Chapter 49: A Land of Good Fortune

The next morning at the dining table, Ethan stretched and looked over at Suzie, who was sipping her tea leisurely.

"Suzie, my old classmate, is coming over today. He's signing a contract with the villagers. Call Natalie and the old accountant over for lunch at noon. Oh right, call the old secretary and Natalie's parents too." Ethan instructed, brushing off Whiskers, the little cat that kept trying to climb onto his lap.

"Yes!" Suzie replied sweetly.

"Hey, little guy, are you going to let me eat or what?" Ethan frowned, gently setting Whiskers back on the floor. "Why are you sticking to me? Go cuddle with Suzie. She's the one who works hard; I'm just a humble farmer."

"Please." Suzie rolled her eyes. "She's called Whiskers for a reason. Of course, she'll stick to you! You men are so strange. If we act distant, you call us cold. If we get close, you complain about being annoyed. Can't win with you."

Ethan scoffed, "It's a cat, Suzie, not a girl!"

Suzie smirked, grabbed her handbag, and mimicked Ethan's tone, "Whatever you say, mister humble farmer." With a playful wave, she headed off to work.

As soon as Ethan finished tidying up the house, he heard a sharp whistle from outside. When he stepped out, Henry's chubby frame was already squeezing out of his shiny BMW.

"Wow, Ethan, this place is a land of good fortune!" Henry exclaimed, looking around at the scenic village. "Three sides surrounded by water, the mountains guarding the back... You've found yourself a paradise!"

A younger man with a crew cut and a long face followed behind Henry. "Boss, this place is amazing!" The man turned to Ethan and extended his hand politely. "Mr. Yang, right? I'm Joe. I'll be handling transportation for Henry's company from now on."

Ethan shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Joe. And please, just call me Ethan."

Henry patted Joe's back. "Joe here will make sure everything runs smoothly. Trust him — he's good."

Ethan nodded. "Alright, let's head over to the village committee. The villagers have been waiting to sign the contracts."

They walked toward the village committee building, the sound of firecrackers bursting through the morning air. The villagers had prepared a proper welcome, and Suzie led the committee out to greet them. To Ethan's surprise, two reporters from Purple City Radio tagged along, cameras clicking rapidly.

Ethan froze. He hated being in the spotlight. Leaning toward Henry, he whispered, "You know Natalie already. You handle this. I'll go back and prepare lunch."

Henry waved him off with a grin, puffing out his chest as if he owned the place. "Don't worry, boss. I've got this!"

Just as Ethan turned to leave, a soft voice called out behind him, "Dad! Dad!"

Ethan turned to see little Missy break free from her grandmother's arms and toddle toward him. The uneven dirt road was unforgiving, and Missy's tiny feet caught on a stone. She tripped, falling forward. Gasps of horror erupted from the crowd.

Without thinking, Ethan sprang into action. In the blink of an eye, he crossed the fifty-meter distance, scooping the little girl into his arms before she hit the ground. The crowd fell silent. No one could believe their eyes. One moment Ethan had been standing by the gate, and the next he was holding Missy like he'd teleported.

Henry's jaw dropped. "What the…?"

Joe whispered, wide-eyed, "Boss, did you see that? Ethan… knows martial arts?"

"None of your business!" Henry hissed. "Just know that my old classmate is not someone you mess with."

Meanwhile, Ethan carried Missy on his shoulder, whistling as if nothing had happened. The little girl giggled happily, clutching his shirt. Behind them, Henry and Joe stood in stunned silence.

Back at Ethan's house, Missy played with Whiskers and Blackie while Ethan prepared lunch. Each time he finished a dish, he set a small portion aside for Missy and the animals, slipping the rest into his mysterious space to keep it warm.

"Oh, Dad, this drumstick is delicious!" Missy declared between bites, before handing the half-eaten piece to Blackie, who happily wolfed it down.

"More water, Dad!" she pleaded, referring to the cool, sweet water Ethan often gave her — the one infused with his magic ring's spiritual energy.

"Alright, but remember, this is our little secret. If you tell anyone, they'll drink it all, and then there'll be none left for you. Got it?" Ethan winked.

Missy nodded solemnly. "Secret water. I understand!"

As the village prepared for the signing ceremony, Ethan stood at the stove, humming softly, feeling content. Today felt like the start of something special.

Little did he know, his land of good fortune was about to change everyone's lives — and his own — forever.