Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ao continues developing his homestead. He places high-quality fish traps in the river, catching mostly invasive fish such as tilapia and janitor fish, along with snails and shellfish.
• Rather than eating the catches, he freezes and grinds them into feed, mixing them with millet for his geese.
• The geese roam freely along the river during the day and return when Lu Ao feeds them. Thanks to their diet, exercise, and space, they have grown significantly, with the largest weighing over nine pounds. Lu Ao decides not to slaughter them yet, estimating they may reach twenty to thirty pounds by the following May or June.
• His vegetable crops continue thriving, though seasonal crops such as yardlong beans, cucumbers, and loofahs have been replaced by ginger, garlic, and scallions. He plans to plant radishes and Chinese cabbage when the weather cools.
• Lu Ao harvests pumpkins, winter melons, chili peppers, and other vegetables, intending to preserve some for winter and give the excess away.
• The watermelons grown from seeds brought back by Song Zhou have also flourished, though only about twenty remain and the supply will soon run out.
• After returning home, Lu Ao receives messages from Lin Qiyan about a disruptive fan who was removed from their WeChat group. The conversation then shifts to troubling news about the Coral restoration project.
• Tests reveal that the Coral has begun expelling its zooxanthellae, meaning it is likely entering bleaching. Despite appearing healthy earlier, the colony may suffer the same fate as previous failed batches.
• Lu Ao researches Professor Huang Ningna’s work and confirms that the likely cause is unusually high water temperatures.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao continues to demonstrate patience, practicality, and careful long-term planning. He prioritizes allowing the geese and crops to mature rather than consuming them prematurely and makes efficient use of surplus food through preservation and animal feed.
• He also shows emotional concern for others, especially Lin Qiyan and Professor Huang, and tries to offer encouragement despite the bleak scientific results.
• Lin Qiyan acts protectively toward Lu Ao by removing the hostile fan from the group, but she is also increasingly anxious and discouraged by the Coral project’s possible failure.
• Professor Huang Ningna’s personal and professional stakes become clearer. After decades of research and repeated failures, another failed Coral experiment would be especially devastating as he approaches fifty and has invested his own resources in the project.

Significant Themes

• Sustainable living and preparation: Lu Ao’s farming, fishing, preservation, and animal husbandry reflect self-sufficiency and responsible resource management.
• Patience and delayed gratification: He refuses to harvest the geese or consume all the produce immediately, choosing to wait for greater future benefits.
• Human vulnerability against nature: Despite careful scientific methods, the Coral remains threatened by abnormal temperatures and environmental conditions.
• Hope amid failure: The characters continue searching for explanations and possible treatments even as another failed restoration effort appears increasingly likely.
• Emotional investment in scientific work: The Coral project is not merely an experiment; its potential failure carries deep personal consequences for Professor Huang and his team.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qiyan informs Lu Ao that she expelled Qinxin, a confrontational fan, from the auction group after she insulted him. Lu Ao responds calmly and leaves the matter to Lin Qiyan.
• Lin Qiyan then confides in Lu Ao about the worsening Coral situation. Lu Ao listens, asks questions, and attempts to reassure her that the colony may still be treatable.
• Their exchange shows mutual trust and concern: Lin Qiyan shares her worries with Lu Ao, while he provides emotional support and takes the problem seriously enough to research Professor Huang’s work himself.

Chapter 282 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• October arrives, but Qianyong City experiences an abnormal heat wave lasting nineteen consecutive days. The unusually warm seawater causes the newly planted Coral to bleach just as it begins taking root.
• Huang Ningna and the volunteer group spend several days trying to find a solution, even considering impractical ideas such as dumping ice into the ocean. Because the sea is too vast and Coral is highly temperature-sensitive, they conclude the bleaching cannot be reversed.
• After surveying the site for a week, the group accepts that the Coral has died and decides to return to the capital early. Lin Qiyan’s planned three-month photography volunteer work ends after only half a month.
• Lin Qiyan becomes depressed after photographing the Coral gradually lose their color and decay into skeletons.
• Moved by the failure, Lu Ao decides to travel to Qianyong City to inspect the site and see whether anything can still be done. Song Zhou offers to accompany him, arranging to handle his official duties remotely.
• Lu Ao informs his fishing group that he will be away for several days and postpones the clearing of his leased hillside.
• He calls Lin Dawu to apologize for delaying the work. Concerned that the already-hired workers will lose income, Lu Ao considers compensating them with fifty yuan each.
• Lin Dawu refuses to let Lu Ao bear the loss alone and volunteers to supervise the workers while Lu Ao is away, reminding him that Lu Ao once helped save Chenchen and should not treat their relationship so formally.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao shows compassion, responsibility, and persistence. Although he knows nature may be impossible to overcome, he still wants to personally investigate the Coral’s condition rather than simply give up. He also demonstrates concern for the workers’ livelihoods and his reputation in the village.
• Song Zhou supports Lu Ao emotionally and practically, willingly rearranging his official responsibilities to accompany him.
• Lin Qiyan is deeply affected by witnessing the Coral’s destruction, revealing his artistic sensitivity and emotional investment in the project.
• Lin Dawu proves loyal and dependable, offering to handle the hillside work so Lu Ao can focus on the Coral. His response also reinforces the mutual trust between him and Lu Ao.
• Huang Ningna and the volunteers experience the frustration of scientific failure despite careful preparation and sustained effort.

Significant Themes

• Human effort versus nature: Careful research and preparation cannot always overcome unpredictable environmental forces.
• The fragility of ecological restoration: Coral can be destroyed by a small temperature variation, showing how vulnerable restoration projects are to climate change and abnormal weather.
• Persistence despite failure: Lu Ao’s decision to visit the site reflects a refusal to surrender without personally searching for possibilities.
• Community and mutual aid: Lu Ao worries about the workers’ income, while Lin Dawu returns the favor by helping with the postponed labor.
• The uncertainty of scientific work: Years of planning and nearly complete success can be undone by an unforeseen event at the final stage.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou discuss traveling together, with Song Zhou reassuring Lu Ao that his work can be managed remotely.
• Lu Ao informs his fishing companions of his absence, prompting Lin Guixiao to ask about the postponed hillside project.
• Lu Ao apologizes to Lin Dawu for delaying the workers’ start date and offers compensation.
• Lin Dawu rejects Lu Ao’s attempt to handle the problem alone, volunteering to supervise the workers and invoking their past bond after Lu Ao helped Chenchen.

Chapter Summary

• Lin Dawu and Old Chen offer logistical support: Lin Dawu insists on helping Lu Ao manage his mountain while Lu Ao is away doing charity work. Old Chen accompanies him, explaining that his wife is recovering well and crediting Lu Ao’s past rescue and anonymous medical donation for saving her life.
• Lu Ao employs Old Chen: Although Lu Ao initially tries to dismiss Old Chen’s gratitude, Old Chen wants to repay him. Lu Ao therefore offers him a position as foreman, paying him 200 yuan per day to oversee the mountain’s workers, expenses, and fruit-tree planting. Old Chen is hesitant because he lacks confidence, but Lin Dawu encourages him to accept, emphasizing that Lu Ao trusts him not to take advantage of the situation.
• Plans for the mountain are established: Lu Ao shows them a map and designates an area for fruit trees while reserving another large section for an undisclosed future purpose. Old Chen will decide which fruit trees to plant, as well as the spacing and size of the planting pits. Lu Ao rejects the use of herbicides because of environmental pollution and orders the workers to cut down the grass manually. He secretly intends to handle the remaining weeds through mystical means with Song Zhou.
• Lu Ao retrieves his boat: After finalizing the mountain arrangements, Lu Ao and Song Zhou teleport to Qianyong City to recover Lu Ao’s boat, which has been loaned to Huang Ningna’s research team for their work on the Coral.
• Huang Ningna is increasingly desperate: Huang appears exhausted, unshaven, and bloodshot-eyed. He explains that the Coral remains alive but is unlikely to survive another fifteen days of high temperatures. No cyclone is forming in the south, and weather conditions offer no natural cooling, leaving the research team with little hope.

