God-tier Farm Chapter 1
A winter afternoon had settled over Three Mountain City in the Southeast Province.
Within the southern suburbs' Three Mountain Plaza.
A young man, his complexion appearing somewhat sickly and pale, moved steadily through the bustling crowds.
His name was Xia Ruofei. At twenty-three years old, he had only recently been discharged from the military.
Xia Ruofei stood at a modest height of 1.75 meters with a lean, slender build.
His hair was cut into a short, prickly style, and he was dressed in a brown Type 07 winter camouflage uniform. On his feet, he wore a pair of standard-issue black high-laced combat boots.
The old camouflage gear lacked any military rank or insignia. Furthermore, his combat boots were severely damaged, with the paint stripped away in several spots like jagged, ugly scars.
Despite the aged condition of his attire, Xia Ruofei’s clothes were spotless, giving him a crisp and clean appearance.
Nevertheless, his choice of clothing made him stand out awkwardly against the city folk. He drew many inquisitive and even disdainful looks from passersby.
Xia Ruofei ignored them entirely. With his spine perfectly straight, he maintained a precise military stride of 75 centimeters per step, radiating vigor and a powerful soldierly presence.
A receipt was clutched in Xia Ruofei’s hand, and a shadow of anxiety clouded his pale features.
“Hu Zi, I’ve done everything I can. I even sold the house Grandpa left me…” Xia Ruofei whispered under his breath. “With these funds, Mother can at least continue her dialysis. As for the kidney transplant, I’m truly at my wit's end. Sigh, I hope you understand. In a few days, we will reunite in the underworld. I’ll give you my formal apologies then…”
A heavy, melancholic sigh escaped Xia Ruofei after he finished speaking.
Hu Zi had been Xia Ruofei’s closest comrade and brother-in-arms. He had sacrificed his life, taking a bullet for Xia Ruofei during a skirmish at the border.
Two years following Hu Zi’s death, Xia Ruofei received a diagnosis of motor neuron disease, popularly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In its early stages, the condition was deceptive, causing only minor weakness, muscle twitches, and fatigue. However, it would inevitably lead to muscle wasting and the loss of the ability to swallow.
Given the current state of medicine, motor neuron disease was deemed terminal. Life expectancy ranged from a few months to a few years, with most patients eventually succumbing to respiratory failure.
Once he grasped the gravity of his condition, Xia Ruofei insisted on leaving the army, determined not to become a burden to the organization.
More importantly, Xia Ruofei possessed a deep-seated pride. Having been the pillar of the Lone Wolf assault team, he could not bear the thought of his comrades watching him wither away until he couldn't move a finger, waiting for death to claim him in a hospital bed.
Following his retirement, Xia Ruofei visited Hu Zi’s elderly mother, only to discover she was suffering from uremia. Hu Zi’s small pension had been exhausted long ago, yet her health remained dire.
Without a second thought, Xia Ruofei sold the modest home inherited from his grandfather at a bargain price. He went to the bank to wire the 400,000 yuan from the sale, along with his 80,000 yuan discharge pay, directly into the account of Hu Zi’s mother.
Consequently, he was now completely broke.
Aside from two months of rent paid in advance, the few hundred dollars remaining in his pocket represented his entire net worth.
As he moved past the new banyan road near Three Mountain Plaza, the environment shifted abruptly. The city's glamour vanished, replaced by low-slung houses entangled in a web of electrical wires and overgrown trees. The roadside ditches emitted a foul odor, and refuse was scattered everywhere.
This was an urban shantytown. In the modern era, it felt like a relic of decay and age. Rumors suggested the area was slated for demolition within the next year or two.
After selling his home, this was where Xia Ruofei had rented the most affordable single room he could find.
Xia Ruofei’s parents had passed away years ago, and with his grandfather gone as well, he was entirely alone; a small room was all he required.
He navigated the narrow streets quickly. The occasional stench did not make him flinch; during his time in the military, he had survived environments a hundred times more repulsive than this.
“Let me go… Help!”
A faint cry reached his ears from a distance. Frowning, he increased his pace toward the source of the sound.
Generally, Xia Ruofei preferred to mind his own business. However, the shantytown was notorious for its poor security and shady characters. The plea for help sounded like a young woman in a state of sheer terror. If he didn't intervene, a tragedy was likely.
He sprinted through a cramped alleyway. Near a derelict house, Xia Ruofei spotted three intoxicated thugs leering at a frightened girl.
The girl wore a short white down jacket and blue denim jeans. She possessed long, shapely legs, and even the bulky winter clothing could not mask her elegant, tall stature.
She had a beautiful oval face, though her large, expressive eyes were currently wide with horror. Her lovely hair was disheveled, and her body trembled uncontrollably, creating a truly pitiable sight.