noffsinger Chapter 172 The Lonely Old Man in a Straw Hat and Raincoat
Chapter 172 The Lonely Old Man in a Straw Hat and Raincoat
Here, the hustle and bustle of big cities is nowhere to be seen; instead, there is a peaceful and idyllic rural landscape.
Looking into the distance, the first thing that catches the eye is a field of crisscrossing fields, where the crops are lush and green, as if they have laid a green carpet on the earth; not far away, the shimmering lake is like a huge mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds and the surrounding green mountains and trees.
A gentle breeze ripples across the lake, like countless silver fish leaping and playing. Rolling hills stretch along the shore, their trees lush and verdant, birds flitting about, their calls clear and melodious. Between the lake and the hills lies a vast, boundless green meadow, dotted with colorful wildflowers that bloom like stars, a breathtaking sight.
Looking out into the distance, the boundless lake and the vast, verdant grasslands complement each other, creating a magnificent natural landscape. Scattered across this expansive land are a few quaint and elegant farmhouses, nestled in various corners like exquisite decorations on a giant cake, adding warmth and poetry to the entire scene.
A gentle sweep of the gaze across this land reveals rows of neatly arranged, lush green fields where hardworking people are busy at work. Some are bending over, planting rice seedlings, while others are wielding hoes to weed and loosen the soil. Sweat soaks through their clothes, but their faces are filled with the joy of an impending harvest.
On the grassland, snow-white sheep drift like white clouds in a green ocean, sometimes grazing with their heads down, sometimes looking up and gazing around, appearing carefree and content. There are also herds of strong yellow cattle, either strolling leisurely or lying on the grass basking in the sun, looking very comfortable. On the lake, small boats slowly return, their bows piled high with the fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish and other aquatic products that the fishermen have worked hard to catch, their joy of harvest evident in their expressions.
Everything here is full of life and vitality, making people feel refreshed and relaxed. The fresh air, bright sunshine, fertile land, and kind and simple people together weave this beautiful and harmonious paradise.
After standing there for only a short while, the four of them felt that they had completely forgotten the troubles of the world and wanted to immerse themselves in the embrace of nature.
"Hello, I'm Lu Sheng, the squad leader here. Welcome to Bay City, even though there's no sea or even a port here. Hehehe... Let's go! I'll take you to our little clinic first. Commander Zuo has already called and disbanded the clinic here, and even recalled all the doctors."
So, the four of you can stay in the clinic's courtyard for now!
A cheerful middle-aged man appeared and led the four of them slowly across a grassland, stopping in front of a small white courtyard nestled between a lake and forest. A red cross was painted on the gate, clearly indicating that this was the clinic.
Lu Sheng pushed open the door and found several doctors and nurses inside busily packing up various medical equipment and medicines.
"Hurry up and pack, we've been transferred to Siming Pass, they're short of everything there, take all the equipment and medicine with us..."
In the courtyard, an elderly man with white hair and beard was carrying a huge cardboard box and shouting loudly. When he glanced up and saw Ling Yunxiao and his group, he took a step back somewhat guiltily, and his grip on the box tightened noticeably.
"Uh... Academician, it must be inconvenient for you to bring so many students and so much stuff! Here's a storage ring, take it. Anyone of you with a forbidden aura can open the ring with just a little spiritual power."
Please take everything here. My healing relies on the power of the Forbidden Ruins; I don't need medicine or equipment.
As Ling Yunxiao spoke, he took the ring from Wang Mian's hand and handed it to the old academician. At the same time, he grasped the old man's wrist and activated the Healing Technique, adding another 20 years to the old man's lifespan.
The old man felt refreshed and invigorated after just one shake from Ling Yunxiao, and even his white hair and beard seemed to have turned noticeably blacker. He spun around on the spot and grinned, not for himself, but because he felt stronger and could save more people.
After the four of them quietly watched the old man lead everyone away, they then entered the courtyard.
The main hall served as the consultation room, followed by several wards and recuperation rooms. To the side of the courtyard were several dormitory rooms. After the four of them each chose a room and were about to settle in, footsteps sounded outside their doors.
The group looked up and saw a familiar face walk in.
"Captain Luan, what brings you here?"
"Let me introduce you. This is my wife, Xiaoxiao, and this is her aunt. We live not far away. I saw you coming from afar just now, and I thought you would need to get ready, so I brought my family to help."
As Luanping spoke, Xiaoxiao and her aunt had already entered the room and skillfully began cleaning. Jiang Er was about to go over to help, but Xiaoxiao pushed her out. She smiled and pointed to Lu Sheng, who was leading the way, and told Jiang Er to go with him to get the daily necessities.
"Captain, you guys talk first, I'll go get the supplies. The old academician is too ruthless, he even took the registration slip. The things in the clinic are definitely a drawback."
Ling Yunxiao naturally wouldn't let Jiang Er do any manual labor. Yu'er and Jiang Er could just help each other tidy up the house. As for Wang Mian, he would stay and chat with Luan Ping, since they were old acquaintances here.
Ling Yunxiao followed Lu Sheng out of the courtyard, and they didn't go far before they arrived at a warehouse.
"Besides daily necessities and clothing, there are also a large number of farm tools here. The crops we produce daily are also sent here, and we send them out every three days. If you have any needs or want to send a message, as long as it's not too complicated, just come over and register, and you can come and pick it up in a few days."
"OK, thanks."
After collecting his daily necessities, Ling Yunxiao smiled and said goodbye to Lu Sheng before walking back alone.
He strolled along the lake, admiring the surrounding scenery, and his pace slowed down.
As he gazed into the distance, he suddenly saw a lone boat drifting on the far side of the lake. The boat was far from the small fishing boats, drifting leisurely between heaven and earth. He could vaguely see a figure wearing a straw hat fishing. There was no fish basket at his feet, but there was a wine jar.
If he weren't carrying so many things, Ling Yunxiao would have really wanted to leap over and ask for a drink. This man was fishing amidst the seamless blend of water and sky, a beautiful scene indeed, and his wine must be exquisite as well.
Ling Yunxiao turned his head to look at the little white courtyard where he would live in the future, thinking that he would put his things down and come back later. He felt it would be a pity to miss such interesting people and wine.
He quickened his pace and soon arrived at the clinic entrance.
Before entering the courtyard, Ling Yunxiao looked back at the lake one last time, only to find that the lone boat in the far distance had vanished. Unwilling to give up, Ling Yunxiao activated his spiritual power, and was immediately shocked to discover that even the opposite bank of the lake was visible, yet the figure fishing was nowhere to be found.