6: Medicine field beauty?

"Watch!"

With those two words, Du Qingfu performed the "Zhuangli Fist" in front of Jiang Hanwen.

In less than a hundred breaths, he finished.

The flowing, natural movements of the fist technique left Jiang Hanwen dumbfounded.

Du Qingfu's face suddenly turned serious, his tone urgent, and he said earnestly:

"I'm giving you a month off to Cultivate properly. Next month, you'll officially start your duties."

A month to Cultivate?

Jiang Hanwen was overjoyed, but then, remembering his identity, he quickly asked:

"Elder Du, can I continue to Cultivate qi gathering grass during this half month?" As he spoke, Jiang Hanwen held up the five qi gathering grass seeds in his hand.

"As you wish. A month from now, report to the Council Hall on time, and I'll introduce you to the manager of the Medicine Field."

"Yes, Elder Du!"

Old Du seemed to have something urgent, and after giving his instructions, he left in a hurry.

Jiang Hanwen still had questions, but he held them back.

Everyone sweeps the snow from their own doorstep, and ignores the frost on others' roofs.

He turned his head, looked towards the house, and walked in with big strides.

He was going to start Cultivating!

Time flew by, and half a month passed in a flash.

In the morning, Jiang Hanwen would get up, first practice the Tai Chi of his previous life, and after a light sweat, he would go to the field to check on the planted qi gathering grass.

qi gathering grass has high demands for soil fertility; it matures every ten days, and flowers and seeds every ten days. A month was just enough for him to use the five seeds he had to Cultivate a batch of mature qi gathering grass.

At noon, after eating his fill and gaining strength, Jiang Hanwen dared to practice the fist technique described in "Zhuangli Fist," coordinating his breathing rhythm and footwork.

Starting stance, moving the fists, stepping... he performed it three times. Although not fluid, having seen Elder Du's perfect demonstration, he was able to mimic it and complete the routine, avoiding detours.

By the end, a faint warmth circulated in his abdomen, and Jiang Hanwen immediately stopped.

The food he ate was only enough for him to practice three times. If he practiced more, he wouldn't last until the afternoon and would start seeing stars.

Too much is as bad as too little. What he gained was longevity, not an invulnerable body. If he damaged his body, he would have no one to cry to.

After finishing his practice, Jiang Hanwen lay down in a chair for a nap.

Here, no one disturbed him, and there were no intrigues.

In this half month, his strength hadn't increased much, but because he had meat to eat and practiced his fists, he had become much sturdier. He felt he could now take on one and a half of his former self.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle~"

Leaves rubbed against each other in the breeze, making soft, playful sounds.

Squinting his eyes, this kind of life was simple and regular, comfortable.

"Jiang Hanwen~ Jiang Hanwen~"

As he lay there, a faint call reached his ears.

Jiang Hanwen jolted awake, who was calling him?

Following the sound, a figure about fifty meters away was walking towards him. The person was wearing a guard's uniform and carrying something.

It seemed... it seemed to be Fang Tong, the "colleague" he had met when he first arrived.

"Here!"

Fang Tong carried wine in his left hand and a brown paper package tied with hemp rope in his right. As he approached, a faint scent of meat wafted from the package.

"You live quite well here, don't you?" Fang Tong put down his things, looking envious.

"What's so good about it? As soon as I step out, I'm working in the fields."

Even though he had a month of rest, Jiang Hanwen deliberately complained, pointing at the long stretch of earth in front of the door.

"Haha, who told you to choose farming?" Fang Tong chuckled as he sat down, rolled up his sleeve, and flexed his thick arm.

A faint red glow pulsed beneath his skin, then vanished in a flash.

"You've had a Breakthrough!" Jiang Hanwen said in surprise.

"Haha, that's why I came to find you for a drink!" Fang Tong waved his hand grandly, declaring, "I'm the first of the eight of us who came in to Breakthrough to Mortal Transformation First Layer. Everyone is under my command!"

His boastful demeanor was a little jarring.

