Second Step 2

The farmer trudged slowly along the busy city streets. Every step felt heavy, as if he were carrying the weight of all his past and present sorrows. His heart was full of regret and frustration.

He had spent his entire life working the land—a land that had been in his family for generations. It was his ancestral home, the place where his grandparents had plowed the fields and where he had grown up. Now, life had pushed him into a corner where he had no choice but to sell it.

Around him, the city moved with unstoppable energy. Cars rushed past on busy roads, and well-dressed businessmen hurried to their offices. The city thrived with life, as if all its success and happiness were completely separate from the pain he felt. To the busy crowd, his sorrow was invisible, lost amid the noise of everyday urban hustle.

With a deep, heavy sigh, the farmer continued on his path. Each step seemed to echo with memories of better days—a time when the fields were green and full of promise, and when his land was a source of pride rather than a burden he could not escape.

Just then, as if fate had arranged a pause in his lonely journey, a voice called out from behind him. 

"Hey, sir! Wait a moment!"

The unexpected sound made the farmer freeze in his tracks. Slowly, he turned around, his eyes squinting in the bright light. Standing a few feet away was a young man who wore an expression that mixed determination with a hint of mischief. The young man's presence was sudden and surprising.

The farmer's face furrowed as he tried to understand what was happening. "Are you calling me?" he asked, lifting his hand and pointing at himself, a gesture born of both curiosity and caution. 

The young man nodded and stepped forward. "Yes, I was calling you," he said clearly. Then, with a polite tone, he introduced himself. "My name is Adam. I have a great offer for you."

The farmer's eyes narrowed further. His mind swirled with confusion and a touch of annoyance. "Listen, kid," he said with a weary sigh and a shake of his head, "I don't have time for jokes." He waved his hand dismissively, as if to sweep away any idea of what this stranger might propose, and turned to walk away.

But before the farmer could take another step, Adam raised his voice, making sure he was heard above the sounds of the busy street. "I want to buy your land," he declared firmly.

The words hit the farmer like a sudden gust of wind. He stopped mid-step, his body turning slowly back toward Adam. His expression changed from one of annoyance to a serious, searching look. His eyes locked onto the young man as he asked in a trembling tone, "Are you serious?"

Adam nodded firmly, his eyes steady as he maintained his calm gaze. However, as the conversation unfolded, Adam became aware that the loudness of his voice had drawn attention.

People nearby began to stare, their eyes curious and sometimes judgmental. Realizing that his tone might be causing unwanted attention in this public place, Adam stepped closer to the farmer and lowered his voice to a softer, more private tone. "We should talk about this somewhere more private," he suggested.

The farmer hesitated for a moment, studying the young man's face with a mixture of suspicion and hope. After a brief pause, he finally nodded and said simply, "Follow me."

Without another word, he turned and began walking away down the street. Adam followed closely behind, his mind racing with possibilities and cautious optimism.

Unbeknownst to Adam, however, someone was watching them from a short distance away.

---

Not far from where Adam and the farmer were walking, a college student had noticed them.

The student recognized Adam instantly. This was one of John's friends—the very same group of people who had bullied Adam during his college days.

As soon as the student saw Adam walking with the farmer, his eyes narrowed with a mix of surprise and disdain.

"What the hell is that idiot doing?" the student muttered under his breath. His tone was mocking, and a small smirk played on his lips as he watched the pair.

"Still homeless, huh?" he added sarcastically, shaking his head as he recalled old memories. It seemed that, to him, throwing Adam out of college had not changed his fate much.

Deciding that this scene was too amusing to let pass, the student quickly turned and walked away in the direction of John's usual hangout spot. He was eager to tell John about what he had seen, confident that his friend would enjoy the news and perhaps even share in the old jokes.

---

Meanwhile, Adam continued to follow the farmer through the crowded streets. As they walked for several minutes, a small sense of unease began to creep into Adam's mind.

The quiet murmur of the city seemed to mix with the uncertainty of what the farmer's true intentions might be. Finally, Adam could no longer hold back his concern and asked, "Where exactly are we going?"

The farmer glanced over his shoulder briefly before answering, "To my house." His voice was low and cautious, yet there was an underlying note of trust in his words.

He then added in a softer tone, "Don't worry. I need money desperately. I won't do anything to you." His eyes met Adam's for a long moment, trying to assure him of his sincerity.

Despite the farmer's attempts at reassurance, Adam wasn't entirely convinced. There was something about following a stranger into an unknown place that made him uneasy.

He quickly weighed his options in his head and then spoke up with a suggestion that might ease his worries. "If you really want to make this deal, let's discuss it at a nearby restaurant instead."

The farmer paused in his tracks, considering the young man's words. For a moment, silence fell between them as he studied Adam's face. Finally, he let out a deep sigh, the sound heavy with resignation and tiredness.

"Alright," he agreed softly, rubbing his forehead as if trying to massage away the stress of his situation. "As you wish." With that, he turned and led Adam to a small roadside restaurant that lay not too far from the busy street.

---

The restaurant was simple but inviting. It had an open-air seating area with wooden chairs and tables neatly arranged under large, colorful umbrellas.

Potted plants lined the edges of the seating area, lending a calm, green touch to the otherwise plain setting. The atmosphere was relaxed, a welcome change from the harshness of the city streets.

Adam and the farmer found a table near the side of the road. They sat down, and the ambient noise of chattering customers and clinking cutlery provided a quiet background as they prepared to discuss the deal. The farmer leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his face set in a determined expression.

"Alright, kid. Let's get serious," the farmer said, his voice firm yet tired. His eyes studied Adam's face carefully, as if he were searching for any hint of deception. "Tell me… how exactly do you plan to buy my land?"

Adam, still calm and with a small, confident smirk, replied, "That's my concern. You just tell me the price." His words were simple and direct, leaving little room for extra explanations. It was clear that Adam was more interested in the details of the deal than in small talk.

The farmer hesitated for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. He then took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice, and decided to be completely straightforward. "Fine. I'll be honest with you," he said slowly. "My land is 10 hectares in size and is located just south of the city, near the forest." 

At the mention of the location, Adam's expression shifted subtly. He instantly recognized the area in his mind—a place that was far from the busy industrial zones, a place with little commercial value.

He knew that this was exactly why no one had been interested in buying it. There were no factories or businesses nearby. In simple terms, the land was not in a good spot for anyone who wanted to invest in commercial development.

The farmer continued, "For my land, I want $500,000 in advance." He paused, then added in a more measured tone, "After the legal transfer is complete, I'll take the remaining $1 million." His words hung in the air as he spoke, and for a brief moment, Adam's mind went completely blank. 

"$1.5 million?!" Adam thought to himself in shock. He had expected the farmer to ask for a much lower sum—perhaps no more than $200,000 at most. The figure was astronomical, far beyond what he had imagined. His pulse quickened, and for a moment, he felt as if the entire room had shrunk around him.

Adam tried to calm himself by reaching for the glass of water on the table. He took a slow sip, trying to process the magnitude of the deal.

The silence at the table grew heavy as the farmer noticed the sudden change in Adam's expression. The farmer's face darkened slightly, his eyes narrowing as he realized that his high price might have shocked his potential buyer.

"I told you already," the farmer muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disappointment. His voice was low, filled with a mix of resignation and anger at the impossibility of his own expectations.

Without another word, as the tension at the table mounted, the farmer started to stand up. His chair scraped lightly against the tiled floor as he prepared to end the conversation abruptly.