After Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an bid farewell to their parents, they left. Not long after they departed, Xiao Jinfeng and Mu Shuyu also quietly left.
The two brothers arrived at the outskirts one after another. Carrying such large debts, Xiao Jingting didn’t dare delay once he reached the outskirts and went to inspect the farmland. Mu Shuyu had envied Xiao Jingting’s farmland back in Tuqiu Village, and now that he had his own, he eagerly pulled Xiao Jinfeng to see it.
The farmland Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu gave originally contained some spiritual plants, which were transferred to Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng along with the land.
Xiao Jingting examined his farmland and found the quality was good, the location excellent, and it shouldn’t have the frequent demonic beast appearances like Tuqiu Village.
After inspecting his own farmland, Xiao Jingting went to see Xiao Jinfeng’s land. Xiao Jinfeng’s superior fields were decent quality. The spiritual plants in the superior fields had just been harvested, while those in the medium fields were just beginning to grow. The problematic ones were the inferior fields.
“Why is it sandy soil?” Mu Shuyu frowned at the farmland before him. The field contained several spiritual plants growing crookedly and looking poor.
Sandy soil was notoriously bad for growing spiritual plants. Many spiritual plants planted in sandy soil would wither and die. Much sandy soil was left idle, and planting spiritual plants in sandy soil often resulted in losses exceeding gains.
Xiao Jinfeng’s face darkened, feeling gloomy. Though he didn’t say it, being given the least farmland among the brothers made him uncomfortable. Now discovering that all fifteen acres of inferior farmland were sandy soil made him even more uncomfortable.
Mu Shuyu saw Xiao Jinfeng’s expression and patted his shoulder. “Forget it. Having something is better than having nothing.”
Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “Right.”
“Second Brother, trade these fifteen acres to me,” Xiao Jingting said, looking at the sandy soil.
Xiao Jinfeng was stunned. “Trade to you?”
Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yes, trade to me.”
“Jingting, I know you’re trying to help us, but my husband and I can’t take advantage of you,” Mu Shuyu said.
“Second Sister-in-law, you misunderstand. I need this sandy soil – it’s perfect for growing watermelons,” Xiao Jingting said.
In Xiao Jingting’s jade pendant space were watermelon seedlings he had brought from his previous life. After learning this world also had watermelons, he claimed his watermelon seedlings were found in the mountains. He had trial-planted some in Tuqiu Village, and the watermelons were sweet and popular.
The first batch of watermelons he grew was small in quantity and eaten by his family. Originally Xiao Jingting planned to expand cultivation and sell some once he grew more, but before he could expand planting, people sent by his father and mother came to bring them back.
Mu Shuyu was stunned. “Books say watermelons are best suited for sandy soil?”
Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yes! Watermelons are good things. I was thinking that once watermelons reach scale, I could plant more. These acres of sandy soil come at just the right time.”
“Third Brother, you’ve helped Second Brother so much. Just give you these dozen acres of sandy soil,” Xiao Jinfeng said after thinking.
Xiao Jingting smiled helplessly. “Second Brother, if you won’t take advantage of me, would I feel comfortable taking advantage of you? I have so much farmland by myself that I can’t manage it all.”
Xiao Jinfeng smiled. “Alright, but these fifteen acres of sandy soil for only ten acres of farmland.”
Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng walked a bit further to look at the farmland their parents gave Xiao Qingyan. As expected, the farmland given to Xiao Qingyan had the best quality among the three brothers.
After inspecting the farmland, they returned to the temporary residence beside the fields.
Their father and mother had several decent temporary residences beside the fields, giving one to each of the three brothers.
“Father and Mother really are something, giving Second Brother farmland that’s all sandy soil. But fortunately, I happen to need sandy soil,” Xiao Jingting said.
“Father and Mother seemed to consult with Big Brother and Sister-in-law before giving out the land deeds,” Xu Mu’an said quietly.
Xiao Jingting felt a headache coming. “If so, it’s not surprising.”
“By the way, is sandy soil really suitable for growing watermelons?” Xu Mu’an asked.
Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yes! Sandy soil has good permeability, vigorous root metabolism, poor water retention capacity, high sugar content in watermelons…”
Though Xu Mu’an didn’t quite understand, hearing Xiao Jingting speak so knowledgeably, he nodded admiringly.
“I also want to plant some spirit fruits. With the weather getting hot soon, I want to make chilled spirit fruit slushies – they’d definitely be popular,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xu Mu’an thought for a moment. “Try to use local spirit fruits. Using too many foreign spirit fruits might arouse suspicion.”
Xiao Jingting nodded. “I was thinking the same thing.”
Xiao Jingting hired people to harvest the spiritual plants Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu left in the fields, earning twelve thousand taels of silver, considerably easing his financial situation.
After harvesting the spiritual plants, Xiao Jingting didn’t dare relax and hired several people to plant together.
“How did the shop inspection go?” Xiao Jingting asked Xu Mu’an.
Xiao Jingting planned to open a fruit beverage shop and had sent Xu Mu’an to look at shops in the city. Actually, Xiao Jingting had long planned to open a shop, but without backing before, he worried about people causing trouble, so he never acted.
“There are several suitable ones, but before we discuss that, I discovered when I returned that our house had been searched. Xiao Fan also said someone had touched his toys,” Xu Mu’an said.
Xiao Jingting was stunned. “Thieves broke in!”
Xu Mu’an shook his head. “Doesn’t seem like it. Nothing was missing. I think they might have been looking for heavenly treasures.”
Xiao Jingting: “…” Ever since it was exposed that his family advanced through heavenly treasures, people had been eyeing them.
