Chapter 21: Longevity: My Steady Farming Cultivation Path — Chapter 21: Worldly Affairs Are Impermanent, Human Hearts Are Most Compl

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

"Xu Dao Friend!" Outside the door, Lin An called out again.

Seeing no movement from inside for a long while.

This couldn't help but make him suspect whether the other party wasn't there.

After all, yesterday many people went to the Hongfeng Valley Market to celebrate the New Year.

"Who is it?" Xu Zhangqing heard the voice and got up.

With a "creak," the door opened.

Instantly, cold, gloomy wind surged in.

As a cultivator, Xu Zhangqing didn't have much reaction.

The sleepy little fellow, on the contrary, shivered all over from the cold.

"It's me!" Lin An's eyes brightened immediately, and he hurriedly walked over.

"So early?" Xu Zhangqing was stunned for a moment, then stepped aside to make room: "Come in and talk."

Lin An wiped the snow off his shoe soles, only then entering the house.

Upon seeing an additional little yellow dog, he was also somewhat surprised.

"Living alone is lonely, so I found a pet for company." Xu Zhangqing closed the door while explaining.

Lin An nodded: "Understandable, most spirit farmers are like this."

Xu Zhangqing poured a cup of water for the other party, then asked: "What do you need me for?"

Lin An appeared hesitant to speak: "This..."

"Just say it directly." Xu Zhangqing knew well that coming to find him on a major holiday definitely meant something.

Lin An then gritted his teeth: "You also know, last winter I didn't plant, so I don't have much spirit rice on hand. This originally wasn't a big deal, but who knew resources would be so tight this year; the Earth Spirit Root and Water Spirit Root disciples I previously cooperated with are even frantically pressing for grain."

Xu Zhangqing understood instantly.

Because the Five Great Powers were hyping resources, the prices of many things have risen with the tide.

Originally one low-grade spirit stone could buy ten catties of first-grade spirit rice.

The current ratio, however, changes daily.

Yesterday it was still 1:7, today it might be 1:6.

As for second-grade spirit rice, it has even reached an astonishing 1:1.5.

There's even a downward trend, making it unaffordable for many ordinary disciples.

"I have no spirit rice, so I can only ask you for help." Lin An was very helpless.

Xu Zhangqing appeared slightly surprised: "Why the sudden urgency?"

Lin An immediately said indignantly: "They had dog-shit luck, all becoming formal disciples."

When signing the spirit contracts with these two back then, there was also a gambling element involved.

Betting that one or even both would fail their promotion.

Then the initiative would fall into his own hands.

Even if one succeeded in promotion, he could barely cope.

Who knew the result: either they didn't get promoted, or they got promoted together.

And once they become formal disciples, their demand for spirit rice will increase greatly.

Now the two have already put out the word.

If it's first-grade spirit rice, at least three hundred catties each.

If it's second-grade spirit rice, each also needs one hundred catties.

But the problem is, Lin An didn't plant any spirit rice last winter at all.

On hand, let alone second-grade spirit rice, even first-grade spirit rice isn't much.

Xu Zhangqing narrowed his eyes slightly, weighing things in his heart.

Admittedly, his relationship with Lin An is indeed not bad.

But if he really took out a large amount of spirit rice, regardless of whether first-grade or second-grade.

As long as this news spreads, it will definitely arouse others' suspicion.

A person who failed the outer perimeter assessment twice in a row.

Based on what could he produce so much spirit rice right after joining the Spirit Field Core?

The key is it's during winter when yields decrease!

As the saying goes, a bushel of rice earns gratitude, a peck of rice breeds hatred.

Lin An might be fine, his thoughts aren't that vicious.

But Zhao Ziyao this person would absolutely turn hostile, even stir up trouble.

If it draws Zhang Er's gaze, the situation would be even worse.

"If it's difficult then forget it." Lin An saw it in his eyes, and also knew coming to borrow rice right after the New Year was indeed a bit excessive.

