Half a month later, in the afternoon.
Having just emerged from the underground secret chamber, Chen Mu sat under a wooden canopy sipping tea.
In his hand was a copy of the “Exotic Beast Anatomy Manual” which he read leisurely.
Peace had gradually been restored to the Lower Courtyard. Aside from a few small and stealthy exotic beasts, most had been cleared out.
A couple of days ago, when he went to the Scripture Transmission Institute to buy books, Tongtian Square had already become deserted.
The disciples of the Lower Courtyard had returned to their respective areas to tidy up the aftermath.
Due to the severe damage, the Lower Courtyard even notified tenants of an adjustment in the land rent, declaring that after reporting losses, they might be appropriately relieved of some of the burden.
“Pity I don’t have a share in that,” Chen Mu shrugged, unconcerned. After all, the Yellow Bud Rice Fields weren’t his main source of income.
He continued reading the book at a leisurely pace.
A sudden insight surged into his mind.
Knowledge on how to handle different exotic beast meats, which parts were easier to cut, and the appropriate strength to use for effortless work flooded his thoughts.
Chen Mu looked at the gray wall with an odd expression on his face.
Culinary Skills: 20/10000/Fifth Rank;
Increasing knowledge of exotic beasts by looking at a butcher’s manual, but ended up leveling up my culinary skill?
“At least now I have some methods of handling exotic beast meat,” Chen Mu shook his head, chuckling.
Well… at least I can make braised meat now!
Because exotic beast meat was too tough, boiling it took too much time and effort, yielding unsatisfactory results.
Now with a brand new method to tenderize the meat, he could finally attempt a whole new range of dishes.
“If only I had a pressure cooker,” he mused.
…
In the evening, at the Low Hill Courtyard.
A large pot of braised meat sat on a square table.
“Nice cooking skills!” Old Hao, sitting opposite, gave a thumbs up.
“You really shouldn’t be farming here,” remarked Shang Huan, resting his foot on a long bench with a face full of regret.
“You would earn much more at the Eight Treasures Tower in the Heavenly River Water Mansion.”
Chen Mu just smiled, not responding.
Become a chef at the Heavenly River Water Mansion? Too many people and disputes there.
How could it compare to the safety and comfort of Jilong Road’s Lower Courtyard?
“I saw a paper kite that could carry people flying the other day, what kind of magic artifact is that?” Chen Mu asked Old Hao, feigning nonchalance.
Ever since seeing Mo Wuzhou’s flying artifact, Chen Mu had been obsessed with it.
“That’s called a Flying Kite,” Shang Huan laughed. “Paper ones can’t really carry people.”
“It needs to be made from the skin of flying exotic beasts.”
“That’s enlightening,” Chen Mu smiled and nodded, then with a look of longing, he asked, “Not cheap, right?”
“The cheapest costs six hundred White Jade Coins. Forget about it,” Old Hao shook his head. “Save your money to buy secret techniques.”
“Perceptive Spirit Light, Perceptive Illusion Breaking, both realms’ secret techniques will cost you a fortune.”
Chen Mu could not help but be taken aback. “So expensive!”
Even counting all his possessions, he was still short by more than two hundred.
“Besides, if you can’t cultivate Illusion Breaking, it’s not practical to buy one,” Old Hao said.
“Sigh, I suppose I can only dream about it,” Chen Mu shrugged his shoulders.
Where to get those two hundred White Jade Coins?
Since the exotic beast invasion happened, Chen Mu felt it was necessary to give himself some extra means of protection.
He could tunnel underground, but that was limited to hiding.
If he could fly…
“There’s a business opportunity coming up that you might want to take a look at,” Old Hao suddenly spoke up.
“Forget it, I don’t have the mind for business,” Chen Mu instinctively refused.
“This opportunity is quite suitable for you,” Shang Huan said with a sly grin.
“Some planting regions to the south suffered severe disasters,” Old Hao didn’t hold back any details.
“The farmers are gone, but the land remains, and some Yellow Bud Rice is still there.”
“The Lower Courtyard is encouraging disciples to buy this season’s Yellow Bud Rice and care for it until harvest. There’s quite a bit of profit margin left behind.”
Chen Mu was immediately interested.
He possessed a Third Rank Planting Technique and could use the White Jade Plate to make well water rich in Earth Spirit Vital Energy.
“It indeed seems like a good investment,” Chen Mu said, narrowing his eyes.
