“Thank you, Auntie! We’re heading back now!”
“We’re going back!”
“We got Candy Twists!”
The three of them happily returned to the neighboring house with their treats. Even though they didn’t get to eat noodles, having Candy Twists and steamed buns wasn’t a bad deal at all.
As expected, Liu Lan gave the three boys holding the Candy Twists quite a scolding.
But kids being kids, they let it go in one ear and out the other—scoldings were a common occurrence.
While they might not remember their parent’s lectures, they certainly remembered who gave them the delicious Candy Twists.
Ignoring the commotion next door, Fang Yuan delivered a lychee tree to Luo Meihong and then closed the courtyard gate.
She first stored everything she had brought back into the Space.
After lunch, she rested in her room for a while before entering the Space to start digging holes and planting trees.
Digging hole after hole and planting trees—fortunately, her strength had increased, or else just digging the holes would have been exhausting.
However, she didn’t dig the holes very deep, just enough to bury the roots.
It took her about an hour to successfully plant all the saplings.
Turning around, she continued planting vegetables.
Rapeseed, soybeans, wheat, cauliflower, eggplant—
Drawing from her previous experience, she simply scattered the seeds directly into the soil and watered them.
After all, that’s how she had planted the earlier vegetable seeds, and they had all grown successfully.
Finally, there was a small bag of rice seeds, not much, just about half a kilogram.
But planting rice requires paddy fields.
How was she supposed to plant it in this entirely soil-filled land?
Just toss it into the soil and water it?
She wondered if the so-called Spiritual Energy could help it grow properly.
“System, are you there?” Fang Yuan called out in her mind.
【I’m here, Host. What’s the matter?】
“Can rice be planted in this soil? Or can you help me turn the soil into paddy fields?”
【Host, look toward the innermost area. That’s the paddy field—it just hasn’t been irrigated yet.】
Fang Yuan hurried over to the innermost part.
Sure enough, there was an entire stretch of paddy fields there, complete with ridges along the edges—only there was no water inside.
After gauging the distance between the paddy fields and the well, she realized she didn’t have any irrigation pipes. Carrying water to fill the fields seemed quite challenging.
“System, isn’t there a Space where you can plant and water with just a thought? I’ve heard of other Spaces that can do that.”
Fang Yuan suddenly thought, why was she digging holes and catching fish herself?
As a Space, shouldn’t it have features like one-click planting and one-click harvesting?
And she even had to dive into the sea to catch fish herself.
How inefficient!
【Is it possible that it’s because the Host doesn’t have enough spiritual power?】
Fang Yuan retorted, “Nonsense! Then how can I store things in here?”
【An ordinary person’s spiritual power can handle storing and retrieving items, but tasks like catching fish or planting require higher and more refined spiritual power.】
“…”
Was this discriminating against her for being an ordinary person? What a load of nonsense!
Fang Yuan hesitantly asked, “Then how can I increase that so-called spiritual power?”
【The Host’s spiritual power will naturally grow after traveling through a few more worlds, or if you come across some rare treasures…】
“Hah…”
Fang Yuan rolled her eyes. That was easier said than done.
“Can I let other people into the Space to work?”
The Space had ten acres of land, half of which were paddy fields. She felt she couldn’t handle it all by herself.
Planting just fruit trees and vegetables would be fine, but in such a poor era, she couldn’t bear the thought of not planting staple crops.
【Yes, but if it’s exposed, the System will not be responsible for the aftermath.】
“…”
Fang Yuan stared at the paddy fields for a long while before finally deciding to section off a small corner.
After pouring two buckets of water inside, she threw a handful of rice grains into the mud and buried them.
The remaining seeds she stored in the wooden hut, waiting for the time when the field would be filled with water before planting them.
As for that handful of rice grains, if they grew, they grew; if not, it didn’t matter. Whoever wanted to farm in this Space could do so.
She was a pregnant woman and had already done her best.
For dinner, Fang Yuan made pork and scallion buns.
Thinking about future convenience, she steamed three large trays in one go.
Each tray held over ten buns, each as big as a fist.
Liu Lan didn’t let the children come over, so Fang Yuan simply packed eight buns to take to them.
The three children, who had been held back by their mother, were overjoyed when they saw Fang Yuan bring the buns over.
“Wow, big buns!”
“Buns, buns…”
Seeing that Fang Yuan had brought so many buns, Liu Lan quickly reached out to stop her:
“You silly girl, I already said you didn’t need to send anything, and you still brought so many? You’ve just arrived and haven’t even settled in properly yet. Giving them half a bun each to taste would’ve been enough.”
This girl was too generous.
In just a few days, her three children had already received plenty of treats from her.
In these times when food and drink were scarce, how could she, as their mother, take advantage of someone else like this?
“Sister-in-law, adults should keep their word. What’s the big deal with a few buns? I can afford it.”
Fang Yuan directly took the steaming buns from the basket and handed one to each of the three children.
“Auntie keeps her promises. Go ahead and eat!”
“Thank you, Auntie!”
He Weiguo thanked her happily, holding his bun.
“Thank you, Auntie! The buns are so delicious, even better than the ones my mom makes. They’re the best buns I’ve ever eaten!”
He Weimin took a bite and grinned from ear to ear.
Fang Yuan’s buns were so delicious—he loved them.
“You little rascal, already criticizing my cooking? If you have the guts, don’t eat my buns from now on,” Liu Lan scolded jokingly.
“Sister-in-law, you should eat too. Don’t just focus on the kids. Women should treat themselves well too!”
Seeing Liu Lan only watching the children eat, Fang Yuan smiled and placed a bun in her hand.
“You silly girl~ Well then, I’ll try your cooking too. Take the rest back—these little rascals will eat as many as you give them.”
With the bun already in her hand and seeing how clean Fang Yuan was, Liu Lan had no choice but to eat it.
With her other hand, she pushed Fang Yuan to take the remaining buns back.
But the taste really was good—the kids weren’t exaggerating!
“It’s just two buns each, not too many. By the way, I haven’t seen Brother He these past few days. Is he also on a mission?”
Fang Yuan placed the remaining buns in the living room and then deliberately asked.
“Probably. I think he went out with your husband.”
Liu Lan replied between bites of her bun.
Although she was a military wife, she knew nothing about military affairs, and her husband never told her anything.
All mission details were kept strictly confidential!
“Oh, no wonder. By the way, who was that woman you sent off when I returned today?”
Fang Yuan changed the subject—this was her real purpose.
“The one at noon? She’s the sister of the second company commander in Old He’s battalion. She said she came to help take care of her brother and the children. That girl is quite enthusiastic,” Liu Lan replied with a smile.
The young woman had visited with such enthusiasm, and Liu Lan had a good impression of her.
“Did she arrive around the same time as me? Did she come with an old lady and a little boy?”
Fang Yuan frowned, her expression hesitant as she asked.
“Yes, why? Do you know each other?” Seeing Fang Yuan’s expression, Liu Lan asked curiously.
Fang Yuan’s expression didn’t seem like one of fondness at all.