The next few days passed in quiet rhythm.
Lin Feng divided his time between helping at home, harvesting in the inner realm, and observing the town's market. He didn't try to sell more yet—he was watching, learning. He noticed how customers asked vendors about origin, how often they bargained, and what sold out fastest. Leafy greens, chilies, tomatoes, and radishes were the most popular.
One afternoon, Lin Feng squatted at the edge of the market, silently observing a particular stall run by an older woman. Her sign read: Organic Greenhouse Vegetables, No Pesticides. A bold claim.
But what fascinated Lin Feng was how she'd built a loyal customer base—chatting with them, offering samples, even telling them how to cook certain veggies.
"Trust," Lin Feng thought. "She's selling more than vegetables—she's selling trust."
That night, under the stars of the inner realm, he planted new crops: tomato, green beans, and garlic. He expanded his original field, dug shallow irrigation ditches, and added compost from goat droppings and kitchen scraps. Days inside passed in serene, steady work.
On Day 25 (inner time), he began constructing a small wooden shed from logs and vines he'd collected. It wasn't much, but it gave him a base—a place to store tools and rest when it rained.
The inner realm felt more and more like a second home.
---
In the real world, his parents started asking questions.
"You've been going out early and coming back late," his mother said. "You're not… gambling, are you?"
Lin Feng laughed. "No, Ma. I'm working on a plan. I want to build something of my own. Give me a little time."
His father remained skeptical. "You're not thinking of throwing your future away on farming, are you?"
"I'm not throwing it away," Lin Feng said calmly. "I'm investing it."
That made his father grunt and fall silent.
---
A week later, Lin Feng stood outside a print shop in town holding a stack of simple flyers. On them was a neat design:
---
[Fresh Fields – Natural Vegetables, Pesticide-Free]
Locally grown. Naturally ripened. Taste the difference.
Trial packs available. We accept WeChat Pay.
Contact: Mr. Lin – 188-XXXX-XXXX
---
The name Fresh Fields was the best he could come up with at short notice, but it felt honest, simple—just like his produce.
He handed the flyers to young mothers outside supermarkets, taped some at bus stops, and even dropped a few at small restaurants. The next day, he returned to the open-air market—not to sell this time, but to offer free samples.
He laid out a wooden crate with three types of vegetables—crisp cabbage, bright red chilies, and tender green beans. Above it, a handwritten sign:
"Taste Test. Free. Local."
A curious man in his thirties came over. "What's this? Free?"
"One bite," Lin Feng said, slicing off a thin sliver of cabbage with a small fruit knife and handing it to him. "No fertilizer. Just fresh."
The man chewed, blinked, then reached into his wallet. "I'll take one."
Word spread slowly but surely. By noon, he'd handed out over 40 samples and sold enough for 320 yuan.
It wasn't much. But again, it was something.
---
Back in the inner realm, Lin Feng expanded the farm even further. He cleared more grassland, started building a chicken coop, and set up a small fish tank using river rocks and bamboo fencing. The chickens grew surprisingly fast inside the realm. In just ten days (outer time: barely over two hours), they were already laying eggs.
He discovered something else: everything inside seemed… enhanced.
The vegetables were sweeter, more fragrant. The fish had firm, clean flesh. Even the eggs had brighter yolks and richer flavor.
It was like the realm naturally purified everything.
One night, as he lay on a straw mat inside the wooden shed, watching the stars swirl in their unfamiliar patterns, Lin Feng whispered to himself, "This isn't just luck. This is responsibility."
He realized he couldn't treat this space like a cheat code. He had to treat it like a gift. One that needed patience and care.
---
The next day, he received a message on WeChat from a local café owner who'd seen his flyer.
[Hi, I run a small brunch café. I'm looking for a local supplier. Do you deliver in bulk?]
Lin Feng paused before replying.
[Hi! Yes, I can do weekly batches. What vegetables are you interested in?]
The woman replied quickly.
[Chilies, spinach, tomatoes, garlic. If they're really pesticide-free, I'll try a trial order.]
They arranged a small test order for 300 yuan. Delivery was to be made in three days.
That night, Lin Feng entered the space and began planting more garlic and spinach. He stayed inside for almost thirty days. By the time he came out, he had everything the café needed—fresh, robust, and hand-picked.
He packed it into labeled kraft paper bags, each marked with the Fresh Fields name and simple date stamps. No fancy logos—just neat, clean presentation.
When he delivered it to the café, the owner, a stylish woman in her thirties named Liu Ying, took a whiff of the garlic and raised an eyebrow.
"This really smells clean," she said. "Where's your farm?"
"On the edge of town," Lin Feng said vaguely. "It's small but natural."
She nodded. "If my customers like this batch, I'll double next week's order."
It was the first time someone had seen value in what he was doing beyond price.
And that meant more than any money.
---
Two weeks passed.
By now, Lin Feng had three regular buyers: the café, a family-run grocery store, and a mother who picked up weekly baskets for her child's daycare. He kept everything small, off the books, and cash-based. No official registration yet. No online shop.
He wanted to stay invisible—for now.
He used part of the earnings to buy a second-hand tricycle truck. With a new crate rack and a tarp, he could now deliver orders more efficiently without drawing attention. He also bought a new phone and registered a secondary number for business use.
By outer standards, the growth was slow.
But in Lin Feng's mind, it was the perfect pace.
In the inner realm, the fields were expanding steadily. He'd divided the land into four sectors—vegetables, poultry, fishery, and herbs. A small orchard of peach and orange saplings was also starting to take shape in a sunny southern corner.
Every day, the space became more alive.
Every day, Lin Feng became more confident.
---
One afternoon, while buying feed at the agricultural supply store, he overheard two men chatting at the counter.
"You hear about that greenhouse outside town? Someone's selling to high-end cafés now. Not sure who owns it—no company name."
"Yeah, my cousin says the cabbage was ridiculously fresh. Might be some rich guy experimenting."
Lin Feng kept his head down and paid quietly. But inside, he smiled.
He didn't need anyone to know. Not yet.
---
That night, after a full harvest and delivery run, Lin Feng sat in the back courtyard, sipping tea. The stars above the real world seemed dull compared to the vibrant sky of the inner realm.
Still, he felt peaceful.
His phone buzzed—a message from the café owner.
[My chef says the garlic this week is amazing. Can you supply mushrooms too?]
Lin Feng smiled.
He hadn't tried mushrooms yet.
But he would.
---
End of Chapter 3