By now, Lin Feng had grown used to the rhythm.
One foot in reality—the clatter of delivery boxes, the ping of online orders, the careful deflection of unwanted attention.
The other foot deep in the silent, fertile stillness of the inner realm—where time crawled and possibilities bloomed.
He liked it that way.
But the world didn't care about what he liked.
---
It was a Tuesday when the message came.
He was sorting packages when his phone buzzed—this time, not with another order, but with a formal inquiry.
[Hello, Mr. Lin. This is Li Qing from FreshBrew. Our brand team came across your farm and would love to explore a supply partnership. Please let us know if you're open to collaboration.]
Lin Feng frowned, wiping sweat from his brow.
FreshBrew.
He'd heard the name before.
Trendy urban café chain—known for its botanical drinks, eco-friendly packaging, and minimalist aesthetic. They had outlets in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and were rumored to be expanding toward Hangzhou and Xiamen.
It wasn't some fly-by-night vendor.
This was real attention.
He tapped the screen, hesitating.
Then opened their public page.
The latest posts showed exactly what they were about: lavender latte, perilla mojitos, chrysanthemum soda, organic herb salads.
His herbs would fit in perfectly.
That was the problem.
He paced a little before replying with cautious professionalism.
> [Hello Ms. Li, thank you for your message. I'm currently handling all farm operations myself and working with limited supply. I'm open to a conversation, but long-term scaling is still under evaluation.]
She responded within an hour.
> [Understood. Would you be open to a casual chat this week? No commitments—just exploration.]
Lin Feng sighed.
He didn't want to attract more eyes… but turning away a real business opportunity without even listening?
That felt wasteful.
---
They agreed to meet at a café in Dongcheng District.
Not FreshBrew—neutral ground.
Li Qing arrived on time, dressed in understated elegance. She had a sharp jawline, clean lines in her clothes, and the kind of expression that belonged on investor panels.
But her voice was surprisingly warm.
"Mr. Lin. I appreciate you coming."
"Just Lin Feng is fine."
She nodded. "Alright, Lin Feng. I'll be brief."
She placed a tablet on the table and pulled up a slide deck—simple graphics, photos of FreshBrew interiors, and growth charts.
"We're currently operating in 12 stores, soon to be 18. Our seasonal concept this year focuses on locally-sourced herbs, teas, and garnishes. After trying your product through a third-party order, our founder asked me to explore direct procurement."
He said nothing, sipping his tea slowly.
She continued, "We're not looking for exclusivity. Just a consistent weekly supply—mint, Thai basil, edible flowers, whatever you can offer. Even 10–15kg per week is enough."
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed.
10–15kg of herbs per week didn't sound like much. But in terms of labor and packaging, it meant a huge bump in production.
More importantly—consistent production.
He could meet it—easily—if he relied more heavily on the inner realm.
But it also meant opening a door to the wider world. Regular invoices, supply contracts, maybe even inspections someday.
Li Qing seemed to read his thoughts.
"We know your farm is small-scale. We're not here to push. But this is a win-win for both sides. We get quality, and you get visibility, stability, and bulk revenue."
He paused.
"How did you find me?"
She smiled. "One of our baristas is a foodie. They follow @GreenGoddessLi. We saw her post, tried the product. The rest is curiosity and research."
He looked her in the eye.
"You understand I don't want media attention."
"We'll sign NDA. The origin of the herbs can be listed as 'Guangdong local supplier.' Your farm name doesn't need to appear on anything."
Now she was speaking his language.
Still, he kept his voice measured.
"I'll consider it. No promises."
"Of course." She slid over a thin folder. "Take your time. The offer stands for the month."
---
That evening, Lin Feng sat alone under a tree in the inner realm.
He'd expanded the herb beds just two weeks ago. Rows of mint, shiso, lemon balm, and lemongrass grew in perfect rows. There were even delicate edible flowers—nasturtium, violets, borage.
They danced gently in the breeze, fragrant and alive.
All of it—thanks to this place.
In here, he could produce 15kg of herbs every few hours if he wanted. It wouldn't strain the land. Wouldn't even tire him out.
So what was stopping him?
Control.
The more he grew outside—through business, partnerships, revenue—the harder it would be to protect this secret.
What if someone started investigating? What if someone suspected him of artificial growth hormones, or using banned chemicals? How long before they dug deeper?
On the other hand, if he carefully maintained a low profile behind layers of shell entities, used fake supplier names, and routed logistics smartly…
He could build something bigger.
Safely.
Silently.
He took out the folder Li Qing gave him.
Inside was a sample contract, a list of weekly herb needs, and pricing estimates.
Herbs, surprisingly, had better margins than many vegetables. Especially if sold directly.
He did a rough calculation.
At just 10kg per week, he'd earn around ¥2,500–3,000. Not game-changing, but a stable monthly baseline.
And if he expanded later to other café chains?
This could become the start of something bigger.
Still local. Still hidden.
But powerful.
---
Three days later, he sent Li Qing a WeChat voice message.
> "Let's do a trial for four weeks. I'll supply herbs weekly through a designated drop point. If things go smoothly, we'll revisit for something long-term."
She replied almost instantly.
> "Wonderful. I'll arrange the legal team and logistics. Looking forward to it."
Lin Feng leaned back in his chair.
The game was changing again.
And he was playing by his own rules.
---
In the background, the inner realm pulsed with life.
The goats grazed under the forest canopy. The ducks waddled through the shallows. His mushrooms, now grown in bamboo racks, glowed softly in the dim corners.
Everything was stable.
But Lin Feng's mind was already racing toward the next step.
---
End of Chapter 7