Preliminary Plans

The next early morning, everyone got up one after another. They had slept wonderfully, all the way until broad daylight. The moment they opened the door, they breathed in air carrying the scent of earth, leaving them deeply moved. The air in the city was truly terrible now, with such heavy haze. How could it compare to standing in the courtyard like this and taking deep breaths of fresh air? Living in the countryside really had many benefits.

Golden Millet Porridge with Sweet Potato added in, crisp cucumber and green radish served as two cold dishes, along with a plate of spicy pickled mustard greens, a plate of stir-fried bean sprouts, and homemade Guokui. The simple breakfast delighted them so much that they nearly questioned life itself. Aside from the mustard greens and bean sprouts, how could those two cold dishes be so delicious? Not only did they taste wonderful, but they also carried a sweet fragrance in the mouth.

When they asked Chen Mo, he explained that they were vegetables he had grown himself, immediately making them all envious. Chen Mo, however, felt a touch of disdain. These were only vegetables his mother had planted in their own backyard, watered with Stream Water for just a few days. What would they think if they tasted the vegetables Inside Universe Bead?

"I've never come across vegetables like these at the city market. Even when my mom used to buy groceries, she never found anything like them," Zhang Mei said.

The others all chimed in agreement.

"Of course you haven't. Villagers generally use farmyard manure to grow these for themselves to eat. There isn't much to begin with, so how could they possibly take them into the city to sell?" Chen Mo explained with a smile.

"Then where do the vegetables in the city come from?" they asked curiously.

"Those are grown by vegetable farmers. Most of them use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and the like. We generally don't eat those vegetables ourselves—we sell them to the city," Chen Mo said. Though that was not entirely accurate, it was mostly true. Rural people usually grew some vegetables for their own meals. If they cultivated vegetables on a large scale, farmers basically did not eat them themselves.

"Ah! How could it be like this? You rural people are really sly!" Liang Huaishan said indignantly.

"Hehe! That isn't slyness. It's just a matter of making a living. Nobody has it easy," Chen Mo said, offering no further explanation. Nor would he mention stories about Monsanto and the like. Nowadays, even old farmers in the village knew what those high-yield seeds were. Their own families generally did not eat them, instead growing local varieties. As for high-yield seeds bought from grain stations, they planted them in the fields, piled on fertilizer and pesticides without restraint, and then sold the harvest.

He did not want to explain anything, nor did he want to say much more to them. He simply brushed it off as making a living, leaving them feeling stifled yet unable to say anything.

After breakfast, they had originally wanted to pay Chen Mo, but he refused. He then saw the four of them onto the long-distance bus back to the city. Before they boarded, they exchanged contact information. Chen Mo also reminded Yang Yantong to get another checkup after returning to the city. It was nothing else—he just wanted to put her at ease.

As they watched the village gradually recede into the distance, Yang Yantong and the others all felt a sense of melancholy. Their experiences over the past few days had been a kind of emotional journey. Not only had it given them much to reflect on, but it had also shown them both the good and ugly sides of human nature. They had come to know their classmate anew and made a new friend as well.

"Tongtong, I never expected this Chen Mo to be somewhat interesting. A top student from a major university, yet he returned to his hometown to farm. I wonder what he was thinking." During their conversation yesterday, Chen Mo had mentioned some of his plans, giving them an initial understanding of him.

"No matter what he was thinking, I believe returning to his hometown to farm could still count as a goal worth striving for in life, couldn't it?" Zhang Mei said.

"Tch! A goal? Isn't he just a farmer?" Sun Hongkai sneered. Though he was somewhat grateful to Chen Mo, after talking with him, he had given up the idea of becoming friends with him. He was merely someone preparing to be a farmer; there was no reason to associate with him. As for yesterday's help, he could return the favor if he ever had the chance.

"What's wrong with farmers? Did farmers offend you? Pick anyone in all of China and trace their family back three generations—see whether they were farmers! You've forgotten your roots!" Liang Huaishan immediately objected and retorted directly.

"My grandfather was a farmer," Yang Yantong said. She did not argue, but those words struck straight at the heart.

"My family too!" Zhang Mei added, shooting Sun Hongkai a glare.

Seeing the situation, Sun Hongkai knew he had said the wrong thing. He could only turn his head away and remain silent. If he argued any further, those three girls would definitely lecture him into the ground. Could he even talk properly? If not, he should keep his mouth shut!

"But putting that aside, does Chen Mo have any prospects staying in the countryside? He's such an outstanding student, yet he can't fully make use of it. Wasn't going to university a waste?" Zhang Mei said.

"Yeah! I think so too. I hope Chen Mo can develop well. Otherwise, it would be a waste of talent," Liang Huaishan said, somewhat indignant on his behalf.

"I don't think it's a waste. He studied biology. Although it differs somewhat from agriculture, there are still many similarities. It depends on what he wants to do in the countryside. If he chooses the right industry, there is still enormous potential. For example, the current specialized breeding industry, as well as the cultivation of cash crops and so on, can bring tremendous economic benefits," Yang Yantong said seriously.

"Oh my! Tongtong, you haven't even married into his family yet, and you're already speaking up for Chen like this. Isn't that a bit much?" Liang Huaishan teased mischievously.

"Exactly, exactly. Has our Tongtong's body come with us today while her heart stayed behind over there?" Zhang Mei said with a laugh.

"Shanshan, you two..." Yang Yantong was momentarily speechless. From what she had seen of Chen Mo over the past two days, she might have indulged in a few fancies, but she would not have fallen for him. Who could say for sure when it came to feelings? Yet the moment she had opened her eyes while unconscious and seen those bright, spirited eyes, they had remained impossible to shake or forget.

"Enough, enough! Let's stop teasing Tongtong, or this fellow's thin-skinned face will turn on us. Hahaha..." Zhang Mei said.

"Then when school lets out in a while, shall we come here again?" Liang Huaishan suggested.

"Sure!" "No problem!" The other two answered in unison.

The three girls chattered and laughed happily all the way on the bus, infecting the other passengers with their joy. Youth truly was enviable—especially when it came from three beautiful girls, who naturally attracted even more attention.

After seeing the four of them off, Chen Mo did not think about them further. He treated them merely as travelers passing through, while he still had many things to do.

Yesterday, he had surveyed the entirety of Gourd Valley and taken quite a few photographs, all in preparation for developing Gourd Valley in the future. He needed a place to cultivate, but he could not isolate himself from everyone else and focus solely on cultivation. Leaving aside anything else, he could not possibly devote himself entirely to cultivation while ignoring his parents and everything in the mortal world. Therefore, he needed a source of income, and he also needed money to buy Cultivation Resources. That was why Chen Mo wanted to develop Gourd Valley. However, he had not yet fully thought through what exactly to develop Gourd Valley into, and needed to consider it further.

However, the two hundred mu of land outside Gourd Valley could be developed first. Simply planting vegetables there would provide an income. Although he had some money now, it would not do to have no incoming funds. Wouldn't Dad and Mom worry themselves to death? So he would first develop those two hundred mu. Even growing vegetables to sell would be fine.

This elementary school student asks everyone to cast a recommendation ticket after reading. Thank you!