“You smelly stone, I know I can’t reach the third level of Qi Refining, and your help to me isn’t great, but I still want to thank you for saving someone today.”
Ye Tiancheng found himself more grateful, no longer like before, with only money and face in his head, and wanting women. Now he felt a higher spiritual level.
He used to think life was too short, so he wanted to indulge, but now he understood that stability was the way to enjoy life. What he had experienced before was just vanity.
As for the impending environmental destruction of Earth, and even the possibility of unfavorable development, where all life would be reshuffled, entering the fourth ice age, all this forced Ye Tiancheng to cultivate and survive. But now Ye Tiancheng seemed to have lost much of his fighting spirit.
Hou Qing’er woke up and said she had a dream, that she had already died and there was no room for recovery, but at the critical moment, she was sent back from the Bridge of Helplessness.
“Brother Ye, I feel that all of this is related to you in the dark. You are my savior.”
These words stunned Ye Tiancheng, as everything was so secretive. How did this girl know?
“Do you know something?”
“I don’t know anything, it’s just a feeling, a woman’s sixth sense.”
Hearing her say this, Ye Tiancheng truly felt that women were indeed terrifying creatures, sensing what Nuwa had done in the past.
“It’s great that you survived the disaster. Let’s live a stable life, and I hope there will be no more accidents in the future.”
“Brother Ye, as long as I’m with you, anything is fine.”
Hou Qing’er, blushing shyly, threw herself into Ye Tiancheng’s arms. This girl was not just resurrected, but her body recovered incredibly quickly. Even the doctors didn’t know how to explain it, so they simply didn’t show up for a few days.
Soon, Hou Qing’er was discharged from the hospital, and Ye Tiancheng’s interactions with her became more frequent.
As usual, Ye Tiancheng went to the fields every day, hoeing and farming. The stone would occasionally appear to chat with Ye Tiancheng.
“You really have no intention of cultivating at all. This is the first time I’ve met someone as calm as you. Why are you so different from your ancestors? Don’t you want to become rich?”
Perhaps the Nuwa Stone was too bored, so it kept talking to Ye Tiancheng incessantly. Ye Tiancheng also lacked a companion, so he didn’t stop its constant chatter.
“I don’t want to get rich. People die for wealth, birds die for food. This is what you told me before. I just want to live healthily and safely, and I don’t want to harm those around me.”
Oh my! The Nuwa Stone felt that Ye Tiancheng’s current state of mind was wasted if he didn’t become a monk. He had no expectations for this world.
“Do you want me to wear my mouth out? I told you to cultivate, but you haven’t made any progress. You just spend your days hoeing in the fields. What future is there in farming like this?”
The Nuwa Stone was helpless and could only use provocation. However, Ye Tiancheng still didn’t buy it. No matter how pitifully the stone described him, Ye Tiancheng remained as content as ever.
“My heavens, do you know how lucky you are? With just a little help from me, you’ll quickly reach the third level of Qi Refining. Such an opportunity is unimaginable. Others might strive their whole lives and not catch up to you in an hour.”
Ye Tiancheng understood these words even without the stone saying them. After all, he had been through it before. He had gotten rich quickly by growing pears and making his first pot of gold. But now, after encountering the stone, they had connected, yet there had been no progress until now.
“I understand. If you really pity me, give me some money. I’ll renovate my house and then repay the money I owe Qing’er.”
The stone was about to roll its eyes. Ye Tiancheng had too little ambition. He had a fiancée who looked down on him, but Ye Tiancheng didn’t even think about it. Now all his thoughts were on that wild girl. He didn’t know what was so appealing about a village woman.
“It’s over. Let’s stop talking. I’m afraid you’ll give me a heart attack.”
The stone refused to talk further, and Ye Tiancheng said no more, quietly getting back to work.
However, when he returned home today, he noticed something unusual: Hou Qing’er was nowhere to be seen. That silly girl was very devoted, preparing meals early every day and waiting for Ye Tiancheng to return. But today, she was nowhere to be found.
After all, Ye Tiancheng had a fiancée, so he had to be discreet among his clan members. Therefore, even if she wasn’t there, Ye Tiancheng couldn’t openly look for her, so he could only wait obediently. But he had been waiting for a long time. Ye Tiancheng was hungry and even sleepy. The girl still hadn’t come.
Ye Tiancheng fell asleep drowsily. The next morning, he woke up hungry. Ye Tiancheng got up to relieve himself and go back to sleep for a second round of sleep. Unexpectedly, he heard some noise outside the door.
“Who is it?”
Ye Tiancheng asked tentatively. He didn’t dare to open the door rashly. Who could say there were no cultivators? If word got out that Ye Tiancheng had obtained divine sense, and someone came to snatch the divine stone, with Ye Tiancheng’s current strength, he would probably be hung up and beaten.
“Brother Ye, it’s me.”
It turned out to be Hou Qing’er. Ye Tiancheng had been thinking about her all night. When the person he missed finally arrived, Ye Tiancheng completely lost his temper and quickly opened the door, letting the person he missed in.
“Qing’er, why didn’t you come last night? What’s been going on recently? But I didn’t dare to look for you rashly, for fear of causing trouble.”
“I came to bring you breakfast.”
