The sun barely peeked over the horizon when Lie Zhanfeng rose the next morning. The early morning air was crisp, the earthy scent of dew lingering in the fields. He stood in front of his modest house, stretching and taking in the view of his freshly tilled soil. His mind wandered back to the small sack of seeds he had bought yesterday—Morningdew Turnips and Moonshade Basil. These seeds, though seemingly unremarkable, would be the beginning of his new life here.
He had never worked the land before, but he knew it was a necessary skill for a man in his position, especially if he intended to make a living in this village. He knelt down, pulling out a small, worn wooden shovel from beside the door and began digging small trenches in the soil. His hands were clumsy at first, unsure of the motions, but he steadily grew accustomed to the rhythm of the task.
For the Morningdew Turnips, he spaced the seeds about three inches apart, pressing them gently into the furrows he'd made. He covered them with dirt, careful not to compact the soil too much. The Moonshade Basil seeds, smaller and more delicate, were scattered lightly on the surface before he gently brushed more soil over them.
Lie Zhanfeng's movements were slow and deliberate. This body's hands were still rough, accustomed to a life of fighting and hard work, not the delicate touch needed for farming. In addition to that, Lie Zhanfeng himself was also inexperienced even in his previous life. Despite his initial struggle, he worked steadily, his brow furrowed in concentration. As the hours passed, he began to get into the rhythm, his movements growing more fluid with each row of seeds planted.
Little did he know, his efforts had not gone unnoticed.
A neighbor, an older woman with sharp eyes and a penchant for gossip, had been watching him from her porch. Her wrinkled hands, busy with a basket of laundry, paused as she peered over the fence, taking in every move Lie Zhanfeng made. Her expression was an odd mixture of disbelief and amusement. She watched as he struggled with the tools, his clothes dirtied and his movements awkward, yet there was a determination in his eyes.
She couldn't resist the urge to gossip.
"Have you seen Zhanfeng this morning?" she called to the neighbor across the street, who was hanging laundry on the line. "I don't know what he's up to, but it looks like he's planting something. Can you imagine? That man, the one they say was a notorious thug, out there farming!"
The other woman paused, glancing in Lie Zhanfeng's direction. "No kidding. I saw him buying seeds yesterday. Does he really think he can grow something on this land? It doesn't make sense. A man like him, with his past, should be looking for something easier."
"You'd think so," the first woman replied, shaking her head. "But I've been watching him. He's got no experience, and those seeds he's planting—Morningdew Turnips and Moonshade Basil—they're tricky things to grow. You need real skill. Who does he think he is, trying to grow that stuff on his own?"
The second woman clicked her tongue in agreement. "Maybe he's trying to be a big shot, thinking he can make money off of fancy crops. Who knows? But I'll tell you one thing: it's going to be a disaster. A man like him isn't cut out for farming."
The gossip spread quickly, as it always did in small villages. The whispers grew louder with each passing hour, each person adding their own interpretation to Lie Zhanfeng's actions. Some thought he was attempting to start a new life, others speculated that he was just trying to scam the village with his "fancy" crops. Regardless of the truth, everyone had an opinion on the matter.
By noon, Lie Zhanfeng had finally finished planting. He stood up, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, exhausted from the work. His muscles ached, and his hands were covered in dirt, but he felt a sense of accomplishment. Despite his slow pace, he had managed to cover the small plot of land he had claimed. The seeds were in the ground, and now, all he had to do was wait.
He checked the sack he had been using to carry the remaining seeds, only to find there were still plenty left. He frowned, realizing he had overestimated how much he could plant in one go. His lack of experience had resulted in more seed than he knew what to do with.
"I should've bought more land," he muttered to himself, sighing. "This is not enough. I need more space if I want to make a real go of this."
The thought of buying more land lingered in his mind as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He had already spent most of his silver—only a handful of taels remained in his pouch. But perhaps, if he managed to cultivate a successful harvest, he could make more than enough to cover the cost of extra land.
With that thought in mind, Lie Zhanfeng made his way to the Village Chief's house to inquire about buying additional property.
The Village Chief, a stout man with a round belly and a weathered face, greeted him with a knowing smile. "Ah, Zhanfeng, back again, are you? What brings you here today?"
"I'd like to buy more land," Lie Zhanfeng said, his voice steady. "I've planted some crops, but I need more space."
The Village Chief raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a curious expression. "More land? Hmm. What are you planting, if you don't mind me asking?"
Lie Zhanfeng hesitated for a moment before answering. "Morningdew Turnips and Moonshade Basil."
The Village Chief's eyes widened slightly, his expression shifting to one of disbelief. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Lie Zhanfeng with a touch of amusement. "Those are some ambitious crops, my friend. Very tricky to grow, especially for someone who's just starting out."
Lie Zhanfeng didn't back down. But in fact, he's slightly embarrassed. "I know it won't be easy, but I'm willing to try. I think they'll do well here."
The Village Chief shook his head slowly. "I admire your determination, but those crops are no joke. They're difficult to cultivate and maintain. The return on them is minimal. You're better off planting something else, something more reliable. If you want my advice, go for something that's easier to handle—rice, beans, something like that."
Lie Zhanfeng considered the Village Chief's words, then nodded. "I'll think about it, but I'll stick with the current crops for now. After the harvest, I might change it if it doesn't work out."
The Village Chief didn't press the issue further, instead focusing on the matter at hand. "Alright then. You're looking to buy more land, I assume?"
Lie Zhanfeng nodded, reaching into his pouch and pulling out the last of his remaining taels. "How much for four mu of land?"
The Village Chief grinned, rubbing his hands together. "Four mu? That'll be 20 taels of silver, my friend."
Lie Zhanfeng didn't hesitate, handing over the money. "Done."
After the transaction was complete, the Village Chief leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming. "Well, now that you've got the land, you'll need an ox to help you plow it. They're on sale right now. What do you say? I'll give you a good deal."
Without missing a beat, Lie Zhanfeng responded, "I'll take it."
His tone was steady, but his heart is actually secretly bleeding for the few taels of silvers spent. One day just passed, but now his pouch is lighter than air.
The Village Chief chuckled, shaking his head. "You really are serious about this farming business, huh?"
Lie Zhanfeng simply nodded, his focus wavering, wondering if he should renege on his debt.
No!
He had come this far, and now he must be committed. Just treat the ox as the next step in building his new life.