Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Xiao Yun grabbed one of the Spirit Tomatoes without hesitation and bit into it. Her eyes widened as a surge of vibrant energy coursed through her.

"This is a Spirit Tomato!" she exclaimed, staring at the glowing fruit in awe.

Xiao Zhi cast a sidelong glance at her, feigning calm.

"Yeah," he replied casually, though his heart raced.

He was bracing himself for the inevitable questions.

Xiao Ziyun, his mother, stood quietly nearby, her gaze steady and thoughtful.

She had noticed the previously barren state of the backyard just a few days ago, but since Xiao Zhi seemed intent on hiding the truth, she chose to remain silent.

Instead, she simply nodded at her niece's remark, as if affirming her observation.

With his mother's guidance, Xiao Zhi carefully harvested the remaining tomatoes. By the end, they had filled four baskets to the brim.

The spirit tomatoes gleamed like jewels, each one exuding a faint spiritual energy. Xiao Zhi wiped his brow as Xiao Yun inspected the harvest.

"Do you realize how much these are worth?" Xiao Yun asked, her eyes sparkling as she did the math aloud.

"Each tomato is worth 10 silver coins. That's nearly 20 tomatoes per basket. Four baskets mean… 8 gold coins in just one round of harvest!"

She grinned.

"Spirit farming really is a gold mine. Imagine what you could earn if you were a full-time farmer with a vast expanse of land."

While Xiao Yun marveled at the financial possibilities, Xiao Zhi's thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Eight gold coins in less than half an hour? Imagine if he plants it twice every hour in his backyard! That was gonna be more than what he'll earn in a week as a teacher—and nearly a half of his entire monthly salary of 800 gold coins.

He looked down at the glowing baskets, the realization dawning on him.

"This… this could change everything," he murmured under his breath.

The trio worked together to carry the baskets of Spirit Tomatoes from the backyard into the house.

Xiao Zhi led the way, balancing one basket on each arm, while Xiao Yun and Xiao Ziyun followed, each carrying a basket of their own.

The glowing fruits cast a soft, ethereal light that painted the dimly lit hallway in warm hues.

By the time they set the baskets down near the bed, Xiao Yun was already eyeing another tomato.

She plopped onto the bed, grabbed a second one, and took a generous bite. A spark of energy lit up her expression as she sighed in delight.

"Auntie, you don't know what you're missing out on," Xiao Yun said, her words muffled through a mouthful of Spirit Tomato.

"This is heavenly. You should try one."

Xiao Ziyun chuckled softly, sitting beside her niece. "I'll save mine for later, Yun'er. But tell me, how does it taste?"

"It's sweet, but there's this... refreshing coolness that spreads through your body," Xiao Yun explained, her eyes glinting with excitement.

"No wonder these things are so valuable. I'd pay double just to eat one of these on a hot day."

Xiao Ziyun nodded, though her gaze drifted to her son. Xiao Zhi had seated himself at his desk, scribbling furiously on a piece of paper.

His brow furrowed as he worked through the numbers, occasionally tapping his pen against the table.

"If I can harvest four baskets every thirty minutes, that's eight gold coins," Xiao Zhi muttered to himself.

"In an hour, sixteen gold coins. Multiply that by twelve hours a day..." His eyes widened. "That's 192 gold coins a day."

He leaned back, staring at his calculations in disbelief. Even if he halved his working hours, the profit was astronomical compared to his teaching salary. Xiao Zhi's lips curled into a grin.

"This really could change everything," he murmured.

"Zhi'er," his mother's voice called, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned to find Xiao Yun watching him curiously, still nibbling on the Spirit Tomato, while his mother gave him a warm smile.

"You look like you've just discovered gold," Xiao Yun teased.

Xiao Zhi laughed, scratching the back of his head. "In a way, I think I have."

Xiao Yun and his mother continued to chat more as he indulge himself on his imaginary wealth.

By then it was already dark, when Xiao Yun glanced outside through the window, she noticed the fading light.

"I should head back. Mother's probably looking for me."

Xiao Ziyun nodded. "Tell her I'll visit with Xiao Zhi tomorrow."

With a quick wave and a bounce in her step, Xiao Yun left, clearly thrilled by the pleasure of eating the Spirit Tomatoes.

Once she was gone, Xiao Ziyun turned to Xiao Zhi and patted the spot beside her on the bed.

"Zhi'er, come sit with me," she said gently.

He hesitated but complied, sensing the shift in her tone. She regarded him with a mixture of affection and seriousness.

"Listen to me carefully," she began. "Don't tell anyone about how you planted this tomatoes."

Xiao Zhi blinked, confused. "Why not?"

Her expression softened, but her voice carried a weight that made him pay attention. "What do you think will happen if you flood the market with Spirit Tomatoes, ones that took less than a day to grow? Yes, you'll make a lot of money quickly, but it will draw attention. And with attention comes trouble. You're only at the peak warrior stage, Zhi'er. In the cultivation world, that's barely a beginning."

The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water. She was right. His strength was nothing compared to the true powers of this world. If he wasn't careful, his sudden success could bring enemies he wasn't prepared to face.

"I understand, Mother," Xiao Zhi said, nodding solemnly. "I'll listen to you."

Xiao Ziyun smiled faintly, relieved. She reached out and ruffled his hair. "Good. I know this may seem like an incredible opportunity, and it is. But you need to tread carefully. Trust your instincts, but also trust your mother. I won't ask what you did to achieve it but , your mother only wants what's best for you. Don't hate me okay, zhi'er."

For a moment, Xiao Zhi sat in silence, absorbing her words. As someone who wasn't originally from this world, he still didn't fully grasp its complexities or dangers.

But if there was one thing he was sure of, it was a mother's unwavering wisdom and care for their own child.

Ace or Xiao Zhi—it didn't matter. He feels like he could trust her completely.

"I trust you, Mother," he said quietly.