My Super Farming System

C20 - The Manager, This Card Machine Is Broken!!

After several hours of preparation, the group finally set off in procession. The ox cart was primarily loaded with straw and black skin watermelons. While delicious, the watermelons were prone to cracking, but the straw served as a cushion to prevent damage during the bumpy ride. Lin Luqin was perched happily atop the cart, while the rest of the team, burdened with various pieces of equipment, trudged along on foot. For everyone except Zhao Yuegu, the path through Zeffari was a formidable challenge.

"We might not even make it to the main road at this rate," Zhao Yuegu remarked, casting a somewhat resigned glance at the program team. Lin Luqin, however, seemed unfazed.

"Don't worry, we only need to cover twenty miles; there's an off-road vehicle waiting for us there."

"Well, that's a relief," he mused. It made sense—navigating the mountainous terrain for miles on end would be impossible for the program team, especially after yesterday's rain had turned the path into a muddy quagmire. Zhao Yuegu, despite donning fresh clothes, was splattered with mud from head to toe, fueling his desire to see a proper road built.

"I'll have to give some serious thought to the road construction when I visit the county," he said, stroking his chin. If he remained secluded in the mountains, he might never see the road completed.

"We can start with the areas that are ready for construction, even if some spots aren't suitable yet. We could even install rest areas along the way," he pondered while mapping out potential routes for the hardened road and reconfirming landslide-prone locations.

Lin Luqin watched Zhao Yuegu survey the distant scenery, her irritation growing when she realized he wasn't paying attention to her.

"Hey!" she called out. "Is there something more interesting to look at than me?"

"Hmm?" Zhao Yuegu turned, only then noticing the extra care Lin Luqin had put into her makeup that day, even more so than for their usual shoots. Clearly, she had gone to great lengths to make a lasting impression before parting ways.

Instead of responding to her question, Zhao Yuegu asked, "Are you planning to settle down in Zeffari, or will you be leaving right away?"

Lin Luqin's expression faded to a somber tone.

"The mission is urgent; I have to head out immediately."

"Then there's no time to prepare a better gift for you."

Zhao Yuegu reached into his pocket and pulled out a wooden watermelon carving he had prepared.

"I whittled this watermelon when I had some free time; keep it as a memento."

"Thank you. This bead is beautifully made. I'll keep it with me always."

"..." Zhao Yuegu interjected, "It's a watermelon."

"Oh, I see..."

Lin Luqin felt a touch embarrassed.

Zhao Yuegu dismissed it with a wave of his hand. He was new to wood carving, so it was understandable that it wasn't perfect.

Little did he know, this simple trinket he'd crafted would become Lin Luqin's most treasured possession for life!

The journey was a series of starts and stops, traversing hills and valleys.

After three hours, they finally reached the spot where the program team's vehicles were parked.

Ten off-road vehicles and a pickup truck for hauling gear were waiting.

The team members sighed in relief as they loaded their equipment onto the trucks.

Some began to load up the black skin watermelons, eager to share the taste with their families back home.