HCB Chapter 719 The Windy Courtyard
Chapter 719 The Windy Courtyard
Looking at the white horse's "I'll kill myself if you don't let me carry passengers" attitude, Chen Nanxing's fear had long been replaced by curiosity and eagerness. She gently touched Xu Hongdou and whispered, "Hongdou... look at it, it seems... really sincere? How about... we try riding it?"
Xu Hongdou knew her best friend all too well. She immediately saw through the excitement and anticipation in her eyes, and also realized that the white horse's unusual behavior was most likely related to Lin Bufan. She smiled helplessly, glanced at Lin Bufan, and then said to Chen Nanxing, "If you want to ride, then ride. Anyway, with your Prince Charming by your side, safety is definitely not a problem."
Chen Nanxing blushed at Xu Hongdou's words, "your Prince Charming," and lightly punched her in embarrassment and annoyance: "Hongdou! What nonsense are you talking about!"
After Chen Nanxing's persistent pleading, Xu Hongdou finally smiled and nodded: "Alright, alright, let's ride then, it'll be a good opportunity to experience it."
Seeing that the two women agreed, the white horse immediately showed a relieved "joy" in its eyes. It even bent its front legs in a very human-like and somewhat ingratiating manner, as if to kneel down to make it easier for them to get on.
"Hmm?" Lin Bufan glanced at him, his gaze carrying a hint of threat.
You have a good eye, don't you?
Are you trying to ruin the opportunity for your buddy to get something for himself?
The white horse suddenly froze, as if it had received some irresistible command. Its knees, which had just bent, straightened instantly, and it stood firmly and obediently. Its eyes, which looked at Lin Bufan, were filled with fear and fawning.
Seeing this, Lin Bufan gave Bai Ma a look that said, "You're smart to know what's good for you!"
"Come on, let me help you." Lin Bufan stepped forward, and without a word, stretched out his hands, one arm around Xu Hongdou's waist, the other supporting her knees. With a slight effort, he easily lifted her up and placed her steadily on the horse's back. The movements were smooth and natural, as if effortless!
Xu Hongdou gasped softly and instinctively grabbed Lin Bufan's shoulder, feeling the warmth and strength from his arm. Before she could say anything, she was already settled on the horse.
Then, Lin Bufan turned to Chen Nanxing and did the same. Chen Nanxing blushed slightly and muttered softly, "I can do it myself..." But she still obediently let Lin Bufan pick her up and carefully place her in front of Xu Hongdou.
Lin Bufan clapped his hands in satisfaction, then glanced at the dumbfounded boy beside him and casually said, "Little classmate, you can go back now. I'll send this horse back when it's released from prison."
The boy was utterly bewildered, standing frozen in place for a long while. He stared at the white horse, usually so unruly but now as docile as a domesticated puppy, then at Lin Bufan, who held the reins with an air of nonchalance, and the two strikingly beautiful girls with contrasting personalities on its back. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't dare to go forward and forcibly take the horse back. He simply followed at a distance, partly out of fear that his horse would be stolen, and partly because he knew he would be beaten by his older brother if he didn't bring the horse back.
Sitting on horseback, Chen Nanxing had a wide view, and her mood soared with the light clatter of the horse's hooves. She glanced back at the boy following her at a distance, and whispered worriedly to Lin Bufan, who was walking beside her, "That little boy is still following us, what if..."
Lin Bufan didn't even turn his head, waving his hand dismissively: "It's fine, let him follow if he wants. This road isn't ours, maybe he's just going the same way. Besides, with him following behind, if the horse poops later, he can help clean it up."
The white horse seemed to understand Lin Bufan's words, and snorted in dissatisfaction, as if to say, "You're the one who urinates and defecates anywhere!"
Xu Hongdou and Chen Nanxing, both on horseback, gave Lin Bufan a disdainful glare. Chen Nanxing chided, "You... can't you watch the occasion and your words? We're enjoying the scenery, saying this is such a killjoy!"
Xu Hongdou shook her head helplessly and chuckled, "Exactly, you've ruined the atmosphere."
Lin Bufan chuckled and shrugged nonchalantly: "I'm just stating a possibility."
Amidst laughter and conversation, the three of them and one horse slowly made their way along the cobblestone path. On both sides of the path stood wooden houses with distinctive ethnic characteristics, some housing small shops selling handicrafts or local specialties. Sunlight filtered through the tall trees, casting dappled shadows, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, along with the faint fragrance of flowers. The gentle murmur of a stream drifted from afar, creating a scene of tranquility and beauty.
Chen Nanxing took a deep breath, his face beaming with relaxation and joy: "This place is so comfortable, it feels like time has slowed down."
