Inheriting a Farm Made Me an Internet Sensation - Chapter 14

Tan Xiao put down the shrimp in her hand and looked up at Lin Muhan. “Being asexual just means having no desire for that aspect of life; right now, I am simply remaining calm and unruffled.”

“You’re getting defensive,” Lin Muhan laughed. “Doesn’t that prove you actually care quite a bit about this?”

This barbecue was becoming impossible to finish.

Tan Xiao pulled out a tissue, wiped her mouth, and stood up to head outside.

“Hey, there’s so much left. Wasting food is shameful,” Lin Muhan stood up, watching Tan Xiao’s retreating back as she tried to salvage the situation.

The only answer she received was silence.

While she was worrying about how to deal with the remaining food, the farm helpers living on-site actually walked in, rubbing their hands together. “Xiao Tan told us to come over and have some barbecue.”

Hah. Lin Muhan had paid the bill, yet Tan Xiao was the one reaping the social credit.

Lin Muhan was half-full by now. She rose from her seat. “I’m full. I’ll leave the rest to you all.”

“Alright, sounds good!”

The helpers had originally been asleep, but in their daze, they had caught the scent of barbecue. The aroma was so enticing that they tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It just so happened that Tan Xiao knocked on their door, so here they were.

The curtain of night fell as the red sun took the stage.

After finishing breakfast, Tan Xiao set out for the greenhouses, carrying her notebook, pen, and measuring instruments.

Just as she hopped onto her small electric scooter, she heard Lin Muhan’s voice behind her.

“Wait for me, I’m coming too.”

She looked back at Lin Muhan, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Lin Muhan arrived quickly, clutching her skirt with both hands as she sat sideways on the back seat of the scooter.

Regarding Grandma Yang’s matter, Lin Muhan had done everything she could; now it was just a matter of waiting for news and hoping the person would be found.

The reason she decided to follow Tan Xiao to the greenhouse today was because she wanted to see exactly what Tan Xiao was working on.

It wasn’t because she was bored or had nothing to do; rather, Su Han had sent her a WeChat message last night asking for a report on the farm’s current status. She remembered hearing Yang Cuihua mention once that many of the greenhouse facilities were no longer functional.

She figured she could use this opportunity to get Su Han to allocate some funds to replace the equipment that needed upgrading. That way, Tan Xiao wouldn’t have to struggle so much with her experiments.

“If you’re scared, you can hold onto my clothes,” Tan Xiao suggested.

Recalling her racing heartbeat from the previous night, Lin Muhan shook her head decisively. “No need. Let’s go.”

Tan Xiao didn’t push further and slowly rode toward the greenhouses.

This was Lin Muhan’s first time riding on an electric scooter, and the feeling was quite subtle.

A warm breeze brushed against her face, and her hair fluttered in the wind. Looking at the lush tomatoes growing in the fields, her state of mind underwent a slight change.

At this moment, she actually felt that this kind of life wasn’t bad.

Working at sunrise and returning at sunset, strolling through the fields when idle, and enjoying the natural scenery—it was a form of luxury in its own right.

“Why do you like planting?” she asked.

Tan Xiao pondered for a moment, a slight curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. “Every time I tend to plants and crops, it allows my heart to quiet down. Seeing them bloom and bear fruit brings a sense of joy and achievement that cannot be replaced by anything else.”

Lin Muhan tilted her head, unable to fully grasp the feeling Tan Xiao described. “When you’re free, teach me how to grow flowers.”

Tan Xiao didn’t refuse. “Alright.”

Upon arriving at their destination, she parked the scooter and entered the greenhouse with her notes.

It was Lin Muhan’s first time inside the greenhouse, and everything she saw felt novel.

To improve space utilization, Tan Xiao used a three-tier nutrient soil planting system, though most of the crops were still grown directly in the ground.

“Is there any difference between these tomatoes and the ones outside?” Lin Muhan asked. Many of the vegetables inside looked familiar, yet she couldn’t quite name them accurately. The only ones she could recognize at a glance were the tomato seedlings.