It seemed like there was nothing particularly unusual, but something felt off everywhere. Ye Tiancheng couldn’t quite explain it. He felt that this girl, who was devoted to him, had changed somewhere.
However, Ye Tiancheng didn’t say anything. He sat at the table and watched Hou Qing’er set out the breakfast. During the whole process, she, who was usually chattering, said nothing.
“Brother Ye, please eat.”
“Qing’er, what exactly happened? You’re making me very worried. If you don’t mind, you can tell me.”
Hearing Ye Tiancheng say this, Hou Qing’er, who could still maintain her facial expression and remain calm, seemed to be unable to hold back any longer. She seemed to be suppressing her tears and not letting them fall.
“Brother Ye, this is the last time I’m bringing you breakfast. My family is arranging a blind date for me. I might be getting married.”
Ye Tiancheng immediately put on a mask of pain. His entire expression was somewhat distorted. He grabbed the girl’s hand and questioned her, asking what had happened that she was suddenly getting married.
“Tell me what your difficulties are!”
Hou Qing’er shook her head painfully. “Let me bear everything myself. Brother Ye, you are a good person. You deserve to be with a better girl for a lifetime. I am not worthy at all!”
Ye Tiancheng suddenly felt as if he had fallen into some strange vortex of a romance novel, yet he was somewhat reluctant to part with the girl in front of him.
“Listen to Brother Ye. If your feelings for me are not a deception, tell me what happened.”
“I need money. My father is in poor health, and the doctor said he needs surgery. I have no choice but to marry. With the betrothal gift, I will have money to save my father.”
Ye Tiancheng had finally hoped to live a normal life like ordinary people, but he still couldn’t escape fate. Now this girl needed his help, and as a man, having already taken advantage of her, he couldn’t just stand by when problems arose.
That wouldn’t be a matter of being a man, it wouldn’t be human at all.
“Qing’er, don’t worry. Tell me, how much money is it?”
“Don’t ask. Brother Ye, I don’t want to bring my misfortune to you. After we separate, you will have a better life. After all, your fiancée is a rich girl, and you are only farming here temporarily.”
Although Ye Tiancheng knew that those green tea girls loved to play tricks, the Hou Qing’er in front of him was completely different from them. This beautiful and pure girl made Ye Tiancheng feel a strong desire to protect her.
“If you consider me your man, tell me how much money you need.”
“My heart needs a bypass surgery. The doctor said it might cost over a hundred thousand, and all my betrothal gifts might not be enough.”
Hou Qing’er spoke with a hint of sadness, but it was also reality. Ye Tiancheng knew that as long as he worked hard, he could get this money, and even arrange a good hospital for the girl’s father, hire a professional doctor, and handle everything well, including post-operative care.
“Don’t worry, absolutely don’t marry someone else. You must marry someone you like. As for the money, I’ll take care of it.”
Hou Qing’er certainly didn’t believe him. Ye Tiancheng asked her to go home and wait. If he couldn’t get the money, he wouldn’t see her again.
The next morning, Ye Tiancheng went to the field and built a shed. He was busy there, sweating profusely as he drove stakes. First, he drove the wooden stakes down, then built the crossbeams, and then cut grass for the roof.
He had been busy for a long time, and his technique was skilled. The wooden shed was almost finished in one morning. The stone couldn’t resist and asked curiously.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you digging today?”
“You’ll know in a moment.”
Ye Tiancheng took a wild pear from his bag, wiped it casually with his hand, and then ate it with a crunch. After eating, he handed the pear pit to the stone.
“Help me modify this seed.”
The stone was certainly capable of turning this pear pit into something magical, but it was a little surprised why Ye Tiancheng knew.
“Who exactly are you? Why do you seem so powerful, able to command me?”
“Please, don’t you want me to be ambitious? I’ve now chosen to be ambitious, but I need your help.”
Ye Tiancheng appeared to be resolute and spoke little. Although the stone was full of doubt, it still followed Ye Tiancheng’s request and cast a spell on the pear pit.
“Thank you.”
Ye Tiancheng dug a small pit, threw the modified seed into the soil, and then a tender sprout broke through the earth. Ye Tiancheng was very calm throughout the entire process, showing no curiosity.
“Aren’t you surprised? In this world, no plant can grow this fast.”
Ye Tiancheng looked at the stone indifferently. “I wasn’t surprised when you appeared, so what could be more surprising? Besides, I know this pear tree can be harvested in a month.”
The stone was indeed startled. Ye Tiancheng seemed even more omniscient than itself, as if he had foreknowledge of everything. The stone quickly hid and went into hibernation.
Every day, Ye Tiancheng stayed in the wooden shed, carefully watching the pear tree grow. In less than twenty days, the pear tree bore fruit.
It seemed that fate dictated that Ye Tiancheng couldn’t escape. He still had to follow the basic path of his dreams.
The fist-sized pear held no surprise for Ye Tiancheng. Even if it emitted light, it couldn’t attract his attention.
Seeing that the pear was ripe, he directly picked one and ate it. The stone beside him was stunned.
“You ate it without asking me? Aren’t you afraid of being poisoned?”
“The bold eat, the timid starve. Besides, I know this is a good thing. One can sell for one to two million. Others can’t get enough of it, so why should I be afraid?”