Chapter 14: Little Yu and Little Calico

Ruan Feng had cleared a total of sixty mu of land. Fifty mu were planted with cacti, and the remaining ten mu were all sown with Purification Grass.

Purification Grass has the function of cleansing soil. During its growth, it releases a substance known as the TC Element, scientifically named Terracleanium. Scientists combined “terra” (Latin for Earth) and “clean” to name it. The TC Element diffuses into the soil, causing a neutralizing reaction, thus achieving a restorative effect.

Continuously planting Purification Grass in a fixed area for three to five years can improve the soil condition to a certain extent, reaching the standard required for growing crops.

However, the currently developed Purification Grass is not completely immune to the Plague Rain. Generally, a single plant of Purification Grass can withstand about twenty bouts of Plague Rain before it succumbs. Once plague-stricken, the roots of the Purification Grass stop releasing the TC Element and must be uprooted and replanted.

These ten acres of Purification Grass had been planted for almost three years. Ruan Ming didn’t want to lose all that progress. Whenever she had free time, she would go down to the fields to pull weeds, striving to plant new grass seeds as soon as possible.

Purification Grass has a well-developed root system, making weeding a strenuous task.

Even with her Strength Ability, clearing ten acres of grass was no simple matter.

The exhaustion was secondary; the main issue was the hassle.

Most Territory Lords in New Land faced the same problem. During the Plague Rain a while back, the Purification Grass in most territories had largely succumbed. Everyone had been busy pulling weeds recently.

Not everyone who came out here to farm possessed an Esper Ability. Some abilities, like auditory or olfactory types, were of no help. Those with means had to rely on tools.

These past few days, Territory Lords with rotary tillers were swamped.

Besides clearing their own grass, they also rented out their services to other Territory Lords.

Many took the opportunity to make a good profit, hawking their machine-weeding services in the communication channel for around a hundred credits a day.

Ruan Ming looked at the name “Liu Yi” in the channel, constantly advertising his rotary tiller rental, her eyes cold.

Many Territory Lords inquired about the price. It wasn’t cheap—two hundred credits a day, with no guarantees on the amount cleared.

Once he stated his price, the others all fell silent.

With those credits, it would be better to hire a few more people to help pull the weeds. And without a guaranteed quantity, what if he just dawdled? That would be a huge loss.

But Ruan Ming spoke up. “Territory 32 wants to hire a rotary tiller. Brother Liu, when are you available?”

Seeing someone actually willing to hire Liu Yi for plowing, the others all secretly thought: What a sucker.

But who was Liu Yi? He had a younger brother on the Patrol Team. So, no one dared to say a word.

Liu Yi, seeing a job come in, recognized Territory 32. He remembered the day someone had invaded a territory to steal goods, and he’d chased them all the way there, where he’d seen that little beauty.

Seeing Ruan Ming wanting to rent his tiller, his interest was immediately piqued. He wished he could go help the very next day.

But he happened to have to go to the Safe Zone tomorrow. Suppressing his eagerness, he said, “I’m free the day after tomorrow. I’ll come help you weed then, alright?”

“Alright, it’s settled.” After saying this, Ruan Ming ignored any further chat in the channel.

Having arranged with Liu Yi to rent the machine, she decided not to bother with hand-pulling the grass for the next two days.

She got up early the next morning to tidy up around the house.

Her wristband flashed—a call from Ah Yuan.

“Sister Ming, I just got a few fruits—pineapples. Do you want any?”

Ruan Ming now had over six thousand credits. She no longer needed to scrimp like she used to. She replied: “Sure, bring them over.”

“Great! Little Yu wants to come too.”

Ruan Ming thought of that shy little girl, then looked down at Little Calico meowing at her feet. A smile spread across her lips. “Come on over, all of you.”

Less than half an hour after she hung up, a ding-a-ling-a-ling of a bicycle bell drew closer.

Ruan Ming walked out to the yard and saw Ah Yuan lifting Little Yu down from the bike. In his other hand, he carried a plastic bag; through the transparent film, she could see two plump, round pineapples inside.

“You’re here.” Ruan Ming looked at the siblings and waved at Little Yu.

Little Yu was shy, clutching tightly to Ah Yuan’s hand.

Ah Yuan laughed. “She was making a fuss at home about coming to see Sister Ruan, and now that we’re here, she’s acting like this.”

Ruan Ming smiled. “Little Yu, come here, come to your sister.”

Little Yu looked at the pretty older sister with the warm smile. Her tightly pursed lips slowly relaxed, and finally, she let go of Ah Yuan’s hand and walked over to Ruan Ming.

Looking at the slender, strong hand extended towards her, she cautiously placed her own small hand in it, and it was immediately held tight.

Warmth spread from her palm. She looked up at Ruan Ming.

Then quickly lowered her head, but her little body leaned in, hugging Ruan Ming’s leg.

