Chapter 23 - Isn't Gold
“It was gold again.”
Su Ming shifted uneasily and gave a resigned shake of his head. “There are no surprises up my sleeve.”
He crouched, his fingers caressing a mature tomato before plucking it.
“Hmm?”
A look of bewilderment crossed Su Ming's face as he grasped the luminous tomato.
It didn't feel right in weight.
The golden hue suggested heaviness.
Yet, it felt oddly light.
It felt as if he could easily squish it.
With a puzzled look, Su Ming tested its resilience.
To his astonishment, the tomato crumbled in his grip.
“Could it really be that fragile?”
Amazement was evident as his jaw dropped.
Among the debris, something caught his eye.
He leaned in for a better look.
Was it a timepiece?
Specifically, one from Vacheron Constantin.
He quickly consulted the web on his phone.
It was a rare edition, carrying a significant price tag.
Clearly, its value surpassed mere gold.
A sense of astonishment flashed in Su Ming's eyes.
But given his recent adventures, he felt relatively composed.
Interestingly, each shrub bore just a single tomato.
On counting, there were 20 plants, yielding 20 golden fruits.
He proceeded to the next one, gently pressing it.
Inside was another timepiece: sporty and not at all modest in value.
With anticipation, he opened the remaining golden orbs.
A piece of jade.
A decorative wrist accessory.
The newest smartphone model.
A high-end DSLR camera.
Premium mist green tea.
All twenty were meticulously opened.
Surveying the spread on the ground, a chuckle escaped Su Ming's lips.
An array of lavish jewels, gadgets, and other valuables lay before him.
Even some tea varieties not readily available in stores.
Storing these might necessitate a larger space, he mused.
He inspected the phone.
Upon powering it on, everything functioned seamlessly, proving its authenticity.
Testing the camera, he was impressed with the clarity.
All the day's finds were safely tucked into a bag he held.
His emotions were a mix of amusement and disbelief.
Discovering such treasures in a field seemed unfathomable.
Who could possibly fathom such a tale?
Yet, his inquisitive nature lingered. The flourishing cucumber plant piqued his interest about its yield.
He hoped it wasn't another tech gadget.
Or he might just start an electronics shop next door.
Back in his humble abode, he nonchalantly tossed the bag into a corner box.
Such nonchalance might seem absurd.
Out in the world, such a stash could spark mayhem.
Even the least pricey item - the sports watch - was worth a tidy sum.
As for the priciest item - the Imperial Green Jade - its value was immeasurable.
But to Su Ming, these were mere trinkets.
For now, they'd reside in that box.
Soon, a larger storage solution would be essential.
All in all, it was a rewarding day.
Especially considering average annual earnings.
“Harvest successful. 20 experience points awarded!”
Energized, Su Ming's eyes sparkled.
He promptly set about clearing away the leftover plant debris.
“Cleanup complete. 10 experience points earned!”
Eagerly, Su Ming accessed the digital interface.
Farmer: Su Ming.
Level: Lv 1.
Experience: 90 / 100.
Farm: Level One.
Su Ming was about to level up!
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