Chapter 164: Mmm... So Sweet!

Small Farm, 10:00 AM.

Every parent stood quietly with their child, waiting. As loyal patrons of the farm, they kept a close watch on its latest developments. Not long ago, they noticed the farm was hosting a flower arrangement workshop—specifically designed for children.

This was a fantastic idea! They gave it a resounding thumbs up. Since the previous lesson on waste sorting, their children had gradually developed an environmental consciousness, which was a wonderful thing for their future growth. Moreover, teachers had reported that the children were behaving exceptionally well, asking the parents how they were raising them. Naturally, hearing their children praised brought joy to any parent. So, upon seeing that the farm was offering a flower arrangement class limited to six spots, they signed up without a moment’s hesitation.

The course wasn’t expensive; it just covered the cost of materials. It was a chance to spend the weekend with their children, get the whole family out for a breath of fresh air, and engage in an activity together—why wouldn't they participate? It was certainly better than the whole family lying at home, each glued to their own phone, which was detrimental to a child’s long-term development.

"Alright, I have distributed the materials needed for the arrangements. I’ve already explained the requirements, so please keep an eye on your children and be careful not to get scratched by any of the plants," Zhong Di said, trying to keep his voice as gentle as possible. They were all children, after all; he didn't want to startle them with a booming tone. "Based on what I just explained, go ahead and guide your children in gathering suitable materials. We’ll reconvene in an hour."

"I have a question! You mentioned an L-shaped arrangement using red roses. Can I use peonies instead?" a parent asked. She preferred peonies, with their symbolism of prosperity, over roses.

"That’s perfectly fine, no problem at all," Zhong Di replied, addressing her concern. "The L-shape I described is just the form. The specific flowers you use depend entirely on the individual and the purpose of the arrangement. For example, if you're wishing a newlywed couple well, you could use lilies; for prosperity, you’d use peonies. You can look up the language of flowers—each type carries a different meaning. I’m just teaching you the fundamentals; you should be able to apply these techniques in various ways." He realized he had indeed neglected to mention the symbolism earlier, having only specified roses.

Soon, the parents scattered, taking their children to search for floral materials. Zhong Di observed one particular couple. The man looked younger than him, yet he already had such a big daughter.

Zhong Di’s own target was straightforward: roses. For the greenery, he chose some round leaves and stems. In flower arranging, beyond the primary flowers, you need complementary foliage and twigs to give the arrangement fullness and visual appeal, preventing it from looking empty. With a clear plan and no children to manage, he gathered his materials in about ten minutes. It was a good thing he had established the Herbal Garden and the landscape walls; the plant resources were abundant. Otherwise, a few sessions like this would have left the place bare.

The gathering didn't take long; some of the faster participants returned in less than half an hour. Zhong Di had strict rules about picking materials—random, reckless cutting was strictly prohibited. Otherwise, the Herbal Garden would soon lose its charm. Fortunately, the people who visited the farm were quite self-aware. Even if the children were a bit rowdy, the parents kept a close watch, and as long as it wasn't intentional damage, everything was manageable.

"Are you ready? Since everyone is prepared, let’s begin. Do you see the thorn removers at your stations? Parents, please teach your children how to strip the thorns from the stems. We’ll start by choosing your flower baskets—do this first, before handling the flowers. When cutting the stems, remember that the ideal length is the sum of the basket’s diameter and its height; that makes for a more balanced look. Also, pay attention when inserting the stems into the floral foam—try to minimize re-inserting them, as doing so too often will make the foam unstable."

Zhong Di guided them step by step. As he moved through the process—from selecting the basket to styling, filling, and final adjustments—he answered the many questions raised by the parents. Once he finished demonstrating the specific style, he left the rest for the parents and children to explore. The floral foam was already soaked and ready; as long as they didn't waste anything, they could make as many arrangements as they liked. Zhong Di charged them only the base cost for the materials. His goal wasn't to profit from them; he was simply teaching for the joy of it—a task done for no personal gain.

The morning slipped away. Aside from teaching the children, Zhong Di hadn't done much, spending most of his time loafing around and tending to minor chores. Every now and then, he checked on the vegetables in the fields to see if there were any issues. Overall, the crops were growing well with no major problems. Once he established contact with the people from the Agricultural Research Institute, he planned to publish more technical articles, covering the main crops grown around Kulun City one by one. It was a massive project, not something that could be completed in a short time.

*Hmm...* perhaps he could compile a comprehensive summary of these vegetables and publish a related technical article. Since the management methods for vegetables—especially those in the same family—were largely similar, such a guide would be very practical. He could do one for open-field planting and one for greenhouse cultivation.

"Zhong Di, let's eat. We're going to pick up the tree saplings this afternoon," Shao Hong called out, looking impatient. Lately, Shao Hong had become much more efficient, not just in his work speed but in his general demeanor.

Picking up saplings... right, he had almost forgotten. He had even mentioned it to Shao Hong last night. The tropical fruit trees he had ordered all came from the same supplier and would arrive in one shipment. It wasn't a huge number of trees—just enough for one greenhouse—so it would be a quick trip with the truck.

"What's for lunch?" Zhong Di asked. Eating was, after all, quite important.

"Stir-fried dishes! Though it's not quite the same without a drink. It’s been a while since we’ve had any alcohol. How about we have some tonight after we finish planting?" Shao Hong suggested. It was true; it had been a long time since they’d had a drink.

"Sure. But it seems our farm doesn't produce its own alcohol. It feels like something is missing," Zhong Di mused. He had felt that way for a long time—with plenty of meat and vegetables, the lack of home-brewed liquor was a glaring gap. Everything they drank was store-bought and lacked a certain character.

"Then let's brew some ourselves. Next year, once we get the other fruit trees planted, we can make some fruit wine," Shao Hong said.

"Why wait until next year? Let's do it this year. We have these red dates right here; we can brew some red date wine," Zhong Di said. He reached out, plucked a bright red jujube from a branch, and popped it into his mouth.

*Mm... truly sweet.*