Kapitel 265: Yuwu Expansion (7)

Half the month passed, and work progressed consistently. The section of the town blocked off by Fenling and his group saw twenty percent of its reconstruction completed, with various other buildings around the area undergoing repairs and improvements.

At the moment, Yasushi was at the farm owned by the elderly couple who had supported Catherine during her younger years. Together with others, they worked to revitalize the property, focusing on preserving its original character while incorporating much-needed updates. The couple — Jing Hua Tian and his wife, Mei Xiu Tian — had initially hesitated. It had taken extensive discussions with Xinyi's parents before they agreed to proceed with the changes.

Now, several parts of the farm were being restored, and the couple appeared content as they observed the transformations. Elements of the property that had frustrated them for years were being repaired or adjusted according to their wishes. At the same time, advanced AI and quantum-based technology were being installed to ease their farming responsibilities, a crucial improvement given their advancing age.

"I have to admit, Xinyi. I didn't think these would come in handy, but now I don't have to handle so many things myself. I'd usually rely on the younger ones or the town for help, but these take care of it all on their own. Plus, I just need to call someone for maintenance every couple of years. That's pretty convenient!" Jing Hua Tian spoke, his voice carrying a renewed energy.

Xinyi rubbed the back of her head, letting out a small laugh. "Well… my parents and a few others are working on this together. It's part of something bigger, something that might reshape everything. I think it's worth it. By the way, how do you feel about the idea of living longer?" Her tone turned serious as she asked.

Jing Hua Tian paused, looking at her thoughtfully before breaking into a chuckle. "To live and to die — that's what it means to be human. It's all part of the same journey. Sure, extending life might be a good thing, but not for me. I'd rather live out my days as nature intended…"

Xinyi smiled at him and gave a small nod. "I see... well, as you assumed, we might achieve that someday — a way to extend life. I was going to ask if you were open to it, but it seems I already have your answer," she said.

Jing Hua Tian let out a low chuckle. "You do. My wife would say the same. We've had long lives, and when our time comes, we want to meet it naturally. Maybe, if reincarnation exists, we'll be born again in another era, and who knows? Perhaps we'd meet once more. Just my idle musings."

A moment of quiet passed between them before Jing Hua Tian asked, "And what about your love life, Little Xinyi? I heard there's a boy you like?"

Xinyi's cheeks warmed, and she let out a quiet sigh. "I do. But he's seeing someone else, so it feels out of reach. Still, I can't seem to let go of these feelings, no matter how much I've tried these past two years."

"Don't be in a rush. You'll eventually find someone else who fits you. But if not…" Jing Hua Tian stopped for a moment, then chuckled. "You might as well ask the other woman for permission to date him too, haha~."

Xinyi exhaled, shaking her head. "That's like asking Adam from the Bible if I can sleep with Eve. I'd get shut down so fast, jeez…"

"What a weird comparison, but hey, I'm not here to push you into anything, haha. Whatever you decide, just make sure it's something you won't regret. Have you talked to your parents about it yet?" he asked.

"No… not yet. But I'm planning to. I need more advice before I figure out what to do," she replied, sighing again.

Both of them turned their attention to Yasushi, who was busy helping the rest of their group with some tasks around the farm. Usually, others would handle the organization and guidance, but today, Yasushi had taken it upon himself to show them the way.

"Is he someone dependable? I only spent a short time with him a few years back when he first came to Yuwu," Jing Hua Tian asked, his eyes following Yasushi's movements.

"It wouldn't be true to say he isn't," Xinyi replied, her tone thoughtful. "But he's immature at times, downright stubborn, and he can act…a little unhinged. Still, I've seen him grow. It wasn't anything huge or obvious — more like subtle shifts over time. Even so, I think he's someone you can count on. Maybe that's why I…well, why I like him," she added, her face growing warm at her own admission.

The old man chuckled, the sound carrying a sense of understanding. "A wild storm inside that boy, isn't it? But I can't argue with what you've said. If you trust him, then I will too," he said, nodding slightly. "Go on, now. You should be with them, not wasting time talking to an old man like me," he encouraged, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder before nudging her toward the others.

He watched the group as Xinyi joined them, stepping naturally into their work as if she'd always been a part of it. Nearby, a woman approached — Jing Hua Tian's wife, Mei Xiu Tian. She walked over at a deliberate pace and gave a small laugh.

"Xinyi and Catherine have come a long way, haven't they? I can't help but wish I'd see the day they both get married…" Her tone dipped, carrying an unspoken thought.

"Who says we won't be around for that?" Jing Hua Tian replied, looking at his wife with a grin. "Let's focus on living right and taking care of ourselves. Thinking about dying now won't do anyone any good."

Mei Xiu Tian exhaled through her nose, her expression softening slightly. "You have a point. Let's keep ourselves well and hope one of them ties the knot before we run out of time." She turned back to watch the younger ones as they worked and talked, their energy filling the space with a quiet kind of liveliness.

+-+

Later that day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, construction stopped, and the workers who had been there all day left for the town. Their laughter and chatter could be heard faintly in the distance as they sought entertainment, drinks, and a break from the grind of the day.

Meanwhile, Yasushi's group stayed behind at the farm, joining the older couple who lived there for a meal. The group gathered outside around a small campfire, the warm glow flickering across their faces. From the house, the smell of cooking wafted toward them, carrying a light-hearted energy as she glanced toward the source of the aromas.

Yunxue, sitting on a wooden crate, rocked back and forth impatiently. "A homemade dinner in a barn wasn't on my bingo card this year," she said, her voice expressing a light-hearted energy as she glanced toward the source of the aromas.