Xu Zhangqing thought for a moment and said: "To tell you the truth, I only have forty catties of second-grade spirit rice left on hand."

"Then... can you lend me some?" Lin An's eyes held a trace of hope.

In the Dongting Immortal Sect, the contract aspect is taken very seriously.

Once the contract is violated, even as a Formal Disciple, he will receive severe punishment.

He might even be expelled from the Spirit Field.

"At most twenty jin; the rest I need for myself." Xu Zhangqing, considering the other party's help in introducing Zhang Su, only then agreed.

"Thank you so much, I will definitely repay you double!" Lin An said excitedly.

Xu Zhangqing asked curiously: "But even if I give you twenty jin, what about the rest?"

Lin An instantly dejected, drooping his face as he replied: "I can only borrow from others."

"Good luck." Xu Zhangqing said, taking out twenty jin of second-grade spirit rice from his Small Storage Bag.

"Xu Dao Friend, this kindness I will definitely not forget!" Lin An promised repeatedly before accepting it.

Xu Zhangqing said seriously: "If you can still stay at the Spirit Field Core, I'll treat you to wine then."

Lin An froze for a moment, then nodded vigorously: "Good!"

Afterward, he left.

Xu Zhangqing stood at the Door, watching the other's rather disheveled back as he murmured: "Lin Dao Friend, from now on it depends on your own fortune."

As the saying goes, one must not have the heart to harm others, but one must not lack the heart to guard against others.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to help, but that human hearts are too complex.

But unexpectedly, by noon, someone actually came knocking at the Door again.

"Senior Brother Xu, long time no see!" Earth Spiritual Root Han Su said with a dry laugh.

"Why did you come?" Xu Zhangqing was somewhat surprised.

"I specially came to wish Senior Brother a Happy New Year." Han Su grinned.

"Since you've wished me a Happy New Year, you can go back now." Xu Zhangqing waved his hand.

"No way." Han Su immediately panicked.

"What exactly is the matter?" Actually, Xu Zhangqing had already guessed it in his heart.

Han Su smiled bitterly: "I want to borrow some rice from you!"

Xu Zhangqing was not surprised by this at all, and even decisively refused: "No."

Han Su still refused to give up, with a mournful face he said: "Originally I didn't want to borrow rice from you, but who knew that blasted Lin An actually had no rice."

Xu Zhangqing leaned against the door frame, his expression somewhat playful as he said: "Having no rice isn't very normal, Formal Disciples don't need to plant in winter."

Han Su didn't expect there was such a rule, and instantly furrowed his brow: "But now I've also become a Formal Disciple, and I have a great need for spirit rice."

"Oh." Xu Zhangqing blinked his eyes: "From now on I'll have to call you Han Dao Friend!"

Han Su was scared and hurriedly said: "No, no, no... just call me Junior Disciple Brother!"

Hearing this, Xu Zhangqing stopped teasing, spreading his hands as he said: "I really don't have rice."

Han Su asked tentatively: "Previously at the Outer Perimeter, Senior Brother didn't you promise to let me loosen the earth?"

It would be best if he could borrow rice.

But the key this time was not borrowing rice.

Rather, it was to use this to bring up the matter of loosening the earth for the Spirit Field in spring.

This was an opportunity for promotion!

Xu Zhangqing didn't expect someone to be waiting for him here, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: "You already have Lin An, and besides, when you were at the Outer Perimeter, didn't you loosen earth for many people?"

Han Su was instantly furious: "In autumn it was just you and Lin An becoming Formal Disciples, as for winter... all failed."

He had also suspected in private.

Whether there was something wrong with his own eyes.

Why he couldn't judge people accurately.

Especially Lin An, this person was even more heavyweight, a pitfall among pitfalls.

"This?!" Xu Zhangqing hesitated somewhat; he could now choose to cooperate with Earth Spiritual Root Disciples who were more experienced.

"Fifty jin, for one quarter I only want fifty jin of second-grade spirit rice!!!" Han Su gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, going all out directly.