Ch 30: The World’s Number One Resort

Tang Huai sat beside a pineapple field, pondering for two hours before opening the task panel. Casually, he clicked on the attributes of the pineapple field.

Name: [Sora Pineapple]
Type: Seedling
Growth Progress: 6%
Task Requirement: To be fully grown within thirty days. Progress: 3/30.
Plant Condition: 82 points, normal.

After diligently watering the field for some time, the pineapples were growing normally. Tang Huai checked the rest of the fields one by one. To his relief, the condition scores of the other fields ranged between 79 and 85 points, which was considered normal.

With a current growth progress of 6%, Tang Huai needed to raise that to 100% within the remaining 27 days. Although the task was challenging, it seemed manageable as long as he followed the system’s watering instructions daily.

“Awoo—” As Tang Huai was deep in thought, the little puppy, probably tired from running in circles, walked up to him and whimpered cutely.

Tang Huai picked up the small dog and clicked on its attributes.

Name: [Sora Shepherd Dog]
Stage: Puppy
Growth Progress: 0.6%
Task Requirement: To grow healthily. Progress: 3/30.
Health Condition: 96 points.

Since it had just been used, the puppy’s health was at 96 points.

Tang Huai then checked the lambs and chicks. The lambs were at 90 points, while the chicks, being a bit more delicate, were at 85 points. Though the values varied, they were all within acceptable ranges.

Tang Huai accepted the reality of taking care of this large group of animals. After petting the little puppy for a moment, he reviewed the guidelines for raising livestock. The lambs, chicks, and puppy were all omnivores. Tang Huai could buy feed from the system shop or raise them the traditional way.

Opening the system shop, Tang Huai saw that basic feed wasn’t too expensive. However, with the number of lambs and chicks he had, 1,000 island points would only cover five days’ worth of food.

“Awoo,” the puppy licked Tang Huai’s hand, sensing his hesitation. After looking at the puppy and then at the 80 clueless lambs, Tang Huai made up his mind and bought enough food for five days.

Once the animals were fed and satisfied, they began to roam around the farmland. Tang Huai let out a sigh of relief. He knew that while the lambs were docile for now, once they ran out of food… he glanced toward the Blue Sea Forest. Lambs could be quite destructive, and he didn’t want his scenic area ruined.

Later that evening, Tang Huai returned to the Blue Sea treehouse and brought back a gray tent. He had originally planned to use the tent for stargazing on the mountaintop, but it had now found an early purpose. Since the lambs and chicks were still young, Tang Huai decided to camp near the farmland to keep an eye on them.

Though Tang Huai was used to being alone, the sudden shift to farming and taking care of so many animals at once made his head spin.

As night fell, Tang Huai lay in his tent, gazing at the starry sky and thinking about the ongoing challenge of feeding the lambs and chicks.

“Baa—” After a while, Tang Huai felt something fluffy pushing against his feet. From the sound of it, it seemed like one of the lambs had wandered over.

Lifting the blanket, Tang Huai picked up the little yellow puppy.

“Baa,” the puppy looked up at Tang Huai with big eyes and let out another bleat.

Tang Huai: … You’re a dog. Do you really need to act so much like a lamb?

Tang Huai put the puppy down, and it rolled on the ground before settling near his leg without any hesitation.

The Chinese Field Dog was known for its docile, intelligent, and loyal temperament. Judging by the puppy’s behavior, it had not only inherited the appearance of a Chinese Field Dog but also its characteristic traits.

“I’ll call you Da Huang from now on,” Tang Huai decided, holding the puppy. This was the only shepherd dog on Sora Island, so it deserved a name.

Tang Huai wasn’t great at naming things, and “Da Huang” was the best he could come up with.

“Awoo,” the puppy, oblivious to how common the name “Da Huang” was in China, let out a soft howl of approval.

“Good choice,” Tang Huai was pleased with how obedient the puppy was.

At 11 p.m., Tang Huai stroked Da Huang’s fur, then closed the tent and went to sleep, deciding to deal with the food situation tomorrow.

