Chapter 96, the grand finale—this might be the most…

Sometimes, life really is unpredictable.

Zhong Ying had given up on the idea, but Li Linshi and Bai Hu still ended up fighting by accident.

Zhong Ying had given up on Yingshan, but now she's discovered it really is hers.

Huh? Does that mean we can plant tea trees again?

But that's not urgent; there are more pressing matters to address right now.

A gust of mountain wind separated Li Linshi and Baihu, and Zhong Ying got up and stepped forward to mediate.

“I was born out of the will of the people after the flash flood 45 years ago,” Zhong Ying said to Li Lin, pointing to the white tiger. “This is my companion tiger; it was born to protect me.”

Zhong Ying then turned to Baihu and said, "He's mine, and the dog is mine too. Neither of them will hurt me."

The once fierce and terrifying white tiger now crouched down, letting out a whimper, and the enormous creature suddenly showed a hint of grievance.

Zhong Ying stepped forward and hugged the white tiger's big head, comforting it with a smile, "Alright, alright, I know you've been wronged. You've been helping me look after Yingshan for so many years, but I've had other dogs outside. But you are all very important to me..."

Li Linshi looked at Zhong Ying. She was still herself, yet not herself. "So you are actually... the Mountain Goddess?"

Zhong Ying turned to look at him again, "That's what people call me, and I am indeed the mountain god of Ying Mountain."

Heaven and Earth believed that she had completed her trials in the mortal world, and the purpose of this flash flood was to bring her back to her rightful place. Now, all her divine power and memories were in Zhong Ying's hands, just like a grayed-out skill panel being relit.

“The gods born from all things in nature need to enter the world and become human in order to better protect mankind,” Zhong Ying said. “The modern world is my third life. Originally, I was supposed to return to my original life after that, but halfway through the return, it seemed that heaven and earth felt that my perception of ‘love’ was not sufficient, so they sent me back to my first life to continue experiencing it.”

So it's not a case of reincarnation; the original Zhong Ying is still her, just version 1.0.

Zhong Ying couldn't help but think to herself, no wonder she thought the original owner of this body was like a brat when she first transmigrated. According to the age of gods, she was indeed just a child when she first entered the world to gain experience!

Sensing that the white tiger's hostility had vanished, Hongtang cautiously approached. Seeing that the danger had completely receded, it happily moved to Zhong Ying's other side, wagging its tail incessantly. The little dog didn't know what a god was, but it knew that Zhong Ying was alive and alright, and that was truly wonderful.

Zhong Ying was surrounded by women on both sides, but Li Linshi was still standing far away, his gaze towards her somewhat complicated.

After a brief moment of confusion, Zhong Ying was able to roughly guess what he was thinking.

Imagine a seemingly ordinary couple whose wife's identity suddenly changes drastically, perhaps becoming the emperor's daughter. Some men might be overjoyed, feeling they've struck gold; others, however, might hesitate due to the vast difference in their social status, unsure of what to do.

Li Linshi clearly belongs to the latter category.

Zhong Ying abandoned the brown sugar and the mountain tiger and ran towards him.

Although Li Linshi had many concerns, when Zhong Ying lightly fell into his arms, his body instinctively caught her before his mind could process it.

"What are you doing? Isn't this good enough?" Zhong Ying clung to him, her legs wrapped around Li Linshi's lean waist, deliberately teasing him, "If you're not human, then I'm not human either."

Li Linshi's Adam's apple bobbed, he sighed softly, and said helplessly, "How can they be the same?"

He looked at Zhong Ying and said, "You are a god, and I am a ghost."

Her bright and beautiful face had gained a touch of divine gentleness, and Li Linshi felt as if he had defiled her just by getting close.

What merit or ability does he possess?

Zhong Ying cupped his face in her hands, preventing Li Linshi's gaze from wandering elsewhere. She examined him carefully for a while, saying, "You won't always be a ghost. I think you're transforming into a 'spirit'."

Li Linshi was stunned.

Zhong Ying's vision is now broader than that of ordinary people; as a deity, she can naturally see things that ordinary people cannot.

The reason why the guardian spirits from various places were so open with Li Linshi was partly because they sensed the faint blue aura on him. If he could become a river spirit later, then he would be considered a "colleague."

"As expected, she still benefited from my influence, so I guess I should continue to stay by the Mountain Goddess's side." Zhong Ying said jokingly with a straight face.

Li Lin chuckled; she always managed to soothe her own unease.

"Yingnier—"

"sister--"

"Captain, Captain Zhong—"

Various shouts gradually came from above.

The rain stopped, and the flash flood, which had come with great force, receded quickly. In less than two hours, the water had receded. The people of Tonggan Production Team climbed down from the rooftops, and without bothering to clean up the mud and broken grass and trees left behind, they all set out to search for Zhong Ying, who had been swept away by the flood.

People first searched in the direction the flash flood had gone, but the more they searched, the more desperate they became. There was no trace of Zhong Ying anywhere. Almost without hope, they turned around and searched in the opposite direction, even venturing into Ying Mountain in desperation.

