Chapter 142: Farming Life (2)
"Then I will leave it to you, Yunxue, and you, Little Jingliu, to assist them," Zhou Laisheng said with a wave of his hand. "But Yasushi and Furuya, if you could stay a moment longer, I'd like to discuss the farm with you."
Jingliu nodded. "Yes, of course. We'll begin right away. Yunxue, would you mind waiting outside and bringing them to us when they're ready?"
Yunxue agreed with a nod and all of them exited the room.
Yasushi and Furuya exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of the reason behind Zhou Laisheng's request. They observed as he prepared two extra sandwiches and approached them, handing over the snacks with a friendly gesture.
Zhou Laisheng focused on Furuya, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Furuya, you've made great progress with our language. I commend you for that. However, there's a matter regarding Catherine I'd like to discuss."
Furuya's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and anxiety. "Catherine? W-what about her, sir?" he stammered, his voice betraying his nervousness.
Zhou Laisheng settled into a chair, cradling his cup of tea as he took a leisurely sip. "Are you familiar with the farm where Little Xinyi lives?" he asked, setting the cup down with a soft clink.
Furuya nodded. "Yes, I've heard about it. It's similar to this place, but the couple there seems younger, by about ten years or so?"
Zhou Laisheng acknowledged this with a nod. "That's correct. They're long-time friends of ours. We all grew up together and started farms in different towns. Now, shifting gears a bit, do you know much about Catherine's background?"
Furuya hesitated, his brow furrowing as he gathered his thoughts. "Not everything. I know she was abandoned at birth and was raised by the maids and butlers of the Cheng family. She ended up working for them and eventually became Xinyi's personal maid."
Zhou Laisheng listened intently, then leaned forward slightly. "That couple I mentioned, our friends — Jing Hua Tian and Mei Xiu Tian. They're the ones who took Catherine in."
"Um…what? H-how? I thought…" Furuya stammered, his thoughts scrambling to make sense of the revelation.
Zhou Laisheng nodded understandingly. "Although Catherine spent most of her time with the Cheng family, they were also close friends with Jing Hua Tian and Mei Xiu Tian. This couple couldn't have children of their own, so when Catherine was found, they took a particular interest in her. They became her adoptive parents in an unofficial capacity. It wasn't formally declared, but everyone accepted it as such.
"They visited the Cheng estate every day, took care of Catherine, and provided her with necessities, all while maintaining a close relationship with the Chengs that grew stronger over the years," Zhou Laisheng continued, his tone explanatory.
Both Furuya and Yasushi were visibly taken aback. Zhou Laisheng paused before adding, "What I want to impress upon you is this: take good care of her. She's cherished by many and essentially another daughter to the Chengs. Also, from what I can see, you two are in a relationship, correct?" He turned his gaze to Furuya, his eyes sharp with scrutiny.
"Er…yes we are. I like — no, I love her, so I want to stay with her!" Furuya said firmly, locking eyes with the older man.
The two men held each other's gaze for a moment, the air charged with intensity. Zhou Laisheng finally broke the silence with a smile. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Now, go on. Everyone else is waiting for you two. As for you, Yasushi, I don't need to explain further."
Yasushi gave a nod of understanding, and both he and Furuya headed out, feeling a bit unsettled by the unexpected turn of conversation but accepting the elder's words and advice. Outside, Yunxue greeted them with a curious look. "Ready for a tough day of work?"
"I'll take on the world! Uraaaaaa!!" Furuya roared, causing Yunxue to look at Yasushi in bewilderment. Yasushi shrugged, not offering much of an explanation. With that, they set off to tackle their tasks for the day.
+-+
As Yasushi and Furuya went about their work on the farm, tackling the heavy lifting alongside Yunxue and Catherine, Furuya suddenly broke the rhythm. "How long does this local event last? Just today, or does it go into tomorrow as well?"
Yunxue, straining under the weight of another sack of wheat, replied with a grunt, "Usually just one day, though sometimes it stretches to two. Given this year's harvest, it looks like it'll continue through tomorrow. So, if you're sticking around with Lady Xinyi, you'll be here working again tomorrow."
Furuya, not missing a beat, forced himself to hoist another sack. "I'm all for it. This is like a free workout!"
Yasushi remained silent throughout. He kept his focus on the task at hand, occasionally glancing over at Jingliu and Xinyi. They were occupied with different duties nearby, primarily overseeing the operations but stepping in to assist directly when necessary.
