My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1292 Take Care

In the far suburbs of the city, there is a place that is like a paradise. There is a clear lake, sparkling, like the eyes of the earth, quietly gazing at the flow of time. On one side of the lake is the fishing ground run by Ling Xue; on the other side of the lake is the farm managed by Zhou Xing. One of them is intoxicated by the tranquility of the swaying fishing rod, and the other is obsessed with the fragrance of the countryside. They each guard their own little world. Originally, they should not interfere with each other, but they never thought that the thread of fate has quietly connected them, weaving a story full of twists and turns and warmth.

Ling Xue, a slender woman, has a heart as strong as a man. She has loved fishing since she was a child. On that quiet lake, she seems to find peace in her heart. Her fishing ground is decorated delicately and comfortably. The wooden plank road stretches along the lake. Comfortable fishing chairs are placed at intervals. Under the parasol, anglers stare at the lake intently, waiting for the moment when the fish bites the hook. Ling Xue always wears simple outdoor clothes, with a neat ponytail swaying behind her head. Her eyes are focused and deep, as if she can see through every fish swimming under the lake. She knows every corner of the fishing ground like the back of her hand. From the preparation of bait to the habits of fish in different seasons, she can talk about it clearly. The old customers here all know that Ling Xue is not only a boss, but also a senior fishing enthusiast. Her enthusiasm and professionalism make this fishing ground full of unique charm.

Zhou Xing, on the other hand, is a tall, strong man with slightly dark skin. He gave up the enviable high-paying job in the city and resolutely returned to his hometown, devoting himself to the operation of the farm. His farm is like a small agricultural kingdom, with large golden wheat fields rolling in the wind, the orchard filled with rich fruit fragrance, and all kinds of vegetables fresh and tender under the sunshine. Zhou Xing shuttled through the fields all day long, his hands were covered with mud, but his face was always filled with a satisfied smile. He carefully took care of each crop, just like treating his own children, applying the most natural fertilizer and using the most environmentally friendly planting method. He knew the value of this land and understood that only by working hard could he harvest the purest fruits. There are also some chickens, ducks, cattle and sheep on the farm, which are freely foraging and playing on the vast grassland, forming a harmonious pastoral picture.

At first, Ling Xue and Zhou Xing only nodded and smiled when they met by the lake occasionally, which was considered a greeting. They were busy with their own careers and did not have much interaction. However, a sudden storm broke the peace.

It was a summer afternoon. The sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds and raindrops as big as beans poured down instantly. The howling wind swept over, making the lake rough. Ling Xue was sorting out fishing gear at the fishing ground. Seeing the sudden change in weather, she couldn't help but worry about the facilities by the lake. She hurried to the lake, trying to fix the parasols and fishing chairs that were swaying in the wind. At this time, Zhou Xing was also worried about the wheat that was about to mature in the farm. He knew that such a storm would probably destroy the fruits of his hard work for a year, so he hurriedly called the workers to go to the field to reinforce the wheat stalks.

While the two were fighting on their own, the water level of the lake began to rise sharply. It turned out that the reservoir upstream had opened its gates to release floodwaters due to heavy rain, and a large amount of water rushed down and poured into the lake. The lake water quickly overflowed the plank road of the fishing ground and rushed towards the farm on the shore. Seeing this scene, Ling Xue's face suddenly changed. She realized that if she did not take timely measures, not only would her fishing ground suffer a devastating disaster, but Zhou Xing's farm would also be submerged in a vast ocean.

Without any hesitation, she picked up the phone and dialed Zhou Xing's number. Zhou Xing's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone: "Ling Xue, what's going on? I'm worried about this."

"Zhou Xing, it's bad! Flood water is coming from upstream, and the lake is about to overflow. We have to find a way to deal with it!" Ling Xue shouted.

Zhou Xing's heart tightened: "I know, don't panic, I'll come over and take a look."

After a while, Zhou Xing drove a farm vehicle to the fishing ground in a hurry. He and Ling Xue looked at the rising lake water in front of them, their faces full of solemnity.

