American Farmers: Facing a Cutoff at the Start

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Lina's eyes.

In this country, whether you're a recent college graduate or a white-collar worker with years of experience, who doesn't have a mountain of debt?

Credit cards, mortgages, car loans, student loans... debt is as common as breathing; it's a part of life.

Enjoying life to the fullest is the prevailing value here; who would refuse to fall in love just because they're in debt?

"Fett, your idea... is quite unique."

Lina put down her teacup, her fingertips gently tracing the rim, her eyes showing even more interest:

"It's like having an old soul from the last century inside your body."

"You should know that debt is proof of good credit."

"The amount of debt a person can bear is the most obvious reflection of their value."

Fett picked up his teacup, using the act of drinking tea to conceal the fleeting emotion in his eyes.

Yes, Lina is right.

This body houses another soul, but not from the last century; it comes from another world.

Deep in his soul was a deep attachment to the land and a longing for a peaceful life.

Naturally, no one wants to be chained by debt.

Being debt-free is true freedom.

"Maybe."

He put down his teacup, smiled, and spoke in a calm tone that conveyed a sense of determination:

"I just want to live a simpler, more certain, and more grounded life."

He turned to look out the window at the vast but somewhat desolate land:

"I don't want to pursue any illusory prosperity, nor do I want to prove any value."

"As long as the people around me are doing well and I can get a good night's sleep, that's enough."

Upon hearing these words, Lina's eyes shone brightly, as if she had discovered a dusty gem.

But deep within that radiance lay a barely perceptible hint of unease.

"You want a simple life, so having a friend like me, who's several years older than you and works at a bank, shouldn't be too much of a hassle, right?"

"Of course not. It's my honor to have a friend as smart and beautiful as you."

Lina let out a soft breath, and her whole body visibly relaxed.

"That's good. I also like... being friends with you."

She said it softly, her eyes sparkling with a gentle light.

Immediately, she stood up, straightened the hem of her coat, and regained her usual capable demeanor.

"Your dad went to clear the fallen logs from the road, and he probably won't be back for a while, so I can't leave either."

"You don't need to sit here with me anymore."

She pointed towards the garage outside the window, her eyes showing a hint of eagerness:

"Lyra has already gone back to prepare the wool. Weren't you supposed to hurry up and get that wooden sword souvenir?"

"I'm just killing time anyway, why don't I lend you a hand? I haven't seen you forge swords yet!"

"Your legs aren't very strong, so I can help you move some wood, or go to the backyard to collect the spent bullet casings."

Fett glanced subconsciously at Lina's well-maintained hands, with neatly trimmed nails, then at the high-quality coat she was wearing, and couldn't help but smile:

"You should just stay here and wait patiently."

"Those hardwoods are very rough, full of splinters. Don't let them wear your hands out. If your coat gets scratched, you know I probably won't be able to get you a new one for a while."

"The farm ground is uneven, full of gravel. Your ankle is only just starting to heal. If you twist it again, it will be much worse."

Just as Lina was about to retort, a screeching sound of brakes and the roar of a pickup truck engine suddenly came from outside the door.

Immediately afterwards, old Frank's booming voice exploded like thunder, and you could hear the anger emanating from within, even through the door:

"You son of a bitch! If I find out which bastard did this, I'll blow his ass out of the house with a double-barreled shotgun!"

"A perfectly good oak tree was cut down with a chainsaw and now lies across the road!"

"Trying to cover the broken ends with mud? Do you think everyone else is stupid?"

"This is fucking intentional!"

"Bang!"

The door was suddenly pushed open, and a gust of cold wind swept two angry old men into the warm living room.

Old Frank strode in, followed closely by Roy.

The two looked extremely disheveled, their heavy work jackets covered in damp sawdust and black oil stains, and their trouser legs were covered in mud.

Old Frank even had a few broken leaves clinging to his beard, trembling slightly with his rapid breathing.

"That dog..."

Old Frank was about to continue his tirade when he looked up and saw Lena sitting elegantly on the sofa. The rest of his curse got stuck in his throat.

He quickly wiped his face, composed himself, and nodded somewhat awkwardly to Lina:

"Oh, Miss Anderson is still here? Please excuse my poor appearance."

Roy, who was following behind, also had a hint of anger on his face.

As soon as he entered the room, his gaze first swept around the living room in a habitual manner.

Instead of seeing his daughter Leila, he saw Fett sitting face-to-face with a stylish and elegant stranger, drinking tea.

Roy's eyes paused slightly, and he looked at the two of them suspiciously.

His brow furrowed even more, and as he removed his oil-stained gloves, he asked seemingly casually:

"Fett, where's my Leila? Didn't she come to bring you coffee this morning? I haven't seen her anywhere."

"Lyla's home, Uncle Roy."

Fett stood up and casually pointed in the direction of the neighboring farm:

"We were just discussing how to make the experience even better for the guests who came after seeing the news. Leila is in charge of the wool handicraft class and said she needs to go back and find some of the scraps of wool that you cut off."

Hearing that it was important, Roy's furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and he didn't ask any further questions.

Fett turned his head and looked at his father, who was still indignant:

"Dad, what happened to that tree? How did it fall?"

Old Frank picked up the teapot from the table and poured himself and Roy each a cup.

He picked up his teacup, took a big gulp, wiped his mouth, and said irritably:

"What else could have happened? It was deliberately sawed off!"

"The cuts are neat and clean; it's obviously dried with a chainsaw."

"That old red oak tree fell right in the middle of the road, blocking most of it."

"Although there is still enough space for a car to squeeze through, the wheels will run into the muddy ground outside the roadbed. If it is a car with a low chassis, it will definitely scrape the bottom."

Fett's eyes narrowed:

"Where exactly is it located? Can you deduce who did it?"

Old Frank shook his head and sighed:

"It's about four miles from here, at that big bend."

"That place is surrounded by dense forest, and there aren't any surveillance cameras. Who knows who did this despicable thing in the middle of the night?"

"Although it's a bit far from our farm, it's the only way to get there!"

"This is definitely not aimed at passersby; it's specifically targeting us. They're trying to disgust us and prevent us from doing business."