Chapter 2890: Small Town Infrastructure Construction Proceeds Happily 10

The simple wind vanes made by Jin Chen, and a few other simple weather observation tools, attracted Huo Zhaoye's attention.

He not only had the children continue studying the principles and making them, but also summoned all the young people of North Town, who in batches followed Jin Chen to learn how to observe, record, and try to find patterns to predict weather changes.

For the townsfolk accustomed to leaving things to fate, this was something novel and somewhat unbelievable.

But Huo Zhaoye believed in it, and so everyone followed along and learned.

A temporary study shed was set up beside the small square, with wooden tables full of various materials and finished semi‑products, as well as the record sheets Jin Chen had drawn.

When people from South Town crossed the bridge, they often saw this scene, found it strange, and occasionally pointed and gossiped, while the North Town folks paid no mind and studied enthusiastically.

That afternoon, Huo Zhaoye led a group back from patrolling the nearby hills, drenched in sweat; as he approached the small square, he saw the youths gathered together, heatedly discussing a few wind vanes and their notebooks.

On the study shed's wooden tables, besides the teaching aids, there were also plenty of washed fruits and vegetables, and some simple snacks made from coarse grains.

Houzi, sharp‑eyed, saw them return and immediately waved, shouting, "Huo Ge! Come quick! Teacher Jin made something delicious, it smells amazing!"

Huo Zhaoye walked over, glanced at the bright red candied tomatoes on the table that stood out among the fruits and vegetables, licked his back teeth, and said nothing.

He had thought… it was the only one.

Someone beside him handed him a washed cucumber; Huo Zhaoye took it and bit down with a crunch, suppressing the inexplicable agitation in his chest.

Jin Chen walked over from the other side.

He had just finished guiding a group of youths in adjusting the angle of the wind vane's blades, and a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Huo Zhaoye watched him approach, the discomfort still there, but when he came close, he still untied the leather water bag wrapped in thick cloth from his waist and handed it over.

"Filled with cool spring water from the hills; apply it to your wrist and it'll feel cooler."

Jin Chen took the water bag, looked at Huo Zhaoye, and showed a faint smile.

"Thank you."

Huo Zhaoye looked at that smile, and his unease grew stronger.

This smile seemed directed at him, yet Jin Chen appeared just as courteous and polite to others.

It felt both special and yet not different at all—like a tiny bug gnawing at him, making him irritable yet unable to stop pondering it.

Huo Zhaoye clicked his tongue, turned his face away, and didn't respond.

Jin Chen pressed the water bag against the medicinal patch on his left wrist, gently pressing; it really felt soothing.

Huo Zhaoye caught the motion out of the corner of his eye, seeing him slightly narrow his eyes, a relaxed side profile, and the irritation in his heart seemed to cool down again.

Huo Zhaoye was lost in random thoughts and didn't notice that Jin Chen had, at some point, moved to stand half a step behind him, staying in the shade.

The sun was indeed strong, baking the ground hot, yet there was clearly a broader shade nearby.

Jin Chen quietly stood behind him, borrowing the shade and also the shelter of his tall figure.

Huo Zhaoye sensed the fresh scent coming from behind him, and his spine straightened a little.

Then he heard a low whisper from behind, almost drowned out by the surrounding noisy chatter.

It was Jin Chen's voice, very close, his breath brushing past Huo Zhaoye's ear.

"I've kept the sweetest, finest fruits and vegetables at home."

"Lord Huo, will you come tonight?"

Huo Zhaoye: "……"

The jumble of thoughts just now was instantly blown into an even greater blankness.

"Come… no, I'll go."

A short, light laugh came from behind.

Jin Chen looked at Huo Zhaoye's ears, flushed red, which made his face look even more wildly intense, lowering his gaze with a smile.

"Good."

Huo Zhaoye's ears felt a bit hot; he forced himself to stay calm, standing still without moving.

Houzi, gnawing on a root cucumber, shuffled over, looked puzzled at the straight‑standing, sun‑facing Huo Zhaoye, and said, "Boss, what are you doing? You're standing there like a sentry post."

Huo Zhaoye, worried about having no outlet for his inexplicable anxiety, heard the remark and kicked him with a lifted foot.

"None of your business! Eat your own!"

Houzi hehe‑laughed and dodged away.

Yan Tenggu was also invited over.

He carefully listened to Jin Chen's ideas on simple meteorological observation and was deeply impressed.

"I also need to thank Mr. Jin for visiting my fields the other day and giving me those theoretical suggestions about the soil that opened my mind."

Jin Chen gave a slight nod, saying, "Professor Yan, you flatter me; compared to agricultural planting, I naturally fall short of you."

With the earth god reincarnated and his wife's territory recovering, he had nothing to worry about.

As everyone was discussing, Dashu, who was in charge of patrolling and guarding the bridge, came running over in a hurry, his face showing a hint of urgency.

"Huo Ge!"

Dashu panted, "Huzhi and a few others, together with the South Town kids, have started a fight at the boundary line! There are people from both sides, and it's getting pretty fierce."