Chapter 36: Boss Tang’s Resentment
Lin Xuefeng had already left. Huai Yu’s fleeting feeling of melancholy only lasted a moment before she quickly tossed it to the back of her mind.
The most important thing now, of course, was the beans she soaked yesterday!
Sprouting beans requires a breathable and water-draining container. Originally, Huai Yu had planned to line a basin with a straw mat and make do, but now that she saw the little basket woven from tree vines by Lin Xuefeng, it couldn’t be more perfect!
The soybeans distributed by the Statistics Bureau, though not old to ensure germination, were still of questionable quality — definitely not edible.
But the soybeans she soaked now were plump, smooth, and creamy yellow. If only she could just fry them in oil and eat them…
Huai Yu sighed, poured the soybeans into the basket to drain, and washed them once more.
After spreading them out to drain again, she placed the basket over the basin, soaked a clean towel (which she had used yesterday to filter water) and covered the beans, then watered them again.
Since the temperature was still a bit low, Huai Yu thought for a moment and moved the basin closer to the fire, covering it with another basin on top.
Outside, the rain had lessened.
From a steady drizzle to a fine mist, the sky remained gloomy, showing no sign of clearing.
She sighed, checked her wristband, and looked at her barely two hundred points, feeling a twinge of guilt.
Had she known he was so capable, she definitely wouldn’t have accepted the points.
But now, glancing around with nothing to do, Huai Yu shrank back into her hut and pulled out the pile of yam beans.
Since Lin Xuefeng said her ability was special, maybe if she practiced more, she could strengthen it?
And about her origins… When she woke up from the tree cocoon, she had wandered the mountain aimlessly for a long time, only seeing cold stone buildings and towering trees…
Where was that place?
Could it be a Taoist temple on Sanqing Mountain? Maybe she was a Taoist? That actually sounded pretty cool!
Maybe she was one of those secluded monks, living in the wilderness, chopping wood and practicing martial arts?
But looking at her own body now — she didn’t exactly seem the type!
She thought she should go back to the mountain sometime. At the very least, that tree cocoon was roomier than a sleeping bag and really comfy — although, well, she had no consciousness back then and couldn’t tell if it was comfy or not.
Thinking absentmindedly, Huai Yu placed each yam bean into her palm, gently channeling her ability. This time, she closed her eyes to really focus and found that different beans needed different amounts of energy.
The small and shriveled ones required more energy, and some large, plump ones that gave off a [bad taste] feeling also demanded a lot of energy.
But most of them needed a fairly balanced amount.
By the time she finished purifying nearly two pounds of yam beans, Huai Yu lifted her arm and realized she still had some strength left. It wasn’t as exhausting as when she purified the soybeans and water.
Checking the time…
Well, it was already noon!
Two pounds of yam beans in over two hours — this efficiency was way too low!
She put the beans back into the basket, only to see Little Tian the mouse sneaking over, squeaking mischievously.
“That’s a no-go.”
Huai Yu lifted the basket: “This is mine. You can only have it if I give it to you.”
Her tone was like coaxing a baby mouse, but her actions were firm. Little Tian watched in dismay as she hung the basket high on a tree vine, then, before Huai Yu could glare at him again, he quickly scampered away.
Huai Yu picked up a packet of nutrient solution, noticing she had only a few left, and felt even more melancholy.
If she had known, she would’ve picked more wild vegetables earlier and bought lard first! If she had fried the beans in oil first last night — the aroma and crispiness would’ve been unimaginable!
The weird texture of the nutrient solution was increasingly unbearable. Watching the rain grow heavier, she grabbed the peanuts again.
——
Meanwhile, the biggest winner in this heavy rain was probably Tang Hongji, Boss Tang.
It had been a full day since he announced fresh wild vegetables were available, and his phone hadn’t stopped ringing since.
He kept smiling and answering calls:
“…No more, really no more… What’s your status? If I had good stuff, wouldn’t I have sent it to you first?”
“Aiyo! You’re too late! Not a bit left. Next time! I’ll make sure to notify you first next time…”
“Sigh, seriously, we’re close, would I lie to you about this…? Look, mutation value 9, how many years has it been since you ate something this good?”
“…Haha, good, good! I was afraid you wouldn’t be satisfied. We sent it right over without even sorting it out… Yes, yes, thank you, thank you…”
The phone kept ringing nonstop. Even with his old, basic phone, Boss Tang had found a way to make it work like a charm.
The old man in the courtyard, seeing him like this, frowned:
“You’re just selling goods, look at your fawning face! How do you look anything like my grandson?”
“You just don’t get it,” Boss Tang said proudly. “Doing business is all about harmony to make wealth from all sides. A few sweet words make everyone happy. It’s no big deal.”
“I think it’s because your dad didn’t climb high enough. Look at yourself…”
Tang Hongji wasn’t upset: “Grandpa, you and Dad have your own ways. You’re too serious. I just deal with small things — can’t use a cannon to shoot a mosquito, right?”
“Just making a bit of side money, you don’t have to worry — oh, by the way, how was the chicken soup last night?”
The old man, distracted, sighed with emotion: “Delicious! Really delicious! Those mushrooms were real wild ones, soaked in chicken fat, so flavorful…”
He smacked his lips, a little regretful: “We shouldn’t have made so many dumplings and spicy fiddlehead salads all at once. If we had saved some, we could’ve enjoyed them today too.”
The whole family was regretting it.
Tang Hongji was even more frustrated: “The first collaboration went so well, I thought we’d have a stable supply. I let everyone eat their fill to celebrate…”
Who would’ve thought the rain would fall so suddenly, ruining the spring harvest…
Who could he even complain to?
This rain was widespread — nearly half the country was under heavy showers. Even traveling across three or five cities wouldn’t guarantee fresh and clean wild vegetables.
And the low-mutation chickens and pork he had spent a fortune buying from the livestock bureau auction…
Sigh! He just barely had a taste and now prices were soaring again.
The grandfather and grandson looked at each other and sighed. Tang Hongji thought for a while: “Once the rain stops, I’ll have to camp out at the shop. This new supplier seems to have some powerful background… I have to stick close, can’t let others snatch them away.”
