Five days passed in a blur of aches and calluses.
The rain had stopped two days ago, leaving the air humid and heavy. The villagers were busy weeding their fields, and the Chen family was no exception. Chen Yuan spent his days splitting his time between helping his father in the wheat fields and tending to his "nursery" behind the house.
He was currently kneeling by the small plot of land, inspecting the soil.
"You're staring at dirt again, Third Brother," Chen Lan, his fourteen-year-old sister, teased. She was carrying a basket of vegetables from the garden. "If you look hard enough, do coins pop out?"
Chen Yuan ignored her jab, a smile tugging at his lips. He pointed at the ground.
"Look closer, Lan."
Chen Lan sighed theatricallly but crouched down. She squinted at the muddy patch. Then, her eyes widened.
Tiny, vibrant green shoots were pushing through the soil. They weren't the sickly, yellow-green of wild weeds; they were a deep, lush emerald. They stood straight up, looking vigorous and stubborn.
"It's... grass?" she asked, confused. "It looks different."
"This is 'Green Gold,'" Chen Yuan said, using a term he coined on the spot. "This is what will fatten the sheep. In a month, this patch will be a carpet so thick you could sleep on it."
Chen Lan blinked. "It's just grass, Brother. The hill is full of it."
"not this kind," Chen Yuan stood up, wiping his hands on his pants. "This is special. Go tell Father I'm heading to the East Hill. I need to check the larger plot."
"Okay! But don't bleed on the grass!" she chirped, running off.
* * *
The East Hill was transforming, albeit slowly.
With the help of Second Brother Chen Hu during the afternoons, and Little Stone—the village boy whom Chen Yuan had hired for a few copper coins a day—they had cleared nearly a full *mu* of land. It was backbreaking work. The thorns had deep roots, and the rocks seemed to multiply overnight.
Chen Yuan stood at the edge of the cleared patch, breathing hard. He leaned on his shovel.
*System, expand map.*
A grid overlay appeared in his mind.
**[Project: East Hill Ranch - Phase 1]**
**[Land Cleared: 1.2 Mu.]**
**[Fencing: 0% (Requires wood).]**
**[Grass Status: Nursery ready for transplant/seeding.]**
He needed wood. The sheep couldn't just roam free; stray dogs and wolves were a constant threat in the countryside. But wood cost money. The forest on the mountain was communal, but cutting trees required a permit from the Village Chief, and bringing the logs down required labor they didn't have.
"Boy."
A raspy voice broke his concentration.
Chen Yuan turned. Xu Tie was standing a few meters away.
The veteran looked worse than before. His clothes were damp, and his face was pale. He wasn't carrying his usual hunt today. He leaned heavily on a crude wooden staff, his bad leg trembling slightly in the damp air.
"Brother Xu," Chen Yuan greeted him calmly, though his heart skipped a beat. "Out for a walk?"
Xu Tie's jaw tightened. He hated being seen like this—weak, limping, useless. "I'm checking traps. What are you doing? Still playing in the dirt?"
"Building a ranch," Chen Yuan said simply. He didn't lower his eyes.
Xu Tie snorted, limping closer. He looked at the cleared earth, the pile of thorns, and the stubborn determination in the young man's stance.
"You're wasting your time," Xu Tie said coldly. "The soil here is cursed. The water runs off too fast. Nothing grows on this hill but thorns."
"The thorns are gone," Chen Yuan pointed to the pile. "And the water problem... I plan to dig a small trench to guide the stream."
He looked at Xu Tie, assessing the man's trembling hands. The veteran was in pain. Rheumatism, perhaps, or the old bone injury flaring up in the humidity.
"Brother Xu," Chen Yuan said, taking a risk. "You look like you need a rest. There's a flat rock over there in the shade."
"I don't need your pity," Xu Tie growled. He turned to leave, but his bad leg caught on a hidden root.
He stumbled.
It wasn't a graceful fall. It was the fall of a man whose body had betrayed him. He hit the ground hard, his staff clattering away.
Chen Yuan didn't rush to help immediately. He knew that for a proud soldier, being helped up like a baby was an insult. He walked over slowly, picking up the staff first.
He extended the staff towards Xu Tie, not his hand.
