Cultivating seeds requires immense patience.
Xia Ze had plenty of patience, and assisting him was Mu Ming, the junior green plant specialist from Shop 506.
After processing the first batch of seeds, Mu Ming could hardly believe his eyes. There was actually such a method, such an effective way to do this!
What followed was even more astonishing, the soil preparation.
Different seed varieties required different soil compositions, and even the nutrient powder could be custom-mixed.
This level of technique, this depth of knowledge about green plants, he couldn’t even come close!
And he wasn’t exaggerating, it was the truth!
What’s more, the young boss held nothing back, teaching him everything he knew.
Within half an hour, Mu Ming had practically become Xia Ze’s devoted follower. From then on, Xia Ze was his master in his heart, even though he was a few years older.
The others helping out gradually began to look at Xia Ze with awe.
Their young boss seemed genuinely incredible.
By noon, the first batch of cultivated seeds was ready for planting.
The treated seeds appeared plumper, some even showing hints of green vitality.
Sunflowers were considered low-grade seeds among flower varieties, yet they had been nurtured to such an impressive state, it was almost unbelievable.
Xia Ze wasn’t aware of their classification system for seeds. He simply focused on his patient liquid cultivation.
Given this planet’s growth rate, the flowers would likely bloom in a day or two. Then, by switching to a different nutrient powder, he could slow the sunflowers’ wilting process.
In Xia Ze’s experience, this was the most challenging part.
The transplantation technique, the speed, and even the temperature control, all of it was difficult.
For the entire day, Xia Ze remained in the cultivation room, processing seeds at an astonishing pace.
Of course, Shop 506 remained quiet that day.
A few people came by, drawn by Xia Ze’s reputation, but since he never left the cultivation room, they eventually gave up.
They browsed around Shop 506 but found nothing worth buying.
The place was practically empty.
The manager of 506 was anxious, but there was nothing he could do. Even the flowers they were cultivating were just low-grade sunflowers hardly appealing to high-end customers.
It was frustrating.
When would their shop finally take off?
Meanwhile, the chauffeur sat nearby, sipping tea with an air of calm assurance.
“Don’t worry,” he said placidly. “They’re blind to our young master’s talent. Once they realize it, Shop 506 will be the hottest store in the empire no, the entire galaxy.”
The chauffeur had not only spent time at the villa but had also visited the Green Plant Testing Center to retrieve reports.
The people there were far more professional than those here.
If even they were clamoring for Xia Ze’s attention, what did that say about everyone else?
Yet the chauffeur’s composed tone did little to ease the others’ worries.
The problem was the stark contrast.
Shop 505 next door was thriving, while their own business was pitifully slow.
And the irony? Shop 505’s success was largely thanks to their young boss.
The whole situation felt bizarre.
Just then, Xia Ze emerged from the cultivation room.
He had discovered the advantage of growing plants here, anything he needed could be purchased within the same building and delivered in under ten minutes.
No need for any couriers. No wonder it was so fast.
The sunflowers were growing exceptionally well, and Xia Ze had full confidence in this batch.
The day’s planting had gone perfectly. Xia Ze even remarked, “By tomorrow morning, a thousand sunflowers will be ready for sale. Move the previously purchased greenery into the cultivation room, some of them aren’t in great shape, so I’ll nurture them a bit more.”
Those plants had been bought from other shops just to fill the space. The junior horticulturist Mu Ming, who worked here, only provided basic maintenance, so they remained exactly as they were when purchased.
There was nothing inherently wrong with his statement, but it happened to be overheard by a passing employee from Shop 505 next door.
One of those plants had been bought from their shop.
They had sold countless plants, who had ever complained about their quality?
It was only mid-month, and they had already sold over 30,000 plants, undoubtedly making them the top-performing shop in the entire horticulture mall this month.
The employee couldn’t help but scoff.
So their plants weren’t good enough? As if Shop 506’s were any better?
He muttered under his breath, “If they’re not good enough, then don’t buy them. You even used our plants for your wedding.”
His voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it was just audible enough for the staff of Shop 506 to hear and the customers lining up outside Shop 505 for pre-ordered flowers and plants also turned to look.
The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
It was true.
Because of Xia Ze’s successful wedding, many customers had flocked to Shop 505 for plants.
Yet, Shop 506, Xia Ze’s own store was right next door.
And yet, everyone deliberately avoided his shop. It was undeniably strange.
Xia Ze hadn’t expected his offhand comment to be overheard. Before he could react, his employees at Shop 506 were already bristling.
“What’s the problem? Can’t we criticize?” one retorted. “We were just talking casually in our own shop, why are you eavesdropping?”
“Have you been spying on us this whole time?”
The Shop 505 employee’s face darkened.
They weren’t wrong, he had been sent by his manager to listen in.
After all, the source of their booming business was right next door. If Xia Ze said anything, it could affect their sales.
Xia Ze frowned.
Many businesses had profited off his wedding’s success.
Like Ansem’s team, who had received more orders because of it.
He usually didn’t mind.
But this kind of opportunistic behavior profiting off him while still treating him as a threat, instinctively rubbed him the wrong way.
