His skillful technique surprised those around him. Having missed the spectacle, Li Erzhu scoffed sheepishly, "What's so difficult about harvesting rice? Let's see how long he can keep this up!"

...

After working for most of the day, Chi Yan lay down on the edge of a field, panting heavily, his robe stained with mud.

This is indeed a physically demanding job; people who are used to a life of luxury can't do it, and his boastful promise was proven false in less than half a day.

As Li Erzhu left, he sneered, "Sir, you're being far too unrealistic. How much of this land can you manage by yourself? You should go back and enjoy your retirement!"

The people around him had dispersed, and in the silent field, he raised his hand to shield his eyes and closed them in deep thought.

Shen Tangning asked around to find this place, and this is the scene she saw.

She frowned, then stepped forward, holding her umbrella.

The scorching sun overhead had disappeared without him noticing. Chi Yan's brow twitched slightly as he removed his hand from his face, unexpectedly meeting her gaze.

Shen Tangning looked down at his disheveled appearance, her tone ambiguous: "Did you roll around in the mud?"

He was barefoot, his legs were covered in dried mud, and he looked utterly disheveled.

Chi Yan suddenly sat up, instinctively wanting to cover up and salvage his image, but then he thought there was nothing to hide: "A Ning, what brings you here?"

Although he looked exhausted, his eyes were burning bright, with a clarity that could dispel the gloom.

Stared at like that, Shen Tangning looked away first, pursing her lips slightly: "Can't I come?"

Chi Yan stood up, smiling as he reached for her hand, but then noticed his own dirty clothes and hesitated awkwardly. Instead, he took the umbrella from her and looked down at her expression: "Are you not angry with me anymore?"

She couldn't possibly have just passed by here, and Chi Yan felt all her fatigue vanish, replaced by boundless energy!

Look at him, he has a wife to pick him up, who else gets that kind of treatment!

Shen Tangning took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands. Hearing this, she paused for a moment, then said nonchalantly, "When did I get angry with you?"

Seeing that she was trying to play dumb, Chi Yan lowered his head and stared straight at her, saying each word slowly and deliberately, "Chi Yan, you seem so superior to me!"

He deliberately imitated her tone of voice and even her expression perfectly. Shen Tangning's ears burned, and she could no longer maintain her forced calmness. She subconsciously wanted to cover his mouth with a handkerchief.

Thinking that her handkerchief was already dirty, she forced herself to hold back and glared at him with embarrassment and annoyance: "Are you ever going to stop?"

Heartbroken, Chi Yan lowered his eyes: "It's not over yet. I've been sleeping in the study for several nights in a row. Can't I even get justice?"

"Alright." Some villagers nearby looked over curiously. Shen Tangning gritted her teeth and whispered, "Go wash yourself off!"

After tidying himself up, Chi Yan regained his handsome and noble appearance.

Shen Tangning then asked him, "Why did you decide to help these villagers harvest their rice?"

Chi Yan recounted the whole story: "This is the only method I can think of right now, to minimize their losses."

They harvest early to avoid the risks brought by natural disasters, and they are only willing to move away if they finish these farm tasks as soon as possible.

"By the way, I haven't asked you yet, when will that torrential rain you predicted arrive?"

With a slight flicker in her eyes, Shen Tangning said softly, "Twelve days later."

The number she gave was too precise, yet Chi Yan did not show any doubt: "Twelve days, that's too tight a timeframe."

However, he already had an idea.