Explore more at empire
“Right, buy about twenty acres of land, take good care of it, and in a month you’ll have a decent income,” Old Hao nodded with a smile.
“But don’t buy too much,” he cautioned.
Chen Mu spread his hands in resignation, “Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to manage too much.”
Old Hao nodded with satisfaction.
“`
“You should worry about whether those twenty acres of yours will even break even,” Shang Huan rolled his eyes. “Aren’t you aware of how prudent Brother Chen is?”
“That’s true,” Old Hao shook his head with a chuckle.
…
Yichou District
“Are you sure you want this Yellow Bud Rice field?” the chubby steward in black asked.
“Thank you for your trouble, Steward Wu,” Chen Mu handed over twenty White Jade Coins along with his identity iron plaque.
“Alright then,” the chubby steward efficiently opened his ledger to register.
“These twenty acres are yours for now,” Steward Wu cautioned. “In two months, the Lower Courtyard will reclaim them and redistribute the land, and you’d better not cause any trouble then.”
“Understood,” Chen Mu nodded woodenly.
After seeing off Steward Wu, Chen Mu briefly inspected the Yellow Bud Rice.
Having been neglected for over half a month, the field was overrun with weeds and the verdant leaves of the Yellow Bud Rice were starting to yellow.
The grains that should have been plumped up were small and shriveled.
Out of the entire twenty acres, only about sixteen or seventeen were usable.
And because of the prolonged neglect, a reduced yield was inevitable.
Other people who rent fields, after toiling for a month, would be doing well to earn ten White Jade Coins.
Chen Mu glanced at the Third Rank Planting Technique and couldn’t help but smile, “This is a perfect time to buy in at the bottom!”
…
Straightaway, he left Yichou District and went to four other planting areas, renting twenty acres of Yellow Bud Rice fields in each.
Evening, Low Hill Courtyard.
After dinner, Chen Mu lay back in a rocking chair to rest.
“A hundred acres, yielding 300 to 400 jin of grain per acre.”
“Minus one White Jade Coin for land rent, each acre could net two to three White Jade Coins.”
“One hundred acres…”
“My flying kite’s destined place has come!”
He lay there chuckling in the rocking chair, not even bothering to practice cultivation in the underground secret chamber.
Not until the sky was completely dark did Chen Mu finally stand up and stretch languidly.
“The night is dark and the wind is high, the perfect time for tending the fields,” he said.
He was planning to use the Five Ghosts to assist with farming, and nightfall served as the best camouflage.
He immediately donned a black robe, put on a hood, and used the Ghost Invisibility to cloak his body while muttering the Void Cloak Technique curse words, quickly darting out of the courtyard.
…
Over the following month, Chen Mu would patrol by day and work by night.
He added special bone powder fertilizer, irrigated with well water mixed in the White Jade Plate, and uprooted all kinds of weeds from the fields.
When it came time to harvest, the yield of the Yellow Bud Rice was nearly indistinguishable from a normal plantation.
“You’re really lucky,” said the chubby Steward Wu enviously.
“And your skills are not bad either.”
“These twenty acres will earn you at least fifty White Jade Coins!”
Chen Mu quietly handed the man two White Jade Coins: “I’ll be counting on Steward Wu’s help so I can get more good fields like this one.”
Steward Wu looked surprised. The young man seemed slow-witted, but he sure knew how to do things right!
Not bad.
…
Evening, in the Low Hill Courtyard.
Chen Mu sat in the rocking chair with a small table in front of him; the tabletop was covered with White Jade Coins that he counted one by one.
Three hundred and two?
I’ve struck it rich!
Including his previous savings, his wealth had suddenly reached seven hundred and five White Jade Coins!
Chen Mu was overjoyed.
He had made a rough estimate earlier, knowing he would make a profit, but he hadn’t expected to earn quite this much!
If another wave of Exotic Beasts were to invade next year…
Forget it, it’s better to be safe.
His gaze then shifted to the gray wall.
Void Cloak Technique: 105/10000/Third Rank;
Over the past month, as he traveled back and forth among the various planting areas, using the Void Cloak Technique continuously, he had advanced unnoticeably, without deliberate effort.
The Third Rank Void Cloak Technique was not only more resilient, stepping on it felt like jumping on a super trampoline.
Moreover, the need for incantations was discarded, allowing for instant activation.
“Fortune comes in pairs, I must take a trip to Red Sleeve Square!”
“`