leading to the exit, there are hundreds of small shops. Anything you saw inside the botanical garden, as long as it’s not a protected species, can be found here.

Dr. Wei enjoys living things. He can linger around flower shops for a long time, recording all the cultivation and care techniques the owners mention on his phone. Compared to those old, vigorously growing rooted plants, he prefers seeds, young seedlings, or grafted plants. He says watching them grow bit by bit under the sunlight gives him a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

When you buy seeds, they don’t come with flowerpots. So, Dr. Wei went to the neighboring booth to buy some flowerpots. The most prominent items on the shelves were colorful ceramic products, with so many varieties that it’s hard to choose. Dr. Wei squatted down and picked a few plain white plastic pots from a corner.

The shop owner said, “These pots aren’t worth much. The ones with designs on top are nicer.”

Wei Nanlin nodded towards me, a sly smile on his lips. “My little one likes to draw on flowerpots. A plain one is good.”

The shop owner looked at us in surprise. “Is this your child?”

Dr. Wei took out his phone with a smile. “Well, does it not look like it? Xiaqi, call daddy.”

I very cooperatively hugged his arm. “Daddy.”

The shop owner’s expression shifted from surprise to sympathy, then to curiosity. In her mind, perhaps she pictured a script that went something like, “Older single man who couldn’t afford a hefty dowry for his girlfriend, so he adopted an intellectually challenged child to spend his remaining years together.”

Seeing that I was acting like a simpleton, the shop owner only charged the cost price.

Dr. Wei spent five yuan to buy over ten pots, and with the remaining budget of around twenty yuan, he bought two strings of strawberry candied haws.

71.

Although the fish market was newly established, it wasn’t any less bustling than the botanical market. Honestly, countless times in my life, I’ve passed by places selling fish, and I’ve seen big fish tanks in restaurants, but I’ve never observed them up close.

Some fish tanks were sparkling clean, some were slightly yellowed, and others had a greenish tint. I asked Dr. Wei if this was related to the type of fish being raised.

Dr. Wei pushed his glasses, which had barely any lenses, up and educated me, “The formation of the green water is related to factors like light, organic matter, and oxygen content. Accumulation of waste that isn’t cleaned in time leads to dirt buildup, and insufficient oxygen results in floating algae. The yellowish water quality is influenced by the feed provided; having ample nitrifying bacteria can improve it.”

I was thoroughly impressed, “Do you medical professionals need to learn about microbiology too?”

“Not exactly. Before I decided to raise fish, I did some research online.”

Dr. Wei is just a person who’s exceptionally patient. He’s never afraid of things.

If it were me, the thought of having to change water, buy an oxygen pump, get feed, clean up waste, and adjust the tank temperature based on the weather would make me not want to raise fish anymore.

Dr. Wei calls this tempering the mind, not allowing himself to be entangled by worldly matters, finding a sense of belonging.

He also said that before he met me, he had a different plan for life: work well, enjoy life, and around forty years old, resign from his job to go to the mountains for cultivation.

“Cultivation?” I didn’t understand. I’ve only heard those two words in TV shows, and they felt very distant from me. It didn’t seem like something a person who grew up in the city would think about.

*xiu xing – cultivation(devoting one’s life to spiritual development.

Dr. Wei said, “After graduating from college, I spent some time in the mountains for cultivation. There, everything you eat or use is obtained through your own efforts. Although I went there with empty hands, without anything, you’ll realize after spending some time that everything you truly need is there. You can also find the peace to do what you love. I completed my first novel up in the mountains.”

I felt a bit apprehensive, “You’re not planning to go back to live in the mountains, are you?”

Dr. Wei laughed heartily, “Are you scared?”

“I don’t want to eat and sleep alone… Can you not go to the mountains? I’m afraid of insects, and I don’t know how to chop wood.”

“You can learn, it’s simple. I can teach you.”

“…”

The more scared I acted, the crazier Dr. Wei’s laughter became. I begged him all the way, and only then did he say, “I don’t plan on going back to the mountains now because I’ve realized that taking good care of you is the most important practice in life.”

“Then why did you come down from the mountains again?”

“Cultivation was just to make myself more grounded, not chasing quick results. The universe is boundless, the land and rivers are vast. Humanity is merely here to enjoy the journey. Just be happy.”

“Yeah, what you said makes sense! Can I have another cup of milk tea tonight?”

“No, you’ve already had one today. You’ve been happy enough.”

“…I want to be happy one more time.”

“Xiaoqi, you have to learn abstinence.”

“You’re the one who needs abstinence!”

73.

The shop selling fish tanks offers home delivery within the city. After Dr. Wei paid the deposit, our journey in the botanical garden was considered over.

