Parallel World, East Sea Province, Water Buffalo Town, February 1st
"Xiao Han, take a look. Didn't I say this is a great place surrounded by mountains and rivers? Just focus on your experiments, and if you need anything, come find me." Mayor Niu Gang said with a cheerful grin, his squinty eyes brimming with the satisfaction of having gotten his way.
Finally tricked a grad student into 'researching' this barren plot of land. My 'Support Academic Activists' plan finally has hope!
"Thanks, Uncle Niu. I'm just conducting a research experiment; I won't mess up these five acres of land." Standing on the ridge of the field, Han Qiwu replied awkwardly. "Come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen land with this much... diversity."
On the over 3,000 square meters of yellow soil, various wild weeds and scattered tall and short trees swayed arrogantly in the breeze. Stones of varying sizes lay scattered across the field, and in the southeast corner, there was even a small fish pond full of stagnant water.
Can this place even qualify as an experimental field??
What kind of experiment? Feasibility studies on plant survival under harsh conditions?
Han Qiwu felt a headache coming on. No wonder the mayor was so eager to bring him here, babbling about supporting agricultural development.
Liar!
Niu Gang, feigning ignorance, continued grinning: "Diversity is a good thing! Water Buffalo Town is rich in resources and talent. This happens to be the area with the highest biodiversity. Look at other plots of land—it's all corn or rapeseed. No challenge for your research there!"
Han Qiwu: "..."
Is that how biodiversity is supposed to work?
"Aunt Li has already cleaned up a house for you. Once you move your luggage in, you can start living there. Anything else you need help with?" Niu Gang asked enthusiastically.
"Can we switch locations?"
"No."
"Then that's all."
"Goodbye."
Niu Gang dashed to his car at athlete-like speed and slammed on the gas pedal with gusto.
"Hahaha!"
"Bang!"
The car stalled.
Han Qiwu: "..."
Could you at least hide your happiness?
Why the sudden rush to celebrate?
A few minutes later, Han Qiwu carried his luggage into the small house next to the field.
Rural life does have its perks—space.
Five large rooms combined came to nearly 350 square meters, fully equipped with basic living essentials.
"At least there's some decency. Ugh, what am I supposed to do now?" Han Qiwu sat in a chair, his face filled with helplessness.
He was a graduate student in agricultural studies at Rongcheng University, currently in his second year of research.
At the end of his first year, Han Qiwu competed for a slot in the "Seed Project."
Participants in the Seed Project could choose an experimental field from multiple partner villages to complete their research projects.
The title of Han Qiwu's project submission was: "Conceptual Ideas for Growing Giant Plants."
For humanity, size isn't everything, but when it comes to plants, it absolutely is!
Especially the roots, they're of paramount importance.
For a giant-plant fanatic like Han Qiwu, girth—or rather, diameter—is justice.
When Han Qiwu won the slot, Mayor Niu Gang was the first to contact him, presenting a myriad of enticing policies in black and white. He even offered five times the average experimental field size as bait.
He succeeded.
Han Qiwu fell for it.
"Should I just change the research topic?" Han Qiwu pondered seriously.
After considering it, he reluctantly abandoned the idea for now.
Changing topics would involve a lot of logistical issues. He might not even pass his final thesis defense. Plus, it could disrupt his mentor's plans, leaving a negative impression and potentially harming his future academic career.
"Forget it. Let's check out the land first. There might be surprises. At least now I'm technically a small landlord," Han Qiwu muttered, grabbing a tool bag as he left the house.
It's already February. According to planting requirements, Han Qiwu had to start sowing within the next half month.
Time's tight!
The situation is critical!
Right after stepping out the door, Han Qiwu bent down to collect over a dozen soil samples.
He examined them one by one.
Suddenly, Han Qiwu realized leaving his mentor a negative impression might not be all that bad.
After all, even bad publicity is still publicity, isn't it?
If worse comes to worst, he could just try again next year!
The soil here is disastrously poor.
He started packing his luggage.
"Ding, detected that host owns 3,300 square meters of temporary farmland which includes required game elements (including but not limited to fish ponds, trees, shrubs, rocks, etc.). Leisure Farming Game System has been activated, and the interface can be viewed at the top of the screen."
The sudden voice interrupted Han Qiwu as he reached for his phone.
