Chapter Summaries

Qing Mengzhu received oca seed tubers from Nian Xinfei and arranged for the farm to plant them alongside more salad vegetables. Gu Benshu then reported that the earthworm Biological Missile had successfully killed underground pests, and Qing Mengzhu reviewed the results, set the next steps, and rewarded the team.

• Nian Xinfei brought Qing Mengzhu oca tubers and took chili plants from his farm for research.
• Qing Mengzhu had Zhao Hexi and the others plant the oca, while Zhou Yan asked them to grow more vegetables for salads.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhou Yan discussed soybean sauce, soy sauce, and the farm’s rice wine.
• Gu Benshu told Qing Mengzhu that earthworms carrying Insect-Killing Bacillus had successfully killed underground pest larvae, especially grubs.
• Qing Mengzhu reviewed Gu Benshu’s team’s results and arranged professional help with the patent application and bonuses for the team.

Qing Mengzhu assigned Li Ba's team to prepare tomato and chili pepper seeds while discussing farm and company plans with Zhao Hexi. Ke Shuwen's team reported that Tuan Brassica rapidly accumulated several harmful metals, establishing its potential as a hyperaccumulator plant.

• Li Ba asked Qing Mengzhu to let his team study and prepare tomato and chili pepper seeds, and Qing Mengzhu approved seed selection, disinfection, and coating.
• Qing Mengzhu invited Zhao Hexi to dinner with prawns from the paddy fields and discussed their harvest plans and the company's December work.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi discussed plans for future office towers, including the possibility of nearby plots for their companies.
• Ke Shuwen told Qing Mengzhu that Tuan Brassica accumulated copper, mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium, and other metals quickly, and showed him the experimental results and extracted metals.

Ke Shuwen’s team prepared to publish research on Tuan Brassica, whose metal-accumulating ability drew international interest. Qing Mengzhu agreed to pursue a partnership with a state-owned mining group to test the plant on rhodium ore, and Ke Shuwen volunteered to lead the work.

• Qing Mengzhu approved Ke Shuwen’s paper on Tuan Brassica and promised her team a bonus after publication.
• After receiving inquiries from researchers worldwide, Qing Mengzhu asked Zhao Hexi and Ke Shuwen to recruit suitable candidates.
• Duan Yu'ang introduced Bi Luping, who proposed partnering to test Tuan Brassica at his company’s rhodium mine.
• Qing Mengzhu reviewed Bi Luping’s contract with Zhuxi’s law firm and became inclined to sign the generous agreement.
• Ke Shuwen volunteered to be stationed at the mine, and Qing Mengzhu agreed to pursue the partnership while prioritizing her safety and living conditions.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi fertilized the coffee trees in Qiongwei City, picked mangosteens, and returned home with ryegrass for the pregnant cows. Back on the mountain, they fed the herd and dug winter bamboo shoots while preparing to arrange road construction.

• Qing Mengzhu brought Ming Chunxi to Qiongwei City and used fermented cow-manure fertilizer on the coffee trees, explaining to Ping Lin why they could not raise cattle there yet.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi harvested ripe mangosteens and figs, then decided to cut ryegrass before flying home.
• Qing Mengzhu arranged for the ryegrass to be shipped in a refrigerated truck and later fed it to the pregnant cows after checking it with the Mall Assistant.
• Qing Mengzhu said he would contact Zhao Hexi about the mountain road construction and invited the crew to a meal while planning to dig winter bamboo shoots.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi dug several winter bamboo shoots, then stopped when Qing Mengzhu’s hands began to hurt from the hard ground.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi discovered sweet water stored inside bamboo and began collecting it to test its quality. They returned with three water-filled bamboo stalks, while Zhao Hexi and their guests gathered in the courtyard to try the unusual water.

• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi cut bamboo to make fresh bamboo sap for the cold-stricken Zhao Hexi, and found clear, sweet water inside one stalk.
• Zhao Hexi drank the bamboo-segment water and said it soothed his sore throat; Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi tasted it and wondered whether it surpassed Spirit Spring Water.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi searched the mountainside, found two more water-filled bamboo segments, and carried the stalks home.
• Zhao Hexi made fresh bamboo sap, and Zhou Yan and Chu Yanhuan arrived with tea snacks and strawberries to sample the bamboo water.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi cleaned the bamboo and made holes in the water-filled segments to collect the water.

