Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed by like a fleeting moment. One day, while the Fourth Prince was enjoying a sumptuous meal, he suddenly received a message from his subordinate Xiaobao, saying that Zhu Qi had returned and brought back five people, some old and some young, who wanted to meet the Fourth Prince.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince put down his bowl and chopsticks and ordered, "Go and bring them in quickly." A moment later, a group of people cautiously followed Zhu Qi in. Zhu Qi led the way, his steps steady and calm.

Everyone walked into the room, heads bowed and waists bent. The first person to catch their eye was the handsome man seated in the main hall—the Fourth Prince. His face was resolute, with distinct lines, giving off a sense of strength. He exuded an extraordinary aura, and his black cloak only accentuated his majesty and dignity.

Zhu Qi led these people to the Fourth Prince's Palace, bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, the person has been brought here." Then he turned around and shouted to the five people, "Kneel down quickly!" When the people heard it, they quickly knelt on the ground with a plop, and shouted in unison, "Your Highness, we pay our respects to you, sir!" Their voices trembled, full of awe.

Seeing this, the Fourth Prince couldn't help but smile and said softly, "All of you get up!" After hearing this, the five people stood up tremblingly, but still didn't dare to look up at the Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince raised his eyes and carefully examined the men. He saw two elderly men with graying hair and wrinkled faces, the marks of time clearly visible. There were also three middle-aged men, all lean and capable. Their dark complexions suggested years of hard work in the fields.

The Fourth Prince asked with a puzzled look on his face, "Who among you is an expert in growing mushrooms? Are you absolutely sure you can accomplish this?" Upon hearing the Fourth Prince's question, the others looked at each other, their eyes revealing a hint of fear and retreat. Each one of them cowered, no one daring to step forward to answer. For a moment, the atmosphere became awkward and tense.

At this moment, the Fourth Prince glanced around, casually stretched out his hand, pointed at one of the oldest-looking old men, and said in an unquestionable tone: "You! Come forward and answer." The old man who was pointed out felt his heart tighten, and a trace of panic flashed across his face, but facing the Fourth Prince's order, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward.

Approaching, the old man bowed and then spoke tremblingly, "Your Excellency, I've been growing mushrooms in this village for quite some time. While I wouldn't call myself a master, the young mushrooms I grow here are always large and fine. A while ago, this young man came to our village and expressed his desire to learn how to grow mushrooms. He gave us ten taels of silver each as a reward and asked us to come and help teach others how to grow mushrooms. Not only that, he also bought a large amount of mushroom seeds. Since I've received such a favor, I will do my best to help you grow the mushrooms properly and will not slack off in the slightest."

The Fourth Prince was very pleased to hear this and asked about the growth cycle of mushrooms and the materials needed. The old man answered one by one, saying that they didn't need too many small mushrooms, such as enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and white mushrooms.

Generally, organic materials such as wood chips, corn cobs, and wheat straw are used, and an appropriate amount of bran or rice bran is added to increase nutrition.

- **Fungus**: Usually requires hardwood segments or sawdust as a substrate. Black fungus prefers hardwood materials such as oak and birch.

- Use existing mycelium or purchase professional inoculation bags to ensure a clean operating environment and prevent contamination by other bacteria.

- The fermentation room maintains a suitable temperature to help the mycelium grow fully and cover the entire culture surface.

- **Light**: Mushrooms prefer dim light, while wood ears need diffuse light.

- **Temperature and humidity**: Mushrooms require a relatively low temperature and prefer a humid environment; the growth environment of wood ear mushrooms is similar to that of mushrooms.

Good air circulation is essential for mycelial development and prevents excessive carbon dioxide concentrations.

- When the mycelium completely fills the culture medium, lower the temperature and increase the humidity appropriately to induce fruiting body differentiation.

- Pay attention to spraying moisturizing to keep the ground moist, and never spray directly on the mushroom buds.

- Provides mild light stimulation to help mushroom morphological development.

The Fourth Prince stared intently at the vigorous old man in front of him. He saw that the old man spoke eloquently and incessantly in his professional field. His confidence and composure filled the Fourth Prince with admiration.