What's going on? Did I just unlock some cheat system?
The condition to activate the system was owning farmland? And it has to be this 'premium' farmland?
Thank you, Mayor Niu. Mayor truly lives up to his name!
At this moment, Han Qiwu suddenly decided he still wanted to impress his mentor after all. After all, his mentor Tang Qingying was Rong University's youngest doctoral tutor, attaining her post at only 24 years old. A goddess-level mentor.
Refocusing his thoughts, Han Qiwu sat back down to study the system.
"System? Are you there?"
After a few minutes of Q&A, Han Qiwu confirmed that this Leisure Farming Game System was a purely interactive system without any creepy AI personality.
Great. Carrying around something with a mind of its own would've felt weird.
A simple interface appeared at the top of his vision.
[Health]: 50/50
[Stamina]: 100/100
[Game Currency]: 1000
[Character Attributes]
[Favorability Status]
[Inventory]
[Tasks]
[Current Farm: Standard Farm]
[Time: 09:34]
Clicking on Character Attributes, a miniature 3D figure appeared in Han Qiwu's field of vision.
"Didn't think my 3D modeled self would still look this handsome." Han Qiwu nodded in satisfaction—the system's accuracy wasn't bad.
Name: Han Qiwu
Overall Skill Level: Farming Rookie
Skill Level: 0
Total Currency Earned: 1000 gold
Illustration Index: 0/**
Evaluation: Calling you a rookie is generous. You should be classified as a beginner's egg. Why are you staring instead of farming?
Han Qiwu: "???"
If only this system had a personality, I'd drag it out for a good debate!
With zero farming instincts, Han Qiwu clicked on [Tasks].
Simple Task: [Chosen One]
Task Objective: Successfully harvest a plant.
Task Reward: Method for cultivating giant plants
Note: Young man, fight for your dreams!
Han Qiwu's eyes lit up. Being the chosen one didn't shock him; he'd always thought his good looks were divine favoritism. But the task reward was extremely tempting.
If he could grow giant plants, who cared what kind of land they sprouted from!
Excited, Han Qiwu opened [Inventory].
The initial 10-slot backpack was already half full with tools.
[Watering Can][Axe][Hoe][Sickle][Fishing Rod][Pickaxe]
Additionally, there was a bag of seeds: [Defensive Grass Seeds]×30
[Defensive Grass Seeds]: Spring Crop. You might call it an European carrot.
Maturation Period: 7 days
Selling Price: 25 gold
Han Qiwu thought to himself and took the Defensive Grass Seeds into his hands.
From its appearance, the seeds were much larger than the specimens Han Qiwu had seen in the past. Its yellow, dry seed coat looked promising.
Hmm, clearly good seeds—surely popular.
If he mailed these to those folks on forums who were begging desperately for seeds, they'd be thrilled.
Han Qiwu, holding the seeds, stepped outside, only to immediately notice something strange.
The previously chaotic field now had grid-like patterns overlaid on it, and its perimeter was fenced neatly with dense greenery.
At a glance, the square grids were approximately 50 cm in length per edge.
"Is this what they call datafication?"
Mumbling, Han Qiwu grabbed his hoe and dug into the nearest plot.
His original stamina value dropped by 3 points.
Yet, the plot remained unchanged, and the hoe stayed in his hand.
"???" Han Qiwu scrutinized the plot he'd just dug into.
The yellowish dirt was overgrown with weeds.
Two kicks with his foot would've produced a small pit.
"Wait, is this land so soft I can't even dig it? While exhausting 3 stamina points?" Han Qiwu tried again.
[Stamina]: 94
"Do I need to clear the weeds first?" Han Qiwu tested using the sickle on the ground.
"Swish swish"
The weeds vanished instantly, leaving the ground as pristine as a photoshopped influencer face.
"You obtained [Fiber]×1."
Correspondingly, stamina decreased by another 3 points.
"Any plot intended for planting seeds must first be cleaned with the appropriate tool."
Han Qiwu summarized as he placed the seeds onto the cleared plot.
"[Defensive Grass Seeds]Successfully planted."
Stamina remained unchanged.
System Prompt: "Please refill the watering can. Friendly reminder: any water source is usable for refilling."
Upon inspection, the pond water had turned crystal clear, with nothing inside except water itself.