Chapter 209 - 210: The Morning Bell Flower Problem

Chapter 209: Chapter 210: The Morning Bell Flower Problem

Inside, a man in his forties or fifties wearing a conical hat was at work. He showed a hint of a smile when he saw Zhang Rong. "What brings you here?"

"I came to see you," Zhang Rong said with a smile.

Mr. Zhong chuckled. "I think you’re just buttering me up because you want something."

"Mr. Zhong, this is my friend, Li Yang. He’s currently developing the countryside and has leased a large plot of farmland, but he doesn’t have a professional to plan it out. That’s why he’d like to ask for your help with the planning," Zhang Rong said.

"Oh?" Mr. Zhong glanced at Li Yang. "You don’t know the first thing, yet you dared to lease such a large piece of land? Are you trying to screw yourself over, or are you trying to screw over your fellow farmers?"

Li Yang was taken aback for a moment, then he quickly smiled and said, "You’re too kind. I’m not trying to screw anyone over. I just want to develop the area."

"You think it’s that easy to develop?" Mr. Zhong said bluntly. "If you knew what you were doing, I wouldn’t say a thing. But you know nothing, yet you run your mouth about ’development.’ You’ve got some nerve."

Zhang Rong shot Li Yang a look, signaling for him not to talk back. This was just how Mr. Zhong was.

Li Yang felt a bit helpless. ’Alright, I won’t argue with you.’

Seeing that Li Yang had gone silent, Mr. Zhong’s anger subsided slightly. He sneered, "What’s this? Still not convinced, are you?"

Li Yang gave a dry laugh. "No, no, I’m convinced. You’re right, Mr. Zhong. It’s precisely because I don’t know what I’m doing that I need an expert like you to help me with the planning."

Mr. Zhong laughed in exasperation. ’This guy really doesn’t seem convinced at all.’

He said irritably, "Not interested. I don’t want to do that kind of work anymore. I just want to grow my own things."

Zhang Rong chimed in to help. "Mr. Zhong, you’re the expert in this field. Why don’t you give Mr. Li a chance? It’s not easy for someone from the countryside."

Mr. Zhong sneered. "Who has it easy in this world? Enough. Don’t say any more. In any case, I’m not going."

Zhang Rong knew this was just Mr. Zhong’s temperament. Once he made up his mind, it was nearly impossible to change it. She could only look at Li Yang with a helpless expression.

Li Yang glanced over and noticed Mr. Zhong staring at a flower plant off to the side.

Li Yang recognized it immediately and was somewhat surprised.

"This is a Morning Bell Flower, isn’t it?" Li Yang asked.

Mr. Zhong froze, looking at Li Yang in surprise. "You actually know of this flower?"

Li Yang smiled. "The Morning Bell Flower. It’s very rare. It shouldn’t be suited to our climate here."

"Of course!" Mr. Zhong said with a proud expression. "This flower isn’t native to our area. And they said it could never be grown here, but I refused to believe it. Why shouldn’t it be able to grow here? So I went out of my way to find some seeds and plant them. See? Haven’t I managed to grow it? Not only is it alive, but it’s also growing very well."

"Mr. Zhong..." Li Yang seemed a little embarrassed to interrupt him. "You’ve done a great job growing this flower, and keeping it alive is quite difficult. But as for getting it to bloom... I’m afraid that’s another story, isn’t it?"

Li Yang had hit a nerve, and Mr. Zhong’s expression soured. "Who says it can’t bloom? It just hasn’t bloomed yet. Look, the buds have already formed like this."

Li Yang shook his head. "The Morning Bell Flower is quite unique. Its buds only last for three days. If they don’t bloom by then, they’ll wither. I’m guessing this is already the second day, right? Which means, if it doesn’t bloom tomorrow, it’s over. And while they say three days, they usually bloom on the first. A three-day bloom is extremely rare."

In other words, the flower was basically not going to bloom.

Mr. Zhong looked both awkward and dejected. "It seems this place really isn’t quite suitable for growing this flower."

Clearly, he already knew this himself.

"Not necessarily!" Li Yang shook his head and stepped forward. "Mr. Zhong, if I can make this flower bloom by tomorrow, will you agree to help me plan the cultivation for our village?"

Mr. Zhong was stunned for a moment, but he quickly let out a light laugh. "Young man, it’s not that I look down on you, but you can’t even handle the planting plan for your own village, yet you’re telling me you can make this flower bloom? Do you think I should believe you?"

Li Yang smiled. "Those are two different things. It’s not that I don’t know how to grow things; I don’t know how to do modern, optimized planning. Since our village land is for cultivation, it needs the most rational optimization, and I truly don’t understand that part. But when it comes to the act of growing itself, I’m an expert!"

As he spoke, Li Yang stepped forward, scooped up a basin of water with a ladle, and then casually shifted his jade thumb ring, allowing a single drop to fall into the water.

Li Yang splashed the water onto the flowers and said with a smile, "Tomorrow morning, you can get up and take a look at this flower. If it has bloomed, then you’ve agreed to my proposal. How about it?"

"Fine!" Mr. Zhong shook his head and agreed readily, a hint of disdain in his expression. "If that really happens, I won’t say another word and will start working for you immediately. I’m a man of my word!"

"Excellent!" Li Yang laughed. "Then it’s settled. Aunt Rong, let’s go!"

Zhang Rong was still a bit dazed, but she quickly gave Mr. Zhong a wry smile and left with Li Yang.