Farming boy with a magic ring

The meal ended quickly. As Henry Wang went to wash the dishes, Rachel Ma grabbed her small bag and turned to Ethan Yang. "Brother Ethan, I'm heading back. Can you walk me out? I have something to say."

Ethan blinked, puzzled. If you have something to say, why not say it here? Still, he nodded and followed her to the intersection. The streetlights cast long shadows across the road as Rachel hesitated, her eyes flickering with emotions she struggled to put into words.

"Brother Ethan… are you really not planning to stay in the city?" she finally asked, her voice soft.

Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't plan on it. If I make enough money, maybe I'll buy a small place here to visit now and then, but my heart belongs in the countryside. That's where I want to build my life."

Rachel lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I see… You know, I don't want to go back to the countryside. Just thinking about farming makes me anxious." She forced a small smile, waved goodbye, and walked away with a disappointed look.

Ethan watched her go, feeling a pang of guilt. The dishes may have been delicious, but they couldn't change the fact that their dreams were miles apart. I guess even the best cooking can't keep someone who longs for the city.

Back at the house, Henry Wang was drying his hands when Ethan returned. "Boss, you're giving up on that little beauty already?" Henry teased, nudging him with his elbow.

Ethan sighed. "What can I do? I want a peaceful life in the village, and she wants the excitement of the city. We're too different." He changed the subject, noticing Henry hadn't left yet. "Wait… shouldn't you be making deliveries?"

Henry grinned. "Already done! Both trucks are emptied. The bosses even begged me to send more this afternoon."

Ethan's eyes widened. "Both trucks? Didn't I tell you to control the supply? We're selling premium produce, not giving it away! You can't let them pressure you into overloading!"

Henry scratched his head sheepishly. "It's not like that, boss. They paid upfront, just like you said. Oh! The money is still in the car!" He dashed out back and returned moments later, grinning ear to ear as he handed Ethan a thick wad of cash. "Fifteen grand profit today."

Ethan quickly counted the money and handed Henry his share. "Here's your cut — forty-five hundred."

Henry's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Boss, that's too much! You're the one who grows the stuff. I just drive!"

Ethan clapped him on the shoulder. "Rules are rules. Stick with me, and there'll be more where that came from."

Henry grinned. "In that case, let's load up a few more trucks tomorrow!"

"Alright," Ethan agreed. "Four trucks this time."

"Four?!" Henry whistled. "You're really going all in. You'll need help transporting all that."

Ethan chuckled. "Don't worry. I've got my ways."

That evening, Ethan made a quick trip to the seed shop, buying a few new varieties. Back home, he soaked them in spirit water, curious to see if the crops would thrive as well as the ones grown directly in his ring's space.

The next morning, Ethan woke around three. He quietly moved three truckloads of goods from his ring space into the yard and drove his box truck towards the main road. The cool night air filled his lungs as the quiet hum of the engine lulled his mind into a peaceful rhythm.

But peace didn't last long. As he approached an intersection, Ethan noticed a mud truck parked opposite him. When his truck neared the crossroads, the mud truck roared to life, speeding straight towards him.

Ethan's instincts screamed danger. He slammed the brakes as the red light glared above him. The mud truck didn't stop. Instead, it swerved violently, heading straight for him.

What the hell?! Ethan flung open his door and dove onto the sidewalk just before the collision. The deafening crash echoed through the night as metal crumpled and glass shattered. Ethan rolled to his feet, heart pounding, and spun around to see the aftermath.

The mud truck had smashed into his vehicle, pushing it into a taxi that had been unlucky enough to get caught in the chaos. The taxi's front end was crushed, its windshield spiderwebbed with cracks. The driver stumbled out, clutching a bleeding forehead.

Ethan stormed towards the mud truck. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

The door creaked open, and a burly man stumbled out, reeking of alcohol and clutching a half-empty bottle. "Bro… wanna drink?" the man slurred.

"You're drunk?!" The taxi driver, his face contorted with rage, punched the man twice. "You could've killed us, you idiot!"

When the police arrived, the situation became even stranger. The mud truck was stolen, and the driver was nothing but a penniless thug. Any hope of compensation evaporated.

Ethan's mind raced. That wasn't an accident… That was a setup. The thought made his skin crawl. Could Leo Yu have orchestrated this? Or maybe Green Hair was behind it after the warning he'd been given?

Back at the house, Ethan rented a car so Henry could make the morning deliveries, then bought another vehicle from the second-hand market. But the incident lingered in his mind.

They tried to kill me.

His fists clenched. A warning wasn't enough. Next time, he wouldn't hold back.