A Divine Farmer

C26 – Screwed Up

“Mr. Zhang may not be well-acquainted with this field, so it’s understandable that he’s hesitant. However, your talent is remarkable, and not harnessing it would be a missed opportunity,” regretfully commented Xu Shaoning. “In the world of stone gambling, there have been numerous instances of people amassing fortunes overnight. If Mr. Zhang were to invest some effort, he could be the next success story.”

Zhang Xiaoloong shook his head, signaling his reluctance to take action. “Opportunities and risks are intertwined. While there are substantial opportunities, there are also significant risks involved. I prefer pursuits that offer more stability. Besides, I am a farmer, and I believe in fulfilling the responsibilities of a farmer.”

“Such as farming?” Wang Changyu sneered.

“Yes,” responded Zhang Xiaoloong, not detecting the sarcasm in Wang Changyu’s tone.

Wang Changyu stroked his chin. “This is precisely why you view farmers as narrow-minded. Even if you work the land your whole life, you won’t be able to earn a fortune like you can with high-quality jade.”

“You are implying that you possess extensive knowledge in this area?” Chen Yaru couldn’t tolerate Wang Changyu’s mockery of Zhang Xiaoloong any longer. “Why don’t you ask Young Master Yu how much money he’s made from high-quality jade in recent years?”

“Uh…” Wang Changyu was speechless for a while.

So far, he had primarily been living a carefree life, with all of his expenses, not to mention the exorbitant cost of jade money, being covered by his father.

When it came to stone gambling, Wang Changyu had dabbled in it before, but he had never staked a significant amount.

He could place a bet, and it was true that he might strike it rich overnight, but he could also lose everything just as quickly. Wang Changyu wasn’t reckless enough to risk his entire fortune on stones, and part of the reason was that Wang Han now held the family’s purse strings.

Because he was well aware of the situation, he immediately encouraged Zhang Xiaoloong to follow suit when Xu Shaoning brought up the idea of stone gambling.

Chen Yaru’s question was incisive, leaving him speechless.

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“Young Master Yu can wager, whether he wins or loses, because he knows he can afford the risk. He might win big,” Zhang Xiaoloong refrained from stepping on her opportunity, “I, on the other hand, am just a humble farmer with limited means. I can’t afford to gamble my hard-earned money away. Slowly accumulating wealth is the real path.”

“Mr. Lee’s point is well-taken,” Lee Donghua nodded in agreement. “It’s wiser for young folks to pursue a more secure path in their endeavors rather than resorting to deceit for quick gains. Otherwise, even if you amass a fortune swiftly, you’re likely to lose it just as fast.”

“Mr. Xu,” Xu Shaoning stated politely, “I’m merely looking to get closer to Zhang Xiaoloong. Visiting the stone gambling establishment is just for amusement; I won’t become addicted to it. Since Zhang Xiaoloong is unavailable, that’s perfectly fine.”

This digression piqued the curiosity of many onlookers about Zhang Xiaoloong. However, they could see that Lee Donghua didn’t want any interruptions, and this was the Wang Family, where it was evident that Wang Changyu and Xiaoloong were not on good terms. Consequently, none of these individuals approached them.

Xu Shaoning also realized that with Lee Donghua and Chen Yaru present, it was impossible for him to reprimand Zhang Xiaoloong. He promptly bid his farewell and departed from the Wang Family.

Chen Yaru’s mood brightened considerably once she watched the man depart, as her apprehension towards him had dissipated.

“Xiaoloong, would it be possible for you to extend your stay here for a little while longer?” Chen Yaru sought an excuse, adding, “Perhaps you could share more about your family’s circumstances. I could offer assistance in devising a greenhouse plan.”

Zhang Xiaoloong responded with a hint of surprise, “Why would you be the one to design the greenhouse?”

Chen Yaru realized she couldn’t maintain her fabricated story and resorted to a familiar tactic. “Well, I may not be the designer, but I’m the manager. I just need more specifics…” She hesitated, then continued, “Regardless, if you stay a bit longer, I can offer you a more substantial discount.”

Zhang Xiaoloong furrowed his brows, questioning, “Didn’t you promise the most discounted price as long as I kept you company? How can it be any more discounted?”

Chen Yaru wished she could peer inside his head to understand how this seemingly clever individual had achieved the highest score on the college entrance examination. She retorted angrily, “Are you suggesting I pay you to buy it?”

“I can’t accept that. It wouldn’t be right for you to pay in a business transaction,” Zhang Xiaoloong promptly declined the offer. “You’re already giving me a great deal; I’m thankful for that.”

“You…!” Chen Yaru’s anger flared even more. “Why do you make it sound like we’re a bunch of unscrupulous profiteers?”

“Alright, there’s no need to complicate things for Xiaoloong,” she said, casting a glance at him. He had suddenly become quite sincere, a far cry from the person who had teased Xu Shaoning earlier. Chen Zhaomin was concerned that her daughter might not handle his continued teasing well. “Coincidentally, we have some time now. Xiaoloong, why don’t you fill us in on your plans? Let’s discuss what’s happening on your end. Tomorrow, I’ll have Xiaoru make preparations for you.”

“I hope I’m not intruding while I’m here,” Lee Donghua smiled politely and added, “I’m actually quite interested in hearing about your plans, Xiaoloong. What do you have in mind?”

“Of course, it’s perfectly fine,” Zhang Xiaoloong replied with a hint of embarrassment. “My situation is quite straightforward. I only have one acre of land, and I’d like to convert it entirely into a greenhouse, primarily for growing vegetables. As for the exact amount of glass I’ll need, I’m not sure.”

“That’s simple enough. Just provide Yaru with the specific measurements,” Chen Zhaomin nodded. “Do you have any other specific requirements?”

It wasn’t common for the boss to personally inquire about such a minor project.

“It’s not a big deal,” Zhang Xiaoloong scratched the back of his head, even more embarrassed now. “The only concern I have is that I only have 5,000 yuan. Will that be enough?”

“Five… should be sufficient. Of course, it should be,” Chen Yaru hesitated briefly before rephrasing her response. “I mean, it ought to be enough, right, Dad?”

“Uh…” Chen Zhaomin coughed and turned around. He whispered in his daughter’s ear, “You screwed your dad badly.”

“I’ve used my own salary to compensate you. Nevertheless, you must assist him,” Chen Yaru whispered even more gently.

“That won’t be necessary, but you must bring this young man to Dad,” Chen Zhaomin grinned slyly.

He had never encountered a young man who had garnered so much esteem from Lee Donghua. Judging solely by his appearance, this young man seemed to be a suitable match for his daughter. His only drawback was his stiffness, as if he wasn’t truly concerned about his lovely daughter.

Nevertheless, being reserved was far superior to being a womanizer like Wang Changyu.

Chen Yaru’s eyes sparkled as she joyfully extended two fingers and made a victory sign. “Dad, you’re the best.”

They both turned around, and Chen Zhaomin asserted, “It should suffice. The only variance is the inclusion of a transportation fee…”

Chen Yaru quietly tugged at her father from behind, prompting an immediate change in his tone. “But those are mere pennies. You and Lil Ru will be friends from now on, so consider it waived.”

Zhang Xiaoloong felt a bit embarrassed. “How about this, Miss Chen? I’ll keep a record of what I owe you, and I’ll repay it in the future.”

Chen Zhaomin, an experienced strategist, had long anticipated such a response from the other party. He readily agreed with a smile, saying, “That’s a viable solution. However, you can’t settle the debt with money.”