Food Supplements - Chapter 9

Qin Cheng had at least a little experience growing flowers and houseplants, but when it came to vegetables… like most young people, she knew very little.

Fortunately, spring onions and garlic were both easy to grow. She had also watched her grandparents tend a vegetable garden when she was a child, so she was not completely clueless.

Thus, when she casually dug holes in the black soil, she at least remembered to leave enough space between them and not dig too deeply. When she planted everything, she knew to separate the garlic into individual cloves and carefully untangle the roots of each spring onion.

Once she finished, the dark soil held two small patches of green, since both plants had already produced tender shoots and young leaves.

There were only a dozen or so of each, occupying a tiny corner of one plot, but they had been planted side by side in neat rows. At a glance, they looked surprisingly lush and lively, brimming with fresh green vitality.

Qin Cheng set aside the stainless-steel soup spoon she had used for digging and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Looking at the small patch of greenery, she felt a faint sense of accomplishment.

Although whether those tender seedlings would actually survive…

She honestly had no idea.

She had brought them here partly because there was nowhere suitable to grow them outside. At the time, she had not thought too deeply about it. She had simply assumed that if a person could live here without difficulty, then other living things should probably be fine as well.

But on closer thought, humans and plants were fundamentally different, especially when it came to their basic environmental needs.

So far, night had never fallen here, yet there was no obvious sunlight either. Whether she looked up at the sky or around the surroundings, the distance was always shrouded in clouds and mist, giving the whole place the feeling of a permanently overcast day.

There did not seem to be any animals here either, not even insects.

Spring onions and garlic did not require pollination, but she had no idea whether the absence of insects or other living organisms might affect the soil.

Speaking of soil, there was one other thing she had not done.

Watering.

She vaguely remembered that newly planted crops needed plenty of water, but all Qin Cheng had was a bottle of mineral water, and she had already drunk from it.

Of course, an enormous Taiji lake was right beside her.

However, neither near-freezing ice water nor water over fifty degrees Celsius seemed appropriate for watering plants, so she did not dare experiment recklessly.

As for going outside to fetch tap water and climbing the stairs again and again…

Just thinking about it made her decide against it.

Physical strength was something she needed to conserve whenever possible.

In any case…

Although there were indeed many possible problems when she analyzed the situation logically, the dark soil looked so fertile and soft that it seemed as though it had been prepared specifically for planting.

Deep down, Qin Cheng felt an inexplicable, almost blind certainty about those two little patches of green.

She believed they would survive and grow lush.

Her confidence might have been irrational, but at least it kept her from worrying.

After standing there for a while and admiring the results of her labor, the woman decisively cast all her concerns aside and turned to attend to other matters.

Qin Cheng spent most of the following hours cleaning and tidying.

No matter how old a person became, the arrival of a parent inevitably created the nervous feeling of facing an inspection.

Besides, she was worried that she might have overlooked some piece of incriminating evidence hidden in a corner, so she cleaned with particular care.

Since she was unusually thorough and had far less stamina than an ordinary person, the work took an especially long time.

By the time the room looked completely refreshed, the entire morning had passed, and the clock hands had quietly reached twelve noon.

Qin Cheng had worked all morning without another attack. She did not feel hungry either, but perhaps because the effort had exhausted her, she became sleepy again.

After some thought, she left her phone on the table, found two thin quilts and a rolled sleeping mat, then slipped back into the small realm.

Although the lake contained both a freezing and a hot section, the temperature of the air around the shore seemed to remain at roughly twenty degrees Celsius. Even with the occasional breeze, it was pleasant and comfortable.

The stone path was also extremely clean. It might not have been completely spotless, but it looked freshly washed and polished.

As long as she spread out the sleeping mat, placed one quilt beneath her and used the other as a blanket, someone who slept without tossing and turning could comfortably spend the night on the ground.

Qin Cheng had always slept neatly.

She set up her makeshift bed beside the box of belongings she had stored there. After arranging everything in a few quick movements, she removed her jacket, tossed it onto the cardboard box, and burrowed beneath the quilt.

For an instant, she felt the cheerful thrill of camping outdoors.

The place was isolated from the rest of the world, making it safe and peaceful, though not entirely silent.

A light breeze drifted past from time to time, stirring ripples across the vast lake. The soft sound of moving water never ceased, yet it was not noisy at all.

It was light and gentle, endlessly soothing to both body and mind, like a lullaby sung by nature itself.

The last time she had slept in such surroundings, she had enjoyed a rare night of deep rest.