…

Meanwhile, far across the Pacific Ocean, Alang was leisurely sailing the Great Tang No. 1, marveling at the vastness of the ocean. “Ah, the sea, it really stirs the soul,” he mused, fully immersed in the experience, while Tang Huai was still busy managing his system tasks back on the island.

Alang, as an intelligent AI, has a complete identity setup. Officially, he is identified as a Mongolian with multiple passports, including those from the U.S. and Mexico. Alang can sail the Great Tang No. 1 freely within a 3,000 nautical mile radius around Sora Island.

Although Atalanta can’t leave the Pacific Ocean, he’s quite content with his current life. The Great Tang No. 1 No. 1 is well-fueled, allowing him to sail for over a month at sea. On this particular day, after setting the ship’s course, Alang relaxed on the deck, basking in the sun.

Wearing oversized sunglasses left behind by the former crew, Alang felt that they perfectly complemented his captain’s aura.

“Captain, there’s a call from Sora Island!” shouted the only operator from the third deck.

Alang’s expression immediately fell. A call from Sora Island could only mean one thing—Tang Huai.

Alang wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard, but with the system’s agreement in place, he begrudgingly returned to the captain’s cabin.

“Where are you now?” Tang Huai wasted no time, getting straight to the point. At that moment, the morning sun was slowly rising, and Tang Huai was busy herding sheep with one hand and feeding chickens with the other, embodying a serene pastoral lifestyle reminiscent of rural China.

It was the fourth day of his task, and after a night of consideration, Tang Huai decided to purchase some feed for the animals. Since there was nothing available on Sora Island, he contacted Hank, who agreed to help purchase the feed and have Alang deliver it.

“Near Hawaii,” Alang replied, his eyes darting around. After not speaking to Tang Huai for a while, his loyalty had dropped back down to 49, and now he was starting to act a bit sneakily.

“The feed will be ready in two days. I need you to transport it to Sora Island as soon as possible. Don’t forget, without enough island points, the Great Tang No. 1 won’t be able to sail,” Tang Huai said, frowning. He could easily tell Alang wasn’t being truthful—Alang wasn’t used to lying.

“Are you threatening me?” Alang snapped. In truth, he wasn’t near Hawaii at all; he was actually closer to Clipperton Island. If he set sail now for Guerrero Port, it would take about a day and a half. Alang’s low loyalty made him act somewhat defiant.

“It’s not a threat. You’re aware of the island’s financial situation. The monthly crew fee of 60,000 is no small sum. I can cover the first month for you, but after that… sorry, I need to see your value,” Tang Huai said in a calm, firm tone. Alang was like a wild beast that refused to be tamed. Tang Huai didn’t like the idea of forcefully destroying him, but if Alang kept playing games, he’d have no choice but to cut him loose.

“I get it,” Alang muttered, his expression flickering with uncertainty.

Tang Huai gave him a few more instructions before decisively ending the call.

Alang was really infuriating.

…

“Baa—” In Sora Island’s second zone, a flock of lambs roamed freely. This zone featured the yellow soil canyon terrain, separated by a mountain from the Blue Sea scenic area. To prevent the lambs from damaging the landscape, Tang Huai decided to let them graze in the second zone during the day and return them to the farmland at night.

After observing for two days, Tang Huai discovered a small stream at the base of the second zone’s mountain. Though the stream was nearly dry, it still trickled enough water—just enough for the 80 lambs to drink. This was a pleasant surprise, as providing water for such a large flock could have been a major issue.

Tang Huai tied a red ribbon around the lead sheep’s horn so he only needed to keep an eye on it. As for the chicks… Tang Huai had built a simple chicken coop. The chicks were still small, so they couldn’t get out for now. Tang Huai felt somewhat relieved.

“Howl—”

“Baa-baa—”

In the sheep-grazing base of Zone Two, Da Huang was running wildly among the lambs. Some lambs were startled and let out “baa-baa” sounds, while Da Huang happily rolled around nearby.

