After rewarding the white python with two energy pills, Cheng Xiaofan found that the Heaven-Shattering Eagle and Naughty Bag stood on either side of him, staring at him with wide, expectant eyes.
Their message was clear: where were their energy pills?
"Yours won't be forgotten!"
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled, a touch of helplessness in his voice.
He then retrieved more energy pills from his spatial storage, giving one to the eagle and one to the dog.
*Crunch!*
*Crunch!*
The eagle and the dog crunched on the energy pills as if they were eating beans, the sound echoing with each bite.
Once finished, they looked up at their master again, as if they hadn't had enough.
"That's all for now,"
Cheng Xiaofan immediately waved his hand, saying, "You can't eat too many energy pills at once. I'll give you more another day!"
These two gluttons really thought these were just beans!
He casually picked up the two tranquilizer guns from the ground, snapped them in half with a *crack*, and tossed them into a ravine.
"General Bai, let's go back. No one will dare harm you again!"
Cheng Xiaofan gently stroked General Bai's face, and with the horses, he rode over the hill and returned to the shores of White Python Lake.
Considering his mother was waiting for his divine fish, he mounted the Heaven-Shattering Eagle. Waving goodbye, he shouted, "See you around!"
*Screech!*
The Heaven-Shattering Eagle soared into the sky, carrying Cheng Xiaofan and Naughty Bag.
*Neigh!*
*Neigh!*
*Neigh!*
The dates-red horses all lifted their necks.
They neighed in unison, watching Cheng Xiaofan depart with evident reluctance.
...
By the time Cheng Xiaofan flew back above his home, he had already retrieved several divine fish from his spatial storage, strung them together with a rope, and was carrying them in his hand.
Now, he could retrieve items from his spatial storage without entering it. With a mere thought, anything he desired would appear in his hand.
*Screech!*
As soon as the Heaven-Shattering Eagle landed, Miao Xiuhua ran out.
Cheng Xiaofan noticed that only his mother was home and asked, "Where is everyone else?"
Miao Xiuhua smiled and said, "Your father and Director Mei and the others went with the TV crew to the construction site to take photos."
"Mom, you're smiling a little strangely!"
Cheng Xiaofan noticed Miao Xiuhua's smile was unusually meaningful, with a hint of peculiarity. He suppressed a shiver and asked curiously.
"You brat, always teasing your mother. What's strange about my smile?"
Back inside, Miao Xiuhua shot her son a mock glare but couldn't help but slap her thigh and laugh. "Son, do you know what the TV reporter asked Yi Ling when they interviewed her about why she invested in Zhuxi Village? Guess what she answered!"
"I don't know!" Cheng Xiaofan shook his head vigorously, as if trying to dislodge something.
Miao Xiuhua said to her son, "Guess something good!"
Cheng Xiaofan put on a bewildered look again. "Yi Ling investing in Zhuxi Village is already a good thing. What else could be better?"
Miao Xiuhua chuckled. "Then Mom will tell you. Yi Ling told the reporter that she came to Zhuxi Village to invest because of you, Cheng Xiaofan!"
"I think Yi Ling is completely smitten with you!"
"If she weren't in love with you, why would she sell all her assets and come to invest in Zhuxi Village!"
"Mom, please stop!"
Cheng Xiaofan was practically exploding. "Mom, you're misinterpreting Yi Ling's meaning! When she said she came because of me, she meant that I discovered White Python Lake, and it captivated her!"
"Yi Ling's considerations are on a much higher level than you imagine!"
"Mom, since Yi Ling has recognized you as her mother, please treat her as your own daughter. Don't harbor any other thoughts about her!"
Her words left Miao Xiuhua speechless. She immediately took the divine fish and went to the backyard.
Watching his mother's retreating figure, Cheng Xiaofan sighed, wondering if he should find a girl someday to pose as his girlfriend, to make his mother give up on any ideas about Bai Yi Ling.
If Bai Yi Ling were to discover his mother's thoughts, it would be so embarrassing!
Just then, Tang Guihua and Mei Xueyun walked in, chatting and laughing.
"Huh? Weren't you two accompanying the TV crew to the construction site?" Cheng Xiaofan asked curiously.
Tang Guihua smiled and said, "Xueyun and I went. The TV crew is filming there now. We came back early to help prepare the meal!"
"Oh!"
Cheng Xiaofan nodded, his eyes darting. "Sister Guihua, I know you have a good capacity for alcohol. At lunch today, please entertain those reporters and try to get them all drunk!"
"Ah, but why?"
Tang Guihua and Mei Xueyun stared at Cheng Xiaofan, dumbfounded.
Cheng Xiaofan scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "Those reporters want to interview me this afternoon, but I really don't want to accept the interview."
"You both know that the vegetables and fruits I cultivate are thanks to a secret technique taught to me by a master. It's not something I can reveal."
"Because the master repeatedly warned me that if this secret technique were known to the world, it would easily bring me disaster, and it would also violate the master's rules."
"If the master found out I broke the rules, he would definitely take back my secret technique. Then, I wouldn't be able to contribute to Zhuxi Village anymore!"
After hearing his fabricated explanation, the two women nodded repeatedly.
Mei Xueyun said with a serious expression, "Sister Guihua, you must help Xiaofan. Helping him is helping the entire Zhuxi Village!"
"Alright!"
Tang Guihua said solemnly, "For the future of our Zhuxi Village, I, Tang Guihua, will give it my all today at lunch!"
Seeing that he had successfully manipulated the two women, Cheng Xiaofan couldn't help but secretly chuckle.
Around noon, Cheng Fugui returned with Mei Haoran and others.
As construction had just begun, Bai Yi Ling had to personally manage the myriad tasks at the site. She wouldn't be coming for lunch but would return in the evening.
Luo Changsheng and several village representatives also arrived.
Fortunately, there was ample space in the countryside. Three eight-immortal tables were set up, and the banquet began.
Each table had twelve dishes. The most eye-catching were the super nutrient-rich cabbages, the fruit ginseng, and the divine fish cultivated by Cheng Xiaofan.
Cheng Xiaofan sat at a table with Mei Haoran, Mayor Zhou, and several reporters.
Tang Guihua and Mei Xueyun were seated at the table next to them.
"Come, come, everyone, eat some dishes to fill your stomachs first, then we'll drink!" Cheng Xiaofan warmly invited everyone at the table.
"Xiaofan, is this the divine fish you cultivated?"
Mei Haoran had already tasted Cheng Xiaofan's cabbage and fruit ginseng, and his gaze immediately fell on the plate of steamed fish.
Cheng Xiaofan nodded repeatedly and smiled, "Yes, Director Mei, try the divine fish and tell me how it tastes!"
"Alright, I'll have a taste!" Mei Haoran quickly reached for the plate of fish with his chopsticks.