Chapter 71

This was Jiang Tiantian’s first time working in the fields.

She felt an overwhelming sense of comfort, as if a deep satisfaction was rising from the soil beneath her feet and spreading through her entire body.

So this is what the textbooks meant by “a deep and profound love for the land.”

She imagined the day of the harvest—it would probably bring another kind of fulfillment.

At that moment, Jiang Tiantian made a decision.

“Grandpa, do we have land at home? Can I have a small plot to farm?”

Cha Jizu, who was munching on a watermelon, nearly turned it into juice from shock. He struggled to swallow the bite he had in his mouth before turning to stare at her in surprise.

“Isn’t this medicinal field enough for you to mess around with?”

This girl—where did she get all this energy?!

Was she planning to become a full-time farmer?

What about her studies?

It had been days, and he hadn’t seen her open a single textbook.

Cha Jizu felt a headache coming on and scolded, “I made a promise to your grandfather that I’d make sure you get into university!”

He shot her a stern look. “Don’t drag me down! How am I supposed to explain to your grandfather if you don’t make it?”

Jiang Tiantian waved dismissively. “Grandpa, don’t worry. I won’t let it affect my college entrance exams.”

“When the time comes, I’ll even bring you back a top-score ranking!”

Cha Jizu snorted. “Yeah, right! I don’t believe you for a second!”

She hadn’t even flipped through a single page of a book—how did she plan to ace the exams?

Was she going to take them in her dreams?

And a top scorer, no less?

Did she think getting the highest score was as easy as picking peaches? Just reaching out and grabbing one?

So, he immediately and righteously refused. “No way! Stop wasting your time with all these ridiculous ideas. Your focus should be on studying.”

“Don’t think that just because you’re smart, you can slack off—just like that little brat, Cha Jiuzhang, back in the day. Arrogant as hell.”

Just as Cha Jiuzhang was walking into the herb garden, he froze mid-step.

What the hell?!

How did he get dragged into this?!

Why was the old man suddenly cursing him?

“Grandpa, pleeease~”

“I promise it won’t affect my exams. Pretty please?”

“I don’t need much land. Just one mu* will do!”

“No? Then how about half a mu?”

“What? Not even half?”

“Grandpa, if you don’t agree, I’ll go clear my own land!”

“… …”

Cha Jizu’s head buzzed as she pestered him relentlessly. He was just about to explode from frustration when he saw Cha Jiuzhang walking over.

Like seeing a savior, he immediately stood up and waved him over.

“Brat, get over here! Take your wife home and manage her yourself!”

“I can’t deal with her anymore!”

With that, he fled like a man chased by wild dogs, shaking his head and muttering under his breath as he hurried away past Cha Jiuzhang.

Cha Jiuzhang watched the scene unfold, amused. Then he turned to Jiang Tiantian, eyes filled with curiosity.

“What did you do this time to scare Grandpa away?”

Jiang Tiantian pouted and rested her chin on her hands, staring blankly at the herb field.

Did she really have to clear land on her own?

She had never done it before—was it going to be difficult?

Cha Jiuzhang waved a hand in front of her face, pulling her back to reality.

“What’s bothering you? Tell me, and I’ll solve it for you.”

“Hmph…”

Jiang Tiantian was still mad about how he had teased her during breakfast.

“I don’t talk to little dogs who break their promises.”

Cha Jiuzhang raised an eyebrow, amused. So serious, huh?

He glanced around, making sure no one was nearby.

Then he placed Grandpa’s straw hat on the ridge between the fields, sat down, and pulled her into his arms.

Softly, he coaxed, “So, what do I need to do to get you to talk to me again?”

Jiang Tiantian shot him a glare. “If you have the guts, bark like a mop for me.”

“Just bark twice?”

Cha Jiuzhang reached out and gently tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear.

“Mhmm. Bark twice, and I’ll forgive you.”

Jiang Tiantian smirked playfully, watching him expectantly. Let’s see how he gets out of this.

“You little troublemaker.”

Cha Jiuzhang chuckled, pinched her nose affectionately, and removed the straw hat from her head.

“Alright, listen carefully. Here I go.”

He leaned in close to her ear and let out a soft, wolfish howl.

“Awwooo~ Awwooo~”

His eyes, hidden from her view, gleamed with a predatory glint.

Jiang Tiantian gasped, ready to call him out for cheating—mops didn’t sound like that!

But before she could speak, Cha Jiuzhang grabbed her chin and captured her lips in a sudden kiss.

One hand, holding the straw hat, discreetly shielded them from view.

After a long moment…

Jiang Tiantian lay dazed in his arms.

Damn!

This man!

He was getting better at this!

His learning ability was terrifying!

Cha Jiuzhang, satisfied, licked his lips as if savoring the taste.

“Mmm, today’s watermelon is extra sweet.”

Jiang Tiantian huffed and punched his chest.

What a scoundrel!

But since he had taken so much advantage, she had to get something in return.

“I asked Grandpa for a piece of land to farm, but he refused. You fix this for me.”

?!

Cha Jiuzhang’s smirk instantly vanished.

Ah…

Now he understood why Grandpa had fled.

This little troublemaker—what the hell was she thinking?

“What do you need land for?”

Was she really planning to become a farmer?

“To plant crops and vegetables, of course.”

What else?

Cha Jiuzhang rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

He tried to reason with her in a gentle tone.

“Why do you suddenly want to farm?”

“Listen, farming is hard work. Don’t think it’s as easy as what you and Grandpa did today—it’s not some fun little game.”

“There are so many steps involved. Do you really think you can handle it?”

Jiang Tiantian clung to his arm, shaking it. “I just want to try it. Just let me, okay?”

“If I can’t handle it, I’ll hire the villagers to help. I’ll pay them for their work.”

Cha Jiuzhang sighed. “It’s not that I want to stop you, but no one in the village will accept money from you.”

Jiang Tiantian insisted, “Then I’ll share the harvest with them. I won’t let them work for free.”

“I just want to try it once. Let me have this, okay?”

She crossed her arms and threatened, “Or else, I really will go clear land myself!”

Cha Jiuzhang laughed in exasperation.

He reached out, pinched her cheek, and tugged gently. “You? Clear land? Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?”

Jiang Tiantian puffed out her chest. “Hard work is honorable! Why should I care if people laugh?”

Cha Jiuzhang eyed her skeptically.

If she wasn’t sticking her chest out so proudly, he might have believed her.

Jiang Tiantian pointed at him accusingly. “Oh? So you look down on farmers? That’s a problematic mindset!”

“Let me tell you—”

She launched into a passionate speech, her endless chatter making his head buzz.

Finally, Cha Jiuzhang gave in. He grabbed her flailing hands.

“Fine, fine. You win.”

“One mu of land, right? I’ll take care of it for you.”