Tan Xiao, who was meticulously recording data, didn’t even look up. She replied, “You’ll know once they’re ripe.”

Lin Muhan wanted to ask more, but seeing how serious Tan Xiao was, she swallowed her words. She walked carefully through the greenhouse, looking at the various lush green vegetables.

Suddenly, she spotted a few heads of lettuce in a corner. She stopped immediately and turned to look at Tan Xiao. “Is this lettuce ready to eat?”

Tan Xiao carefully compared the data with yesterday’s records. After confirming everything was correct, she finally looked toward Lin Muhan. “If you want to eat some, you can pick two heads to take back.”

“The best partner for lettuce is grilled meat. Will you help me make Korean BBQ?” Lin Muhan wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip by. Since last night, she felt that Tan Xiao was a treasure—not only could she easily keep a Ghost Orchid alive, but her barbecue skills were also excellent.

Tan Xiao, who was closely inspecting the seedlings, hadn’t heard clearly what Lin Muhan said and gave a habitual “Mm-hmm.”

Consequently, when she was dragged to the dining room by Lin Muhan that evening and saw the pork tenderloin laid out on the table, she stood frozen on the spot.

Fearing she would back out, Lin Muhan took the initiative. “You promised me, you can’t go back on your word.”

She picked up the meat and placed it in Tan Xiao’s hands, smiling brightly. “You make the grilled meat for me, and afterward, I’ll tell you some good news regarding the greenhouses.”

Still standing there, Tan Xiao remembered that such a conversation had indeed taken place. Hearing that it concerned the greenhouses, she naturally had no reason to refuse.

She began slicing the cleaned meat on the cutting board. This time, Lin Muhan didn’t stay idle either; she washed the green onions, ginger, and garlic.

Just as the meat finished marinating and Tan Xiao was about to get a baking tray for the oven, Lin Muhan grabbed her arm. “I bought a tabletop grill.”

Tan Xiao’s mouth twitched slightly. She gave Lin Muhan a thumbs up. “Lawyer Lin, you’ve really gone all out just for a meal.”

Lin Muhan waved her hand dismissively. “That grill plus this meat didn’t even cost much—it’s cheaper than going to a restaurant.” She tilted her head, her eyes curving into crescents. “Besides, this grill can be used repeatedly.”

Tan Xiao: “…”

Lin Muhan was quite fast. In just three to five minutes, she brought the grill from her car and placed it on the table.

Thud…

the sound was loud enough to startle Tan Xiao, who was watching a livestream.

“You really need to work on your courage,” Lin Muhan said, absolutely refusing to admit she had been heavy-handed.

Tan Xiao rolled her eyes. She cleaned the grill thoroughly inside and out before placing it back on the dining table.

Seeing that the time was right, she plugged in the grill and placed the marinated meat on it.

Lin Muhan, who had been looking forward to this since morning, had already laid out the washed lettuce on the table. Seeing the edges of the meat curl up, she clipped a piece, placed it on a lettuce leaf, folded it up, and was about to pop it into her mouth.

Noticing Tan Xiao watching her, she reluctantly extended the wrap and said casually, “You want the first bite?”

When Tan Xiao saw the reluctance on her face, she suddenly changed her mind. She leaned down and bit the meat-filled lettuce wrap right out of her hand.

Her action left Lin Muhan feeling quite frantic.

But what could she do? She was the one who said the words, and she was the one who offered the meat. She could only fix her gaze back on the grill. Seeing other pieces of meat curling up, she decisively cast the incident to the back of her mind and began wrapping lettuce and eating meat with total satisfaction.

The fresh, tender, and spicy flavor of the grilled meat, neutralized by the crisp fragrance of the lettuce, became savory without being greasy.

After eating several pieces of meat in a row, she finally looked up at Tan Xiao. “Su Han said she’s allocating another 200,000 to the farm for you to use on equipment replacements.”

Tan Xiao’s eyes lit up, her heart surging with excitement.

With new equipment, she could significantly improve her efficiency.

“Don’t get happy too soon.”