33: Chapter 33 Golden Spirit Rice Fire

After finishing the meal.

Ye Jing thought about expanding the golden spirit rice business, so he said to his two sons, "I'll go discuss it with Qian Wang first and buy some more land to plant golden spirit rice!"

"Great, Dad! That way we can provide a lot of golden spirit rice at once and earn quite a bit of money!" Ye Yi strongly agreed.

Their Family earned at least fifty taels a month, which was far more profitable than even the wealthiest man in the area, Wealthy Man Zhang.

Their golden spirit rice sold exceptionally well; as soon as it was given to Zheng Dali, it was immediately sold.

At this rate, they were afraid there would soon be a supply shortage.

Furthermore, the whole Family was practicing the Stake Technique and required a large amount of blood food for nourishment. Their expenses were high, so an income of dozens of taels a month was far from enough. They needed to expand production to earn even more.

Ye Jing nodded and said, "I'll go find Qian Wang this afternoon."

No sooner said than done.

Ye Jing headed out in the afternoon. Qian Wang lived at the very back of the village.

He arrived in about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

An old, dilapidated wooden house stood ahead, quite conspicuous among the other thatched huts.

As a Village Chief, his Family should have been the wealthiest and most prestigious in the village. Unfortunately, Qian Wang was a profligate dandy. If it weren't for his father's lingering prestige, someone with his character would never have been chosen as Village Chief.

Qian Wang was lying on a rocking chair in the courtyard, leisurely enjoying the sun.

"Village Chief Qian!" Ye Jing's call shattered Qian Wang's pleasant dream.

He jerked, quickly sat up, and was about to curse when he looked up and saw it was Elder Ye. His face immediately broke into a smile. "Oh! If it isn't Elder Ye?! What brings you to my humble place? Please, sit! Please, sit!"

Perhaps because he knew that Niu Gui and Duan Peng, who had provoked Ye Jing, were both dead, Qian Wang was now very wary of him. He hurriedly and attentively invited the old terror inside.

He then shouted toward the house, "Old lady! Bring a bowl of water for Elder Ye!"

Ye Jing didn't stand on ceremony. He found a clean stool, sat down, and got straight to the point. "Village Chief Qian, I've come today because I want to get a deed from you to take over a few mu of land!"

Hearing this, Qian Wang jumped up in surprise. "You want to buy land?!"

Ye Jing nodded. "I'd appreciate it if the Village Chief could make it happen."

Qian Wang stared intently at Ye Jing, afraid he was dreaming.

Everyone knew the Ye Family was poor; it was famous in the village. Not long ago, they couldn't even pay their taxes and were forced by Niu Gui to sell their land. Now, only a few months later, they were looking to purchase property.

This...

"Elder Ye, you're not joking, are you?" Although Qian Wang knew Ye Jing often went hunting in the mountains and had good harvests, how much could game be worth? It was nowhere near enough to buy land.

Besides, more land meant more taxes. Had this old man's Family run into some incredible stroke of luck?

Ye Jing calmly took the tea from Qian Wang's wife, took a sip, and said, "Village Chief Qian, do I look like I'm joking?"

Seeing this, Qian Wang had no choice but to bring the documents and hand them to Ye Jing. However, a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes, though he didn't show it as he waved goodbye.

After obtaining the documents, Ye Jing hurried to the Yamen and submitted them.

One mu of land cost six taels of silver; five mu came to thirty-six taels of silver.

Once the silver was paid in full.

The Yamen immediately allocated five mu of land to Ye Jing. It was all fertile ground right next to the Qinling Mountains, and it even had a stream for irrigation, making it perfectly suited for growing rice.

Once the land was secured, the Immortal Willow gained another five wisps of Immortal Light. Seeing that the land aided the Family's development, Ye Jing was also delighted.

After returning home, Ye Jing immediately gathered the whole Family.

"The new five mu of land is ours. Let's take advantage of the clear weather these next few days to clear the land! That way, we'll be ready for sowing next year!"

"Alright!" The Family responded in unison, their eyes full of drive.

The father and his two sons carried their hoes and pushed the plow straight to the new fields.

There were plenty of weeds and stones in the soil, but the Family didn't feel tired at all.

After they Cultivated the Body Forging Method, their Blood Qi became increasingly vigorous. Ordinary labor, for them, had instead become an aid in tempering the Physical Body.

The Family divided the labor, clearing and turning the soil so that by next spring, they could sow a whole field of new seeds.

However, while Ye Jing's side was peaceful as he focused entirely on the fields and Cultivation.

The county town had already exploded into a frenzy because of the golden spirit rice.

