Bab 30: Degraded Lentils
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
"Oh, right. Prepare everything you need to register for an organization," He Bozhao said just as he was about to leave as if he had suddenly recalled it.
"For what, sir?"
"The New Right Society. You're only 15 this year, right? It's better for you to join earlier so that you'll have a chance to grow."
Chi Qiaosong hesitated. "Is it alright for me to join at such an early age?"
The young boy did not believe that the New Right Society would succeed. It was true that Commander Zhu was the center of attention at the moment, but with how fast the warlords were changing in the Jiangyou Province. There was a high chance that Commander Zhui might be replaced in a few years, and the New Right Society would also become past tense.
It was as if He Bozhao had noticed what Chi Qiaosong was thinking about. The chief instructor stopped and smiled. "The experience you've accumulated by joining a political organization can be used everywhere. If you were to leave the New Right Society one day, other places would want you because of that experience."
"I understand." Chi Qiaosong nodded.
"Go and get a sample from Mr. Xiang and study it. Hand your introduction essay to me next week, and I'll recommend you to the organization. Also, if organizations of other nature invite you to join them, refuse them. It's a waste to get tied to them now."
"I will do that. Thank you, sir."
If he were to join a political organization at an early age, he could accumulate experience earlier than most people.
However, joining other organizations was different. The benefit wouldn't be that great if the timing weren't right.
That was the conclusion that Chi Qiaosong came to. Having the chief instructor as his master had a lot of hidden benefits. He was able to join the New Right Society earlier than others.
However, the problem was that He Bozhao was a busy person, and he didn't have a lot of time to teach Chi Qiaosong.
"I'll still need Mr. Xu to teach me the Fierce Tiger Heavy Fist... Fine, I'll go earn some money to buy the Gold Saints and Hazy Wus then." Chi Qiaosong sighed as he mentally prepared to go hunting again.
After giving it some thought, he suddenly said, "Wait, maybe I should prepare more gifts and learn the White Rainbow Sword from Mr. Kong at the same time as well?"
After leaving the academy, Chi Qiaosong headed back on a tricycle pulled by a donkey.
On his way back, Chi Qiaosong admired the scenery as he thought about which path he should take in martial arts.
The Wrestler Plane was a threshold, and training skills outside that threshold were known as forced learning. In contrast, the techniques and skills inside the threshold were known as threshold martial arts.
Just like the martial artist planes, threshold martial arts could also be categorized.
The Wrestler Threshold was where one would not break into the next plane by training them. The Fierce Tiger Heavy Fist was one of them.
The Warrior Threshold consisted of martial arts that would help one advance to the Warrior Plane.
And the Knight Threshold helped one break into the Knight Plane.
Chi Qiaosong shook his head as only a few people mentioned these thresholds since martial arts weren't something that could be easily explained through words.
"In the end, the foundation of martial arts differs from one to another. Some can advance to the Warrior Plane by focusing on the Fierce Tiger Heavy Fist."
That was why he couldn't help but wonder if the Fierce Tiger Heavy Fist was considered a Wrestler Threshold or a Warrior Threshold.
Some had trained that same skill for their entire lives and had never even understood its fundamentals. These people might not even reach the Intermediate Rank of the Wrestler Plane.
Different martial arts had other starting points as well.
Some martial arts only needed visible strength to train, while others also needed hidden strength to master. There were even a few that needed transformed strength.
The coachman rang the bell when they were out of the city wall, and they started to head towards First Ridge.
The sun was setting, and the Thousand Emerald Hill looked as if it was shrouded in a golden ray. It was so beautiful that it could be developed into a tourist spot on Earth. However, since the Daxia Republic had a lot of land but not enough population, beautiful sceneries as such were everywhere.
"What am I thinking so much for? I have a cheat, and with enough fertilizers, I can learn every martial art."
Once outside the First Ridge, Chi Qiaosong jumped off the tricycle, paid his fare, and walked back home with the bag of snacks in his hand.
During dinner, Chi Qiaosong looked at the bok choy in his bowl and asked, "Is this the one from the greenhouse?"
"Yes. We harvested some of the plants. We can harvest the cucumber, eggplant, and tomato soon. The plants in there sure grow up fast!" The aunt-in-law exclaimed.
"There should be enough for us to eat, right?"
"Yes, since they grow really fast. It's just that..." Mr. Chi hesitated.
"What's wrong?"
The father let out a sigh.
"It's about the jade lentils," the uncle replied.
"What's wrong with the jade lentils?"
"They were thriving before, you know? But they didn't grow for the past few days, and those... group?"
"The control group?"
"Yes! The lentils in the control group caught up." The uncle sighed, just like the father. "I don't think the jade lentils will make it."
"I'll grab a flashlight and check it out after dinner."
"Go tomorrow. It's already so late," Mrs. Chi said.
"Don't worry, mom. I have to head there to guard the farm anyway."
"Yeah. I'll go with him. Don't worry." The uncle nodded.
After dinner, the uncle and the nephew headed to the hillside plot, guiding their paths with a flashlight. Chi Qiaosong had already recovered the flashlight he had lost during the fight with the She-Viper. It had dropped into a puddle of mud, and after drying it by leaving it under the sun, it was still working.
With the help of the light, Chi Qiaosong compared the jade lentils to the control group and realized the control group lentils had grown to the point where they were about to bloom.
Also, the first few jade lentils they had planted had completely degenerated and were nothing more than regular lentils now.
"So? Find anything?" the uncle asked.
"There's nothing we can do." Chi Qiaosong shook his head. "These lentils degraded once we moved them out of the greenhouse. It looks like we won't be able to become rich through planting jade lentils..."
"What?" Chi Xiuyuan cried.
Although he had guessed that the jade lentils had degraded, he still prayed that his feeling was wrong. However, having that confirmed by his nephew, it felt like his world had crumbled.
Even Chi Qiaosong was disappointed as well. However, he had only lost one way of making money and still had many other options. "Don't worry, Uncle." He comforted. "I'm already a Wrestler Plane martial artist. Look, I even have my ID now. This is more than enough to make us rich."
"I know. I know you'll become successful. It's just that I... Forget it..."
"Is there something on your mind?"
After a few persuasions, the uncle finally opened up. "I was hoping that when the jade lentils can be harvested, I'll move back here and handle the entire First Ridge with you and big brother. I won't have to head into the city every day anymore."
"Yeah. Managing dried food is indeed a hard job." Chi Qiaosong nodded.
"It's not about how hard it is. It's just hard for me to earn back the cost. I've been waking up early and returning late these past few months to gather dried food and sell them in the city, but I was barely able to cover the cost of doing so..."
"Why's that?"
"I paid for the stocks, but when I distributed them to the sellers, they just signed an IOU with me, saying that their businesses weren't good and needed time to pay me back in full. I just don't have the asset for them to keep doing that."
-- Hadiah diterima