Name: Sora Shepherd Dog
Status: Puppy Stage
Growth Progress: 7%

A dog’s early stages are typically divided into weaning, puppyhood, growth period, and full adulthood. Normally, a dog transitions from weaning to full adulthood in about a year and a half. Since Da Huang was provided by the system, he skipped the weaning phase, and Tang Huai needed to raise him to full adulthood within 26 days.

Watching Da Huang interact with the lambs, Tang Huai sat on the ground, took out his phone, and began searching for keywords like “guide to planting and feeding animals” and “quick guide to becoming an agricultural tycoon.”

Tang Huai needed to master this business fast…

…

“Here we have three tons of soybean straw powder and five tons of hay. There’s also one ton of dog food and chicken feed each. These are premium feeds, enough to sustain 100 sheep and 50 chickens for two months. In Container 1, there are various supplies… Is Sora Island shifting from tourism to becoming a farmstead now?”

While Tang Huai was busy herding and feeding, Alang finally arrived at Guerrero Port after two days of sailing. Hank had already packed the feed into containers. Hank was puzzled—the feed altogether cost less than 3,000 USD, while operating the Great Tang No. 1, a mid-sized ship, would cost at least 5,000 USD in labor and fuel.

Using the Great Tang No. 1 to transport feed seemed like a losing proposition.

There are plenty of natural pastures in North America, so Sora Island had no particular advantage if it switched to farming. In Hank’s view, selling Sora Island would be the most reasonable decision.

“I don’t know,” Alang muttered as he directed the crew to load the containers. The Great Tang No. 1 was a modern ship, so no manual labor was required, as everything was automated.

Alang wasn’t comfortable interacting with strangers, but Tang Huai had specifically instructed him to be “friendly.” Remembering the looming ship fees for next month, Alang forced himself to be “friendly.”

“The Great Tang No. 1 is even better than it looks in the photos,” Hank commented casually as he wandered around the ship.

It was Hank’s first time seeing the Great Tang No. 1 in person. The ship, though over a decade old, had been repainted by both its previous owner, Pang Dafu, and Tang Huai more recently. Despite its age, the vessel still looked quite good.

For a ship worth over 700,000 USD, it was hard to go too wrong.

“Hahaha, good eye!” Alang was about to head back to the captain’s cabin but burst out laughing when he heard Hank’s compliment.

This blonde, blue-eyed Mexican clearly knew his stuff!

Alang had a passion for the sea and was highly knowledgeable in both theory and practice when it came to sailing. Hank, having grown up by the coast, was also well-versed in maritime knowledge. The two hit it off immediately.

“Want to come back to Sora Island with me?” Half an hour later, after loading all the containers, Alang enthusiastically invited Hank. In the short time they had spent chatting, Alang had already taken a liking to him.

“Sorry, I have to head back to Mexico City,” Hank shrugged, regretfully declining. He had already arranged a family dinner, and with the fishing season in full swing, Hank didn’t have time to leave.

Alang wanted to stay longer, but he needed to deliver the feed within the designated time. In the end, he and Hank exchanged contact information, hugged, and parted ways.

The Great Tang No. 1 was slightly larger than the Storm, and with the aid of “Sora Travel Insurance,” it was expected to arrive in three days.

…

Three days later, at Sora Port, three large containers were being unloaded from the ship’s crane onto the shore. Sora Port was the site where Tang Huai had first landed and the first port on Sora Island that Tang Huai had officially named.

“Thanks,” Tang Huai said to Alang, as he looked at the red and blue containers. Tang Huai was a person who acknowledged efforts, and although Alang could be rebellious, he had completed the task on time.

“Hmph,” Alang grumbled arrogantly while squatting by the shore. If it weren’t for Tang Huai’s previous threats, he wouldn’t have rushed back so urgently.

As the crew worked, Tang Huai and Alang exchanged silent glances.

“What do I need to do to earn island points and fuel fees?” Alang asked, breaking the silence with a frustrated tone just as Tang Huai thought he wouldn’t speak.

Tang Huai was momentarily surprised.

“I will earn my own salary and fuel fees. And one day, I’ll buy the Great Tang No. 1 myself!” Alang added, stiffening his neck and reiterating his determination.

