The dust of the Westland had a way of settling into everything—clothes, skin, hair, and even the crevices of one's soul. For Lin Wanshan, it was the scent of honest work. For Su Qingya, arriving in her polished carriage, it was simply the smell of poverty.
The carriage rattled along the uneven dirt road, jolting the occupants with every rut. Su Qingya sat rigidly, her expression masked in cool indifference, though her hands gripped the silk cushion beneath her tightly.
Opposite her sat her younger cousin, Su Yue, a lively girl of sixteen who was currently peeking through the carriage curtain with a mix of horror and fascination.
"Cousin, look!" Su Yue exclaimed, her voice piercing the silence. "The hills... they aren't yellow. Is that... moss?"
Su Qingya frowned. She leaned forward to look. The Westland was notorious for its arid, yellow soil, a wasteland where nothing but thorns grew. Yet, as the carriage crested the final ridge before the valley, a sight greeted her that defied logic.
The valley floor was a vibrant, shocking green.
It wasn't just a patch. It was a sprawling carpet of lush vegetation, swaying in the wind like waves in a green ocean.
"Driver, stop," Su Qingya commanded, her voice tight.
The carriage halted. She stepped out, her silk boots sinking slightly into the dusty road. She stared at the valley below.
In the distance, she could see the crude, low-slung buildings made of mud and stone—structures that looked sturdy but foreign. And there, dotting the green landscape, were dark shapes.
Cattle.
"It can't be," she whispered. It had only been a few days since she gave him the silver. How could anything grow here so quickly? The rainy season was still a month away.
"Come," she said, her composure returning. "Let us see what tricks my husband is playing."
***
Down in the valley, the rhythm of the ranch was in full swing.
"Hya! Move it, you stubborn mule!"
Zhao Tiezhu's voice boomed across the field. The former soldier was atop one of the work horses, awkwardly trying to guide a small group of sheep toward a fresh pasture. He was wearing his new, crude leather boots, his scarred face set in a grimace of concentration.
Lin Wanshan stood near the corral, leaning against the fence, his hat pulled low over his eyes. He was whittling a piece of wood, shaping it into a handle for a new tool. He watched Tiezhu with an amused smile.
"Relax your shoulders, Tiezhu!" Lin Wanshan called out. "You're stiff as a board! The horse can feel your tension. Be like water!"
"Water doesn't weigh two thousand pounds and try to bite you!" Tiezhu grunted back, though he noticeably relaxed his posture.
Liu Mei, the new cook, was hanging laundry near the bunkhouse, humming a folk tune. The smell of woodsmoke and roasting grain drifted from the kitchen. It was a scene of bustling, noisy life.
It was exactly the kind of scene Su Qingya had never expected to witness.
As her carriage drew closer to the main gate—a gate made of rough-hewn logs lashed together—Lin Wanshan looked up.
He saw the carriage. He saw the Su family crest. And he saw her.
He didn't scramble to fix his clothes. He didn't bow low or stammer apologies for his appearance. He simply stood up, brushed the wood shavings from his robe, and walked to the gate to meet them.
"Welcome to the Westland," Lin Wanshan said, his voice clear and projecting over the wind.
Su Qingya stepped out of the carriage, flanked by Su Yue. She looked at her husband.
He looked like a beggar who had found a tailor in the dark. His scholar's robe was tied at the waist with a rope, tucked into muddy, strange leather boots. On his head sat a bizarre wide-brimmed hat made of leather and wicker. His skin was tanned darker, his arms looked firmer, and there was a calmness in his eyes that unsettled her.
"Husband," Su Qingya said, using the formal address. "I came to inspect the asset. Uncle has been... pressing Father about the loan. He claims you are squandering it on a dead dream."
"Uncle is welcome to visit anytime," Lin Wanshan said easily, gesturing to the green fields. "Though he might find it hard to explain why a 'dead dream' looks so alive."
Su Yue gasped, running past him toward the grass. "Cousin! Look at this grass! It's so thick!" She bent down and pulled a blade. "And it smells sweet! Like sugar!"
Su Qingya walked to the fence. She looked at the grass. It was true. It was lush, thick, and incredibly vibrant.
"Irrigation?" she asked, her mind racing for a logical explanation. "You spent the money on water wheels?"
"The stream is too low for water wheels," Lin Wanshan said. "Let's just say I found a natural spring that agrees with the soil."
He opened the gate. "Come. I want to show you the real investment."
He led them toward the corral. As they walked, Su Qingya noticed the details. The fences were straight. The stones were laid with precision. There was an order to the chaos that spoke of discipline.
When they reached the main herd, she stopped.
The ten cows she had seen in the market—the scrawny, walking skeletons—were gone. In their place were ten healthy animals. Their coats shone, their eyes were bright, and they moved with energy.
And then there was the bull.
Captain stood near the water trough. He was massive. His black coat absorbed the sunlight, gleaming like polished onyx. He turned his head to look at the newcomers, chewing his cud slowly.
"By the Heavens," Su Yue whispered, hiding behind Su Qingya. "That beast... it looks like a monster!"
"That is Captain," Lin Wanshan said, pride evident in his voice. "He's the foundation of the ranch."