Character Development and Interactions

• Lu Ao demonstrates generosity and practical compassion by converting Old Chen’s desire to repay him into a legitimate, fairly paid job rather than accepting unpaid labor. He also shows environmental awareness by refusing herbicides.
• Old Chen develops from a grateful but insecure helper into someone willing to take responsibility as the mountain’s foreman. His loyalty to Lu Ao is emphasized by his refusal to exploit the man who saved his wife.
• Lin Dawu acts as a reliable supporter and mediator, helping persuade Old Chen to accept the position and committing himself to Lu Ao’s logistical needs.
• Song Zhou quietly supports Lu Ao and helps maintain the secrecy surrounding his supernatural abilities.
• Huang Ningna is portrayed as physically and emotionally worn down by the Coral’s worsening condition, contrasting with Lu Ao’s hopeful encouragement.

Significant Themes

• Reciprocity and dignity: Lu Ao helps others without demanding repayment, while giving Old Chen meaningful paid work allows him to return the favor without humiliation.
• Trust and responsibility: Lu Ao entrusts the mountain’s management to Old Chen because of his honesty and dependability.
• Environmental stewardship: The rejection of herbicides highlights concern for ecological preservation.
• Hope versus helplessness: Lu Ao remains open to a miraculous solution, while Huang Ningna fears that the Coral’s death is inevitable due to the unrelenting heat.

Chapter 126 Summary

• Plot and events: Lu Ao and Song Zhou visit the transplanted coral reef after Huang Ningna and Lin Qiyan admit that the coral has suffered severe bleaching and that previous rescue attempts failed. Lu Ao and Song Zhou travel by boat to the reef, then dive together, with Song Zhou riding on Lu Ao’s dragon form. Lu Ao initially intends to inspect the coral for clues or a possible solution, but what they find is even worse than expected: most of the coral is bleached, rotting, or detached from the seabed, and only a few pieces appear alive.
• Character developments: Lu Ao remains determined to investigate despite having no clear solution. His concern for Song Zhou is evident when he asks about underwater safety and offers to carry him down. Song Zhou reveals that he is not human either and can survive underwater by holding his breath, demonstrating his own unusual abilities. Lu Ao’s normally composed attitude becomes playful and embarrassed during their teasing exchange, revealing his growing romantic feelings and comfort with Song Zhou.
• Character interactions: Huang Ningna responds with exhaustion and hopelessness, giving Lu Ao permission to inspect the reef. Lin Qiyan explains the coral’s condition and the failure of previous treatments. Between Lu Ao and Song Zhou, practical concern quickly turns into flirtatious teasing when Song Zhou jokes about “riding” Lu Ao. Lu Ao becomes flustered but still carries Song Zhou into the sea, where the two share an intimate, adventurous experience.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes environmental destruction, helplessness in the face of ecological collapse, and the contrast between hope and despair. It also develops the bond between Lu Ao and Song Zhou through physical trust, playful intimacy, and mutual reliance. The lifeless reef and the heavy “aura of death” create an ominous atmosphere, suggesting that the coral’s condition may be difficult—or impossible—to reverse.

Chapter 285 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ao discovers that the coral colony has suffered severe tissue loss and bleaching after being affected by ocean currents.
• He injects life force into one coral, which quickly begins recovering: its color improves and its tiny tentacles extend to feed.
• With Song Zhou’s help, Lu Ao treats the entire patch of coral. Though the coral visibly improves, Lu Ao recognizes that this is only a temporary solution rather than a cure for the underlying problem.
• Song Zhou comforts Lu Ao and suggests that they continue supplying life force daily until the weather cools, reassuring him that they can protect the coral through this difficult period.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou document the coral’s condition with photographs and video before returning to Qianyong City.
• Professor Huang Ningna watches their footage and realizes that the coral appears healthier and more active than when he observed it earlier that day. Confused by the change, he insists on returning immediately to investigate.
• That evening, Huang and his students sail back to the coral site. Despite the darkness and his limited diving ability, Huang descends with Lu Ao’s assistance.
• At night, the coral is even more active, with nearly all of it extending its tentacles to feed. Overcome with emotion, Huang begins crying inside his diving mask.
• Lu Ao helps Huang return safely to the surface. Afterwards, Huang’s students wait anxiously, while Lu Ao and Song Zhou quietly remain apart from the group.

Character Development

• Lu Ao shows strong compassion and responsibility toward the coral. Although pleased by its recovery, he remains troubled because he understands that life force only addresses the immediate damage, not the environmental cause.
• Song Zhou acts as a steady source of emotional support. He helps heal the coral, reassures Lu Ao, and encourages him not to become overwhelmed by the situation.
• Professor Huang Ningna changes from skeptical confusion to intense hope and emotional relief. Witnessing the coral’s nighttime activity confirms that its recovery is real, leaving him deeply moved.
• Huang’s students remain cautious and concerned, following their professor’s orders while prioritizing his safety during the nighttime dive.

Significant Themes

• Healing versus solving the root cause: The life force restores the coral temporarily, but the deeper environmental threat remains unresolved.
• Responsibility toward nature: Lu Ao, Song Zhou, and Huang all demonstrate a willingness to protect the coral despite inconvenience, danger, and uncertainty.
• Hope and emotional resilience: The coral’s recovery provides renewed hope, especially for Huang, who has likely witnessed significant ecological decline.
• Human connection with the natural world: The coral’s visible response—extending its tentacles and feeding—creates a powerful emotional bond between the characters and the marine ecosystem.
• Cooperation: Lu Ao and Song Zhou combine their abilities, while Huang and his students work together to investigate and protect the coral.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou cooperate closely in reviving the coral, with Song Zhou providing stronger life force and emotional encouragement.
• Song Zhou repeatedly comforts Lu Ao, rubbing his head and easing his guilt and anxiety.
• Huang questions Lu Ao’s report, but the video persuades him that the coral has genuinely improved.
• During the nighttime inspection, Lu Ao assists and protects Huang, eventually helping him back to the surface.
• After returning to the boat, Lu Ao and Song Zhou give Huang and his students privacy, quietly observing from a distance.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

After Professor Huang Ningna breaks down emotionally upon seeing the dying Coral, Lu Ao becomes determined to keep the Coral specimens alive, partly out of concern for Huang. Once Huang recovers, he insists on returning to the seafloor that night to photograph the Coral, collect additional samples, and investigate why it has unexpectedly begun to recover. Lu Ao takes Huang and Lin Qiyan diving again, and they work until late before returning to the hotel after midnight.
Song Zhou prevents Lu Ao from teleporting home and instead arranges a luxurious hotel suite and a late-night barbecue meal. While eating, Lu Ao explains two possible ways to cool the seawater around the Coral cultivation area: artificially creating a typhoon or redirecting a cold ocean current southward. He and Song Zhou agree to attempt the typhoon first and begin immediately after eating.

