Chapter 9

"Uncle Zhao, I'll be troubling you these next few days. This piece of land will all depend on you and Uncle Huang. I appreciate your hard work." Driving his four-wheel drive off-road vehicle to the farm, he saw that a large tractor had already started plowing the land.

"No problem, Boss Xiao Qi, you're a good person, and we don't slack off. I'm not complaining; we do physical labor, and we did farm work back in China too. Working here is no different, but the wages we used to get were only half of what American farmers earn. We didn't slack off or lack knowledge." Zhao Weiguo said cheerfully. He had been very happy working at the new farm these past two days, even though there were many tasks to handle. Boss Xiao Qi was kind and honest, which made him enjoy his work even more.

"Have Auntie come over to my place to pick up some beef tonight, and you all continue working. Let's start with about ten acres of this land for vegetables, and we'll work on the rest gradually. We'll try planting some lettuce first; I have some different types of lettuce here." Qi Ping said half-jokingly. The 130 acres of land were for vegetable cultivation, which was a significant portion of the flat land in the forest.

"You need to get the license first, or you won't be able to sell the produce." Huang Siquing reminded him. Growing vegetables here wasn't as simple as just planting and selling; it required an operating permit.

"I understand, I'll take care of it. I promise it won't delay your work." Qi Ping smiled and continued driving his off-road vehicle to inspect his territory, especially the lake that covered several dozen acres. He really liked it and planned to build a house there in the future, which would be a true enjoyment. This was one of the reasons why, although the land was flat, Qi Ping hadn't developed the farm yet.

Running a farm well is definitely not an easy task. Most farm owners are very busy and have to do a lot of work, taking on many roles: farmer, manager, accountant, mechanic, welder, carpenter, veterinarian, chemist, agronomist, teacher (teaching the workers how to farm), marketer, investor, electrician, and more.

But Qi Ping was taking it easy. He only needed to act as an investor and manager; the other tasks could be handled by Huang Siquing and Zhao Weiguo. Qi Ping didn't want to tie himself down to the farm completely; he still enjoyed his free time and hoped for a more exciting and comfortable life. This could be considered laziness, but as the boss, he should have some privileges. He wasn't a true farmer, after all.

Jade has no status in the United States, so there's no question of excavation. Most Western countries only recognize gold, silver, and diamonds. However, when you have money, jade isn't hard to come by. Qi Ping's requirements weren't high, so he could still acquire a batch of rough, low-quality jade, which was enough for his needs.

In a few days, a batch of rough jade worth $100,000 would be delivered. Qi Ping was making arrangements to invite a survey team; he needed more specific data, such as the size and scale of the farm and the forest. Only with more precise data could he better set up the array.

After all, he was still a novice, even though he was studying and researching hard. His abilities were still limited, so he needed to be more diligent. However, Qi Ping was very excited. He practiced breathing and martial arts every day and had made some progress. Although he wasn't a master in such a short time, he felt refreshed and clear-minded, which reinforced his belief in the effectiveness of the traditions.

"Brother, I'll come over tomorrow. Four people, can you bring us over?" Luo Yi called excitedly. Going to his good friend's forest was indeed a joyful event.

"No problem, it's a piece of cake. I'm free now, so come over, and we can have a good time. Are you flying or driving? I'll pick you up when you arrive." Qi Ping was also very happy. His forest finally had visitors, which was a joyful occasion.

"Two hours' drive, no need to fly. We'll drive over. Just give us the address, and we'll find it. Prepare some beef, and we'll have a barbecue party. I'll talk to you later; I need to pack my bags and plan to relax for a couple of days at your place." Luo Yi laughed proudly. The idea of a private forest vacation was quite luxurious, and he was eager to go. Although he was considered middle-class in the U.S., middle-class life could still be tough.

Humming a song, Qi Ping started preparing dinner. He wasn't worried about entertaining Luo Yi and the others because he had already prepared everything. This was a common habit in the U.S., where many families buy a week's worth of food at once, so the fridge was always full.

Qi Ping had also developed this habit, not necessarily to fit in, but because he preferred fresh vegetables and meat. However, since it took over half an hour to drive to town, it was normal to prepare a few days' worth of food. The fridge was now full of good beef and other ingredients, all ready for the guests.

As for the barbecue grill, he had plenty.

American families pay a lot of attention to the decoration of their kitchens and dining rooms, and Qi Ping's home was no exception. The kitchen utensils were neatly arranged in the cabinets, and the countertops were clean and bright. The fridge, dishwasher, induction cooker, oven, and microwave were all present. The most interesting thing was the electric garbage disposal, which could compress a large amount of waste. This was a new and practical gadget that Qi Ping had discovered, which would help protect the environment of the forest.

"Today is a good day, a good day; la la la, la la la, I don't know the lyrics." Although he didn't know the lyrics, it didn't dampen Qi Ping's spirits. Even if he sang off-key, it didn't affect his mood. He sat on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn, watching an NBA game, feeling very happy.

Qi Ping's good mood was justified. His business was developing smoothly, and his life was wonderful. He felt that his life would only get better, as everything was moving in the right direction. This was a source of pride for him.

Reflecting on his time in the U.S., things had generally been good. However, Qi Ping knew he could do better, even though the forest was developing well. He understood that he shouldn't be content with his current achievements because the forest had great potential. If he didn't maximize his potential, he would be letting down these miraculous traditions.

Qi Ping was quite ambitious. Although he had some money, the recent "spending spree" had reduced it. Farming wasn't a small investment, especially in the early stages. Although he had already purchased some equipment and jade, he still needed to consider some reserve funds.

Of course, there was no immediate need to worry. He had spent over $200,000 on various equipment and jade, but he still had about $600,000 left, which was a significant amount. This was roughly equivalent to ten years' income for a middle-class family, and Qi Ping should be satisfied. As long as he didn't overspend, he could certainly hold out until the farm's first income.

He had also applied for the farm's operating permit and organic vegetable certification. Qi Ping had done a lot of work to develop the farm. The next steps were to wait for the survey to be completed and the land to be prepared. Then he would need to set up the array.

The Spirit Gathering Array was excellent, as it would enhance the absorption of spiritual energy by plants and animals, making the forest's environment and spiritual energy more abundant. Not only would it make people feel more comfortable, but it would also promote better crop growth. Qi Ping was very excited about this and looked forward to reaping more benefits soon.

Although he had to budget his money carefully, he wasn't too stressed. At least he had all the necessary equipment, which gave him peace of mind. Keeping some reserve funds was enough; he wouldn't be shortchanged, which was a relief. His life wasn't too tight.

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