mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 0001 A Lonely Man Goes to Nasu
Chapter 0001 A Lonely Man Goes to Nasu
After leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, Gu Tong never looked back.
He didn't hail a taxi, but walked along the sidewalk. At 1.8 meters tall, he looked like a thin bamboo pole swaying in the wind among the crowd.
Some say that the greatest investment one can make in life is "marriage," and his investment has undoubtedly failed completely.
Gu Tong, 30, is not the kind of person who is easily defeated by life. After being "laid off" and failing in his business ventures, he did not give up. Instead, he delivered food while sending out resumes everywhere.
Unfortunately, trouble broke out in his own backyard, dealing him a heavy blow.
His ex-wife chose to cut her losses when his career was at a low point. Gu Tong didn't make a scene. After settling the mortgage on the house and other matters, the two officially went through divorce proceedings today.
The only thing Gu Tong is grateful for now is that the two of them don't have children.
His parents died early, and he had no siblings. From now on, he would truly be a "lonely man," with only himself to feed and no one else to worry about.
"It's only a few months in the year, why is it so hot!"
The bustling traffic on the road and the various electric vehicles weaving through the crowds on the sidewalks only exacerbated his already bad mood.
It's only the end of February, and even in Guangzhou, a city on the coast of the South China Sea, the temperature is still quite mild. What's bothering him is his restless heart.
Gu Tong wiped the sweat from her forehead and, instead of continuing to navigate through the crowds and traffic, took a taxi directly back to her temporary rented apartment.
The rented apartment was small, with one bedroom and one living room. After entering, he went straight to the refrigerator, took out a can of ice-cold beer, opened the cap, and drank it all in one gulp. Then he slumped down on the sofa in a daze.
The sun is setting in the west.
Gu Tong, who had been sitting on the sofa for who knows how long, suddenly felt a void in her heart.
He tossed his phone onto the coffee table, then got up to wash his face and casually opened his laptop.
This computer has been with him for several years, and its configuration is a bit outdated, but it's still usable.
Gu Tong was browsing the internet aimlessly when suddenly a post by a guy caught his attention.
"The Great Northwest welcomes talented individuals to settle down here, with generous benefits... We look forward to your arrival."
During this period, Gu Tong thought a lot. The moment his house was sold, he had the idea of escaping the first-tier city.
When he saw this GG, his heart couldn't help but flutter.
Such treatment wouldn't be very attractive to someone who's doing well in a big city, but it's a good option for someone who's feeling lost.
They offer resettlement allowances and land; if a family of three goes, they promise to arrange a job for one person.
Gu Tong has no interest in work. If he wants to stay in a big city, he can find a decent job eventually. Why bother going to the far northwest?
He was interested in a different way of life.
So he clicked on the relevant link, which contained a detailed introduction that made him more and more interested.
Gu Tong wasn't very good at socializing, but he was a man of action. He immediately clicked the sign-up button and filled in the relevant personal information.
【clang!】
The moment he submitted the documents, a deep, resonant bell rang in his mind, jolting him awake.
Immediately, a semi-transparent light screen appeared in his field of vision, and the ancient characters lit up line by line.
The bloodline of Shennong continues, and the flame of agriculture will be passed down forever!
[Shennong System. Inheritance Restart.]
[Host: Gu Tong]
[Level: Ordinary Person (0/10)]
[Skills: None]
[Shennong Pavilion: Not unlocked (Unlocking requires 10 Shennong Points)]
Shennong Value: 0
[Current Mission: Settle down in Northwest China]
[Task Reward: New Player Gift Pack (Available after settling in)]
......
Gu Tong stared at the light screen for a full minute.
Then he slowly exhaled, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.
"A cheat code?"
He was very familiar with this thing, having read so many online novels over the years, and he never expected that a "golden finger" would one day fall on his head.
However, this Shennong system is still in its initial stage, and not many details can be seen yet, but it is definitely related to agriculture—such as planting, breeding, raising, and soil improvement.
Just then, Gu Tong was also considering settling down in the Northwest, which was like a godsend.
At that moment, he truly felt a ray of bright sunshine shining into his gloomy heart.
Early the next morning.
Gu Tong received a call from Nasu County. The other party first confirmed Gu Tong's intention to settle down, and then sent the agreement online.