Character developments

Lu Ao’s concern for the Coral deepens, and he becomes especially motivated by empathy for Professor Huang’s grief. His determination and ingenuity are emphasized as he researches large-scale methods of cooling seawater and proposes ambitious uses of Dragon intervention. Huang Ningna demonstrates strong dedication to his research, refusing to rest for long and returning to the sea to document the Coral’s condition. Song Zhou remains attentive and supportive, caring for Lu Ao physically and emotionally while also seriously evaluating his plans.

Significant themes

The chapter highlights compassion, scientific responsibility, and humanity’s effort to protect nature. It also contrasts ordinary scientific limitations with supernatural or extraordinary power: creating a typhoon or redirecting ocean currents seems impossible, yet Lu Ao is willing to attempt it. Persistence and hope remain central, as the characters continue searching for solutions despite the Coral’s uncertain survival.

Character interactions

Lu Ao and Huang work together closely during the night dives, with Lu Ao ensuring the others’ safety while Huang records and analyzes the Coral. Song Zhou comforts and looks after Lu Ao, arranging his accommodation, food, and rest. Their meal becomes a planning session in which Song Zhou questions Lu Ao’s ideas realistically but encourages him to try, while Lu Ao’s enthusiasm and determination persuade them to act immediately.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Despite being exhausted, Lu Ao insists on attempting to create a typhoon that night, reasoning that they can try again during the day if necessary.
• He and Song Zhou travel to the surface of the tropical sea. Lu Ao struggles against the immense forces of nature, using water vapor and air currents to crudely form a typhoon eye. The effort proves far more difficult than making rain, and he cannot create multiple eyes as planned.
• Lu Ao reflects on the mysterious force he feels himself opposing. When he asks Song Zhou what it is, Song Zhou responds cryptically with a reference to the Dao. Lu Ao jokes about his scientific background, and Song Zhou comforts him.
• Completely drained, Lu Ao returns with Song Zhou to their presidential suite and falls asleep almost immediately. Song Zhou stays awake, affectionately watching over and kissing him.
• Lu Ao sleeps until nearly noon. He searches weather reports and social media for evidence that the typhoon has formed, but finds no reports. Song Zhou explains that a cyclone would take several days to develop and be publicly reported.
• They continue supporting the coral restoration project. After giving Coral another infusion of life force, they meet Huang Ningna, who reports that the coral’s bleaching has decreased and that the colony may survive.
• Huang Ningna praises Lu Ao as a miracle worker and jokes that he is blessed by the god of luck. Lu Ao privately corrects this to “the god of the land,” hinting at his supernatural identity.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou teleport home. That evening, Lu Ao visits Lin Dawu and Old Chen, who are staying together for convenience, and invites them for tea to discuss matters related to their work.

Character Development

• Lu Ao demonstrates determination and a willingness to challenge forces far beyond ordinary human ability. However, the failed or uncertain typhoon attempt reveals the limits of his powers and leaves him physically exhausted.
• His scientific mindset contrasts with Song Zhou’s mystical understanding of the Dao, highlighting Lu Ao’s continuing effort to reconcile rational thought with his supernatural abilities.
• Lu Ao remains deeply committed to the coral project, viewing Coral as something personally meaningful because he planted it himself.
• Song Zhou acts as Lu Ao’s patient companion and caretaker. He allows Lu Ao to attempt the typhoon himself, watches over him afterward, and encourages him to rest and eat.
• Huang Ningna shifts from discouragement to enthusiasm after seeing the coral recover, becoming convinced that Lu Ao possesses extraordinary luck or power.

Significant Themes

• Humanity versus nature: Lu Ao’s attempt to create a typhoon emphasizes how overwhelming natural forces are, even to someone with supernatural abilities.
• The limits of power: The struggle shows that supernatural strength does not guarantee control over large-scale natural phenomena.
• Science and mysticism: Lu Ao’s scientific perspective clashes humorously with Song Zhou’s philosophical explanation of the Dao.
• Environmental responsibility: The characters’ efforts to save the coral reflect cooperation with nature and concern for the planet’s future.
• Care and companionship: Song Zhou’s quiet affection and practical support underscore the intimacy and trust between him and Lu Ao.
• Patience and delayed results: The typhoon’s development and the coral’s recovery both require time, reinforcing that major changes cannot happen instantly.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou argue gently over whether Lu Ao should rest, with Song Zhou ultimately accompanying him.
• After Lu Ao questions the mysterious force resisting him, Song Zhou responds philosophically and then reassures him with affection.
• Song Zhou cares for Lu Ao while he sleeps and later encourages him to wash, eat, and continue their coral work.
• Huang Ningna warmly thanks and praises both men, while Lu Ao modestly deflects attention from his true nature.
• The chapter ends with Lu Ao seeking out Lin Dawu and Old Chen, suggesting further discussions or plans are about to unfold.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ao meets with Lin Dawu and Old Chen to review progress on clearing land for tree planting. Several areas have already been cleared, with tree-pit digging planned within a few days.
• Old Chen reports that the ordered wire fencing will arrive before the following Sunday. Lu Ao decides to have the current workers install it, prioritizing convenience and efficiency over keeping to the original schedule.
• Lu Ao and Old Chen finalize and sign a detailed contract, and Lu Ao provides additional contingency funds.
• At home, Lu Ao finds Song Zhou reading in bed. Their affectionate teasing develops into an intimate evening, emphasizing their comfortable domestic life and romantic relationship.
• The next morning, Song Zhou has already gone to work but leaves Lu Ao a breakfast made entirely of foods he enjoys.
• Lu Ao feeds the geese and then searches for the newly hatched goslings. He discovers that the hatchlings have all survived and finds them upstream with the adult flock.
• The goslings, apparently influenced by the life force Lu Ao previously gave them, are unusually friendly toward him. Lu Ao picks one up and examines it affectionately, though he cannot determine its sex.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao continues to demonstrate practical leadership. He trusts Old Chen’s planning, is willing to spend money to save time and effort, and takes responsibility for the land-development project.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou grow increasingly intimate and comfortable living together. Their matching clothes and shared routines reflect their developing partnership.
• Lu Ao also shows a softer, more sentimental side through his fascination with and affection for the goslings.
• Song Zhou is portrayed as attentive and playful. He takes care of Lu Ao by preparing breakfast and confidently teases him during their private interactions.
• Old Chen proves reliable and detail-oriented, carefully mapping the cleared areas, organizing the work, and managing the fencing arrangements.

Significant Themes

• Domestic intimacy and mutual care: Song Zhou’s breakfast, their shared belongings, and their flirtatious exchanges show a relationship built on familiarity and affection.
• Practicality and delegation: Lu Ao’s decision to hire workers for fencing reflects his belief that financial resources should be used to make difficult tasks easier.
• Growth and cultivation: The land-clearing project symbolizes Lu Ao’s ongoing efforts to develop and expand his environment.
• Life force and connection with nature: The goslings’ survival and unusual friendliness suggest that Lu Ao’s supernatural life force has strengthened the animals and created a bond between them.
• Tenderness beneath strength: Though Lu Ao is decisive in business matters, he becomes shy with Song Zhou and deeply moved by the tiny goslings.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ao and Old Chen cooperate professionally, reviewing plans, adjusting the schedule, and formalizing their agreement.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou exchange playful, flirtatious affection, with Song Zhou teasing Lu Ao and Lu Ao becoming embarrassed and bashful.
• Song Zhou’s quiet care is shown through the breakfast he prepares for Lu Ao.
• Lu Ao interacts gently with the goslings, who respond to him without fear, reinforcing the special bond created by his life force.