Seeing the curious onlookers outside and his indignant employees, Xia Ze considered that this was also General Qi’s shop.
He announced, “Starting tomorrow, Shop 506 will begin selling its own cultivated flowers first come, first served, with a purchase limit per person.”
Huh?
Just sunflowers.
First come, first served?
With a purchase limit?
Did he really think they’d sell out?
Who gave him that confidence?
But Xia Ze’s tone was so assured, his striking and resolute gaze making even some of Shop 505’s waiting customers hesitate.
Maybe… they could wait one day.
It was just a day, after all.
If nothing impressive showed up tomorrow, they could always place their orders elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the other four shops on the 50th floor also came out to watch the commotion.
There were only six shops on this floor, and Shop 506 had always been low-key, hardly a competitor. They had mostly ignored it.
But now, Shop 506 had suddenly become the center of attention.
Truthfully, they were all curious, what kind of flowers could Shop 506 possibly produce?
If it was just sunflowers… that would be embarrassingly underwhelming.
After saying this, Xia Ze continued to have the shelves cleared.
By tomorrow, they would be filled with beautiful sunflowers!
Xia Ze’s calm demeanor reassured the others. Even Mu Ming, who had always been his assistant, nodded vigorously. “Don’t worry, tomorrow’s sunflowers will definitely look amazing.”
Having worked closely with the young boss, Mu Ming knew just how well these sunflowers had grown.
Their leaves were even greener than those from other shops.
Though many might not be able to articulate why, the difference was obvious at a glance.
That evening, before Xia Ze even stepped into the dining room at home, the aroma of food greeted him, chicken wings! And from the smell, it seemed like the cola chicken wings he had casually mentioned!
Xia Ze hurried inside to find the dining table already laden with steaming dishes. Even Qi Jing, who was usually busy, was already seated, watching the news.
Old Qi, spotting his return, exclaimed cheerfully, “Young master, try these cola chicken wings! See if they’re the flavor you wanted.”
This was a signature dish from ancient Blue Star. After Xia Ze had mentioned it in passing, Old Qi had taken it to heart, pulling strings to first procure cola before making the dish.
Though Qi Jing remained silent, his gaze never left Xia Ze.
Xia Ze suddenly realized, had they heard about what happened at the Green Plant Emporium?
Touched by their thoughtfulness, Xia Ze felt lighter on his feet. “They must be! The smell alone is incredible.”
As soon as he sat down, Qi Jing served him a piece, while someone else handed him a warm towel.
The attentive care moved Xia Ze more than he expected. After taking a bite of the chicken wing, he murmured, “I’ll make sure everyone realizes how wonderful sunflowers are. They’ll outshine all their green plants.”
Old Qi chimed in immediately, “Exactly! Truth be told, we weren’t even satisfied with their flowers back then. If there had been better options, we wouldn’t have used theirs.”
“Using our name to sell their products, and with such arrogance, no wonder their business is failing.”
Qi Jing watched quietly before finally asking, “Do you need my help?”
Xia Ze shook his head firmly. “No, this is personal!”
Qi Jing chuckled at the boy’s determination. He understood Xia Ze’s thoughts perfectly. Though angered by the neighboring shop’s actions, he hadn’t intervened with his own influence.
His little one wasn’t as fragile as he seemed.
Back in the warzone, when Qi Jing had seen the delicate-looking boy crafting a stretcher to pull his grandfather to safety, he’d known this child was extraordinary.
After a satisfying meal, Xia Ze’s lingering frustration melted away.
Good food truly healed everything!
If only he could make some flower pastries someday.
But in this era, green plants were too precious. Few could afford the luxury of cooking with flowers.
The next morning.
When the staff at the Green Plant Emporium arrived for work, they were met with an unusually rich aura of greenery.
While the atmosphere had always been refreshing, today it carried something different.
Someone must have cultivated green plants above A-grade again.
Such a dense aura meant there had to be more than just one.
How enviable.
Forget about Shop 505, which had lucked into success growing multiple A-grade plants was real skill.
The emporium’s merchants had a massive group chat with thousands of members, where messages flew by in a blur.
Everyone was asking: Which competitor had grown so many high-grade plants? Were they trying to drive everyone else out of business? They’d better come forward and hand out red packets!
Some were subtly inquiring about which horticulturist was behind this, clearly trying to poach talent.
But with thousands of messages flying by, no one answered.
Suddenly, an abrupt message popped up.
[Out of the 520 shops in the Green Flora Mall, seems like only that one didn’t join.]
[Hahahaha, you’re not saying Shop 506 grew these, are you??? That’s hilarious.]
[Hahahaha, first laugh of the day!]
[But what if?!]
[Stop dreaming. Even if Qi Jing’s wife has some skills, growing sunflowers above A-grade is a joke.]
[Exactly, what a joke. So, who among you actually grew these???]
The manager of Shop 506, as usual, was the first to open the door.
And then he was stunned by what he found inside.
A surge of vibrant greenery hit him, the sheer vitality of a thousand sunflowers radiating natural energy that seemed to heal him on the spot.
My god.
Can sunflowers really be grown this well?
This can’t be a joke, can it?