Xu Hongdou nodded in agreement, her gaze gently appreciating the surrounding scenery.
Lin Bufan, leading his horse, watched the two beautiful women on horseback, each with a different yet equally pleasing posture, and felt quite pleased. He occasionally pointed out a particular building or scene to them, or smiled and nodded at the local children who were curiously watching from the roadside.
The boy following behind saw that the white horse was indeed exceptionally docile, carrying people steadily without any signs of going berserk. And since Lin Bufan and the others didn't seem like bad people, his worries gradually subsided, but he still kept a distance from them.
The three of them and the horse walked along the bluestone path for a while, and saw a restaurant with a sign that read "Yunmiao Flavor Restaurant" not far ahead. The wooden building looked quite old, and there were several strings of red peppers and corn cobs hanging at the door, exuding a strong local flavor.
"I'm a little hungry after walking all this way." Lin Bufan rubbed his stomach and suggested, "This shop looks pretty good, shall we go and get something to eat?"
Chen Nanxing and Xu Hongdou, riding on horseback, exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit hungry. Chen Nanxing nodded, "Great, it's a good opportunity to try some local specialties." Xu Hongdou softly echoed, "Hmm, it smells pretty good."
Lin Bufan stretched out his hands and smiled at the two women on horseback, saying, "Princess, we've arrived. Please dismount."
Xu Hongdou and Chen Nanxing exchanged a smile. Chen Nanxing leaned forward slightly and placed her hand on Lin Bufan's arm. Lin Bufan gently lifted her down steadily. When it was Xu Hongdou's turn, she intended to jump down herself, but Lin Bufan had already wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her down without a word, his movements natural and smooth. Xu Hongdou glared at Lin Bufan, but said nothing.
Lin Bufan then turned around and waved to the boy who had been following him not far away. The boy immediately jogged over!
"Look, little one, your horse did a good job. It's out of jail now." Lin Bufan handed over the reins, patted the white horse's neck, and whispered with a hint of warning, "Behave yourself from now on, don't run around, understand?"
The white horse immediately let out a submissive neigh, nuzzling its large head against Lin Bufan's hand before obediently letting the boy lead it. The boy looked at his white horse, so different from his usual self, then at Lin Bufan, his eyes filled with awe and confusion. He opened his mouth, but ultimately only managed to utter, "Thank...thank you, brother, thank you, sister." With that, he led the trotting white horse away.
After dealing with this minor incident, the three of them pushed open the somewhat old wooden door of the restaurant and went inside. The interior was simply and cleanly furnished, with a few wooden tables and chairs, ethnic decorations and cured meats hanging on the walls, and a faint, unique aroma of spices and firewood filling the air.
A smiling middle-aged woman dressed in ethnic clothing came up to us and greeted us warmly in accented Mandarin: "Would you three like to eat? Please sit here."
The three of them found a table by the window and sat down. The older woman handed them a handwritten menu. Chen Nanxing took the menu and began to look at it with great interest, and Xu Hongdou also joined in.
“They all look quite unique…” Chen Nanxing pointed at the menu, her eyes sweeping over dishes such as “Sour Bamboo Shoot Chicken,” “Wild Mushroom Hot Pot,” and “Roasted Milk Fan.” Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she looked up at the proprietress, asking with a hint of curiosity and anticipation, “Proprietress, do you… have any water lily soup here?”
Lin Bufan, who was just picking up his teacup to drink water, choked and coughed upon hearing this, looking at Chen Nanxing with surprise: "Cough cough... What soup did you say?"
Seeing this, Xu Hongdou couldn't help but chuckle. She gently patted Lin Bufan's back to help him catch his breath while explaining, "Water hyacinth is an aquatic plant, scientifically known as *Ottelia acuminata*. It's a unique ingredient in Yunnan, and it makes a particularly delicious and refreshing soup. Nanxing saw it recommended online and has been craving it for a long time."
Chen Nanxing nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with a pure longing for delicious food: "Yes, yes! Let me tell you, I originally had several travel destinations planned, but it was because I read so many travelogues saying that Yunnan's water lily soup is amazing that I finally decided to come to Yunnan! Otherwise, we might be enjoying the sea breeze in Sanya right now!"
Lin Bufan nodded: "This name is quite unique. I'll have to give it a try later!"
When the auntie heard Chen Nanxing's order, her face lit up with a smile: "Yes, yes, yes! The water hyacinths are just the right tender this season, you three have come at the perfect time! I'll go make them for you right away, I guarantee they'll be so fresh they'll make your eyebrows fall off!" With that, she turned and hurried into the kitchen.
