America: The neighbor's wife is so incredibly hospitable!

Chen An took out his phone, took a picture of the "Work Stoppage Notice," and then looked at Gary.

"Listen, bald guy. First of all, this roof is being repaired, not renovated."

"Under Section 104 of the Montana Building Act, repairs to severely damaged agricultural outbuildings under 500 square feet do not require a permit. You can go back and look it up in the book."

Gary paused, his expression changing slightly. He hadn't expected this Chinese kid to know the law.

"Secondly," Chen An pointed to the greenhouse, "this is an ancillary facility for agricultural land."

"What's planted inside is... ornamental ferns. If you insist on calling this an illegal commercial construction, then you'd better prove I'm selling it first."

"We'll find out!" Gary said, sounding somewhat threatening but actually weak.

"third……"

Chen An stepped forward, his voice low but carrying a chill.

"That power outage. You can cut it off. But I assure you, if my precious research samples die because of the power outage, I will sue the county planning department for one million US dollars."

"At the same time, I'll send your boss the video of you not engaging the handbrake when you got out of the car, causing it to roll and damage my lawn. It hasn't happened yet, but maybe it will soon?"

Chen An glanced at the rear wheel of the SUV.

Gary instinctively glanced back at his car and broke out in a cold sweat.

This kid is a bit strange.

"Hmph! Don't try to talk my way out of this!" Gary gritted his teeth. "The notice has been issued! The power company people will be here in an hour to cut off the power!"

"If you're so capable, go appeal to the county government! The process will take at least three months. Let's see if you can survive three months in the dark!"

After saying that, he jumped into the car as if fleeing a plague, and sped away.

Although he couldn't shut down the greenhouse directly, he successfully issued a "power outage order".

In this modern farm that is heavily reliant on electricity, no power means destruction.

………………

"An... what should we do?"

Sarah ran out of the greenhouse, her face pale. She had overheard the conversation.

"They're going to cut off the power? What about the water pumps? And the heating at night...?"

Without electricity, groundwater cannot be pumped out, and those delicate wasabi plants will wither in just one day.

"Don't panic."

Chen An watched the car drive away, his eyes eerily calm.

"They want to play the Dark Forest theory? Then let's play along."

He took his phone out of his pocket and dialed Katie's number.

"Feed? Katie. I need to buy some things. Not pots and pans, but big items."

"What big item?" came the sound of chopping meat from the other end.

"Generators. High-powered diesel generators. And... if you have any solar panels in stock, I'd like those too."

"I want my farm to be energy independent by tonight."

Katie paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, then exclaimed excitedly, "Cool! Are you going to do something like a post-apocalyptic survivalist?"

"I know a geek who's into RVs, and he happens to have a backup power system that was originally meant for a mobile food truck! I'll have him deliver it right now!"

………………

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

Just as the bald man had said, the power company's pickup truck arrived, and two expressionless workers climbed the utility poles and cut the incoming lines to Sunset Creek Farm and Miller Farm.

The whole world fell silent instantly. The refrigerator stopped, the lights went out, and the heating stopped.

However, less than half an hour later.

A modified van covered in graffiti roared into Chen An's yard.

A tech-savvy man with a mohawk jumped out of the car, shook hands with Chen An, and then began unloading the cargo.

A military-green diesel generator that looked like a monster was pushed down.

"This thing used to power field hospitals. It's a bit noisy, but it's powerful enough to power ten air conditioners."

The guy with the mohawk patted the machine smugly, "Two thousand US dollars, a friendly price."

Chen An paid without hesitation; it was the last bit of cash he had.

They even used the 8500 they had given to the bank.

But he doesn't care.

Money is worthless; once it's spent, you can earn it back.

………………

Night falls.

The Montana wilderness was plunged into absolute darkness. The lights of the distant town seemed exceptionally far away.

However, outside Chen An's greenhouse.

"Rumble, rumble—"

The diesel generator emitted a rhythmic roar.

Chen An pulled the power switch.

"Snapped!"

The lights in the greenhouse were turned on again, even brighter than before.

The water pump emitted a cheerful hum, and water mist gushed out again, nourishing those priceless green leaves.

Sarah stood in the greenhouse, looking at the light, and excitedly hugged Chen An.

"It's lit! We have power!"

"Where there's oil, there's light." Chen An smiled as he wiped the oil off his hands.

Because the generator can only supply electricity to the greenhouse first, the main house does not have electricity.

But that's perfect.

Half an hour later, in the living room of the cabin.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, crackling loudly.

Several white candles were lit on the table, their flickering light casting long shadows of the two people onto the wooden wall.

This atmosphere is a million times more romantic than any electric light.

Sarah had already prepared dinner: potatoes and sausages roasted in the fireplace.

The two sat on the carpet, snuggling together.

"This really feels like camping." Sarah held a glass of red wine in her hand, her cheeks flushed red in the firelight.

"It's so dark outside, those bad guys want to plunge us into darkness... but we're so warm inside."

"Because they are outside, and we are inside."

Chen An took the wine glass, took a sip, and stared intently at her.

"Sarah, do you remember our 'three-day promise'? Today is the second day."

Sarah's body went limp. She put down her wine glass and snuggled into Chen An's arms like a kitten, tracing circles on his chest with her fingers.

"I remember... the generator was too noisy, I think... we need to make something louder to drown it out."

That's the ultimate flirting line.

Chen An chuckled and flipped her over, pinning her to the carpet.

On this night without electricity, in the flickering candlelight and the warmth of the fireplace, in this secluded wilderness farm.

Sarah blossomed without reservation.

She was no longer the peasant woman struggling to make a living, but a goddess who belonged only to Chen An.

Every time she went to Sichuan, every glance she gave spoke of submission and love.

Outside the window, the cold wind howled and the generator roared.

Inside, springtime was in full bloom.

As for that Smith, that bald Gary?

Screw it.

Once the four thousand US dollars worth of wasabi are sold tomorrow, I'll pay back the debt.

Chen An wanted to show these people what it meant to be "a wildfire that cannot be extinguished, but springs back to life with the spring breeze."

Moreover, he had already thought of a return gift for Smith.

Since you like reporting "sanitation problems" and "illegal buildings".

So, the construction site of the luxury resort that Hongyan Company is building is located by the river.

Shouldn't we also be subject to the scrutiny of "enthusiastic citizens" regarding environmental protection and pollution discharge?

A mischievous smile crept across Chen An's lips between kisses.

The call to counterattack will sound tomorrow.