“You…” Li Linshi also heard the people calling out. He looked at Zhong Ying, then hesitated, “Are you still going back?”

It's no wonder he overthinks things. This flash flood was actually a perfect opportunity for Zhong Ying to escape her predicament. By making others believe that she had disappeared or lost her life, she could discard her previous identity and return to her divine status, which was perfectly reasonable.

Without a second thought, Zhong Ying replied, "Of course I want to go back."

She knew that the different gods had different temperaments; some preferred to remain high in temples and observe human behavior, while others preferred to mingle among the crowds and experience their excitement and joy.

Zhong Ying also wants to be a human being.

Besides, she still has many things to do.

By engaging in sideline businesses and building tea plantations, the people of Tonggan Production Team are becoming increasingly prosperous.

Let's continue to strive for improvement and contribute to raising the social status of women...

Zhong Ying got off Li Linshi and gestured for Baihu to leave first so as not to frighten others.

"Yingnier—"

The call was answered.

Zhong Ying called out, "I'm here—"

Soon, she was surrounded by a crowd of ecstatic people.

Whether she is a goddess or a human, she is first and foremost Zhong Ying, the daughter of Deng Xia and Zhong Chunsheng, the younger sister of Zhong Cheng and Miao Suyun, the older sister of Zhong Xin, the aunt of Guo Qiang and Gui Ying, the daughter-in-law of Li Ming and Liu Hongyan, the sister-in-law of Li Rongshi, Nie Jinfeng, and Li Rou, the aunt of Guangfu and Guanglu, the aunt of Qianqian, and the leader of the Tonggan production team...

"Are you injured? Is anything bothering you?"

“No,” Zhong Ying thought for a moment, then attributed the credit to the big black dog that people could see, “Brown Sugar found me just in time.”

Brown Sugar immediately barked.

Looking at the sincere expressions of the crowd, Zhong Ying realized that she had so many connections with them. How could she possibly become that clay statue in the temple again, standing aloof and watching the world from a distance?

It's definitely more interesting to be a person.

——

Fortunately, the sudden flash flood did not cause any casualties. The commune extended a helping hand and provided disaster relief grain to the Tonggan production team.

The destroyed farmland was replanted with crops, and Zhong Ying regained control of the land, quickly restoring the farmland to its former lush green state before the flood.

The team's infrastructure was spared damage; the utility poles stood intact on the road, and the hydroelectric power station was also undamaged.

After all, the purpose of this flash flood was to take Zhong Ying away, not to punish humanity.

Only the clothes and quilts in each household suffered damage, but fortunately it is summer now, so they can be washed and dried quickly.

Of all the houses in the production team, only Fan Wu's old house, which had been destroyed halfway by the flash flood, was damaged. Nie Ying's long-delayed repair plan was now turned into a reconstruction plan. With the help of the Liu brothers, it was rebuilt in a short time.

Life in the Tonggan production team gradually returned to its former peace and tranquility, seemingly no different from before.

However, it is not entirely the same as before, without any changes.

When Zhong Ying and the others came to their senses, they realized that the sky outside the window was already turning a pale white.

Now she doesn't need to rest or sleep anymore.

Zhong Ying felt a moment of remorse for wasting her time and energy on such things.

But the solid chest of the pale-skinned man in front of him was covered with a thin layer of moisture, which shimmered faintly in the morning light, and the muscles in his waist and abdomen were still taut from the lingering pleasure of the previous encounter.

Driven by lust, Zhong Ying flipped over and pinned Li Linshi beneath her.

Doing this kind of thing is definitely more enjoyable than sleeping.

Despite the absurdity of the entire night, Zhong Ying seemed to have been fully recharged, and she rode her bicycle to the provincial capital with great enthusiasm.

Tonggan Production Team was officially designated as one of the pilot projects for "South Tea to the North". As the team leader, Zhong Ying was to attend an experience exchange meeting jointly held by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the provincial capital.

Although Zhong Ying can guarantee that the transplanted tea trees will survive on Ying Mountain, she feels it is still necessary to learn from the experience of her predecessors on how to cultivate them to obtain tea with better taste. She believes that human wisdom should not be underestimated.

From the Tonggan production team to the town commune, then to the county seat, and finally to the provincial capital, Zhong Ying couldn't help but sigh silently, realizing that she had truly gone further and further away.

A young, attractive woman traveling alone is bound to become a target for some people.

The middle-aged man observed quietly for a long time before picking up his luggage and walking over there.

Before he even got close, he suddenly felt a chill that seeped into his spine, making him shudder. A strong sense of crisis inexplicably rose in his heart, as if if he took another step forward, he would encounter something terrible.

Feeling apprehensive, the man abandoned his plan to use fake food coupons to deceive the young woman and turned away in another direction.

Zhong Ying stopped to observe the departure times written on the blackboard in the waiting room, and pursed her lips, "I'm quite curious what this person is up to."

Zhong Ying could easily sense that people were glancing at her frequently.

"It's definitely not going to be anything good," Li Linshi said coldly. He disliked the way that man looked at Zhong Ying; it was purposeful and contemptuous. He would never allow such a person to get close to Zhong Ying.

