Chapter 10 Down to the Fields
Staying home was driving me crazy.
After the meal I poked Lu Jingchuan's rock-hard arm.
"Take me to see the fields?"
He was wiping the table and paused.
"The fields... are all dirt. Bugs too. And the sun."
"I'm not scared. Come on~"
I tugged the hem of his T-shirt and swayed it.
His ears went faintly red. He answered, muffled,
"Mm."
First time in the fields, I looked like a complete country bumpkin who'd never seen anything.
Endless farmland rolled in green waves. Neat orchards sat in the distance. The air mixed dirt and fresh grass.
"This... this is all yours?"
My voice floated.
"Mm."
His voice stayed low, with a pride so slight it was hard to catch.
He led me toward the orchard like he knew every step.
Fruit hung heavy on every branch.
He plucked a yellow peach, wiped it on his shirt hem, and handed it over.
"Try it. It's clean."
One bite and juice flooded my mouth, crisp and sweet.
"Which kind is the sweetest?"
My eyes lit up.
He pointed at the sun-facing branches.
"These. Thin skin, a little soft."
I nodded while chewing, cheeks stuffed full.
We walked a loop and ran into a few villagers working the land.
"Yo, Jingchuan! Bringing the wife on inspection?"
Someone laughed and teased.
My face heated. I shrank behind Lu Jingchuan a little.
He stayed easy about it. One big hand hovered at my back as he nodded.
"Mm. Showing my wife around."
"Jingchuan's got great luck! Married a city college girl—pretty and educated!"
Lu Jingchuan said nothing, but the tiny curve at the corner of his mouth wouldn't hide.
Someone else piled on.
"Wife's the lucky one! Jingchuan's famous for spoiling his woman. Works heavy all day and still comes home without fail to cook for her!"
My face burned hotter. I secretly pinched the hard muscle at his lower back.
A sudden "buzz-buzz" came from overhead.
I looked up and saw several little planes spraying white mist as they passed.
"Lu Jingchuan, what are those?" I asked, curious.
"Drones. Spraying pesticide."
His explanation was short and clean.
"Whoa! Farming is this high-tech now?"
I yanked his sleeve, excited.
"Can I go look?"
He drew me back a step.
"Stay far. The chemicals are toxic."
"Is that for killing bugs?"
"No."
He shook his head.
"It stops the cotton from growing wild."
"Why not let it grow tall?" I didn't get it.
"If the stalks shoot too high, they only grow height, no fruit. All the nutrients get wasted."
He explained with patience.
"Oh—"
It clicked.
"So apical dominance is suppressing the side branches!"
Occupational habit kicked in. The second I said it, it felt wrong.
"Plants and people... aren't exactly the same..."
My brain uncontrollably flashed to the man beside me.
Tall and built, and gifted in certain places...
My face caught fire.
Heat brushed my ear all of a sudden.
He leaned in a little. His voice dropped very low.
"Wife..."
"Tonight... is it okay?"
I checked our surroundings like a thief.
I glared at him, red-faced.
"At most once..."
"Okay."
The pesticide smell thickened. He pulled me away from the work zone.
"Over there."
He pointed at a stretch of brilliant color in the distance.
"There's a flower base. Lots of people come to take photos. If you're bored you can walk around."
"The village has that too?" I was surprised.
"Mm. East end has a pick-your-own garden. That's ours as well."
Good grief. How many businesses did this man have?
He paused, like something had just come to mind.
"Right. The house... do whatever you want with it. My taste... might be too rustic. If you don't like it, remodel."
Something moved in my chest.
"Okay! Then... turn that empty room on the second floor into a walk-in closet?"
"Fine."
"And the yard! I want a glass sunroom."
"Okay."
He didn't hesitate.
"Whatever you need me to do, just say."