007 was hungry, and before I even had a chance to open the gate, I heard it meowing inside. I went in to feed it, while Dr. Wei silently squatted in the yard, tinkering with the new flowers and plants he bought.

To distinguish and identify them, he would label the flower varieties on the pots, then loosen the soil and mix in nutrients. Finally, he would spread a layer of breathable small ceramic granules on top of the soil.

It might sound bothersome, but when he put on his apron, gloves, and a sun hat, and sat in a corner against the wall, it became my favorite view.

The doorbell rang, and a uniformed man poked his head through the gate, “Delivery, is it for Mr. Chu’s house?”

“Xiaoqi, it’s your delivery,” Wei Nanlin called from the yard.

I knew it was the tablet I ordered, so I shouted back, “I’m cooking meat for 007. Can you help me get it?”

There was silence outside for a while. After a moment, Dr. Wei came in holding a package and casually placed it on the coffee table. “What did you buy?”

His question seemed perfunctory, his voice low, and he didn’t actually seem interested in hearing the answer. He was already walking out of the living room while his voice still lingered in the air.

“Wait a moment!” I stopped him. “This is for you, open it.”

Dr. Wei raised an eyebrow. “You bought this?”

“Yeah, it’s a Christmas present for you.”

Only then did Dr. Wei bother to take off his worn-out gloves and carefully put them on the ground. He found a small knife and gently cut open the package. His cautious demeanor was less like unwrapping a package and more like performing surgery, especially the kind involving tumor removal.

Blame me. I hadn’t given him any proper surprises, so he was so delighted by this small gift that he practically lost his eyesight.

“How did you think of giving me a tablet?”

“Uh…”

I was at a loss for words.

I wasn’t afraid he’d find out that I used his computer to check his browsing history, but if he found out I went through the contents of his shopping cart, he’d probably be embarrassed.

As I hesitated, Dr. Wei suddenly stood up and walked towards me.

“What are you cooking? The water is all gone.”

“Damn it!” I sucked in a breath, the beef cubes were stuck to the bottom of the pan, visibly turning black. I quickly turned off the heat and added water to the pot. The burnt smell filled the air.

“Let me handle it,” Dr. Wei simply changed into a kitchen apron, “Take the bit of meat from the fridge. We won’t eat these burnt ones.”

“Oh.”

I thought the matter of buying the tablet had been glossed over, but unexpectedly, Dr. Wei brushed the pan while saying, “So, you peeked at my computer.”

Feeling guilty, my mind went blank, and I subconsciously gave myself a reason, “I didn’t mean to… I wanted to look up information.”

Dr. Wei said firmly, “And then you looked at my Taobao shopping cart.”

“How did you know?”

“You didn’t close the web page after reading, it was still on the Taobao interface when I opened it at home.”

“That’s impossible! I closed it!”

“You probably just clicked the small yellow dot, not exiting completely, so when you opened it again, it was still there.”

What a stupid computer!

I couldn’t quite grasp his current mood. I moved closer to him and cautiously probed, “Do you have some little secrets that you don’t want me to see?”

Dr. Wei looked at me with a flushed face, “You’ve already seen it all, so it’s not exactly a secret.”

Thinking of the things in his shopping cart, my face felt hot.

Dr. Wei put the pot back on the gas stove and said, “Since you’ve seen it, give me some suggestions. Which style do you like?”

“I don’t want it! Your big box under the bed is scandalous enough, and you’re still buying! That tail last time made my butt hurt!”

Dr. Wei said, “I’m talking about 007’s little clothes. Should I get yellow or blue?”

“…”

“That set of bondage ropes, I didn’t plan to consult you on that.” Dr. Wei paused and continued, “Because I’ve already bought it, and it’s on its way.”

At that moment, my head was really buzzing, and my ears felt like they were on fire.

Dr. Wei had a somewhat sly smile on his face as he patted my bottom. “You gave me a gift, so I can’t shortchange you, right?”

“That’s clearly rewarding yourself!”

Dr. Wei said, “Actually, I originally intended to give you the tablet. Remember, you said your old one was outdated, and you couldn’t draw with it? The new model can be used with a stylus. When you go back home, you won’t have to bring the tablet and computer back and forth. It’s much more convenient.”

“I see… So I basically bought myself a gift.”

Dr. Wei immediately took out his phone. “How much did it cost? I’ll reimburse you.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Expenses that need to be reimbursed should still be reimbursed. How about this: you also report the money I spent on that set of intimate products as your gift, and we’ll call it exchanging Christmas presents.”

“Hey! Don’t take advantage of the situation!”