The Big Boss Coming to Buy the Farm's Crops

Outside the window, raindrops pattered against the glass, while the lights inside cast a warm glow over the dining table.

Coming down from their earlier excitement,

Dio elegantly cut off a small piece of beef with his knife and fork, his eyes narrowing contentedly.

"Dad," he suddenly said, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity, "you could have instantly destroyed that robot last night. Why did you use a shotgun and detonators instead?"

Clark abruptly looked up as well, the same confusion shining in his blue eyes.

He had been holding this question in for a long time—after what happened last night, he was certain that Uncle Locke was no ordinary person. Like them, he was a superhuman with special abilities.

The two of them had been keeping it from him, but that did not mean Clark was an idiot!

Locke's hand paused slightly around his fork. He clearly had not expected Dio to suddenly ask that question.

He smiled with gratification, his gaze slowly sweeping between the two children. After a moment of silence, he gently set down his utensils and said solemnly,

"The greater the power, the more precious restraint becomes."

Dio frowned, clearly not entirely satisfied with that answer.

"Dio, Clark," Locke continued, "we cannot arrogantly abandon the principles of how we conduct ourselves just because we possess power. If we rely on our abilities to solve everything, we will only gradually lose sight of who we truly are."

"I disagree." Dio gave a soft snort and poked at the beef on his plate with his fork. "Why deliberately use ordinary methods when you have the ability to solve it directly?"

"It is not deliberate," Locke shook his head. "It is a choice."

"Power is a tool, not an identity."

"If we separate ourselves from ordinary people, then one day, we will forget how to think like humans."

"The arrogance brought by power will make you lose the ability to think." His gaze settled on Clark as he added meaningfully, "And the strength of humanity lies precisely in wisdom."

In plain English:

Think things through more often. You can choose to use your superpowers, but Uncle Locke would rather you first use the wisdom you possess as a human.

"But didn't you use your superpowers in the end, Dad?" Dio grumbled. "You failed to restrain yourself too."

"You are wrong, Dio." Locke shook his head. "It was simply because my wisdom told me that was the time to use superpowers."

"..."

Clark fell into thought. He could sense that when Locke said those last words, his gaze had been firmly fixed on him.

That look seemed to carry a certain reminder, yet also some kind of expectation.

It made him completely forget to ask what the superpowers they had mentioned were...

Dio pursed his lips. Though his face still wore an indifferent expression, his movements slowed, and he was clearly thinking about the meaning of those words as well.

Watching the two of them take his words to heart, Locke felt a swell of satisfaction in his chest.

Perhaps this was one of the moments most worth cherishing since he had come to this world.

—An ordinary happiness, yet one full of the warmth of everyday life.

Even the Stone Mask hanging above the fireplace behind the three of them could not help but sway a few times at the sight.

The morning sun had just pierced through the curtains when a shrill telephone ring shattered the farm's tranquility.

Frowning, Locke reached out from beneath the covers and fumbled for the old-fashioned landline receiver on the bedside table.

"Hello?"

His voice was hoarse, and he was clearly not fully awake yet.

"Locke! You finally picked up!"

An excited voice, nearly cracking from enthusiasm, came through the line. "A big boss is coming to our town today to inspect agricultural purchases! Do you want to come take a look? If you wait any longer, the wheat in your warehouse will start growing mold!"

Locke rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Anthony, you know my wheat has never been hard to sell."

"This time is different!" Anthony spoke so quickly with excitement that his words nearly ran together. "They are offering 1.3 times the market price!"

"Hurry up and get yourself over here! The big boss's helicopter is about to arrive."

"Oh, and bring Dio along. I heard the big boss has a son, probably about Dio's age."

"Click!"

The call was disconnected.

Locke held the receiver and stared blankly for two seconds before raising an eyebrow.

1.3 times?

No wonder Anthony was so excited.

As the middleman, if this deal went through, his commission would equal a month of his usual income.

And honestly, 1.3 times the price was indeed tempting.

Locke stretched, the corner of his lips lifting slightly.

He had wanted to replace his pickup for a long time. That old Ford was nearly falling apart, and every time it started, it coughed nonstop like it had tuberculosis.

"Kids!"

Locke rolled out of bed and clapped his hands sharply. "Wake up! We are heading into town today!"

The moment he finished speaking, rustling sounds immediately came from the next room.

Dio appeared in the doorway with a mess of tousled blond hair. Sleep still lingered in his red eyes, but his usual arrogance had already returned to his face.

"We are going into town?"

"Great!" Clark sprang straight up from his bed, nearly banging his head against the ceiling. "Didn't Uncle Locke say yesterday that Dad and Mom were in town too?"

"You two..."

Locke smiled and shook his head, taking out the dark blue plaid shirt he only wore for important occasions from the wardrobe.

"Hurry up and wash up. Dio, comb that hair of yours. Clark, do not wear those work pants covered in mud spots—yes, the very pair you are secretly trying to put on right now."

Clark sheepishly put the pants down, while Dio gave a soft snort and turned to grab a comb.

Half an hour later, the Locke family's old Ford pickup belched black smoke as it drove onto the country road.

Dio sat in the passenger seat, his blond hair fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. Clark lay in the truck bed, excitedly watching the golden wheat fields on both sides rush past.

"Dad," Dio suddenly said, "who is this big boss? Why would he suddenly offer such a high price?"

"I do not know. Anthony was vague about it." Locke held the steering wheel with one hand. "I am curious too. Normally, buyers who suddenly appear like this..."

He did not finish, but Dio already understood what he meant.

Something unusual was bound to have a reason.

"Uncle Locke." Clark stuck his head out from the truck bed and asked innocently, "Could it be a big company like Wayne Enterprises in Gotham coming to purchase crops?"

"When they came last time, Dad and Mom were happy for an entire week."

Locke fell silent for a second.

Was he being too sensitive?

"Clark." Locke turned his head toward him. "You are right. We should not judge a gentleman's heart by a petty person's standards."

"Judge a gentleman's heart by a petty person's standards," Dio added helplessly. "You have said that so often my ears are growing calluses."

He is already finding me long-winded?

Locke felt hurt for half a second.

Then he quickly stepped on the gas, making the old Ford roar under the strain as it sped toward town.

The old Ford pickup rattled into town, its tires creaking over the cobblestones.

Slowing down, Locke swept his gaze across the shops lining both sides of the street.

He needed to find Martha and Jonathan first.

During their phone call not long ago, they had said they were having breakfast at a café.

The café's name was easy to remember: Golden Wheat. There was also the town's only flower shop right beside it. Putting those two clues together, he quickly spotted it on the street corner.

"We are here, little ones."

Locke parked by the roadside.

After the engine was shut off, the old Ford let out a sigh of relief.

"Pfft!"

The exhaust pipe spat out a small puff of black smoke.

"There they are."

The corner of Locke's lips rose slightly. Through the café window, he could clearly see Jonathan and Martha seated by the window.

Jonathan was adding sugar to his coffee, while Martha smiled as she said something, a blueberry muffin with a bite taken out of it still in her hand.

Pushing open the door, Locke turned to the two children.

"Come on. Let us fill our stomachs first."

"I am not hungry, Dad."

Dio elegantly stepped out of the vehicle and landed lightly, even taking the time to straighten his shirt collar.

Clark simply jumped down from the truck bed. When he landed, the ground trembled slightly, making several pedestrians turn around in surprise.

That kid is so strong?

"Take it easy, Clark."

Dio shot him a disdainful glance. "Are you trying to draw everyone on the entire street over here?"

"Sorry, Dio." Clark scratched his head sheepishly. "I am just too hungry."