"The most urgent task is to block the lake water and prevent it from continuing to flood here." Zhou Xing said with a frown.

Ling Xue nodded: "But where can we find so many sandbags?"

Zhou Xing's eyes lit up: "I have some sacks of grain in my farm. Although it's not enough, it can be used as an emergency measure."

They did what they said, and drove to the farm quickly. Zhou Xing directed the workers to transport sacks of grain to the farm vehicle, and then returned to the lake with Ling Xue. They used sacks to build a simple dam on the road where the lake water must flow into the farm. The rain hit them, and their hair was soon soaked, but they didn't care about that, they only wanted to stop the flood.

However, the impact of the lake water was far beyond their imagination. The newly built dam was on the verge of collapse under the impact of a wave of turbulent lake water. Ling Xue and Zhou Xing felt a sense of despair, but they knew that they could not give up just like that.

"No, we have to find something heavier to reinforce the dam." Zhou Xing shouted.

Ling Xue looked around and suddenly saw some old tractor tires parked in the farm. "Tires! We can use tires to increase the weight of the embankment."

So, the two of them moved the tires over in the wind and rain and stacked them on the embankment. After some efforts, the embankment was finally stabilized and the lake water no longer flooded over as easily as before.

After this thrilling storm, Ling Xue and Zhou Xing were both exhausted, but there was an indescribable trust and gratitude in their eyes.

"Ling Xue, today is all thanks to you." Zhou Xing said sincerely as he looked at Ling Xue's face wet by the rain.

Ling Xue smiled slightly: "Zhou Xing, we are neighbors. Of course we should help each other at times like this. If your farm is destroyed, I won't be able to live long here either."

Since then, Ling Xue and Zhou Xing have become closer. They often discuss how to deal with the impact of extreme weather on their respective industries, and share some business experiences and insights. Zhou Xing will tell Ling Xue some techniques for growing crops, and Ling Xue will teach Zhou Xing some tips on fishing ground management.

As time went by, they found that there were many areas for cooperation between their industries. For example, Zhou Xing's farm could provide Ling Xue's fishing ground with fresh fruits and vegetables as a snack for anglers; and Ling Xue's fishing ground could also bring a lot of customers to Zhou Xing's farm. Those who came to the farm to experience rural life were often attracted by the beautiful fishing environment by the lake.

So the two discussed and launched a joint package. Tourists can experience the fun of picking fresh fruits and vegetables at the farm, taste authentic farm food, and then enjoy a leisurely fishing time at the fishing grounds by the lake. Once this novel tourism model was launched, it was warmly welcomed by residents of surrounding cities.

However, the good times did not last long. As the joint package became popular, some problems began to gradually emerge. Some tourists trampled on the crops at will, causing some crops to be damaged; some anglers threw garbage by the lake after fishing, destroying the environment of the fishing ground. These problems put Ling Xue and Zhou Xing in a dilemma. They knew that if these problems were not solved in time, it would not only affect the tourists' experience, but also bring a fatal blow to their respective industries.

One day, when Ling Xue was inspecting the fishing grounds, she found a mountain of garbage by the lake. She frowned, feeling very angry. At this moment, Zhou Xing walked over.

"Ling Xue, I think we need to take this garbage problem seriously. We can't go on like this." Zhou Xing said.

Ling Xue sighed: "Yeah, I'm worried too. Some anglers are too uncultured, and no matter how we persuade them, it doesn't work." Zhou Xing pondered for a moment: "I think we can set up some eye-catching signs at the entrances of the farm and the fishing ground to remind tourists to protect the environment. At the same time, we can also arrange some staff to patrol the surroundings and stop any uncivilized behavior in time."

Ling Xue's eyes lit up: "Well, your idea is good. As for those tourists who destroy crops on the farm, can we designate some specific picking areas and let them move around in designated areas?"

"Yes, let's do it." Zhou Xing nodded in agreement.

