Chapter Summaries

After Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi hosted a meal and overnight guests, they discovered the red fox was furious because the two dogs and otter had stolen its buried beef stew. Qing Mengzhu compensated the fox with jerky, and later learned from Tan Wenlei and Feng Ningxiang that his peppers were thriving while other farmers’ late-autumn crops struggled.

• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi served the beef and bamboo shoot stew, and Ming Lexin and Zhao Hexi stayed overnight after enjoying the meal.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi found the red fox barking at the dogs and otter after the three animals had dug up and eaten its hidden stew.
• Qing Mengzhu gave the red fox the little ones’ jerky as compensation and scolded the dogs and otter, while the fox stayed close to him and ignored them.
• Zhao Hexi and Tan Wenlei discussed the red fox’s attachment to Qing Mengzhu and his knack for attracting animals.
• Tan Wenlei and Feng Ningxiang told Qing Mengzhu that his peppers remained healthy and large while other farmers’ late-autumn peppers were failing.

Qing Mengzhu investigated why his peppers were still thriving in autumn and invited Nian Xinfei to examine them. Nian Xinfei bought more plants for research, leaving both their teams curious about the peppers’ unusual resilience.

• Qing Mengzhu visited local pepper fields and learned that ordinary pepper plants lost their leaves and stopped producing when the weather turned cold.
• Qing Mengzhu contacted Nian Xinfei, who sent him cultivation records showing that the five pepper plants he had received were producing less and had suffered more pests and disease than Qing Mengzhu’s plants.
• Nian Xinfei and his students visited Qing Mengzhu’s five mu of peppers and were astonished that the plants remained lush and highly productive.
• Nian Xinfei suggested the peppers might be unusually resistant to cold and asked to buy more plants for study, while Qing Mengzhu agreed and said his company might research them too.
• Nian Xinfei’s group bought five pepper plants to investigate whether they had undergone a genetic mutation and potentially extract genes for gene-editing research.

Qing Mengzhu confirmed Di Xing would keep buying their chilies and worked with Feng Ningxiang and the others to extract fresh bamboo sap. The sap sold well after an influencer promoted it, and the chapter ended with Zhao Hexi telling Qing Mengzhu that a major pharmacy wanted to discuss a partnership.

• Qing Mengzhu called Di Xing, who agreed to keep buying all the chilies they could supply.
• Qing Mengzhu and Feng Ningxiang's group heated bamboo to extract fresh bamboo sap, and Qing Guozhi ordered three kilograms at a discount.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi discussed the sap's high price, careful production, and positive online reviews.
• An influencer's video made the fresh bamboo sap more popular, and sales began to outpace production.
• Zhao Hexi said a nationally famous pharmacy had contacted them about a business partnership.

Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi prepared the rented ponds while deciding to postpone planting lotus, then Zhao Hexi visited to see Little Otter’s large mandarin fish. Zhao Hexi went fishing in the river himself but caught only two small crucian carp.

• Qing Mengzhu rejected a pharmacy’s offer to partner on fresh bamboo sap and told Zhao Hexi to announce that production would stop because they had enough bamboo vinegar.
• Zhao Hexi posted the announcement, and the remaining fresh bamboo sap sold out within seconds.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi oversaw the cleanup of eight rented ponds and decided to leave their banks intact and postpone deciding whether to grow lotus.
• Qing Mengzhu invited Zhao Hexi to dinner after Little Otter caught an edible mandarin fish weighing 8.24 jin.
• Zhao Hexi hurried to fish near Qing Mengzhu’s pond but caught only two small crucian carp after several hours.

Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, Zhao Hexi, and their animal companions went on an autumn outing into the mountains to forage. They reached a Japanese raisin tree, and Qing Mengzhu prepared to use a bamboo pole to pick its fruit.

• At dinner, Zhao Hexi talked about losing a strong fish, and Qing Mengzhu suggested he fish near Little Otter the next day.
• Zhao Hexi realized Dharma Protector and Guard were jealous after he praised Little Otter, and Tan Wenlei suggested he take the dogs into the mountains to make amends.
• Qing Mengzhu arranged a Sunday mountain trip with Ming Chunxi and Zhao Hexi, and the red fox and Little Otter insisted on joining them.
• Qing Mengzhu drove the group to a cleared spot halfway up the mountain, where Zhao Hexi checked the foraging map and they headed to pick Japanese raisins.
• Qing Mengzhu led everyone to a tall, old Japanese raisin tree and brought out a bamboo pole to reach its fruit.

Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, and Zhao Hexi gathered Japanese raisins and wild chestnuts on the mountain, with their animal companions joining in. They continued picking chestnuts together after tasting how fragrant they were.

• Qing Mengzhu climbed a tree and knocked Japanese raisins down for Zhao Hexi, Ming Chunxi, and the little ones to collect.
• Qing Mengzhu climbed down, and Zhao Hexi took Dharma Protector, Guard, the fox, and the otter ahead to find wild chestnuts.
• Dharma Protector and Guard playfully nudged Zhao Hexi as he tired on the uphill path, and he found a wild chestnut tree after stepping on a burr.
• Qing Mengzhu explained the difference between wild chestnuts and chestnuts, while Dharma Protector cracked open a burr and ate its nut.
• Ming Chunxi used the bamboo pole to knock chestnuts down, and one chestnut fell into his hair.
• Zhao Hexi tasted a wild chestnut, praised its fragrant flavor, and the three of them gathered and separated more chestnuts from their burrs.

Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, and Zhao Hexi gathered chestnuts, shared lunch, and went searching for wild tea trees in the mountains. After picking tea leaves, Qing Mengzhu sent Zhao Hexi away so he could secretly use the Mall Assistant to find a high-quality tea tree.

• Qing Mengzhu and the others gathered chestnuts, then stopped for lunch and homemade milk tea.
• Zhao Hexi learned that wild tea trees grew nearby and persuaded Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi to go find them.
• The group crossed a thorny slope to reach the tea trees, where they picked a basket of leaves to try.
• Zhao Hexi proposed taking tea trees home, and Qing Mengzhu suggested bringing back cuttings instead.
• Qing Mengzhu sent Zhao Hexi and the four little ones farther away, then told Ming Chunxi he planned to use the Mall Assistant to find the best-quality tea tree.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi gathered wild tea branches, fruit, mushrooms, and chestnuts with Zhao Hexi and their animal companions, then returned home to prepare the harvest. The tea branches were left to soak for planting, and the group shared a meal as Zhao Hexi put off responding to work messages.

• Qing Mengzhu found two Good Grade+ wild tea trees and cut branches to take home, while Ming Chunxi lent him his jacket.
• Qing Mengzhu let Dharma Protector, Guard, the red fox, and the otter carry wild kiwifruit as they climbed the mountain.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi agreed to arrange an examination and neutering appointment for the two dogs the following week.
• Qing Mengzhu soaked the tea branches in rooting powder and fried five-spice wild chestnuts, while Zhao Hexi sampled them and took some unseasoned chestnuts to the red fox and otter.
• Zhao Hexi silenced repeated work messages during dinner, and Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi thanked him for his hard work.

Qing Mengzhu learned that content-farm videos had twisted Chef Fan Donghua’s remarks about Zhuxi’s tomatoes into a negative review. After Zhou Yan explained the misunderstanding, Qing Mengzhu sent Fan Donghua fresh produce, and Fan began featuring Zhuxi’s vegetables in his livestream.

• Qing Mengzhu, Ming Chunxi, and Zhao Hexi watched videos misrepresenting Fan Donghua’s comments about Zhuxi’s tomatoes, and Ming Chunxi and Zhao Hexi decided to investigate.
• Zhou Yan explained that Fan Donghua had only said the tomatoes’ strong flavor could overpower celery and onions in soup, and Qing Mengzhu said he did not blame Fan.
• Qing Mengzhu harvested celery and onions and sent portions to Zhou Yan and Fan Donghua, who said he would use them on his livestream.
• Fan Donghua introduced Zhuxi’s tomatoes, onions, and celery during his cooking livestream, while viewers questioned whether the company was sponsoring him.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi watched the livestream as Fan Donghua and his team began preparing tomato and seafood noodles.

Qing Mengzhu, Zhao Hexi, and Ming Chunxi watched Fan Donghua make tomato seafood hot pot, then recreated the dish at home with a fish caught by the otter. After tasting the soup, they fed some of the meat and rice to Dharma Protector, Guard, and the other animals.

• Fan Donghua cooked tomato seafood hot pot on a livestream, and he and his apprentice praised its rich flavor as viewers watched.
• Qing Mengzhu, Zhao Hexi, and Ming Chunxi decided to make the dish, and Qing Mengzhu took the otter to catch a large mandarin fish.
• The three prepared tomato soup at home and tasted its flavors before adding salt or soy sauce.
• Ming Chunxi set aside fish and meat for the animals, and Zhao Hexi fed Dharma Protector and Guard before going to feed the red fox and the otter.

Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi strengthened their farm’s business ties, planned new vegetable sales, and harvested honey from their Chinese milk vetch field. The harvest ended with Gu Benshu reporting that the permit to produce Insect-Killing Bacillus had been approved.

• Zhao Hexi fed the red fox and otter, then warned the fox not to hide its favorite food in the bowl.
• Qing Mengzhu sent Fan Donghua vegetables and two live hazel grouse as a gesture of goodwill, while discussing the gift and new packaging plans with Zhao Hexi.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi decided to wait before selling radishes and cabbages and went to watch Tan Wenlei and Feng Ningxiang harvest honey.
• Qing Mengzhu and the others tasted the wildflower honey, then Zhao Hexi arranged to share it with the staff and Gu Benshu.
• Gu Benshu told Zhao Hexi that the pesticide production and business permit had been approved, allowing industrial-scale production of Insect-Killing Bacillus.

After receiving the company’s permit to prepare a microbial community, Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi learned that the Northern Research Institute of the Huaxia Academy of Sciences wanted to collaborate on a Biological Missile project using Insect-Killing Bacillus. Qing Mengzhu decided to study the proposal and negotiate the collaboration himself.

• Gu Benshu showed Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi the company’s approved permit and explained that its documents were publicly available.
• Gu Benshu told them that the Northern Research Institute of the Huaxia Academy of Sciences had invited the company to develop a Biological Missile using Insect-Killing Bacillus.
• Gu Benshu explained that the technology used parasitic wasps to deliver targeted viruses to pest eggs, and said he favored collaborating with the institute.
• Qing Mengzhu discussed the opportunity with Ming Chunxi, who suggested treating it as valuable training and publicity despite limited financial returns.
• Qing Mengzhu decided to study Biological Missile technology and negotiate with the institute himself, then researched insect virus epidemiology before approaching its representatives.

Qing Mengzhu returned from signing a research contract with the Northern Research Institute of the Huaxia Academy of Sciences, then agreed to Zhao Hexi’s suggestion to cook one of their geese. Zhou Yan came over to prepare the nearly fourteen-jin goose, and Ming Chunxi arrived home as it cooked.

• Qing Mengzhu signed a contract with the Northern Research Institute of the Huaxia Academy of Sciences to share research and collaborate on projects led by Gu Benshu.
• Qing Mengzhu returned to the village on November 21, and Zhao Hexi persuaded him to cook one of their geese.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi caught a goose by the pond and invited Zhou Yan to prepare it.
• Zhou Yan weighed the goose at thirteen jin and six liang, then used an electric plucker to help prepare it.
• Ming Chunxi came home while the goose cooked, petted the dogs, and Qing Mengzhu greeted him from the kitchen.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi hosted Zhou Yan and Zhao Hexi for a feast of stewed goose and ice wine, and Qing Mengzhu drank enough to become tipsy. While alone in the bedroom, he accidentally spent all his Star Coins on half a skill book, then proudly told Ming Chunxi about it.

• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi fed the dogs goose before joining Zhou Yan and Zhao Hexi for dinner.
• Zhou Yan served stewed goose and ice wine, and the group enjoyed the meal together.
• Qing Mengzhu drank too much wine, so Ming Chunxi carried him to bed and later returned to the guests.
• Qing Mengzhu searched the Interstellar Mall for spirit wine, repeatedly tried to buy unavailable items, and accidentally purchased Elementary Soil Science (0.5) with all his Star Coins.
• Ming Chunxi found Qing Mengzhu sitting up and heard him announce that he had bought half a book, then wrapped him in a blanket and pressed him back onto the bed.

Qing Mengzhu accidentally absorbed half of an Elementary Soil Science skill book, leaving him dizzy but with new knowledge and experience. After the Interstellar Mall forced an update that revealed buying the book had been a bug, he used what he had learned to draft a soil improvement plan and took it to Zhao Hexi.

• Qing Mengzhu showed Ming Chunxi the half skill book in the Interstellar Mall, tapped it, and absorbed its contents, which made him dizzy and unwell.
• Ming Chunxi stayed with Qing Mengzhu through the night and worked from home the next morning while Qing Mengzhu recovered.
• Qing Mengzhu found an update notice in the Interstellar Mall, and after updating, discovered the soil science book had only been available to intermediate members.
• Qing Mengzhu realized the skill book had greatly improved his understanding of soil science and began planning to increase organic matter in the terraced fields.
• Qing Mengzhu wrote a detailed soil improvement plan, Ming Chunxi reviewed it and offered suggestions, and Qing Mengzhu took it to Zhao Hexi.

