26: Old Jianghu

“You and I are old acquaintances, so I’ll get straight to the point.

You’re aware of how the Zhuang family planned to cut down the Medicine Field, but Elder Du stopped them.

This matter is true.

The Zhuang family thinks we’re wasting land and not making enough money.

So, now all of us must increase the amount of Spiritual Plants we hand over; if we can’t, we’ll be cleared out.”

“Thud!”

Xiao Cong slammed a hoe onto the ground and angrily roared:

“Clear, clear, clear!

The Zhuang family only knows how to scare people. If those of us who have been planting for over a decade can’t do it well, do they think finding new people will make it better?

Brother Jiang, I’m not talking about you, but increasing yields is easier said than done. If it were truly achievable, who wouldn't do it?”

Xiao Cong spoke with indignation, his face flushed.

Capabilities are limited; not everyone is Elder Du.

“First, take a look at this.” Jiang Hanwen handed over the book he had written.

“This…”

As he read, Xiao Cong fell silent, his pupils dilating with excitement, as if a door to a new world had opened, revealing countless treasures.

With Jiang Hanwen’s materials, he was confident he could increase the yield of bloodline grass by 20%!

“This is what I wrote. You’ve been in the Medicine Field for twelve years; it’s impossible for you not to have your own small methods.

Even if it’s just for qi gathering grass, that’s fine. Write it down, I’ll take a look, and depending on the situation, I’ll give you money.

Finally, this material will be given to Elder Du for his final decision.

Once the book is compiled, everyone will be able to copy a volume.” Jiang Hanwen offered a pen.

One person's wisdom is limited.

If everyone clearly explains their techniques, pooling the wisdom of the masses, this book, once compiled, will be able to improve everyone's skill level to some extent.

“If I can’t write anything, what will happen? Will I be cleared out?” Xiao Cong looked at Jiang Hanwen with suspicion, his eyes wary.

Although there was a risk of being cleared out, some things were the result of over a decade of hard work and couldn't be easily given away.

“This matter is decided by Elder Du. I’m just a messenger and don’t have that authority.” Jiang Hanwen smiled, his eyes filled with encouragement, as if afraid Xiao Cong wouldn't agree.

The more relaxed Jiang Hanwen’s attitude, the more Xiao Cong felt something was amiss.

Could it be that Jiang Hanwen was using this opportunity to distance himself?

After all, he had blackmailed him back then.

“I’ll write it!”

About half an hour later, leaving behind three taels of silver as a reward, Jiang Hanwen left with a draft of over four hundred characters.

The beginning of all things is difficult, and he had made a good start.

Xiao Cong’s writing was all about the Snake Tongue Orchid, mentioning that crushing qi gathering grass and putting it in water, then watering it at dawn, would yield better results.

Jiang Hanwen’s assessment was that while it was useful, it was rather ineffective, but the approach could be learned from.

At dusk, Jiang Hanwen returned to his room with the book containing the experiences of four people.

With his example, silver rewards, and colleagues softening, and the threat of being cleared out, the carrot and stick approach was progressing well.

“Father, come in for a moment, I have something to ask you.” Jiang Hanwen called his cheap father into the room.

Jiang Yong closed the door, looking at Jiang Hanwen with a bewildered expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“That little thing you mentioned to me before, is it this?” Jiang Hanwen pointed to the drawing on the paper.

Jiang Yong looked, and saw on the white paper a pattern like fish scales, a pointed head like an electric drill, and a pair of dark eyes, one on the left and one on the right, exceptionally lively.

“How did you know?” Jiang Yong blurted out.

Jiang Hanwen smiled bitterly: “Father, do you know what this thing is called?”

Father Jiang scratched his head: “What’s it called?

Isn’t it just a big rat with scales? What’s so strange about it?”

“This isn’t a rat, this is a Savage Beast, called a Pangolin Beast.” Jiang Hanwen was exasperated, his father had mentioned it to him.

