Chapter 17: Sister Is Sick

It had already been two days since Ruan Ming’s last chat with Ye Fengwan, and she hadn’t received any new messages.

Ruan Ming didn’t have many relatives or friends. Her grandma was gone, and she wasn’t close to her uncle’s family. Back in the bustling Safe Zone, she didn’t want to pay attention to anyone.

After being alone for a while now, although it was liberating, with empty wilderness stretching out on all sides, a sense of loneliness inevitably crept in.

The new neighbor was very nice, but they’d only just met.

Similarly, she hadn’t known Ye Fengwan long either, had never even seen her face. Yet, she always felt Ye Fengwan was reliable. When they first met, she’d seemed cold, but after spending more time together, she found her inexplicably thoughtful, even with a touch of petulance, just like her little calico at home.

Ruan Ming rubbed her wristband. She had to admit, right now, she very much wanted to send Ye Fengwan a message.

She should have said yes when that person offered to supervise her meals two days ago. Ruan Ming felt a bit of regret.

And she vaguely remembered that after she’d reflexively refused, Ye Fengwan had seemed just a tiny bit unhappy, replying with only a single word: Oh.

Maybe it was just her imagination.

It wasn’t until eight in the evening, while she was browsing the agricultural forum as usual, that her wristband dinged with an incoming message.

“Have you been on the forum these days?”

It was a message from Ye Fengwan.

Ruan Ming, who had been lying on her stomach, immediately sat up.

She answered honestly: I have been.

A reply came quickly: As expected, a studious little baby.

Ruan Ming had never been called “baby” before. Her mother had died during her birth, and she’d spent almost all her time with her grandma. She’d rarely even seen her father.

She also couldn’t imagine someone as chilly as Ye Fengwan calling someone a good little baby.

Although she knew the word was just a common casual term in conversation, she couldn’t help but bite her lip as she replied: You’ve been very busy these days, haven’t you? You haven’t messaged me.

Ye Fengwan: If I don’t message you, can’t you message me?

Ruan Ming: I was afraid you were busy. When you message me, I know you’re free.

She certainly couldn’t admit she felt too shy to always be the one reaching out.

In relation to Ye Fengwan, Ruan Ming felt a little inferior. The other was a staff member at the base’s Research Institute; she, on the other hand, was just a lowly farmer, someone who’d lived in the slums at the outermost edge of the Safe Zone. Their social statuses were worlds apart, and even just as friends, she still felt a little restrained.

She was very enthusiastic when Ye Fengwan initiated contact.

But if Ye Fengwan didn’t, she didn’t quite dare to take the initiative herself.

Ye Fengwan: My sister got sick. She’s had a fever for a few days straight. I haven’t been to the institute, just staying at home.

Reading this, Ruan Ming’s heart lurched: Is it serious? Does she need to go to the hospital?

Ye Fengwan: Her illness… hospitals can’t treat it.

For a moment, Ruan Ming didn’t know how to offer comfort.

Genetic diseases were treated at the Research Institute. Ye Fengwan worked at the institute; if she said there was no way, then there truly was no way.

Another message came through from Ye Fengwan: Her fever broke this afternoon. She should be getting better soon. Don’t worry.

Ruan Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief: That’s good the fever broke. The rain the day before yesterday… could Institute Director Ye’s illness be related to that?

Ye Fengwan: No. She accidentally ate something wrong.

A cluster of grapes, and one, indistinguishable from the others, had been contaminated. Impossible to guard against.

Then, she told Ruan Ming about Ye Jianggui’s physical condition and how she could only eat organic food.

Ruan Ming hadn’t known Ye Jianggui’s illness was this severe. Ordinary people like them were grateful just to have regular, edible food. But for her, even touching contaminated food was impossible.

It was too pitiful.

Just how much organic food could Base One provide for her consumption? If supplies were cut off, her life would be in danger.

A pity her own land couldn’t grow high-quality crops.

Without addressing the root problem, any words of comfort were futile.

Ruan Ming could only fret helplessly.

It was Ye Fengwan who changed the subject: What have you been up to lately? Pulling weeds?

Seeing her take the initiative to ask, Ruan Ming told her about the incident with Liu Yi two days ago, though she omitted the part about her father’s pendant.

As Ye Fengwan read her recounting of Liu Yi’s words, her expression grew increasingly dark.

But before she could say anything, Ruan Ming added: Luckily, Sister Yu came, so they didn’t dare make trouble for me.

Ye Fengwan instantly became alert. Which Sister Yu? she asked.

Ruan Ming: The new Territory Lord of No. 33.

Ye Fengwan: How old?

Ruan Ming: I didn’t ask. She looks around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, I guess. Body Extension Ability. I also heard she was introduced by the young master of the Meng family, Commander Meng from Central City. No wonder the Patrol Team doesn’t dare cross her.

Listening to the description, Ye Fengwan immediately knew who it was. She snorted lightly, but the message she typed was: A close neighbor is better than a distant relative. You two could keep in touch.

