Chapter 45 She Wants to Sleep

With her favorability rating having reached over 80%, Chi Sui hardly needed to do any persuading. The moment she casually asked whether it would like to come work on her ranch, the Green-Sprout Python happily flicked its tail in agreement.

Since it was moving to Chi Sui's ranch, the crops in the Green-Sprout Python's fields naturally became Chi Sui's property as well.

The Green-Sprout Python had no hands, Momo was far too small, and Chi Sui lacked the strength, so the task of transporting these crops naturally fell upon Mr. Stone.

Mr. Stone: ......

On the return journey, Chi Sui lost her chance to fly and had to walk alongside Momo, using the time to introduce the ranch to the Green-Sprout Python.

The Green-Sprout Python was not only massive in size but also moved at a fast crawling pace. While it started out with a leisurely stroll, Chi Sui soon found herself having to scoop up Momo and run just to keep up.

What was originally a relaxing downhill walk suddenly turned into an extreme sport.

In the end, Chi Sui practically lunged onto the Green-Sprout Python, wrapping both arms around its tail and pleading earnestly:
"Wait, walk slower. Let's talk, let's talk."

Almost tossing Chi Sui off its tail out of pure reflex, the Green-Sprout Python tilted its head and came to a prompt halt.
"Talk about what? I need to get those vegetables planted quickly."

The Green-Sprout Python's voice was deep and resonant. Hearing it alone would give one the impression of a reliable individual, completely at odds with the image Chi Sui had of a Green-Sprout Python.

Judging solely by the sprout on top of its head, it should not even be an adult yet.

Finally getting a chance to catch her breath, Chi Sui quickly straightened up and replied:
"Don't rush, the ranch is very close. It definitely won't delay your farming."
"We've just signed this contract, least you could do is let me know your name."
"Green-Tooth."

The Green-Sprout Python's pace finally slowed down.
"Green-Sprout?"
Was it really that similar to its species name?

The Green-Sprout Python nodded and spoke up, "Tooth as in teeth. Isn't this name easy to remember? I came up with it myself."

Momo suddenly chimed in, "Eh, aren't you called Green-Tongue?"

A giant exclamation mark suddenly appeared over Chi Sui's head!
She knew Momo's intuition wasn't very reliable.
"When did I ever say the name Green-Tongue?" The Green-Sprout Python raised its snake tail and slapped the ground in dissatisfaction.

Momo hopped in front of it, waving its hands as it gestured, "Earlier, when we asked what your name was, didn't you point at your scales with your tail and keep sticking out your tongue? That practically makes you Green-Tongue!"

The Green-Sprout Python tilted its head to think, then replied with a puzzled look, "Weren't you asking me if I was going to eat you back then? I was pointing at my belly. Didn't you see me shaking my head when I flicked my tongue?"

Listening from the side, Chi Sui had black lines all over her forehead. It was truly a miracle that these two could talk completely past each other and yet somehow end up hitting it off.

She herself had it quite tough too, managing not to be sold off by this silly child Momo.

Their discussion was still ongoing when Chi Sui sighed and interrupted, "Alright, let's head back first. Weren't you still fretting over those vegetables?"
"Oh, right."

Coming to its senses, Green-Tooth prepared to charge forward all over again, only to have its tail dragged back down by Chi Sui.
"Wait, stay close behind me. Your appearance is rather terrifying; don't go scaring the town residents."

Green-Tooth widened its eyes and stared at Chi Sui in disbelief.
"Look at these perfect scales of mine. Am I not pretty? How on earth am I terrifying?"

Chi Sui suddenly lost all desire to speak. Had Green-Tooth completely forgotten all those scenarios where it used its looks to scare her right after signing the contract?

"Sigh, never mind. Just follow behind me."
......

Though Chi Sui was walking right beside Green-Tooth, it still elicited gasps of shock from quite a few residents along the way.
Even Bertha, who had wanted to come over and greet them, backed away with a pale face.

Chi Sui had no choice but to explain as they walked: this was her contracted magical beast—gentle, harmless, and a strict vegetarian.
"See, they are simply marveling at my flawless scales."
Chi Sui: ......

The moment the Green-Sprout Python uttered those words, Chi Sui suddenly understood why it and Momo got along so well.
What a magnificent personality; it would be a stranger to self-doubt its entire life.

It was only after the group walked into the ranch that the gasps of shock behind them finally ceased.
The gasps of shock ringing in her ears, however, had just begun:

"Good heavens, your ranch is too dilapidated!"
"Help, what is wrong with your farmland? How can you let it get this messy?"
"How on earth can you grow weeds in the fields?!"

Chi Sui had no rebuttal for the first two remarks, but she struck back indignantly at the last one:
"Those are pasture grasses, for the animals to eat, not weeds."
"So you admit they are just grass! Why would you plant something even you won't eat into the fields?"
"I..."
Chi Sui was left completely speechless by the retort.

"Move, move, everyone move aside, don't get in my way."
Waving its tail, Green-Tooth chased both Chi Sui and Mr. Stone—who was standing off to the side watching the show—under the eaves of the house.

Mr. Stone, who had been abruptly driven away, filled its big eyes with a look of utter distrust:
"See, I told you. It's simply trying to seize power."

Chi Sui said nothing, merely patted Mr. Stone's arm and pulled it down to sit with her.
With a wretched ranch like hers, what was there even worth seizing? She would gladly hand over supreme farming authority to Green-Tooth.

The cluttered crops in the fields were swept up into the air by a single flick of Green-Tooth's tail, piling them into a small mountain—not even the unsprouted seeds were spared.

Ever since the last harvest, Chi Sui had replenished the ranch by scattering more seeds, of course planting whatever came to hand just like before, leaving the entire field radiating a chaotic artistic flair.

Once all the crops were cleared out, Green-Tooth began a zigzag crawl, using its body to measure the land.
After marking out the dimensions for each plot of farmland, Green-Tooth raised its snake tail and struck the ground fiercely, making the soil looser as if it had just been freshly plowed.

Following that, the tender sprout on top of its head emitted a green glow. The dislodged plants seemed to fall under some sort of control, arranging themselves neatly one by one and entering their corresponding plots according to their species to be replanted.

In just that short span of time, the chaotic fields became neat and orderly.

And that wasn't even the end of it. Green-Tooth slithered around the perimeter of each plot, and as it passed, every patch of farmland began to emit a faint green radiance.

Those plants grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, and some of the seeds that hadn't sprouted yet even began pushing out fresh shoots.

Humming a tune, Chi Sui opened the Book of Enlightenment:

Crop: White Radish
Expected Maturity: 5 days (Includes favorable season bonus, occupation bonus, magical beast bonus)

Crop: Corn
Expected Maturity: 15 days (Includes favorable season bonus, occupation bonus, magical beast bonus)

Easily reducing the time by 5 days—surely enough, professional tasks should be left to professionals.
Resting her chin in her hands, Chi Sui smiled so hard her eyes narrowed into slits.

After circling the fields another couple of times, Green-Tooth suddenly raised its head and called out to Chi Sui:
"I've done all this work for you, so you need to give me another jar of your pickled scallions—no, two jars!"

Chi Sui's upturned mouth drooped, and she reached out to touch the eye bags and dark circles under her eyes.
Choosing to simply close her eyes and lean backward, Chi Sui fell soundly asleep amidst Momo's gasps of alarm.

She couldn't hear a thing; she needed to sleep.
Right before drifting off, Chi Sui muttered: "They'll exist, everything will exist."
Drawing pie in the sky? She was good at that too.