"You want to pull out all my vegetables to plant a pear tree?"
"Is such a small pear tree worth occupying the entire vegetable garden?"
"If we don't grow vegetables, what will our family eat in the future?"
"What? You expect to buy vegetables every day?"
"Oh dear, what kind of family are we that we buy vegetables?!"
Madam Cai stood at the entrance of the vegetable garden like a protective hen, lecturing Zhao Xing.
"Madam Cai, can't I just cover the cost of buying vegetables?" Zhao Xing said helplessly.
Madam Cai reluctantly replied, "It's not about the money; I really can't bear to part with this vegetable garden. I enjoy planting some vegetables for the family to eat..."
"I'll pay double for the vegetables!"
Madam Cai's face instantly brightened, and she stepped aside: "Go ahead, pull them out as you like. Do you need my help?"
"..." Zhao Xing found it amusing; her expression changed too quickly.
"No need for you to lift a finger; I'll do it myself."
Zhao Xing entered the vegetable garden, preparing to make space for the Tianyuan Pear Tree.
At this moment, Zhao Ruide, hearing the commotion, walked over. Upon hearing Madam Cai's words, he frowned immediately:
"You're actually asking Xing'er for money to buy vegetables? Is that how a senior should act?"
"The third family's yard is vacant; why not go plant it there?"
Madam Cai mumbled, "He said it himself; it's not that I wanted it. Besides, does he not eat the vegetables bought? What's wrong with him being able to support the family?"
Zhao Ruide sighed, "You really have a narrow view. That pear tree is worth far more than ten plots of vegetables. If it thrives, won't there be plenty for the family to eat?"
Madam Cai questioned, "How much can one pear tree be worth? He promised to pay double."
"You! What a disgrace..." Zhao Ruide pointed at her and turned to leave.
Madam Cai glanced at her husband, then at Zhao Xing in the vegetable garden, feeling frustrated: "Oh dear, since it's so precious, if he goes to serve as an official elsewhere, won't this precious pear tree be left for Zheng'er? I really lost my mind just now..."
Then, with a quick turn of her eyes, Madam Cai hurried off.
Before long, she summoned Zhao Zheng over.
"Big Brother, Mother said to come help."
"No need, you go play."
Zhao Xing waved his hand and then began to cast a spell.
"Wind, arise!"
Whoosh~
A strong wind blew through, uprooting all the vegetables in the soil, turning the earth over completely.
"Wow, Big Brother is amazing, Big Brother is amazing!" Zhao Zheng clapped excitedly from the side, "Big Brother, do it again!"
"Do you think I'm performing tricks?" Zhao Xing said irritably; what was this little brother thinking?
After clearing the soil, Zhao Xing manipulated the wind spell again.
It transformed into a small tornado that dug a large pit.
Then he smashed the pot and planted the Tianyuan Pear Tree.
"Grow strong and healthy!"
Another spell fell upon the Tianyuan Pear Tree.
However, this was not aimed at hastening the ripening of the Tianyuan Pear Tree; it was primarily to help the roots quickly take hold and adapt to the new soil environment. A third-grade superior sapling was not easy to move; re-rooting required at least half an hour of uninterrupted spellcasting.
"Big Brother, this pear is so delicious; why doesn't Mother want you to plant it?" Zhao Zheng had tasted a small piece and remembered it well, thinking it was the best pear in the world, cold and refreshing.
"Your mother hasn't tasted it; she probably doesn't know."
"Mother really has no vision."
"Shut up!" Zhao Xing scolded, "You are not allowed to speak ill of your mother."
"Big Brother, I was wrong." Zhao Zheng pinched his ear and obediently lowered his head.
Madam Cai, a former singer, had given birth to Zhao Ruide in his old age. If it were someone else, they might have been flaunting their tail in the air.
However, with Zhao Ruide having some savings, she still didn't mind the dirt and toil of planting vegetables and cooking at home, which could be considered quite virtuous!
