Chapter 82: The Wood Ability User
The Taoyang plantation had begun its foundational work in an orderly manner.
Meanwhile, Su Tao was struggling in Shou’an—unable to eat well or sleep properly.
The intense heat killed her appetite, and at night, she kept waking up due to the heat. In just two days, she already looked noticeably haggard.
Lin Fangzhi, worried sick, even tried giving her his favorite candy, but she wouldn’t take it.
Just then, Shi Zijin and his team, who had been missing for three whole days, finally returned.
Judging by their gloomy expressions, the negotiations hadn’t gone smoothly.
Su Tao opened the door and invited them to rest in her and Guan Zining’s room.
Upon entering, Cen Tianjiao took one look at the cozy setup and wailed,
“We were out there shedding blood on a battlefield without smoke, while you two were here enjoying life—this is so unfair!”
Shi Zijin, however, was focused on Su Tao’s visibly thinner face, frowning as he asked, “What happened?”
Then, his gaze shifted to Miss Guardian, Guan Zining—his eyes practically questioning her.
Feeling falsely accused, Guan Zining protested, “I didn’t mistreat her!”
Su Tao yawned, eyes watery from exhaustion, and said, “It’s too hot… How did the talks go? When can we leave?”
She was desperate to get back to her vehicle, turn on the air conditioning, and have a good sleep.
She wanted ice cream. She wanted fresh vegetables… She just wanted to go home.
Shi Zijin snatched the fan from Lin Fangzhi’s hands and began fanning her himself.
“The negotiations are mostly done. Tomorrow, we can go pick up Xiao Jian, and once we have him, we’ll leave.”
Then, after a brief pause, he added, “Also, I found out about Wu Jianyi, as you requested. I’m sorry, but he has already passed away.”
Su Tao had anticipated this, but she still felt a pang of disappointment. Old Mei would definitely be heartbroken over the news.
“But,” Shi Zijin continued, “he has a son named Wu Zhen, who is still in Shou’an. He’s a highly talented wood-type ability user. Rumor has it that he can communicate with plants and has managed to cultivate many pre-apocalypse ornamental plants. Right now, he’s being kept as a personal gardener in the estate of a wealthy Shou’an resident.”
He can communicate with plants?!
Her plantation was in dire need of talent like that!
Su Tao’s eyes widened with excitement. “Can we get in touch with him?”
Shi Zijin smirked. “That wealthy resident invited us over for a visit tonight. Perhaps you could take this opportunity… to invite him to come live in Taoyang.”
Su Tao immediately grabbed the fan and fanned him with extra enthusiasm. “Major, you’ve worked hard! Once we get back to Taoyang, I’ll personally pick out the freshest vegetables from our plantation and make you a cold salad as a thank-you!”
Cen Tianjiao looked miserable. “Boss, can I not go?”
Shi Zijin, unwavering, replied, “Your sacrifice will be remembered.”
Su Tao was confused. “What’s going on?”
Dang Xingyan and the others nearly burst into laughter. “Boss Su, you’ll understand when we get there.”
That evening, Su Tao carefully packed four bottles of milk in a nice gift bag as a courtesy for their visit.
Their host for the night was Jiang Qingxiang, whose husband and brother were the biggest arms manufacturers in Shou’an. Their family practically controlled Shou’an’s economy, supplying weapons to multiple northern bases.
Even Dongyang’s official arsenal was mostly stocked with weapons purchased from Shou’an.
Shi Zijin had mentioned before that his expensive pistol—costing 80,000 federal credits and 6,200 contribution points—was also made in Shou’an.
No wonder they’re so rich, Su Tao thought. They can even afford to hire an ability user just to manage their garden.
She turned to Guan Zining and said, “Now this is what I call excessive luxury. What I have is just enjoying a good life at best.”
Guan Zining had no love for these kinds of people and bluntly said, “This is what you call warlord wealth. They bleed the common people dry and build their lavish lives on the suffering of others. You’re different. You give yourself three parts of a good life while ensuring others get four parts even better. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be running around with us, eating poorly, sleeping badly, and risking your life.”
