Looking at the dense flocks of swallows on the rock wall, Yun Xi looked confused.
"There are even more amazing things inside."
Qi Rong put her down, took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom, pulled out the stopper and waved it under Yun Xi's nose. Immediately, Yun Xi felt a fragrant smell lingering around her nose, making her feel refreshed.
"There might be some strange smells in there. If you can't stand it, tell me."
Qi Rong's delicate and considerate actions made Yun Xi's lips can't help but curl up secretly. Then Qi Rong took her hand and walked into the cave.
The cave was filled with scattered rocks and the path was rough. Coupled with the dim light, Yun Xi had to cling tightly to Qi Rong's side, her eyes fixed on the surroundings.
After they had walked for a while, Qi Rong led her to suddenly turn right and came to a much narrower cave entrance. There was actually some light shining from inside, instantly dispelling the darkness in front of them and making their vision clear.
"Wow, there's actually such a place!"
After walking through the narrow passage, they suddenly found themselves in an open area. Rainwater mixed with the skylight poured into the cave from the top, and there was a pond below. Wildflowers were in full bloom all around, presenting a unique beauty like a fairyland.
Judging from the outside, it was hard to imagine that there was such a wonderful world inside this dark cave!
"I knew you'd like it."
Qi Rong sat down on a huge rock, held Yun Xi's hand and placed her on his lap. Seeing her looking awkward, he put his arms around her waist forcefully and pressed his chin into the crook of her neck.
"I accidentally discovered this place two days ago. But this isn't the most important thing. Look up around and see what's on the rock walls."
Reminded by Qi Rong, Yun Xi's gaze couldn't help but turn to the rock walls inside the cave. Looking up from below, there were many half - moon - shaped protrusions close to the rock walls. It was easy to overlook them if one didn't look carefully.
Seeing several swallows circling above and even occasionally hearing the faint chirping of baby swallows, Yun Xi's eyes immediately lit up.
"It's a swallow's nest!"
There were quite a few swallows outside the cave just now, and this was the gathering place for the swallows. In such a spacious cave, there must be numerous swallow's nests where they could reproduce.
"I never knew you liked swallows so much."
It was rare to see Qi Rong interested in something and even bring her here in person. Yun Xi couldn't help but draw this conclusion.
Apart from the desolate wild lake in the capital, this was the second time she knew about Qi Rong's preference.
Hearing Yun Xi's words, Qi Rong reached out and tapped her nose.
"Compared to swallows, I like you more!"
This sudden confession made Yun Xi blush instantly. To hide her shyness, she turned her face to the side and pouted.
"You really like to tease me!"
Qi Rong shook his head with a smile and pinched her cheek.
"You ungrateful little thing."
Then he tapped her head and said,
"And when did this little head become so dull?"
Yun Xi was confused. In order to let her see clearly what was on the rock wall, Qi Rong picked up her waist, suddenly leaped up and climbed onto a green vine on the rock wall.
"Take a good look at this swallow's nest."
At first, Yun Xi was startled by Qi Rong's sudden action. Hearing his words, she opened her eyes and carefully looked at the swallow's nest on the rock wall. Finally, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"This, this is actually bird's nest?!"
This was not the ordinary clay - built swallow's nest under the eaves of common people's houses. It was the nest built by the saliva of swallows, which was regarded as a tonic by the dignitaries in the capital!
Moreover, compared to other shiny white bird's nests, the color of the bird's nests here was obviously darker, and many of them had already turned blood - red.
"Wow! This is the extremely precious blood bird's nest!"
Yun Xi was even more shocked by this discovery and was as excited as if she had found a treasure!
A bowl of ordinary bird's nest would cost more than a dozen taels of silver, equivalent to the annual living expenses of a family of five ordinary peasants.
Compared with other ordinary bird's nests, these were cave - dwelling bird's nests, and their price had already multiplied several times! And this was the blood bird's nest among the cave - dwelling ones, which was extremely rare, so the price was even more than several times higher!
And her family's old lady loved to eat this blood bird's nest for nourishment. She was extremely extravagant, and the silver she spent on blood bird's nests in a year was innumerable.
Looking at her shining face, Qi Rong flew down and revealed an even more amazing secret.
"Besides this swallow cave, there are dozens of other places on this entire cliff. If we survey carefully, we can find more."
Yun Xi's mouth opened slightly, unable to hide her shock. She naturally knew what this meant!
There was an endless treasure right in front of her eyes. I'm afraid no one would be unmoved. But Qi Rong told her this secret immediately, which touched her heart.
"Aren't you afraid that I'll tell this secret to others?"
Yun Xi stared seriously into Qi Rong's eyes.
Just looking at the number of cave - dwelling bird's nests here was already a very huge income. If there were dozens of places, the income would be even more immeasurable! If they could ensure the annual output without over - harvesting, it would be a continuous source of income.
By then, there would be a steady stream of wealth flowing into Qi Rong's pocket!
As a merchant, she knew the business opportunities and wealth inside best!
Hearing this, Qi Rong chuckled, quickly pecked her on the lips and said indifferently,
"What's mine is yours. You can give it to whoever you like. Besides, I originally planned to let you handle these things."
"Let me handle it?"
Yun Xi pointed at herself, even more confused.
Although she was touched by Qi Rong's trust in her, she couldn't understand why he was so willing to give this treasure away so easily. Was he really that confident in her?
Watching the sky above the cave gradually clear up, Qi Rong put his arm around Yun Xi's shoulder and walked out of the cave. Looking at the scattered terraced fields and dilapidated thatched cottages in the distance at the foot of the mountain, Qi Rong said,
"The plan for building the weir has changed. I'll have to stay here for a long time. It'll just save you from getting bored. I'll give you something to do."
Hearing Qi Rong's words, Yun Xi suddenly remembered that Qi Rong had suddenly disappeared in the past few days. She couldn't help but poke his shoulder and say,
"I don't think that's all. Are you hiding something from me?"
Qi Rong's dark eyes deepened slightly and he looked at her with a smile.
"You guess."
Yun Xi looked back at the swallow cave and then thought of the villagers at the foot of the mountain who were in rags and starving. She couldn't help but sigh.
"They're sitting on such a 'treasure - filled' place without anyone noticing, but the villagers' lives are still so hard. It seems that it's not necessarily that they didn't find the bird's nests in the cave. Instead, they probably don't even know the value of these bird's nests!"
If they knew, even on the precipitous cliffs, the villagers would try every means to enter the cave to pick them. In this way, their lives could be greatly improved and they wouldn't be so miserable now.
Thinking of this, Yun Xi couldn't help but stare blankly at Qi Rong.
Could it be that the reason why he insisted on stopping the progress of building the weir was related to these villagers in the mountain depression?!