Su Qingya stared at the bull. She had grown up in the country; she knew livestock. She knew that a broken-legged ox was usually dead within a week.
"That bull," she said slowly, pointing a slender finger. "I saw that bull at the market. It was dying. The butcher was waiting."
"It was injured," Lin Wanshan corrected. "But not broken. With proper care, good grass, and rest, nature heals."
"Nature doesn't heal a broken leg in four days, Lin Wanshan," Su Qingya said sharply, turning to him. "What are you feeding them? Magic pills?"
Lin Wanshan looked her in the eye. He didn't flinch. "I am feeding them hope, Wife. And better grass than any noble in the capital feeds their horses."
He walked over to a patch of the Tall Fescue he had planted. He cut a handful with a small knife and offered it to her.
"Taste it."
"I will not eat animal feed!"
"It's clean. Try it."
Hesitantly, mostly to prove him wrong, she took a blade and bit the end. Her eyes widened. It was sweet, juicy, and tender. Not the dry, fibrous husk of wild grass.
"This is..." she trailed off.
"This is what makes the beef," Lin Wanshan said. "You are what you eat. These cattle are eating the finest dining in Qinghe County. Therefore, they will become the finest meat."
"Meat," Su Qingya repeated, the old skepticism returning. "You keep saying that. But who will buy them? Killing a cow is a crime."
"Killing a *plow ox* is a crime," Lin Wanshan corrected. "These are not plow oxen. Look at them. They do no work. They graze. They grow. When the time comes, I will change the law, or I will change the perception. But first, I must prove the taste."
He turned to the bunkhouse. "Liu Mei! Is the stew ready?"
"Yes, Boss!" the cook called out.
"Come," Lin Wanshan said to his wife. "You came to check the books? Let's eat first. I insist."
Su Qingya wanted to refuse. She wanted to take her ledger, write off the loss, and leave this dusty, confusing place. But the smell of the stew—rich, savory, and unlike anything she had smelled in the city—made her stomach growl.
She nodded curtly. "Very well. A quick meal."
***
Inside the bunkhouse, the atmosphere was rough but warm.
Su Qingya and Su Yue sat on rough-hewn benches, looking out of place in their silk amidst the wooden tables and stone floor.
Liu Mei brought out bowls. It wasn't the delicate, bite-sized portions of the Su manor. It was a rustic stew—thick chunks of pork (seasoned with the last of the wolf meat for flavor), root vegetables, and herbs, all simmered in a rich, dark broth.
Lin Wanshan sat opposite them, eating with gusto.
Su Qingya took a tentative sip.
The flavor exploded in her mouth. It was smoky, salty, and hearty. It had a depth of flavor that the delicate court cuisine often lacked. It was food that warmed the belly and strengthened the spirit.
"This is... acceptable," she murmured, taking another bite, larger this time.
"It's ranch cooking," Lin Wanshan said. "Simple. Nutritious. It keeps a man working for twelve hours."
He set his bowl down and looked at her. "Qingya, I know you think I am mad. And I know Uncle wants the land back. But tell Father this: The money is safe. In six months, I will have calves. In a year, I will have beef. And within two years, the Su family will be the supplier of the Emperor's table."
Su Qingya wiped her mouth with a cloth, regaining her composure. She looked around the room. She saw the fireplace, the crude but sturdy bunks, the leather tools hanging on the wall.
"You have changed, Husband," she said softly. "The Lin Wanshan I knew would faint at the sight of a spider. Yet you command this... wilderness."
"The wilderness is honest," Lin Wanshan replied. "It doesn't judge you by your exam scores. It only asks for sweat."
He stood up. "I have work to do. Tiezhu and I need to mend the south fence before evening. You are welcome to stay and rest, but I'm afraid I have no tea service."
Su Qingya stood up as well. She looked at him, really looked at him, for the first time in years.
"I will report to Father," she said. "I will tell him the land is... viable. I will hold off Uncle for now."
She walked to the door, then paused.
"The boots," she said, glancing down at his feet. "They are hideous. But they look practical."
She left, climbing back into her carriage.
As the carriage rolled away, Su Yue bounced in her seat. "Cousin! That stew was amazing! And the bull! Did you see how big it was? And Husband... he looked so strong!"
Su Qingya remained silent, watching the green valley fade into the distance.
"He is up to something," she finally said, though her voice lacked its usual bite. "But he is alive. That is more than I expected."
She touched the corner of her lips, remembering the taste of the stew.
"Viable," she repeated to herself. "Perhaps... just perhaps."
***
Back at the ranch, Lin Wanshan watched the carriage disappear. He let out a long breath.
"Close one," he muttered.
"Boss," Tiezhu walked up, carrying an axe. "Did she like it?"
"She ate the stew," Lin Wanshan said. "That's a start. But the real battle isn't with the wife. It's with the biology. We need those cows pregnant."
He turned to the herd.
*[System Alert: Feeding cycle complete. Herd health optimal.]*
*[New Task Available: The First Breeding Season. Ensure successful mating within 15 days.]*
*[Reward: Tier 1 Shop Unlock (Veterinary Kit).]*
"Fifteen days," Lin Wanshan grinned. "Alright, Captain. Let's see if you're as good as I think you are."