He found himself mulling over several thoughts, with the future weighing heavily on his mind. What path would he choose once he finished his education? Attend university or college? If so, what would he study? He was uncertain. Despite having lottery winnings he seldom used, he didn't want to depend on that indefinitely. He yearned to earn his own money and build a solid future.
He recalled his conversation with Jingliu from not too long ago, which had led him to consider joining the family business or working in the same industry that also had connections to Jingliu's family. This contemplation occupied much of his thoughts. He wanted stability, to eliminate the anxiety of uncertainty, and simply focus on living his life without the constant weight of financial concerns.
"Yasushi, can you take this?" Catherine's voice broke through his reverie as she extended an item toward him. Yasushi, lost in thought, remained still. "Yasushi?" she repeated, giving him a gentle tap with the object.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, yes, I'll take it," he responded, snapping back to reality. He accepted the item from her and resumed his work.
"What was that about?" Catherine asked, casting a curious glance at Furuya.
Furuya took a moment to consider his response before answering. "I don't know. Yasushi tends to zone out like that; it's not unusual. I doubt it has anything to do with what Zhou Laisheng mentioned."
"Wait, Zhou Laisheng said something to you?" Catherine's eyes widened, and she leaned in closer.
Furuya's face flushed, and in a burst of panic, he blurted out, "I like trains!!" Almost immediately, the sound of a train roaring through town filled the air, its horn blaring loudly. Furuya let out a relieved sigh, thankful for the fortuitous timing.
Catherine, however, was not deterred. She continued pressing him for answers, while Furuya evaded her questions with increasingly absurd responses. Meanwhile, Yunxue watched Yasushi walking away, her brow furrowed with concern. She thought back to a conversation she had with Yinhaie, Anfeng, and Heinz about the future. The memory replayed in her mind:
"If you were to become Yasushi's personal maid in the future, how would you feel? Would you accept the role, or would you prefer to remain with Jingliu while Yinhaie takes the position with Yasushi?"
She hadn't provided a clear response, but the gravity of the question was not lost on her. The discussion had touched on the seriousness of Yasushi and Jingliu's relationship and the potential impact it would have as they approached their final year of high school.
Yunxue understood the implications of the conversation, recognizing the change that was likely to occur. The choices she faced regarding her future roles were becoming increasingly apparent. She knew she needed to decide soon, but for now, she focused on her current tasks.
As she worked, she turned her attention to the couple who had been arguing. She admonished them to focus on their work instead of squabbling, ensuring they resumed their tasks promptly.
+-+
A few hours later, the sun had reached its zenith, signaling lunchtime. Yasushi and his friends found a vacant spot on the farm, spread out their blankets, and settled down to eat. They enjoyed the meal prepared by the couple, engaging in relaxed conversation as they ate.
Yasushi had managed to regain his composure, though a slight unease still lingered beneath his calm exterior. He chose to keep his discomfort hidden, focusing instead on the conversation at hand.
"What's next on our agenda?" Furuya asked, glancing around while Catherine handed him a piece of bread. As they chatted, the two of them seemed to fit the role of a typical couple, sharing the tasks of feeding each other.
Jingliu responded, "After lunch, groups will be given the opportunity to interact with the animals — feeding, grooming, and taking care of them. The farm owners will show everyone how to handle the animals properly. We'll be part of it, but we need to wait until they're ready. In the meantime, we have other chores to attend to."
"I always wanted to try riding a horse," Furuya declared, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "This is great; I'm even more excited now! I'll finish up our tasks before they call our group."
"Eat first," Catherine insisted, pushing a spoonful of food toward him. The suddenness nearly caused Furuya to choke, and he managed to avoid a scene only with considerable effort, drawing laughter from those around him.
Yasushi observed the antics with a subtle smile but chose to remain on the sidelines. Jingliu, noticing his detached demeanor, leaned in and whispered, "Are you alright? You seem a bit distant…"
Yasushi met her gaze and nodded slightly. "Just mulling over some work and other routine matters. Nothing major. I'm enjoying myself and looking forward to meeting the animals," he explained calmly.
Jingliu nodded, accepting his words. She gently rested her head on his shoulder, content to watch their friends chatter and continue their meal in a relaxed atmosphere.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "Malu Malu Kurong" - Borneo proverb
"A tree’s fruit is not for itself."
Meaning: The benefits of one’s efforts should be shared with others.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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