Chapter 127 Summary

Plot points and events

Lu Ao checks on his flock of geese and discovers that the goslings are healthy and being protected by the adult birds. He decides not to interfere, pleased that the flock is reproducing naturally and may become even larger next year. After feeding them, he heads home on foot, wondering whether Song Zhou has returned for lunch and realizing how much he misses him even after only a few hours apart.
When Lu Ao arrives home, he finds several forest police officers waiting outside. They explain that someone has reported him for illegally raising rare birds. Lu Ao denies the accusation but calmly allows them to search his property. During the bedroom search, he remembers the novelty underwear he left beneath his pillow. The officers accidentally find it, creating an intensely embarrassing but silently endured moment for both sides.
The search ultimately uncovers a basket containing unusually large, pale goose eggs. Suspicious of their size, the officers confiscate more than half the eggs for testing and instruct Lu Ao not to leave the county until the results are available, which should take three working days. Lu Ao reads and signs the enforcement documents. After the officers leave, he locks the gate and rushes back to the bedroom to confirm that the embarrassing underwear is still hidden under the pillow.

Character development

Lu Ao is shown as responsible and considerate toward his animals, respecting the adult geese’s instinct to protect their young. His relationship with Song Zhou has also changed him: although he was once comfortable living alone, he now quietly longs for Song Zhou’s presence and companionship. At the same time, Lu Ao remains honest, composed, and cooperative when confronted by the police, even though the search exposes a private and embarrassing part of his life.

Significant themes

The chapter explores domestic intimacy and the subtle ways romantic attachment changes a person’s daily life. It also contrasts Lu Ao’s confidence and openness with his deep embarrassment over private matters. Suspicion and misunderstanding are central themes, as his unusual goose eggs and possibly rare animals cause authorities to investigate him despite his apparent innocence. The chapter also emphasizes the tension between ordinary rural life and official scrutiny.

Character interactions

Lu Ao’s interaction with the geese reflects mutual wariness and care: he observes them without disturbing them, while the adults shield their goslings. His unspoken connection with Song Zhou is conveyed through his thoughts and longing rather than direct conversation. With the forest police, Lu Ao remains polite and cooperative, while the officers begin cautiously and suspiciously but gradually relax because of his frank behavior. The shared discovery of the underwear creates an awkward, humorous interaction in which both Lu Ao and the officers deliberately pretend nothing unusual has happened.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Lu Ao discovers the underwear he had been reluctant to discard and secretly washes it, intending to hide it permanently. Later, Song Zhou returns home, and Lu Ao tells him that police visited earlier after receiving a report about the eggs Lu Ao sold. Lu Ao remains unconcerned, confident that the truth will eventually prevail.
During dinner, Lu Ao asks Lin Qiyan about the report. Lin realizes that Qinxin, a pregnant fan who previously bought the eggs, made the complaint. She claims the eggs were not goose eggs based on their appearance, taste, and size, and says she reported Lu Ao for allegedly misleading people. Lin angrily confronts her for reporting the matter without first asking him for an explanation.
Lin then posts a public statement defending Lu Ao, triggering a fierce online argument between supporters of both sides. Qinxin responds with an emotional accusation, claiming Lin harassed her after she reported the matter and that the resulting stress caused her to require hospitalization for bed rest. Her post quickly becomes a trending topic, and Lin’s reputation and fan community come under attack. Lin calls Lu Ao for advice, but Lu Ao urges him not to react and says the controversy will eventually fade.

Character developments

• Lu Ao remains calm and practical, showing confidence in his innocence and little desire to escalate the dispute. He also displays a private, sentimental side through his reluctance to throw away the underwear.
• Lin Qiyan becomes angry and distressed as his attempt to defend Lu Ao backfires. His protective loyalty to his friend is clear, but his impulsive public response contributes to the controversy. He also feels guilty for having trusted and indulged Qinxin as a fan.
• Qinxin is portrayed as self-righteous and determined to expose what she believes is fraud, while using her pregnancy and emotional distress to strengthen her public accusation.
• Song Zhou has a quieter role, listening as Lu Ao explains the police visit and providing a supportive domestic presence.

Significant themes

• Public opinion and online mob behavior: A minor dispute rapidly becomes a major scandal once both sides appeal to social media, with fans attacking one another and facts becoming secondary to emotional narratives.
• Trust and betrayal: Lin feels betrayed by a fan he had previously trusted, while Qinxin believes Lu Ao and Lin betrayed consumers by misrepresenting the eggs.
• The dangers of rash judgment: Qinxin reports the matter without seeking clarification, and Lin’s angry defense escalates rather than resolves the situation.
• Loyalty and friendship: Lin risks his reputation to protect Lu Ao, while Lu Ao responds with patience and advises him not to worsen the conflict.

Character interactions

Lu Ao and Song Zhou discuss the police visit, with Song Zhou questioning its cause. Lu Ao later consults Lin Qiyan, who contacts Qinxin and argues with her over the report. Lin publicly defends Lu Ao, but Qinxin counters with a widely circulated accusation. As the backlash intensifies, Lin turns to Lu Ao again for guidance, though he struggles to accept Lu Ao’s recommendation to remain passive.

Chapter 291 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan discuss the ongoing public controversy surrounding the confiscated eggs. Because the woman involved is pregnant, Lu Ao suggests reserving the right to press charges while waiting until after she gives birth. They agree to focus on managing the crisis rather than escalating the conflict immediately.
• Lu Ao reassures Lin Qiyan that online criticism will likely fade, while Lin worries more about the harm the scandal may cause Lu Ao.
• They discuss the coral restoration project. The coral is recovering well and has become unexpectedly resilient, though Professor Huang cannot identify the reason. A coming typhoon may lower the water temperature and help the coral fully recover.
• Lu Ao privately reveals that he caused the approaching typhoon through his supernatural abilities. If necessary, he is prepared to manipulate the weather further or bring a cold current to save the coral.
• After the call, Lu Ao and those around him avoid checking the internet, believing the controversy will pass. However, the situation worsens because the eggs are associated with wildlife, especially vulnerable animal young, provoking strong public anger.
• A rival company intensifies the scandal, pushing the topic to the top of the trending rankings. The forest police issue a late-night statement confirming that the eggs are undergoing testing, but netizens remain dissatisfied.
• Online users investigate Lu Ao after discovering that he had been named an “Outstanding Youth.” Photos of him and details of his background spread widely, leading people to question whether his award and achievements were legitimate.
• As more information emerges, the public discovers that Lu Ao was an excellent student, a helpful local businessman, and someone who had assisted others, including helping find lost pets, aiding the elderly, and donating an elementary school. Public opinion begins to become more complicated, with some people questioning the original accusations.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao: Remains calm and pragmatic about the scandal, refusing to be emotionally controlled by internet criticism. His concern for the coral becomes clearer, as he is willing to manipulate major weather systems to protect it. He also shows confidence that objective evidence from the police laboratory will eventually clear his name.
• Lin Qiyan: Demonstrates loyalty and concern for Lu Ao, feeling guilty that Lu Ao is being attacked. He remains deeply invested in the coral project and becomes enthusiastic when discussing its unexpected recovery.
• Professor Huang: Continues researching why the newly planted coral is more resilient than normal, though he has not yet discovered the cause.
• The public/netizens: Initially react with outrage and assume Lu Ao may be an illegal poacher, but their opinions begin shifting as they uncover evidence of his charitable and responsible past.