After Li Linshi walked over, Zhong Ying leaned her head on his shoulder and couldn't help but give him a sweet smile, "Thank you for protecting me."

The deity that protects a piece of land also has a guardian deity protecting it.

Four years later.

Thanks to the Ganlin Hydropower Station and Yingshan Tea Plantation, the small, remote, and impoverished production team, which was once sparsely populated, has continued to expand. Even the neighboring Liwangou Production Team has been incorporated into it, and it has now developed into the Tonggan Production Brigade.

Now that the Liwangou Production Team had been merged into the Tonggan Production Brigade, the will of the people, whether for people or for gods, had turned to Zhong Ying.

The local earth goddess of Lawangou is very senior, and it would be a waste of her talents to make her an official under the mountain god. So, some adjustments were made in the world.

Hu Kunxin led a short young man forward. As long as the gods don't want people to see them, people can't see them.

“Since Yingshan tea obtained export quotas last year, the team’s work points have reached 1.2 yuan,” Hu Kunxin said. “Now there are quite a few people who want to move to Tonggan Production Brigade, and you won’t stand out among them.”

The newly appointed local deity, Chen Ben, couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. He also lived in human society and was familiar with work points. He knew that in the production team he had previously been in charge of protecting, one work point was only worth three cents, but in the Tonggan Production Brigade, it was four times that amount!

“That’s the mountain god’s dog,” Hu Kunxin said, pointing to the big black dog wandering on the dirt road.

Chen Ben quickly and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

Hu Kunxin then looked at the white cat lazily swishing its tail on the wall, and Chen Ben immediately chimed in, "That must be the mountain god's cat."

“...This is the tiger that is the companion of the mountain god,” Hu Kunxin said. “It’s just that it’s too big and might scare people, so it transforms into the shape of a cat to walk around the village.”

Hu Kunxin continued, "These two are currently acting as the mountain gods, staying here to monitor humanity. You will be working with them in the future."

Chen Ben nodded immediately. Now that he had met his "colleague," he would have to pay his respects to his "boss."

But unexpectedly, Hu Kunxin seemed to be leaving with him.

"The mountain god of Yingshan is not here now."

Chen Ben was puzzled. What did he mean by "not here"?

Hu Kunxin grabbed his shoulder and led him to another place.

The houses in sight had been replaced by blue bricks and gray tiles, and the roads looked smoother. On the exterior wall of the two-story office building in front of him were engraved the words "People's Commune is Good" in red paint. The new local earth god was confused. What was he brought here for?

“Of course, it’s to pay respects to the mountain god,” Hu Kunxin replied.

Chen Ben then realized that he had actually voiced his inner question.

Unseen by the people, Hu Kunxin led Chen Ben directly into the office building, walking smoothly all the way to the door of an office where someone was coming out.

“Deputy Secretary Zhong, the task of establishing maternity hospitals in rural areas is arduous and has a long way to go. It requires changing people’s mindset and popularizing the new method of childbirth, which is not a simple matter.”

Watching the young woman, barely thirty, escort the middle-aged man out, she said, "I know, but Secretary Zhao, you and I both know that if this is done, it will greatly protect the lives of women and newborns. Our Tonggan Production Brigade had a female doctor six years ago and established an agricultural hospital in the brigade four years ago. The incidence of puerperal fever and the infant mortality rate have been greatly reduced. This is a measure that benefits the people."

The man was at his wit's end with her, and shook his head with a smile, "You're such a troublemaker!"

The young woman laughed too, "Isn't life all about taking risks?"

Chen Ben had been standing by watching the commotion, but when the woman saw Secretary Zhao off and turned to go back to her office, she glanced at him and said, "Come in."

Chen Ben followed Hu Kunxin into the office in a daze.

The room was cool and refreshing. There stood a tall, handsome young man, but he was wearing a very strange outfit: a pointed collar, a very tight waist, and trouser legs that looked like thin cigarette rolls. It was strange, but also very handsome.

Chen Ben couldn't help but take a second look and decided to blame the young man for his broad shoulders, narrow waist, good figure, and handsome face, which allowed him to pull off such a strange outfit.

In a world dominated by plain and monotonous "blue, green, and gray" colors, a sharp and well-fitting suit certainly seems out of place.

Hu Kunxin was clearly used to it, and introduced Chen Ben without changing his expression, "This is the Yingshan Mountain God, and the one standing by the window is the Ganlin River Spirit."

Compared to the river spirit who nodded indifferently, the mountain god was much more amiable. "You must be the new local earth god. You look even younger than my younger brother. I'll be troubling you a lot in the future."

Chen Ben scratched his head sheepishly. Wait a minute, he suddenly remembered what the person who had just left called the mountain god in front of him.

It seems to be... Deputy Secretary Zhong?

The newly appointed local earth god was a bit dumbfounded; this might be the most ambitious deity he had ever seen.

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Author's Note: This is the end! Zhong Ying won't stop there; she'll continue to rise, but I won't elaborate further. Let's stop here. See you in the next book, everyone! Please add me to your favorites! [Starry Eyes]