She loved money, it's true, but she mostly just talked about it. She never demanded that Zhao Xing be driven out; wasn't it because Zhao Xing, as an adopted son, also had inheritance rights and lacked a sense of security? That was merely her protective cover.
Zhao Xing held no grudges against Madam Cai; in fact, he understood her quite well. One could say her selfishness was all for her son.
"From now on, don't let me hear you speak ill of your mother again, or just wait for your backside to bloom, understood?"
"Understood." Zhao Zheng nodded, somewhat confused.
"Understood, Zhao Xing's home is in Pingkang Fang. I have a relative in Tongji Fang, just two streets away. There are plenty of opportunities to run into each other; chatting with neighbors is completely fine, rest assured, esteemed one."
"Don't be too deliberate about it," the leader of Sanwan Hall advised, "Just chat normally with people while selling fish in the East Market."
"I understand." The fisherman nodded.
"The Mysterious Heaven will protect you."
"I am willing to die for the Mysterious Heaven." A hint of fervor flashed in the fisherman's eyes as he shouldered his load and moved on.
[Year 15 of the Jingxin Calendar, September 13, at the hour of the snake.]
[Warning of Misfortune: Minor Misfortune; spies lurking, buried calamities in all directions.]
"Hmm?"
On this day, Zhao Xing was on his way to the Agricultural Affairs Bureau when he suddenly noticed the warning from the Pi Xiong Huang Li flipping pages automatically, revealing a warning.
Immediately, the panel provided a more detailed explanation.
[You have triggered the effect of the third-grade treasure 'Pi Xiong Huang Li.' Based on your Fortune level and known information, you receive the following hint:]
[You have attracted the attention of the Mysterious Heaven Sect by continuously triggering three auspicious signs. They have decided to send followers as spies to monitor and assess you. No matter which of the four directions you go, potential calamities will be buried.]
"Again with the Mysterious Heaven Sect?!" Zhao Xing frowned, "Why are they still near Grain City? Haven't they had enough?"
"I'm not provoking you; why are you fixated on me?"
It was quite annoying; Zhao Xing just wanted to farm peacefully and develop himself, completely unwilling to stir up trouble. He originally thought that after the last thorough investigation, the Mysterious Heaven Sect had fled elsewhere, but unexpectedly, they were still lurking here, even starting to keep an eye on him.
"Only a minor misfortune indicates that the Mysterious Heaven Sect won't take action yet, but they will inevitably act in the future. What was the strange case of Jingxin again?" Zhao Xing recalled the details.
"That's right, they captured so many agricultural officials to artificially create disasters across the Great Zhou. Capturing weavers and machinery masters was purely to mislead; the main target was still the agricultural profession."
"The Mysterious Heaven Sect is a closed sect, but its followers have considerable influence. Causing trouble in the Great Zhou is to assert their existence, planting the seeds of the Mysterious Heaven Sect among the people, gaining incense and faith, and laying the groundwork for future revival."
"The strange case of Jingxin was reviewed by players afterward; this abduction activity by the Mysterious Heaven Sect lasted a full ten years. The first nine years were spent secretly capturing people, brainwashing officials, and quietly cultivating them. By the tenth year, they created chaos everywhere, all erupting at once, and their ultimate goal was... the Source Tomb of Guangling Prefecture!"
Update time should be fixed, not exceeding 24 hours. Some days are required to track reading data, but the author can manage to update on a fixed schedule.
Additionally, it's normal for a new book to have four thousand words daily; the author has their own writing rhythm, and it gets better after it goes on the shelves.
As a side note, the author has written quality works at the starting point and is an experienced writer. Some who come to criticize and teach me how to write can save their breath; stepping on fellow writers won't bring you any improvement, nor will it have any effect. In this industry, honestly writing is the hard truth.
Unless you want to reward me a million? Then I'll immediately believe you can write for me!!
(End of Chapter)