Chapter 183: Chapter 145: A Happy Acquisition of 3 Cars, the 3rd County Committee Tree Planting Activity

Li Xiang’s home was a beautiful Chinese-style courtyard, a blend of traditional and modern. The exterior was antique and quaint, while the interior was anything but unfashionable.

After all, times had changed. A completely retro style wouldn’t quite match modern aesthetics.

He had designed plumbing for running water and natural gas for both his home and the Holy Realm Garden. Work hadn’t started on the Holy Realm Garden yet, but the pipes were already laid in reserve, so they just needed to be connected when the time came.

The installations at his home were already complete, with water heaters, smart toilets, and the like all in place.

These toilets had a ton of functions, like a retractable water wand to wash your butt, followed by a warm air dryer. It also had a heated seat function that maintained a constant temperature in the winter, so it wouldn’t feel cold when you sat down.

On top of that, there was UV sterilization, a wireless remote, a dual waterway design, a posterior wash mode, a feminine wash mode, a silent soft-closing lid, a foam shield to prevent splashing, a light-sensing night light... a ton of gimmicks, but some of the features were genuinely practical.

The main reason for installing running water was for the convenience of using the toilet and washing up.

His grandmother was getting old, and using a squat toilet was becoming a strain for her. Having an en-suite bathroom in her bedroom would make her much more comfortable, especially in the winter.

The original mountain spring water source, the "Overlapping Waterfall," was kept. For one, it was beautiful, and for another, it was convenient for irrigating the vegetable garden and washing clothes.

Tap water wasn’t suitable for watering vegetables. If you had to use it, you needed to let it sit out in the sun for a day or two to let the disinfectants break down. Otherwise, it would affect crop growth, disrupt the soil’s pH balance, and cause the soil to harden.

Using rainwater to water vegetables was actually a good option too, assuming it was normal rainwater.

The main house had two floors with a total of six bedrooms and four bathrooms. There was one guest bathroom on each floor, and the remaining two were en-suites in his grandmother’s and Li Xiang’s bedrooms.

Then there were two large living rooms, a study, two large balconies, a large terrace, a lounge with a fireplace, a storage room, and a sunroom in the courtyard.

Grandma lived on the first floor, and Li Xiang lived on the second.

It was a Chinese-style courtyard, and the front yard was very well done. Besides paving the ground, the vegetable plots were all enclosed with attractive fences, and a ring of turf was laid around the edge of each plot.

The vegetables planted earlier were growing splendidly. They had all sprouted, and some had even grown tender green leaves.

The yard had no wall. Instead, some ornamental trees and fruit trees were planted. Three parking spaces had also been reserved, the kind with a roof for protection from the sun, wind, and rain.

The carport was on the side of the yard, connected to the eaves of the house. On a rainy day, you could get out of the car and walk straight inside without needing an umbrella.

It was just that he hadn’t bought a car yet, so only a motor-trike was parked there.

Parking spaces in the countryside were quite large. Even with three cars parked, there would still be room for the motor-trike.

If you parked them tightly packed like in a big city, you could fit at least five cars.

The reason the front yard was designed to be open, without a wall, was mainly to make it convenient for the villagers to drop by for a visit.

Besides, building a wall would have actually made the yard look smaller. Look how big it was now that it was open. There were no neighbors nearby. If he tidied up the surrounding empty land, laid down some grass, planted some ornamental trees and flowers, and installed some fitness equipment, swings, and park benches, it would all practically function as his family’s garden.

The whole village could come over to hang out. His grandmother loved a lively atmosphere, so he might as well bring the village’s gossip central right to his doorstep.

With the upgraded facilities and improved environment, and with Li Xiang being the village chief and the village’s main benefactor, people would naturally gather here.

For the soft furnishings, they had to go to the county town to pick them out. Li Xiang had the three girls with him, and not having a car was too inconvenient. So, as soon as he got his driver’s license, he immediately went and bought an SUV for over 500,000 yuan. It wasn’t exceptional, but it wasn’t bad either.

Then, for the next few days, he took the three girls to the county town to pick out interior decor. Of course, it was basically the three of them doing all the work; he was just there to pay the bills or make the deposits.

Then they had lunch and dinner in town, feasting every day.

"Brother Xiang, let’s just eat something simple tomorrow. If we keep eating like this every day, I’m afraid I won’t be able to fit into my pretty dresses this summer." After one meal, Yao Yao let out a burp and rubbed her chin as she spoke. She felt like she was starting to get a double chin.

The moment she said this, Zhao Xueqing and Lei Xiaohui nodded repeatedly. Clearly, the three women had quickly reached a consensus this time.

"Alright then. But let me make it clear, it’s not because I’m being cheap and unwilling to treat you to a big meal."

"We know, we know. You’re the most generous, Brother Xiang."

"Right, right, I agree too! You’re more than ten thousand times better than our old boss!"

Li Xiang was an ordinary man, after all. Hearing such flattery, especially from pretty girls, he couldn’t help but feel a pleasant buzz, secretly pleased with himself.

Of course, he wasn’t some muddle-headed ruler who was easily swayed by sweet talk. He would listen to such nice words, but they’d be forgotten just as quickly.

He took the three girls out every day. They were also learning to drive, so if it was one of their practice days, they could hitch a ride back and forth. In any case, the three of them didn’t practice on the same day, so it didn’t interfere with Li Xiang’s work.

