Over the next two weeks, I found out my apprentices’ strengths and weaknesses when we went fishing, hunting, and foraging. We didn’t bother to do any cooking or herblaw because I had the Demon Chef, and I didn’t particularly need potions, hence I focused on those three core skills for now.

Lari was good at hunting and fishing, but he was terrible at foraging and his energy ran out faster than the others when it came to doing chores at the farm.

Mo, on the other hand, was good at foraging and taking care of the crops at the farm, but she was terrible at hunting and fishing.

Kharli was an all-arounder who was average when it came to all the skills.

They were all pretty much the same when it came to woodcutting.

The crops were growing well, and I discovered that having so many spiritual plants in one place had an invigorating effect.

“Teacher, what are you doing?” asked Kharli as she peered down at me with concern written on her face.

“I am communing with nature.” I was lying down in the middle of the fields.

“Leave her alone,” whispered Mo. “Maybe she’s just tired. We’ve all been working hard, and she’s older than us.”

Did Mo perhaps think I was one of those cultivators who looked young but was really a thousand years old?

They went away, and I just lay there, resting and contemplating the thought that I, once an ordinary high school graduate from Earth, was now a farmer who grew magical fantasy plants.

I turned my head to look at the spirit corn. Its thick yellow stalks were now knee-high and its long, green leaves were slightly serrated and had a glossy texture. The glowing aura around them was still faint.

I moved my head to the other side to look at the spirit wheat. It looked just like green grass, except that the leaves appeared to be dusted with some kind of glittering jade powder.

The kids didn’t seem to feel the same thing that I did when I lay down on the ground beside the crops. It was like there was some sort of warm energy coming up from the earth and seeping into my body. I closed my eyes, the better to feel that strange sensation. If this field was a person, I would say that I was feeling its pulse, but it was more like a slow-moving ocean tide. Faint, gentle waves of energy were moving back and forth from the land to the corn and wheat crops.

After about an hour, I felt as though the energy of the earth was making my body too hot, so I stood up and walked back to the house.

What a curious phenomenon!

Could this be that I was feeling the same “energy” that my apprentices and I used up when the System was active?

Before I got to the gate, Mr. Bear alerted me that Shuye was approaching. I entered the house and informed Fengying to prepare for his visit, then I tidied myself up a little.

Ever since my Farm Guide told me that the clans were looking forward to the rice harvest next season, he had been visiting me every single day. I met him at the main hall and handed him the usual crocus flower as a gift.

“Good morning. What brings you to my humble home? Good news, I hope,” I said.

“Good morning.” He handed me a folded piece of paper with a wax seal and said, “I intercepted a messenger from Prince Baiyu since I thought you might be alarmed if a stranger visited the farm.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“How thoughtful! Thank you.” The seal was in the shape of a tiger head, and the letter was addressed to “Miss Violet.” I took it from him and opened it. Prince Baiyu had written that he was tied up in meetings and wouldn’t be able to meet me tomorrow for his scheduled weekly visit.

“I believe the prince is expecting an answer,” said Shuye. “I can bring it to his messenger.”

“Yes, I’ll write a reply,” I said. “Would you excuse me for a moment? I’m going to my room.”

“Please, take your time. I’m in no hurry,” he said.

I hurriedly used the Cash Shop’s calligraphy set to write a quick note saying, “I look forward to your next visit.” Then I went back to the main hall.

“Shuye, I’d like to send this to Prince Baiyu with a branch of apple blossoms,” I said. “Will you walk with me? There’s a blooming apple tree not far from here.”

He agreed, and we set off on a walk in the direction where I had marked that there was a lovely tree covered in fragrant white and pink flowers. Then, using the secateurs from the System, I cut a small branch and handed it to Shuye along with the letter.

“I’m sure Prince Baiyu will be happy to receive this,” said Shuye.

It wasn’t a big deal, though I was rather disappointed that I wouldn’t be seeing the Prince tomorrow.

***

As the summer season continued, the heat intensified until I was sweating from the moment I woke up at dawn until midnight. It was time to turn on the house’s climate control.

“This little dial here can make the rooms inside the house hotter or cooler,” I said to Fengying, as I showed her the hidden control box in my chambers. “I’m going to set it to cool.”

When I turned the dial, Fengying looked around in alarm, as though expecting something to explode. We waited a few minutes for something to happen, but all I noticed was that there was cool air coming from small holes in the corners of my room.

“It’s quite safe,” I said.

“If you say so, Miss Violet,” said Fengying. She didn’t look convinced at all.

Well, I counted it as a win anyway, since she didn’t voice any concerns out loud.

“Please tell the others about it,” I said.

“Yes, ma’am,” she said.

On Earth, I would have expected each room to have separate air conditioning controls, but only I could change the house’s advanced settings. I hoped they would enjoy it.

It didn’t take long before Fengying came back with a request from Deming to turn off the cold.

“Why?” I asked.

“He just doesn’t like it,” said Fengying.

“I think you should give it a chance. Why don’t we compromise? Let’s keep it on for a week. If he still doesn’t like it, I’ll turn it off.”

“I’ll tell him,” she said.

She came back a few minutes later and told me that Deming was willing to accept my suggestion.

“Great!” I said.

Now that that was fixed, I met with my apprentices. We had already finished watering and weeding the crops, so I instructed them to set the usual traps in the hunting grounds then go foraging or fishing, whichever one they preferred. Deming would provide them with an excellent packed lunch. That was our usual daily routine.

As for me, I had reserved this day for archery practice and herblaw.

I used to train my combat skills three times a week, then it went down to two times a week when the staff moved in, and I became busy with my apprentices. Now I was down to just once a week, and I hadn’t gone back to the Horned Rabbits’ Valley because I’d been too busy. Besides, combat seemed less useful to me than farming skills.

I set up three targets and started shooting. My accuracy had improved, but it was still difficult for me to hit the bullseye. One hour into my practice session, Mr. Bear alerted me that Prince Baiyu was nearby.

This wasn’t one of our scheduled days for his visits, so I wasn’t prepared

Ugh, this was the worst! I immediately ran to the house, not wanting to meet him while I was all gross and sweaty. I’d bet money that he would appear cool and dashing, as always. The summer heat didn’t affect clan members the same way as humans. Shuye said their bodies emitted an aura that protected them from danger, as well as temperature changes.

Thankfully, I made it inside the house before Prince Baiyu arrived.

A quick shower, a visit to the salon room, a change of clothes, and I was ready to receive my visitor.

I expected Prince Baiyu to be waiting for me at the main hall, but he pounced on me as soon as I left my quarters. He wasn’t supposed to be in the inner courtyard.

“Oh, my dear lady,” he said as he knelt down in front of me and took both of my hands in his. “I’m so happy.”

He was beaming as he kissed my hands repeatedly. Today he was wearing a truly magnificent set of blue and silver silk robes, looking as though he was attending an emperor’s court instead of gracing my humble farm with his presence. Half of his long white hair fell loose down his back, while one half of it was braided and tied in a low ponytail. He looked amazing, as usual.

“Um, I’m glad you’re happy,” I said. “What exactly are you happy about?”

He stood up and took out a familiar piece of paper from his sleeve. “This!”