“Hm?” Lin Shuying crouched down and brushed away the dirt with her hands.
It was a worn wooden box, more than half decayed.
She carefully opened it—inside lay a tattered book, the characters on its cover too faded to read clearly, only a few words barely discernible: “Strange Melon… Illustrated Record.”
“What’s that?” A Li leaned in to look.
Lin Shuying turned the pages—the paper was so brittle it nearly crumbled at her touch.
She read carefully, and the more she read, the brighter her eyes grew.
This was an ancient text documenting all kinds of strange melons and exotic fruits!
Though incomplete, the remaining sections detailed several rare watermelon varieties: a “Rainbow-Striped Melon” with multicolored rind, a “Drunken Immortal Melon” that carried its own wine-like fragrance, and a “Sea-Sand Melon” that could grow in saline-alkali soil…
Most importantly, each melon came with detailed cultivation methods, and even grafting diagrams!
“A treasure…” Lin Shuying murmured. She carefully tucked the book away, deciding to study it thoroughly that night.
The work of turning the soil continued until noon.
Lin Shuying was sore all over, with two blisters already forming on her hands, but looking at the ten acres of freshly turned earth before her, she felt immensely satisfied.
Nurse Lin brought lunch—simple flatbreads, pickled vegetables, and congee—but everyone ate with hearty appetites.
During the afternoon break, Lin Shuying showed the Strange Melon Illustrated Record to Forester Chen.
“Uncle Chen, have you ever seen any of these melons?”
Forester Chen studied it carefully for a long while, then shook his head: “No, I haven’t. But I’ve heard my elders say that in the previous dynasty, there was a melon fanatic who traveled the world collecting strange melons, planting a whole garden full of them. Later, war broke out, the garden was destroyed, and the seeds were lost. This book—it might well have been left behind by that very melon fanatic.”
Lin Shuying fell into thought.
If the varieties recorded in this book truly existed, she could try to recreate them. And with the aid of her Wood Spirit Root, the chances of success should be fairly high.
Just as she was pondering, the rapid clatter of hooves suddenly sounded from afar.
Everyone looked up to see a chestnut horse galloping toward them, the rider’s red clothes fluttering like a blazing flame.
As the horse reached the field’s edge, the rider reined in, dismounted in one smooth motion, and landed lightly on her feet.
“Shuying!”
Lin Shuying was startled: “Fuyu?”
It was Wei Fuyu—the youngest daughter of the Wei family, the capital’s garrison commander, and the same age as her.
This girl had never cared for feminine pursuits; she excelled at swords, spears, and every kind of weapon, and was famously known as the “tomboy” of the capital.
But at this moment, this “tomboy’s” eyes were red-rimmed, and her face bore traces of tears.
“Fuyu, what happened?” Lin Shuying hurried over.
Wei Fuyu grabbed her hand, her voice choked: “Shuying! My father wants to marry me off!”
“What?”
“To that second son of the Marquis of Zhenbei! The one who looks like a bear!” Wei Fuyu grew more aggrieved as she spoke. “I refused, so my father locked me up! I climbed over the wall to escape!”
Lin Shuying: “…”
“Shuying, take me in!” Wei Fuyu pleaded, tears welling up. “I heard from A-Gua that you have an estate here and that you’re farming—so I came! I know martial arts—I can help you with work and protect you! Please take me in!”
Lin Shuying looked at her, then at the freshly turned fields behind her, then at the white-walled, black-tiled house in the distance.
Finally, she sighed and patted Wei Fuyu on the shoulder.
“Alright. You can stay for now.”
Wei Fuyu broke into a smile through her tears and hugged her tightly: “Shuying, you’re the best!”
Lin Shuying, nearly crushed by the embrace, struggled to say: “But we have to agree—you can stay, but you have to work.”
“No problem!” Wei Fuyu released her and pounded her chest. “Just tell me what to do! Turning soil? Watering? I can do it all!”
Lin Shuying looked at her soft, delicate hands and had her doubts: “You… really can?”
“I can learn!” Wei Fuyu declared with fighting spirit. “Anyway, I’m not going back! I want what you have—my own estate, my own say over my own life!”
Lin Shuying couldn’t help but laugh, though she also felt a pang of emotion.
Wei Fuyu was different from her.