As far as the three women were concerned, Li Xiang was paying them a salary and treating them to meals. Work was work, so what was wrong with helping their boss decorate his house? With such an easy job, all three felt like they had hit the jackpot.

So, yeah, the matchmaking date didn’t work out, but they ended up landing a great job instead.

Yao Yao joked in private, "Brother Xiang, I’d even be willing to be your mistress."

Li Xiang spouted nonsense, "I practice the Virgin Arts."

"Huh? Does that kind of technique really exist? Then how long until you can break your..." Yao Yao covered her mouth, stopping herself just short of saying something shameless.

Zhao Xueqing and Lei Xiaohui gave Li Xiang a surprised look, half-believing and half-doubting him.

’I’ve heard that men who practice the Virgin Arts are super amazing in that department, and they’re especially... nourishing,’ Yao Yao’s mind started racing as she secretly mulled it over. ’If I can get Brother Xiang’s first time, I’ll have a definite edge over that Zhao Green Tea from now on.’

’It’s just that Brother Xiang’s standards seem incredibly high. He’s completely unmoved even when faced with beauties like us. Looks like I’ll have to keep working harder.’

’Yes, I need to build a more perfect body, develop more bewitching dance moves, and excel at my job. I have to help him run the tavern well so he can make a fortune. Maybe he’ll give me a cut then. A generous person like him will definitely give me the commission he promised.’

If it were any other boss, Yao Yao would just think they were making empty promises to string her along. But Brother Xiang would definitely pay up, and it wouldn’t be a small amount either.

With this in mind, Yao Yao felt even more motivated.

Zhao Xueqing’s eyes darted around; she was thinking the same thing.

Li Xiang had money, so a few days after buying the first car, he bought two more in quick succession: a seven-seater business van and a very imposing pickup truck.

"Brother Xiang, you call this a pickup truck? This is practically a hardcore off-road vehicle," Yao Yao said, caressing the truck, unable to take her hands off it. It was her favorite.

"If it has a bed for hauling cargo, it’s a pickup," Li Xiang said. "If you like it, I’ll let you borrow it once you get your license."

"Uh-huh, I can’t wait!" Yao Yao was very excited.

As for Zhao Xueqing, she preferred the more conventional SUV.

And Lei Xiaohui liked the seven-seater van.

Li Xiang drove the pickup truck to participate in the third phase of the tree-planting and afforestation public welfare event organized by the county’s CPPCC. His application process was finally complete, and he was formally elected as a CPPCC committee member for his hometown county.

Spring was warm, flowers were blooming, and all things were growing—the perfect time for planting trees to add more green. Not only was Li Xiang planting flowers, vegetables, and trees at home, but the county CPPCC had also responded to the organization’s call and launched a voluntary tree-planting and afforestation event. It was a practical action to implement the concept that "Lush mountains and clear waters are mountains of gold and silver," contributing to the creation of a national-level "’Two Mountains’ Practice and Innovation Base."

As a newly elected committee member, Li Xiang naturally had to participate actively.

The CPPCC committee members were almost all in their forties and fifties. Only two were in their thirties. Li Xiang was twenty-six by traditional age, making him arguably the youngest member present. It was impossible for him not to attract attention.

Almost everyone came over to greet him and chat for a bit, and they all envied Li Xiang’s youth, praising him for being young and promising, with a bright future ahead.

’It’s no big deal,’ Li Xiang thought. ’I’m just a CPPCC committee member in a small county. There are many people in the world more illustrious than me.’ However, Li Xiang wasn’t the least bit insecure. ’So what? In ten years, strength will be what matters. I’ll let you all see what the youngest Saint Tier and the youngest Underground City Lord looks like!’

Li Xiang was incredibly efficient at work. Some of the other committee members also came from rural backgrounds and were good at planting trees, but they couldn’t compare to Li Xiang’s physical strength.

As Li Xiang worked, he unconsciously incorporated his Breathing Technique and Body Techniques, naturally entering a state of Cultivation.

Farming was Cultivation, and Cultivation was farming. His every move was in accordance with the Great Dao.

He became completely absorbed, lost in his work. A Misty Radiance emanated from his flesh and blood, making it seem as if his whole body was glowing, shimmering brilliantly under the Sun.

"I’ve participated in many events, and I did farm work in the countryside when I was young, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen someone get more energetic the more trees they plant!" a well-respected, elderly committee member in his fifties exclaimed, staring at Li Xiang.

Another person said, "The Sun is so strong, we’re all wearing hats afraid of getting a tan. But look at him, he seems to be getting paler the more he’s in the sun. I don’t know if it’s my old eyes playing tricks on me or if the sunlight is just too intense today, but I feel like the young man is enveloped in a halo of light."

"It’s great to be young. If only I were this young and handsome now!" a committee member in his forties lamented, rubbing the deep-set frown lines etched between his brows.

This committee member had always felt that he wasn’t old, that he was much younger than his peers. But in recent years, his frown lines had become more and more pronounced, no matter what he did. After seeing Li Xiang today, he finally had to accept the fact that he was old!

A young female reporter who was accompanying them to gather material muttered, "So some people really can be handsome enough to glow!" She kept stealing glances at Li Xiang, planning to interview this youngest, most capable, and most handsome Committee Member Li later.