After he left to visit relatives, this little thing had appeared next to their house.

He found it amusing, so he used some vegetables to tease this little creature.

Every few days, this little creature would come to him once, and as time went on, his father even specifically fed this little fellow bamboo shoots, and their relationship was very good.

The little fellow occasionally brought him some fruits, but his father was timid and didn't quite dare to eat them.

“Father, don’t tell anyone about this.

Otherwise, both of us will probably be kicked out of the Medicine Field.” Jiang Hanwen said seriously.

“What happened?”

“...”

After hearing his son say that the little creature he had teased was actually a Savage Beast, and that it had secretly eaten Spirit Medicine, his cheap father was also greatly frightened.

“Son, don’t worry, if it dares to come to the field and eat Spiritual Plants, I’ll… I’ll tell it to run away quickly!”

Jiang Hanwen smiled bitterly, his father was truly as kind-hearted as ever.

But this time, he stood with his father.

Although the Pangolin Beast was indeed a Savage Beast, it was also a vegetarian.

If it had truly wanted to harm his father, it would have done so long ago.

This time, following his father to the Medicine Field clearly had the meaning of seeking family from a thousand miles away.

This was his father's good karma, and a few Spiritual Plants were hardly worth making a fuss over.

“Father, if you really see it, tell it to leave quickly. People are looking for it everywhere here. Tell it to leave and never come back.”

“Alright, alright, alright…” Jiang Yong nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Hanwen left early and returned late, carrying silver, and in two months, his footsteps covered eighty percent of the Medicine Field.

The books in his hand were written one stack after another.

Any trick, any technique, any discovery, could hide an entire system behind it.

Jiang Hanwen studied diligently, his knowledge system expanding wildly, from a small hill to a towering peak.

On the other hand, he treated every colleague equally, engaging in polite conversations and negotiating for mutual benefit, exchanging ideas, getting to know them, and understanding the basic situation of his Medicine Field colleagues.

He knew everyone’s age, personality, and skill level.

He knew who was willing to contribute, and who was stingy, using fake “tricks” to get by, and so on. He was fully aware of everything.

However, he was amiable to everyone, even those who were reluctant to write down genuine insights and only used small tricks to get by; he still offered them a smile.

Such is human nature; he didn’t force it.

While the book compilation was in full swing, the matter of the Pangolin Beast eating Spiritual Plants also caused a great uproar, with almost everyone complaining about it.

Outside a slightly larger courtyard filled with emerald iron trees.

Jiang Hanwen stood still, taking a deep breath.

He gently knocked on the door; from now on, he would be dealing with the steward.

“Thump-thump-”

“Come in.”

Two weak words drifted from inside the house.

Pushing the door open, he saw a small pavilion in the courtyard, where an old man with silver hair sat.

Lu Xingwang, eighty years old this year, was the oldest steward in the entire Medicine Field, besides Elder Du.

“Elder Lu, hello, I today—”

“Come over.” Lu Xingwang beckoned to him.

Walking into the pavilion, Lu Xingwang gestured for him to sit down, then stared at him, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

After a while, Lu Xingwang said in a hoarse voice:

“Jiang Hanwen, to be honest, I don’t envy your abilities; I only envy that you were born at a good time.”

“Elder Lu—” Jiang Hanwen was about to speak, but Lu Xingwang put his index finger to his lips: “Shh, let me finish.”

Just the act of moving made Lu Xingwang extremely tired, his face showing exhaustion.

His skin-and-bones face, like cured meat dried by the years, looked as if it could shrivel and crack at any moment.

“Back then, I was the first to give up my position as a security captain and enter the Medicine Field.

I followed Elder Du, digging the ground, preparing fertilizer, selecting seeds, and raising seedlings.

In our time…”

Lu Xingwang’s aged voice drew Jiang Hanwen back to that era of struggle, pioneering a new path.

Hardship, confusion, crossing the river by feeling the stones.

Gradually establishing various systems for the Medicine Field and dividing regions.