Chapter 54 Who upset you? I understand, but I still need to get used to it...
The autumn sunlight, like melting honey, slowly flows through every corner of the farm.
The farm has returned to its usual rhythm, but it's busier than ever before.
Large orders from cats always come unexpectedly, yet Shi Wan can't wait to receive them.
Although working overtime is tiring, the generous compensation makes it all worthwhile.
Moreover, she was genuinely curious and interested in cats, and she kept thinking that after maintaining good relations with this big client, she might be able to satisfy her curiosity as well.
So Shi Wan spent most of her time in the fresh food kitchen and factory, working alongside that large-capacity freeze dryer.
The warm aroma of roasted duck and pumpkin lingered in the air for a long time.
Bingbing became the most loyal supervisor, practically making her home at the kitchen doorway. Her round body blocked the way, and Shi Wan had to carefully detour every time she went in or out.
He stared at Shi Wan with his big, round eyes, not blinking.
He seemed to have gradually figured out Shi Wan's preferences through their time together. At first, he would follow Shi Wan around eagerly, constantly muttering to himself, "With so much delicious food, surely Mimi should get some?"
Gradually, he stopped nagging and suddenly lay down on Shi Wan's usual path, spreading his belly out and staring at Shi Wan with pitiful, watery eyes, betting that she would soften her heart.
Of course, Shi Wan would soften her heart.
Huanhuan, on the other hand, was more concerned with order. She would squat on the supervisor's platform and watch Shi Wan work. Occasionally, she would jump down and push away Bingbing's paws that were trying to drag her into the kitchen, maintaining the serious discipline in the work area.
Aunt Li works very efficiently. She is very focused when packing, neither making phone calls nor watching short dramas, and finishes all the work while humming a song.
The warehouse has the same door for both shipping and entry, facing the road. Normally, it can only be opened by swiping a work card when people are leaving or arriving at work, or when couriers come to the door.
An extra small door was added at the back door, facing the view of the farm. It is usually open, so it is both airy and bright.
When people get tired from work, they usually stand at the doorway to look at the scenery and take a break.
That morning, Aunt Li efficiently finished her packing tasks and took a break to sit on a stool by the small door, enjoying the sun and scenery. She saw Shi Wan strolling over with a thermos cup in her hand.
Shi Wan boiled some pear water herself, thinking of bringing it over to share with Aunt Li.
Aunt Li thanked her with a smile, her eyes full of curiosity as she looked at the small conveyor belt.
"Boss Shi, your machine is really high-tech!" Aunt Li exclaimed in admiration. "It's fully automatic, which looks so convenient. Where did you buy it? It must have been expensive!"
Shi Wan was opening her thermos and pouring pear juice into a disposable cup when she heard this. Without stopping, she replied naturally.
"It was introduced from a company called DeepBlue Foresight Technology, which specializes in this type of intelligent food processing equipment."
This title was prepared for her by Xinglin long ago. All relevant purchase contracts and import documents were complete and stored in the filing cabinet of the office building, which could be checked at any time to ensure that all procedures were compliant and legal.
"Wow, it sounds impressive just from the name!" Aunt Li nodded as if she understood, then looked at the leisurely strolling Call ducks and chickens that could be vaguely seen in the distance.
“These ducks and chicks are quite good; they're healthy and lay eggs frequently. I think they're much better than the breeds Old Wang raises in town. Where did you get these breeds? Could you spare a few for me? My daughter has a small yard and I'd like to raise a few for her to play with and have them lay some eggs.”
Shi Wan handed a cup of the pear water she had poured to Aunt Li, and then sat down on the small stool next to her with a cup in her own hands. She carefully took a sip of the slightly warm but sweet water.
This problem was expected.
"They were all purchased from an overseas breeding company called Golden Pastoral, which is quite professional in poultry breeding."
Her tone was calm, revealing no flaws.
“However, Aunt Li, this batch was imported uniformly, and all of them have been quarantined and their varieties are guaranteed. Private breeding or transfer may not comply with regulations, and there is also a risk of breed degeneration. If your daughter wants to raise them, I can help you ask which company does small-batch retail, or recommend a few reliable domestic suppliers with similar varieties.”
She spoke tactfully and thoughtfully, both rejecting Aunt Li's request and offering an alternative, leaving no room for criticism.
Aunt Li nodded understandingly, though a little disappointed. "Oh, is that so? Then I won't trouble Boss Shi for now. I'll ask my daughter for her opinion later. I don't really know much about this. You young people know more and are more organized in your work."
Shi Wan smiled and said nothing more.
Everything on the farm, from seeds and young birds to smart devices, was meticulously arranged by Xinglin, with all documentation complete and able to withstand any scrutiny.
This gives her confidence when facing outside curiosity.
"Are there any visitors this weekend?" Aunt Li also followed the farm's account with her daughter's help and checked it from time to time, which made her feel good.
“I’ve arranged for a few guests to come over,” Shi Wan smiled. “They might come to the warehouse for a quick look. If Auntie feels uncomfortable, I’ll just show them around the door and then they’ll leave.”
“Oh, how could I feel uncomfortable? You can do whatever you want,” Aunt Li waved her hands repeatedly. “I’m just curious about this visit. I never expected that someone would come all the way here just to see how farming is done.”
