OFTLHFRO C42

Chapter 42: It’s… a Mutant Chicken!

With a hefty pile of copper coins earned, Luo Mingchen felt practically weightless on the way home.

There weren’t grand ambitions yet—this year’s goal was simply to have no worries about food and clothing, and that had clearly been achieved.

Back home, seeing Huo Xiang heading out to feed the chickens and ducks, Luo Mingchen went along to check their growth.

One look—and shock.

The birds raised for just over a month had grown enormously, nearly the size of fully mature chickens and ducks.

Huo Xiang eyed them hungrily. “Little Daddy, if we keep them a few more days, can we eat them?”

Luo’s train of thought snapped; he ruffled the boy’s hair, amused. “If roast duck and Beggar’s Chicken sound good, I’ll buy birds tomorrow and make them.”

Huo Xiang wanted to agree, but the last of his restraint held. “Wouldn’t that be expensive?”

“Not expensive. We can afford it.”

He said it with the calm swagger of a young lord tossing silver around.

Eyes shining with worship, Huo Xiang declared, “Little Daddy, I want to eat it!”

“Alright—tomorrow.”

With the child appeased, Luo studied the birds. Best to switch to ordinary corn feed; if he kept using grain from the space, they’d turn into mutant beasts.

Yet space-grown food never made people balloon like this, so why were the birds reacting so dramatically?

Would crops grown outside (from his enhanced seed) cause the same effect…?

This world had no deliberate toxin clouds; they weren’t about to become zombie-beasts. At most, they’d just grow larger—like his space-grown plants.

If the guess was right, the meat would be tastier than usual… but no one else could know.

Unless everyone’s livestock changed together, being singled out as “monstrous” could get them burned.

While he was mulling this over, there was a knock at the door.

At the threshold stood the village head, Yu Hu, and his wife, Wang Xiulan.

A little surprised, Luo asked, “Uncle Yu, Auntie Wang—are you looking for Huo Yan?”

Yu Hu smiled. “Well now, Mingchen… we’re here to discuss something with you.”

“With me?”

“Come in and sit, then,” Luo said, more puzzled.

They entered and took seats inside.

Seeing Luo reach for the kettle, Yu Hu waved his hands. “No trouble, no trouble.”

“It’s fine. We boiled water this morning. It’s lemon and honey—hope that’s alright.”

Since he insisted, the couple didn’t refuse. After a few sips—tart-sweet with a light citrus note—Luo asked, “So, Uncle Yu, what is it?”

Yu Hu said, “We’ve noticed your vegetables grow superbly—no bug holes. We’d like to buy some seed from you.”

Luo blinked in surprise, not quite trusting his ears.

Yu Hu, seeing his silence, grew a little anxious and disappointed. “If it’s difficult, we’ll forget it.”

“It’s not difficult. What seeds do you want? I have Chinese cabbage, baby bok choy, chili pepper, tomato, pumpkin, winter melon, luffa, cucumber—”

“W-wait a moment,” Yu Hu laughed wryly, cutting him off. “Mingchen, are you saying all of those are like your Chinese cabbage seeds?”

“Mm.”

Realizing he’d agreed too quickly, Luo added, “Uncle Yu, I… have a family secret preparation. It makes the seeds better than ordinary ones.”

It was pure invention—but impossible to disprove, and no one could trace his source anyway.

Yu Hu nodded. “And the price?”

“No need to pay. Tell me which kinds and how much—you can have them.”

Luo would be thrilled to have company planting. The more people grew them, the more widely known they’d become. If trouble came one day, he wouldn’t be the only target.

When everyone had the same thing, it stopped being mysterious. One huge “mutant” chicken on its own drew stares; if every household had big chickens, it would become a regional specialty. Who’d bother asking where the first one came from?

Wang Xiulan spoke up. “That won’t do. Your seeds are excellent—nowhere else can we find them. If you give them free, we won’t feel right taking them.”

Yu Hu agreed. “And I want the whole village to plant, anyone willing. With that many seeds, we can’t take them for nothing.”

That made Luo even happier. “Then make it symbolic—say, one wen per liang of seed.”

The couple: “…”

How was that different from giving it away?

Seeing Huo Yan come in, Wang Xiulan sighed. “The market price is higher than that. Huo Dalang, we’re discussing buying seeds from Mingchen; his price is too low.”

After a moment’s thought, Huo Yan said, “Then sell to the village at half the price of ordinary seeds.”

“…Ah?”

She hadn’t expected him to side that way and froze.

With Huo Yan present, Luo knew how to frame it. With sincere warmth, he said, “Uncle Yu, Auntie Wang—my Huo Yan grew up under the village’s care. He always speaks gratefully of it. We’ve wanted to repay that kindness. Now there’s finally a chance. To us, the seeds really aren’t much. If they can help Xishui  Village live better, that makes us happy.”

Syrupy as it was, it hit the spot.

A little abashed, Yu Hu murmured, “Huo Dalang is one of ours; of course we look after him. And he’s helped many folk as well. Still—this is a separate matter. We shouldn’t take advantage.”

Luo pressed gently, “How can you weigh it like that? Helping when it’s needed most isn’t the same as icing on the cake. Let’s settle it this way—if you insist on paying more, I won’t sell.”

“This…”

Wang Xiulan tugged Yu Hu’s sleeve, signaling him to stop arguing.

Luo went on, “We know the village’s situation—many can’t manage three full meals. Who has spare coin? In the end, they’re just seeds. You still have to plant and tend them yourself. Whether they thrive depends on your effort. The risk is yours. Buying seeds from us doesn’t guarantee riches.”

Hearing this, Yu Hu relented. “Alright then. If the crops come in well, we’ll pay more later.”

Seeing him yield, Luo smiled. “Then please ask around the village how many want seeds.”

“Good.”

Before leaving, Yu Hu specifically requested Chinese cabbage, white radish, and eggplant—worried the others might not take in their climate.

Only then did Luo recall that this world had no greenhouse farming; vegetables suited to the South wouldn’t necessarily grow well in the North.

He’d need to mind such details going forward.

Footnotes:

• Beggar’s Chicken: A classic Chinese dish—whole marinated chicken wrapped (traditionally in lotus leaf and clay) and baked until tender. 
• One wen (文) per liang (兩) of seed: A token price—practically a giveaway—to make seeds affordable for all villagers.
• 大郎 (dà láng)
  • Meaning: “eldest son” or “first-born son” as a form of address within a family; also commonly used as a respectful way to address the eldest young man of a household. In names, it can function like a courtesy-style address rather than a legal given name.