Chapter 29: What Do You Want to Do

Xiaoqing asked tentatively, "Is there something you are dissatisfied with, Young Master? If so, please speak plainly, and I will gladly change."

Ning Ye waved his hand and said, "Not at all. Everyone has their own path to pursue; I was merely curious about what it is that you yourself wish to do."

Xiaoqing stood stunned for a long moment before replying, "You are truly different, Young Master. You are unlike anyone I have ever met."

"Oh? Is that so? What makes me different? I have always felt that I am just an ordinary person, no different from anyone else."

"No, I have never before met anyone who would ask a woman what she wishes to do, nor anyone who treats us with such respect as you do."

Ning Ye scratched his head and remarked, "If that is the case, then perhaps I am a little different. But for now, why don't you answer my question?"

Xiaoqing replied without hesitation, "If I had the opportunity, I would hope to join the ranks and battle the enemy. At the very least, I do not wish to be a frail woman."

Just then, a crisp voice rang out. "A wonderful sentiment! Who says women are inferior to men? If men can go to battle, women can do so just the same."

The newcomer was none other than Chen Mingjing from the day before. Today, he was dressed in relatively simple attire, yet it could not hide the noble air he carried.

Ning Ye smiled. "Eavesdropping on others' conversations is not a very commendable hobby, Young Master."

"Oh, I merely happened to overhear, and I spoke up immediately, so it hardly counts as eavesdropping. Furthermore, what you said just now was very well put."

Ning Ye crossed his arms. "Since ancient times, the saying that 'a woman's lack of talent is a virtue' has been passed down by word of mouth. How is it that you, sir, agree with what I said?"

Chen Mingjing shook his head. "Words, no matter how many, depend on the listener. But how could these women ever be the ones to decide such things?"

Ning Ye’s eyes brightened. To hear such an argument from the mouth of a person in this era—Ning Ye found himself quite impressed. At the very least, this person did not seem as rigid and fossilized as others. If he were truly a man of such narrow perspective, Ning Ye would have found waiting for him a complete waste of time.

"I still have plenty of soap today, sir. Would you like me to gift you a box? And I assure you, there is no hidden meaning behind it today."

"Oh? According to your words, does that mean there was indeed some other intention yesterday?"

"That is a matter of 'the benevolent seeing benevolence and the wise seeing wisdom.' As to what the truth is, it depends on how everyone chooses to perceive it."

Chen Mingjing nodded. "Then let us leave it at that. I still wish to purchase a bar myself. Surely you would not refuse to sell to me?"

Xiaoqing smiled, "I shall go and fetch the finest bar for you, Young Master."

"We have met twice now, yet we do not know each other's names. Perhaps we should exchange them, so we may address one another in the future?"

Chen Mingjing cupped his hands in a salute. "I am Chen Mingjing. I am not from these parts, merely passing through to visit relatives. Who knows when I might leave? What use is there in remembering a name?"

"That is where you are wrong, sir. 'Friends are everywhere under the heavens.' Even if we part ways today, there may come a day when we meet again. Perhaps everything is destined in some mysterious way. If one refuses to believe in the possibility of meeting again, then every encounter becomes meaningless."

Chen Mingjing was slightly taken aback. "You are truly an interesting person. Your words are quite surprising; they are things I have never heard before."

"That may simply be because you have known few people, sir. Otherwise, you would not find this experience so unique. A thousand people, a thousand stories—each is different."

Soon, Xiaoqing returned with the soap, two bars nestled in an exquisite wooden box. As Chen Mingjing accepted the soap and offered the silver, he asked, "I have told you my name, yet you have yet to tell me yours."

Ning Ye scratched his head. "I am Ning Ye, just a simple lad from the countryside. I cannot compare to a gentleman like yourself."

Chen Mingjing murmured the name to himself, as if savoring the sound. "I have noted this name."

With that, Chen Mingjing turned and left. Ning Ye watched his retreating figure and suddenly remarked, "Xiaoqing, do you find this fellow a bit strange?"

"Ah? What do you mean, Young Master? Is there something wrong with Young Master Chen?"

"Never mind. I have a strange feeling, though I cannot put my finger on what is amiss. Let it be; it is of no great importance anyway."

For the past few days, Ning Ye had been minding the shop. Once he was certain that Lin Qinshu was doing well, he finally went to inspect the wasteland that had been cleared.

The place that was once overgrown with weeds had now been completely revitalized. A large group of people had labored here for over a week, and the results were heartening. At the very least, these people had certainly worked with their lives on the line.

Over a hundred acres of land had been basically cleared. As for the odd corners, Ning Ye didn't mind; those would be tidied up later.

He had come today for an important reason: with the land cleared, seeds were now the top priority. Finding a storehouse, Ning Ye opened his system interface.

[This week's store items have been randomly refreshed.]

[One bag of high-yield corn seeds (can sow 10 acres), exchange for 1 tael of silver.]
[One bag of high-yield sugarcane seeds (can sow 10 acres), exchange for 3 taels of silver.]
[One warm jade pendant, exchange for 10 taels of silver.]
[One manual on postpartum care for sows, exchange for 10 copper coins.]
[One suit of golden silk soft armor, exchange for 100 taels of silver.]

Looking at the items refreshed this time, Ning Ye didn't know what to say. This system was, at times, a bit abstract. The first time it refreshed, all five items were serious, but every time since, there was bound to be one mysterious object included.

Though he did not know how to describe the system, Ning Ye pragmatically chose to exchange for everything. Whatever the items were, they might come in handy one day.

Regardless of the "why," he exchanged for everything first. The most important things were the seeds. He had inquired about the current harvest elsewhere, and it was generally quite dismal.

Poor quality seeds were a major reason for this; often, one acre yielded little more than two hundred catties, and the better ones only around four hundred. If it were just for his own consumption, such a yield might suffice, but the various taxes were enough to completely crush the common people.