"The ground is wet," Chen Yuan said, his voice neutral. "Even a tiger slips in the mud."
Xu Tie glared at the staff, then at Chen Yuan. He saw no mockery in the boy's eyes. Just a quiet, steady respect.
Xu Tie grabbed the staff and hauled himself up with a grunt. He dusted off his clothes, his face red with shame.
"You saw nothing," Xu Tie rasped.
"I saw a warrior who needs a dry place to stay," Chen Yuan said. He gestured to the hill. "I'm building a shelter here soon. A simple wood cabin for the workers. It will be dry. It will have a fire. If you ever want to get out of that damp shrine... the door will be open. I can't pay much yet, but I can offer a roof and a bowl of hot soup."
Xu Tie stared at him. "Why? I'm a cripple. I can't farm."
"I don't need a farmer," Chen Yuan replied. "I need a guard. Someone who knows how to hold a spear and isn't afraid of the dark. The wolves don't care if you limp; they care if you can fight. And I think you can still fight."
Xu Tie was silent for a long time. The wind rustled the thorns.
"I'll think about it," he muttered finally. He turned and limped away, his posture slightly straighter than before.
* * *
That evening, the atmosphere in the Chen household was tense.
The family sat around the low table for dinner. The main dish was boiled radish soup, with a small dish of pickled vegetables.
Chen Dazhong put down his bowl. He looked tired.
"The wheat is doing well," he announced. "But the tax collector came to the Village Chief today. They are assessing the harvest early this year."
A silence fell over the table. Early assessment usually meant higher taxes.
"How much do we need?" Chen Shan, the eldest brother, asked grimly.
"Probably two taels of silver," Chen Dazhong sighed. "We have one tael saved. Plus what San Lang spent on the sheep..."
Wang Shi, the eldest sister-in-law, couldn't hold it back. "I told you. We shouldn't have bought those sheep. Now we have to scrape together money for the tax, and Ming's school fees are due next month."
She looked at Chen Yuan, her eyes sharp. "San Lang, you said those sheep would make money. But they just eat! We are feeding them our bean stalks, and they are getting thinner!"
"They are adjusting," Chen Yuan said calmly, though his grip tightened on his chopsticks. "Sister-in-law, give me one month. The new grass is growing. Once they start eating that, they will gain weight."
"One month?" Wang Shi scoffed. "The tax is due in two weeks!"
"Enough," Liu Shi, the mother, slammed her hand on the table. "San Lang is trying. We don't eat the sheep today, we don't eat them tomorrow. We wait."
Chen Yuan felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. This was the reality of the poor. A single mistake, a single bad season, and the family structure cracked.
He looked at his younger brother, Little Ming. The boy was eating his rice quickly, not daring to look up. He knew the conversation was about his future.
"I have a plan," Chen Yuan said suddenly.
Everyone looked at him.
"The grass in the backyard... it grows fast," Chen Yuan said. "Tomorrow, I will harvest the first batch. Not to feed the sheep, but to sell."
"Sell grass?" Chen Hu laughed bitterly. "Who buys grass?"
"The herbal medicine shop in town," Chen Yuan lied... or rather, improvised. He remembered that the System classified the Ryegrass as a high-quality forage, but some grasses also had medicinal properties for livestock digestion. He planned to sell it as "fodder" to a wealthy household with horses.
"The town has a transport company," Chen Yuan explained. "They have horses. Horses need good teeth. This grass is tender. I will try to sell a bundle. If it works, we can pay the tax difference."
It was a gamble. A huge gamble. But he had to do something to silence the dissent.
"I'll go with you," Chen Hu said, wiping his mouth. "If we get kicked out, I'll steal a horse." He was joking, but the dark humor lightened the mood slightly.
"Then it's settled," Chen Dazhong nodded. "Tomorrow, town."
* * *
The next morning, Chen Yuan and Chen Hu set off.
They carried two large bundles of the lush Ryegrass on a carrying pole. It was heavy, but the grass smelled sweet, like fresh milk.
The walk to the county town took three hours.
As they approached the city gates, Chen Yuan saw the disparity of this world clearly. The walls were high and imposing. Guards stood at the gate, checking entrants.
"Hey! You two!" a guard shouted, blocking their way. "Peasants. Entrance fee is two copper coins each."