The friend who had entered the estate with him and needed his care, even receiving steamed buns, had now achieved a Breakthrough to the First Layer, widening the gap between them.

"Then, in the future, I'll need your continued care," Jiang Hanwen smiled faintly, pouring a cup of wine for Fang Tong.

Fang Tong accepted it nonchalantly, chin held high, adopting the posture of a superior.

Aside from your parents, no one truly wishes you well, not even your own siblings.

This statement was a profound truth.

Jiang Hanwen understood that Fang Tong's visit today wasn't to reminisce or share the joy of his Breakthrough.

Instead, it was to inform him, from a position of superiority, that things were no longer as they were.

He was a small-time character planting medicine in the fields, while the other person was already a squad leader capable of managing others; their statuses were different.

Amidst the flattering calls of 'Captain Fang,' Fang Tong left triumphantly.

Jiang Hanwen watched his retreating back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Never mind being a captain, what if you were the one on the throne?

Turning around, Jiang Hanwen lay back in his chair and continued his nap, as if nothing had happened.

Sixteen days later, carrying a bundle, Jiang Hanwen arrived early at the Council Hall of the Medicine Field.

The ancient-style courtyard, entirely constructed with wooden mortise and tenon joints, had a faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the air.

At the main gate, there wasn't even a guard. Jiang Hanwen cautiously entered the front courtyard.

It was a courtyard house-like structure, with side rooms on the left and right, and an archway in the middle. On the plaque inside the courtyard, the three gilded characters "Council Hall" were written.

"Creak~"

The sound of a door opening and rubbing echoed. In the inner courtyard, a beautiful young woman in a green dress pushed open the door.

"You are?" the woman asked curiously.

"Greetings, Senior. I am Jiang Hanwen, newly arrived at the Medicine Field. Elder Du said I should come to the Council Hall today."

Pfft~

The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons as she pointed at the pale glow of dawn in the sky.

"The managers usually arrive at noon. Did you come so early because you don't want them to sleep in?"

Jiang Hanwen gave an awkward smile. Damn it, this was truly a retirement Medicine Field; meetings only started at noon.

"Thank you for the information, Senior."

Just as he was about to turn, the woman called out to him.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"This Junior is naturally returning to his room."

"Don't call me Senior, am I that old!

My name is Su Xin, and I am Elder Du's adopted daughter. You can rest here. It would take at least an hour for you to go back and forth, which is quite tiring. Are you hungry?"

The woman's lips curved into a gentle smile, like a refreshing and soft spring breeze.

"Thank you, Sen..."

"Hmm?" Su Xin feigned anger, raising her voice and widening her almond-shaped eyes.

"Thank you, Miss Su, I've eaten."

"Hehe, that's more like it." Su Xin told him to sit in the front courtyard. About fifteen minutes later, the beautiful woman carried a steamer of meat buns to the front courtyard and placed it on the table with a thud.

"Eat. You probably only get to eat meat at noon now.

These are meat buns, you know~"

Su Xin's eyes sparkled as she looked at Jiang Hanwen, not with romantic feelings, but with a heartfelt joy, like seeing an old friend after a long time.

"I..."

As the two chatted in the front courtyard, Jiang Hanwen finally understood the reason.

To Su Xin, he was the only peer in the entire Medicine Field, even more precious than a giant panda, hence this special treatment.

The morning passed quickly in conversation.

Jiang Hanwen shared amusing stories of catching birds and fishing, while Su Xin talked about learning to plant medicine with Old Du.

During their chat, Jiang Hanwen learned about their other title—Spirit Planters.

A profession that helps Spiritual Plants and Spirit Medicine grow, ensures their medicinal efficacy, and assists Alchemists in Alchemy.

"Oh, a new person has arrived." A square-faced old man with his hair tied with a wooden hairpin entered, greeting them with a familiar smile.

"Uncle Zhang." Su Xin stood up, and Jiang Hanwen quickly followed suit.

"This is Jiang Hanwen, newly arrived at the field."

"I know, he's the only sprout in our Medicine Field," the old man chuckled.