BDSMST -Chapter 176 Leo’s Journey Home

Time passed swiftly, with spring giving way to autumn.

In the blink of an eye, over a year had quietly slipped by amid the vibrant life of Woniu Village.

During this year, the changes in Woniu Village were nothing short of revolutionary. The first batch of the “Agricultural Advisory Group” had already taken their certifications and abundant agricultural knowledge across Daxia. They collaborated with local governments to clear mountains, build irrigation channels, and improve soil. Woniu Village’s successful methods were being sown like seeds far and wide, bringing news of bountiful harvests wherever they went.

The militia trained by Gu Yan had also become a local legend in the Jinling region. Disciplined and battle-hardened, they not only cleared bandits within a hundred-li radius of Woniu Village but also escorted trade caravans and defeated several pirate gangs along the lower Yangtze, ensuring the safety of the region.

And the blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigner, Leo, was about to finish his studies at Woniu Village.

The day of parting had inevitably arrived.

Jiang Suisui’s family held a small farewell banquet for Leo in the Quiet Mind Garden. Over the past year, Leo’s Chinese had become quite fluent, though his accent remained slightly peculiar. His short golden hair, once a source of surprise among villagers, had now become a familiar sight.

He had slimmed down, but appeared vigorous. His skin, no longer pale as when he first arrived, now had a healthy bronze tone—the mark of long days working in the fields.

“Madam, General, Old Marquis,” Leo stood and lifted his glass of fruit wine, his expression solemn. “In my homeland, there are not so many complicated rituals. I simply want to say thank you. You have shown me a completely new world.”

He opened a large suitcase he had brought with him. Inside were not treasures of gold and silver, but thick notebooks. He handed one to Jiang Suisui.

She opened it to see densely written notes in Leo’s mother tongue, accompanied by exquisitely detailed illustrations: diagrams of waterwheels, the growth stages of various crops, compost fermentation steps, and even the internal structure of the mechanical wooden bird Gu Xuan had drawn for him.

“This contains everything I’ve learned here,” Leo said, eyes gleaming with curiosity and hope for the future. “My country has many barren lands and people who go hungry. I want to bring all of this back home.”

Jiang Suisui, moved by his sincerity, took several heavy wooden boxes handed over by Steward Wang.

“Leo, these are Woniu Village’s farewell gifts to you.”

Curious, Leo opened the first box and froze. Inside, small cloth bags were carefully wrapped in soft cotton, each labeled in both Chinese and English with the seed variety it contained—“High-Yield Wheat,” “Cold-Resistant Corn,” “Sandy Soil Potatoes,” “All-Season Tomatoes”—all improved strains developed in Woniu Village.

The second box held a compact, detachable model of the “Flying Fish” ship, along with detailed blueprints—a gift Gu Xuan and Bai Ling’er had stayed up several nights to complete.

The third box was the largest, containing a full set of miniature agricultural tools: a new curved-plow, a seed planter, and even a small windmill model.

“Besides these, we also prepared a special gift for you,” Jiang Suisui said with a smile.

Shen Qinghe entered, carrying a stack of thick books. On top was a printed edition of Introduction to Woniu Village Agricultural Techniques in Leo’s native language.

Leo’s hands traced the familiar text and fine printing, and his eyes welled with tears. He knew how much effort Woniu Village had poured into translating and printing this book.

“This… this is too precious,” he said, choking up.

“Knowledge is meant to be shared,” Jiang Suisui said gently. “We look forward to the day when we can sail to your homeland and see a different landscape.”

On the day of departure, Jinling Port was packed with people.

Leo, dressed in a brand-new travel outfit, looked heroic and determined. He spoke no further words of thanks, only turning to face Jiang Suisui and Gu Yan before boarding, performing a deep, formal Eastern bow.

His back bent low, held for a long moment.

“Madam’s kindness, General’s protection—I, Leo, will never forget,” he said, lifting his head. His blue eyes shone with unprecedented determination. “I swear, the wisdom and benevolence of this land will bloom in my homeland.”

With that, he turned and boarded the ship. It was an ordinary merchant vessel, yet on it rode the hope powerful enough to change the fate of a nation.

The sails rose, the whistle blared.

Leo stood at the bow, facing the sea wind, waving goodbye to the shore. His figure gradually shrank in the rising sea mist, eventually merging with the distant ship and the vast ocean beyond.

Jiang Suisui watched the horizon and whispered, “He will succeed.”

Gu Yan held her shoulder. “So will we.”

They both knew that Leo’s return home was only the beginning. From this moment, Woniu Village’s gaze had truly turned toward the boundless sea.