The tension of the audit storm had barely passed when Lin Feng found himself facing a new kind of pressure—one not from government departments or paperwork, but from the momentum of success itself.
He stood before the large whiteboard in his rented office space, marker in hand, silently reviewing the network he had built in less than six months.
Five registered companies.
Three rental warehouses.
Ten part-time delivery drivers.
One accountant.
Zero real farms.
Everything on the surface looked like a complex but legitimate small agricultural network.
But in truth, all goods still came from one source—the inner realm.
And Lin Feng was the only person who knew.
---
The Chen Valley Naturals audit had left a deep impression on him. The officials had been polite, but he had sensed their curiosity. The questions, the way their eyes scanned for inconsistencies—it had been a close call.
They hadn't found anything this time.
But he knew: the bigger he got, the more they'd come.
And he needed to be ready before they knocked again.
---
In the inner realm, the pace of activity accelerated.
Lin Feng used the accelerated time advantage aggressively now, spending what felt like weeks inside each night to reorganize and scale his operations.
First, he created a zoning map for better production planning:
North zone: Dedicated to vegetables—bok choy, scallions, peppers, tomatoes, leafy greens.
East zone: Fruit trees—jujube, apricot, citrus, and dragon fruit.
South zone: Animal husbandry—free-range chickens, ducks, and a few goats.
West zone: Precious resources—test patches for medicinal herbs, bamboo, and trees for timber.
Center zone: A spring-fed pond now upgraded with natural filters, home to over 500 fish.
He installed wooden signs at each zone. Even if no one else could ever see it, Lin Feng treated the realm like a sacred land. Organized. Efficient. Alive.
He began experimenting with controlled planting schedules—staggering harvests to match real-world seasons.
That way, even if someone checked his inventory, it would match external seasonal patterns.
It was a small touch.
But it showed just how serious Lin Feng was about staying invisible.
---
Back in the real world, Liu Ying brought news of a promising new logistics app called RuralChain—a decentralized distribution system that allowed verified small farmers to list produce and schedule pickups directly with local trucks and warehouse hubs.
"It's getting government subsidies," she explained. "They're encouraging more rural trade tech."
Lin Feng's eyes lit up.
"Can we onboard as a 'demo user'?"
"I already submitted an application. I listed Chen Valley as an organic micro-grower. If we're accepted, we'll get higher search visibility and platform marketing."
Smart move.
RuralChain wasn't just another app.
It was a shield.
A way to explain unusual logistics routes, low delivery costs, and multi-region sourcing. If government departments asked in the future, he could say: "We're on a shared network. Our drivers are shared, too."
It gave him space.
And space, for a man like Lin Feng, was power.
---
Days later, while overseeing packaging at the Blooming Ridge Co. warehouse, he received a visitor.
A slender woman, early thirties, with short hair and confident posture.
She held up a business card:
Xu Yuhan — Project Officer, Evergreen Public Welfare Foundation
"We're visiting regional organic businesses for an upcoming sustainable living segment," she explained. "Your products have a great reputation online. May I have a few minutes?"
Lin Feng studied her face for a second.
Calm eyes. Not pushy. Not fake.
He nodded.
"Sure. Step into the office."
---
That was the first time Lin Feng sat across from Xu Yuhan, not yet knowing she would become the most important person in his life.
She asked precise questions—not just about products, but about philosophy.
"What does your brand believe in?"
"What are your sourcing principles?"
"What do you consider a successful harvest?"
He answered cautiously at first, keeping to the story. But her earnestness was disarming.
"We try to work with nature, not against it," he said eventually. "Healthy soil, clean water. Simple goals, but hard to protect."
Yuhan nodded, smiling faintly. "That's rare. Many just copy big brands and slap 'green' on the label."
She stood up after thirty minutes, offering a handshake.
"I'd like to include Chen Valley in our feature. It's not a commercial—you won't have to pay. Just a two-minute video, to raise awareness."
Lin Feng hesitated.
But eventually agreed.
This could be useful.
She gave him a second card. "If you ever want help with public trust, branding, or community outreach, call me. It's what we do."
---
After she left, Lin Feng stood at the doorway for a long while.
For the first time in a long time, he wasn't thinking about logistics or permits or supply chains.
He was thinking about her.
---
Back in the inner realm, the flowers of his citrus trees had bloomed early.
Their fragrance carried far, even in the still night.
Lin Feng stood near the pond, gazing at the moon's reflection, turning Xu Yuhan's card over in his hand.
He wasn't a man to believe in fate.
But sometimes, paths crossed at exactly the right moment.
And hers had just touched his.
---
End of Chapter 14
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