Chapter 7: Entering the Dream

After making their wishes, Wei Lan and Liu Yao walked back hand in hand, chatting and laughing.

As they entered the courtyard, Liu Mingyi was holding his waist and half-jokingly said, “Miss Wei, you really wore me out today. I wonder if I’ll ever get to taste your cooking?”

Wei Lan playfully stepped forward with a mischievous smile. “Brother Mingyi, I’m great at massages. Want me to help loosen up your muscles?” She reached out as she spoke.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch Liu Mingyi’s robe, his slightly bent back straightened in an instant. With a swift movement, he took a step back and cleared his throat. “I’ll pass.”

Liu Yao chuckled to ease the moment. “The food is all prepared. I’ll cook before heading back.”

Wei Lan held Liu Yao’s hand reluctantly. “Sister Yao, you’re leaving already? I don’t want you to go. Let’s sleep in the same room tonight and gossip.”

Liu Mingyi suddenly interjected, “Gossip? You can tell fortunes?”

Wei Lan was momentarily stunned before laughing. “Oh no, I meant girl talk, not divination.”

Liu Yao smiled and added, “Just household chatter.” She patted Wei Lan’s hand. “I’d love to stay, but according to custom, a married woman shouldn’t stay overnight at her maiden home.”

Wei Lan was still reluctant to part. Suddenly, she remembered she had made a steel-rimmed undergarment for Liu Yao and quickly retrieved it from her room. “I made this especially for you. Don’t forget it.”

Liu Yao took the package and gently said, “Little sister, goodbye. Brother, walk me out.”

Liu Mingyi nodded and accompanied Liu Yao out of the house. On the way, he couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, did you find out Miss Wei’s birth date?”

“Strangely enough, she really doesn’t seem to remember. Unless she lost her memory, who forgets their own birthday?” Liu Yao replied, puzzled.

Liu Mingyi thought for a moment. “In that case, we can only wait and see.” His gaze fell on the package in Liu Yao’s hands, and he curiously asked, “Weren’t you delivering clothes to Miss Wei? Why are you bringing something back?”

Liu Yao smirked. “My dear brother, this is a garment Wei Lan sewed for me. It’s a lady’s item—none of your business.”

Liu Mingyi pressed on. “What’s so secret about clothes?”

Liu Yao laughed so hard she nearly bent over. “It’s an undergarment! You’ve probably never even seen one, hahaha!”

Liu Mingyi seemed to realize something and his ears turned slightly red.

Seeing his reaction, Liu Yao decided to stop teasing. She waved her hand. “Alright, no need to walk me any further. Go home and eat.” Before she finished speaking, she had already strode away.

Liu Mingyi stood in place as the redness in his ears gradually faded. Only when Liu Yao’s figure disappeared from sight did he turn back toward home.

After Mingyi saw Liu Yao off, Wei Lan busied herself in the kitchen. Before long, a few simple homemade dishes were ready. Since Mingyi hadn’t returned yet, she kept the food warm in the pot. “It’s just pickled vegetables and radishes. What’s so good about that?” she muttered as her stomach started to growl.

To pass the time, she wandered to the hillside to wait for Liu Mingyi. The sunset bathed the earth in golden hues, and the distant Earth God temple looked particularly striking against the evening glow. For some reason, she felt an inexplicable pull and, as if guided by an unseen force, found herself walking toward it once more.

The temple was empty. Wei Lan saw the oranges Liu Yao had previously offered and casually peeled one to eat. The sweet and tangy juice burst in her mouth. But suddenly, she caught a familiar scent—roast chicken.

Startled, she muttered, “Why does this orange smell like roast chicken?”

Just then, footsteps echoed in the temple. Wei Lan immediately became alert and quickly hid behind the offering table. Peering through a gap, she saw a man approach, carrying a basket filled with an enticing aroma.

It was Lao Tang’s famous roast chicken!

The man was named Li Zuyao. He wore a light blue robe embroidered with cloud patterns on the collar and cuffs, and his neatly tied hair was secured with a cyan headscarf—a scholar’s standard attire. His pregnant wife followed slowly behind him.

Zuyao placed the roast chicken and other offerings on the table before turning to help his wife.

Seizing the moment, Wei Lan stealthily reached out and snatched the roast chicken without a sound.

When Zuyao turned back, he found the chicken had disappeared. Instead of panic, his face lit up with joy, and he exclaimed, “The Earth God has manifested! The Earth God has manifested!”

He knelt down immediately and kowtowed. “Thank you, Lord Earth, for blessing me to pass the provincial exam. Today, I am here to fulfill my vow. Next year, I will head to the capital for the imperial exam. Please continue to bless me!” Then he poured a pot of wine onto the ground. “A drink for Lord Earth!”

Watching from the shadows, Wei Lan felt a pang of guilt. She muttered, “Why waste the wine? If you left it, I could drink it for the Earth God.”

After making their offerings, Zuyao and his wife left hand in hand.

Wei Lan waited until they were gone before emerging from behind the table. She devoured the entire roast chicken—legs, wings, and all. Standing alone in the empty temple, she felt a mix of emotions.

She chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Does the Earth God really grant wishes? Just by making an offering, one can pass the exam? I’m from the 21st century—how could I believe in such superstitions?”

She shook her head but couldn’t ignore the fact that she had somehow traveled from the 21st century to the Ming Dynasty. If such an unbelievable thing could happen, then was it really so impossible for an Earth God to exist? Staring at the bones in her hand, she felt a twinge of remorse. “This chicken was meant for the Earth God… If he really exists…”

Her voice trailed off, carrying a mix of jest and apology. “Earth God, dear Lord, I rarely get to eat meat. Surely you won’t mind, right? You only eat the ‘spirit’ of the roast chicken. Consider it charity for the needy.”

Her voice trembled slightly as an inexplicable loneliness crept into her heart. “I’ve come so far from home. The drastic change in lifestyle is overwhelming.”

Taking a deep breath, her eyes shimmered with tears. Would she ever return to her time? Or would she have to stay here until the end of her life?

She turned to the Earth God’s statue, her gaze filled with longing. “If you truly exist, please send me back home. I don’t belong here. I want to go back.”

“If I can’t go back, at least let me have meat every day.”

“Earth God, please show your power.” Her voice echoed in the temple as she stared at the statue, waiting for a miracle.

Suddenly, a breeze swept through, rustling the leaves outside as if in response. Wei Lan’s heart stirred. She knew it was just the wind, but deep down, a glimmer of hope flickered. She bowed deeply to the statue before turning to leave with a complicated heart.

When she returned home, Liu Mingyi was already at the table.

Noticing the grease at the corner of her lips, he teased, “Miss Wei, what delicious food did you sneak off to eat? Look at your mouth—you’re like a little cat that stole fish.”

As soon as he spoke, he realized the unintended double meaning and felt momentarily embarrassed.

Wei Lan, however, wasn’t offended. She found his metaphor amusing and winked playfully. “It’s a secret!”

She knew that if Liu Mingyi found out she had eaten the Earth God’s roast chicken, he would surely scold her.

Seeing that she wasn’t upset, Liu Mingyi relaxed. Smiling, he said, “Since you’ve already eaten, I’ll enjoy this meal myself.” He picked up his chopsticks and began eating.

Watching him eat so earnestly, Wei Lan sighed.

If only there were more meat.

That night, she had a strange dream…