C1 Number One Crop Research System

In the parallel universe of Celestial Sea City, nestled within Deer Harbor Town, it was February 14th—just an ordinary day.

"Brother Liu Feng, what do you think of this plot of land?" A portly middle-aged man beamed at Liu Feng with a chuckle.

Liu Feng, a second-year graduate student in the Economic Crops Department at Celestial Sea University, male and unmarried, surveyed the desolate land before him, untouched by farming for decades, his face clouded with concern.

"Town Mayor Lu, is this the land the town has allocated for me?" he inquired.

"Absolutely. The town is fully behind Celestial Sea University's research initiatives. This 101-acre tract was specially approved by us. Impressive efficiency, wouldn't you say?" Lu Yuvqi boasted with unwavering confidence.

Liu Feng couldn't fathom where such confidence stemmed from. All he knew was that he'd been duped.

"By the way, Liu, we've also sorted out your housing—it's right over there," Lu Yuvqi gestured toward a modest single-story house that was just habitable.

"Town Mayor Lu, is this the 'independent dormitory' you mentioned?" Liu Feng's expression darkened.

Lu Yuvqi, still flushed with a healthy glow, assured him, "Exactly, it's completely independent—just for you. Is there anything else you need? Our town will make sure you're well taken care of."

"I want to go home!"

"That's out of the question. You're a highly anticipated talent that our town has eagerly awaited!"

"Fine, let it be," Liu Feng conceded.

With a grin, Lu Yuvqi nodded, hopped into the town's official car, and drove off.

Left alone, Liu Feng stood amidst the sprawling wild grass, a sense of dread washing over him. With already meager research funds and now a barren wasteland to contend with, it seemed his research was doomed from the start.

The 'Giant Economic Crop Yield Enhancement' project would have to wait for the next wave of graduate students.

But the contract was signed; there was no turning back now—or was there?

"Wait a minute, I haven't signed the contract yet!" Liu Feng's spirits soared as he reached for the contract in his bag.

He couldn't help but think: 'Lu Yuvqi, you've celebrated too soon. The contract isn't even signed!'

But when the contract was presented, Liu Feng was stunned. His name, "Liu Feng," was prominently signed on the dotted line.

"When did this happen?" he racked his brain.

"I'm done for. I must've been set up after getting blackout drunk last night! Lu Yuvqi, that sly old fox, is too crafty."

With a heavy heart, Liu Feng trudged onto the desolate land, clutching the towering weeds, a sharp pain gnawing at his insides.

What was he to do? Going back now would be mortifying. Besides, a contract isn't something you can just tear up on a whim! And how could he possibly face his mentor?

After struggling so hard to secure this chance, was he really about to throw in the towel?

"Screw it. A bit of embarrassment is better than misery! I'll just brazenly break the contract. What's the big deal?" With his mind made up, Liu Feng resolved to leave.

[Number One Crop Research System has been activated]

[Host: Liu Feng]

"Who's there? Who's speaking?"

Confused, Liu Feng watched as an electronic screen materialized before him, displaying various options like a video game.

[System Introduction]

[Attribute Function]

[Unbind]

What's going on? Is this like one of those systems from the novels? Did I just luck out?

Curious, Liu Feng accessed the system introduction with a thought.

[The system has automatically bound itself to you. Binding requirements: a graduate student with over 100 acres of land.]

He exited and explored the attribute function.

[Host Attributes]

Name: Liu Feng.

Research Level: Beginner.

Technical Level: Beginner.

Backpack: 0/60.

Remaining Gold: 2000.

Stamina: 100.

[System Functions]

Accept Mission.

Upon clicking the mission button, Liu Feng saw just one task listed.

[Flowers in the Land]

Mission Level: Beginner.

Mission Description: Plant and harvest ten acres of roses.

Mission Reward: Advanced techniques for high-yield cash crops.

Confirm: [Confirm] [Cancel]

Without a moment's hesitation, Liu Feng hit confirm. With a system like this, he was unstoppable.

After confirmation, he received the initial materials for the mission: a cross pickaxe, sprayer, sickle, shovel, hoe, and axe.

Ten rose seeds.

[Additional Information]

This is a special system. The host only needs to plant on system land that has been scaled down by a factor of one hundred to yield the corresponding crops on their actual land.

Below the introduction was a button.

[Plan System Land]

Designate one acre of actual land as System Land, leaving the rest unchanged, and conceal it from anyone other than the System Owner.