The terms in the agreement are consistent with those in GG's advertisement, but there are additional clauses: including a five-year ban on buying and selling the house, a five-year ban on changing household registration, and the local government has the right to reclaim farmland if it has been abandoned for a year or more, etc.
Overall, these conditions are not harsh and are all within his acceptable range.
"Go take a look. If there's nothing seriously wrong, then you can live there for the rest of your life."
After Gu Tong made this decision, she felt incredibly relaxed.
He no longer needed to worry about mortgage payments, nor did he have to struggle desperately for the family happiness he fantasized about. Once the shackles on his body began to crumble, even breathing became much easier.
He then called his two closest friends.
Xu Zejun remained silent for a while on the other end of the phone before finally saying, "Are you really sure?"
"I've made up my mind!"
"Okay, let's have a meal together before we leave."
Zhang Chen said even less, only saying, "Leave the things you can't take with you here first. Let me know when you arrive safely, and I'll send them to you later."
Before leaving, the three of them had a meal at their usual street food stall, enjoying beer and barbecue, which used to be their favorite.
"Old Gu, the world is vast, you can settle down anywhere. We also hope you can start a new life."
Neither of his two good friends tried to dissuade him; everyone's path is different, and all they could do was offer their best wishes.
That night, all three of them drank too much, and none of them knew when they would meet again.
......
After two days of travel, Gu Tong finally arrived in Nasu County.
The journey involved changing planes to trains, then trains to long-distance buses, and the scenery along the way transformed from lush greenery to desolate Gobi Desert.
Nasu County is not a large town, with a main road running north to south.
When Gu Tong got out of the car, the first thing she saw was the snow-capped mountains covered in white snow in the distance.
The air here was dry and chilly, and he felt a slight pain in his nasal cavity, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
"Welcome to Nasu, Mr. Gu. We need highly educated talents like you."
The local official in charge of liaison was named Liang Qin, who was twenty-four or twenty-five years old, had a sweet appearance, and spoke and acted with great efficiency.
"You're too kind. Just call me Gu Tong. I hope you'll take care of me in the future."
Gu Tong smiled and casually said a polite remark.
Liang Qin then put the luggage into the trunk of the car with Gu Tong and said, "Let's go look at the house and land first, and then we'll handle the relevant formalities when we get back."
"Oh? Okay."
Gu Tong then got into the car with the other party, and soon they left the county town.
The wilderness outside the window receded into the distance, while the snow-capped mountains on the horizon stood majestically, appearing serene and mysterious.
The houses and fields are about 30 kilometers away from the county seat. As Liang Qin drove, she introduced some local conditions. In the past month, several families have moved to the county to settle down.
"The county's tourism industry has been severely impacted in the past two years, with a significant outflow of population. That's why we hope to fill the gaps by attracting talent, while also increasing Nasu County's visibility. However, this policy is only a temporary measure and may be suspended at any time in the future."
Liang Qin is a very down-to-earth person. She didn't overly romanticize the matter, but instead gave a convincing explanation.
Gu Tong smiled noncommittally, then thought of a question: if one intends to live here long-term, buying a car would be quite necessary.
The Northwest is vast and sparsely populated. Even a slight movement can cover tens or hundreds of kilometers, making it virtually impossible to travel without a car.
"Cadre Liang, is it convenient to buy a car around here?"
"Don't call me Cadre Liang, just call me Xiao Liang or by my name. It's quite convenient to buy a car in the county, but there might not be any in stock, and you might have to wait a few days to pick it up."
Liang Qin is quick-witted and outspoken, and she's not used to putting on airs at all.
She was more familiar with the local traffic situation than Gu Tong, and knew that it would be difficult to get around without a car, so she gave a very detailed explanation.
Gu Tong nodded and remained silent.
He doesn't have much money at the moment, so he needs to plan things out carefully.
"We're here, it's just ahead."
The car left the highway and turned onto a country road.
Liang Qin raised her chin, indicating that their destination was just ahead. However, the car drove for another ten minutes before finally stopping in front of a detached house.
The two got out of the car, and Liang Qin found the key and opened the gate to the courtyard.
Gu Tong followed her inside, and was shocked when she looked up.
"This...this is completely different from what I imagined!"