Chapter 210: Planting, Choose Me

"I remember, Zhi Zhi, the only jewelry you ever bought was a pearl, so I guess you like it." Mo Lie brushed the back of Little Female's hand with his warm fingertips, his voice low and indulgent: "This time the Sea Tribe wants to trade with Kuangsha City, I asked them for pearls."

Lin Manzhi was slightly startled.

She never expected that Mo Lie would remember so clearly the times she had gone to Kuangsha City to shop, and with that came an even sweeter feeling swelling in her heart.

"Ah, I'm delighted to receive a gift; more than the pearl, I actually prefer that you remembered my preference." Lin Manzhi's mouth couldn't help but curve upward.

Mo Lie's blue eyes smiled, and with a force from his palm he pulled Lin Manzhi, who was behind him, nearer, tilted his head to look at her, and gave a low smile: "From now on I'll give you more pearls, and sapphires…"

He spoke sincerely, as if he had found a way to make her happy, his thin lips holding a faint, half‑smile.

Lin Manzhi slipped the pearl back into her waist pouch, smiling softly, "You just said out loud everything you intend to give me?"

Mo Lie seemed not to understand what difference it made whether one said the gift or not.

Their beastfolk give gifts to beloved females directly, most of the time the female herself has named the desired present.

He frowned slightly for a moment: "You don't like knowing in advance?"

Lin Manzhi thought for a moment, shook her head: "I'm fine with it, but some say a gift must be a mystery to bring an unexpected surprise. Yet, when you don't know the other's preferences, it's easy to pick something they dislike. So, not having to guess the female's mind each time is also nice."

Mo Lie, holding her hand, subtly shifted to wrap his arms around her waist, and led her into the carriage perched on the back of a massive gray elephant waiting outside.

The carriage was small, its thick carpeted floor holding two seats, with a roof that shaded the sun; linen gauze draped from the roof, shielding against the wind‑blown sand outside.

After Mo Lie helped Lin Manzhi sit down and then sat himself, he raised an eyebrow and whispered, "Zhi Zhi and I are on the same wavelength; I won't pick a gift you dislike."

The two hurried toward the planting base in Xicheng; time passed quickly, and it felt as if they arrived in the blink of an eye.

Although Lin Manzhi could simply speak orders for the matters at the planting base, all the crops there were ones she had brought over—plants not found here—so no Beastfolk understood them; only she knew a bit about these crops.

This batch of Holy Maiden Fruit and cherry radish were only in their first and second harvests; Lin Manzhi couldn't rest easy without watching the planting base, so she always had Mo Lie accompany her.

Now the planting base had changed dramatically; the expansion project outward from the original base was still proceeding intensely. With enough people, they had erected several hundred‑meter‑high giant walls, enclosing the two central planting plots.

Each of these planting plots spanned two hundred mu, filled with free soil hauled in from elsewhere.

Xiang Sa, who knew well, was learning farming alongside Lin Manzhi and had fallen in love with it; now he was in charge of leading a recruitment of five hundred planters, and one could not tell that he was once a powerful beastfolk warlord who rose through fighting.

When he saw Lin Manzhi and Mo Lie arriving, he hurriedly reported the situation here at the planting base.

With his experience, he quickly thought to level the soil in advance and cover the ground with Exotic Beast Skin to prevent moisture and nutrients from evaporating under the scorching sun.

Xiang Sa also knew who to ask about matters here at the planting base, so he didn't look at Mo Lie but at Lin Manzhi and asked: "Lord Lin, the third planting base beside the second planting base, filled with soil brought back by Xiang Zhuang's team, we have also prepared the building materials—should we construct a planting greenhouse of the same size as before?"

Lin Manzhi's gaze swept over the broad expanse of soil, near the entrance where the stone gate divided the fertile zone, and a row of low cottages storing tools.

As always, the guards' resting area was set within the twenty‑six‑meter‑wide city wall, with a few secretly built lodgings; this was only a temporary rest spot, and when guards or planters were off duty they returned to their own residences in Kuangsha City.

After inspecting the planting base and finding it much as she expected, she nodded and agreed: "Alright, the planting greenhouse needs to be built larger. Xiang Sa, go summon some guards to help construct the greenhouse; we'll finish the greenhouse on this plot today."

Xiang Sa took his orders and left. Lin Manzhi surveyed the planting base and decided to build one greenhouse per five mu, covering roughly two hundred‑plus mu with forty greenhouses.

While Lin Manzhi was planning the greenhouse layout in the base, Mo Lie went to the guard unit for inspection.

After all, the planting base is now Kuangsha City's, and even the continent's, most crucial site; no negligence is allowed. Lin Manzhi was right there in the base, not far from him, and could see him with a glance.

Twenty minutes later.

Xiang Sa came forward with a burly Beastfolk.

Behind him were thousands of Beastfolk busily hauling materials to work; Xiang Sa occasionally rolled his eyes at the Beastfolk walking beside him, looking like he wanted to shoo them away.

Only when they got closer did Lin Manzhi realize who the Beastfolk beside Xiang Sa was.

It was Xiong Kui.

Xiong Kui, smiling broadly, bowed his head to Mo Lie and Lin Manzhi, his mouth revealing sharp teeth, and cheerfully said, "Lord's Wife, I have brought my men to follow your orders."

He had captured the trouble‑making Xiong Yong from Sajin City, and as a reward was transferred to the planting base.

His only regret was that at the planting base he was assigned to replace Xiang Sa as guard captain, not as head of the planters.

Earlier, when he saw the Lord arrive, he dared not approach to disturb; just now, hearing Xiang Sa say the Lord's Wife was looking for people, he immediately followed.

Xiong Kui patted his chest, silently flexing his robust chest and arm muscles, and said, "Hehe, you think selecting a planter requires the kind of strength Xiang Sa has? Look, I'm perfect for a planter; turning soil and carrying seedlings is no problem for me."

Xiang Sa, already displeased at being cut off, now heard this kid daring to steal the planter's job, and his face fell even more as he clenched his teeth and said word by word, "Guard Captain Xiong, how can you speak like that? Are you trying to tell the Lord's Wife how to arrange things?"

Xiong Kui's smile froze, and he turned back, indignant, "You're talking nonsense! How could I? I'm the most loyal to the Lord's Wife!"

"... the most loyal Beastfolk to the Dragon Tongue Honey Water, I guess."

Lin Manzhi clapped her hands, interrupting the quarrel, and drew both of their gazes toward her.

Anyone else wants to farm? You're welcome, welcome.