"This is truly a System—so user-friendly and incredibly powerful," Liu Feng mused as he clicked to plan.

The System interface generated a 3D image of 101 acres. Liu Feng allocated one acre in the center, rendering it invisible to outsiders.

After planning, Liu Feng accessed the System backpack.

Backpack: 16/60.

Remaining Money: 500.

Listed were the tools and seeds he had just acquired, along with their prices.

Liu Feng felt slightly deceived; he had assumed those items were free.

Navigating through a swath of weeds over a meter tall, Liu Feng reached the central System Land.

Post-planning, the land transformed into a grid pattern, reminiscent of the plots in QQ Farm.

One acre was evenly split into a hundred plots.

Yet, the land was still overrun with weeds over a meter tall.

How to retrieve the seeds?

Liu Feng experimented, mentally clicking, and the seeds levitated. He grabbed them, and they materialized.

Quite fascinating.

"When it comes to farming, the first step is to till the soil! With all these weeds, they must be cleared. Weeding a paddy field is done by hand!"

Humming a tune, Liu Feng wielded his sickle to cut down the weeds.

In the real world, planting ten acres of roses equated to just ten plots on the System Land.

After clearing one plot, the System interface notified: System Stamina Value -1.

[Additional Information]

Once the System's Stamina Value is depleted, no further work can be done on the System Land, and the host's physical strength will be consumed accordingly.

The System's Stamina Value can only be replenished by consuming food produced by the System or through rewards.

After clearing ten plots of weeds, the Stamina Value dropped by 10.

[You've earned an extra: Plant Fiber x5]

"Wow, nice! A bonus too!"

Liu Feng wiped the sweat from his face, feeling a renewed surge of energy.

He pulled a hoe from his backpack, hoisted it high, and drove it down with force.

A saying crossed his mind: With a good swing of the hoe, no corner is too tough to plow!

"No, no, it's more like no land is too tough to till!"

By the time he was working on the fifth plot, Liu Feng was spent. His waist ached, his back throbbed, and his hands cramped!

"Only 20 Stamina Points down and I'm this exhausted. If I used 100, wouldn't I be a goner?" he mused aloud.

After tilling the sixth plot, the System emitted a golden glow as his Stamina Value dropped by 2.

Liu Feng sensed that this was a divine drop from the System, which always had its quirks.

Checking his backpack, he found a new item.

Fishing Rod x1.

"Farming's the task, so what's the fishing rod for?" Liu Feng wondered, puzzled.

But no matter, the real job was to keep working. By the time he finished the tenth plot, Liu Feng was truly done in.

Yet the job wasn't complete; the seeds still needed planting.

Thankfully, planting them took minimal physical effort—just five Stamina Points for ten plots.

After all the work, Liu Feng had used up a total of 35 Stamina Points.

The System flashed again, signaling:

Seeds require watering, fertilizing, and weeding. The System's land grows a hundred times faster than in reality. The host must decide when to water, fertilize, and weed the crops.

Only System fertilizer may be used.

Liu Feng checked the System, only to find the fertilizer was prohibitively expensive—out of his reach.

Watering was possible with a sprayer, but due to his low level, the System's water source was inaccessible. Thus, Liu Feng had to resort to fetching water from the real world.

Returning to his modest bungalow, Liu Feng didn't bother going inside. He filled up his container and went straight to watering the crops.

Liu Feng had initially hoped to take a shortcut. After topping off the water, he attempted to stash the sprayer in the system's backpack, thinking it would save him from exertion.

But then, a system alert chimed in:

Placing the sprayer into the system backpack will cause the water to vanish instantly in the real world.

"Is this some kind of anti-cheating measure?" Liu Feng couldn't help but feel that the system was a divine instrument of punishment.

With the sprayer weighing 30 catties on his shoulder, Liu Feng's back was screaming in protest. The distance from the tap to the system's land was a daunting 600 meters. Despair set in.

What's the use of despair? Liu Feng questioned himself.

"There's nothing for it but to struggle through the despair."

He pressed on, pumping and spraying. The small water gun made a 'puff, puff' sound as it doused the parched earth.

Liu Feng couldn't help but think of himself as quite the adept at watering.

Puff! Puff!

The water gun ran dry, and Liu Feng's load felt suddenly lighter. Yet, he had managed to water just over three patches of land.

Physical Strength: -3.

Now what?

Liu Feng saw only one solution: do it all over again. And if that wasn't enough, add one more round.

In the end, the diligent gardener lay exhausted at the doorstep of the small house.