She had chosen to leave luxury behind of her own accord; Wei Fuyu had been forced to flee.
But in a certain way, they were both striving for the lives they wanted.
“Alright, you can stay then,” Lin Shuying said. “And just in time—we’re sowing seed this afternoon. You can help.”
“Great!”
So that afternoon, a red-clad figure joined the fields.
Wei Fuyu had indeed never done farm work before, but she was willing to learn and had plenty of strength—she could do the work of two laborers on her own. Though her movements were clumsy and she often scattered seeds everywhere, her attitude was earnest.
— —
By dusk, all ten acres had been sown.
Lin Shuying stood on the field ridge, looking at the neat rows of earth, the setting sun dyeing the soil golden.
In the distance, curls of cooking smoke rose from the estate, and A Li stood at the gate waving for everyone to come back for dinner.
“Miss,” Forester Chen walked over with a smile, “we’re ahead of schedule today. At this pace, we’ll have all fifty acres finished in another three days.”
“Everyone’s worked hard,” Lin Shuying said. “Extra dishes tonight—I’ll have Nurse Lin stew some meat.”
The laborers cheered.
On the way back, Wei Fuyu walked beside Lin Shuying and said quietly: “Shuying, thank you.”
“For what?”
“Thank you for taking me in.” Wei Fuyu said earnestly. “If my father comes looking for me, just tell him I insisted on staying—that it has nothing to do with you.”
Lin Shuying glanced at her and smiled: “You think I’m afraid of your father?”
“Not afraid, but—”
“Fuyu,” Lin Shuying interrupted her, “since you’re here, settle in and rest easy. I’ll talk to your father.”
“What will you say?”
“I’ll say I need a security instructor here and that I’ve hired you to teach the estate’s servants martial arts, with a monthly wage.” Lin Shuying winked. “Your father’s always complaining you only know how to fight, right? I’ll give him a reason to let you fight your way to something worthwhile.”
Wei Fuyu was stunned, then her eyes grew brighter and brighter: “Shuying, you’re brilliant!”
“Moderately brilliant,” Lin Shuying said humbly.
Only third in the nation, actually—she really had placed third in the national exams.
Chatting and laughing, the two returned to the house.
Dinner was indeed sumptuous: braised pork, stewed chicken soup, stir-fried greens, and the fluffy white steamed buns Nurse Lin had made specially.
The laborers set up two tables in the back courtyard and ate with great enthusiasm.
Lin Shuying, Wei Fuyu, A Li, A-Gua, and Nurse Lin ate in the front courtyard.
Over the meal, Wei Fuyu recounted her harrowing journey—how she’d climbed over walls, evaded the household guards, and asked her way here step by step—leaving A-Gua gasping in amazement.
After dinner, Lin Shuying had A Li take Wei Fuyu to settle in, while she herself returned to the study.
She lit the lamp, took out the Strange Melon Illustrated Record, and studied it carefully.
Though the book was damaged, its contents were extremely precious.
Besides descriptions of those strange melons, there were also cultivation notes from ancient farmers: using plant ash to control aphids, garlic water to prevent disease, and even a simple design for a drip irrigation system…
The more Lin Shuying read, the more excited she became, and before she knew it, the night had grown deep.
Outside the window, the moon was bright and the stars sparse, the distant fields lying in tranquil silence.
Occasional frog calls only made the estate feel more peaceful.
She set down the book, walked to the window, and pushed it open.
The night breeze, carrying the scent of earth and grass, rushed in—cool and fresh.
This was her estate.
Her fields.
Her life.
Lin Shuying took a deep breath and broke into a wide smile.
Tomorrow, she would start raising seedlings.
First, she’d grow the “Honey Treasure Watermelons,” then try to cultivate one or two of the strange melons using the methods in the Strange Melon Illustrated Record.
Oh, and she should give this estate a name…
How about “Little Lin’s Manor”?
Simple, easy to remember, and unmistakably her territory.
Just as she was thinking this, a tiny glimmer of light suddenly flickered on the distant field ridge.
Lin Shuying narrowed her eyes to look—there seemed to be a figure moving through the fields, carrying a lantern.
Who would be in the fields at this hour?
She grew alert and was about to call for A-Gua, but the figure was already walking toward the estate.
