As he spoke, Xu Kuo looked at Niu Erbao.
"Erbao, do you dare to gamble with me?"
Niu Erbao was dumbfounded. He never expected that Xu Kuo would gamble with his own land.
But after thinking about it, he realized that Xu Kuo had helped him so much and he hadn't repaid Xu Kuo yet, so he gritted his teeth and agreed.
Xu Kuo raised the corners of his mouth slightly and looked at Tan Wang.
"Now, let's include Erbao's land as well. If you win, you'll get half of his land."
Tan Wang was overjoyed. He never expected Xu Kuo to be so foolish as to offer himself up to him.
He looked at Xu Kuo triumphantly, as if he could already see the dawn of victory: "Xu Kuo, you're really courting death! When the time comes, let's see what you'll have to fight me with!"
Xu Kuo completely ignored Tan Wang's clamor and simply said to Niu Erbao, "Erbao, don't just stand there, let's get to work!"
In one afternoon, Xu Kuo and Niu Erbao had planted vegetables all over the land. Xu Kuo then redeemed 100 points worth of fertilizer from the system, and the two of them spread the fertilizer evenly on the land.
As the sun set, the two dragged their weary bodies home.
As soon as Xu Kuo entered the room, Jiang Xiuying greeted him. She had already heard about the bet between Xu Kuo and Tan Wang from others, but there was no worry on her face.
"You made a bet with Tan Wang?" Jiang Xiuying asked softly, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Hmm." Xu Kuo nodded. "Just you wait and see. In a few days, we'll have fresh vegetables to eat."
Jiang Xiuying smiled slightly; she trusted Xu Kuo. After all, Xu Kuo had previously created a miracle by growing sweet potatoes in just three months.
Meanwhile, at Niu Erbao's home, the atmosphere was like a boiling oil pan, completely chaotic.
When Zhang Guifang learned that Niu Erbao had bet her family's land, on which they depended for survival, with Xu Kuo and Tan Wang, she instantly flew into a rage, her facial muscles contorting with anger.
"You idiot! Have you been bewitched by Xu Kuo?"
She stretched out her index finger, almost poking Niu Erbao's nose, and cursed, spitting as she spoke, "That's our family's lifeline! You actually used it to gamble, are you trying to drive me to my death?"
Niu Erbao's head drooped, and his voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz: "Mom, I believe in Master. He can definitely grow vegetables..."
"Believe him? Believe a fool!"
Zhang Guifang didn't give her son a chance to explain, and roared at the top of her lungs, "Go find the village chief and Tan Wang right now, and tell them that this bet doesn't count! Go now!"
"I'm not going!"
Niu Erbao suddenly raised his head, his eyes revealing a stubbornness and determination, "I believe in Master!"
"You...you unfilial son! You're deliberately trying to anger me to death!"
Zhang Guifang was so angry that she trembled all over. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, bursting into loud sobs.
Niu Erbao tried to persuade him for a long time, but to no avail, and could only helplessly go back to his house.
Night fell silently, like a black curtain.
Under the cover of night, Zhang Guifang sneaked to the village chief's house. The village chief had been away on a trip for the past few days, and only Tan Wang was home.
Zhang Guifang gave a gentle push, and the door was ajar.
Tan Wang was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), preparing to turn off the light and go to sleep.
“Tan Wang…” Zhang Guifang entered the room with a mournful face, sobbing and complaining, “You have to stand up for me! My second son was cheated by that brat Xu Kuo, he gambled away our land…”
Tan Wang was overjoyed when he heard this.
Hey, this old lady came just in time!
He was smoking when he saw this and understood perfectly, but he pretended to be surprised, raised an eyebrow, and slowly put down his pipe.
"Auntie, what's going on? Didn't Erbao do it willingly?"
Tan Wang spoke politely, but he was secretly overjoyed.
Zhang Guifang had no intention of sitting. She knelt down in front of Tan Wang with a thud, grabbed his trouser leg tightly with both hands, and cried her heart out.
"Tan Wang, you have to save my Erbao! He was tricked by that bastard Xu Kuo, that's why he made the bet with you."
Tan Wang pretended to help Zhang Guifang up, but secretly he was making plans.
This old woman is usually sharp-tongued and mean-spirited, but she's really gotten herself into trouble today.
However, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we must make good use of it.
"Auntie, please get up first, let's talk this out slowly," Tan Wang said with a forced smile. "This bet was signed in black and white, how can it just be called off like that?"
"But...but Erbao was fooled by that little bastard Xu Kuo!"
Zhang Guifang stamped her feet in frustration, "How could he possibly grow vegetables at this time of year? This is clearly an attempt to push our land into a fire pit! If you don't cancel the bet, I'm going to the village chief to settle this!"
Tan Wang sneered: "My uncle has gone on a long trip and won't be back for a while. By the time he returns, the bet will be over. Let's see who you can turn to for justice then."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifang's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.
Her eyes darted around, and she scrambled to her feet again, grabbing Tan Wang's leg and wailing like a madwoman, "Tan Wang, you can't just stand by and watch me die! If you don't help me, I... I'll die right in front of you!"
Tan Wang was annoyed by her tantrum and didn't want to be accused of driving someone to their death. This old woman was such a troublemaker! His eyes darted around, and an idea came to him.
“Look, Auntie, don’t cry yet.” Tan Wang lowered his voice and whispered in Zhang Guifang’s ear, “I have a way to invalidate this bet…”
Upon hearing that there was hope, Zhang Guifang immediately stopped crying and widened her eyes: "What method? Tell me quickly!"
Tan Wang smiled slyly and lowered his voice: "Think about it, if Xu Kuo's land can't grow any vegetables, I'll cancel my bet with Erbao. How about this, tomorrow when Xu Kuo isn't around, you go and take his land..."
Tan Wang made a "destroy" gesture, "If the land is destroyed, how will Xu Kuo win? Then I can even share some land with you, how about that?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifang was overjoyed. This was a brilliant idea! It would not only resolve the bet but also allow her to vent her anger and get revenge on Xu Kuo.
"Fine! That's the plan!" Zhang Guifang gritted her teeth. "I'll go and destroy Xu Kuo's land tomorrow! I'll make sure he loses everything!"
"Then hurry back, and remember to keep it a secret," Tan Wang reminded her, before quickly sending Zhang Guifang away.
Zhang Guifang nodded repeatedly, wiped away her tears, and left excitedly.
Tan Wang watched Zhang Guifang's departing figure and narrowed his eyes. "Xu Kuo, Xu Kuo, you're still too green to mess with me!"
Early the next morning, Xu Kuo and Niu Erbao drove an oxcart, loaded with a full load of fish, to the county town.
Zhang Guifang guessed that the two had gone far away, so she picked up her hoe and came to Xu Kuo's vegetable garden in a menacing manner.
Looking at the lush green vegetable seedlings before her, Zhang Guifang was consumed by jealousy. Why could Xu Kuo, that brat, grow vegetables? No way, I have to destroy it!
She swung the hoe and smashed it hard into the vegetable patch. Once, twice... she went crazy, turning over the planted seeds one by one and trampling the tender green seedlings into the mud.
"I'll teach you to plant vegetables! I'll teach you to make a bet with my second child! I'll make sure you can't grow anything!" Zhang Guifang cursed viciously as she sabotaged the plants.
Just then, a clear voice rang out: "Stop! What are you doing?"
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