She paused after speaking, then silently cursed Su Tao as an idiot in her heart.
But fools have their own kind of luck.
She hoped the heavens would bless this foolish girl.
If necessary, Guan Zining wouldn’t mind giving all her luck to Su Tao.
At the agreed time, they arrived at Shou’an’s city center—the Xin’an wealthy district.
The outer walls were impressively tall and sturdy, rivaling those of Taoyang.
The gate used an electronic scanner, with four heavily armed security guards standing watch.
After their identities were confirmed and the host granted permission via call, they were allowed inside.
A butler-like figure led them to a small car, which drove them for about ten minutes before finally arriving at Jiang Qingxiang’s home.
A grand three-story villa stood before them, with a sunken courtyard in the front, lush greenery, and blooming flowers all around.
A small stream ran through the property, even housing swimming koi fish.
The most eye-catching sight, however, was the long dining table in the center, filled with scarce green vegetables, whole roasted chicken, exquisite pastries, and chilled sour plum juice…
Su Tao was completely stunned.
The contrast between the inside and outside of Shou’an’s city center was like two different worlds.
Outside, people starved in the streets, corpses littered the roads.
Inside, there were villas, flowing streams, and a feast fit for royalty.
The butler hurriedly knocked on the door, and out came a round-faced, well-fed woman with a commanding presence.
Seeing them, she warmly welcomed them in.
“You’re finally here! Xiao Cen, was the journey too hot for you? Come, let big sister pour you a glass of sour plum juice to cool off.”
Cen Tianjiao’s entire body stiffened.
Dang Xingyan and the others tried desperately to hold back their laughter, their faces turning red.
Su Tao instantly understood, her mouth dropping open in shock.
This rich lady has taken a liking to Cen Tianjiao?!
No wonder they were invited—this whole dinner was probably just an excuse to see Cen Tianjiao!
I didn’t expect her to have this kind of taste…
Then, as she took a closer look at Cen Tianjiao—his muscular build, tanned skin, and the rugged aura of a soldier—she realized it wasn’t that surprising. He did have a masculine charm that could easily attract women.
And then it hit her.
Shi Zijin… you sold your teammate out for this dinner invite!
She glanced at Shi Zijin, but the man looked perfectly righteous and unbothered, showing not even a hint of guilt.
Su Tao was in awe.
And so, Lady Jiang enthusiastically pulled a dead-inside Cen Tianjiao aside for a “heart-to-heart conversation” in a small pavilion.
Meanwhile, Su Tao and the others were left to enjoy the buffet and freely explore the courtyard and first floor of the villa.
She didn’t have much appetite, so after a couple of bites of greens, she grabbed a glass of sour plum juice and wandered around “appreciating the scenery”—in reality, searching for the so-called “gardener.”
The Jiang family had plenty of servants, all bustling around to keep the place pristine.
Behind the villa was a large garden spanning over 300 square meters, filled with a variety of flowers and ornamental plants, dazzling Su Tao’s eyes.
If useless ornamental plants could thrive like this, then if this ability were used on edible crops, wouldn’t it improve yield, speed up growth cycles, and even enhance seed genetics?
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became.
But after searching high and low, she still hadn’t seen Wu Zhen anywhere.
She pulled up her communicator to double-check his appearance, wondering if she might have overlooked him among the servants.
Unfortunately, no—he really wasn’t there.
“No luck finding him?” Shi Zijin sauntered over, also holding a glass of sour plum juice.
Su Tao shook her head.
Shi Zijin pondered for a moment, then pulled out his communicator and sent Cen Tianjiao a message:
“Tell Jiang Qingxiang that you really love the blue roses in her garden. Say you’ve heard she employs talented people and ask her to call Wu Zhen over so you can see how the blue roses are cultivated firsthand.”
Then, after a pause, he added another line:
“Don’t be a block of wood. Say something nice. Sweet-talk her into calling him over.”
