CHAPTER 527: CHAPTER 225: LONGEVITY RICE AND THE NEW GRAND SECRETARY (PART 2)

"No way, it has to be at least five times."

"No, Master, you’ve definitely tampered with this rice seed. I still have to come to you every year for it. Three times is already plenty. Besides, the rice seed has a separate price."

Xu Qing’s last words calmed Xiong Chan down. He said, "Cultivating Yellow Millet Rice is extremely labor and resource-intensive. Are you sure you have confidence?"

"No matter how good the land of the Great Zen Temple, can it compare to the entire world of the Yu Dynasty?" Xu Qing countered.

One sentence blocked Xiong Chan’s words.

Xu Qing continued, "Master, let’s have some vision. Your Majesty has had his eye on your Great Zen Temple’s Yellow Millet Rice for quite some time. If you really don’t give it, he’ll ask me to find a way. So do you think I should try or not? After all, in the Yu Dynasty, there’s nothing I haven’t accomplished."

Xiong Chan’s face darkened, realizing this young man truly needed a beating after dealing with him for so long.

However, Xu Qing made sense. Keeping the Yellow Millet Rice would only yield the current output. Taking it out would increase production, and the rice seed would remain in the hands of the Great Zen Temple.

The key is, now that he’s become a Martial Saint, he indeed needs more resources and has the ability to protect them.

"But are you really confident that you can persuade Your Majesty to use the pastures of the Imperial Stables for farming?"

Xu Qing: "Master, you don’t know, most of those pastures aren’t even used for raising horses anymore."

Xu Qing explained the internal connections.

It turns out the pastures of the Imperial Stables were originally for raising horses. But a hundred years ago, after the lands were fractured, the voice of the civil servants rose dramatically, deliberately preventing the Imperial Family from raising horses, thus strengthening the central military. Moreover, the eunuchs of the Imperial Stables discovered that instead of exhausting efforts in horse breeding, it was better to trade in horses directly at the border towns and grassland markets.

Now, they’ve even skipped the trading process, renting horses only for inspections.

Thus, many pastures were rented out for grain farming or other purposes, even left idle.

The abandonment of pastures by the Imperial Stables was a relief to the horse-raising households, as the court’s horse policy was too harsh. Originally, many horse households fled to avoid it.

Now, the corruption of the eunuchs ironically became a beneficent policy in the eyes of these households.

"No wonder the cavalry power of the Yu Dynasty has declined so rapidly," Xiong Chan sighed after hearing this.

He now recalled that there might be similar issues in his own Great Zen Temple too, requiring proper reorganization upon his return.

These days, whenever you try to accomplish something, subordinates do everything to hinder and hold you back.

Xiong Chan couldn’t help but envy Xu Qing’s Recovery Society, with people willing to go even to remote places like Qiannan, having much higher awareness than the monks of the Great Zen Temple.

If Xu Qing knew Xiong Chan thought this way, he would definitely roll his eyes.

If he hadn’t resolved the staffing issues and painted a bright future, you wouldn’t see anyone going there.

Once this group went, who knew how many would return after being unable to endure the hardships.

Probably only when that day comes will it be known.

Xu Qing settled matters with Xiong Chan and Chen Zhong, then went home to rest.

Of course, Xu Qing could see that Xiong Chan wanted to use Longevity Rice to monopolize the food production in North Zhili. But to Xu Qing, increasing grain production was not a bad thing.

Of course, he also couldn’t let Xiong Chan have his way.

Using the Imperial Manor to increase production serves as an example, showing everyone the benefits of improved breeding.

In the future, the introduction of high-yield crops will actually be in competition with Xiong Chan’s rice seeds. Competition is good for reducing prices.

Moreover, Xu Qing clearly understood that high grain yields needed to be developed in multiple areas, especially the focus on fertilizers. If he and Old Daoist Gu solved the problems in this area, any rice seed would fall by the wayside.

Doing things is always step by step. For now, he gets a start and gradually perfects it later.

He hopes to see that day.

For Xu Qing, doing these things brings a stronger sense of satisfaction, refreshing his spirit, benefiting his Divine Soul more than meditation.

In the end, once the meaning and value of life are realized, the spirit indeed changes.

"When poor, you cultivate yourself, when successful, you contribute to the world."

If he were currently living hand to mouth, impoverished, he would certainly be selfish, indifferent to others’ lives. But after fulfilling material desires, his perspective changed.

"When the granary is full, one knows etiquette; when the wardrobe is sufficient, one understands honor and disgrace."

He doesn’t know how others might be, but his own experiences and mental shifts are roughly like this.

Xu Qing also wouldn’t laugh at others for being selfish, because besides innate character, aren’t one’s actions, choices closely related to their environment and experiences?

If Aunt had insisted Uncle adopt a son, kicking him out of the house, or hadn’t taken care of him when his body was seriously ill, Xu Qing could hardly imagine what he would be like now.

He understands his own true heart more, which is to act according to one’s will without overstepping boundaries.

The things I want to do, I have the ability to do; the things I don’t want to do, I have the ability to refuse.

Such Longevity, to him, is meaningful Longevity.

Life should be lived to one’s ease and intention.

Xu Qing leisurely returned home, then saw his wife diligently cultivating.

Now both of them are connected in mind, sharing a mysterious connection, also related to Feng Wu’s cultivation of the Annihilation Scripture.

Affection is something very mysterious, growing deep without knowing whence it arose.

For Xu Qing, he found it difficult to describe this feeling specifically, but undoubtedly, without Feng Wu, his life would be incomplete.

As usual, Xu Qing returned and talked to Feng Wu about the happenings.

As long as the couple is of one mind, they are the best entrepreneurial partners.

Unless it’s something particularly shady, Xu Qing would always explain, even discuss with Feng Wu.

There are always times he overlooks something when alone, having Feng Wu by his side is always a good thing.