“Maybe it was an inside job.” The original’s big brother had always thought he was hiding good things.
Xu Mu’an sighed. “Alright, let’s not worry about it. Let’s clean up first.”
“Good. When you have time, brew some fruit wine. When the shop opens later, we can sell it there.”
Xu Mu’an nodded. “Alright.”
“Just add a little spiritual spring water, not too much,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xu Mu’an nodded. “Don’t worry, I understand.”
“How much do city shops cost?” Xiao Jingting asked.
“I looked at one in a good location. To rent it would be three hundred taels per month,” Xu Mu’an said.
Xiao Jingting stroked his chin. “Three hundred taels isn’t little, but your husband has money now.”
Xu Mu’an smiled teasingly. “Owing a pile of debt and still daring to say you have money.”
Xiao Jingting smiled awkwardly. “Well, your husband is in the entrepreneurial stage. Once I get through this stage, I’ll have money.”
Xu Mu’an smiled. “I saved some silver before – enough to rent a shop. Let’s rent for half a year first.”
Xiao Jingting nodded. “Fine.”
At the Xiao Family
“Madam, we didn’t find it,” a black-clad man reported to Zheng Pei’er.
Zheng Pei’er sighed lightly. “As expected.” She had sent people to search only with a hopeful mentality.
High-level spiritual plants were difficult to preserve. Without proper containers, the spiritual energy in the plants would gradually dissipate after a few days. The higher quality the spiritual plant, the more delicate it was.
“Madam, Xiao Jingting just left, and Xiao Jinfeng also left. These two brothers now advance and retreat together, which is very disadvantageous to Young Master Xiao Qingyan!”
Zheng Pei’er gritted her teeth. She certainly knew this, but Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng’s relationship was very good now, making them difficult to drive apart. She had just heard that Xiao Jingting used ten acres of good farmland to trade for Xiao Jinfeng’s sandy soil.
Fortunately, Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu still loved Xiao Qingyan most.
“Xu Mu’an went to the city today,” Zheng Pei’er said.
“He seemed to be examining shops – probably wants to open a store,” the black-clad man said.
Zheng Pei’er narrowed her eyes. “I never noticed before that Xu Mu’an had such capability, even wanting to open a shop.” What strange things could happen in this world – after Xiao Jingting went out once, he was actually tamed completely by Xu Mu’an.
After confirming they would open a shop, Xu Mu’an traveled daily between the city and outskirts by Fire Cloud Bird, bustling with activity.
Xiao Jingting was busy daily accelerating the growth of various spiritual plants.
Watermelons weren’t high-level spiritual plants. Though they tasted good, using the All Things Growth technique, they could grow in ten days. Grapes were the same. Xiao Jingting also planted some fruit trees, but they hadn’t grown yet.
Xiao Jingting sat at a table with five or six buckets of fruit juice on it. Xiao Jinfeng and others were brought in as judges.
“This is grape juice, this is Snow Cloud fruit juice, this is watermelon juice, this is Green Bud fruit juice…” Xiao Jingting pointed to over ten types of fruit juice, introducing them to everyone. “Everyone taste them and give suggestions.”
Xiao Xiaofan clapped. “Great! You came to the right person – I’m the best at eating.”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Xiao Xiaodong glanced at Xiao Xiaofan irritably. “Drink less, or you’ll wet the bed tonight. Mother-Father just gave you new bedding.”
Xiao Xiaofan’s face reddened. “I haven’t wet the bed in a long time. Don’t talk nonsense.”
Xiao Jinfeng tasted the fruit juices one by one, his eyes occasionally glowing.
Mu Shuyu drank the fruit juice with amazement on his face.
Xiao Xiaofan grabbed one type of fruit juice and drank it gulp by gulp, like someone dying of thirst in a desert who had finally found water.
Xiao Xiaodong’s performance was much more reserved. He tasted each fruit juice a little, his eyes rolling as he thought about something.
Over ten types of fruit juice Xiao Jingting made included some fruits unique to this realm and some improved versions of Earth fruits.
“Jingting, your fruit juice has a very special taste!” Xiao Jinfeng said.
In his previous life, Xiao Jingting had worked part-time at a beverage shop during university and roughly knew some fruit juice recipes. Applied to this world, the effects were surprisingly good.
Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yes, I researched some fruit juice formulas.”
“Your fruit juice will definitely sell well,” Xiao Jinfeng said.
Xiao Jingting smiled. “Besides fruit juice, I plan to brew some fruit wine to sell. Fruit wine will be priced higher, but everything must be taken slowly.”
Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “Yes.”
“Jingting, when do you plan to open the shop?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.
“The shop has been negotiated, and other things are ready. It should be within these few days. Second Brother, I can’t get away from here. When the shop opens, I’ll have to trouble you to help,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “Don’t worry about that.”
Xiao Xiaofan raised his hand. “I can help too.”
Xiao Xiaodong glared at Xiao Xiaofan. “Help? What can you help with? Help by eating?”
Xiao Xiaofan looked at Xiao Xiaodong with frustration. “I can do lots of things. I can help move stuff. Big Brother, your strength is so small – what can you do?”
“Hmph, I can help calculate accounts and collect money,” Xiao Xiaodong said arrogantly.
Xiao Xiaofan looked at Xiao Xiaodong. “Big Brother, don’t brag. If you collect money wrong, we’ll lose money.”
Xiao Xiaodong said with a straight face, “How could I collect money wrong?”
Xiao Xiaofan shrugged. “Who knows.”
Xiao Jingting listened to the two little ghosts going back and forth and raised his eyebrows. His two little ghosts were very enthusiastic!
Thank you for translating ??