Chapter 142

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Chapter 142: Spiritual Farmer

Five Elements Sect, Cold Crow Mountain (outside the sect)

Zhang Wanjing, who likes being a dad, didn’t do the things a dad should do. He handed over all these matters to Lin Jiang and Zhang Shuhua, wanting them to take care of it.

After thinking for several days, Lin Jiang finally had some ideas. Then, he held a feast in Medicine City and invited a Spiritual Farmer named Zhong Wen. This person was the one who previously cultivated new spiritual paddy seeds for the outer sect disciples. It was said that his master was a very good friend of Zhang Wanjing.

"Senior Brother Zhang, Senior Brother Xiao, don’t worry about the expenses, I’ll pay."

Zhong Wen looked at the table full of food and couldn’t help but drool. As a Spiritual Farmer, he didn’t have a lot of money, so he couldn’t usually afford such a luxurious meal.

"Just call me Xiao Yi. I’m not paying, he’s paying."

"Senior Brother Xiao, um…"

"Let’s eat first, no need to talk."

Lin Jiang started eating first, after Zhang Wanjing squeezed in, it had been a long time since Lin Jiang had eaten at the inner hall’s cafeteria. It was a bit far and he was too lazy to run, so he hadn’t had a big meal in a long time.

When Zhong Wen saw that Lin Jiang had started, he also didn’t hold back. The three of them ate quickly, finishing the battle in an hour. Lin Jiang asked the waiter to clear away the leftovers and brought a pot of good tea.

"Senior Brother Zhong, this meal doesn’t have any special meaning. I just wanted to get closer to you, Senior Brother Zhong, and also ask about the Spiritual Farmer."

"Feel free to ask anything, Senior Brother Xiao. I will answer honestly."

"Senior Brother Zhong, what does the term Spiritual Farmer mean? Is it something done by growing spiritual paddy and low-level spiritual medicine? Can I call myself a Spiritual Farmer too?"

"It might seem that way to outsiders, but we cannot."

"What exactly does it mean?"

"Spiritual Farmer, just like Pill, Talisman, Item, and Formation, is a profession that covers many aspects and is not as simple as it seems. For example, as a first-tier low-grade Spiritual Farmer, one needs to be familiar with various aspects of a hundred types of spiritual herbs, including their medicinal properties and growth habits. And it also demands a successful cultivation rate. For instance, out of a hundred spiritual herb seeds, how many can be successfully nurtured into seedlings, how the seedlings mature into fully grown herbs, and the required medicinal properties, especially those that cannot be naturally grown in the wild…"

"Wow, I’ve learned a lot. I didn’t expect there to be so much to being a Spiritual Farmer."

"The cultivation world has a history of countless years, and any cultivation profession today is no longer a simple matter. Even spiritual paddies are the same. There are no less than two hundred different types of spiritual paddies. Our Five Elements Sect only cultivates the simplest ones. The advanced ones are as challenging as high-grade spiritual herbs."

Zhong Wen spoke passionately about his major. That was his expertise.

"Senior Brother Zhong, does our sect have any certifications or qualifications for being a Spiritual Farmer? It wouldn’t make sense if I became a second-tier Spiritual Farmer just by planting a few second-tier spiritual herbs, right?"

"No, but our Spiritual Herb Garden has its own assessment methods. Only by passing the assessment from the senior members of the Spiritual Herb Garden can one receive higher-level tasks. For example, I am currently a second-tier medium-grade Spiritual Farmer, and I am able to cultivate some second-tier top-grade spiritual herbs and even third-tier herbs. However, the sect doesn’t assign me such tasks. I can only cultivate them privately and bear the gains and losses myself."

"Got it."

Lin Jiang nodded with his hands clasped together. The profession of Spiritual Farmer seems quite chaotic, with no detailed division of occupational levels.

"Senior Brother Xiao has asked so many questions. What exactly does he want to know?"

"My master gave me a task, which is to help the disciple who cultivates low-level spiritual herbs improve their income."

"This is a good thing. I know everything you do at the outer gate. Martial Uncle Zhang is a good person."

"But this is a difficult matter. We know nothing about being a Spiritual Farmer."

"If Senior Brother Xiao doesn’t mind, you can come to me if you need any help in the future. I will definitely help."

"Senior Brother Zhong, are you serious?"

"Of course, although I’m not highly skilled in Spiritual Herb Garden, I am capable enough to teach those disciples."

Zhong Wen said that the spiritual herbs grown by the disciples at the outer gate are just beginners, they are not even qualified to enter the Spiritual Herb Garden. It’s not a difficult task at all.

