The three-hectare farm looked impressive from a distance. Up close, however, Rian saw a completely different picture. Rows of vegetables stretched across the land, irrigation channels needed constant attention, weeds appeared almost overnight, and harvests had become too large for one person to handle. Rian had spent the past few weeks working from before sunrise until late at night. Even with his enhanced stamina, exhaustion was beginning to catch up with him. One afternoon, Rian dropped onto an overturned wooden crate and stared across the field. “I think I made a mistake.” Jojo, lying beneath the shade of a nearby tree, slowly opened one eye. “Expanding from a backyard to three hectares?” “Yes.” “A reasonable concern.” Rian wiped his forehead. “I can't keep doing everything myself.” Jojo stretched lazily before standing. “That is not your only problem.” Rian frowned. “What now?” Jojo glanced toward the storage area where several containers of organic waste were piled up. “Our other problem is growing faster than the farm.” Rian followed his gaze. The serum. The larger the farm became, the more serum he needed. More crops meant more applications, and more serum meant more organic material for the mysterious antique trash can. Until now, Rian had been collecting discarded vegetables, fruits, leaves, and other organic waste himself. That system had worked when he had only a small garden. It was completely inadequate for three hectares. Rian sighed. “So we're going to need more garbage.” “Precisely.” Rian stared at him. “Do you ever get tired of saying things like that?” “No.” Jojo's tail flicked proudly. “I find being correct quite energizing.” Rian shook his head. Then an idea came to him. The village. If the farm was surrounded by people who produced organic waste every day, why was he still searching for it himself? --- The next morning, Rian put on a clean shirt and headed toward the village office. Jojo followed him for a while before stopping beneath a tree. “You're going to meet the village chief,” the cat said. “Yes.” “Try not to look suspicious.” Rian glanced down at his worn sandals and dirt-stained trousers. “I don't know if that's still possible.” “Then try to look legitimately suspicious.” Rian rolled his eyes. The village office was modest, but several people were coming and going. Rian asked to meet the village head and was eventually directed into a small office. A middle-aged man sat behind a wooden desk, reading a stack of documents. He looked up when Rian entered. “You're Rian?” “Yes, sir.” Pak Darto studied him for a moment. “I've heard about you.” Rian's smile became slightly nervous. “That doesn't sound good.” Pak Darto chuckled. “It isn't necessarily bad.” He leaned back in his chair. “You're the young man renting Pak Harun's three hectares, aren't you?” Rian nodded. “And you're supplying vegetables to Ria Jaya Market?” “Yes.” Pak Darto's eyes narrowed slightly. “That's quite a lot for someone your age.” Rian felt the familiar pressure of suspicion. He had faced similar questions from market vendors before, but this was different. Pak Darto wasn't simply curious. He was responsible for the people and land around Rian's farm. Rian took a breath. “That's actually why I'm here.” He explained his proposal. His farm needed a large and consistent supply of organic material. Instead of collecting it from random places, he wanted to work with the village to collect vegetable scraps, fruit waste, leaves, and other organic materials that would normally be thrown away. The village could separate the organic waste. Rian would arrange transportation and take responsibility for collecting it. In return, he was willing to contribute some of his produce to village activities and help establish a more organized waste-management system. Pak Darto listened without interrupting. When Rian finished, the room became quiet. “You want our garbage?” Rian nodded. “Yes.” Pak Darto stared at him. Rian began to feel awkward. Then the older man laughed. “That's the first time someone has come into this office asking to take our garbage instead of complaining about it.” Rian smiled. “I see value in things people usually throw away.” Pak Darto's expression became more thoughtful. That answer seemed to impress him. “You studied environmental science, didn't you?” Rian nodded again. “I did.” “And now you're applying it to farming.” Rian looked toward the window. He had spent years studying environmental management, waste, soil, ecosystems, and sustainability. For a long time, those lessons had felt distant from his actual life. Now, standing in a small village office while asking for organic waste, they suddenly seemed useful. “I'm still learning,” Rian admitted. “But I think I can make it work.” Pak Darto folded his hands on the desk. “Then let's try it.” Rian's shoulders relaxed. “Thank you, Pak.” “But there is one condition.” Rian immediately became cautious. “What condition?” “If you're going to take waste from this