Qing Mengzhu improved the terraces’ soil with Chinese milk vetch and organic fertilizer, then began transplanting Sichuan pepper seedlings under biodegradable mulch film. As the planting continued, he considered how to protect the chili peppers from the approaching cold.

• Qing Mengzhu arranged for Chinese milk vetch and organic fertilizer to be spread and plowed into the terraces, reassuring Zhao Hexi that he would not let landowners profit by breaking their contracts.
• Qing Mengzhu explained soil improvement to Feng Ningxiang, Tan Wenlei, and the others, and after three days the terraces’ soil had visibly changed.
• Qing Mengzhu and the workers started transplanting the young Sichuan pepper seedlings, laying down biodegradable mulch film to help them adapt to the cold soil.
• Feng Ningxiang asked whether they should put up a greenhouse to protect the chili peppers, and Qing Mengzhu said he was weighing that option against spraying antifreeze.

Qing Mengzhu discussed protecting his chili crop from frost and insects with Nian Xinfei, who also connected him with students seeking work. After reviewing their résumés, Qing Mengzhu’s company hired six people and formed a second technology team focused on seeds.

• Qing Mengzhu and Nian Xinfei discussed greenhouses as a way to protect chili plants from cold and fumigate pests.
• Nian Xinfei offered to share greenhouse information and suggested his students apply for winter work at Qing Mengzhu’s company.
• Zhao Hexi told Qing Mengzhu that twenty-seven résumés had arrived, and Qing Mengzhu agreed to review them while maintaining hiring standards.
• Qing Mengzhu’s company assembled an interview panel, consulted Ming Chunxi, and hired six candidates to establish a second technology team.
• Qing Mengzhu appointed doctoral graduate Li Ba to lead the seed research team and hired Jing Chi for his expertise in seed science and chili peppers.

Qing Mengzhu and the others maintained the fields, built greenhouses, and harvested a large crop of radishes. He planned to use most of the radishes for compost while reserving some for the Interstellar Mall, the company kitchen, and anyone who wanted to take them home.

• Qing Mengzhu and the others built greenhouses over the peppers and tomatoes, loosened the soil, and planned to clear the irrigation ditches.
• Feng Ningxiang, Miao Lan, and Tan Wenlei discussed the enormous radishes, and Qing Mengzhu said they would harvest them after the rain and compost most of them.
• Qing Mengzhu explained that the radishes were cheap to sell locally and useful for compost, while he intended to sell a batch through the Interstellar Mall.
• Qing Mengzhu's family and company staff pulled the radishes by hand, and he offered some to the workers and the company kitchen.
• The workers ate the radishes, which were crisp and sweet, while Qing Mengzhu's two dogs came over but refused the pieces offered to them.

After processing nearly 47,000 jin of radishes for the Interstellar Mall, Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi earned over 27,000 Star Coins and planned a celebration in the city. Qing Mengzhu then discovered that his sales had earned him a prize draw and hurried Ming Chunxi to join him.

• Qing Mengzhu fed radishes to Dharma Protector, Guard, and the red fox while Zhao Hexi complained that the fox favored him.
• Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi went to look for Little Otter, and Qing Mengzhu later finished harvesting radishes with the villagers.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi spent four days selling the radishes through the Interstellar Mall and turning the wilted produce into compost.
• Qing Mengzhu found that the radish sales had earned him over 27,000 Star Coins, bringing his account balance above 28,300 Star Coins.
• Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi planned a trip to the city, then Qing Mengzhu discovered he had earned a prize draw and rushed Ming Chunxi to join him.

Qing Mengzhu and Ming Chunxi planned how to use the Soil Fertility Restoration Agent they had won, then Qing Mengzhu applied it to a patch of farmland, the ponds, and the bamboo grove. He collected the agent’s harmful-substance aggregation balls from the field and told a curious passerby he was picking up pests.

• Ming Chunxi and Qing Mengzhu discovered that the Soil Fertility Restoration Agent could not be purchased until they reached intermediate membership, and discussed where to use the prize.
• Qing Mengzhu decided to divide the agent among the ponds, the farmland, and the bamboo grove, reserving one mu of conspicuous farmland for the experiment.
• Qing Mengzhu carefully mixed the agent into the farmland, added it to the ponds with Spirit Pearl Dregs, and tilled nearly ten mu of soil in the bamboo grove.
• Qing Mengzhu collected the aggregation balls formed by the agent, and told a passerby he was picking up pests.