C39 – He Was Surrounded by Followers

Previous Mr. Ma had an virtually instinctual dislike for Zhao Yuegu, particularly since his granddaughter, Ma Yabei, appeared far too near him. He couldn’t pinpoint precisely when his disapproval started, but it surely might need been the second Yabei claimed a single acre of sunflower seeds might yield six acres of oil. To him, that was the speak of a con artist. He hadn’t believed in such absurdities for the reason that days when pigs have been mentioned to compete with elephants. Why would he begin believing now? It was clearly a rip-off, and Previous Mr. Ma was sure of it.

In his eyes, Ma Yabei was nonetheless only a youngster. “My outdated buddies can be arriving shortly,” he instructed her. “They’re seasoned professors in agricultural science, honored with quite a few nationwide medals. You’ll see how laughable your sunflower seed claims are after they get right here.” He patted Yabei affectionately, intending for these specialists to debunk the sunflower seed farce with their authoritative data. He couldn’t bear to observe his granddaughter get in over her head with this nonsense.

“I noticed it with my very own eyes. There’s no approach it’s a pretend,” Yabei insisted, pouting on the couch.

Previous Mr. Ma shook his head, assured that when his buddies arrived and introduced the proof, Yabei would come round.

In the meantime, Zhao Yuegu was navigating the bustling snack streets of Everbreach with Solar Ying. The road, with its historic allure and time-honored outlets, was a magnet for vacationers, teeming with life and exercise. Zhao Yuegu, accustomed to tranquility, felt considerably out of his factor amidst the chaos. But, Solar Ying appeared unfazed, her pleasure undimmed by the crowds.

“Higher to courageous the group than miss out,” he mused.

The throng was so dense that Zhao Yuegu had no alternative however to remain glued to Solar Ying. She clung to his arm, fearing they’d be separated within the sea of individuals. Then, somebody jostled Solar Ying, inflicting her to stumble into Zhao Yuegu’s embrace. He wrapped his arms round her protectively, making certain she was secure from the bustling crowd.

“We’ll head out after a bit extra enjoyable,” he mentioned.

“Certain, positive,” Solar Ying replied, her consideration instantly captured by a shaved ice vendor within the distance. “I wish to strive that!”nove(l)bi(n.)com

Zhao Yuegu couldn’t assist however really feel a twinge of exasperation, but he acquiesced. He couldn’t assist however surprise why he’d ever thought it was a good suggestion to rent a feminine driver within the first place.

It should have been a second of pure mind fog.

However the duties at hand nonetheless wanted to be tackled.

It’s simply that…

Why have been all these women, telephones in hand, snapping pictures of themselves?

His towering peak and strong construct made him stand out like a crane amongst chickens.

It wasn’t that he was excessively tall; it was that everybody else appeared unusually brief.

His rugged beauty naturally drew loads of stares.

His presence was so distinctive that it was almost not possible to disregard him.

“Mr. Watermelon!”

“Mr. Watermelon, can we take a photograph collectively?”

Finally, he was acknowledged.

He had, in spite of everything, spent a while trending on the search charts.

His putting look had received him a legion of feminine followers.

The group of ladies round him swelled, many wielding their smartphones.

Zhao Yuegu was aware of the extreme scrutiny that got here with being a public determine.

He might be noticed wherever, anytime.

This introduced no benefits and solely served to derail his plans.

The visitors had even come to a standstill.

He was no match for the fervor of his followers.

The tranquility of the countryside appeared ever extra interesting.

“I respect the love, of us, however I’m not some celeb or web sensation.”

“I’m only a farmer.”

“Please strive to not block the street, okay? It’s not a superb look.”

Left with no different possibility, Zhao Yuegu reluctantly wrapped his arms round Solar Ying and made a beeline for the comparatively spacious plaza close by.

Nothing to be carried out about it.

“I’m nonetheless hungry.”

Solar Ying was equally disheartened.

“Let’s discover a place to remain and order some meals.”

Zhao Yuegu let loose a sigh.

Solar Ying checked out him, astonished.

“You know the way to order takeout?”

“What’s with that tone? I’m accustomed to rural life, not ignorant.”

Solar Ying gave an embarrassed snigger.

“It’s a superb factor your village isn’t accessible by street.”

“In any other case, these clout-chasers would overrun the entire place.”

“There was this Three-Yuan Noodles Man who went viral just lately. His place received so mobbed he couldn’t even go residence.”

At that, Zhao Yuegu’s expression grew stern.

In the event that they fastened the street to his village…

Would all these troublemakers descend on it, disturbing the peace of the elders?

“No, I’ve received to discover a option to preserve them at bay.”

After a lot thought, Zhao Yuegu determined to implement a checkpoint.

He was funding the street, so there was no problem with controlling entry.

The one potential hiccup is likely to be the county’s approval.

Mulling it over, he turned to Solar Ying.

“I’m pondering of organising a toll on the village street for its maintenance. Do you suppose your dad can deal with that?”

“Let me examine on that.”

Solar Ying promptly made a name.

It was a superb twenty minutes earlier than she acquired a definitive sure.

“We’ll should deal with some paperwork on the county workplace and pay taxes.”

“That’s positive by me.”

Zhao Yuegu had no problem with that.

The checkpoint was primarily to discourage these with in poor health intentions and preserve Walden’s tranquility.

He was a farmer in spite of everything, with no time to be hassled by troublemakers.

After which there was the opposite concern…

What if unsavory characters determined to swipe watermelons from the fields?

Wildlife would doubtless be the least of his worries when it got here to affecting the yield.

Certain, we dwell in a civilized period, however uncivilized of us are nonetheless round.

It’s not about wishing hurt on anybody, but it surely’s clever to remain vigilant.

Little did he know, as he settled all the way down to relaxation, that the seeds he had left with the Su household have been already inflicting fairly the stir.