village, you need to make sure it doesn't create another problem. Separate it properly. No plastics mixed with organic waste. No hazardous materials. And don't dump anything back into the environment.” Rian smiled. “Agreed.” Pak Darto nodded. “Then I'll speak with the neighborhood heads. We can arrange collection points.” Rian felt a strange sense of relief. For the first time, his business wasn't operating entirely outside the community. He was becoming part of it. --- Before leaving, Rian remembered another problem. “Pak Darto, there's actually one more thing.” Pak Darto raised an eyebrow. “What is it?” “I need workers.” The older man's expression immediately became more attentive. “How many?” Rian hesitated. “At least fifteen people to start. Maybe twenty eventually.” Pak Darto almost dropped his pen. “Twenty?” Rian nodded. “The farm is too large for Jojo and me now. I need people for planting, harvesting, irrigation, sorting, and transportation. I also want several people assigned to night security.” Pak Darto studied him. “You're hiring villagers?” “Yes. I'd prefer to give the work to people here before looking elsewhere.” That answer pleased Pak Darto. “Good.” He leaned forward. “I can announce the vacancies through the village. But you should be prepared. A lot of people may apply.” Rian smiled. “That's fine. I'll conduct the selection myself.” “Selection?” Rian nodded seriously. “I need reliable people. Farming experience would be helpful, but honesty and discipline are more important.” Pak Darto smiled. “You're starting to sound like a real businessman.” Rian scratched his cheek. “I'm just trying not to lose my vegetables.” From beneath a nearby window came a deep, unmistakable voice. “A noble ambition.” Pak Darto froze. Rian froze. They both slowly looked toward the window. Jojo sat outside, staring at them. Rian quickly coughed. “My cat.” Pak Darto stared at Jojo for several seconds. Then he shook his head. “Your cat talks a lot.” Rian's heart stopped. “What?” Pak Darto laughed. “I said he looks like he has a lot to say.” Rian forced a nervous smile. “Right. Exactly.” Outside, Jojo's eyes narrowed. Rian silently mouthed: Don't. Jojo calmly began grooming himself. --- By the afternoon, Rian had accomplished more than he expected. The village would begin collecting organic waste for him. Pak Darto would help announce the job openings. And, most importantly, Rian finally had a way to expand his operation without continuing to do everything himself. As they walked back toward the farm, Rian felt lighter. “Things are finally getting organized.” Jojo walked beside him. “Perhaps.” Rian glanced at him. “Why do you sound unconvinced?” “Because you forgot one thing.” “What?” “People.” Rian frowned. Jojo continued walking. “The moment other people begin working here, they will see the farm. They will see the crops. They will ask questions.” Rian's smile slowly faded. He knew exactly what Jojo meant. The farm had already attracted attention. Now there would be workers. Drivers. Villagers. Suppliers. Customers. More eyes. More questions. Their secret would become increasingly difficult to protect. --- Just as they reached the farm, Rian noticed something strange. One section of the fence had been disturbed. He stopped. “Jojo.” The cat immediately became alert. Rian walked closer. The soil beneath the fence was soft from yesterday's rain. There were footprints. Not his. Not Jojo's. Human footprints. Rian crouched and examined them carefully. Someone had been standing outside the property. Recently. His heartbeat quickened. “Do you think it's the same person?” Jojo's ears flattened. “I don't know.” That answer was more frightening than certainty. Rian stood slowly. He looked across the vast farmland. The crops were growing beautifully beneath the evening sunlight. His dream was finally becoming real. But suddenly, the three hectares didn't feel like freedom anymore. They felt like a target. --- Back at the village office, Pak Darto was still reviewing paperwork when he suddenly remembered something. He frowned. “There was something I forgot to tell that young man.” A few days earlier, someone he didn't recognize had come asking questions. The stranger had asked about Rian. About the farm. About how long he had rented the land. And, most importantly, about how Rian could produce such unusually large vegetables so quickly. Pak Darto had thought nothing of it at the time. Now, however, something about those questions felt wrong. Meanwhile, on the farm, Rian stood beside Jojo in silence. The wind moved through the rows of crops. Neither of them spoke. Then Jojo's deep voice finally broke the silence. “Rian.” “Yes?” “Our farm is growing.” Rian nodded. “And so is the number of people watching it.” Rian looked toward the darkening road. For the first time since he had discovered the magical serum, he wondered whether becoming successful might be far more dangerous than remaining poor.

Chapter 13 — A Farm Among the People