The lantern light drew closer, gradually illuminating the person’s face.
It was Xiao Shengrui.
Lin Shuying let out a breath of relief, but then felt puzzled—why was he here again?
And this time, he’d come through the front gate?
She went downstairs and opened the door, and Xiao Shengrui had already reached the entrance.
The young man carried a lantern, his clothes damp with dew, but his expression was rather serious.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Shuying asked.
“News just came in from the Listening Wind Pavilion,” Xiao Shengrui lowered his voice, “someone is investigating you.”
“Investigating me? Who?”
“Not sure, but they’re no small fry.” Xiao Shengrui said. “The news of you asking the Emperor for farmland at the palace has already spread. Some think you’re just grandstanding… others find you an eyesore.”
Lin Shuying frowned: “I’m just farming on my own land—who am I bothering?”
“If you were growing ordinary land, it wouldn’t matter.” Xiao Shengrui looked at her. “But the Emperor granted you an experimental plot, right next to the imperial estate. If you really succeed…”
He didn’t finish, but Lin Shuying understood.
If she succeeded, it would prove that the officials in the Directorate of Agriculture had been useless all these years. If she failed, she’d become a laughingstock and drag the Lin family down with her.
“So,” Xiao Shengrui said softly, “you have to succeed. And you have to succeed quickly.”
Lin Shuying was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: “Your Highness, don’t worry—since I dared to ask for this land, I’m confident I can grow something.” She pulled the Strange Melon Illustrated Record from her sleeve and flipped to one page, showing it to Xiao Shengrui.
“Look at this—the ‘Rainbow-Striped Watermelon,’ its rind colored like a rainbow, sweet as honey. And here—this ‘Wine-Scented Watermelon,’ carrying its own wine fragrance, with a mildly intoxicating taste.”
Xiao Shengrui took the book and examined it carefully by the lantern light, his surprise growing: “This is…”
“I dug it up in the fields today,” Lin Shuying said. “A relic from that melon fanatic of the previous dynasty. With this, plus the good seeds I’ve gotten from the south, I’m ninety percent sure that by this autumn, I’ll make everyone’s jaw drop.”
Xiao Shengrui looked up at her, the lantern light reflecting in his eyes like shining stars: “Do you need help?”
“Yes.” Lin Shuying didn’t stand on ceremony. “First, help me find out who’s stirring up trouble behind the scenes. Second, if you come across any rare fruit or melon seeds, keep an eye out for me. And third—” she paused, smiling, “when the first batch of my melons is ready, Your Highness must come and taste them.”
Xiao Shengrui smiled too: “Alright.” He returned the book to her, then pulled a small cloth pouch from his sleeve. “Here—this is for you.”
Lin Shuying opened it—inside were several seeds, oddly shaped, a deep purple in color.
“These are…”
“Brought by a merchant from the Western Regions. They’re called ‘grapes,’” Xiao Shengrui said. “The fruits grow in clusters, sweet with a hint of tartness—you can eat them fresh or brew wine with them. I thought you’d like them.”
Lin Shuying’s eyes went wide.
Grapes!
Great Liang didn’t have grapes yet!
If she could grow these…
“Your Highness,” her voice trembled with excitement, “this—this is too precious…”
“Plant them if you like them.” Xiao Shengrui said evenly. “When they grow, just invite me for a drink.” He waved his hand and turned to leave.
The lantern light receded into the distance and vanished into the night.
Lin Shuying stood at the door, clutching the pouch of grape seeds, motionless for a long time. The night wind lifted her hair, carrying the familiar scent of the fields.
She suddenly felt that all of this—
This estate, these fields, these seeds, and the people who cared about her—felt like a dream.
A dream so beautiful it couldn’t possibly be real.
But the seeds pressing into her palm were real enough to hurt.
It was real.
She gripped the seeds tightly, turned, and went back inside, closing the door behind her.
Tomorrow, she would work twice as hard!
In her past life, she’d been a PhD!
Grapes, watermelons, and all those strange and wonderful melons and fruits—she would grow them all and grow them brilliantly!
What’s the harm in pushing herself anywhere?
She would make this land bear things no one could ever imagine.
Agricultural PhD Lin Shuying’s farming career in a new world had officially begun.
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