Ruan Ming’s heart melted. She crouched down, picked her up in one smooth motion, and laughed. “Do you like coming to Sister’s house to play?”

Little Yu quickly nodded.

“Then you must come play often.” As Ruan Ming spoke, she carried her into the courtyard. “Sister also has a little cutie at home.”

Just as she said that, Little Calico, who had been napping upstairs, came meowing loudly down the stairs.

It was the third day since the little calico had arrived. Today, Ruan Ming had finally let it out of the cage.

Perhaps holding a grudge for being locked up, Little Calico hadn’t been very friendly to Ruan Ming since being released.

It wasn’t afraid of humans at all, just extremely gluttonous. It seemed to believe that visitors meant treats. As soon as it came downstairs, it ran straight towards the newcomers.

“Sister Ming, you have a kitten!” Ah Yuan, who had followed into the yard with the goods, exclaimed in surprise.

“Yeah, it only arrived two days ago. It’s quite haughty, won’t even let me pet it.”

“Sis, you’re incredibly resourceful! Don’t tell me you bought it? If this kitten isn’t plagued, out there on the market, it would cost tens of thousands of credits.”

Ruan Ming knew the kitten was priceless, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this expensive. If that was the price, all her savings couldn’t compare to a single kitten.

Her goodwill towards Ye Fengwan grew a few more notches.

“A friend gave it to me,” she said, momentarily unsure if placing Ye Fengwan in the position of “friend” was appropriate.

“I didn’t realize it was so valuable; she probably just wanted me to help look after it for a while.”

She had expected the aloof little calico, upon finding no food, to stalk off with resentment. But she was surprised to see the little creature, at some point, had burrowed into Little Yu’s arms. It was purring and closing its eyes in bliss as the small hand stroked its head.

She was astonished. “It actually lets Little Yu touch it.”

Ah Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said, “Little Yu has always been liked by small animals.”

Ruan Ming didn’t dwell on his words. She took the pineapples and asked, “How many credits?”

Ah Yuan replied, “I got them for thirty-five credits each. Selling them to you at cost.”

Fruit was a luxury nowadays. They were even more expensive than the bamboo shoots Ruan Ming had sold before, some costing more than meat.

The prices at fruit stalls in the Safe Zone were even more outrageous; Ruan Ming didn’t even dare to look when she passed by.

“Alright, I’ll transfer the credits to you.”

After transferring the credits, Ruan Ming opened the bag and found a small, palm-sized cake inside, still faintly warm.

Ruan Ming paused, asking, “What’s this?”

Ah Yuan grinned. “My mom made it. It’s a small sesame sugar cake. Brought you one to try while it’s still warm.”

As a runner who often transported goods, he frequently had opportunities to come across such things. It wasn’t strange he could get sesame sugar and flour.

Ruan Ming looked at the siblings’ clothes. They didn’t appear well-off. Ah Yuan never mentioned his father, only that his mother’s health was poor, perhaps even needing medicine. Even if his work helped support the family, it likely wasn’t much.

So she said, “Let me calculate the credits for this too.”

Ah Yuan’s face fell upon hearing this.

“My mom said to give it to you to eat, not to sell!”

“It’s too precious,” Ruan Ming said.

In this day and age, who could afford sesame sugar cakes? Sometimes, even if you had the credits, you couldn’t buy them.

“With the bamboo shoots and rabbit you gave us a few days ago, our family also had a few good days. This is nothing. Sister Ming, if you keep acting like this, we won’t come play with you anymore.”

Ruan Ming’s heart softened. She smiled. “Alright, then I won’t stand on ceremony. Give my thanks to your mother for me.”

Saying this, she took the bag to the kitchen, then brought out a basin and a small knife. Sitting in the yard, she peeled the pineapples while chatting with the two siblings.

Little Yu couldn’t get enough of the little calico.

Ah Yuan also took the opportunity to pet it a few times. The little calico turned its head and yowled fiercely at him, seeming to refuse his touch.

He sheepishly withdrew his hand and asked Ruan Ming, “Does Little Calico sleep with you at night?”

Ruan Ming shook her head. “I haven’t bathed it yet, and I’m afraid it might catch mice or bugs and get germs, so I don’t dare let it on the bed. I just put some of my old clothes in a cardboard box as a cat bed for it.”

Ah Yuan looked at the overcast sky outside, then glanced at his little sister, who was completely captivated by the kitten and couldn’t bear to move. “Sister Ming, it looks like it’s about to rain. Little Yu and I should head back. I’ll come another day and build you a cat tree.”

Ruan Ming said, “Leaving so soon? Or do you have something to do back home?”

Ah Yuan shook his head. “No one contacted me today, no deliveries to run.”

“No need to rush off then. I’ve already cut the pineapple, eat some before you go. Look, Little Yu looks like she’s going to cry at the mention of leaving.”

Just as she spoke, a rustling sound came from outside.

It was raining.