Chapter 27: Being Open About It

“It’s gotten bigger! Look at those trees by the edge—they’re now almost six meters from the white mist. The space must be continuously expanding. When you were out, I took a quick peek, and the mist was only one or two meters away from the trees.” Bi Qiao’an shared her discovery with Shen Yanming, her voice brimming with excitement.

“That’s fantastic! At this rate, we’ll have so much land, enough to plant a huge amount of crops. I wonder what triggers the mist receding. Could it be the trees? We only planted those fruit trees yesterday, and that’s when the change happened!” Shen Yanming mused, unable to contain his excitement. Of course, this excitement could only truly be shared with Bi Qiao’an.

“Oh right, Brother Yanming, let’s check your storage space! Maybe we’ll find a way to expand that too!” Bi Qiao’an remained focused on the storage space. After all, items within it wouldn’t spoil, perfect for stockpiling special foods once they had more room.

The last time Shen Yanming discovered his space in Nan City, he had filled it to 80-90% capacity with local supplies. All sorts of necessities were neatly packed in boxes and stacked on shelves, leaving only narrow passages for him to access them.

For that reason, he hadn’t entered the space in some time. However, Bi Qiao’an’s suggestion piqued his interest. He took her hand and entered his space.

They materialized in the same spot, amidst the stored supplies, where Shen Yanming had intentionally left room to enter and exit. Tall, imposing shelves stretched as far as the eye could see, each packed with cardboard boxes.

“We won’t be able to tell anything from the middle. Let’s walk to the end of the passage and see if the space has truly expanded,” Shen Yanming said, taking Bi Qiao’an’s hand and navigating one of the aisles.

Upon reaching the end of the shelves, his eyes widened in surprise. Originally, the shelves had been right up against the white mist that filled the edges of the entire space. Now, the mist had receded five or six meters, leaving an empty space all around.

Shen Yanming was shocked. Was this real? He walked the entire perimeter with Bi Qiao’an, confirming his observation. The mist had indeed retreated in all directions, just like in her planting space!

Could it be that upgrading the planting space could simultaneously upgrade the storage space?

He didn’t linger on the question for long. Since the space was larger, he could store even more supplies!

The newly opened area presented a layout challenge. Shen Yanming resolved to wait, to see how large the space could ultimately become before restocking.

“Qiao’an, did you notice?”

“Mm, Brother Yanming, from now on, let’s plant more things in the planting space. Maybe it’ll get even bigger!”

“Absolutely. I’m going to plant crops every night from now on.”

After exiting the space, Shen Yanming wasted no time. He drove to the seed company and bought one of every available vegetable, fruit, and grain seed. On a whim, he also visited the flower and bird market, purchasing a collection of flower and grass seeds.

Meanwhile, Bi Qiao’an turned to online shopping, focusing on small potted fruit trees like blueberries, lemons, and strawberries.

She began on Taobao, selecting a reputed store with a long history. Bi Qiao’an purchased 24 strawberry seedlings—not as many as it sounds, simply two sets of each of the store’s 12 varieties.

Next, she switched to another popular forum-recommended store specializing in blueberry seedlings. Again, she ordered two seedlings of each variety listed, totaling 16 blueberry plants.

Lemons, while offering many varieties, didn’t seem as versatile. Bi Qiao’an settled for one small yellow and one small green lemon tree, forgoing a wider selection.

Casually browsing, she also placed an order for 10 Lanzhou lily bulbs. These could serve double-duty as ornamental plants and a food source. Lanzhou lilies were known for their exceptional edible quality.

After buying a bunch of plants, they had to display some on the surface. So Bi Qiao’an directly placed an online order for 50 large gallon pots, along with its matching saucers.

By the time her shopping spree had ended, Shen Yanming had returned. He separated a portion of each seed type, storing the rest in his space for safety and preservation.

Shen Yanming directed Bi Qiao’an to bring him into her planting space. As soon as she followed him in, she was met with another of his lectures, ending with the pointed questions: “Have you finished your homework? Have you memorized all the materials? Can you pass the interview?” 

Bi Qiao’an: “…”

Less than two days later, the supplies Bi Qiao’an had ordered online arrived. Shen Yanming took one set and placed them in his storage space before calling Wang Lai and Chen Shunwei. The three of them carried the pots and saplings to Qingning Mountain.

Qingning Mountain bordered the Qingyu neighborhood. It wasn’t particularly tall, but it was vast, featuring pavilions, pathways, and the like. People occasionally came for strolls. For scenic appeal, the developer had planted many ornamental flowers year-round, and the soil on the mountain was quite fertile.

Shen Yanming and the two security guards scouted out patches of good soil at the foot of the mountain, digging it up, filling the flower pots, and carefully planting the blueberries, strawberries, and lilies. After more than two hours of work, they finally finished.

The flower pots were surprisingly heavy. Thankfully, Shen Yanming had brought his car. They managed to fit most of the pots in the trunk, with Wang Lai accompanying him to make the first delivery.

Chen Shunwei stayed on the spot to watch over the remaining pots. Soon, he found himself surrounded by curious residents. Chen Shunwei kept his explanations vague, only saying he was helping out.

By the time Shen Yanming and Wang Lai returned, Chen Shunwei had acquired quite an audience. Seeing Shen Yanming, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly recounted the situation. He was just a security guard, and gossiping about private matters felt uncomfortable.

“Young man, what did you plant? So many pots?” An older woman noticed Shen Yanming and figured he was in charge.

“Just some fruit seedlings. Strawberries here, blueberries, and these bare ones are Lanzhou lilies—you can eat them,” Shen Yanming introduced the plants with a smile.

“Can they survive in flower pots? Shouldn’t these be planted in the ground?” a slightly younger woman asked, curious and tempted.

“Absolutely! Strawberries and blueberries thrive in pots, as long as they’re large enough. Even those small green vegetables and tomatoes we normally eat can be grown this way. It might require a little extra care, but it’s worth it for safe, pesticide-free food.

Our neighborhood has big apartments, often with few occupants. It’s a shame to let such large spaces go unused. Imagine using a balcony for this! Greenery and snacks—wouldn’t that be great?” Shen Yanming seized the opportunity for blatant promotion, hoping to plant a seed of inspiration in his listeners.