Fruit Farmer In A Cultivation World

Sen Lin acted calm on the surface and greeted his two guests.

He observed the duo's expressions, trying to figure out their intentions. Unfortunately, he couldn't learn anything from Xiang Lan's indifferent eyes.

As for Liang Zhi, he seemed to have put on a considerable amount of weight in the past week.

His cheeks seemed a bit meatier but that was it. He still smiled like he always did and it was truly difficult to conclude if the two had come to find trouble with him for his thoughts.

Sen Lin prayed in his heart that cultivators didn't have the means to read mind and put on a soft smile, "What brings the two immortals to my small farm?"

"Farmer Sen should stop calling me 'young immortal' and such. As a cultivator, you should know that it's just something the mortals address us by. In reality, immortality is just as far for us as it is for them. Just call me brother Liang and I'll address you as brother Sen just like junior brother Wei Mao does."

Sen Lin wanted to tell Liang Zhi that he was a mortal but was interrupted by Xiang Lan.

"It's been a week. I've come back like promised." Saying so, she handed him a food box that was at least half his height.

A little overwhelmed by the sudden gift, Sen Lin took the food box on reflex.

As the weight of the ornately finished food box pressed down on his hands, he snapped out of his initial confusion and wariness settled in instantly.

He opened the different compartments of the food box and was dazzled by the plethora of impressive looking dishes packed to the brim. He had to admit it… in front of these dishes, his cooking was truly amateurish.

Whether it be in terms of looks, aroma, or presentation, he couldn't hold a candle to them. The only criteria left to judge was the taste but he could only concede defeat after seeing the expensive looking ingredients.

He'd only seen such a luxurious lineup of food back on Earth. And even then, it was through the screen. As an always poor person struggling to make ends meet, how would he have the fortune to enjoy such a feast.

Sen Lin composed himself and directed a cautious gaze towards Xiang Lan. In his mind, she was already a scammer who'd dined and dash a week back.

It didn't make sense for her to come back bearing such an expensive gift. He began thinking of all the reasons that could result in the situation and eventually came to a conclusion – a Ponzi scheme.

As if to validate his thoughts, Xiang Lan pulled out a red and gold invitation and handed it to Sen Lin.

"I'd have liked to look around a bit more but I've already wasted too much time. Please come to the Feast of Thousand Horizons. I'll be sure to entertain you properly then."

Having said her piece, she turned around and signaled to Liang Zhi, who retrieved the paper bird obediently.

Watching them preparing to leave, Sen Lin grew even more confused. What was the pair trying to accomplish by bringing him such a generous gift?

He entertained the idea of returning the food box to avoid future troubles but quickly shook his head. That'd be too rude and could ruin his friendly relationship with Liang Zhi. He was still counting on the young cultivator to buy his plums again this year at a high price.

Sen Lin was in a dilemma. He couldn't return the expensive gift and his previous hospitality was far from enough. While the eggs and mushroom powder were something incredibly valuable to him, when compared to the food box, it was pretty much nothing.

He steeled his heart and asked the two to wait.

The young farmer walked into his hut and moved half of the winter sunflower seeds he'd roasted into a pouch.

As his two guests were cultivators, these seeds were the only thing that held any value for them. Though he was reluctant, he could only grit his teeth and part with it.

It was never a good idea to receive too much from others, especially if he didn't know them or their intentions well.

Sen Lin walked out and handed the pouch to Liang Zhi. "It's not much but it's the only thing I have right now. They're pretty good to snack on during your return journey."

Liang Zhi said a few polite words in reply and swiftly took to the skies.

Sen Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief after the paper bird was reduced to a tiny dot on the horizon.

He'd almost lost his cool when the two cultivators had arrived out of the blue. Thankfully, it looked like they didn't have the ability to read the thoughts of others.

Still, he'd never thought that the woman's statement of "I'll see you in a week" had been a serious one.

He had been sure that it was something she'd said casually. Like how someone who owes you money often say, "I'll pay you back in a few days for real."

Sen Lin shook his head and walked back into the hut. After having seen the contents of the food box, he was no longer interested in basking in the sun.

Who knew how long the food would stay hot for. It was better to dig in while they were still fresh.

After half an hour, Sen Lin could no longer eat anymore. Even with his healthy appetite, the food was just too much. There were twelve different compartments in the food box and each held a different dish filled to the brim.

If there was one thing in common between the dishes, then it was the fact that all of them were mushroom dishes. A few of them even reminded him of the mushroom powder he'd made.

Still, there was no comparison between the two. He was but a slightly passionate home cook. The dishes he had received on the other hand were akin to works of art.

Not only were they a treat to look at but they also filled him with the urge to praise the cook who had managed to prepare such a culinary feast after every bite.

Without a doubt, these dishes were the most delicious food he'd eaten across both his lives.

Of course, the only exception was the beautiful strawberries he had grown at the end of his first life. Nothing could beat its divine taste.

Sen Lin put down his chopsticks and wondered what he should do with the rest of the food. Even after eating his fill, he hadn't even gone through a tenth of the food box's content.

Since it would be a waste to let them get cold and stale, he decided to share them with some villagers he was close with.

He retrieved a roll of giant leaves he'd collected in the past and unfurled it. They looked similar to banana leaves but had a much glossier shine to them.

They could also be dried and stored for years to be used for food packaging. And in the case that they remained unused, they could serve as a good fire starter.

Leaving enough to last him for dinner, Sen Lin portioned the rest of the food and packed them in the leaves.

He first visited little Ying and her grandfather. Though they hadn't interacted much, they were still neighbors and he would never hear the end of it if aunt Tong found out he hadn't taken care of them during winter because he'd gotten too absorbed in raising the winter sunflowers.

He made small talk with the grandfather and walked out so the girl who was eyeing the food could eat her fill.

Sen Lin walked down the hill and visited the households he was indebted to. First, he made his way to aunt Tong who peppered him with the village's latest gossip for an entire hour.

He only managed to slip away after she finished talking about the various girls who were coming of age.

Sen Lin walked to Gao Xuan's house while pretending he couldn't hear aunt Tong calling him from behind.

Gao Xuan's entire family was home and his mother thanked Sen Lin repeatedly for letting her son fill in Wei Mao's position as his helper.

Being thanked in such a sincere manner made him feel awkward. While it was true that Gao Xuan's family had been able to tide through the year because of his help, he really hadn't done much.

He trusted Wei Mao's judgment of people and Gao Xuan had proved he was hard working more than once.

Sen Lin bid goodbye to the family after a short talk and headed for uncle Yu's house which his last destination. Much like aunt Tong, uncle Yu had been someone who had helped Sen Lin a lot back when he was struggling.

Unfortunately, the kind hearted man had passed away two years back, leaving his wife to take care of their two children.

Sen Lin suddenly felt a little guilty for not having paid them much visit since uncle Yu's death.

It's alright. I'm sure they're doing fine.