Soon, they took action according to the agreed plan. They set up exquisite signboards at the entrance with warm reminders and cute cartoon pictures to remind tourists to protect the environment and crops. At the same time, they arranged special staff to patrol the farm and fishing grounds. Once they found any tourists violating the rules, they would politely persuade and educate them.

After a period of hard work, the situation has improved significantly. Tourists began to consciously abide by the regulations, there was less garbage, and crops were no longer trampled at will. Ling Xue and Zhou Xing were filled with relief when they saw these changes.

However, just when they thought everything was moving in a good direction, a bigger crisis quietly arrived.

A large business group had set its sights on the land around the lake and wanted to develop a comprehensive project here that would integrate real estate, business and entertainment. They sent representatives to find Ling Xue and Zhou Xing and offered a high purchase price.

"Boss Ling, Boss Zhou, you also know how great the development potential of this area is. Our group is willing to pay a high price to purchase your land and industry. This is a rare opportunity." Manager Wang of the business group said with a smile on his face.

Ling Xue refused without hesitation: "Manager Wang, this is the result of years of hard work by Zhou Xing and I. We will not sell it."

Zhou Xing also nodded firmly: "Yes, we love this land and will not transfer it for money."

Seeing their firm attitude, Manager Wang changed his face and said, "That is not up to you. We have made detailed plans and assessments, and this project is imperative. If you don't cooperate, we will resolve the problem through legal means."

After saying this, he left with his men.

Ling Xue and Zhou Xing looked at their receding backs, their hearts filled with worry. They knew that it would be difficult to compete with such a huge business group with their own personal strength. But they did not want to give up easily, so they decided to seek legal help and support.

They found a famous local lawyer to consult on the relevant matters. The lawyer told them that if they wanted to stop the business group's development plan, they had to prove that they had legal rights and deep emotional ties to the land, and that their industry had irreplaceable value to the local ecological environment and culture.

Ling Xue and Zhou Xing felt a glimmer of hope after hearing what the lawyer said. They began to collect various evidences of their business operations on this land over the years, including business licenses, tax records, cooperation agreements with local villagers, etc. They also visited the surrounding residents and asked them to write down their memories and emotional appeals for this land.

Zhou Xing stood under the old locust tree in the farm, looking at the familiar land, feeling deeply moved: "Ling Xue, this land carries too many of our memories and dreams. We can't let it be replaced by those cold buildings."

Ling Xue walked up to him and said, "Zhou Xing, we must persevere. No matter how difficult it is, I will not back down."

In the days that followed, Ling Xue and Zhou Xing continued to run their business while preparing for a legal battle with the business group. They invited a professional evaluation team to conduct a detailed assessment of the ecological value of the farm and fishing grounds. The results showed that the rich biodiversity, unique natural landscape and the green business philosophy they have adhered to for many years on this land are all of extremely high value and irreplaceable.

At the same time, they also actively reported the situation to the local government departments, which attached great importance to their affairs and said that they would consider all factors comprehensively and handle the development of this land with caution.

As the legal process progressed and the government paid more attention, the business group's development plan was gradually hindered. They began to realize that the emotional power and social pressure on this piece of land should not be underestimated.

One day, Manager Wang of the business group found Ling Xue and Zhou Xing again. This time his attitude had obviously changed: "Boss Ling, Boss Zhou, after re-evaluation and consideration, our group has decided to adjust the development plan. We can develop and build in some suitable surrounding areas without affecting your existing industries."

Ling Xue looked at Manager Wang: "Manager Wang, we hope that you can truly respect this land and our wishes. If the development plan still has a negative impact on the environment and our industry, we will not sit idly by."

Zhou Xing also said seriously: "Yes, our goal is to achieve sustainable development, not to sacrifice the long-term future for short-term benefits."

Manager Wang shrugged helplessly: "Okay, I will report your opinions to the group's top management. However, you also have to know that the current situation is much more complicated than before."

After many consultations and negotiations, the business group finally proposed a new plan. They will develop a real estate project farther away from the lake, but will fully consider the protection and integration of the surrounding environment during the design and construction process.