The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 170: A Breather

Chapter 170: A Breather

Leaving the reception room of the Blooming Courtyard, Xu Feng’s mind was blank and numb. Not thinking about anything or anyone, he strode around the courtyard absentmindedly. The beautiful peak of spring was his only companion.

The day was a canvas painted with the vibrant hues of spring, a picturesque scene that adorned the Blooming Courtyard. It was a haven where nature thrived, embellished with a kaleidoscope of blossoms and a symphony of chirping birds. The lush greenery danced with the gentle breeze, each leaf rustling in harmony as if whispering secrets of the season’s renewal.

In the middle of this natural magnificence, the courtyard embodied a tranquil paradise, showcasing the collective effort of its caretakers. Erlang, Si, and San had all played their part in nurturing this pleasant sanctuary. Yet, it was Xu Feng’s distinct touch that added an ethereal quality to the landscape.

Xu Feng’s contribution was obvious, maybe not to others, but to himself, he knew what benefits he’d added to the special cut of paradise. Since the first signs of spring blossomed and his abilities began to grow in strength, his love of beauty and nature took on a life of its own.

With each passing day, his love for nurturing the greenery blossomed into an art form of its own.

As the master of the Nanshan Estate, Xu Feng was partial to his private courtyard, tending to his beloved greenhouse and taking leisurely strolls around the premises. He indulged in a quiet exchange with nature, adding a unique energy on each tree through his wood abilities, an exchange that breathed life into the flora, large and small.

The flowers within the carefully defined sections of the courtyard thrived under Xu Feng’s ’touch’, flourishing in unmatched vitality.

Their vibrancy surpassed that of any other blooms in the area, surpassing even the grandeur of the wealthy families in Yilin town. It was a display that possibly rivaled the lushness of the royal family’s gardens.

While the royal family’s gardens might have more variety, they likely weren’t as healthy as Xu Feng’s unless there was a wood ability user somewhere hidden in the royal family.

In Xu Feng’s courtyard, each blossom bore the imprint of his nurturing touch.

With the picturesque haven of Blooming Courtyard as a muse, Bai Mo’s efforts to replicate the magnificence had proven to be a distant echo of Xu Feng’s botanical garden. Despite investing considerable resources into his own mansion’s flora, Bai Mo’s garden couldn’t hold a candle to the flourishing paradise nurtured by Xu Feng.

Erlang, dedicated to his studies and martial training while shouldering new and old estate responsibilities, carved precious time to oversee the care of Xu Feng’s greenhouse and the meticulous arrangement of the Courtyard’s vegetation.

Taking charge, he meticulously selected seeds from Yilin’s seed shop and their cellar’s stock from January, planting vibrant blooms that mirrored his master’s visions.

Quiet yet observant, Erlang was attentive to Xu Feng’s every move. His devotion to serving his master was greater than Xu Feng initially realized. Xu Feng might seem absentminded, but even in his seemingly distracted state, he couldn’t overlook the meticulous transformation that had mysteriously arranged itself in the Courtyard.

As if plucking inspiration from the depths of his dreams, Erlang had accurately mimicked Xu Feng’s mind. Xu Feng often dreamed of the special land where he saw Xu Zeng, and when he’d spent too much brain power in his studies, he would unconsciously begin to sketch the landscape painted only in his dreams.

Yet somehow his dream paradise (?) mystically began to merge with reality. Xu Feng wasn’t stupid by any means, willfully ignorant, maybe, but not stupid.

Although he never verbally acknowledged Erlang’s efforts and loyalty, he devoted his time to teach the boy as much as he could and give as much power and support in the estate as possible with the addition of all the new servants.

As for Si and San, they weren’t as talented as Erlang, but their contributions weren’t any less valued by the silver haired ger.

Si, gifted with a natural flair for beauty that extended from makeup and hairstyling to various forms of creativity, often found herself absorbed in sketching. Her tiny hands would save Xu Feng’s discarded papers, repurposing them as canvases for her artistry.

She was the ancient recycling queen, using all papers to their fullest potential. No white space was spared in her hands.

Though not a seasoned artist by any means, armed with simple and crude pieces of coal and lacking formal training, Si’s sketches showed a unique level of detail and skill.

Her sketches weren’t just for decorative reasons either; they were practical. Following Xu Feng’s example before his marriage, and before he became occupied with studies, the little girl would sketch useful things for the courtyard.

She started with things like, window and door curtains. When a cranky Xu Feng complained about the early morning light after a night of late night studies, she would take action swiftly. Next things like fluffy pillows appeared around the main house after watching Xu Feng rub his sore bottom following long reading sessions in the living room.

Si went further, crafting designs for spring clothing after a short conversation with Xu Feng about their (the servants’) future wardrobe needs with the changing seasons. Taking her creativity beyond sketches, she repurposed leftover fabrics, transforming the courtyard with her creations.

Xu Feng, unable to ignore Si’s efforts and talent, wholeheartedly encouraged her by gifting her with drawing tools, handmade books, and a more refined "pencil" molded from charcoal. He granted her unrestricted access to the fabrics in his craft room, allowing her, despite her young age, to recruit the help of other servants in her sewing projects.

In only a few months of creative freedom, not only was Blooming Courtyard more welcoming with little pieces of Si’s heart sprinkled about in the form of craft projects, but the entire estate’s residents, were clothed with appropriate spring clothing.

She was even young enough, to learn ’bad’ things from Xu Feng. Instead of only using bland and cheap cloth for the servants, she followed Xu Feng’s ’bad’ and prodigal example, and used good quality uniform quality cloth and designs for even the servants.