Yasushi, sitting cross-legged near the fire, rested his arms on his knees. "Right," he replied with a faint chuckle. "But I'm glad they're on board with the changes we're making here. Not everyone their age would be. Hell, some of the millennials aren't even open to it. Getting through to them is going to be a real pain." His words ended with a sigh.

"Do you have some kind of grudge against older people, Yasushi?" Nandini asked, raising an eyebrow while sitting next to him.

Jingliu, seated on his other side, turned her head slightly toward him. "I want to know that too," she added, her voice calm but questioning as she leaned into his shoulder for support. "You've brought it up plenty of times when talking about technology and progress."

Yasushi paused, letting their words sink in as he tried to find the right response. At first, he didn't think it was something as personal as a grudge. But the more he considered it, the more he realized there was something deeper at play.

"I don't hate old people," he finally said, his tone direct and straightforward. "But they're usually the ones pushing back the hardest. What gets to me is when people reject change outright — especially change that's meant to help everyone and could push us forward by centuries. They're scared because they won't even try to understand it. They won't listen, they won't research, and they won't even give it a chance." His voice trailed off as he let out a frustrated sigh, glancing at the flames in front of him.

"Like I said, most older folks oppose it because they're stuck in their ways and won't even try to understand it. Take laptops or modern tech, for example. A big chunk of them outright refuses to learn or adapt. And it's not just them — look at millennials, our generation, and the younger ones. They hear words like 'quantum tech' or 'AI,' don't bother to figure out what it actually is or how useful it could be, and then they dismiss it entirely. Instead, they just amplify each other in echo chambers, creating fear and paranoia. It's frustrating as hell," he said before letting out another sigh.

'If this was the old me… I probably wouldn't have been much different,' he thought, his mind drifting to how he might have just scoffed at the idea or, worse, threatened to punch someone over it. Another sigh escaped him.

"Well, I can see why they'd think that way. It's cutting-edge stuff, and not everyone's going to grasp it right away. But yeah, some of them really do just parrot the loudest voices saying it's dangerous or evil without knowing what they're talking about," Xinyi said, her words punctuated with a laugh. "They said the same things about the internet back then, and look at us now — can't go a day without it."

Before they could continue, the elderly couple emerged with Yinhaie, each carrying food in hand. The meals were packed in medium-sized plastic containers, which they distributed to each of them. After delivering the first set, they returned inside and repeated this process twice more before finally joining everyone outside.

"Thank you for the food," the group said in unison. Their gratitude brought warm smiles to the older couple's faces.

As the group started eating, Mei Xiu Tian, the wife, glanced over and asked, "What were you sweethearts talking about?"

A brief hesitation passed among them before they shared the gist of their earlier discussion. The explanation brought a laugh from both older people.

"I get it," Jing Hua Tian said, shaking his head. "Our generation can be stuck in its ways sometimes. We were hesitant at first too, but honestly, if something can lighten the load for us, why not accept it? It's like someone offering you a way to get your arm back after you've lost it, and then turning it down out of sheer stubbornness."

Mei Xiu Tian chuckled softly before saying, "Now that everything is settled, let's focus on the meal and move to something more cheerful. No point in wrapping up the day on a sour note, right?"

"You're absolutely right. It's always better to end things on a positive note," Yasushi replied with a slight nod.

They gradually steered the conversation away from heavier topics, letting the mood around the table improve as they continued their dinner. By the time the evening concluded, and they left the older couple's home, their spirits felt noticeably lighter.

+-+

"There's some trouble, so I'll be leaving for now. The time I spent here was relaxing and enjoyable, but this is where we part ways," Inari said. She stood next to Yasushi as they walked toward home.

"Trouble with the alliance?" Yasushi asked. His eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the goddess.

"Something like that. A troublesome group is causing issues, so I'll need to handle it. Take care, and if things are resolved quickly, I might return — assuming you're still around." With that, she turned away and disappeared in a flash.

Yasushi let out a small breath, turned back to his friends, and motioned silently with a nod for them to continue toward Xinyi's house. He had questions but knew better than to get involved. For someone who had only stepped into the supernatural world briefly and lacked any real training, following Inari would have been suicide.

"I wish I could shoot lasers from my eyes," Xinyi muttered as they walked.

"…That's horrifying," Jingliu replied flatly before giving her a light smack on the head.

The friend group exchanged remarks and jokes, their voices overlapping in lighthearted conversation as they made their way to the home. The day had been hectic, and the opportunity to finally unwind felt overdue. Once they arrived, the mood began to ease. They gradually settled in, letting the hours drift into a relaxed evening.

Much later, Yasushi found himself sitting in a chair he'd placed on the balcony connected to his shared room with Jingliu. The cool night air surrounded him as he leaned back, his eyes turned skyward. He sat quietly, his thoughts running through the moments that had brought him here and those that lay ahead.

"You're going to be a big brother! Make sure you come to London when your mother goes into labor! Bring Xinyi and Jingliu too!"

His father's words from earlier in the month played on repeat in his mind, as though etched there. The declaration had caught him off guard. He hadn't known how to process it at the time, pushing it aside to focus on the tasks in front of him. But now, with a moment to himself, there was nothing to stop his thoughts from circling back to it.

"…Will I be a good big brother…?" he muttered under his breath, eyes drawn upward toward the glow of the moon.

"Yasushi, come to bed," Jingliu's voice called out from behind him, breaking the stillness of the night.

He stood there for a moment longer, letting out a breath as if trying to release the unease tightening in his chest. Finally, he pushed the chair back toward the house, steps quiet but purposeful. His thoughts lingered on the uncertainty, but the one thing he resolved in that moment was simple: he would do everything in his power to be the best big brother he could.