Now that she was better prepared and far more comfortable, Qin Cheng naturally hoped another peaceful sleep would come.

And sleep itself was not the only thing she anticipated.

She also hoped for whatever special benefit this unusual environment might provide her body.

Since she believed this place could slow the progression of her illness, she should spend as much time here as possible in the future—especially when sleeping, which consumed so many hours.

That was right.

While her mother was staying with her, she would also need to hide here whenever her illness flared up. Otherwise, the truth would eventually be exposed.

These thoughts continued drifting through Qin Cheng’s drowsy mind until she finally lost consciousness and sank fully into sleep.

Perhaps she had set down some of her emotional burdens.

Perhaps her body was simply exhausted after all the work.

Or perhaps it was both.

Whatever the reason, she slept extraordinarily deeply and for a very long time, without the slightest interruption.

When Qin Cheng finally opened her eyes again and checked the alarm clock she had brought inside, thirteen full hours had passed.

Oh no!

She was late to pick up her mother!

That was the first thought that flashed through her mind.

She hurriedly grabbed her jacket and returned to her room. But when she snatched up her phone to check for missed calls, she discovered that it was only a little after one in the afternoon.

Just over an hour had passed in the real world.

This really was… quite convenient.

The woman scratched her head, still unaccustomed to it.

For the first time, she truly felt how unnaturally her lifespan might be extended.

Since so much time had unexpectedly opened up, Qin Cheng was no longer in a hurry.

She leisurely washed up and used the bathroom, then ordered delivery and ate something to fill her stomach.

Afterward, she went next door to speak with the landlady, informing her that her mother was coming to visit and might stay with her for a few days.

More importantly, she took the opportunity to discreetly warn the landlady not to reveal that Qin Cheng suffered from a chronic illness, especially the fact that she frequently went to the hospital.

Naturally, hiding it from her parents was meant to keep the elderly couple from worrying, an act of filial consideration.

Besides, the landlady did not know what illness Qin Cheng actually had.

She readily agreed, enthusiastically coordinated their story, and praised Qin Cheng with great sympathy.

In the end, she even invited Qin Cheng inside to sit and talk for a while, but Qin Cheng politely declined.

After leaving the landlady, Qin Cheng slung her bag over her shoulder and went out to wander around.

She had originally planned to buy a few things, but by the time she realized what she was doing, she had already taken a taxi back to the familiar building.

No one wished to waste precious time they had only just managed to gain on social obligations.

But when it came to the person who mattered most, even wasting time could be done willingly.

So although she waited until nightfall without accomplishing anything, Qin Cheng did not feel disappointed in the slightest.

She had only been trying her luck.

She had never feared failing to see that person.

What she feared was losing even the ability to wait.

Perhaps because she had rested so thoroughly before leaving, she still felt fairly energetic when darkness fell, which naturally kept her in a good mood.

She remained there until her phone rang.

Her mother called from the train and told her the train number and arrival time, so Qin Cheng simply changed direction and headed straight to the railway station.

Unfortunately, perhaps the day’s almanac was unfavorable for waiting.

The process of meeting her mother at the station was not especially smooth either.

The train, originally scheduled to arrive a little after eight in the evening, was delayed.

The mother and daughter did not finally see each other until after nine.

Qin Cheng suggested taking a taxi, but her frugal mother rejected the idea.

Qin Cheng did not argue.

By the time they carried their numerous bags through the subway system and returned to her lodgings, it was already past ten at night.

“Mom, wash your face first. Should I make you some tea? Or would you prefer a drink? I have coconut milk.”

While her mother set down the many bags, Qin Cheng brought over the hot water she had prepared in advance.

“Oh, put it down. Stop fussing.”

The petite woman with graying hair at her temples quickly took the washbasin and set it aside.

She did not even bother washing her face. Instead, she pulled her daughter down beside her on the bed and examined her closely.

The longer she looked, the more distressed she became.

“It’s only been a few years. How did you become this thin? I nearly didn’t recognize you at the station! It wasn’t convenient to talk there, but now you have to tell me the truth. What happened to make you look like this? Don’t even think about hiding it from your mother!”

Looking at her mother’s face, filled with heartache, Qin Cheng felt warmth rise in her chest.

But she did not dare let down her guard.

“It’s nothing, Mom. I just… haven’t had much of an appetite.”

She lowered her head and added an appropriate trace of shame, repeating the explanation she had coordinated with the landlady.

“The doctor said it might be stress. A mild eating disorder. It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry.”

“You’re this thin, your face is yellow, and you still say nothing is wrong! Stress? Is it because that old man has been— No, this won’t do. I need to talk to him. Things can’t continue like this!”