Lin Jiang was overjoyed. After all the effort, he was waiting for this moment. He immediately said. Senior Brother Zhong, if that’s the case, then I really need your help. What I think is, to improve their income, we need to improve their skill as Spiritual Farmers. Instead of training them to become real Spiritual Farmers, we can provide training on their proficiency in certain spiritual herbs…

Lin Jiang’s idea was actually quite simple, which is to provide skill training. They don’t need to be all-rounders, just having one or two specialists is enough. Learn something and then cultivate it every year. Specifically, they can specialize in cultivating high-demand spiritual herbs without worrying about the market.

And Zhang Wanjing can also plan their industries. It’s not good if everyone grows the same spiritual medicine. They should stagger it to ensure the market won’t be saturated.

Zhong Wen hadn’t realized it yet, but Zhang Shuhua’s eyes were getting brighter. He thought this was a good idea.

"Alright, I’ll take care of it. When I have time in the future, I can go to the outer sect and teach some disciples, only teaching them the cultivation of certain spiritual medicines."

"Senior Brother Zhong, is it settled then? You can come to the outer sect a few days every month to teach them."

Lin Jiang was thrilled. They would have technicians now, and he could train them specifically.

"Okay, but it can’t take up too much of my time. I’m also very busy."

"That’s for sure."

Lin Jiang said, and when the time comes, he will hire a few more Spiritual Farmers. If necessary, he will give them some benefits. Then, the task will be completed.

"Then Zhong Wen should go back first."

"Why the rush? There’s a second performance."

"Second performance? What second performance?"

"Finally, a chance to visit Medicine City. Of course, we have to go to the Sweet Red Building and have some fun."

Lin Jiang said. It’s been so many years! He hasn’t had a heart-to-heart conversation in the Sweet Red Building for years. So many things weighing on his mind, nowhere to vent. It’s about to overflow.

Upon hearing this, Zhongwen was stunned, and Zhang Shuhua’s face froze. Lin Jiang looked at them and blurted out, "Oh my, you guys still have your virginity, don’t you?"

"Um, um, Senior Brother Xiao, I…"

"Junior brother, I have something to attend to. I will leave first."

"Wait, don’t run!"

Lin Jiang immediately pressed down on Zhang Shuhua, who had a flushed face. He struggled for a moment but gave up. Junior brother had such strength that he couldn’t break free.

"Come on, Senior Brother will take you to see something amazing, and tonight you might even get a big red envelope."

"Ah…"

"But let me make this clear, in the martial world, we don’t gamble or borrow, and we don’t treat others to expensive things. You’ll have to pay for this yourselves."

·········

"Shuhua, what’s wrong with you today? You seem lost in thought."

The next morning, inside Cold Crow Mountain, Zhang Wanjing looked at Zhang Shuhua with doubt and asked. Normally, his son is honest and diligent, full of energy every day. What’s wrong with him today?

"Master, Senior Brother is reminiscing."

"Reminiscing about what?"

"Reminiscing endlessly."

Lin Jiang smiled and said. At this moment, Zhang Shuhua finally understood and shouted, ‘I didn’t do it, junior brother, don’t say nonsense.’

"What did you do yesterday?"

"Father, I, I, I…"

Zhang Shuhua suddenly panicked, wondering if he should confess.

"Master, we just went to a restaurant to have a meal. The food was really delicious. Senior brother kept eating plate after plate and is still savoring it."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"You have no ambition. One dish can make you savor it till now. Xiao Yi, how is the matter going?"

"Senior Brother Zhong has agreed, but we can’t rely on him alone. We need to find a few more people."

"I’ll handle this. I know people from the Spiritual Herb Garden."

"We should give them some rewards, so they won’t work for nothing, or else they won’t be motivated."

"I will consider it carefully."

Zhang Wanjing nodded. He wasn’t old-fashioned. If people work for nothing more than three times, they will lose their motivation.

"We should pay attention to the planning of cultivating medicinal herbs. We shouldn’t plant the same kind of medicinal herb all at once, otherwise the prices will go down."

"This is difficult. It’s the Internal Affairs Hall’s matter, and I can’t interfere right now."

"Try to communicate more with the disciples who cultivate medicinal herbs. It’s best to let them have more internal connections and share their knowledge. This way, we can know who planted what kind of medicinal herb and how much, and avoid planting the same kind."

Lin Jiang suggested organizing a society, bringing people together to communicate with each other, so that it can be avoided.

Of course, there are other good solutions as well, such as finding ways to sell the surplus, even if we plant too much. But that would be troublesome, and Lin Jiang doesn’t want to put in that much effort.

"Alright, I will plan it well. You did a good job this time, and I will reward you."

"What reward?"

"You will know in a couple of days."

Zhang Wanjing nodded. He cared a lot about his disciple’s matter. He had already found a cultivator with a golden core who practiced the Five Spirit Manual, and he asked him to teach Lin Jiang.