Chapter 38: Confession Brings Leniency

"Understood. I will have everyone put their things back now. Sorry for the trouble."

"Oh, no trouble at all. It is mutually beneficial."

Tang Miao waved her hand and went to discuss matters with Zhang Xinrou and the others. She had only taken two steps when Huang Zhiming called out to her.

"Miss Tang, when your farm needs help in the future, may we continue to contact Captain Gu?"

Although Tang Miao had not told them about the wages directly, they had already learned of it from Lin Yue's complaints. While they had come to the farm originally to thank Tang Miao, Huang Zhiming admitted that when he discussed it with the others, his own selfishness had prevailed; they still wanted to take those wages. Furthermore, they hoped to continue exchanging their labor on the farm for more in the future.

"The farm will begin large-scale recruitment in about ten days. There will be many positions, and the benefits system will be reformed. I will go to your safe zone to recruit people first when the time comes."

"Thank you, Miss Tang!"

Tang Miao smiled. "I have other things to attend to now. You should take them and get some rest as well."

In the undeveloped wasteland of the farm, Zhang Xinrou and Lin Chaofeng were sitting on the ground playing "Fight the Landlord," while Lean-Tall and his companions were nearby playing a matching game with mahjong tiles.

Noticing Tang Miao approaching, Lin Chaofeng suddenly remembered that the third plant blind box had not yet been tested.

"Tang Miao, are we going to test the third pot?"

Tang Miao sat cross-legged, held Zai Zai in front of her, and looked at the terrible hand of cards in Zhang Xinrou’s grip. "It’s been tested. It’s a breedable mushroom; it sprays parasitic spores when stepped on. I’ve already transplanted it into the buffer zone."

Zhang Xinrou played a pair of threes and asked, "Jiang Nanxing, do you know how to play 'Fight the Landlord'? It’s boring with just Lin Chaofeng and me."

Lin Yue and Song Mingchen both said they weren't interested and had returned to their bedrooms to rest. Jiang Nanxing thought for a moment, then sat in the empty spot, picked up the third hand of cards, and joined the game.

Tang Miao glanced casually toward the direction of Lin Yue’s bedroom and said, "I am leaving the farm tomorrow."

Zhang Xinrou and Jiang Nanxing spoke at the same time.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm coming with you."

Zai Zai also tightened his grip on Tang Miao’s arm.

"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous. It’s not far from here; I’ll be back in two days. Xinrou, you need to stay and manage the farm. Jiang Nanxing, you are the translator for the dead, so you must stay too. I am only taking Zai Zai with me."

Hearing that Zhang Xinrou was also staying, Jiang Nanxing’s clenched hands relaxed a little. Tang Miao might abandon him, but she would never abandon Zhang Xinrou. As long as Zhang Xinrou was there, Tang Miao would definitely return.

Zhang Xinrou pondered for a moment. "What if someone comes to buy things? We can't control the redwood tree to open the door. Should we suspend business for these two days and focus on production?"

Lin Chaofeng’s eyes lit up. "Keep the holiday going!"

"Operate as usual. Captain Gu should be delivering six pots of vegetables in the next two days. Just pay the compensation and calculate the points according to the contract. The entrances are guarded by pea shooters and corn stalks, so you don't need to worry about anyone breaking in."

Tang Miao gave them a few more reminders regarding the farm's precautions. Some fruits would be ripening while she was away, and they had to remember to pick them in time. She then called over Lean-Tall and the others to listen to their reports on their respective areas while they played mahjong.

Because the vegetable planting area lacked a spring or reservoir, it was exhausting work despite only needing to be watered every three days. Lean-Tall requested an upgrade to the irrigation system so they could just flip a switch instead of having to carry water from the reservoir.

The fruit planting area had ripe produce, but the trees were quite tall, and Chubby requested several ladders to facilitate harvesting.

Tang Miao nodded with satisfaction. Although there had been no progress in their speech, their thinking was no different from that of normal people.

"Lin Chaofeng, is there any problem in the livestock area?"

Lin Chaofeng smiled, his fingers slowly tightening. "The chicken and duck section I’m responsible for is fine."

The farm’s self-contained cleaning system swept up excrement every day and deposited it into pits, where it decomposed quickly; sometimes it was clean before he even had to lift a finger.

Tang Miao picked up a small comb to groom Zai Zai’s messy hair and asked casually, "Is there any problem in the area with the big white geese?"

"No... no problem, I think."

*Slap!* Zhang Xinrou’s cards hit the weeds on the ground. "Lin Chaofeng, tell the truth."

Tang Miao knew everything in the farm like the back of her hand; how could anyone hide small tricks from her? This was clearly a chance for Lin Chaofeng to confess for leniency.

"Actually, it’s nothing much. Brother Chen didn’t want to work, so he used to have me help him manage it. For the past few days, he handed it over to Lin Yue. Sometimes I go to check, and it just feels like something is off, though I can’t quite put my finger on it."

Zhang Xinrou pursed her lips. "Lin Yue has seemed fine these past few days and hasn't mentioned being dissatisfied with her wages."

Tang Miao stretched. "Good, keep playing cards. I’m going to take a nap."

Lying on the grass, Tang Miao began to browse the mall and spent her last 2,000 points to purchase a limited-time trial plant blind box.

[Blind box purchased. Relevant encyclopedia information has been unlocked. Please confirm the deployment location.]

She deployed it in a flower pot not far away. It was another pea shooter.

The encyclopedia information displayed:
[Superior Pea Shooter: Single-target explosive damage, 1-minute recharge time, average resource requirement, no special environmental requirements.]
[Superior Corn: Single-target damage, 1-minute recharge time, average resource requirement, no special environmental requirements.]
[Superior Red Mushroom: Area-of-effect damage, no recharge required, average resource requirement, nocturnal, dormant during the day.]

Tang Miao inferred that the recharge time meant the time it took for the pod to regrow peas after firing. But what was this "resource"? The encyclopedia didn't explain, only stating that plants with average resource requirements would begin to lose vitality one week after the resource was cut off and would wither completely after a month.

[Host, the resource required for superior plants is produced by sunflowers, while the resource required by sunflowers is obtained and stored from the outside world.]
[Resource is just a term; any item has the potential to become a resource.]

So that was it.

The day passed leisurely. Tang Miao placed the new pea shooters on the outside of the tree trunks and prepared the stepladders for fruit picking. She had only drawn a design for the irrigation system for now. Once she left the farm tomorrow, she would find one on the outside, collect the parts, and once she got a turbine, it could be put into use.

Late at night, the starlight faded. Perhaps it was an illusion, but after a month of human activity ceasing, the moonlight seemed brighter.

Under the cover of the moonlight, Lin Yue quietly snuck to the big white geese's enclosure. The goose was sleeping soundly. She smoothed the goose's feathers, and her other hand slowly tightened around its throat.

"Good girl, sleep tight, no noise, no fuss..."

She exerted sudden force, her other hand pinning down the wings. The goose managed only a hoarse squawk before falling silent.

If they wouldn't pay her, she would take it herself. This goose was just as Song Mingchen had said—stupid, fat, and quiet.

Lin Yue cradled the goose and ran quickly toward her quarters, not noticing that a woman was watching the entire scene from the tree trunk.

She looked up at the wooden house opposite. Huang Zhiming was also awake, and he raised a hand in a gesture for silence.

Miss Tang had her own arrangements; they would not interfere.

Back in her room, Lin Yue left the door cracked a sliver, observing quietly for a long while before closing it softly.

"Lin Yue."

"Ah!"