Despite his nonchalant demeanor, Alang was harboring a deep frustration. That phone call with Tang Huai had stung him, and he wanted to be independent—at least enough so that in future calls with Tang Huai, he could speak confidently.

“You could help Sora Island attract tourists and transport them,” Tang Huai suggested after understanding Alang’s intent. Initially, Tang Huai thought that primary AI only had a slightly higher intelligence than robots, but seeing Alang’s clear logic, it was almost as if he was conversing with a normal person.

If a primary AI was already this intelligent… Tang Huai suddenly became curious about what a mid-level or high-level AI would be like.

Half an hour later, after all the containers were unloaded, Alang made a “determined” gesture towards Tang Huai before boarding the ship again. The Great Tang No. 1 set sail and left the port.

As Ah Lang turned away, Tang Huai opened his personal panel.

[Ship Captain Alang]: Loves the sea, enjoys alcohol, intelligent AI.
Loyalty: 52 [Rebellious]

When Alang first arrived, his loyalty was 49, but now it had risen to 52… Tang Huai seemed to have figured out how to increase Alang’s loyalty.

The three containers stood like landmarks on the shore, containing nearly ten tons of feed along with plenty of desiccants, ensuring the feed could last for two months.

Since there was too much feed, Tang Huai couldn’t transport it all to the farmland by himself. After some thought, he decided to herd the sheep to the shore.

Tang Huai packed the 19 chicks into a box and carried it. The 80 lambs, however, were somewhat confused, and it took Tang Huai considerable effort to get them from the field to the shore. At one point, a lamb nearly wandered off, but Da Huang, though still a pup, had already begun displaying his shepherding instincts and brought the lamb back.

From the nearest foothill to the shore was a distance of over 1,000 meters. Tang Huai settled the flock at the base of the hill, ensuring he would only need to transport daily feed from there onwards.

Along with the feed, Tang Huai had also asked Hank to purchase two flatbed carts and 20 folding bicycles. Though there were no tourists now, when visitors eventually came, they could use the bikes to travel between Blue Sea Lake and Snowy Village Scenic Spot.

By the time Tang Huai finished settling the sheep at the foothill, night had already fallen. Perhaps due to an instinctual fear of the sea, the sheep only dared to roam near the base of the hill and stayed within that range.

After observing them for a while, Tang Huai sighed in relief. The sheep were even more obedient than he had expected. He was prepared for anything, assigning Da Huang to keep an eye on them while moving his tent closer to the shore.

From then on, Tang Huai spent his mornings working in the fields and his afternoons herding sheep. Near the coast was a trash bin, provided by the system, where any waste thrown inside was automatically decomposed. Initially located by Blue Sea Lake, Tang Huai had moved it closer to the fields over the last ten days and now to the shore… since he needed it for waste disposal.

Once everything was settled, Tang Huai reopened the attribute interface for the sheep.

Name: [Feather Sheep]
Status: Growth Period
Growth Progress: 36%
Task Requirement: Ensure healthy growth, 12/30
Health Status: 90 points

After reviewing the sheep’s status, Tang Huai realized their health was holding steady at their initial score.

Upon analyzing the system feed and comparing it with regular feed, Tang Huai found that aside from the more refined nutrition, there wasn’t much difference. Of course, this comparison was based on the system’s regular feed. The special characteristics of system products seemed to lie more in the animals themselves, something Tang Huai would have to explore in the future.

Now that the seeds in the field had begun to sprout and the animals were growing healthily, everything was progressing as expected after surviving the initial, most difficult stage.

Farming, herding, and caring for the animals… in the days that followed, Tang Huai’s life was both fulfilling and structured.

…

“Damn it, the navigation’s broken. I told you before, there’s no way to sail directly from the Solomon Islands to Mexico.”

“The sailing route’s fine. We’ve already covered three-quarters of the journey…”

“Everyone, calm down. The navigation system’s down, our phones are waterlogged, and we only have enough fuel for two days. We need to figure out how to save ourselves…”

While Tang Huai herded sheep and tended to his dog, a small 20-meter boat was struggling through the waters of the eastern Pacific.

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