Volume 1, Chapter 23: Weeding

The hotel is not large, just a small chain, really. As for vegetables, the hotel has dedicated suppliers, so there is naturally no shortage.

Listening to Liu Lan’s "humble-brag," Guo Dong didn't know what to say. If he hadn't spent his whole life in this village, he might have actually believed the girl's tall tales.

Xianghe Hotel! Who in Hongwu County hasn't heard of it? It’s a star-rated establishment, even more famous than Lexiang Supermarket.

"By the way, were you just trying to collaborate with us?" Sensing Guo Dong’s hidden agenda, Liu Lan smiled and said, "I can't make that call. I don't really have a say at Xianghe Hotel." She stuck out her tongue, appearing slightly embarrassed. After all, he had healed her, and she felt bad about not being able to fulfill even a small request for him.

"It’s not about a partnership; I just wanted to learn what kind of vegetables hotels typically need. I only have peaches in my fields, no vegetables!" Guo Dong felt a bit sheepish now that his intentions were laid bare.

"Oh, that’s simple. Hotels use pretty much any vegetable available on the market. Of course, the scarcer the produce, the more valuable it is."

Before they could chat much longer, the trucks from Lexiang Supermarket arrived to collect the peaches. Having done this twice before, the process went much more smoothly this time. Picking the fruit and loading the trucks took only half a day.

Looking at the final payment in his hand, Guo Dong felt a complex mix of emotions. He had made a killing this time! After paying off his debts, he would still have over 300,000 left. With this money, he could finally do something big—lease land and start growing vegetables. No matter what he did, he needed capital. Yet, he dismissed the idea of asking anyone for help. He was ready to implement his plan for irrigation with the spirit water.

Carrying his tools, he walked up to that hillside alone. Looking at the vast expanse of wasteland, a surge of ambition rose in his chest. The villagers might not consider this the best land for farming, but in his eyes, it was the perfect place to live. Standing here, you could see the entire village. With mountains at his back and his peach orchard nearby, he could look down and see fish ponds and a small river that fed directly into Hong Lake. It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful spot in Immortal Peach Village. The only issue was that it was overgrown, with weeds in some places taller than a man.

"Hey, Jelly! Come down and give me a hand!"

Just as Guo Dong was preparing to get to work, a voice drifted up from the foot of the hill. Looking down, he saw Li Tianhu standing there beside his small truck, which was loaded with all sorts of miscellaneous equipment.

"What are you doing here?" Guo Dong was stunned; he hadn't expected Li Tianhu to have the time to come all the way out here.

"It’s my dad. He said you’d leased this land and told me to come help you out!" "Helping" was just an excuse; the guy clearly saw that Guo Dong had made a fortune and wanted a piece of the action. He’d missed the first train, so he figured he might as well hop on the second.

"What did you bring all this for?" Guo Dong muttered as he watched the guy scramble up the hill.

"What do you think? Machinery!" Li Tianhu grinned. "This place is notoriously overgrown. If you relied on just yourself and a hoe, when would you ever finish?" He pushed a small piece of machinery off the truck.

"What is that?"

"A micro-weeder!" Li Tianhu said, looking smug. "Don't underestimate this thing. With this, all the weeds here will be gone in a day." He was clearly proud of himself. "Look, buddy, you can't just farm with brute force; you need science. I had to trade two packs of cigarettes just to borrow this thing for two days! Don't just stand there—help me push it up the hill. Or were you expecting me to do it all alone?"

The machine was efficient, though pushing it up the hill was exhausting. With the micro-weeder, the work that Guo Dong had expected to take days was finished in less than one. Not only were the weeds cleared, but the soil had been tilled as well. He had to admit, Li Tianhu deserved the credit.

Looking at the massive pile of weeds, Guo Dong felt a sense of awe. Farming didn't just require high tech; it required know-how. He never would have thought to use a machine like this.

"Hey, Jelly, did we do a good job today or what?"

Guo Dong nodded and grabbed his friend's arm. "I'm treating you to a meal today!"

"A meal? Is that all I get?" Li Tianhu feigned anger, pulled out a lighter, and set the pile of weeds ablaze.

"What are you doing!" Guo Dong started to stop him, but the flames had already caught.

"Burning them, what else? I know what you’re going to say, but everyone does it this way. It’s fine!" Li Tianhu laughed, watching the smoke billow up, and couldn't help but sigh.

"To be honest, I never imagined I'd be farming here with you. And I never thought the village's top beauty would end up with a guy like you." He poked at the weeds with his tool, shaking his head with a trace of lingering resentment. "I've had my eye on Xiaohan for so long. What do you have that I don't? Why couldn't she see me?"

Guo Dong was stunned, staring at Li Tianhu, at a loss for words.

"But whatever, we're brothers. What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine..."

"Get lost!" Guo Dong pushed him aside. "Stop saying that in front of me."

Li Tianhu didn't get angry at all. "My dad said you look honest, but you've got a ruthless streak. He said following you is a safe bet. So, I’ve decided: I’m in on this farming venture. My demands aren't high—just look out for your brother when you start making money. I might not have other skills, but I’m a pro at farming. I can operate all kinds of vehicles and machinery—I’m not just blowing smoke. Let me tell you..."

Before Li Tianhu could finish, Guo Dong interrupted him. "I haven't even decided what to plant yet. What if we lose money?"

Li Tianhu chuckled. "Don't you have hundreds of thousands? Even if we lose, we won't lose everything. Besides, your peach trees aren't going to stop bearing fruit next year, are they? I'm not an idiot; I wouldn't make a losing deal!"

Guo Dong kicked out at him jokingly, but Li Tianhu dodged easily. He stepped aside and said with a grin, "Jelly, there aren't many young people left in our two villages. Do you know who I admire most?"

"Who?" Guo Dong asked, his mind instinctively jumping to Meng Xiaohan.

"You, of course!" Li Tianhu laughed. "You’ve been learning Chinese medicine from your grandfather since you were a kid, and you know these mountains like the back of your hand. Plus, the way you held it together while being in so much debt—not many people around here could do that."

Guo Dong let out a laugh, sat down on the ground, and watched the fire burn. "Actually, I admire myself, too. I was almost at my breaking point. I was this close to going to the city to find work with Uncle Hao."