Significant Themes

• Public opinion and online mob mentality: The chapter shows how quickly rumors spread, especially when emotionally charged wildlife issues are involved, and how easily people draw conclusions before investigations are complete.
• Appearance versus reality: Lu Ao’s handsome appearance leads some netizens to speculate about him, while the later discovery of his genuine accomplishments challenges their assumptions.
• The danger of incomplete information: The public sees only the mysterious eggs and the lack of immediate explanations, allowing rivals and online speculation to construct a false narrative.
• Environmental protection and responsibility: Lu Ao’s efforts to save the coral, including his willingness to alter the weather, emphasize his commitment to protecting the natural world.
• Reputation and truth: Official recognition, charitable acts, and past good deeds gradually complicate the accusation that Lu Ao is a poacher.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan have a supportive, trusting conversation. Lin worries about Lu Ao, while Lu Ao reassures him and encourages him to focus on the evidence.
• Their shared enthusiasm over the coral’s recovery strengthens their sense of cooperation and common purpose.
• Lu Ao is physically resting in Song Zhou’s arms while speaking with Lin, suggesting familiarity and emotional closeness between Lu Ao and Song Zhou.
• Netizens interact collectively by investigating Lu Ao’s background, arguing over whether he is guilty, and uncovering information that may eventually help restore his reputation.

Chapter Summary

• Lu Ao’s reputation is vindicated online. As netizens investigate the controversy over the eggs he gave away, they uncover extensive evidence of his generosity: he donated a Hope Primary School, regularly contributed to charitable causes, and quietly helped a villager pay for medical treatment. Despite intense scrutiny, no scandals or wrongdoing are found in his past.
• Public opinion rapidly turns in Lu Ao’s favor. People who initially suspected fraud begin praising his character, admiring his appearance, and jokingly asking whether he has a girlfriend or plans to enter the entertainment industry. Many conclude that the female fan may have deliberately stirred up trouble, while others defend her right to report something suspicious even if her conclusion was mistaken.
• Lin Qiyan is caught off guard by the reversal. He had been preparing a public-relations statement to clarify the matter, but the controversy resolves itself before he can respond. His PR contact advises him not to interfere, since the incident has brought him and Lu Ao positive attention and may even increase their following. Lin remains uneasy, however, worrying that the hostile person behind the incident may cause further trouble.
• The police confirm Lu Ao’s claim. The Yandong County Forest Public Security Bureau announces that the eggs are genuinely goose eggs. To make the result indisputable, they also obtain an appraisal from an authoritative company in the provincial capital. The official evidence ends most doubts and effectively closes the controversy.
• Although a few extreme fans harass the female complainant, most netizens move on after consuming the drama. Nevertheless, people connected to Lu Ao—including those with hidden motives—take note of his spotless reputation and growing popularity.
• Weng Qian and his father discuss Lu Ao’s newfound fame. Old Weng is impressed by Lu Ao’s character and urges his son to buy more of Lu Ao’s goods. Weng Qian agrees but laments that Lu Ao’s products will now be much harder to obtain because far more people will compete to support him. He rejects his father’s suggestion that friendship should guarantee priority access, emphasizing that he and Lu Ao are business partners before friends.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lu Ao gains public recognition not merely for his striking appearance but for his consistent kindness and integrity. His charitable history becomes central to his public image.
• Lin Qiyan shifts from preparing damage control to observing Lu Ao’s unexpected rise in popularity. He remains protective and suspicious of potential further attacks.
• Weng Qian shows loyalty and admiration toward Lu Ao, while also worrying that Lu Ao’s increased fame will make their business dealings less convenient.
• Old Weng develops strong respect for Lu Ao and encourages Weng Qian to maintain the relationship.
• Netizens collectively act as investigators, first suspicious and then enthusiastic supporters, demonstrating how quickly online opinion can change.

Significant Themes

• The instability of internet public opinion: Online outrage can transform into adoration once evidence and new information emerge.
• Reputation and integrity: Lu Ao’s spotless record withstands unusually intense scrutiny, presenting genuine goodness as rare and powerful.
• The consequences of fame: Public exposure brings Lu Ao admiration and potential business benefits, but it also creates competition, attention, and the possibility of further trouble.
• The tension between friendship and commerce: Weng Qian acknowledges that his relationship with Lu Ao is still fundamentally a business partnership, despite their personal familiarity.

Chapter 293 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Weng family discusses adding more relatives to their group so they can help seize Lu Ao’s geese when the opportunity arises.
• Lu Ao wakes to an overflowing WeChat inbox. Friends and relatives inform him that public opinion has reversed in his favor after a blogger compiled evidence proving the truth about the goose eggs and the previous incident.
• Online commenters now praise Lu Ao as kind, honest, humble, and attractive. Embarrassed by the excessive praise, Lu Ao insists he is not as good as people claim.
• Song Zhou reassures him, saying that Lu Ao is even more exceptional in his eyes.
• The Forest Police officially clear Lu Ao of suspicion, confirm that his eggs are genuine goose eggs and safe to eat, and lift the restriction preventing him from leaving.
• Lu Ao plans to return to Qianyong City to restore the coral’s vitality before the coming heat wave. A tropical cyclone has formed, suggesting that a typhoon may soon bring cooler weather and usher in autumn.
• Lu Ao checks on his healthy goslings and realizes they no longer need the feed he purchased.
• Qinxin suffers the consequences of reporting Lu Ao. Harassed by angry private messages, she develops severe stomach pain and a recurring pregnancy rash. Her condition worsens because she cannot use most medications while pregnant.
• The doctor suggests that goose eggs may have previously suppressed her symptoms. Qinxin refuses to ask Lu Ao for help, but after other treatments fail, she regrets offending him and considers secretly obtaining his goose eggs through her husband.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao is officially vindicated and becomes the subject of widespread public admiration, though he remains modest and uncomfortable with the praise. He continues focusing on practical responsibilities, especially caring for the geese and coral.
• Song Zhou shows increasing affection and emotional support for Lu Ao, openly telling him that he considers Lu Ao uniquely wonderful.
• Qinxin shifts from hostility and self-righteousness to desperation and regret as her illness returns. However, she still resists apologizing directly and looks for an indirect way to obtain Lu Ao’s eggs.
• Qinxin’s husband attempts to comfort and assist her, suggesting that they purchase goose eggs elsewhere or use another identity to approach Lu Ao.
• The Weng family continues plotting to take Lu Ao’s geese, revealing that their interest is opportunistic rather than resolved by the public controversy.

Significant Themes

• Truth overcoming misinformation: Evidence and public investigation reverse the earlier condemnation of Lu Ao.
• The consequences of false accusations: Qinxin’s decision to report Lu Ao leaves her socially attacked, physically suffering, and dependent on the very resource she tried to discredit.
• Humility versus public image: Lu Ao is praised as an ideal person but remains self-conscious and unwilling to accept exaggerated descriptions of himself.
• Mutual care and loyalty: Song Zhou’s reassurance and Lu Ao’s concern for the coral and goslings emphasize genuine responsibility and affection.
• Greed and opportunism: The Weng family’s plan to seize the geese shows that some people are interested in exploiting Lu Ao’s unusual resources rather than understanding or respecting him.

