House's gift proved to be a timely salvation, allowing Zhao Lun to skip the step of raising funds altogether.
The next day, Zhao Lun rose early, summoning Maria to accompany him to the town.
Money emboldens the brave, while the lack of it renders one helpless. In a capitalist world, without money, one is relegated to the status of a beggar, subsisting on meager alms if fortunate. A comfortable life is inseparable from wealth, especially in this money-driven land. Now equipped with funds, Zhao Lun was determined not to skimp on himself or Maria. Their supplies were scant, making a trip to town for essential shopping paramount.
The town, Trissy, housed several hundred families. It featured a broad main road with a bus stop, directly linking to a nearby small city, and a train station with routes to several large cities.
The town boasted a library, a few shops dealing in clothes, toys, and general merchandise, a tavern, a grocery store, two fast food outlets, and a police station. Despite its modest size, it had all the necessary amenities.
Trissy, with its quaint charm, lacked the bustle and opulence of a big city, leaning towards serenity. The townsfolk moved about quietly, with the only interruptions being greetings or brief conversations upon encountering acquaintances.
Zhao Lun, with Maria, first settled on breakfast before exploring the town, familiarizing themselves with all the shops before making their moves.
Winter clothes, quilts, blankets—buy! Flower seeds, fruit saplings, rare tree species, vegetable seeds—buy! Food and vegetables were indispensable. A radio, a television—buy! Fishing rods, toys, bicycles—buy! Books—buy! Paintbrushes, paints—buy! Puppies—buy! Buy, buy, buy! Anything that caught their eye was purchased without hesitation.
Their visit to town was a shopping spree, with all desired items being ordered for home delivery. Despite the numerous purchases, they hadn't spent more than a thousand pounds, leaving Zhao Lun wondering about the source of House's generous gift.
Though just children from a nearby village, they encountered no trouble on their way home, safely delivering their haul.
It wasn't that the town was devoid of malice, but everyone was aware of Zhao Lun and Maria's circumstances and his prowess. Without significant wealth on display, potential wrongdoers remained restrained. The amount they spent wasn't enough to provoke criminal elements into taking risks. Until more was known, no one dared to try any tricks.
Returning home, they categorized their purchases: toys for Maria, transportation in the form of bicycles, and two Labrador puppies—one black male and one golden female. Their glossy, smooth coats made them quite charming, all chosen by Maria. She planned to raise them and then unleash them on those who had set vicious dogs on her.
Zhao Lun's response to her plan was noncommittal.
With only the two of them, the addition of dogs was welcome, not only for companionship for Maria but also for security.
The radio and TV would keep them updated with news and entertainment. Books were for both learning and leisure for them, while the bicycles served as transportation.
Finally, Zhao Lun took the flower seeds, vegetable seeds, and fruit saplings into the Divine Realm. Once barren, this realm was now fertile, promising a bountiful yield with these new plantings, especially with the help of the flower fairy, who would undoubtedly cultivate them to perfection.
The flower fairy, a magical being enamored with blooms, thrived in floral environments. In the absence of flowers, they risked melancholy or worse, but the spring water had sustained her, granting her vitality even without sustenance.
Presently, a diminutive flower fairy lay languidly on a wooden crate by the spring, sighing despondently.
"Aiya is so pitiful, with no floral dew, no company, and nothing at all…"
Her lamentations continued as she remained disheartened and listless, seemingly on the brink of despair.
Even as Zhao Lun approached, she didn't stir, lost in her grievances.
"Is someone dying?" Zhao Lun teased, "That would be unfortunate, especially since I've brought flower seeds and fruit saplings. What a shame to miss them."
"Aiya, seeds! Seeds! There are seeds again!" The flower fairy, rejuvenated at the mention of seeds, sprang to life, her energy restored. She flitted around Zhao Lun, her gossamer wings a blur of excitement.
Watching the flower fairy's joy, Zhao Lun smiled and handed her the seeds, entrusting her with their cultivation.
Confident in her botanical prowess, he knew that soon enough, she would transform this realm into a vibrant floral haven.
That night, Zhao Lun slept poorly, waking thrice—once by Maria and twice by the puppies' cries. The unfamiliar surroundings left the pups unsettled and clingy, their nocturnal whimpers disrupting his rest.
Maria, unskilled in caretaking, left the task to Zhao Lun, who, after some initial frustration, relented and moved their bedding closer, soothing them with some of the spring water, which finally settled them down.
By morning, the pups, now glossy and more boisterous thanks to the water's effects, roused them early with their yipping.
Maria, a heavy sleeper, left the feeding to Zhao Lun, who prepared their meals with the specialized puppy food they had purchased, supplementing it with more spring water.
"Maria, up! Time for exercise!" Zhao Lun called. A healthy body required regular activity.
After breakfast, Zhao Lun set a task for Maria—learning to care for the puppies properly, a necessity to ensure their survival and growth.
Maria, bewildered, sought guidance. "Brother?"
"Just follow the manual," Zhao Lun instructed.
The pet store had provided a detailed guide, and following it would ensure the puppies thrived.
"Okay," Maria responded, diligently preparing their food as per the manual's instructions.
During a break, they visited the Divine Realm, finding it sprouting with new growths, the flower fairy joyfully flitting among the fresh shoots, lost in her blissful tasks.
Zhao Lun watched, his own spirits lifted, before quietly departing, leaving her to her work