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Lan Zhai stirred a deep memory within Chen Xuan, one that revolved around Aunt Zhang Cuifang. Aunt Zhang Cuifang had always held a special fondness for Lan Zhai. In Chen Xuan's recollections, her affection for Lan Zhai was genuine and heartfelt.
Many years ago, Lan Zhai flourished across the mountains. At that time, there weren't as many Lan Nong, nor was there the rampant harvesting that exists today. Chen Xuan vividly remembered that at the break of dawn, Aunt Zhang Cuifang would cheerfully rise, pack some provisions, and drag a reluctant Chen Xuan along to dig for Lan Zhai.
Back then, Lan Zhai was abundant. Whenever Aunt Zhang Cuifang spotted a promising patch, she would eagerly excavate it and tirelessly transplant it back home. As a result, their three-story house was filled with Lan Zhai lovingly planted by family members. Each season when the Lan Zhai bloomed, the entire house would be infused with its delightful fragrance.
In those days, Aunt Zhang Cuifang knew little about gardening; her love for Lan Zhai was pure and untainted. She nurtured them with a mix of care and confusion, inadvertently causing many to perish. However, as her experience grew over the years, she learned how to cultivate them properly, and soon enough, no Lan Zhai ever died under her watch again; instead, they thrived even more.
Aunt Zhang Cuifang's affection for Lan Zhai was unwavering. Regardless of the weather, she would take Chen Xuan up the mountain whenever she had the chance to dig for them. It was hard work climbing the mountains early in the morning with provisions in hand, traversing through the nearby hills of Chen Family Village until sunset before returning home.
Sometimes they would scour every inch of the surrounding forests only to venture even farther in search of more. Eventually, word spread throughout ten miles and eight villages about a farmer's wife from Chen Family Village who had an insatiable love for Lan Zhai. The vibrant blooms of Lan Zhai became Aunt Zhang Cuifang's pride and joy.
Years passed, and suddenly there was a surge in popularity for Lan Zhai. In a flash, everyone in Changfeng County seemed to be digging them up, leading to rampant harvesting that left the mountains increasingly bare. Gradually, fewer people ventured up the hills.
A few years later, when Chen Xuan was accepted into university, Chen Dahai happened to injure his leg while working on the ground, resulting in significant medical expenses. This put Chen Xuan's tuition fees in jeopardy. Ultimately, it was Aunt Zhang Cuifang who sold her cherished Lan Zhai—those she had painstakingly nurtured over the years—to gather enough money for Chen Xuan's education.
Years passed in the blink of an eye, and Chen Xuan had not seen the Lan Zhai he had once nurtured. Occasionally, he would inquire about it, but Zhang Cuifang would only smile and not respond.
Returning to reality, an elderly Lan Nong sat on the ground, chuckling as he smoked. In front of him was a pot of Lan Zhai. There were many varieties of Lan Zhai, and the one before Lan Nong was a common Hui Lan variety.
Three pots of Lan Zhai displayed only lush green leaves, while the other two were different, their green leaves edged with a faint yellow border. Compared to the other three pots, these two were truly valuable specimens—mutated Lan Zhai.
Lan Nong was fortunate to have unearthed two pots of these mutated plants. Before blooming, Lan Zhai often involved an element of gamble. If one was lucky enough to acquire a top-grade mutated Lan Zhai and could stabilize its propagation, it would fetch an astronomical price. Many high-priced Lan Zhai came about this way.
The two pots were placed at the forefront as a distinguished elder was bidding against a middle-aged man.
"One hundred thousand!"
"One hundred thousand!"
"One hundred thousand!" The middle-aged man raised his bid without hesitation. He looked at the elder and pleaded, "Old Zhao, you already have so many Lan Zhai in your courtyard; why fight me for these two?"
"You know I love Lan Zhai; how could I ever have too many?" The elder known as Old Zhao chuckled and raised his bid by another ten thousand.
The middle-aged man's expression immediately darkened.
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