Chapter Eighty-Seven: Watermelon at Midnight

"Miss Lin, what are you doing?" Xu Gaoxuan was so startled that his voice changed. "I can't accept this money!"

"Just take it," Lin Sangqian said. "Bao'er needs money for medicine, and you need money for daily living as well. You probably don't have much left, do you?"

Xu Gaoxuan lowered his head in embarrassment. "But..."

"Don't feel awkward about it. This money isn't a gift—it's a loan," Lin Sangqian replied. "From now on, when you deliver crayfish, I won't pay you until you've repaid these five taels of silver. What do you think?"

With her words, Xu Gaoxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and nodded eagerly. "I promise I'll try to catch as many crayfish as I can from now on."

After the Lin family left, Madam Wan looked at the sleeping Bao'er and couldn't help but shed tears again.

"Husband, you've really met a benefactor!"

"Indeed," Xu Gaoxuan sighed. "Before, I was at my wit's end, going door to door begging people to buy those... what are they called again—oh right, Miss Lin said they're called crayfish. If Miss Lin hadn't bought them, I wouldn't have had money for Bao'er's medicine that day."

"Yes, and now Miss Lin has even helped cure Bao'er's illness," Madam Wan said softly. "If we ever have the chance, we must repay her kindness."

"Absolutely!"

…

It was already deep into the night, yet Bao Mingzhi was still awake, pacing back and forth in his home.

After a while, a figure hurried in.

"Boss."

"Well? Did you find anything?" Bao Mingzhi asked urgently.

"I did. About a month ago, that little girl from the Lin family did indeed buy a plot of land."

"I knew it!" Bao Mingzhi's eyes lit up. "Did she plant watermelons there?"

"That, I don't know. The place is remote, with only a few families nearby. No one saw anything. It was hard enough for me to even find out about the land."

Bao Mingzhi sneered. "That cunning girl—she even has some strange ripening potion. Would she let anyone see her grow watermelons? No, whatever happens, I must get my hands on that land!"

Lin Sangqian was so shrewd, there was no way she would make a losing business move.

She had deliberately bought that land and then, just a few days later, started selling watermelon juice. It must be because the land was perfect for growing watermelons!

If he could buy the land as well, even without any ripening potion, he could still plant watermelons and make a handsome profit once they matured.

He couldn't let such a good opportunity slip by.

"Do you know where that plot is?"

"I do... but now? It's already so late."

Bao Mingzhi snapped impatiently, "If Lin Sangqian wants to secretly grow watermelons, then midnight is the best time, don't you know? I want to go now!"

"Alright, I'll get the carriage ready..."

Bao Mingzhi, accompanied by his man, hurried to the foothill where Lin Sangqian's plot was located.

As soon as he got out of the carriage, he heard voices in the distance. He quickly told his man, "Drive the carriage over there—don't let anyone see us."

With that, Bao Mingzhi got out.

"Understood."

His man drove the carriage off in another direction, while Bao Mingzhi stealthily crept forward.

He didn't go far before he saw, indeed, a plot of land ahead with several figures busy at work.

He couldn't make out exactly who they were, but by the moonlight, he could see that the people were carrying watermelons in their arms.

Bao Mingzhi's heart pounded. He saw several more watermelons in the field.

So this was where Lin Sangqian grew her watermelons!

He was determined to get this land, no matter what.

Afraid of being discovered, he quickly turned around and left.

Not long after he left, Lin Sangqian straightened up, checked the time, and said quietly, "Brother, Lan'er, that's enough for tonight. Let's head back."

Lin Wenyan and Zhao Lan'er came over to her side.

Zhao Lan'er brushed the dirt from her hands, puzzled. "Sangqian, we've been busy here all night—what exactly are we doing?"

Earlier that evening, Lin Sangqian had suddenly insisted they come to this plot. When they arrived, out of nowhere, she produced a dozen watermelons and had them carry them back and forth.

They followed her instructions, but naturally, they were curious.

Lin Sangqian smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, someone was just spying on us. He's probably gone now."

She had deliberately had Lin Wenyan mention the nonexistent ripening potion in front of Bao Mingzhi, just to make him believe her watermelons were grown here, so he would go to great lengths to find out the location of her land.

In fact, she had already built good relations with the few families living nearby, even slipping them some money and instructing them to inform her immediately if anyone inquired about the land.

Today, after Bao Mingzhi's man asked around, the neighbors went straight to Lin Sangqian to report.

Lin Sangqian figured that, since Bao Mingzhi now knew where the land was, he would surely come to spy.

And what was the best time to spy? Midnight.

That was why she brought Lin Wenyan and Zhao Lan'er here and, using her system space, produced over a dozen watermelons for them to move around, creating the illusion that they were growing watermelons in the field.

In the dead of night, Bao Mingzhi couldn't possibly tell whether the watermelons were really growing there.

Seeing them hauling watermelons around, he would be convinced that this was the land capable of producing such delicious fruit.

Given Bao Mingzhi's character, he would never let such a valuable asset slip through his fingers.

Now, all she had to do was quietly wait for Bao Mingzhi to come to her door…

"Who was spying on us?" Lin Wenyan asked in alarm, looking around anxiously.

"Don't worry, Brother, nothing will happen," Lin Sangqian said, stretching lazily. "Come on, let's load the watermelons into the cart and get some rest. It's been a hard night for you both."

"It's fine. Anyway, since you're giving Aunt Niu and the others the day off tomorrow, I can be lazy and sleep in," Zhao Lan'er said, sticking out her tongue.

After living with the Lin family for over a month, her personality had become much livelier.

Perhaps it was the warmth and care she received—it felt just like home. Though she still missed her mother, she no longer burst into tears at the slightest thought, as she had in the beginning.

Lin Sangqian had noticed the change and was naturally pleased.

Only, the matter she had asked Lu Chengren to investigate still had no results...

She sighed inwardly.

If possible, she hoped Zhao Lan'er could soon avenge her mother, bringing retribution upon that vile couple.

...

The next morning, Lin Sangqian rose early as usual, delivered chicken feet to the Fulfilled Inn, and then arrived at the fried chicken shop to prepare for opening.

Although Zhao Lan'er had joked about lazing around, she was up and helping with Lin Wenyan.

Just as they opened the door, someone walked in.