Chen Yuan frowned. He knew the fee was supposed to be one coin for peasants entering to sell goods.
"It's one coin," Chen Yuan said, keeping his head down but his voice firm.
The guard sneered, poking Chen Yuan's chest with the handle of a spear. "One coin? That was yesterday. Today, you look suspicious. Carrying weeds? Maybe you're hiding something. Two coins, or get lost."
Chen Hu stepped forward, his eyes flashing. "You—"
Chen Yuan grabbed his brother's arm. Fighting a guard here meant jail, or worse.
He pulled out four copper coins—money he had intended to use for lunch. He placed them in the guard's hand.
"Thank you, Sir," Chen Yuan said, bowing slightly.
They walked through the gate.
"I hate them," Chen Hu growled, his fists clenched. "They are just bandits in uniform."
"Anger won't fill the bowl, Second Brother," Chen Yuan said, scanning the bustling streets. "Money will. Let's find the stable."
The town was noisy and chaotic. Merchants shouted, donkeys brayed, and the smell of roasting meat made Chen Yuan's stomach rumble.
They found the largest stable in town, attached to a logistics company called "Flying Cloud Transport."
Chen Yuan took a deep breath. *System, scan the horses.*
**[Scanning...]**
**[Target: Work Horses.]**
**[Condition: Sub-optimal. Suffering from mild colic and dental wear from coarse fodder.]**
Perfect.
Chen Yuan walked up to the gate. A groom was brushing a horse.
"I want to see the manager," Chen Yuan said.
The groom looked at the skinny boy and his burly brother. "Manager is busy. If you're looking for work, go around the back."
"I have something that will save the manager money," Chen Yuan said loudly. He held up a handful of the Ryegrass. "Tell him I have 'Jade Tendon Grass.' Best feed for horses with bad teeth."
The groom paused. "Jade Tendon Grass? Never heard of it."
"Just tell him."
A few minutes later, a portly man with a mustache walked out, wiping grease from his hands. He looked impatient.
"What is it? I have three wagons leaving at noon. Make it quick."
"Manager," Chen Yuan cupped his hands. "I noticed your horses are coughing. That's because the hay you buy is too dusty and tough. I have tender grass, high moisture, easy to digest. Look at this."
He shoved the grass into the manager's hands.
The manager frowned, about to throw it down, but stopped. He squeezed the stalk. It was soft, almost juicy. He smelled it. Sweet.
"How much?" the manager asked, business instincts kicking in.
"I have two bundles outside," Chen Yuan said. "Enough to feed five horses for a day. I'll sell it all for... fifty copper coins."
"Fifty?!" the manager exclaimed. "That's robbery! For weeds?"
"Not weeds. Special feed," Chen Yuan pressed. "Try it with your sickest horse. If he doesn't eat it happily, I'll take the bundles back and leave."
The manager hesitated. He looked at his horses, then at the grass.
"Fine. But if this is a scam, I'll have the guards beat you out."
They brought the bundles in. The manager dumped a pile in front of a mangy old mare that had been refusing hay.
The horse sniffed it. Then, with a sudden vigor, it bit into the grass and began chewing loudly, its ears flicking forward in pleasure.
The manager's eyes widened. "It works..."
"I'll bring more every three days," Chen Yuan said immediately, sealing the deal. "But the price is fifty coins per bundle."
"Forty," the manager countered. "Take it or leave it."
"Forty-five, and you give us a sack of bran for the journey home," Chen Yuan said.
"Deal."
Ten minutes later, Chen Yuan and Chen Hu walked out of the stable. Chen Hu was carrying a sack of bran on his shoulder, and Chen Yuan was clutching a small pouch of forty-five copper coins.
Chen Hu stared at his brother as if he were a ghost.
"San Lang... you just sold weeds for forty-five coins? That's half a day's wage for a laborer!"
"It's not weeds, Brother," Chen Yuan smiled, the tension in his chest finally loosening. "It's business. And this is just the beginning."
He looked back at the busy street.
*We have money for lunch. We have money for the tax. And we have a client.*
The first hurdle was cleared. But Chen Yuan knew, as he watched a grand carriage roll by with armed guards, that this town was a shark tank.
And he was just learning to swim.