Chapter 19: A new path in life

Lin Feng was at a loss.

He wanted to change. He wanted to blend into this new world and forge a path for himself, because he was now a man. And in Lin Feng’s mind, men had to learn how to be independent.

But he had spent too many years as Madam Lin. He did not know any way to make a living aside from housework.

As for finance, it might have been his major in this life, but Lin Feng knew very well that he was unable to truly integrate that knowledge into his way of thinking. If he continued down this path, his limitations would soon become apparent.

For the sake of the quiet boy in Lin Feng’s memories, he did not want to allow himself to self-destruct in the boy’s area of expertise.

Now with Madam Lin’s soul inside him, Lin Feng only knew household related skills, such as cooking, gardening, managing the household accounts, and taking care of children. These were the things he was truly skilled at.

Lin Feng also knew the basic arts, such as calligraphy, painting, chess, and music.

However, Lin Feng was not an expert in any of them. He knew his own abilities. At most, he was decent, but in front of actual professionals, he could not compete at all.

His mind was in turmoil.

Lin Feng’s confused gaze eventually landed on the village elders’ kind faces.

To Lin Feng, elders were sages who had experienced much of the world. They could offer the younger generation advice and help guide them through life.

Having an elder in the family was like having a priceless treasure at home.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Feng finally shared his concerns.

"Actually, I don’t know what to do either. I don’t want to continue studying finance. It reminds me of bad memories. Also, the company is already gone, which is the reason why I studied it in the first place. I... I never liked finance."

The elders were surprised.

They had at least expected the boy to talk about his dreams or come up with some temporary goal. Even if it was unrealistic, they would understand.

After all, young people were always prone to dreaming big.

But unexpectedly, the boy admitted that he did not know what to do. He even wanted to change his major!

Usually, the elders would persuade a youngster not to do it. It was a famous major, and also one of the best majors offered by the top university, Peking University!

But after hearing his reasons and remembering what happened to his family, they understood why the boy felt like this.

The village elders, who were accustomed to the precocious younger generation, glanced at one another speechlessly.

Everyone looked at the guileless boy who wholeheartedly shared his heartfelt thoughts to strangers, feeling a bit worried that the boy seemed to trust others so easily.

Knowing his troubles, what if the bad-hearted people use this knowledge to deceive or scam him?

But the moment they saw Lin Feng, the nagging elders ended up being unable to open their mouths.

The boy’s back was still straigh, but his head was lowered. His lashes were cast downward, and the corners of his eyes drooped slightly.

He looked like a lonely, downcast puppy, waiting to be scolded by its owner.

Instantly, everyone’s protective instincts were triggered.

The elders looked at one another, nodding at each other.

One of them finally spoke, his tone gentle but firm.

"What’s wrong with that? You’re still young. Of course, you should do what you like."

Lin Feng looked up in surprise.

To be honest, he had thought that he would be scolded first, so the elder’s easy words of acceptance surprised him. It seemed a little different from how the elders of this world react in the boy’s memories.

Another elder nodded vigorously. "Exactly. If you don’t like finance, then change your major. You’re still young, and you have a long road ahead of you."

He paused, then added with a smile, "Besides, you skipped two grades. Even if you change majors now, your age is still perfectly suitable. There’s nothing to worry about."

"Right, right. Don’t think too much about it," another elder chimed in. "Just choose whatever you like."

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions becoming increasingly gentle.

"As for what major to switch to..." One of them stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I say you shouldn’t choose something too difficult. You are still recovering, after all."

"That’s right."

"If you like, why not spend more time with nature?" another elder suggested. "You don’t have to push yourself so hard. Look at us old folks. We are already at this age, yet we are still healthy and kicking."

He patted his chest proudly. "Isn’t good health the most important thing?"

"Exactly!"

"If you want to farm, that’s fine too." An elder smiled warmly. "I don’t mind teaching you."

"I can teach you how to grow vegetables."

"I know how to take care of fruit trees."

"I can teach you how to raise chickens and ducks."

"I know a thing or two about fishing, too."

One after another, the elders began offering their advice, each enthusiastically volunteering to teach Lin Feng whatever he wanted to learn.

Lin Feng stared at them, feeling the heat in his eyes. He blinked a few times to hold back his tears.

People’s kindness was just like this, making one feel moved.

The warmth in his chest slowly spread, and the fear of what the unknown future would bring him slowly dissipated.

The elders were right.

Lin Feng was still young. He had a long life ahead of him, and there was no need to force himself to continue down a path he clearly disliked.

Besides, who said that the household skills he had relied on as Madam Lin in his previous life could not be used over in this new life?

Didn’t the elders just mentioned farming, fishing, and other skills related to plants?

Those were things he could actually do and learn!

In fact, when he was still a Madam Lin, Lin Feng had always been exceptionally talented with plants.

Any plant that Madam Lin planted would grow vibrant and lush. The gardens of the Lin family had once been famous for their beautiful ornamental flowers and abundant greenery, adding yet another halo to Madam Lin’s reputation as a virtuous and capable woman.

Thinking of this, Lin Feng’s amber eyes gradually brightened.

Perhaps... this really could work!

Encouraged by the elders, Lin Feng finally gathered his courage.

"I’m actually quite good with plants," he said. "I know how to grow vegetables and flowers, and I also know how to cook."

He hesitated before adding, "I have never had a plant die or wilt after I planted it."

The elders exchanged glances. This was a big claim!

Wasn’t Lin Feng a city boy?

In their eyes city youths did not know farming at all.

But at least the boy seemed much like a normal youth with dreams now!

Lin Feng’s eyes held a faint trace of hope as he looked at them. "Although I planted mostly flowers as a hobby, perhaps, I can study something related to plants? Or maybe even pursue it as a career. Do you think that will be feasible?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

The elders looked at one another helplessly.

"Xiao Feng, you shouldn’t be asking us that," one of them said with a helpless smile. "This is something you need to decide for yourself. But yes, of course you can study these things."

Another elder thoughtfully looked Lin Feng up and down, his gaze lingering on his frail figure.

"However, you must remember that farming, planting, agriculture, and raising livestock and poultry all require a lot of physical labor. Your body might not be able to handle it."

Another elder nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes. You should think about it carefully. I suggest that you look up some information online and see what kinds of related fields of study are available in Peking University."

He scratched his head thoughtfully.

"I remember hearing one of the younger ones mention something before. There are some fields that focus more on... passive growth of plants. You know, studying how plants interact with their environment and other organisms so they can grow better with the least amount of effort. What was it called again?"

The elder frowned as he tried to remember.

"Ah, whatever it was, I’ve forgotten. My granddaughter was just complaining, oh, how lazy she was at the time! She happened to mention it to me."

Another elder waved his hand dismissively. "Anyway, I suggest you look into it, Xiao Feng. You might find something suitable."

Lin Feng’s eyes widened in realization.

Oh, dear.

He had been planning to become more independent. Yet, in the end, Lin Feng had still unconsciously relied on these elders to help him decide the direction of his life in this new world.

Still, Lin Feng felt that he had made progress!

At least now, he had finally found a possible path.

There was still plenty of room for him to improve himself, but for the first time since arriving in this world, Lin Feng felt as though he could see a faint ray of hope on how he should live his new life.

Lin Feng smiled shyly at the elders and nodded.

"Thank you, kind elders, for your advice. I’ll make sure to look into it and learn everything I can before making a decision."

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