"So there are so many details to consider with plum blossoms..." Clarice said with a look of surprise.
"It's likely because there are no plum blossoms in your hometown."
"That's true. Not only are there no plum blossoms, but most of the flowers planted in the palace are for ornamental use, and the varieties in the outskirts of the Imperial City are quite limited."
Clarice shook her head gently at the mention of her hometown.
"The materials women use for making sachets can only be chosen from those few types of flowers with the strongest fragrance."
"Even so, they're far inferior compared to the scent of plum blossoms."
Qi Zhimu used a bamboo knife to gently support a plum blossom, and with a slight flick of his wrist, he plucked it deftly.
"If you like them, you can take some plum saplings from here back to your hometown to plant."
"Well, it's still too early for that!" Clarice's cheeks flushed for a moment. "Since my student registration was transferred here, I don't plan on returning home for the time being."
"No rush. While I'm away on business... if you graduate and I haven't returned, feel free to head up the mountain and take some saplings."
"We'll see when the time comes. I'll go pick some plum blossoms as Mr. Qi suggested first."
"Here, the tools."
Qi Zhimu handed over the bamboo knife and a slightly smaller flower basket.
"No need, I brought scissors." Clarice brandished the small scissors in her hand.
"It's best not to use metal tools; contact with them will more or less affect the quality of the plum blossoms."
"Eh? Is that so... Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Qi!"
"It's a small matter."
Clarice took the bamboo knife. Seeing her lithe figure moving skillfully among the flowery branches, a faint smile appeared in Qi Zhimu's eyes.
He looked down at the bamboo basket that was already full, stored it in his folded space, and took out a new one.
This year, the number of plum blossoms he planned to harvest was significantly higher than in previous years.
After all, he was about to die. Of the plum blossom brew he would send to his teacher in the future, only this year's batch could be made by his own hands.
As long as the raw materials didn't affect the flavor, he would do his best to harvest as much as possible... Near noon, the two returned to the Bamboo House with their harvest.
Qi Zhimu poured the plum blossoms into a basin, patiently rinsing and filtering out impurities, then used an absorbent cloth to drain the water before distributing them into different wine jars.
Next, he added fine sugar to the jars for candying. The process would take about 48 hours and effectively removed any bitterness.
"Mr. Qi, the washing and draining could probably be done with that magical appliance in your house, right?"
Clarice was somewhat puzzled as she watched his seamless movements.
"Could it be that automatic machines would damage the quality of the plum blossoms?"
"Not really."
Qi Zhimu chuckled.
"Doing it by hand is more meaningful and heartfelt. It's also part of the joy of life."
"In ancient times, before human civilization was so advanced, many people would tend to a garden or a plot of land in their old age, tinkering with the things they loved by hand."
"How old are you even, Mr. Qi? You look like a twenty-year-old; you're not old at all!"
"..."
The young girl spoke thoughtlessly. Qi Zhimu only smiled and didn't respond.
In reality, he was very, very old.
So old that in a few days, he would return to the dust.
Most of what needed to be done before his death was finished. Thinking carefully, there didn't seem to be many regrets left.
If he had to name one, it was his failure to dissuade his teacher from her obsession with resurrecting her loved ones.
Besides, that couldn't even be considered a true resurrection... Qi Zhimu sealed the last wine jar and moved them one by one to the corner to sit.
"Stay for lunch before you go, girl."
"Mhm~ I'll help out as an assistant."
Clarice didn't dwell on the matter of age; she didn't care anyway.
Entering the kitchen, the two prepared the main course together, and then Qi Zhimu began preparing the ingredients for the pastries.
Fallen plum blossoms, perilla plum powder, soybeans, and a tightly sealed bottle of liquid.
"Mr. Qi, what's in this bottle?"
"Water from melted snow that fell on plum blossoms. I only collected this one bottle last year."
"...Last year!" Clarice was stunned. "The ingredients are so troublesome and specific. Is this a newly developed pastry?"
"You could say that."
Qi Zhimu first washed and soaked the soybeans, then added the plum blossom snow water and mashed them into a paste before adding sugar and perilla plum powder.
Unconsciously, he began to hum a tune, occasionally murmuring something in a low voice, the syllables blurred and indistinct.
While humming, he stir-fried it dry and kneaded it into a ball, placed it in a mold to cool, pressed several fallen plum blossoms onto it, and wrapped it in oil paper to set.
The entire process was as smooth as flowing water. Clarice was mesmerized, and when she snapped out of it to check the time, she realized several dozen minutes had passed.
"Mr. Qi, the song you were just singing sounded a bit sad."
"I was singing just now?"
"Not only were you singing, but you also seemed to be reciting poetry. It should have been a poem, though I couldn't hear clearly."
"Hmm...?" Qi Zhimu tilted his head and rubbed his chin as he tried to recall, but he had no memory of it.
Strange.
Was the new medicine not working well? Was it failing to suppress the symptoms of Alzheimer's?
Forget it, it didn't matter anymore. As long as no major mistakes occurred, it was fine.
Yu Qintu wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. In truth, he didn't even need the medicine, but his aging, frail body simply couldn't get anything done without it.
To avoid just lying on the couch waiting for death, he still had to use the medicine he needed.
"Let's eat first. The Preserved Plum Soybean Cake I just made needs to sit for a while to let the flavors settle. It'll be perfect as a post-meal dessert."
This lunch was very heartwarming for the two of them.
At least, that was how Clarice felt.
Thinking of a future where she would live in seclusion in the Bamboo House with Mr. Qi and spend the rest of their lives together, she couldn't even keep the corners of her mouth from turning up.
This was the future she wanted; just thinking about it made her happy.
Away from conflicts and complex relationships, staying together peacefully in the mountains.
However, Clarice didn't know Qi Zhimu's feelings as he ate this meal... it was likely the last lunch he would ever share with little Clarice.
In this life, aside from the highly respected Yu Qintu, the only one who could truly be called a friend was probably Clarice.
And that was why Qi Zhimu had asked the young girl to stay for lunch before leaving.
A silent farewell.
However, Qi Zhimu had forgotten one thing.
Clarice had said she wanted him to be her fitting model.
Since the day she had measured his body, she hadn't mentioned it again.
It was no wonder he had subconsciously ignored it, assuming the girl's request had been a passing whim.
"Mr. Qi, while you're away, I'll help you look after the plum grove."
"No need."
"It's no trouble, it won't take up too much of my time."
"Really, there's no need. I've ordered a... robot from the Interstellar Peace Corporation. It will faithfully carry out its orders, which include looking after the plum grove."
"...Alright."
Hearing the name of the Interstellar Peace Corporation, Clarice understood.
She had heard that the Corporation's footprint spanned the universe, and they possessed advanced technology and unimaginable wealth.
Not just her home planet, but this planet also saw the presence of the Corporation.
"It's about time. Try the taste of the Preserved Plum Soybean Cake."
Qi Zhimu took a few pieces of pastry from the mold and brought them to the dining table.
"See if they're to your taste. I'll take care of the rest."
He went back to the kitchen, rewrapped the remaining pastries in oil paper, and stored them in a special preservation box before returning to the table.
To his surprise, Clarice was sitting there motionless, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Why are you crying?"
...