The Twentieth Seed

Zhenfeng stared at Jianyu, who was now crouched over a thick patch of turnip greens, his hands moving with quick efficiency. The soil clung to Jianyu's fingers, damp from the newly flowing water.

The turnip leaves glistened, their color so vibrant they looked like they had been plucked from the palette of a master artist. It was almost unnerving how healthy they appeared—broad, sturdy leaves with a sheen of dew still clinging to their surface. 

The sight reminded Zhenfeng of something out of an agricultural VR simulator, except this was painfully real.

"C'mon," Jianyu's voice snapped Zhenfeng out of his thoughts. "Don't just stand there gawking. Start harvesting."

Zhenfeng wrinkled his nose, but he stepped cautiously into the lined turnips crops like it might swallow him whole. "I don't even like turnips," he grumbled, crouching next to Jianyu.

"You will when you're starving," Jianyu shot back without looking up. His hands were already working, carefully pulling at the base of the turnip greens. 

When the bulb popped free, it revealed a root so plump and smooth it looked more like a polished gemstone than a vegetable. He held it up for a moment, turning it in his hand to inspect it before tossing it onto the ground with a satisfying thud.

Zhenfeng reluctantly followed suit. The turnip he pulled free was just as pristine—white with subtle lavender streaks near the top, and it smelled faintly sweet, like fresh earth after rain. "Alright, I'll admit it," Zhenfeng muttered, tossing his first turnip into the bucket. "These look weirdly… perfect."

Jianyu's lips quirked up in a faint smile. "That's the magic of good soil and water," he said, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "Plus, these babies? They're versatile. We could make turnip stew, roasted turnip wedges, mashed turnips, turnip dumplings—"

"Please stop saying the word 'turnip,'" Zhenfeng interrupted, though his lips twitched upward.

But Jianyu didn't stop. His voice gained a livelier edge as he continued, "—or even turnip pancakes! Imagine that: crispy edges, soft in the middle, maybe a drizzle of honey if we ever find some."

Zhenfeng shook his head, suppressing a laugh as he worked. The way Jianyu talked about food, with that spark of excitement lighting up his features, was almost… cute. Not that Zhenfeng would ever admit that out loud. Instead, he kept his focus on the turnips, letting Jianyu's cheerful rambling fill the air around them.

By the time all of the crops were harvested, Zhenfeng's back ached, but the sight of the neatly harvested turnips piled in the corner of the garden was strangely satisfying. Jianyu dusted off his hands, beaming as if he'd just unearthed a treasure chest instead of a root vegetable.

Before Zhenfeng could comment, Jianyu froze, his eyes glazing over slightly as if he'd gone somewhere else entirely.

"Congrats, Player Jianyu," a disembodied voice echoed in Jianyu's mind. "You have successfully harvested turnips. Quest complete. Rewards: 3,000 points. Current Total Points: 3,000 points."

Jianyu blinked rapidly, his grin spreading wider. "Three thousand points?" he whispered under his breath, barely containing his excitement. He clenched his fists triumphantly. "Yes!"

Zhenfeng raised an eyebrow, watching Jianyu pump his fist like he'd just won the lottery. "Uh, care to share the good news? Or are you celebrating the turnips?"

Jianyu coughed, masking his excitement. "Nothing. Just… happy the harvest turned out so well."

"Sure," Zhenfeng said, not entirely convinced, but he let it slide.

"System," Jianyu thought, ignoring Zhenfeng's skeptical look.

"Yes, Player Jianyu?"

"How did I get so many points for just turnips?"

The system's voice remained cold and clinical. "Farming and harvesting are among the most rewarding activities in the Eden's Core system. However, the turnips are classified as a low-level crop, so the points you received are relatively modest compared to higher-tier plants."

Jianyu's smile didn't falter. Modest or not, 3,000 points were 3,000 points. "Alright then," he said aloud, more to himself than the system. "Time to plant the next crop."

"Wait, wait, wait," Zhenfeng cut in, holding up his hands. "You're telling me you're going straight from harvesting to planting again? Can't you take a break like a normal person?"

"And do what?" Jianyu shot back, pulling a pouch of seeds from his satchel. "Sit around and wait for the monsters to come back? This is the best use of our time right now."

Zhenfeng opened his mouth to argue but then stopped. As much as he hated to admit it, Jianyu had a point. "Fine," he muttered, standing up and dusting off his hands. "But I'm only helping because watching you do it alone would be too depressing."

Jianyu sighed. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Jianyu scrolls through the system interface to find the next seed he is going to purchase. There are quite a few choices. This time there is information on how many points it cost and how long it's gonna take for them to harvest.

Among all of the choices, Jianyu thought it would be better for them to have a more versatile vegetables that is commonly loved by the people so he automatically choose potato seeds.

Purchase of potato seeds granted.

Point deducted by -1000 points.

Current Total Points: 2000 points.

The two got to work planting the potatoes. The seeds were small, rough to the touch, and required precision to space out evenly in the soil. Jianyu explained the process to Zhenfeng, who followed along with minimal grumbling this time.

As they worked, the sound of footsteps echoed through the cavern. The survivors had returned, led by Qi Qi and Chengxin. They stopped in their tracks when they saw the pile of freshly harvested turnips.

"Whoa," Qi Qi breathed, her eyes wide. "You actually did it."

Chengxin knelt by the turnips, running her fingers over their smooth surfaces. "These look amazing," he said, his voice filled with awe.

Jianyu straightened up, his face glowing with pride. "They're all edible, and there's plenty to go around," he said, gesturing toward the pile. "We can cook them however we want."

The group of survivors broke into excited chatter, their voices overlapping as they discussed recipes, storage options, and meal ideas. Jianyu watched them with a satisfied smile, his chest swelling with a sense of accomplishment.

From a few steps behind, Zhenfeng observed the scene quietly. His eyes flicked to Jianyu, who was now kneeling in the dirt again, planting potato seeds with a renewed spirit. For a brief moment, Zhenfeng's lips curved into a soft smile.

No one saw it.

The calm moment was interrupted by a sudden ping in Jianyu's mind.

"New Major Quest Activated: Clear Nearby Land of Corrupted Crops."

Jianyu's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't flinch. He straightened up, brushing dirt off his hands. "Looks like we've got our next mission," he muttered.

Zhenfeng tilted his head, frowning. "What are you mumbling about now?"

"Nothing," Jianyu replied with a small smile, his gaze shifting toward the darkened edge of the cavern. "Just thinking about how much work we've got ahead of us."

And for the first time in a long while, his thoughts don't seem to bother him so much.