As a butcher, Zheng Dali's strength was meager and he lacked any martial prowess. Fearing that selling this rice himself would bring trouble, he discussed it with Ye Jing and decided to sell the golden spirit rice in bulk to the Zhenxing Martial Arts Hall.

Guo Zhengning's martial arts hall quickly grew in strength thanks to this golden spirit rice, allowing him to defeat a mortal enemy who had once marginalized him in the city.

Having moved back to the county town, he also helped Zheng Dali sell this miraculous golden spirit rice everywhere. Soon, this rice—which supplemented Blood Qi even better than meat—swept through the market.

It was said that the origins of this rice were mysterious. When consumed, it was not only exceptionally delicious but could also significantly replenish Blood Qi.

It quickly attracted many Martial Artists in the city. Guo Zhengning took the opportunity to open a grain shop in town, primarily selling golden spirit rice. As soon as it hit the shelves, it was sold out.

Many people even traveled from surrounding towns specifically to buy it. Some bought it to replenish the Blood Qi of Juniors Cultivating at home, while others used it to nurse weak relatives back to health.

Some practitioners of martial arts found that after eating it, their Blood Qi circulated much more smoothly during Cultivation, making them repeat customers.

Everyone was discussing this mysterious golden spirit rice and speculating about its origin. After all, if someone could monopolize the source of such a grain that could replenish Blood Qi, it would be an incredibly lucrative business.

Now, midwinter had arrived. While there were fewer pedestrians on the streets of the county town, the speculation regarding the golden spirit rice had not ceased.

On the contrary, because Blood Qi is easily depleted in winter, the demand for golden spirit rice grew even stronger, and the price quietly rose by twenty percent.

The Tang Family of Yanggu County.

In the main room.

The room was sumptuously furnished. Outside was a bone-chilling winter scene, but inside it was as warm as spring thanks to the floor heaters, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.

A grey-haired old servant came forward respectfully, carrying a white jade bowl. The bowl contained rice that shimmered with a golden light, still steaming and filled with a rich grain aroma.

On a rosewood chair, a man dressed in luxurious robes was playing a game of Go with a handsome young man.

The man was the current head of the Tang Family, Tang Wanxiong. As a First-Stage Martial Artist, he had once followed the Emperor to the battlefield and performed distinguished service. Now, having received rewards from the Emperor, his Family possessed a thousand mu of fertile land and immense wealth, making them the most powerful Family in the entire county.

The young man opposite him was his eldest son, Young Master Tang Shaojie.

Tang Wanxiong's gaze swept briefly over the old servant below as he asked, "Is this the golden spirit rice that has been causing such a stir in the county town lately?"

The old servant bowed and replied, "Yes, Master. This is what I specifically went to queue for at Guo Zhengning's grain shop this morning. I just had the kitchen steam it, so it's still hot."

Young Master Tang Shaojie glanced up at the white jade bowl, a hint of disdain curling at the corner of his mouth. "It's just some rural grain; is it really worth the whole county fighting over? In my view, it's likely just that fellow Guo Zhengning intentionally hyping it up to make a quick buck."

Tang Tianxiong didn't respond but gestured for the old servant to hand the rice to Shaojie. "Shaojie, try it first."

Although Young Master Tang Shaojie was reluctant, he didn't dare disobey his father. He picked up the jade spoon beside the bowl, scooped a spoonful of rice porridge, and put it in his mouth.

The moment it entered his mouth, the expression on his face changed abruptly.

As the rice entered his mouth, a mellow grain aroma spread across his tongue. A warmth slid down his throat into his stomach, instantly transforming into a gentle surge of Blood Qi that flowed slowly through his limbs and bones.

Even his Meridians, which had become sluggish from sitting and playing Go for so long, became a bit smoother.

"This..." Young Master Tang Shaojie's face was full of astonishment. He scooped another large spoonful into his mouth, feeling the surge of Blood Qi.

His voice was filled with disbelief. "It really can replenish Blood Qi! And it's even milder than ordinary ginseng soup, with faster results!"

Only then did Tang Tianxiong stop placing his pieces. He took a towel from the old servant to wipe his hands, his eyes deep. "This rice allowed Guo Zhengning's martial arts hall to increase its strength significantly and caused the whole city to scramble for it; naturally, it is no ordinary grain."

"Go and investigate where the source of this golden spirit rice is and who is growing it."

"Yes!" The old servant bowed in response and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Tang Tianxiong called him back and added, "Investigate carefully, especially the background of the grower, the yield, and whether they have any backing. Also, do not alert Guo Zhengning or the supplier behind the scenes."