Her mother was normally gentle and soft-tempered, but this time she seemed genuinely anxious.

She hurriedly pulled out her phone, ready to call home.

“Don’t, Mom. It’s already late. You just told Dad you arrived safely, so don’t disturb him again.”

Feeling guilty, Qin Cheng quickly stopped her.

“How about this? I haven’t eaten dinner yet. Why don’t we go out for a meal first? There are a few decent restaurants nearby.”

“You haven’t eaten? Is it because of that eating disorder? Quick, here. Eat some fruit first. I brought it from home!”

Sure enough, the moment she heard that her precious daughter was still hungry, her mother immediately put down the phone and abandoned the idea.

She then opened the large bags.

Apart from a few simple changes of clothing, most of what she had brought was local produce: cured pork, cured chicken, honey, and dried mushrooms.

What she hurriedly took out to wash and peel were two large bags of apples and oranges.

“I left in such a rush that I didn’t have time to prepare much. Fortunately, your grandmother happened to have saved two crates of fruit grown back home. Especially these blood oranges—I remember how much you liked them, so I brought all the remaining ones.”

Her mother continued talking while washing and peeling the fruit.

Finally, she arranged everything on a plate, pushed it toward Qin Cheng eagerly, and smiled.

“Cold fruit isn’t good on an empty stomach, so don’t eat too much. Just have enough to hold you over.”

As she moved, the fragrance of fruit spread through the air.

Under the bright light, the pale yellow, crisp apple slices and golden-red flesh of the blood oranges looked refreshing and sweet.

Qin Cheng drew in a breath through her nose as though savoring the aroma.

Then she lowered her head, picked up a piece, and put it into her mouth.

She nodded and said indistinctly, “Mm. It’s delicious.”

Her sense of taste was poor now, but the rich sweet-and-sour juice bursting across her tongue truly tasted wonderful.

It was exactly as she remembered.

Exactly the same.

Yet time had passed and everything had changed. The object remained, but the feelings connected to it no longer existed as they once had.

Realizing that her emotions were becoming unstable, Qin Cheng quickly suppressed them and ate several more pieces as a distraction.

Seeing her daughter eat so eagerly, her mother felt both delighted and saddened.

“Slow down. Don’t choke.”

After speaking, she wiped her hands, set down the peeling knife, and opened the small refrigerator.

“Let me see what you have here. I’ll make a couple of simple dishes. Look at the time. There’s no need to eat outside—it’s troublesome and unhealthy.”

It was too late to stop her.

Fortunately, Qin Cheng had cleaned everything in advance. There was no suspicious food or medicine in the refrigerator.

As a result, however, it looked rather empty, with almost nothing inside.

Her mother frowned deeply and repeatedly complained that her daughter did not know how to take care of herself.

In the end, she selected some leftover white rice from a delivery order and several eggs, deciding to make a simple serving of egg fried rice.

Unable to argue with her, Qin Cheng led her downstairs to the shared kitchen.

She briefly explained which items belonged to her, then obediently stood nearby and helped by passing over the oil bottle and seasonings.

Unexpectedly, just as the beaten egg went into the wok, her mother suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, “Oh! I forgot this isn’t our house. Did you buy any spring onions? Egg fried rice just doesn’t smell right without them.”

“…I did. I think they’re in the cabinet upstairs. Keep cooking the eggs. I’ll get them. I’ll be right back.”

Seeing her mother anxious, Qin Cheng agreed without thinking and turned to go upstairs.

Climbing the stairs repeatedly was physically taxing, but she could not worry about that now.

Once she returned to her room, she carefully pulled the door nearly shut, picked up the fruit knife from the table, and gripped the ornament beneath her clothes.

A second later, she disappeared from the room.

Of course, she had not bought any spring onions.

There was no time to go out now.

So the first thing she thought of was the dozen or so spring onion plants she had transplanted beside the lake.

Although she had only planted them that day, they had already produced tender shoots a few centimeters long.

In the worst case, she could cut off a little for the immediate need. It probably would not do much harm.

She felt faintly apologetic about harvesting them while they were still so small, but her mother was working hard to prepare something delicious for her.

She could not disappoint her.

With that thought and the urgency of a thief committing a crime, Qin Cheng hurriedly opened her eyes the moment the dizziness passed.

She had not even caught her breath before preparing to act.

But the instant her gaze swept across the plot, she froze in astonishment.

What…

What was this?

At noon that day, she had planted two small patches of green—nothing more than weak sprouts and tender leaves nestled in one corner of the black soil.

