Chapter 3: Tomatoes and Seed Machine

Jing Huiyuan approached her parents with a request, her voice chiming like wind chimes. "Father, Mother, may I take Jing Yufei with me to explore the land around the outskirts? We might find some additional wild vegetables for our meals."

Jing Cheng, busy with the few tools he possessed, glanced at his daughter and nodded with a warm smile. "Of course, Huiyuan. Just be careful and don't go too far. We need you both back before the sun sets."

Excitement sparkled in Jing Huiyuan's eyes as she turned to her little brother. "Yufei, grab a basket. We're going on an adventure!" Jing Yufei, a lively and curious child, eagerly complied, his eyes shining with anticipation.

As the two siblings ventured into the outskirts near the foot of the mountain, the tall grass whispered in the gentle breeze, and the distant mountains cast their shadows, creating an idyllic scene.

Jing Yufei, with his innocent eyes filled with wonder, couldn't resist picking some wild veggies they found. He joyfully plucked the colorful greens, his face lighting up with the happiness of discovering something new. However, their calm and happy moment got interrupted by Liu Tao, a kid from the neighborhood who rushed in like a ball of energy.

"Hey, those are my veggies! You can't take them!" Liu Tao complained, pointing at the wild vegetables Jing Yufei was holding.

Jing Yufei, not wanting to give in, bravely said, "No way, these are ours. We saw them first!"

A little argument started, both kids holding onto their found treasures, determined to keep what they thought was theirs. Feeling the tension rising, Jing Huiyuan, who was the voice of reason, stepped in with a firm tone that cut through their argument.

"Alright, alright, let's not fight," she said, trying to calm things down. "How about this? We'll share the veggies between both of you."

Both Liu Tao and Jing Yufei shook their heads strongly, showing they didn't want to give up their precious veggies. Understanding they needed a different plan, Jing Huiyuan suggested a compromise with a friendly smile, "Since there are two of us and only one of Liu Tao, Yufei, why don't you give him the veggies? We can always find more, and it's good to be kind."

After a short pause, Jing Yufei, still holding his greens, thought about his sister's words. Realizing that being kind was a good thing, he gave the wild vegetables to Liu Tao, who couldn't help but smile with happiness. Jing Huiyuan's smile got even bigger as she saw the problem getting solved.

"See, everyone is happy now," she said, adding a gentle lesson about working together. "Let's not fight over such small things."

With things sorted out, Liu Tao, showing how friendly he was, shared some of his veggies with Jing Yufei. Jing Yufei, though still a bit grumpy, took the sharing with a mix of surprise and thanks. However, their newfound friendship didn't last long as they started arguing again, this time about who could collect more veggies.

With the heated argument between Jing Yufei and Liu Tao providing the perfect diversion, Jing Huiyuan seized the opportunity to slip away unnoticed. The task at hand was crucial, and she needed to find an ideal hiding spot for the precious tomato plants she had brought from her space. As she ventured deeper into the outskirts, the scent of wildflowers wafted through the air, adding a delicate perfume to the atmosphere. The soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds provided a comforting symphony, a soundtrack to the clandestine operation she was about to undertake.

Using the original owner's seemingly perfect memories, Jing Huiyuan tried to recall something. Of the different crops the Jing family had grown and encountered in their business as a family of farmers, Jing Huiyuan noticed that some plants from the world she came from could not be found in her current world. Tomatoes are among those plants. When she was sure that no one was around, she entered into her space. As her feet felt the warm ground in her space, the sunlight suddenly shone on her face, making her eyes squint. Shafts of golden light played hide-and-seek among the leaves of her plants, casting an ethereal glow over the surroundings. Jing Huiyuan's senses absorbed every nuance of this enchanting scene, the play of light and shadow becoming an integral part of her memory.

Jing Huiyuan approached a small, unassuming machine tucked away in a corner. The screen blinked to life, displaying a simple yet crucial question, "What seeds do you want?" Although intrigued to know what other kinds of seeds this machine has, she knew she did not have any time as she would cause her little brother to worry about her sudden absence. Of course, she knew what she was going to pick—tomato seeds!

As her fingers deftly navigated the touch screen, selecting the desired option, a surprising prompt appeared. "Do you want to pay 1 point for 10 tomato seeds? This is a discount for your first purchase. Normally, you can only get 5 tomato seeds per point."

A momentary confusion clouded Jing Huiyuan's face. "So, I have 1 point?" she wondered aloud. Almost as if in response to her unspoken query, the system's message materialized on the screen.

"Host, it was when you resolved the dispute between your brother and another child, which resulted in a friendship between the two."

Jing Huiyuan's eyes widened in realization, a subtle smile playing on her lips. "Ah, the argument over the wild vegetables," she recalled, the memory of her intervention now rewarded in the form of a point. This was the good deed she made.

Grateful for the reward, Jing Huiyuan confirmed her purchase with a decisive click. With a soft hum, the small machine processed Jing Huiyuan's selection, confirming her purchase of 10 tomato seeds with a subtle glow from its screen. Then, with a delicate whir, the machine dispensed the tomato seeds into a small compartment at its base. The tiny, nondescript seeds tumbled into view, each carrying the latent power to sprout into vibrant plants bearing succulent fruits. Gently, she retrieved the seeds, cradling them in her palm.

Before stepping out of her farming space, Jing Huiyuan carefully gathered three tomato fruits from the bunch she had harvested earlier. She then went out of her space to execute her plan. Of course, she also uprooted three fruit-bearing (or at least close to bearing fruits) tomato plants. Otherwise, how else could she explain the three tomatoes she brought?

Choosing a concealed location behind the tall grass, closer to the mountain where few ventured, Jing Huiyuan began the delicate process of planting the tomato seeds. She carefully arranged three small tomato plants, making sure to position them in a way that seemed natural among the surrounding vegetation.

To further disguise the new additions, Jing Huiyuan strategically placed pebbles and rocks around the base of the plants, creating the appearance that they had been in the area for some time. The meticulous effort was not just about planting; it was about seamlessly integrating the foreign crops into the natural environment.

As she marveled at the beauty of the three tomato plants, Jing Huiyuan noticed that two of them had around six unripe fruits, promising a bountiful harvest in about two days. The third plant, however, just had flowers for the time being. Undeterred, she scattered additional tomato seeds of the same species around the area, ensuring that the seedlings would sprout in the following week. This strategic move aimed to make the presence of the tomato plants seem like a natural occurrence.

As Jing Huiyuan continued her work, the peacefulness of the surroundings was shattered by rustling sounds emanating from nearby bushes. An initial wave of fear swept over her—was it a threat? A dangerous beast? However, as she cautiously approached the source of the noise, relief washed over her.