Chapter 50

After the Lantern Festival, there were only a few days left before school started. Taking advantage of this time, Lin Nanzhi had the boatman sail out with a few employees to plant the soaked lotus seeds along the designated routes.

“Boss, this water is clear. Can lotus really grow in it? Don’t they need mud?”

She had a lotus pond at home, and it was full of sludge. When she was a child, she wondered why they didn’t clean it up. Her father had explained that the mud provided nutrients for the lotus.

But now, their boss wanted to grow lotus in such clear water that you could see straight to the bottom. Could they really survive?

Lin Nanzhi hadn’t expected to run into someone knowledgeable about lotus cultivation. She could only smile and play along, “These are new varieties with strong vitality. They can grow without mud and have a long blooming period—even in winter, they’ll still be flowering.”

“That amazing?” The three young women looked at her in astonishment. Lin Nanzhi nodded.

“Mhm.”

The three of them stopped asking questions and started scattering the seeds, looking forward to the spectacular bloom.

The lake was quite large, and they were busy from morning until noon, ensuring all the seeds were sown. Lin Nanzhi wasn’t worried about their growth.

She had already poured nearly five large tanks of spiritual spring water into the lake. With that much water, not only would the lotus flourish, but even the surrounding air felt fresher.

The wildflowers around the area hadn’t withered from last year to this year, so keeping lotus blooming through winter wasn’t a challenge at all.

Sure enough, in just half a month, the lotus leaves emerged from the water. Though they didn’t bloom immediately, by April, pink, white, and pink-white lotuses covered the lake, accompanied by lush green leaves. The sight was breathtaking.

Behind the inn, a scenic viewing platform had been built in the center of the lotus pond. Wooden walkways stretched out on both sides, connecting to an arched bridge, allowing boats to pass through. Surrounding the area was a dense green forest, making the entire place look like a painting.

Especially in the mornings and late afternoons, when the sun rose or set, a faint mist hovered over the lake, blending with the red clouds at the horizon, creating an ethereal paradise.

Many flyers were distributed, but no one came.

The promotional photos looked great, but locals from Wumeng dismissed them as exaggerated. After all, if such a beautiful place existed, wouldn’t they have already known about it? So most people who received the flyer didn’t take it seriously.

Not only Lin Nanzhi’s family but even the inn’s employees were getting anxious. However, Lin Nanzhi reassured them, “Gold always shines. People will come eventually.”

Since opening in April, nearly a month had passed, yet they remained idle. Besides cleaning, there was nothing else to do.

—-

On May 1st, with tourist spots packed everywhere, Zhang Meili—a saleswoman—was feeling exhausted. She had been busy for years without a proper break. With her son preparing for the college entrance exam but struggling in recent practice tests, she decided to take him on a trip to unwind.

They drove to several places, but all were overcrowded, which only worsened her son’s mood. She was ready to head home and planned to go somewhere outside the city the next day when she suddenly noticed a travel flyer in the car.

An inn, lotus flowers, a forest, and a chance to reconnect with nature—it all caught her interest. Checking the address, she realized it wasn’t far. Visiting wouldn’t take much time.

“Let’s go here. It looks fun.”

“This photo is fake. There’s no such place in Wumeng!” Her husband was skeptical.

As for their son, he remained silent, staring at the passing cars outside the window.

“Let’s at least take a look. It’s only 39 kilometers away. If we take the highway, it’ll only take about ten minutes.”

Her husband had no choice but to drive there.

Zhang Meili had never been there before, so she searched for the name on the flyer—”Wuxi Lake”—on the map but found nothing. She then searched for the village name and followed the navigation.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at their destination and immediately saw a large stone with the inscription “Qichi.” Following the arrows, they entered the Wuxi Lake parking lot.

The inn was on the mountain, surrounded by a dense forest. The moment they stepped out of the car, the heat dissipated, leaving behind a refreshing coolness. The parking lot wasn’t far from the mountain top—just about twenty meters—so the climb wasn’t tiring.

The inn was enclosed by stone walls, with colorful roses blooming at the corners, sending a gentle fragrance into the breeze. The sound of wind chimes filled the air, and as they looked up, they saw a wooden wind chime hanging at the entrance, ringing softly with the wind.

The entrance was supported by two thick wooden pillars, forming a square frame with a thatched roof. Above it hung a black plaque with the elegantly written words “Qichi.”

“This place seems nice.”

Curious, the family of three stepped into the courtyard, immediately noticing two massive ginkgo trees, standing like guardians at the entrance. Although it was only May, their leaves had turned golden, and sunlight filtering through them felt like a divine blessing.

The courtyard was filled with greenery and colorful flowers in full bloom. Two ponds flanked the sides, with koi swimming gracefully, while a pebble-paved pathway led to a traditional wooden building at the end. It looked just like something out of a period drama.

Carrying their belongings, they stepped inside, taking in the elegant decor.

The inn was nearly empty. The floor was made of marble, with neatly arranged tables and chairs. Everything had a traditional, old-world charm.

Behind the counter sat a young woman working on a computer. Behind her was a shelf stocked with tea, teaware, various beverages, and alcohol.

“Hello.”

Hearing the greeting, Lin Nanzhi looked up. After a whole month since opening—with no guests aside from some visiting relatives—three strangers had finally arrived, carrying bags. They were undoubtedly here to explore.

She immediately stood up with a gentle smile. “Welcome to Qichi Inn. Are you here for a stay or just visiting?”

The family hesitated. They hadn’t expected the innkeeper to be so beautiful.

“Are you the only one here?”

Lin Nanzhi nodded.

“Yes, at the moment, I’m the only one at the front. The others are in the back. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“What are the accommodation options?”

“We offer single and double rooms, as well as suites. A single room is 199 yuan and includes breakfast. A double room is 299 yuan, also including breakfast.

Suites are pricier—they have three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, costing 799 yuan per night, including breakfast. We can also provide ingredients for cooking.”

This price was a bit steep for Wumeng. The couple exchanged hesitant glances. After all, they could stay in a good hotel for the same amount. But since this was a tourist spot, a higher price was understandable.

However, they were just here to look around, not to stay overnight, so they didn’t say much.