Chapter 97 - Goodbye Wolf King
Lee Xiulian sensed a weight on her heart. With her looks and physique, she could easily captivate any man with a mere gesture.
However, Zhang Xiaoloong stood out amidst the abundance of attractive women surrounding him.
Notable figures like Yang Jingjing, previously residing in the Zhang household, and Chen Yaru, who seemed eager to be close to him, went unmentioned. Even “Elder Sister Yan,” who catered Zhang Xiaoloong's meals, possessed exceptional beauty.
Though of similar age, the other woman seemed notably more delicate, perhaps owing to her urban upbringing. Moreover, the allure in her eyes was unattainable to Lee Xiulian.
In comparison, Lee Xiulian felt she had little to offer. If men were to be nourished by these women, who would choose her—a flower confined to someone else's vase?
“Elder Sister Lianzi, let go!” Zhang Xiaoloong pleaded, swiftly wriggling free from her grasp with both arms.
Due to his superior mental fortitude, even he looked down on _. He dared not pause, lest he succumb to temptation once more.
“What's the matter? Did you notice those two newcomers? Do you find them more attractive than me?” Lee Xiulian inquired, her tone tinged with sensitivity. “Don't worry, I won't stand in your way if you pursue other women. As long as you grant me a child, I won't trouble you in the future. And if… if you desire it later on, I can accommodate you too.”
“No, no, no,” Zhang Xiaoloong hurriedly clarified, retreating further as Lee Xiulian approached. “That's not what I meant…”
“Then what is it? Weren't you quite enthusiastic yesterday?” Lee Xiulian recalled Zhang Xiaoloong's fervor, barely halted by Zhang Daniu's untimely interruption, which prevented her clothes from being torn.
“I simply can't,” Zhang Xiaoloong insisted adamantly, shaking his head vigorously. “Elder Sister Lianzi, I'll promise you anything else, but I truly can't do it!”
Lee Xiulian gazed at him briefly before darting away, her emotions uncertain.
Observing her departure, Zhang Xiaoloong felt a slight sense of relief. He had clung to her earlier out of fear of yielding to temptation and acting impulsively.
Confronted with a woman willing to fulfill his every desire, he remained steadfast in the face of temptation. He'd rather assert his refusal than succumb to wrongdoing.
The following day, Lee Xiulian was absent from the greenhouse, leaving Zhang Xiaoloong to tend to the vegetables alone.
Thankfully, there wasn't much to be done at the moment. After seeing off Zhang Yang, who had come to pick vegetables, he resumed his work on the vacant land. It was time to sow the seeds here.
However, the chilly weather posed a challenge. Without a greenhouse, these lands wouldn't suffice. Prioritizing, they needed to construct a plastic greenhouse to weather the winter.
“Xiaoloong, this won't do. How can you manage all ten acres of vegetables alone?” Liu Mei, arriving in a rush, observed her son toiling solo with a pang of concern. “Why not hire some help? It's nearly winter; there should be plenty of available hands. Besides, harvesting is easier than planting. Women with idle time at home can pitch in, and we can't handle everything on our own.”
Liu Mei's perspective had shifted since witnessing the lucrative potential of the glass greenhouse.
“Planting and harvesting aren't the primary concerns. What matters most now is having someone to oversee everything. Once this batch is cleared, we'll need someone to manage the accounts. If we hire labor, we'll need supervision. Xiaoloong can't be here all the time. We need someone reliable to take over in his absence. How about you stay and oversee? No need for anything else, just handle the accounts.”
“No, no, no…” Liu Mei hastily interjected, waving her hands emphatically. “Then why not let your mother help with the planting? I'm not skilled with accounts.”
Neither of them had much education. While they understood honesty, arithmetic was beyond them.
“That's why I'm hesitant to hire help. If there's no one to oversee, hiring more hands would be futile.” Zhang Xiaoloong anticipated that once he left for college, someone would take charge here.
“Didn't Elder Sister Lianzi stay here the past couple of days? Why isn't she here today?” Liu Mei suddenly remembered someone. “I heard she was well-educated and wealthy in her youth. After an accident, her fortunes declined. In this village… she might be the most suitable candidate for this.”
“She…” Zhang Xiaoloong struggled for words.
He couldn't reveal she wanted a child with him and threatened to leave if he refused, could he?
“She declined? How much did you offer her per day?” Liu Mei assumed it was a matter of payment. “If it were 51 days, the villagers would flock here. Besides, being the former village chief's wife, she commands respect. No one would dare cause trouble.”
“Even if it were 100 days, it's not about willingness.” Zhang Xiaoloong smiled ruefully.
“Why wouldn't she come? Compared to city labor, it's lucrative.” Liu Mei sought to alleviate her son's burden. “I'll speak with her. I'm sure she'll agree.”
With no alternative explanation, Zhang Xiaoloong conceded. “Alright, give it a try. If Elder Sister Lianzi agrees, it would be ideal.”
Shortly after Liu Mei's departure, Hong Yan arrived with a sincere and unassuming young man, presenting him to Zhang Yang.
“This place remains your family,” Hong Yan smiled. “He'll be coming daily to gather vegetables from now on.”
“No trouble at all. Sister Yan, you've been burdened with this small matter,” Zhang Xiaoloong apologized.
Normally, gaining entry to Jinshi's restaurant was a daunting task, with queues stretching endlessly. Yet, here he was, necessitating the boss's personal visit just to fetch the dishes. It was enough to warrant some self-importance.
“Enough with the facade of compliance. Sister Yan hopes your dishes will further enhance Jinshi's reputation,” Hong Yan's words held truth. Jinshi's vegetable dishes had been in high demand lately, with supply failing to meet the needs.
For such quality ingredients, a bit of extra effort was justified.
After bidding farewell to Hong Yan and the young man, Zhang Xiaoloong ventured into the mountains with the young wolf. His mind lingered on repairing the road, hoping for another stroke of luck akin to discovering a hundred-year-old wild ginseng.
Though he possessed a Nine Death Soul Grass King, its value paled in comparison to the rare ginseng. Moreover, the Nine Death Soul Grass had developed consciousness, rendering him unwilling to part with it.
“Awoo…”
Despite its size, the young wolf's howl echoed with the resonance of a Wolf King's call.
Before long, the majestic snow-white Wolf King emerged from the foliage.
“Wolf King, have you noticed anything peculiar in the mountains?” Zhang Xiaoloong inquired.
Rare finds often held significant worth. However, insisting on clinging to the extraordinary might require letting go of some treasures.
At Zhang Xiaoloong's query, the Wolf King swiftly turned and bounded off in a specific direction.
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