Character Interactions

• The Weng family members cooperate in planning how to capture Lu Ao’s geese.
• Ge Ranzhou and other friends check on Lu Ao after the controversy, while Little Du sends him the evidence compilation that clears his name.
• Song Zhou observes Lu Ao’s embarrassment, comforts him, praises him personally, and agrees to take him to Qianyong City.
• The Forest Police notify Lu Ao of his exoneration.
• Qinxin and her husband discuss obtaining goose eggs, with Qinxin admitting that she regrets breaking ties with Lu Ao but still refusing to approach him openly.

Chapter 128 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qinxin’s severe itching and pregnancy rash worsen, leading her to demand goose eggs from Lu Ao’s farm. She insists that the eggs are necessary for her unborn child and pressures her husband to obtain them.
• Qinxin’s husband creates another WeChat account to contact Lin Qiyan, hoping to disguise his identity. Lin, overwhelmed by similar requests and worried about causing Lu Ao further trouble, ignores the message.
• The husband uses his family’s business connections to reach someone in the management of Lin Qiyan’s website. He repeatedly contacts and harasses Lin, eventually calling him directly.
• While Lin is on a boat with Lu Ao and Song Zhou, he answers the call. Qinxin’s husband offers increasingly large sums of money for just a few goose eggs, claiming that his wife and child desperately need them to treat her illness.
• Lin firmly explains that Lu Ao refuses to sell the eggs and warns that their supposed healing effects may have been exaggerated. After prolonged persuasion, he finally ends the call and blocks the number.
• Song Zhou identifies the caller as Qinxin’s husband, confirming that the family had deliberately tried to contact Lin through another account.
• Just as Lin prepares to join Lu Ao underwater to check on Coral and give her more life force, another unknown number calls. Song Zhou senses that it is unrelated to Qinxin’s family and encourages Lin to answer.
• The caller introduces himself as a friend of Brother Kun and proposes hiring Lu Ao’s boat for a five-day offshore fishing trip to catch and release Giant Trevally. He offers 3,000 yuan per day.
• Lin looks toward Lu Ao, who is already dressed in his wetsuit, leaving the proposed partnership unresolved.

Character Developments

• Qinxin becomes increasingly desperate and self-centered, using her pregnancy and the unborn child to pressure her husband and justify obtaining Lu Ao’s goose eggs.
• Qinxin’s husband reveals himself to be persistent and manipulative. He changes accounts, uses personal connections, repeatedly harasses Lin, and attempts to solve the problem through bribery when polite requests fail.
• Lin Qiyan grows more assertive. Although initially concerned about offending management and influential people, he ultimately blocks the harassing caller and condemns the family’s behavior. He also remains protective of Lu Ao’s wishes and reputation.
• Lu Ao continues to refuse to sell the goose eggs and remains focused on caring for Coral. His reputation for luck and his boat attract new business opportunities.
• Song Zhou demonstrates his unusual perceptiveness by recognizing the caller’s identity and distinguishing the second caller as someone offering potentially useful news.

Significant Themes

• Entitlement and manipulation: Qinxin’s family treats Lu Ao’s private goods as something they deserve, escalating from requests to bribery and harassment.
• Publicity and unwanted attention: The popularity of the goose eggs has created pressure and trouble for Lin and Lu Ao, showing the dangers of sudden fame.
• Boundaries and loyalty: Lin struggles with social and professional pressure but ultimately respects Lu Ao’s refusal and defends his friend.
• Greed versus genuine help: Although Qinxin’s husband claims the eggs are needed for medical reasons, his aggressive tactics and willingness to pay enormous sums undermine his appeal to compassion.
• New opportunities amid conflict: The chapter shifts from the unpleasant goose-egg dispute to a possible legitimate fishing partnership involving Giant Trevally.

Character Interactions

• Qinxin emotionally pressures her husband in the hospital room, using tears and the baby’s health to force him to act.
• Qinxin’s husband repeatedly pressures Lin through messages and phone calls, offering money and questioning Lu Ao’s kindness.
• Lin carefully but firmly refuses to reveal or sell the eggs and later blocks the man after learning his true identity.
• Lu Ao reassures Lin that blocking the family will not cause problems, helping Lin overcome his hesitation.
• Song Zhou provides crucial information about the caller’s identity and alerts Lin to the potentially beneficial fishing proposal.
• Lin must now consult Lu Ao about whether to accept the offer to search for and release Giant Trevally.

Chapter 295 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qiyan tells Lu Ao and the others about a potential boat-rental job from Xie Lingxun, offering 3,000 yuan per day for five days. Lu Ao declines because the fuel and labor costs would leave little profit, and he believes a typhoon will arrive soon, making fishing dangerous.
• Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan dive to inspect Coral, the restored underwater coral area. Their recent efforts to replenish Coral’s vitality have clearly worked: formerly bleached coral is regaining vivid colors, and fish and shrimp have returned.
• During the dive, Lu Ao calmly interacts with a large sea turtle, which allows him to touch its shell. Lin Qiyan tries to approach it but scares it away, highlighting Lu Ao’s natural affinity with marine life.
• Lin Qiyan films the coral for documentation. Because of diving safety procedures, they take over half an hour to return to the surface.
• Huang Ningna reviews the footage and confirms that if Coral remains in its current condition, most of it will likely survive. The coming rain and seasonal change may further stabilize the coral ecosystem.
• After checking on Coral, Lu Ao and Song Zhou eat dinner in Qianyong City rather than cooking. Lu Ao and Song Zhou then walk home hand in hand, enjoying a romantic evening under the stars.
• Their peaceful mood is interrupted when Lu Ao receives a phone call from an elderly man asking whether he is Mr. Lu Ao. The caller’s identity and purpose are left unresolved.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao remains practical and cautious, prioritizing safety and long-term benefit over immediate money. His accurate confidence about the coming typhoon also suggests his strong awareness of weather and the sea.
• He continues to demonstrate a remarkable connection with marine life, easily gaining the trust of the sea turtle.
• Lin Qiyan has improved significantly as a diver through his repeated underwater filming, though he still tires easily and lacks Lu Ao’s natural connection with sea creatures. His work documenting Coral shows his dedication to the restoration project.
• Huang Ningna remains scientifically careful, refusing to guarantee Coral’s survival but acknowledging the project’s promising progress.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou’s relationship is depicted as comfortable and affectionate, especially through their hand-in-hand walk after dinner.

Significant Themes

• Environmental restoration and hope: Coral’s recovery, returning colors, and renewed marine life show the tangible success of the restoration work.
• Respect for nature: Lu Ao’s gentle interaction with the turtle and his concern about taking the boat out during dangerous weather emphasize coexistence with the sea rather than exploiting it.
• Patience and caution: The characters wait for favorable seasonal conditions instead of taking unnecessary risks.
• Domestic and romantic intimacy: Sharing a meal and walking beneath the stars provide a quiet contrast to the chapter’s environmental and practical concerns.
• Uncertainty and impending change: The approaching typhoon may help Coral, but the unexpected phone call introduces a new and potentially disruptive development.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qiyan consults Lu Ao about the proposed boat job, relying on Lu Ao’s judgment.
• Lu Ao supports Lin Qiyan during the dive and later discusses Coral and the boat with Huang Ningna.
• Huang Ningna evaluates Lin Qiyan’s footage and offers a cautiously optimistic assessment.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou share an affectionate evening together before the mysterious call interrupts them.

Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ao receives a call from Zhao Xingli of the Southwest Agricultural Research Institute. After seeing Lu Ao’s geese, the institute suspects they are not ordinary Lionhead Geese but may have undergone an unusual mutation.
• Zhao asks to purchase goose eggs for research and requests an in-person meeting to inspect the geese and their living environment. Lu Ao agrees to meet them in the village the day after tomorrow, provided they bring proper identification.
• Before reaching home, Lu Ao receives another call from Xie Lingxun, who invites him to lead a fishing trip for Giant Trevally. Lu Ao initially refuses because of his busy schedule and an approaching typhoon.
• Xie explains that Boss Chen recommended Lu Ao, believing other captains lack the skill or luck to locate Giant Trevally. Because Lu Ao respects Boss Chen and owes him a favor, he offers to take the group out near the end of the month, once he confirms his schedule.
• Lu Ao mutes his phone to avoid further interruptions and walks home with Song Zhou.
• Two days later, Zhao Xingli and several colleagues arrive at Lu Ao’s home carrying gifts, fruit, and official documents. Lu Ao carefully checks Zhao’s identification and employment credentials before inviting the researchers inside.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao: Becomes increasingly aware that his geese and fishing abilities are attracting outside attention. He remains cautious and practical, verifying the researchers’ identities and setting limits on both the research visit and fishing request. Despite his reluctance toward fame and inconvenience, he is willing to cooperate when approached sincerely or through trusted connections.
• Song Zhou: Continues to provide emotional support and companionship. He lightly teases Lu Ao about the troubles that accompany fame and physically comforts him when the phone calls become irritating.
• Zhao Xingli: Is introduced as an enthusiastic, experienced agricultural researcher. His eagerness is tempered by professionalism, demonstrated when he brings identification and official documents.
• Xie Lingxun: Appears respectful and eager to work with Lu Ao. His admiration for Lu Ao’s reputation is evident, especially in his insistence that Lu Ao is the best person to guide the fishing expedition.
• Boss Chen: Though absent, he influences events by recommending Lu Ao to Xie and thereby helping expand Lu Ao’s opportunities.

Significant Themes

• Fame and unwanted attention: Lu Ao’s growing reputation brings opportunities but also constant interruptions and new obligations.
• Trust and verification: Lu Ao balances openness with caution, requiring official documents before allowing researchers access to his home and animals.
• Scientific curiosity and unusual talent: The geese’s apparent mutation suggests that Lu Ao’s animals may have exceptional or unexplained qualities worthy of formal study.
• Respect and professional reputation: Lu Ao’s fishing skills are valued within the angling community, while his relationships with people such as Boss Chen create further opportunities.
• Companionship and support: Song Zhou’s presence offers Lu Ao reassurance as outside demands begin to intrude on their quiet rural life.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou walk home hand in hand, with Song Zhou jokingly consoling Lu Ao about the burdens of becoming well known.
• Lu Ao negotiates politely but firmly with Zhao Xingli over the timing and conditions of the research visit.
• Lu Ao initially rejects Xie Lingxun’s invitation but softens after learning that Boss Chen made the referral, showing the importance of personal connections and reciprocity.
• When Zhao arrives, Lu Ao carefully inspects his credentials before welcoming him and his colleagues into the modest family courtyard.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Zhao Xingli and three colleagues visit Lu Ao’s farmhouse to inspect his unusual goose eggs. Lu Ao welcomes them with tea but remains informal and slightly impatient, especially when they decline breakfast. He brings out a basket of unfertilized goose eggs, which immediately captivates the professors; they begin examining them and filling out research forms. Zhao Xingli asks to purchase several eggs for further study, but Lu Ao generously offers them for free, including fertilized eggs if any can be found at the goose shed.
After breakfast, Lu Ao leads the group toward the goose shed near the river. Because the path is overgrown and slippery, he warns the professors about their unsuitable leather shoes. They dismiss his concern, claiming to be experienced travelers. The group drives partway, then walks through the abandoned riverside fields while admiring the scenery and reciting poetry.

Character developments

• Lu Ao is shown as practical, straightforward, and somewhat protective of Song Zhou. He is uneasy about the professors’ intense interest but remains cooperative and generous, offering them eggs for research. His confidence in his physical abilities has also grown, though he still views himself as less capable than a group of criminals.
• Song Zhou continues to be caring and domestic, preparing breakfast, encouraging Lu Ao, and reminding him to be cautious. His affectionate relationship with Lu Ao is evident through their easy conversation and Lu Ao’s kiss before leaving.
• Zhao Xingli and the professors shift from formal visitors to enthusiastic researchers and appreciative travelers. Their fascination with the goose eggs borders on obsession, while their relaxed poetry exchange reveals their scholarly and cultured personalities.

Significant themes

• Science and mystery: The extraordinary goose eggs attract serious academic attention, suggesting unexplained biological or supernatural qualities.
• Rural simplicity versus scholarly sophistication: The professors arrive in formal clothing and approach the visit scientifically, while Lu Ao treats the eggs and countryside as ordinary parts of daily life.
• Generosity and trust: Lu Ao freely offers valuable specimens despite the researchers’ interest, establishing a cooperative relationship.
• Domestic affection and companionship: The warm interaction between Lu Ao and Song Zhou contrasts with Lu Ao’s reserved attitude toward the visiting scholars.
• Nature and escape: The beautiful, overgrown riverside landscape relaxes the professors and inspires them to recite poetry.

Character interactions

Lu Ao and Song Zhou exchange affectionate, practical remarks about breakfast, the visitors, and their plans to inspect coral later. Zhao Xingli respectfully thanks Lu Ao and negotiates for goose eggs, while Lu Ao responds with casual generosity. During the journey, Lu Ao acts as the group’s guide and warns them about the terrain. The professors, meanwhile, bond with one another through conversation and improvised poetry as they walk through the countryside.

Chapter Summary — Page 298

• Journey to the goose shed: In the intense heat, Lu Ao leads Professor Zhao Xingli and several other professors through the wilderness to the remote goose shed. The professors, unused to the rough terrain and concerned about snakes and insects, struggle with the long walk. Along the way, they discuss poetry, pastoral literature, hermit traditions, and politics, while Lu Ao quietly learns from their conversation.
• Arrival and admiration: After nearly fifty minutes, the group reaches the shed, which is hidden among the grass and surrounded by wooden stakes. Zhao Xingli quotes poetry to describe the sudden appearance of the secluded goose enclosure, and the professors enthusiastically take photographs.
• The geese attack: As the professors are taking pictures, Lu Ao senses danger and warns them. A huge flock of mature geese suddenly flies toward the group, filling the sky and creating chaos. The professors panic, scatter, and slip on the ground because of their unsuitable leather shoes. Fortunately, they fall away from the nearby river and are not seriously injured.
• Lu Ao controls the flock: The geese stop when they are just over two meters from Lu Ao, apparently intimidated by him. Although they remain hostile toward the professors, Lu Ao orders them back with his stick. After some defiance, they retreat to the pen, allowing Lu Ao to shut and lock the gate.
• Discussion of the geese: Once safe, the professors comment on how unusually fierce the geese are, comparing them to guard dogs. Lu Ao explains that they were free-ranged from an early age and learned to forage and survive independently, which gave them a stronger wild nature than ordinary geese. The professors become interested in their potential as guard animals, noting that geese could have commercial value if they remain loyal to their owners while resisting strangers.

