OFTLHFRO C59

Chapter 59: Maybe On the Run for Life

After the Third Young Master had his guards take away the so-called constables, he exchanged a few words with Luo Mingchen and left the ghost orchid behind.

Master Ming departed with him.

Watching them go, Luo nudged Huo and lowered his voice. “Think that Third Young Master is some kind of marquis?”

“Don’t know.”

“Eh?”

Luo looked up at him, meaning—are you teasing?

Huo sighed. “It’s been a long time since I went back. Even before, I only knew a little and didn’t know those high officials. Much less now.”

“Alright then.”

Luo didn’t mind.

Whatever the man’s status, as long as he cleaned up the mess and paid the promised two hundred taels, the rest didn’t matter.

Thinking of that money, Luo happily dragged Huo home with the child.

Just then, Yuhui and Xiang got out of school and could take their sister.

Luo pulled Huo into the bedroom. “I want to try bringing you inside.”

“Hm?”

They met eyes, and when Huo realized what “inside” meant, he thought a moment. “What do I do?”

“Nothing. Just hold my hand.”

It was Luo’s first time attempting this; he had no idea if it would work.

“Alright.”

Huo focused on him—still thinking how beautiful his spouse’s eyes were—when a white flash dropped them into a strange world.

After a look around, Huo asked, “This is the place you come to so often?”

Luo’s eyes lit up—success. “You can really come in?”

Before Huo could speak, Luo cheered, “Great! Now you can help harvest.”

Seeing acreage lined with fruits and vegetables, Huo fell into thought.

Not because he feared farm work, but marveling that Luo alone had grown so much.

Also, that mountain of grain—still fresh, just not yet dried and milled.

“Why so quiet? Shocked?”

Luo waved a hand in front of Huo’s face.

Huo caught it. “Start harvesting now?”

“Yes. You can manage, right? Pick the apples and tangerines, cut the rice and stack it.”

“Oh.”

Rolling his sleeves, Huo grabbed a basket. “How long before this spoils?”

“It shouldn’t,” Luo blinked. “Longest I left something was a year—it came out fine.”

He needed food stockpiled—zombies, disasters, whatever came—full stores calmed the heart.

He hadn’t found mutated chicks or ducklings, so he hadn’t raised them here; otherwise, no need to risk going out for meat.

“Good.”

“Separate new from old?” Huo asked.

“No need. Just pile each type.”

Watching Huo start without complaint—no excuses, just doing—Luo thought he might get used to ordering someone around, specifically Huo.

After a bit, Luo gathered different branches and planted the ghost orchid in the soil; once it sent out offsets, he’d mount them on branches.

As expected, the ghost orchid needed a host and liked shade and damp; among several branches it preferred apple.

While he was experimenting, the original ghost orchid bloomed—then withered shortly after.

As Luo stared, baffled, faint green translucent leaves sprouted.

Done for.

Who could tell him why it mutated so fast?!

Luo looked at hard-working Huo in dismay. “Dear Brother… we might have to go on the run.”

Huo turned, baffled, set down a basket of oranges, and came over. “Pack now?”

“You’re not even going to ask why?”

Sitting beside him, Huo eyed the wildly changed ghost orchid. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Luo groaned. “I swear I only planted it a bit. As soon as it sprouted, I pulled it—then it not only bloomed, it mutated.”

If it had mutated subtly—like Master Ming’s orchid gaining vigor or soil tolerance—that’d be fine.

But leaves…

How to explain that?

“Tell them our medicine profoundly alters this plant,” Huo said. “Upside: care is now like ordinary orchids—unique, beautiful, and easy to keep.”

That didn’t sound half bad. People wanted ghost orchids for their striking blooms; now they were even prettier and simpler. Maybe no one would be too mad.

Though those two hundred taels were likely gone…

Luo decided to go all in and stabilize the line further.

Once done, he joined Huo harvesting, then replanting.

They worked a long time, yet Huo didn’t feel tired. He gazed toward a gray expanse. “What’s that area?”

Luo followed his eyes. “Storage. I once pulled in a large shopping mall’s goods.”

The space was big, though the planting zone wasn’t; he couldn’t open more—it seemed conditional.

Still, there was enough to play with, so he didn’t fuss.

Huo dipped his chin.

After a moment, Luo, not hearing a request to look, asked, “Don’t want to go over?”

“It’s fine.”

He wasn’t that curious. Knowing what it was was enough; as long as it wasn’t dangerous, what Luo stored was Luo’s.

“…I’ll show you anyway.”

Resigned, Luo led him over. “Time here is paused. While we work, the planting area’s time slows.”

Huo recalled Luo saying he’d go do something and be back quickly; if done here, time dilation made sense.

Rows of shelves held all sorts of oddities.

There were crayons and notebooks he’d used, walking aids for babies, and bottles and jars. Most labels he knew; some he could guess but not understand—Coca-Cola, for instance.

Seeing Huo eye a bottle, Luo twisted it open and handed it over. “Try?”

Once sure it wasn’t a joke, Huo took a sip.

Very… strange. Hard to describe. But not bad—sweet, even.