Chapter 0036: Busy with Expanding the Manor and Planting Crops

Over an hour later, everyone had finally chosen their rooms. It seemed that each person was satisfied with their choice. They chatted and laughed as they descended the stairs. Fortunately, aside from the room locations, the furnishings were all the same, so there was no major conflict. The most they disagreed about were minor things like whether the room faced the sun, but with a few more people on the second floor, there was no real issue in selecting rooms.

Di Ping led everyone to the manor, where he immediately noticed some changes. In front of the manor, a plot of land had already been cleared for cultivation, covering about an acre. Five or six workers were busy tilling the soil and planting something. Derlin, the manor manager, was standing in the field, fiddling with some unknown machinery, while Buji stood nearby, carefully observing the surroundings.

"Master, welcome to inspect the manor!"

Derlin noticed Di Ping and his group from a distance and immediately stopped his work to greet them with respect.

"That's enough, Derlin. There's no need for such formality."

Di Ping smiled warmly and helped Derlin to his feet, easing his discomfort.

Derlin, clearly moved, spoke with emotion, "Thank you, Master… It is my duty to serve you."

"What are you all doing here?"

Di Ping knew that he couldn't engage too much with the system-provided personnel. Though they looked like normal people, their inherent respect and humility made him somewhat uncomfortable. In this era, it still felt odd to be referred to as "Master" so often.

"Master, we started tilling this land early this morning with ten workers. Now, we are planting seeds."

Derlin explained, pointing to the field.

"What seeds are these? What can be planted at this time of year?"

Di Ping, being from a rural background, knew that this was not a typical time for planting crops, so he asked with some confusion.

Derlin pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket, took out a few seeds, and handed them over. "Master, these are special seeds for our manor. They are a type of grain that is not affected by the season. They germinate in seven days, sprout in another seven days, bloom after another seven, and are ready for harvest in another seven."

Upon hearing this, Di Ping was overjoyed. He quickly took the seeds and inspected them. They resembled wheat, and there was nothing particularly unusual about them, yet their capabilities were astonishing. They would mature in just a month, which meant that if planted on a large scale, food scarcity would no longer be an issue.

"How much yield can we expect from this crop? Are the seeds abundant?"

Di Ping suddenly realized that a small yield could be problematic, and he quickly inquired about the seed supply.

"Master, the yield from one acre is about 2,000 pounds. As for the seeds, there is no need to worry. After harvesting, we can save some to plant next season."

Derlin took the seeds back and placed them back in the cloth bag while explaining further.

"Good! This is great!" Di Ping exclaimed with joy. He hadn't expected the manor's system to be so powerful. Food scarcity would be the biggest challenge for human survival in the future, but now it had been solved easily. He couldn't be happier.

"Master!"

Derlin, seeing Di Ping's excitement, seemed to have something more to say.

"Speak, what is it?"

Noticing Derlin's hesitation, Di Ping smiled and gestured for him to continue.

"Master, the problem now is that we are short on labor. If we had more workers, we could clear more land for planting!"

Derlin, looking at the workers busy planting seeds in the field, finally voiced his concern.

Di Ping laughed heartily. "That's exactly why I'm here—to solve this issue." He had indeed come with the intention of addressing this problem. After finishing his laughter, he waved to the others, who had been numbed by the series of shocks this morning. So many surprising things had happened, from the majestic castle to the appearance of the manor-like structure, and now there were even people planting crops. Was the apocalypse truly over? Were humans beginning to return to normal life?

The group, like children entering a grand garden, looked around, mesmerized by everything they saw. Only when Di Ping beckoned did they snap back to attention and quickly walked over.

"This is Derlin, the manager of the manor," Di Ping introduced, and Derlin stepped forward to greet them with a bow. Cheng Chao and the others, however, had grown used to the surprises. After their encounter with Barton, they were no longer easily astonished, so they politely introduced themselves to Derlin without much fanfare.

Di Ping had a simple plan. He knew that the manor could directly recruit workers from the system, but he also realized that relying on system-generated workers alone was not sustainable. He needed to integrate real-world laborers into the process—people who could work and support themselves. Relying on the system's workers forever would not only cost too much but would also slow down development. He couldn't afford to have idle people; he needed a workforce.

When Di Ping shared his idea with the group, they were immediately excited. It seemed like a great plan—those who were idle could work at the manor, and the elderly, weak, women, and children could help with tasks around the farm, receiving food in exchange. Strong men could form teams to ensure the safety of the area. With clear division of labor, this would greatly facilitate the development of the base. The proposal was quickly approved by everyone.

When the group heard that the crops would yield food every month, they were ecstatic. In a world where safety and food were the most critical resources, this new solution was a lifeline, and the group couldn't have been more thrilled.

As for the tavern, Di Ping didn't want to take them there just yet. He preferred to reveal things slowly. If he revealed too much too quickly, they might panic. So, he instructed everyone to prepare for the move. He called for Buji, who was stationed nearby to ensure the safety of the manor, and asked him to assist with the relocation. By now, the group was so shocked that if Di Ping had told them that someone appeared claiming to be a god, they probably would have believed him. The surprises were just too much.

When the surviving members of the community heard about the new, safer place with abundant food and water, they immediately sprang into action. After days of struggling to survive in the apocalypse, they realized how precious stability and comfort had been. They had longed for a freer life, but now, with life at risk, they understood how valuable security truly was.

With the promise of a safer environment, the group eagerly set to work. Within a single morning, they had packed everything, including tons of food, and transported it to the new location. As everyone gathered in front of the castle, their reactions mirrored those of Cheng Chao and his group when they first arrived: shock, disbelief, excitement, and frenzy.

After the initial amazement, everyone felt a deep sense of satisfaction and pride. It seemed like a blessing from the heavens to have such a place to live in. Some even knelt down, thanking the gods for this unexpected fortune.