Chapter 29: It Really Is Just a Tiny Price!

Qin Lin watched Chen Dabe bring people over to help and instructed, "Pour these fish into the fish pond."

The villa originally had a fishing program where tourists could rent rods, catch fish, weigh them, and then have them prepared—either steamed or grilled. For those visiting the villa, this was part of the fun. However, when he bought the farm, the pond was completely empty. He needed to restock it, and these wild fish would serve as a great selling point. Besides fishing, tourists could also buy fish directly from the lobby to have them prepared, though that required separate arrangements. Generally, no matter if they knew how to fish or not, visitors to a farmhouse resort would usually rent a rod to try, even if they likely wouldn't catch anything.

Chen Dabe didn't waste words; he immediately led his team to the truck and directed two security guards to unload the large water barrels.

"What huge fish!" a security guard exclaimed, clearly spotting the big catch.

"This one must be over 30 pounds! And there's more than one!" another guard added in surprise.

Master Lin, the chef, was drawn over. He peered into the barrels and asked in astonishment, "Boss, are these all wild-caught?"

"Good eye, Master Lin," Qin Lin said with a smile.

"Extraordinary, simply extraordinary." Master Lin, who knew his trade, was full of wonder. "So many wild fish of this size—especially these big ones. Each one is worth at least 2,000, and even then, money can't always buy them. Boss, you must have paid a steep price to get these, right?"

"Just a small price!" Qin Lin laughed.

Wasn't it just a small price? A bit of time fishing in the game, a bit of time moving them out—just a small price indeed.

"I knew it, you can't get fish like this without a cost!" Master Lin felt he had guessed correctly. He smiled and suggested, "Boss, let's put these big ones in the lobby pool. With wild fish this large, just having them on display will be a draw."

"Sure!" Qin Lin nodded. He could always bring more big ones for the pond later. However, he intended to strictly control the number of these large specimens. They were rarely seen in the market, so it wasn't suitable to display too many, and the price was beyond what an average person could afford. Besides, keeping one back for guests or personal consumption was a better way to show hospitality.

After handing over the barrels to Chen Dabe and Master Lin, he called Gao Yaoyao over.

"Boss, do you need something?" Gao Yaoyao came over at a trot.

Qin Lin instructed, "Tomorrow, I'm having someone come to shoot a promotional video for the Bougainvillea Sea. Dress up nicely and help with the video and photos. I'll give you a 2,000-yuan bonus."

The Bougainvillea Sea was finished, and to attract visitors, people needed to know it existed. Promotional videos and photos were essential; even the tickets couldn't just be blank paper—they needed photos printed on them. Naturally, a model was indispensable. Since Gao Yaoyao was a pure-looking girl with a good appearance, there was no need to look for anyone else.

"Thank you, boss!" Gao Yaoyao accepted happily when she heard the good news.

Afterward, Qin Lin headed toward the Bougainvillea Sea. From the lobby, a specially constructed gravel path led to the sea of flowers. At the entrance was a ticket office. While typical admission was between 30 and 70 yuan, he set it at 100. For his sea of flowers, it wasn't expensive, but to attract traffic, he couldn't set it too high. Once the crowds arrived, other revenue streams could be utilized, like selling the game-produced crops directly.

The perimeter was lined with dense bougainvillea hedges, forming a neat wall that prevented entry except through the ticket gate. The 30-acre expanse was spectacular; the dense ordinary bougainvillea alone made the trip worthwhile, and as one ventured deeper into the game-produced section, it became a feast for the eyes. The seven-colored symbiotic bougainvillea grown on Level 3 land carried attributes of Beauty +2, Aesthetic Appeal +2, and Attraction +2.

In particular, the three standout, four-meter-tall Quality 3 bougainvillea trees boasted Beauty +3, Aesthetic Appeal +3, Attraction +3, Photogenic +3, and Ecological Harmony +3. The sight was absolutely stunning, making it impossible for anyone to look away. Qin Lin knew that as the creator, even he felt the impact every day, let alone the tourists.

Reaching the central area, Qin Lin paused. Butterflies fluttered around the three Quality 3 trees, and several squirrels darted through the branches. Within the range of these trees, thanks to the Ecological Harmony +3 attribute, the squirrels were not afraid of people. Qin Lin reached out to touch a squirrel on the fence, and it didn't run. He placed a few pine nuts on the ground; the squirrels immediately scrambled down to grab them. He intentionally held one back, and the squirrels stared at his hand as if they knew. Qin Lin smiled and dropped the last nut, which a squirrel quickly snatched before they all darted back up to hide their treasure.

For some time, he had been having Gao Yaoyao bring nuts for these squirrels. They had grown accustomed to it; every evening they would take their haul into the forest, only to reappear punctually the next day. These butterflies, squirrels, and the pleasant birdsong would add a unique charm to the sea of flowers.

The next day, after Qin Lin finished delivering okra to Da Run, he headed to Qin Ren’s He-Feng Advertising Studio. Qin Ren was one of the partners and a photographer with decent skills. Qin Lin wanted to ask his childhood friend to shoot the promotional material; if he had to pay someone anyway, he would rather his friend earned the money.

When Qin Lin arrived, besides Qin Ren, there were a few others, including Qin Ren’s fiancée, Liao Li, and another woman he had met at Qin Ren’s house previously.

"Linzi, what are you doing here?" Qin Ren greeted him warmly.

"Da Ren, I want to hire you to shoot some videos and photos," Qin Lin explained with a smile. "Can you come take a look at the site first, and then I'll place the order?"

Shooting a 30-acre sea of flowers required a lot of work—ground shots, aerial footage, and post-production editing—certainly a full team effort. He had checked online; such a shoot would cost over 10,000 yuan.

"What order?" Qin Ren threw an arm around Qin Lin’s shoulder, annoyed. "Shooting a video for your fruit shop didn't take much time. Don't you treat me like a brother?"

He turned to the others and said, "My brother Qin Lin, I’m heading out with him." This was his way of explaining to his partners; it wasn't a private side job, but helping a brother, which was common practice.

"Linzi, let's go!" Qin Ren called out.

Qin Lin smiled. Qin Ren was being kind by not charging him, and although his friend had helped with the fruit shop before, this time it was too much work for one person.

Liao Li and her cousin, Chu Na, watched the exchange. Liao Li didn't mind; she admired her fiancé’s loyalty. Chu Na, however, was critical. "Liao Li, you should talk to Qin Ren. He shouldn't be so blindly loyal; people will take it for granted. Was that the same Qin Lin from last time? I thought he seemed like a decent guy, but he doesn't understand social etiquette—Qin Ren offered to do it for free, and he didn't even try to decline?"

"Let’s go, let’s go shopping!" Liao Li clearly disagreed with her cousin but didn't want to argue.

Qin Lin and Qin Ren left the studio and hopped on a small electric scooter. Qin Ren sat on the back as Qin Lin started it up. Soon, Qin Ren realized something was wrong. "Linzi, we aren't going toward the produce market street, why are we heading out of the city? Where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there," Qin Lin replied with a smile.