Chapter 37

C37 – The Lady in the HouseNew novel chapters are published on

Following Zhang Xiaoloong’s words, he noticed that Chen Yaru remained lost in the recent scene, as if she were still immersed in it and hadn’t snapped out of it yet.

It wasn’t until Zhang Xiaoloong extended his hand and waved it in front of her eyes that she suddenly snapped back to reality. Her eyes lit up as she exclaimed, “He’s so good-looking!”

Everyone present wore puzzled expressions. After Zhang Xiaoloong reiterated his statement, Chen Yaru blushed bashfully. “Well, it’s not just for the scenery; I also came to visit my uncle and aunt...”

“So your intentions weren’t entirely innocent!” Yang Jingjing playfully teased.

Chen Yaru rolled her eyes. “Yours weren’t entirely pure either, right? Why else would you shower and flaunt it in front of others?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Yang Jingjing quickly silenced her. If such a matter were spoken of in front of the two elders, how could she ever show her face again?

“Actually, it might be better to resolve it sooner rather than later,” Chen Yaru acknowledged, realizing her earlier slip-up. “If the greenhouse is indeed constructed, they might cause a bigger issue. Waiting a few more days is reasonable. I believe finding a piece of land in Qinghe Village won’t be too difficult. When the time comes, I’ll come to survey the terrain.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Zhang Xiaoloong nodded in agreement, realizing his own oversight in this matter.

Despite having acquired substantial knowledge, Zhang Xiaoloong was still a student who hadn’t ventured far from home.

He could turn a mud pond into dry land or craft a genuine jade ruyi. He could mold clay into whimsical shapes, which could be deemed magical abilities. However, when it came to understanding human malice, he fell short compared to Chen Yaru and Yang Jingjing.

As the saying goes, wisdom comes from overcoming challenges. This incident served as a reminder to Zhang Xiaoloong about the importance of learning from life’s experiences.

As he contemplated his future journey, he feared encountering individuals akin to Liu Changsheng, who prioritized personal gains and were capable of resorting to even more unscrupulous tactics. He knew he had to exercise caution to avoid falling victim to such schemes.

Following the meal, he bid farewell to the reluctant Chen Yaru. When Liu Mei boarded the car, she handed over half a bag of corn noodles as a parting gift.

Those unfamiliar with rural life might not be aware that families didn’t continuously cultivate the same piece of land. Instead, land was periodically redistributed to accommodate new additions to the family, such as newlyweds, children, or the passing of elderly members. Given the current population, the land allocation process was perpetually evolving.

With each redistribution, the configuration of land holdings for nearly every family would change, often differing from their original plots.

For traditional farmers, this practice posed minimal inconvenience. They would cultivate wherever suitable land was available, particularly when the family expanded. The annual anticipation of land redistribution offered the prospect of increased income.

However, this arrangement didn’t align with Zhang Xiaoloong’s plans. Once his glass greenhouse was constructed, relocating it would be arduous. Yet, when it came time for land redistribution, others would insist on changing locations, even if he wished to remain in the same spot.

To address this issue at its core, it seemed prudent to avoid any disturbance to the current arable land and instead seek a new location for long-term lease.

He was determined this time to formalize matters. He drafted a contract in clear terms and signed a 30-year lease, ensuring the stability of the vegetable land.

While he contemplated this course of action, he recognized that the final decision would not be solely his to make. He still needed to confer with Village Chief Wang Tiezhu.

Qinghe Village was not particularly extensive, and it took Zhang Xiaoloong only a short stroll to reach the front entrance of the village chief’s residence. He pushed open the gate reinforced with iron bars, and a sizable wolfhound not far from the gate sprang up from the ground. Instead of barking, it simply wagged its tail, behaving as if it had encountered its owner, displaying a surprising level of intimacy.

Zhang Xiaoloong found this puzzling. The wolfhound had always been ferocious in the past, reacting to visitors by howling and tugging violently on the heavy iron chain around its neck as if it were on the verge of breaking free.

Yet, this time, there was no such reaction; instead, it affectionately moved its head and tail, seeking to please him. This was indeed an unusual sight.

Without dwelling on the dog’s behavior, Zhang Xiaoloong proceeded directly to the main residence.

He lifted the thick curtain, finding the main door securely closed. Rays of light filtered through the gap between the door and the frame.

Zhang Xiaoloong knocked on the door, and a response promptly emanated from within.

“Why are you knocking? Didn’t I tell you I was taking a shower? If you’re here to pester me, then scram. Seeing you might just agitate me.”