As Li Yuntai and the others arrived outside the town, they saw the flower in Wang Qingchen’s hands and guessed he had started nurturing plants for others again. It seemed the villagers had wrongly blamed Wang Youfu; their family was truly being supported by the money Wang Qingchen earned from tending these flowers.

“Qingchen, does tending these flowers for people earn you a lot of money?” Wang Qingtong couldn’t help but ask.

Wang Qingchen knew from their gazes that they had figured it out. He had considered that if he showed the flowers, people would inevitably learn he was growing them again. However, he also thought that when he eventually bought things with the earnings, people would know anyway, perhaps even with wilder speculations. Thus, he decided to display them openly to avoid suspicion that his family’s wealth was ill-gotten. As for this particular flower, the one in his hand was already showing signs of recovery; if it worsened, he could always find a chance to slip it back into his spatial realm.

“Yes, this is the flower Boss Xue asked me to help revive this time,” Wang Qingchen generously presented the bloom for them to see.

The group looked at the wilting flower in Wang Qingchen’s grasp; it truly looked close to death. No wonder someone would pay to have it saved. But could Wang Qingchen actually save it?

“Qingchen, this flower is already this bad; can you really bring it back to life?” Li Yuntai asked hesitantly.

What Wang Qingchen didn't say was that the flower looked even worse when he first received it, but thankfully, it had spent a few days in his spatial realm, which was why it was starting to show improvement.

“I don’t know either; I can only try my best,” Wang Qingchen replied.

“Then, Qingchen, what did you buy those flower pots for?” Wang Qingtong inquired.

“Oh, Boss Xue gave me some flower seeds and asked me to see if I could cultivate them,” Wang Qingchen answered.

“Flower seeds? Um, Qingchen, did Boss Xue give you many flower seeds?” Wang Qingtong asked somewhat shyly.

Wang Qingchen instantly understood what Wang Qingtong meant. After all, ever since the village learned that the money he earned from gardening could buy a shop, countless people had become envious. This eventually escalated to widespread speculation that Wang Youfu might have some other secret source of income and was merely using his own children as a cover. Now that Wang Qingtong and the others saw the flowers he brought back from Boss Xue, they believed the earlier rumors were true, and they too yearned for the income from growing flowers.

Wang Qingchen recalled the words of the Old Man and Wang Youfu. Since they were all family, he should lend a hand if he could. Moreover, Wang Qingtong had always treated him well. So, he said, “Not many, but if you want some, I can spare a few for you.”

“Ah! Really? Qingchen, you are too kind…” Wang Qingtong exclaimed excitedly.

“Brother Qingchen, I want flower seeds too,” Wang Qingyi chimed in, blinking his big eyes at Wang Qingchen.

“Uh, you all get some. I’ll bring the seeds over tomorrow,” Wang Qingchen was not stingy. Since he gave to Wang Qingtong, the others naturally deserved some as well.

Li Yuntai hadn't expected to be included, but of course, it was better to have them. Even if he couldn't grow them, he could at least try to cultivate the air of a refined scholar.

Upon returning home, the family looked at the flower Wang Qingchen brought back, each feeling a slight worry: could this flower possibly survive?

“Qingchen, this flower looks like it’s about to die; can it really come back to life?” Yang Shi couldn’t help but doubt.

“It should be possible!” Wang Qingchen found it difficult to be too certain.

“Alright, alright. Since Qingchen brought the flower home, let’s not interfere, lest we make things worse,” Wang Youfu stated. He now placed immense trust in Wang Qingchen’s abilities, considering him a veritable ‘child prodigy.’

“But husband, this… can Qingchen really handle it? I’m truly worried he might mess up what the client entrusted to him,” Yang Shi remained uneasy.

“It’s fine. Didn’t we keep our hands off last time? And Qingchen did a great job then,” Wang Youfu countered.

“But last time, maybe it was just luck?” Yang Shi speculated.

“Regardless of luck, would our interference actually help? Can you guarantee we could save it?” Wang Youfu challenged.

“This… the flower is already in this state; how could I possibly save it?” Yang Shi’s face was etched with worry.

“Mother, it’s okay. I’ll handle it myself,” Wang Qingchen said with a smile.

“From now on, none of you interfere with the flowers at home, understood? Qingchen will manage it alone,” Wang Youfu instructed the entire household.

Wang Youfu’s final word granted Wang Qingchen significant convenience; having the family stand back made it much easier for him to operate.

Wang Qingchen placed the ailing flower and the newly bought pots in the courtyard, then grabbed the household basket, excused himself, claiming he was going to dig up some soil, and headed out.