The shop was unusually quiet, with no other customers. Outside the window was the tranquil street scene of Yunmiao Village, with the occasional villager leading a cow slowly by. Soon, the sizzling sound of hot oil and the clatter of spatulas coming from the kitchen filled the air, and a rich aroma gradually wafted out.
While waiting for the food to be served, Chen Nanxing rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lin Bufan and Xu Hongdou: "I read some travel guides before I came here. They said this place is next to the town, and it's very lively there. The photos look so charming, with old houses, cobblestone streets, and lots of interesting little shops. Shall we go check it out tomorrow?"
Xu Hongdou became interested upon hearing this and nodded: "Great! I saw it mentioned in a travelogue. It's said to be a well-preserved ancient town on the Tea Horse Road. It should be quite unique. Lin Bufan, what do you think?"
Lin Bufan naturally had no objections and readily nodded: "Sure, wherever you say we'll go, I'll be responsible for protecting the two princesses' safety, as well as providing services such as taking photos and carrying their bags!"
As they were talking, the woman brought out steaming dishes. The first dish to arrive was a bowl of "Water Spinach Soup," with bright green, slightly translucent plant stems and leaves floating in the clear broth, looking truly refreshing. Next came the fragrant sour bamboo shoot chicken, tangy and spicy, whetting the appetite; a small dish of roasted milk fan, slightly charred and bubbly, with a rich, milky aroma; and a pot of steaming wild mushroom hot pot, with various mushrooms floating in the milky white broth, incredibly fresh and delicious.
The three of them were very hungry and started eating.
how to say……
Ok……
It has a very local flavor!
But as for how delicious it was, Lin Bufan felt it was just so-so!
After paying the bill, the three left the restaurant and strolled back the way they had come. The setting sun cast long shadows on the cobblestone path. The evening breeze carried a coolness, dispelling the daytime heat.
Soon, they returned to their lodgings—"Windy Courtyard." As its name suggests, the courtyard was elegantly laid out, lush with vegetation, and the wind chimes under the eaves tinkled sweetly in the evening breeze. Xu Hongdou and Chen Nanxing lived in room number 6, while Lin Bufan's room was next door in room number 5.
Upon arriving at room number 5, Chen Nanxing introduced, "Bufan, Hongdou and I have changed your sheets and blankets. We've put your toiletries in the bathroom and some other daily necessities on the table. See if you need anything else; we can go to town tomorrow and buy it together."
Lin Bufan's gaze swept across the neat and cozy room—the tatami mats covered with indigo-dyed sheets, the fresh wildflowers on the small table by the window, the neatly folded new towels by the bathroom door… He suddenly turned around, cupped his hands to his heart, and made an exaggeratedly emotional expression, his eyes wide open, his voice even tinged with a sob:
"Oh my god! Hongdou! Nanxing! You...you're all so good to me! You even positioned my toothbrush perfectly! The sheets and duvet cover smell of sunshine! You must have aired them out before, right? Such meticulous care, such thoughtful attention...I...I don't deserve this!"
Lin Bufan became increasingly agitated as he spoke, even wiping away non-existent tears with his sleeve. His tone was filled with self-reproach and unease: "But... but the more I think about it, the more guilty I feel! You've been so good to me, arranging everything so perfectly for me, and what's the result? I'm all alone, having this huge room to myself! Sleeping so comfortably and soundly! And the two of you have to squeeze into a tiny bed! How... how can I bear to do this! Am I even human?"
Lin Bufan beat his chest and stamped his feet, looking heartbroken and deeply remorseful.
Xu Hongdou leaned against the doorframe, watching Lin Bufan's vivid and expressive performance with amusement. When he finished speaking, she raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone calm yet carrying a subtle hint of mockery:
"Oh? From what you're saying, Mr. Lin... you feel guilty and can't sleep? You wouldn't be thinking of being generous and sleeping in the courtyard yourself, giving up your room for one of us, would you?"
Lin Bufan's expression froze at Xu Hongdou's words, his heartbroken look instantly frozen. He coughed twice and quickly waved his hand:
"No, that's not it! Sleeping in the yard... cough cough, there are too many mosquitoes and it's too damp, which is not good for your health. This plan is not very scientific, so let's pass on it!"
What I mean is… to express my heartfelt gratitude and alleviate my anxiety, and also to maximize the use of space… how about this… um… you two take turns sending one representative each night to come over and squeeze in with me? That way, the remaining person can have a large room all to themselves and sleep more comfortably, right? Don't you think my suggestion solves my psychological burden and improves your accommodations? It's a win-win situation!
As soon as Lin Bufan finished speaking, Xu Hongdou rolled her eyes at him. Chen Nanxing, on the other hand, didn't roll her eyes at Lin Bufan, but instead gave him the middle finger!