Character development and interactions

• Lu Ao demonstrates calm authority, alertness, and responsibility. He protects the professors despite expecting trouble and reveals that he has a special bond—or possibly an unusual influence—over the geese. He privately suspects they obey him because they sense that he is not human.
• Zhao Xingli and the professors shift from scholarly curiosity to fear and then back to professional interest. Though shaken and embarrassed after falling, they quickly begin analyzing the geese’s behavior and possible uses.
• The geese are portrayed as intelligent, aggressive, semi-wild creatures that distinguish between Lu Ao and outsiders, obeying him reluctantly while remaining eager to attack the professors.
• Significant themes: The chapter contrasts civilization and wilderness, particularly through the formally dressed intellectuals’ helplessness in the wild versus the geese’s natural strength and independence. It also emphasizes loyalty, instinct, authority, and the uncertain boundary between domesticated animals and wild creatures.

Chapter 299 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Xingli and several agricultural professors visit Lu Ao to inspect his goose flock, particularly the newly hatched goslings.
• Lu Ao explains that the goslings were hatched and raised almost entirely by the adult geese. He had planned to feed them himself but discovered that the flock cared for them effectively.
• The professors examine two gray, fluffy goslings and learn that twenty-seven have hatched, with more than ten expected soon.
• They inspect the flock’s free-range living environment, take photographs, and record observations. They are especially impressed by the geese’s apparent survival rate and health, since goslings are normally fragile and difficult to raise.
• The researchers propose buying adult geese, goslings, and goose eggs at ten times the market price. Lu Ao refuses to sell the geese but agrees to provide fertilized and unfertilized eggs for research.
• He initially offers twenty eggs, then agrees to provide twenty eggs each month. In exchange, he asks only for copies of the research findings and for any useful discoveries to be applied to agricultural production.
• Lu Ao privately reasons that official research may reveal whether the geese possess unusual or “mutated” qualities. However, he knows he cannot explain that their excellence may be connected to their long-term proximity to a dragon.
• After returning home, Lu Ao prepares twenty eggs—ten fertilized and ten unfertilized—for the researchers. They agree to formalize the arrangement in a contract.
• The group goes to town for lunch. Exhausted from the morning’s difficult trek through the riverside grass, the professors fall asleep at the table afterward. Concerned, Lu Ao suggests that they stay overnight rather than travel immediately.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao demonstrates practical knowledge, caution, and generosity. He protects his geese from being sold while still cooperating with legitimate scientific research.
• He shows a strong sense of responsibility toward agriculture and the wider public, asking that any discoveries benefit real farming rather than merely remaining academic findings.
• Zhao Xingli and the professors become increasingly enthusiastic and respectful as they observe the flock. Their initial curiosity develops into serious scientific interest, particularly regarding the geese’s survival rate and free-range upbringing.
• The professors’ physical exhaustion contrasts with their continued excitement, emphasizing how valuable they consider the geese.

Significant Themes

• Science versus hidden supernatural causes: The researchers seek measurable explanations for the geese’s unusual health, while Lu Ao knows the likely true cause cannot be disclosed.
• Responsible cooperation: Lu Ao balances secrecy with cooperation, giving the researchers enough material to investigate without surrendering his flock.
• Agricultural improvement: The possibility of increasing gosling survival rates could make goose farming more practical and profitable for ordinary farmers.
• Human–animal relationships: The adult geese’s natural care for their young highlights the flock’s social instincts and Lu Ao’s willingness to let them develop without unnecessary interference.
• Trust and public benefit: Lu Ao trusts the agricultural institute enough to share eggs, provided the research is used to help society.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Xingli questions Lu Ao closely about the goslings’ origins, care, and survival.
• Lu Ao answers openly about his farming methods but remains guarded about the deeper reason for the geese’s exceptional condition.
• The professors negotiate with Lu Ao for geese and eggs, while he firmly establishes that the birds themselves are not for sale.
• Lu Ao and Zhao Xingli reach a cooperative agreement based on research access rather than payment.
• At the end of the chapter, Lu Ao shows concern for the exhausted professors by offering to arrange lodging for them in town.

Chapter 129 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Professor Zhao Xingli and the other researchers prepare to return home after inspecting Lu Ao’s geese. They plan to rest before traveling to the county seat to catch the high-speed rail.
• Lu Ao offers to mail goose eggs to the researchers in the future, but Zhao explains that if the geese become part of a formal research project, they may later return to conduct environmental studies. He jokingly offers to bring fruit trees from their agricultural institute because Lu Ao has leased an entire mountain.
• A powerful typhoon approaches. The province issues a red alert and orders fishermen to remain at sea. Lin Manzhang and the other fishermen secure their boats, while Lu Ao contacts Huang Ningna to ensure his own boat is safely berthed.
• Lu Ao realizes the goose shelter near the river will not withstand the predicted force-twelve winds or possible flooding. He decides to bring the geese back to safety before the storm arrives.
• Just as he is about to leave, Song Zhou returns home with food and offers to accompany him. The two change plans slightly, with Song Zhou deciding to wear his casual clothes and shoes rather than fully change.
• They walk together toward the goose shed instead of teleporting, enjoying the cool weather and each other’s company.

Character Developments

• Lu Ao continues to demonstrate responsibility and foresight. He considers the safety of the fishermen, boats, and geese as the typhoon approaches, and he plans ahead to protect the flock from both strong winds and rising water.
• Zhao Xingli reveals that the researchers are seriously considering studying the geese, potentially expanding their cooperation with Lu Ao into environmental research.
• Song Zhou shows increasing attentiveness toward Lu Ao. Although busy with work, he returns early enough to accompany Lu Ao, bringing food and willingly helping with the geese.
• Lu Ao’s feelings for Song Zhou become more apparent. He is visibly flustered by Song Zhou’s appearance and grows nervous when Song Zhou smiles at him. He instinctively takes Song Zhou’s hand, while Song Zhou notices Lu Ao’s embarrassment but tactfully does not tease him.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and preparedness: The approaching typhoon highlights the importance of planning and protecting both people and animals from natural disasters.
• Growing cooperation: The discussion with Professor Zhao suggests future collaboration between Lu Ao and the research institute, extending beyond the geese to agricultural and environmental projects.
• Domestic intimacy: Song Zhou’s return with dinner and his decision to accompany Lu Ao create a warm, everyday atmosphere that reflects their developing closeness.
• Human connection with nature: Lu Ao’s awareness of the weather, the river, and the geese emphasizes his special relationship with the natural environment and his role as its caretaker.

Character Interactions

• Zhao and Lu Ao discuss the researchers’ visit, future projects, and possible cooperation.
• Lu Ao and Huang Ningna exchange urgent information about securing the boat during the typhoon, with Huang admitting she is unsure how to handle it.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou share a gentle, flirtatious domestic moment. Song Zhou offers practical help, while Lu Ao is shy and emotionally affected by his presence.
• Their decision to walk together to the goose shed underscores their increasing comfort and companionship.