C7 Sowing

As Wang Tao's footsteps receded into the distance, Chen Lan finally allowed herself to relax. She approached Zhao Lei and whispered her gratitude. "Thank you."

Zhao Lei's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why let that guy go? He's scum, undeserving of any sympathy!"

Chen Lan, sensing Zhao Lei's disapproval, avoided his gaze and hung her head sheepishly. "I... I'm a widow," she murmured. "People already gossip about me. If word of this gets out, I don't know if Wang Tao would end up in jail, but... it would certainly fuel more rumors that it was my fault!"

Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked up at Zhao Lei. "I don't want to be the subject of scorn, so I decided to let Wang Tao go. Please, don't be upset with me, okay?"

Initially, Zhao Lei had his reservations about Chen Lan's decision, but her explanation stirred a profound compassion within him.

Noticing that Chen Lan was still shivering slightly, he realized she hadn't yet shaken off the recent fright. Moved by sympathy, he gently patted her back, offering reassurance. "Don't be afraid, I'm here for you."

Chen Lan tensed at first, her anxiety spiking. But as she recognized his intent to comfort her, she relaxed. With no one else around, she hesitated only briefly before offering Zhao Lei a small, forlorn smile and nodding her agreement.

Bathed in the serene moonlight, the two stood together. Time seemed to stand still until, at last, Chen Lan's nerves settled. She spoke softly, "I can't thank you enough for today. It's late; you should head home and get some rest."

Chen Lan's tender demeanor touched Zhao Lei deeply. He gazed at her intently and said, "Alright, I'll head back. But please, take care of yourself, especially at night. Always remember to lock your door."

With a gentle nod, Chen Lan escorted Zhao Lei to the door and watched as he vanished into the night. Only then did she turn back, a sense of loss washing over her as she retreated into the solitude of her home.

As Zhao Lei was consoling Chen Lan, Wang Tao was hastily making his way to Ma Lu Town. His broken bones were causing him excruciating pain, and his resentment towards Zhao Lei was mounting by the minute.

Wang Tao might have been known for his laziness and love of good food, but he was a big, strong man who often got into fights. He had never been bested in a one-on-one brawl. So, being put in his place by a refined college student like Zhao Lei was completely unexpected.

A sudden bump in the road made Wang Tao wince as his ribs throbbed with pain. He seethed internally, "That treacherous couple, they better not give me an opportunity, or I'll make sure they regret it!"

Zhao Lei, oblivious to Wang Tao's thoughts, busied himself with seed soaking upon returning home. This crucial step before planting involved soaking the seeds in water for a full day and night to enhance germination rates and speed up the process.

As he submerged the vegetable seeds, Zhao Lei whispered to himself with hope, "The future—whether it's meat on the table or just soup—hinges on how well these veggies grow!"

The following morning, at the crack of dawn, Zhao Lei shouldered his hoe and set out for the plot of land recently allocated to him by the village. Planting was no simple task of scattering seeds and sprinkling water. It required weeding, tilling, leveling, creating furrows and ridges, watering, and only then could he sow the seeds.

This laborious process demanded considerable effort, especially since the land Wang Chenggang had given Zhao Lei had lain fallow for years, overgrown with weeds and even a few saplings, making the task of preparing it all the more challenging.

Immersed in his work, Zhao Lei had just finished a section of the land when he noticed his good friend Zhou Jun approaching with a hoe. Curiosity piqued, he asked, "What brings you here?"

With a cheerful smile, Zhou Jun replied, "What do you think? I'm here to lend a hand. This land is vast; how long would it take for you to manage it all by yourself?"

Zhao Lei nodded and said, "Well, if that's the case, don't just stand there like a bump on a log. Get to work!"

"Jeez, you're not exactly the hospitable type, are you?" Zhou Jun feigned annoyance, but quickly got to work, helping Zhao Lei prepare the soil.

Zhao Lei and Zhou Jun each took responsibility for a strip of land, working shoulder to shoulder to till the soil. Initially, they kept pace with each other, but Zhao Lei quickly pulled ahead, leaving Zhou Jun trailing far behind.

Even though Zhou Jun's current job was in transportation, he still lent a hand on the farm during the busy season. Seeing Zhao Lei, a college graduate of three years, working faster than himself was something he found hard to swallow, so he silently picked up the pace.

Yet, no matter how hard Zhou Jun tried, Zhao Lei continued to outdistance him. After toiling away for over an hour, Zhou Jun couldn't keep up and dropped his hoe, seeking a shady spot to take a break.

Meanwhile, Zhao Lei kept on working in the field like a tireless machine, flipping the soil quickly and efficiently. By the time Zhou Jun took his break, Zhao Lei had already turned over another strip of land. With the earlier work included, he had finished half of the field by himself.

Watching his friend work with such vigor, Zhou Jun was astounded. The speed at which Zhao Lei was turning the soil could almost rival a tractor. Zhou Jun would never have believed it if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

An incredulous Zhou Jun approached the still industrious Zhao Lei and asked with curiosity, "Hey, buddy, don't overdo it. You might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow!"

