A Divine Farmer

Chapter 254 - Watched by Others!

Many people awoke from their slumber, stretching languidly before recalling where they were staying. Despite the modest accommodations and less-than-luxurious bedding, a good mood and fresh air contributed to an unexpectedly restful sleep.

The villagers had already prepared breakfast and invited their guests to join. The meal wasn't lavish, but the simple pickled vegetables surprisingly whetted many appetites, even more so than the breakfasts they were accustomed to in the city.

When it came time to leave, most villagers declined payment, reasoning that an empty house costs nothing to share for a night, and to ask for money would be miserly.

However, the city dwellers—no, they were not mere tourists, but devoted fans of Wenwen, swept up by the excitement of a concert—could not agree with leaving without settling their debts. They had eaten and slept there; it simply wouldn't be right to leave without compensating their hosts.

After some polite refusals, nearly everyone left behind some amount of money, keen to offset any loss the villagers might incur and to ensure that these rural hosts weren't shortchanged.

The villagers of Clear River Village, holding the unexpected earnings, were momentarily bewildered. Could offering a night's lodging really be so profitable?

This unforeseen event unfolded just as Zhang Xiaolong had anticipated, and the villagers began to see it as a potential revenue stream. They pondered whether investing in new bedding and improving the meals might justify higher charges.

Initially, some harbored reservations about the morality of profiting in this way. However, these doubts were soon dispelled. Wang Tiehzhu and Zhang Xiaolong assured everyone that as long as they remained honest and fair in their dealings, there was nothing dishonorable about seizing the opportunity.

This marked the dawn of commercial enterprise in Clear River Village, a memory that would endure for years to come. Although the pursuit of profit would eventually lead some astray with schemes to deceive, Zhang Xiaolong never regretted empowering the villagers. The majority continued to uphold their integrity, doing what was right and earning what was fair.

Regarding the few individuals who have succumbed to the allure of money, such incidents are simply unavoidable mishaps in the world of business. If the majority can lead more comfortable lives as a result, that's all that really matters.

“Xiaolong, I've run into some trouble and could really use your help,” Wan Tao suddenly approached with a request.

“Director Wan, you're far too kind. I've always said that you're a valued guest in Clear River Village. Please, don't hesitate to make any requests. The whole village is eagerly anticipating the concert,” Zhang Xiaolong replied with a smile.

“The only issue now is the lighting—it's completely failed, and it's too late to order new equipment,” Wan Tao said, visibly sweating with anxiety. “Without the perfect lighting, the quality of the performance will suffer significantly.”

Zhang Xiaolong, puzzled, inquired, “How did the lighting suddenly fail? Weren't emergency preparations made well in advance?”

Wan Tao looked sheepish for a moment. “We did have preparations in place, but this time is somewhat unusual. It's not just the equipment that's failed; the lighting technician left without any notice. Even if we find a replacement, I doubt they could achieve the same level of perfection. Right now, I can't even find someone to provide an imperfect solution. Everyone I've asked is too busy to come to Clear River Village, and we're also having issues with the equipment… I feel like it's the end of the world. If I ruin Wenwen's first concert, I might not take my own life in penance, but Wenwen's fans will surely tear me apart!”

Zhang Xiaolong was still confused. “What happened? Did you offend someone influential? It seems too coincidental to be an accident.”

“I'm baffled myself, but it's not my first time directing. If someone had a vendetta against me, they wouldn't wait until now to exact revenge. And it looks like Wenwen would be the one to suffer the most,” Wan Tao continued, growing more distressed. “But Wenwen is just a young girl who's recently started her career. Everything before the Wolong commercial doesn't really count, and this is her first performance. How could she possibly have made any enemies?”

“That's not necessarily true,” Zhang Xiaolong thought of Cheng Yanyan and Mrs. Yang. Though he doubted their capabilities, now wasn't the time to dwell on that. “Let's tackle the lighting issue first. Can you describe the effect you're aiming for with the lights?”

Upon this prompt, Wan Tao regained his composure and began to detail the lighting requirements.

They had been using a set of highly professional lighting equipment designed to weave together a sense of illusion and reality, creating an enchanting aesthetic. This was Wan Tao's secret weapon to ensure Chu Wenwen's first concert would be a hit following the Elegant Dragon Advertising campaign.

Now, however, he was willing to settle for just half of that original effect, as long as it was sufficient to keep the concert running smoothly.

“I see,” Zhang Xiaolong said, having understood the explanation. “Rest assured, I'll have a set of equipment ready for you by tonight. You'll need to provide the manpower, though. They don't have to be highly skilled—just diligent.”

Wan Tao was puzzled by Zhang Xiaolong's plan but had no choice but to trust him.

If Zhang Xiaolong couldn't deliver the equipment and Chu Wenwen had to perform with just a few light bulbs, Wan Tao felt he might as well apologize with his life, no need for Wenwen's fans to lift a finger.

Once he left, Zhang Xiaolong wasted no time in searching for the lighting equipment. Not the type Wan Tao had described—since even Wan Tao couldn't find it, Zhang Xiaolong certainly wouldn't be able to either. Instead, he planned to create his own.

Although unfamiliar with the construction of such lighting equipment, Zhang Xiaolong knew that replicating the desired effects with his divine powers wouldn't be too challenging.

His material of choice was simple glass.

In about half an hour, he had crafted over a dozen crystal balls, each capable of producing a unique lighting effect. When ordinary light passed through them, they created a variety of magical lighting effects.

These compact crystal balls were also easy to move, adding to the versatility of the lighting.

Bringing his creations to Wan Tao and demonstrating their potential, Zhang Xiaolong noticed Wan Tao's surprised expression, his brow furrowed in amazement.

“What's wrong? Isn't this sufficient?” Zhang Xiaolong found himself in a tough spot. He had racked his brain and thought his ideas were quite impressive.

“No, no, no, this is absolutely mind-blowing. I've never witnessed effects this lifelike before; even A Country can't match this!” Wan Tao exclaimed with enthusiasm. “This concert is perfect, no, it's a visual and auditory extravaganza.”

Zhang Xiaolong breathed a sigh of relief. He was just about to respond when Wan Tao's phone interrupted with a ring.

“Chu Wenwen is being watched. Stay alert!”