In a panic, Shen Yibin dove forward, grabbing Bald Qiang and rolling away to save the large tree. ’No wonder the shop was in such an uproar. So this couple wanted to get back to their old business of felling trees! That’s absolutely not happening.’
’Never mind the fact that Xiaoliu’s Monkey Wine was in this tree. If it fell, my losses would be huge. But even without that, I couldn’t just let them chew on it! The shop is full of people coming and going. If the tree fell and hit someone, I might as well close up shop for good. I’d just be waiting for the police to come seal the doors, and no matter how good my relationship with them was, it wouldn’t help one bit.’
Bald Qiang struggled with all its might, seemingly confused. Why did Shen Yibin take such good care of it, yet refuse to let it fell trees? ’How am I supposed to build a dam and a house without wood? Does he not want me to have a place to live?’
"SQUEAK!" Normally, beavers are rather timid animals and would definitely flee at the sight of an approaching person. But seeing her partner pinned by Shen Yibin, Gao Lujie forgot all her fear and charged straight toward him, apparently trying to rescue Bald Qiang.
’Whoa, whoa! Was that really necessary? I wasn’t going to hurt him!’ Shen Yibin quickly got up and let Bald Qiang go. The two beavers immediately embraced, showing off their affection right in front of him again. Being subjected to this PDA made Shen Yibin feel miserable. ’This world is so cruel to us single people!’
He stood there quietly and watched for a moment. Once Bald Qiang and Gao Lujie had calmed down, Shen Yibin finally spoke to them reassuringly. "Don’t damage the trees in the shop. They aren’t suitable for building your house, anyway. You two rest for a bit while I go prepare some food for you. After you eat, I’ll take you out and find a way to get you some wood." The trees in the shop were ornamental and, from a practical standpoint, not suited for construction. Shen Yibin planned to take the pair to a lumber market later. ’I can’t just let them go without a place to live, can I?’
"SQUEAK!" Bald Qiang seemed to understand Shen Yibin’s words. It slapped its large tail on the ground, gave the big tree a few reluctant glances, then led Gao Lujie back to the pool to continue digging their den. Off to the side, Xiaoliu and Maphario finally relaxed completely. Xiaoliu dropped the bamboo stick in its paws, scurried up the large tree, and went back to resting in its hammock.
Maphario, on the other hand, looked as if it had lost all its strength. It collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily, as if that one act of standing up to them had drained all of its courage. Shen Yibin felt a bit of sympathy for it. He squatted down and poked its belly. "I never would have guessed you had that kind of courage." The little guy was usually so timid. Seeing it stand up to block Bald Qiang and Gao Lujie today was a real eye-opener for Shen Yibin.
"CHEEP! CHEEP!" Maphario pointed at the large tree and then at the saplings in the fruit garden, its tone unusually agitated. Shen Yibin could sense the anxiety in its squeaks.
"Oh, I get it now. You were worried that after they finished gnawing on the big tree, they’d start on the fruit saplings you planted!" Shen Yibin finally understood. ’No wonder Maphario was so worked up; it didn’t want its hard work to be destroyed by those two.’
"There, there, don’t worry anymore. I’ve already had a talk with them. They won’t gnaw on any more trees in the shop!" Shen Yibin quickly did his best to soothe it, and with Hah’Er helping out, they finally managed to calm Maphario down.
After all that was done, Shen Yibin took the tender shoots and wild vegetables he had bought to the second-floor kitchen and began preparing lunch for the shop’s two new guests. His cooking skills had gotten quite good, and even without Hah’Er’s guidance, he could deftly whip up a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
"Hah’Er, go tell everyone to come up for lunch. Call those two from the pool up, too." Just as the last dish—scrambled eggs with Chinese toon—hit the wok, Shen Yibin sent Hah’Er to gather everyone for the meal.
"What smells so good?" Xia Shixuan followed the aroma into the kitchen. "Huh, it looks like it’s all wild vegetables today. Changing up your palate, boss?"
"What do you mean, all wild vegetables? We also have Chinese toon shoots and prickly ash shoots! This is all good stuff. I guarantee if you have a taste, you’ll be wanting more tonight!" Shen Yibin slid the scrambled eggs with Chinese toon onto a plate and gestured for Xia Shixuan to take it out, while he himself opened a steamer to check if the lamb’s-quarter dumplings were ready.
"Oh, I want it every night, but you never come knocking on my door!" Xia Shixuan retorted in a cloyingly sweet voice. Shen Yibin had carelessly left an opening, and she had pounced on it. ’This girl never misses a chance to tease me.’
"I was wrong. Maybe you should just order takeout from now on. I don’t think I dare cook for you anymore!" Shen Yibin threatened. At this, Xia Shixuan finally let him off the hook, carrying the dish out while humming a tune.
When Shen Yibin came out with the lamb’s-quarter dumplings, Bald Qiang and Gao Lujie were already perched on their chairs, curiously eyeing the dishes on the table. It was clear Gao Lujie was still a bit frightened; she probably wouldn’t have even left the pool if Bald Qiang hadn’t been there.
"Here, have a taste and see if you like it. If you find something you like, eat as much as you want. Don’t worry about the rest. After we buy wood later, I’ll take you to get food, and I’ll buy you whatever you want." Shen Yibin placed a small portion of each dish in front of the pair.
Bald Qiang leaned in to sniff the plate, and its eyes instantly lit up. It started pawing at the scrambled eggs with Chinese toon, eating eagerly. After just two bites, it remembered Gao Lujie and quickly pushed the plate toward her, putting on yet another display of affection for the roomful of single people.
"Don’t worry, there’s plenty!" Shen Yibin quickly prepared another plate and passed it over. ’I can’t have you two sharing a plate. The rest of us want to be able to eat our meal in peace!’
It was clear the pair was very satisfied with Shen Yibin’s culinary skills. They ate every last bite of both the scrambled eggs with Chinese toon and the lamb’s-quarter dumplings. By the end, the two of them were slumped in their chairs clutching their bellies, having obviously eaten too much.
This little episode delayed Shen Yibin’s afternoon plans by an hour. It wasn’t until the two had recovered that he took them and Hah’Er out to the car and started driving toward the lumber market.
"You two need to stick close to me in a minute. Don’t run off. If you get lost, I won’t be able to find you!" This was the first time he was taking them out and about, so Shen Yibin was sure to give them a warning. "Hah’Er, help me watch them."
"Mmm!" Hah’Er nodded to show that he understood.
Before long, the car stopped outside the lumber market. The moment Shen Yibin opened the door for Bald Qiang and Gao Lujie, the pair shot out of the car. Seeing the direction they were heading, Shen Yibin broke into a cold sweat. "Hey! You two can’t be serious!"