Zhao Lei paused and replied, "I don't feel tired at all. Look, I'm not even sweating."

Zhou Jun took a closer look at Zhao Lei and, indeed, there wasn't a drop of sweat on him. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn, are you on some kind of stimulant?"

"It's you who might need that stuff," Zhao Lei retorted with irritation. "If you're going to rest, then do it somewhere else and stop getting in the way of my work!"

With that, Zhao Lei got back to his tasks. By the time Zhou Jun had finished tilling his assigned strip of land after his break, Zhao Lei had already turned over the rest of the field.

"Mission accomplished!" Zhao Lei surveyed the neatly prepared land with a sense of pride and confidently assured Zhou Jun, "Tomorrow, we'll scatter the seeds, and I'm certain we'll reap a bountiful harvest!"

Meanwhile, Zhou Jun gazed at the land Zhao Lei had tilled, his eyes wide with astonishment, and he mumbled, "You're practically worth three oxen on your own. I bet you could make a fortune just moving bricks on a construction site!"

Zhao Lei was aware that his physical capabilities had greatly improved since absorbing the Immortal Dew, which explained his rapid progress in farming.

Nevertheless, this wasn't something he could openly discuss. Instead, he offered a modest smile to his astonished friend and replied, "I've been consistently exercising at school, you know. I'm not just some bookworm who's buried in his studies all the time!"

Out of breath, Zhou Jun responded, "That, I believe. You're a bookworm who excels at farm work!"

Zhou Jun was at least half right; Zhao Lei truly had a knack for agriculture. After finishing with the land, he headed to the river to fetch water for irrigation. Under the blazing sun, Zhao Lei tirelessly made over a dozen trips, ensuring every inch of the land was watered.

Zhou Jun couldn't help but be thoroughly impressed by Zhao Lei's dedication. He admired his friend not only for his academic prowess but also for his formidable farming skills. Zhao Lei was the epitome of a man skilled in both intellectual and physical pursuits!

The following morning, Zhao Lei rose with the dawn and began sowing the pre-soaked seeds into the earth before the sun had fully emerged.

Word had spread about Zhao Lei's decision to leave school and return to the village to farm. With today marking the start of his sowing, a crowd gathered to witness the event.

Some were there just for a laugh, like Wang Hu and his crew. Watching Zhao Lei work tirelessly, Wang Hu scoffed to his followers, "He quits university to come back and farm? I think that fall into the river knocked some sense out of him!"

One of the henchmen chuckled and asked, "Bro, should we stir up some trouble for him?"

Wang Hu replied with a chilly tone, "Planting seeds in this scorching heat without any shade, the seedlings don't stand a chance! We don't need to lift a finger; the weather will give him a lesson in humility soon enough!"

Another ruffian gave a thumbs-up and remarked, "Brother Hu really is a cut above the rest, always thinking ahead of us!"

Truth be told, most folks shared Wang Hu's skepticism, doubting that Zhao Lei's seedlings would thrive under such conditions. Many were secretly hoping to witness Zhao Lei's efforts fall flat.

Yet, there were those genuinely concerned for Zhao Lei, like Hu Qiang, who expressed his worries: "Lei, without shade in this weather, I'm afraid the seedlings might struggle."

Zhao Lei chuckled and reassured him, "Don't fret, Uncle Hu. These vegetables are new varieties developed by my classmates at Tongren University using cutting-edge technology. They're designed to withstand all sorts of climates. There won't be any issues!"

Hu Qiang had an epiphany and exclaimed, "Ah, they're high-tech varieties! That puts my mind at ease. You should've mentioned it sooner, you rascal. Aunt Wang and I were worried sick!"

Zhao Lei grinned and playfully retorted, "Well, you never asked about it before, did you?"

In reality, Zhao Lei didn't have any high-tech vegetables. His secret was the Immortal Dew from the Purple Gold Gourd.

After sowing the seeds, Zhao Lei returned home alone. He carefully retrieved the Purple Gold Gourd he wore around his neck and delicately dispensed a drop of Immortal Dew into a pre-prepared bottle.

With over two acres of vegetables and just a single drop of Immortal Dew, Zhao Lei knew he had to dilute it to water all the crops.

As he gradually added water to the glass bottle, the golden Immortal Dew dispersed, revealing a faint golden hue to the observant eye.

Next, Zhao Lei fetched water from the river, mixing the initially diluted Immortal Dew into buckets, and then sprayed it uniformly across the fields using a sprayer.

It was a demanding task, and Zhao Lei worked tirelessly until the late afternoon to ensure every plant was treated. His superior physical condition was a blessing; otherwise, he would have been completely drained after two days of hard labor.

Zhao Lei's hard work paid off. To his delight, the following day revealed a sprinkling of green across the orderly rows of vegetables—the seeds he had sown were beginning to sprout!