Chapter 28: Fang Yinnian Is the Kindest Man in the World

It was just past twelve when they returned to the farm from Chaoyang Town.

The tractor pulled to a stop at the farm entrance. Fang Yinnian jumped down first and began helping Mu Wanguan unload their belongings piece by piece. Both of them were strikingly good-looking, and the sheer volume of their purchases—ranging from a coal stove and various pots and pans to large bags of snacks and food—drew immediate attention. It was rare to see anyone buy so much food at once.

It was midday, and the educated youth from the farm's production units and livestock teams were just returning from work for lunch. As they passed the gate, they couldn't help but stare at the pair.

Mu Wanguan was unfazed. Back in the Interstellar era, she had been a goddess-level figure who had even appeared on Interstellar broadcasts; she was quite accustomed to the gaze of others. Fang Yinnian was much the same; having been handsome since childhood and a prodigy who skipped grades, he was no stranger to the spotlight.

The two moved their items as if no one else were around. Once finished, Fang Yinnian reached out to help Mu Wanguan down. "Wanguan, come down."

"I can get down myself," she said, gripping the back of the tractor and refusing his hand.

"You'll fall. Don't be difficult," Fang Yinnian said, firmly taking her hand.

Mu Wanguan puffed out her cheeks and huffed, but she allowed him to help her jump from the tractor.

"Be careful!"

Mu Wanguan ignored him completely. Once she landed and steadied herself, she shot him a triumphant look. Fang Yinnian squeezed her small hand, feeling helpless and not knowing what to say.

Before he could respond, she pulled her hand away, grabbed the coal stove, and then slung the heavy backpack he had been carrying earlier over her own shoulders.

"You..." Fang Yinnian started.

"I'm not a weakling."

*Who said you were a weakling?* Fang Yinnian was both annoyed and amused. He couldn't win an argument with her, and he certainly couldn't bring himself to discipline her, so he eventually let it go. Fortunately, the walk back to the residential quarters wasn't long, or she would surely be aching tomorrow.

"Who... who are they? I've never seen them before," one of the educated youth whispered, watching them walk away.

"I don't know. Never seen them."

"Could they be the new technicians? Didn't they say the machinery factory was hiring?"

"Wait, weren't they looking for us educated youth to be apprentices? Comrade Yang Jun, do you know anything about this?"

Yang Jun slowly regained his focus as he turned into the farm toward the cafeteria. "I'm not entirely sure. If you want to know, you can go ask at the machinery factory."

"How could you not know?" The person who asked clearly didn't accept this answer, their tone sharp. "Aren't you the vice-chairman of the Exchange Association? How can you be a vice-chairman if you don't even know this?"

"Isn't the association supposed to look out for the interests of us educated youth?"

"Alright, that's enough!" A friend grabbed the speaker's arm. "Our association hasn't been established for very long, so it's normal not to know everything, right, Comrade Yang?"

Yang Jun didn't answer; he couldn't be bothered to. He simply walked past them toward his lunch.

"Look at him!"

"Stop it. The chairman and vice-chairman were elected by everyone. If you have any complaints, wait a year and run for the position yourself..."

Mu Wanguan walked slowly, eavesdropping until she was around the corner, then hurried to catch up.

"Fang Yinnian, what is this 'Exchange Association' they were talking about?" she asked, leaning in excitedly. "It doesn't sound like a good thing."

"Slow down, you'll trip." Fang Yinnian’s brow twitched, especially since she was still holding the coal stove while wearing the heavy pack. She was bouncing as she ran, and he was terrified she’d take a tumble.

"I won't trip! Are you even listening to me?"

Seeing her get angry, Fang Yinnian sighed in resignation. "I heard you. If you think it’s not a good thing, then just ignore them. As long as they don't cause trouble for us, we don't need to get involved."

They were barely managing to survive themselves; he didn't know if the people from the research institute would try to sabotage them. And then there was the death of his teachers... Fang Yinnian looked at Mu Wanguan, who was nodding in agreement with her cheeks puffed out, and felt a flash of worry. He had always suspected that his teachers' "suicides" were far from simple. He had been investigating in secret for two years, and just when he had made a discovery, he found himself here...

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, but he quickly masked it when Mu Wanguan looked over. "Our priority now is to settle down and live our own lives," he said gently. "We don't need to worry about anything else. And don't worry, Wanguan, I won't let us stay here for long."

"It's fine if we stay a long time," she said airily, not caring. "I have my own things to do, so it doesn't matter."

"Things to do?"

"Yes! I'm going to grow vegetables!"

***

The next day, the first thing Mu Wanguan did upon waking was open the window and peek outside.

They had planted the seeds they bought at the market yesterday, but because they were short on space, she had chosen green onion seeds and planted them in flower pots. Fang Yinnian had found two small pots for her, which she now placed on the railing outside their only window.

As soon as the window opened, a gust of cold air rushed in. Fang Yinnian, still bleary-eyed, shivered. He sat up, leaning lazily against the headboard, and asked, "Aren't you cold?"

"I am. So—" Mu Wanguan looked worried. "Should I bring the pots inside? Will the seeds freeze out there?" She suddenly felt anxious; she knew very little about the plants in this world, bordering on complete ignorance.

*If only my powers were still here.*

Her plant-based ability had been a "cheat code"—as long as she touched a plant, she could understand everything about it: the variety, its growth status, environmental needs, history, chemical composition, and potential uses. If she had that, she would know exactly how to raise these onions.

"Sigh," Mu Wanguan let out a breath.

Fang Yinnian arched an eyebrow, watching the sudden melancholy of the girl, and held back a laugh. "What is it now?"

"I feel like I'm so slow."

"Hmm?"

"I want to learn more... about plants. Fang Yinnian~~"

Fang Yinnian understood immediately. "I remember there's a library on the farm. There should be books on planting. I’ll bring you some when I return at noon."

"Ah!" Mu Wanguan was thrilled. She jumped onto him, cupped his face, and gave him a loud, heavy kiss on the cheek. "Fang Yinnian, you are the best person in the whole world!"

The protagonist in her picture book had said that anyone who helps you is the best person in the world.

After the kiss and her praise, she hurried off to wash up. It was her first day working in the production team, and she would be able to see so many plants—she had to be full of energy.

She didn't notice that Fang Yinnian, having been kissed, had gone completely stiff, his cheeks turning a brilliant shade of red. If the heat of a human body could be visualized, he would have been exploding.