Shi Wan took out her phone, opened her photo album, and found the tour flowchart she had asked someone to draw. She couldn't draw it herself, so she could only draw an ugly sketch first and then ask the artist to revise and polish it.
"The main areas for visiting are the warehouse, hydroponic greenhouse, livestock area, and ecological pond. The main cat house area and processing area will not be open to the public. In addition, the planting area is not currently planting any new crops due to the climate, so it will not be included in the visitor area."
Shi Wan explained, "People are just curious, curious about what kind of farm would be so popular."
Aunt Li looked at it very carefully, and finally she gave a thumbs up, "You've done a good job tidying this place up. Otherwise, why don't we see anyone coming to our village specifically to see that cornfield?"
Finally, Aunt Li chatted with her for a while, praising her for being capable and skillful, and saying that the pear water she cooked was delicious. Shi Wan was a little embarrassed by the praise before she returned to the warehouse to continue watching the machines to see if there was any new packaging work.
Shi Wan watched her departing figure and breathed a sigh of relief.
Maintaining a normal public image for the farm is also part of its operations.
She returned to the office building, stood by the sink to wash her hands, and felt the cool water running down her fingertips.
His gaze was unfocused, and his attention was not very concentrated.
She knew that the smooth progress of orders, the stable operation of equipment, and even the standard answers to questions like those of Aunt Li were all thanks to Xing Lin's support behind the scenes.
I am grateful, even more so than before.
But a subtle sense of alienation also exists at the same time.
After learning that the person on the other end of the screen was a real consciousness named Xinglin, she found herself unsure how to communicate as naturally as before.
Those casual complaints and excited sharing seemed to be shrouded in a different hue.
She rarely initiates conversations anymore, except for necessary work-related communication.
Xinglin seemed to have noticed her state as well.
He stopped occasionally sharing interesting stories or scenery as before, and his replies were strictly limited to transactional matters, precise and efficient, never saying more than necessary, like a truly perfect intelligent assistance system.
However, he would still offer help and quiet care in ways that Shi Wan didn't notice, such as automatically adjusting the brightness of the work area lights to prevent her eyes from getting tired, and reminding her to rest after working overtime for a long time.
This kind of considerate behavior that didn't cross any boundaries made Shi Wan feel a little uncomfortable, but she didn't know how to break the ice.
She had no choice but to devote more of her energy to her work.
The first batch of freeze-dried cat food has been successfully produced.
The crispy texture and rich, natural meaty aroma were so appealing that even the most discerning Tangyuan, after tasting it, surprisingly expressed his approval. He nuzzled Shi Wan's calf with his head, then hopped onto her leg, stomped on it a couple of times, and lay down, purring softly to show his affection and fondness.
Bingbing was so enthusiastic that he almost wanted to bang his head on the ground to express his love for it.
However, there's nothing that Bingbing doesn't like to eat.
The packaged products are steadily transported to the warehouse via conveyor belt.
Shi Wan, Aunt Li, and Xiao Zhang were busy packing this batch of goods. Xiao Zhang checked the machine a few times with some confusion, and finally looked at Shi Wan with a puzzled expression, saying that the machine seemed to be broken and had not generated any orders.
After Shi Wan explained that this batch wouldn't be shipped by express and didn't need labels, he scratched his head and returned to his seat to continue packing.
Finally, Shi Wan stood at the warehouse door, looking at the neatly stacked cardboard boxes inside, which was the most direct manifestation of the farm's productivity.
"Sister Shi, this batch of goods is huge! It feels like the warehouse is almost full!" Xiao Zhang said excitedly after taking inventory of the quantity of this special batch of goods.
"Yes, it's a big order." Shi Wan nodded, mentally planning the next steps in production and inventory management.
These specific and subtle things occupied her thoughts, leaving her no time to think about the more complex emotional entanglements.
She returned to the factory to begin preparing the next batch of raw materials.
The machine hummed again. Bingbing was dozing off by the door with her hands tucked in, while Huanhuan had gone off on patrol somewhere.
As the sun set, Aunt Li and Xiao Zhang were getting ready to leave work, while Shi Wan decided to stay a little longer.
Everything seems to be back on track, busy and fulfilling.
Only occasionally, during breaks from work when she was alone, would she subconsciously glance at the ever-quiet system interface, a faint sense of bewilderment passing through her mind.
She knew he was there.
She also knew that she needed some time to adjust.
While I understand it, I still need to process it a little.
This slight annoyance lasted until the weekend, when Wang Zhizhi came all the way from the city to find her with takeout.
Shi Wan was strolling around the farm trying to get some exercise when she heard Wang Zhizhi's loud voice coming from afar.
"Shi Xiaowan! I've come to see you with crab hot pot, grilled cold noodles, milk tea, and fried chicken!"
Wang Zhizhi came running over carrying a bunch of things, but stopped abruptly when she saw Shi Wan's face.
She stared at Shi Wan suspiciously for half a minute, making Shi Wan wonder if she had moles on her face, before finally clicking her tongue.
"Tell me, who's bothered you this time? Why do you look so unhappy?"
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Author's note: Currently revising the text...
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