Once outside, Wang Qingchen found a secluded spot, secretly entered his spatial realm, and began shoveling the soil from there into his basket. After digging enough soil, he sorted out a portion of the seeds, leaving the rest in the realm. After all, he couldn't be sure if the soil from the realm would be effective outside. If the external attempt failed, at least he would have a reserve of seeds in his space.

Moments later, Wang Qingchen emerged from the realm with the basket carrying some seeds and started walking home.

Back inside, Wang Qingchen first carefully dug out the plant from the pot he had brought back. He dumped the old soil, replaced it with the soil from his realm, and replanted the flower. Next, Wang Qingchen filled all the purchased flower pots with soil from his space and planted different varieties of seeds in each one. He planned to give the remaining seeds to Li Yuntai and the other two the next day, wondering if the seeds, having rested in the spatial realm for a few days, might have an increased survival rate outside.

Finally, Wang Qingchen didn't forget to water each pot lightly. Although this step wasn't necessary inside the realm, being outside required him to avoid arousing suspicion. Once the water stopped leaking from the bottom of the pots, Wang Qingchen carried them all into the room he shared with Wang Qinghua. As for the small amount of soil left in the basket, Wang Qingchen scattered it in the vegetable patch—after all, if the soil from his realm was effective outdoors, it shouldn't be wasted.

Looking at the soil, Wang Qingchen began to worry again. If the spatial soil truly worked, would he forever have to rely on it? What if the soil in his realm eventually ran out? Perhaps he should dig up some outside soil to replenish it? But the outside soil was clearly not on the same level as the inside. What was he to do?

Never mind; he would add some back. Otherwise, the spatial realm would be pitted and ugly in the future. At worst, he could pile all the excavated outer soil in one specific spot so it wouldn't mix up. Thus, Wang Qingchen found another secluded place, dug some soil, and filled the spot he had just dug from in his realm before returning.

The next morning, Wang Qingchen brought the pots out to the courtyard again, watered them lightly, and instructed Wang Qinghua to bring them back inside before noon, fearing the flowers might not withstand the afternoon sun. Then he left for the schoolhouse. As agreed the previous day, Wang Qingchen brought some seeds with him, though not the full collection, only one seed of each variety. These belonged to Boss Xue, so he couldn’t take too many.

Wang Qingchen distributed four seeds to each of them; the three received different types. Then Wang Qingchen gave them instructions: “These seeds are from Boss Xue. If you manage to grow them, you can keep them. But if you plan to sell them, sell them only to Boss Xue—do not sell them to anyone else, understood?”

All three nodded in agreement, having no objections. After all, the seeds were provided by Boss Xue; it would be unconscionable to sell them elsewhere.

Wang Qingchen then cautioned them not to tell anyone about the seeds, as he didn't have an abundance to give away.

The three nodded again in assent, and then threw themselves into the endeavor of seed cultivation with unprecedented fervor. First, they took time out at noon to buy flower pots, and after school, they planted the seeds in the pots, watering them and worrying if the soil was fertile enough.

This activity naturally became known to the adults at home. Normally, the family wouldn't think too much of it, but since Wang Qingchen carried the flower home himself the day before, many in the village were already speculating that the Wang Youfu household was about to make a fortune again. When the adults from the First Branch and Third Branch of the Wang family, as well as the Li family adults, considered their children’s relationship with Wang Qingchen, coupled with the timing, the three families were certain about the origin of these seeds. Seeing the shop owned by the Wang Youfu family, and now these flower pots, they recognized these as pure profit. Thus, these flower seeds received unprecedented importance from the three families. They also sternly warned their family members, especially the children, not to speak carelessly outside, lest envy attract trouble.

Because of this development, the Old Man specifically paid a visit to Wang Youfu’s home. He lavished praise on the utterly bewildered Wang Youfu, using phrases like ‘brotherly affection’ and ‘not forgetting kinship.’ It seemed the Old Man was extremely pleased that the Second Branch was supporting the First Branch. Wang Youliang and Tian Shi were joyous for several days; these things they grew were money, and the Second Branch had finally done something they approved of.

When Zhang Shi came over to do needlework with Yang Shi, she also expressed her gratitude. Although their family’s circumstances were considered upper-middle level in the village, no one minded having more money, right? The Second Branch, having something good, did not forget to help their brothers. The Third Branch would remember this kindness.

As for the Li Qiang household, although their two children played well with Wang Youfu’s children, the adults did not interact often, making it awkward to visit unannounced. They could only hope for an opportunity to return the favor later.

Regardless of how happy these families were recently, one person was boiling with resentment: Zhang Wenbing. He knew Wang Qingchen had carried a flower pot back from town, and it was precisely because he knew that he was so infuriated. The thought that Boss Xue wouldn't give him a single chance but instead gave an opportunity to a ten-year-old child filled him with bitterness.