Qing Mengzhu and his companions discovered that bamboo water made their lotus tea exceptionally fragrant and helped clear their sore throats. He then planned the next planting season and set limits on expanding the company’s community-supported agriculture program, while considering a branch in the frontier.

• Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, and the others drank lotus tea brewed with bamboo water and noticed its remarkable flavor and clarifying effect.
• Zhao Hexi and Zhou Yan found their hoarseness had cleared, while Chu Yanhuan praised Qing Mengzhu’s agricultural company and its prospects.
• Qing Mengzhu examined selected tomato and chili seeds and planned to start seedlings in two greenhouses before transplanting them in March.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi decided to plant radishes in the fields where tomatoes and chilies had been harvested.
• Qing Mengzhu set a limit of seventy thousand community-supported agriculture memberships and proposed a fair lottery for applicants.
• Qing Mengzhu rejected leasing more local land and considered opening a frontier branch to grow vegetables suited to long-distance transport.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi bought the discounted Seed Gene Agent, which could improve plant quality, and decided to try it on their prized bamboo. They planned to dig up the parent bamboo so they could apply the agent to its roots.

• Zhao Hexi agreed to survey the frontier and test its soil before preparing a planting plan.
• Qing Mengzhu inspected the new tomato and chili pepper seeds and found their quality had improved.
• Qing Mengzhu discovered the discounted Seed Gene Agent in the Interstellar Mall and discussed its cost and effects with Ming Chunxi.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi bought the agent and extracted its jade bottle into the real world.
• Qing Mengzhu decided to dig up the parent bamboo and use the Seed Gene Agent on its roots.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi dug up their mother bamboo and learned that bamboo water could improve the effects of Seed Gene Agent. After consulting the upgraded Mall Assistant, they returned to the mountain to collect high-quality bamboo water for the treatment.

• Qing Mengzhu found that Superior Grade cow manure fertilizer had not improved the bamboo, so Ming Chunxi supported his decision to dig it up.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi heard water inside the mother bamboo, then cut it down and carried it home to soak its roots in Seed Gene Agent.
• Qing Mengzhu discovered that the Interstellar Mall had upgraded their Mall Assistant, which explained how water quality affected Seed Gene Agent.
• The Mall Assistant told Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi that bamboo water counted as high-quality Spirit Spring Water and would not interfere with preparing the agent.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi returned to the bamboo grove and collected water from higher-quality bamboo for the Seed Gene Agent.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi used Seed Gene Agent to rejuvenate a bamboo section, then Qing Mengzhu prepared a large batch of tomato and chili seedlings. With the greenhouse crops underway and too little land available, he told Ming Chunxi he planned to lease a farm at the frontier after New Year's Day.

• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi soaked a bamboo section in a Seed Gene Agent solution, which quickly sprouted new shoots and reached Superior Grade+, thirteen percent short of Supreme Grade-.
• They planted the rejuvenated bamboo on the mountain, and Qing Mengzhu used the remaining solution to soak tomato and chili seeds.
• Zhao Hexi discussed selling premium vegetables and fruit through the online store, while Qing Mengzhu asked for workers to help prepare seedling cups.
• Feng Ningxiang brought workers to fill one hundred thousand seedling cups, and Qing Mengzhu's team sowed more than sixty-seven thousand tomato seeds and twenty-four thousand chili seeds.
• After seeing the seedlings sprout, Qing Mengzhu told Ming Chunxi that he planned to lease a frontier farm after New Year's Day because they lacked enough land.

Qing Mengzhu checked the livestock and bamboo on the mountains, then caught a goose and gathered ingredients for a meal with Zhao Hexi. The chapter ended with him digging a large lotus root from the pond.

• Qing Mengzhu checked the pregnant cattle, the growing hazel grouse flock, and the mother bamboo on the mountains.
• Qing Mengzhu found a plump Superior Grade+ winter bamboo shoot growing where the mother bamboo had stood, but left it undisturbed.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi caught a goose, and Qing Mengzhu recorded it with the company and invited Zhou Yan to dinner.
• Zhou Yan offered to braise the goose and vegetables, while Zhao Hexi suggested adding shrimp.
• Qing Mengzhu gathered large shrimp and dug a thick, tender lotus root from the pond.

Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi discussed expanding lotus root production and selling the best roots separately, then Qing Mengzhu and his friends gathered at home to prepare Zhou Yan’s braised goose dinner. After sharing a meal and enjoying the winter-grown asparagus and other vegetables, the group ended the evening warm and satisfied.

• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi agreed to plant lotus shoots in two ponds next year and discussed selling the best lotus roots separately for 99 yuan a jin.
• Qing Mengzhu returned home to find Zhou Yan preparing goose while Ming Chunxi, Chu Yanhuan, and others helped get dinner ready.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi uncovered and picked the asparagus shoots they had protected beneath rice straw.
• Qing Mengzhu took Zhou Yan to pet Little Fox and Little Otter, and Dharma Protector and Guard joined them to beg for food.
• Everyone gathered around a brazier and ate Zhou Yan’s braised goose, asparagus, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and other vegetables.

Qing Mengzhu and his companions opened the fermented liquor jar and discovered it was full of rice-white liquor. With Qing Guozhi’s help, they began distilling it and learned to discard the first and last portions.

• Chu Yanhuan enjoyed the spicy meal with Zhou Yan’s chocolate fermented rice drink while everyone discussed their food and drinks.
• Qing Mengzhu uncovered the jar under the stairs, and the group found it contained far more liquor than expected.
• Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, and the others tasted the fragrant but weak liquor and discussed how to distill it.
• Qing Guozhi brought his old distilling equipment to Qing Mengzhu’s house and guided Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi through the process.
• Qing Guozhi caught the first drops separately and explained that the first and last portions should be discarded because they contained harmful impurities.

Qing Mengzhu and his family distilled a fragrant, exceptionally strong liquor, which they sampled and decided to age until New Year. The next morning, Zhao Hexi brought Superior Grade strawberries to sell and suggested Qing Mengzhu raise free-range pigs on his mountains.

• Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, and Qing Guozhi tasted the freshly distilled liquor and found it strong, fragrant, and smooth, though Qing Mengzhu and Qing Guozhi became tipsy.
• Qing Mengzhu turned away curious villagers who came to ask about the liquor, giving only Qing Guozhi a small bottle to take home.
• Zhou Yan, Zhao Hexi, and Chu Yanhuan sampled the liquor that evening, and Zhou Yan recommended aging it until New Year.
• The following morning, Qing Mengzhu scooped out the distillers' grains to mix with hay and fermented bamboo leaves for the cattle.
• Zhao Hexi brought a basket of bright red strawberries to sell and suggested Qing Mengzhu raise free-range black pigs on his mountains using grass and leftover swill.

After New Year’s Day, Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi traveled to the frontier with Ming Chunxi to inspect farms. Qing Mengzhu liked a vast, flat farm and planned crops for it, then asked Duan Yu'ang to show him another property where he could try growing rice.

• Zhao Hexi persuaded Qing Mengzhu to hire help for the animals and joined his planned frontier farm inspection, leaving Maike in charge of the company.
• Zhuxi Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. handled the New Year's Day holiday smoothly, and Qing Mengzhu, Zhao Hexi, and Ming Chunxi flew to the frontier afterward.
• Duan Yu'ang met them at the airport and took them to inspect a 134-hectare former state-owned farm that had black soil, abundant water, and a flat landscape.
• Qing Mengzhu approved of the farm and outlined plans to grow ryegrass, onions, chives, carrots, tomatoes, and strawberries there.
• Qing Mengzhu asked Duan Yu'ang to take him to a larger farm with rivers and marshes so he could assess whether it was suitable for rice.

Qing Mengzhu and his companions leased two large frontier farms and began preparing for spring planting while harvesting a bumper crop of radishes. As Zhou Yan arranged to make preserved radish, he also suggested taking over a struggling upscale restaurant as a branch, and Qing Mengzhu considered the idea.

• Qing Mengzhu and the others leased the 134-hectare and 178-hectare state-owned farms for fifty years and planned spring construction and planting.
• Qing Mengzhu called a meeting to arrange seeds and farm repairs, then hired workers to harvest the ripe radishes.
• Zhou Yan praised the radishes, agreed to use twenty thousand jin to make preserved radish, and brought workers to wash and cut them for drying.
• Zhou Yan told Qing Mengzhu that a Japanese restaurant in Vine City's central business district might close and suggested taking it over as a branch.
• Qing Mengzhu considered the restaurant's location and finances, and Zhou Yan said his team could split up and hire additional staff.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi agreed to rent Flying White for a farm restaurant branch, and Zhou Yan said the deal was nearly settled for a trial opening after the Lunar New Year. Back at home, Qing Mengzhu showed Ming Chunxi a video filmed at the restaurant and said he had missed some major gossip.

• Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, and Zhou Yan toured Flying White and considered taking over the lavish restaurant as a branch.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi agreed to rent Flying White, and Zhou Yan went to negotiate with its owner.
• Qing Mengzhu visited the busy farm restaurant, where young diners mistook several foreign guests for someone else and excitedly approached them.
• Zhou Yan told Qing Mengzhu that the Flying White negotiations were nearly complete and the branch might begin a trial opening after the Lunar New Year.
• Ming Chunxi returned home and found Qing Mengzhu watching a video from the farm restaurant; Qing Mengzhu said he had missed major gossip.

Zhuxi Farm was named to the Global Top 100 Restaurants and received an award, ranking ninety-seventh in the world and sixth in the country. Zhou Yan celebrated the achievement with Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, and Zhao Hexi, while the others stayed behind to prepare for spring planting.

• Qing Mengzhu discovered that chefs visiting the farm were judges for the Global Top 100 Restaurants and suspected Zhuxi Farm was a candidate.
• Zhou Yan learned the farm was a candidate and accepted that it might not win, since it had only recently opened.
• A week later, Zhuxi Farm appeared on the official list, and Zhou Yan confirmed the invitation and praise were genuine.
• Zhou Yan traveled to Country N and told Qing Mengzhu and the others that the farm ranked ninety-seventh in the world and sixth in the country.
• Zhou Yan promised to keep leading the team to improve, while Qing Mengzhu and the others prepared seedlings and soil for spring.

Qing Mengzhu arranged to advance trials for the company’s saved tomato and chili pepper seeds after local farmers asked to participate. As spring arrived, the tea trees sprouted, easing his worries about his stalled planting skills and leaving him discussing New Year plans with Ming Chunxi.

• Feng Ningxiang told Qing Mengzhu that local farmers wanted to sign up to trial the company’s seeds, especially tomatoes and chili peppers.
• Li Ba confirmed the company had plenty of both seeds, and Qing Mengzhu decided to move up the planting trials by a year.
• Zhao Hexi agreed to work with Li Ba on a trial plan, including selecting farmers and providing subsidies.
• Qing Mengzhu told Zhao Hexi he felt his planting skills had hit a bottleneck, and Zhao Hexi encouraged him to wait for new insights.
• Ming Chunxi told Qing Mengzhu the tea trees had sprouted, and Qing Mengzhu found their buds and leaves had improved since last year.
• Qing Mengzhu felt more at ease about their progress and asked Ming Chunxi whether they should spend New Year at home and invite Auntie to visit.

Qing Mengzhu attended a chili cultivation lecture at Tengcheng Agricultural University and gained a clearer understanding of the subject. During the talk, he experienced a sudden breakthrough that left him able to sense people’s areas of expertise, including the expert’s and Nian Xinfei’s mastery of chili cultivation.

• Qing Mengzhu agreed to attend a chili cultivation meeting after Nian Xinfei invited him.
• Qing Mengzhu finished farm chores, sold winter bamboo shoots to the Interstellar Mall, and drove to Tengcheng Agricultural University the next morning.
• Director Chu and Nian Xinfei welcomed Qing Mengzhu, and several teachers and professors asked him technical questions about his tomato paper.
• Qing Mengzhu listened closely to the visiting expert’s chili cultivation talk and took notes as his own understanding developed.
• Qing Mengzhu experienced a sudden mental breakthrough and then sensed that the visiting expert and Nian Xinfei were experts in chili cultivation, while Director Chu was an expert in soybean cultivation.

After Qing Mengzhu became an Intermediate Grower, he discovered he could sense and scan people’s professional skills, then used the ability to identify promising employees. He continued experimenting with his improved growing system and offered Zhao Hexi New Year gifts before Zhao went home for the holiday.

• Qing Mengzhu visited Ming Chunxi and discovered that his Grower level had risen to Intermediate, granting him the ability to sense people’s professional skills.
• Qing Mengzhu scanned Ming Chunxi and himself with the Mall Assistant, which displayed their specialties and skill levels.
• After getting used to his new ability, Qing Mengzhu used it to identify capable young employees and promoted several of them to team leaders.
• Qing Mengzhu told Zhao Hexi that he wanted to test a new growing method on the tomato and chili pepper seedlings.
• Qing Mengzhu offered Zhao Hexi hazel grouse, winter bamboo shoots, and homemade liquor to take home for the New Year.