They had looked lively, but also delicate and fragile, like timid children cautiously poking out their heads.

Yet what stood before her now?

Only a few hours had passed outside.

When she returned, there was no longer any black soil visible between the two green patches.

The spaces she had believed wide enough were now completely hidden beneath fresh, vivid leaves.

Countless green shoots grew densely and luxuriantly, overlapping until they had nearly become one continuous field.

After staring blankly, Qin Cheng hurried over.

With a quick comparison, she realized that every spring onion had already grown above her calves.

They bore no resemblance whatsoever to the tiny shoots from earlier.

All right.

Even though she had felt certain they would survive, she had never expected them to thrive so dramatically and immediately.

What exactly was happening?

The woman rubbed her temples, feeling another headache beginning to form.

Despite her confusion, the urgent sense that she was stealing remained.

Her mother was still waiting.

Qin Cheng had no time to think deeply, so she prepared to cut some spring onions as planned.

And judging by their current condition, it seemed she could safely take quite a lot.

However, when she raised the fruit knife, she noticed a tiny piece of apple flesh still clinging to the blade, apparently left behind when the core was cut.

A small black seed was embedded in it.

Qin Cheng initially intended to flick it away, but halfway through the motion, something occurred to her.

She paused, walked a few steps away, and buried the piece of apple flesh and the black seed in the soil at the opposite end of the plot.

If the spring onions and garlic could grow like this…

Then…

Although apple seeds were entirely different from onions and garlic…

It would only be thrown away otherwise.

There was no harm in trying, right?

It had been an impulsive decision made in the middle of her confusion.

Qin Cheng did not think much about it.

She casually buried the apple piece, cut two generous handfuls of spring onions, and hurried back to her room.

After setting down the fruit knife, she rushed downstairs to the kitchen.

Faced with the large bunch of fresh, tender spring onions, her mother repeatedly praised her for knowing how to choose good produce.

Unfortunately, they had no roots, or they could have been regrown for another harvest.

Her comments left Qin Cheng feeling extremely guilty.

Before long, however, the guilt was replaced by worry.

Under her mother’s quick, practiced hands, a large serving of golden egg fried rice was soon completed and placed before her.

To be honest, the fried rice was genuinely excellent.

It was simple, without any elaborate tricks—only egg, spring onions, and white rice.

The rice was leftover delivery rice, slightly firm to begin with and further dried in the refrigerator. Once fried, every grain remained separate and pleasantly springy.

The eggs had gone into the oil before the rice and were cooked until golden, filling the air with a rich fragrance.

They did not coat every grain in the style of certain recipes, but after being tossed thoroughly with the rice, the whole bowl glowed gold, with egg and rice mingled together.

Finally, a generous amount of chopped spring onion added a fresh fragrance that swept away the last trace of greasiness, leaving only the irresistible appeal of color, aroma, and flavor.

No ordinary person would refuse such a large, fragrant serving of egg fried rice.

Unfortunately, Qin Cheng was not ordinary.

The fruit had been manageable, but she rarely ate foods as firm and oily as fried rice anymore.

Not only could she taste very little, but she could not predict how her digestive system would react afterward.

Yet beneath her mother’s eager, expectant gaze, she ultimately said nothing.

She simply picked up the bowl and chopsticks, shoveled a large mouthful into her mouth, and chewed hard.

But as she continued chewing, her movements gradually slowed.

At last, she stopped completely and stared blankly.

“What is it? Does it taste bad? Did I add something incorrectly? Don’t force yourself if it isn’t good. Here, let me taste it.”

Seeing her daughter’s expression, her mother immediately lost confidence and reached for the bowl and chopsticks.

The movement brought Qin Cheng back to her senses.

She quickly leaned away, protecting the bowl from her mother, and smiled brightly.

“No. It smells wonderful. It’s delicious!”

Then, to prove that she was telling the truth, she began eating in large mouthfuls again and did not stop.

This time, Qin Cheng had not lied to her mother.

It truly was delicious.

Her tongue, which had barely been able to taste anything for so long, could sense the richness of egg, the fragrance of rice, and the strong yet refreshing aroma of spring onions.

Beneath those flavors, hints of saltiness and savory depth gradually emerged one after another.

It was the original taste of food.

And it carried the taste of home.

It had been far, far too long since she had experienced either.

The woman lowered her head and ate happily.

She smiled just as happily.

That night, because she had to remain in the real world to accompany her mother, Qin Cheng slept in her own bed.

Yet she still slept peacefully until morning.

Dreamless.

And free of pain.