Chapter 31: No Wrecking the House!

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When it came to teaching, the two of them acted with astonishing efficiency, leaving Chi Sui speechless with admiration.

Under Mr. Stone and Luoluo’s control, the materials for the hive house rose and fell, up and down, again and again.

Chi Sui’s heart clenched with every impact. Wouldn’t the materials break if they kept dropping them like that?

What if her perfectly intact hive house collapsed at the slightest push and became a dangerous structure? At that thought, Chi Sui cleared her throat and tactfully suggested, “Why don’t you start by practicing with something simpler?”

With a heavy thud, the material hovering in midair fell hard to the ground once more.

The large and the small one both turned to look at her.

“Sui-sui, what did you say? I didn’t hear you clearly.”

“I said, why don’t you try something lighter?”

“Ah...” Chi Luo lowered her head dejectedly. “Sui-sui, don’t you believe in me?”

“I...” Chi Sui had not finished speaking when Mr. Stone cut in. “There’s no need to worry, little friend. Chi Luo learns very quickly. She’ll certainly be able to move everything over today.”

The materials lying on the ground still looked more or less intact. In a little while, that might no longer be the case.

But Luoluo’s disappointment and Mr. Stone’s confidence made Chi Sui abandon her earlier idea. She smiled and said, “All right. Use these.”

“Sui-sui, where are you going?” Chi Luo asked, puzzled, as she watched Chi Sui turn away.

Chi Sui waved without looking back. “I’m going to read the letters and see if there are any orders I can take.”

It was only a batch of hive-house materials. She could earn the money back.

Halfway there, Chi Sui still felt uneasy. “Luoluo, remember this: until all the materials have been moved, you’re not allowed to touch those potted plants.”

...

When Chi Sui returned to the cottage, Momo was already lying on the bed, snoring away.

Not wanting to disturb her, Chi Sui resigned herself to picking up the various letters she had tossed aside. When you had no money, you really could not afford to give up working.

The letters mainly fell into three categories.

The first consisted of orders from merchant guilds, much like the contract Hector had signed with her before. The guilds specified the products they wished to purchase and the quantities required, while Chi Sui confirmed the delivery date with them. These letters were the most numerous, though every item requested was the radish cake Chi Sui had made during the competition.

The second consisted of product lists sent by other ranches. They were essentially advertisements for the goods produced by those ranches. If Chi Sui needed anything, she could write a reply and commission a merchant to purchase it, or, if she had the time, go there herself.

Among those lists, Chi Sui found quite a few things she wanted—for example, pumpkins from Windrider Town Ranch and fine white sugar from Snowwind Town. Such ingredients were perfect for making desserts. After all, she could no longer casually use the ingredients in Cecil’s kitchen.

The third kind of letter was the most unusual: letters of self-recommendation.

Chi Sui had heard Basha say that once a ranch became well known, people would come seeking apprenticeships. Many residents had learned their skills by becoming apprentices and honing them through years of practice.

There were fewer letters of self-recommendation than either of the other two kinds—only one, in fact. And Chi Sui knew the person who had written it.

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It was Chia, the contestant who had made a stunning impression during the pastry duel in Windbell Town.

That lump of... food they called improved pudding was something Chi Sui could never forget, no matter how hard she tried.

Someone like that wanted to apprentice at her ranch?

Chi Sui’s curiosity reached its peak. Without the slightest hesitation, she picked up pen and paper and began writing a reply. She would interview him—tomorrow.

Besides that letter, Chi Sui wrote one more, addressed to Hector. She had signed an exclusive sales agreement with him for the radish cake before the competition had even begun. As Peaceful Ranch’s current signature product, it was time to make it earn its keep.

Come to think of it, she still owed rent for the magic-powered freezer...

By the time Chi Sui had organized all the letters and sent out her replies, darkness had fallen, and the ranch’s streetlamps came on automatically.

The potted plants and materials that had originally been at the ranch entrance were nowhere to be seen. By the lamplight, Chi Sui looked toward the north. She could just make out several dark silhouettes, one of which was drawing closer and closer.

Before she could see it clearly, the shadow pounced straight onto her face.

“Sui-sui, I did it! I succeeded!”

“From now on, you can call me whenever you need to move something heavy.”

Her voice was overflowing with joy. Just hearing it warmed Chi Sui’s heart.

She reached up and stroked the little head clinging to her face. “As expected, Luoluo, you’re amazing.”

Mr. Stone gradually emerged from the darkness as well and sighed. “She truly has a gift. Give her a little more time, and this place may well become a new Sweetland.”

Mr. Stone’s praise made Luoluo shy. She released Chi Sui, flew in front of Mr. Stone, and gave him a solemn bow.

“Thank you, teacher.”

That word clearly pleased Mr. Stone. He could not help bursting into laughter.

The warm scene before her brought a smile to Chi Sui’s face as well.

“So, is the hive house ready? Have you gone inside to see whether you’re comfortable there?”

Luoluo nodded, then flew to the top of Chi Sui’s head. “I’ve already put three magic cores inside. They should hatch by tomorrow morning. But...”

“But?”

Luoluo pressed her feelers against Chi Sui’s forehead again. This time, the emotion she conveyed carried a hint of shyness.

“I don’t want to live there. I want to stay with you.”

Sensing Luoluo’s thoughts, Chi Sui could not resist pinching her cheek. “All right.”

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Chi Sui looked up at the sky and suggested, “It’s so late that we’ve already missed dinner. Why don’t we have a late-night meal together?”

“What would you like to eat?”

Chi Sui had inspected the ranch’s fields when she returned. They were just as disorderly as before she left.

After all, she had planted everything in scattered patches, here and there, without the slightest concern for aesthetics.

Still, all the crops had ripened. Some overripe radishes had already been harvested and placed in the freezer. Only a few white radishes and some newly matured corn remained in the fields.

Mr. Stone stretched his wings and said, “It’s so late. Making anything else would be troublesome. Let’s just boil some corn.”

Luoluo chimed in, “Anything Sui-sui makes is fine.”

“That won’t do. This is our first meal since returning to Fufeng Town. Even if I can’t prepare a lavish banquet, we can’t simply make do.”

Chi Sui rolled up her sleeves, brimming with determination.

“Luoluo, go wake Momo for me.”

“Okay~”

Chi Luo obediently flew away.

Watching her well-behaved back, Mr. Stone hesitated before speaking. “Are you sure it’s all right to send her?”

“They’ve already quarreled twice since we came back. The only reason they didn’t argue tonight was because one of them was asleep.”

Chi Sui shook her head and said firmly, “Mr. Stone, you have to trust her...”

She had not even finished speaking when a loud cry made her shudder.

“Ah!”

“Who poked me?”

Mr. Stone shook his head. “See? Looks like there’ll be no avoiding a fight tonight.”

Chi Sui: ...

Hearing the clattering and banging coming from inside the cottage, Chi Sui hurried in, shouting as she ran,

“You two, stop! Don’t tear the place apart!”

“If you keep destroying things, neither of you gets dinner tonight!”