Chapter 69: The Millennia-old Camphor Tree, Peach Blossom Wine

At this moment, Lin Shenlu’s compassion seemed to overflow. Yet, looking at the girl before her, she didn’t appear to be a swindler. Most likely, her mind was unwell, and after wandering for so long... perhaps she was simply a foolish girl from some nearby village. Lin Shenlu rummaged through her backpack. It seemed there were still two uneaten buns from the flight, which she’d absentmindedly stuffed inside.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you... Here, take this...” Lin Shenlu handed the little bun from the Eastern Airlines meal to the disheveled girl before her.

“Thank you... You’re so kind...” The girl accepted the bun, murmuring in a dull voice, her gaze vacant and unchanging, yet she opened her mouth wide and stuffed the bun in completely.

“What’s your name? Are you from around here?” Lin Shenlu asked curiously, handing the girl a bottle of water.

“Uh... My name’s Su Bao’er... I don’t really remember...” Su Bao’er shook her head, her tangled hair tossing about, a few grass blades falling to the ground.

Lin Shenlu nodded; it seemed she was indeed a wandering, simple-minded girl, with the added trouble of lost memory. Fortunately, the dirt and disorder masked her true appearance—otherwise, who knew what trouble she might encounter.

“Uhm... I’m full now... That was really good...”

“Glad you’re fed. I’ll be heading off now... Bao’er, goodbye!” Lin Shenlu waved and prepared to leave.

“You... can’t go...” Su Bao’er reached out, her filthy hand grabbing Lin Shenlu’s backpack.

…

“I’m telling you, once we reach the police station, just explain your situation to the officers, and they’ll help you get home!” Lin Shenlu walked ahead, speaking as she went.

Behind her, the untidy Su Bao’er followed. Lin Shenlu realized she couldn’t shake off this girl—she was even faster than herself, sticking close behind.

“I don’t want to go, I don’t want to...” Though Su Bao’er’s mind was clouded, her strength was formidable. Lin Shenlu couldn’t break free.

With a sigh, Lin Shenlu admitted defeat. It seemed she’d have to find a place to stay and then figure out how to send this girl away.

…

In the city of Lishui, Dagangtou Town was the most renowned—not only for its enchanting scenery, but also for its unique geographical advantages. Many who came for long stays didn’t choose inns or guesthouses; instead, some preferred to rent a small courtyard or a room in a villager’s home, truly blending into local life.

Living here for three to five months—most were artists. Some wandered the hills with easels, sketching from life; others roamed the mountains and waters in search of inspiration.

Some secluded themselves in courtyards, engrossed in writing; others captured life’s moments with cameras. They came seeking tranquility, as if they were born villagers themselves.

Naturally, Lin Shenlu was one of them. After asking a few locals, she easily rented half a courtyard. Paying two thousand yuan in rent, she finally moved into her future room.

Of course, Su Bao’er followed behind—a troublesome issue. Lin Shenlu set down her backpack to tidy the room, while Su Bao’er squatted nearby, gazing at a blade of grass.

Lin Shenlu sighed helplessly.

…

Compared to the famous ancient towns, though they all shared a rustic style, these villages were noticeably more primitive and serene.

Whether in Wuzhen or Lijiang, every bluestone path was smoothed and polished, free of wild grass, evoking a sense of traversing history, yet lacking the breath of daily life.

But in Dagangtou Town, Lin Shenlu’s courtyard was entirely original: riverbank walls built from cobblestones, earth loose and crumbling, moss growing upward from the ground, covering the weathered walls.

A wooden ladder stood to the side, battered by years of sun and wind.

The ancient well in the courtyard bore water stains from years of immersion, revealing its long history.

The village nestled in the valley lived up to its reputation.

…

Finding a quiet spot to sit, Lin Shenlu opened her laptop. Lishui boasted countless local delicacies.

Her food list was filled with specialties from Lishui: Jinyun baked buns... braised stream fish, salted egg yolk crabs—all dishes she intended to sample on this trip.

And there was more: crab sauce perch, chopped meat soup... and loach hotpot!

Many of these culinary treasures were hidden in Dagangtou’s wilds.

After recording these must-try dishes, Lin Shenlu began to plan her route for the journey.

Just as she had thought before—living here was no problem, but visiting those beautiful spots required transportation.

Yet ordinary vehicles couldn’t traverse these rugged mountain paths. Especially in the remote village where she stayed, the alleyways were not only rough but narrow and difficult to pass.

It felt nothing like an ancient city tourist site.

If all else failed, perhaps she could borrow a motorcycle from a local?

…

Sitting in a breezy room, watching a flock of egrets fly across the sky, Lin Shenlu felt her spirits soar.

The Ou River echoed with fishermen’s songs, beneath camphor trees flowed peach blossom wine.

This place was breathtaking.

Lin Shenlu’s thoughts drifted to childhood.

She must have been four or five—her memories of her old home, living with her grandfather.

There was a large river flowing by the house, beside it a dense tree, so thick sunlight couldn’t penetrate. Its branches hung over the water, and fishing boats would pass beneath...

Her grandfather would buy river shrimp every day and fry them at home—some for his drink, some fed to the lazy house cat, and the rest devoured by herself.

Time flew by; in the blink of an eye, so many years had passed. The old home had changed, and her grandfather had gone to heaven, but here, Lin Shenlu felt she could almost recall the visage of her grandfather from memory.

It was hard to imagine, on this journey through Wu and Yue, she could find a place so reminiscent of her childhood home in the mountains and rivers of Bashu.

Outside her current dwelling, a small river flowed. Stepping down mossy, uneven stone stairs, a crooked tree grew askew from the earth, nearly spanning the river.

At its roots was a stone platform; earlier, Su Bao’er had run over and sat there, watching the fish swim in the stream.

Across the river, shadows of bamboo danced, revealing another family steeped in charm...

The breeze passed through the bamboo, through the trees, through the houses, brushing Lin Shenlu’s face—it was the weight of eighteen centuries in this village.

Lin Shenlu gently closed her eyes, the dampness on her cheeks drawing her thoughts back to Lishui’s Ou River.

“Why are you crying...?”

Su Bao’er’s ethereal voice sounded beside Lin Shenlu’s ear.

“You saw me crying with those eyes?” Lin Shenlu mimicked Su Bao’er’s accent.

“Come... learn from me... your Mandarin isn’t quite right!”