Ruan Ming: Mhm. I also borrowed her rotary tiller to plow the field for two days. In a couple of days, I can plant the new batch of Purification Grass.

Ye Fengwan asked: How many years has the Purification Grass on your territory been growing?

Ruan Ming: Two and a half years. When I first arrived at the territory, our District Supervisor said someone would come to test the soil in a few days. I don’t know how much longer it needs before the soil is considered qualified.

Ye Fengwan replied: When the staff tests it and gives you the results, take a picture and send it to me. I’ll formulate a soil conditioner based on the data. Once you mix the conditioner with water and apply it to the soil, you can plant crops directly.

Ruan Ming’s eyes widened: That amazing?

Ye Fengwan: The Purification Grass releases TC Element from its roots during growth, which neutralizes the soil. The main component of this conditioner is precisely the TC Element.

Ruan Ming: Is it newly developed? How come I don’t know about it?

Ye Fengwan: Yes, it’s been on the market for less than half a year.

Ruan Ming was thrilled: Was it developed by Institute Director Ye?

Ye Fengwan’s fingers paused over the screen. Finally, she typed back: Yes, it was developed by your idol.

Ruan Ming was overjoyed, yet a little embarrassed. This conditioner must be very expensive. Just give me a tiny bit. I want to start a small vegetable garden first, grow some greens. For the rest, I can keep planting Purification Grass. Tell me the price, and I’ll transfer you the credits.

Ye Fengwan frowned at that last sentence and shot back: I don’t want your credits.

Ruan Ming: How could I possibly accept that?

Ye Fengwan: We’ll discuss it more once your test results come back.

Ruan Ming could tell she didn’t want to discuss the credits, so she just smiled, changed the subject, and chatted with her for a while longer.

Until the conversation ended.

She figured Ah Yuan probably wasn’t asleep yet and switched to his contact ID to send a message.

His reply came quickly: There are three types of soil conditioners on the market. Even the lowest grade costs ten thousand credits per pound. One pound, diluted, can irrigate one acre of land. A high-purity conditioner can go for fifty thousand credits a pound and can permanently improve the soil.

Ruan Ming was shocked. Earlier, she had so casually said she’d transfer credits to Ye Fengwan. With her current savings, she couldn’t even afford a pound of the low-grade conditioner.

Ye Fengwan was… treating her too well.

She wondered if Ye Fengwan would treat other people this way too.

Ruan Ming leaned against the headboard, watching her wristband screen fade to black and pressing it on again, over and over.

The thought that Ye Fengwan might be equally good to others suddenly, inexplicably, made her heart ache with jealousy.

She gave a soft sigh, recalling a story she’d heard somewhere before: a person gave someone an egg every day. Then, one day, when they stopped giving it and gave it to someone else, the first person grew angry.

Ruan Ming wondered if she was acting just like that person now.

If it were anyone else, she wouldn’t care about that egg. But it was Ye Fengwan.

The controversial woman people whispered about, who had indirectly avenged her, doing what she’d wanted but couldn’t do herself. And she was her idol’s younger sister.

An egg given by such a person—how could she not want more?

…

On Ye Fengwan’s end, after finishing her chat with Ruan Ming, she scrolled through her wristband’s contact list, found a number, and dialed directly.

“You said you’d send someone to New Land to protect Ruan Feng’s daughter, but I never expected you’d send yourself!”

A reply came from the other end of the line: “You called personally to request someone look after Ruan Feng’s orphan, how could I not take it seriously? How did you find out I went to New Land?”

“Can’t I know?”

“You can. But why do I detect a hint of interrogation in your voice? I thought you were calling to specifically praise me.”

Ye Fengwan replied: “Of course it’s praise.”

“That praise sounded very forced. But you don’t know, Ruan Feng’s daughter is really beautiful. She came to my place yesterday, took off her mask—”

“Shangguan Yu!”

“Can’t I even say that? Have you met her?”

Ye Fengwan certainly wouldn’t tell her that she herself had been the one to rescue Ruan Ming that day. Only, she had rushed out to draw Cui Rong’s men away and hadn’t even gotten a clear look at Ruan Ming’s face.

Ye Fengwan didn’t answer her question, saying flatly, “It’s late. I’m going to sleep.”

“Hey— I haven’t even asked how your sister is! Is she doing any better now?”

After a few seconds, Ye Fengwan finally answered: “Not very well. The Qu family is still stringing us along, holding the organic food over our heads. Her legs… can’t wait much longer either…”

Shangguan Yu’s high spirits dissolved instantly at these words.

“I’ll keep having our people search for a food source.”

Ye Fengwan held little hope for that. Organic food was incredibly difficult to cultivate. Even if some farm owners managed to grow a few plants, it wouldn’t be enough. Ye Jianggui needed it three meals a day, without fail.

Far from enough.

“Alright. I’m hanging up.”