Huang Shi Huang stood aside, his face filled with satisfaction. He thought to himself, "It was a wise decision to ask this old man to help me this time!" Zhu Qi's efficient work was indeed commendable.

When the old man had almost finished his story, the Fourth Prince nodded slightly and turned to Zhu Qi beside him, saying, "Zhu Qi, take this old man away first. According to the material needs and specific requirements they have provided, start the technical work of growing mushrooms as soon as possible. Remember to arrange for more people to accompany them and ensure that mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms can be cultivated on a large scale. Time is short now. Every additional crop we grow can save more lives and help everyone overcome the current difficulties more quickly."

After Zhu Qi took his orders and left, the Fourth Prince paused briefly before continuing, "Also, you should go downstairs and tell each county to send two people to learn mushroom cultivation techniques. Once they return, they can follow our methods and widely promote cultivation in their respective counties. This way, we can ensure that the people in every county have enough food to eat and no longer suffer from hunger."

Zhu Qi respectfully listened to the Fourth Prince's detailed instructions, then unhesitatingly turned and left. He hurried, followed closely by his five equally serious-looking subordinates. They rushed toward their destination like a gust of wind, not pausing for a moment, determined to quickly acquire the various items and equipment the Fourth Prince needed.

When they returned from their successful shopping mission, Zhu Qi led them directly to a specially vacated room. Upon opening the door, everything was already prepared, awaiting their supplies. Without further delay, Zhu Qi immediately directed everyone to begin mushroom cultivation.

Meanwhile, Zhu Qi was also busy. Knowing that the efforts of just these few people were insufficient, she decisively ordered each of them to bring four or five more helpers. These newcomers not only helped out but also diligently learned mushroom cultivation techniques from the experienced veterans. Suddenly, the once spacious room became bustling with activity, as everyone busily and systematically immersed themselves in their work.

In the days that followed, regardless of scorching sun or torrential rain, these individuals constantly moved back and forth in this room, meticulously tending to the newly planted mushrooms. Watering, fertilizing, regulating temperature and humidity... every step was meticulously performed, fearing any omission would affect the mushrooms' growth.

Finally, after half a month of unremitting efforts and a long wait, the first batch of mushrooms successfully grew! Looking at the clusters of plump mushrooms and the thick, fresh wood ear mushrooms beside them, Zhu Qi and the others couldn't help but be overjoyed, their excitement barely contained.

"Hurry, pick some of the best mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms and send them to the Fourth Prince!" Zhu Qi shouted excitedly. Before he finished speaking, everyone set to work, carefully picking the ripe mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms, meticulously packing them, and trotting all the way to where the Fourth Prince was.

The Fourth Prince stared intently at the pile of snow-white mushrooms before him, and the clusters of dark, thick, and shiny wood ear mushrooms beside them, his heart overflowing with an irrepressible excitement. At that moment, he felt deeply that hard work paid off. After so much waiting and hard work, he had finally succeeded in growing this delightful fruit!

"Haha, it seems like the heavens are helping me this time!" the Fourth Prince muttered to himself excitedly. He then turned and instructed his servants, "Quickly, take these mushrooms and cook them into a few dishes. Just cook them with some multi-grain porridge and add some mushrooms and black fungus. I want to taste them and see how they taste." The servants responded respectfully, carefully picking up the mushrooms and black fungus and heading towards the kitchen.

Although the Fourth Prince had simply ordered his servants to prepare something simple, they dared not slack off. They knew that if they didn't do it right, they would be punished by the Fourth Prince. So, when they cooked, they added a little extra oil and some common seasonings to the porridge. While these changes were not very noticeable, they were enough to give the originally bland multi-grain porridge a unique flavor, making it even more fragrant and delicious.

Soon, a bowl of steaming porridge was placed before the Fourth Prince. It exuded an alluring aroma, adorned with fresh mushrooms and black fungus. The Fourth Prince eagerly picked up his spoon, gently scooped up a spoonful, and slowly placed it in his mouth. Instantly, the delicious flavor spread like a flood, rapidly spreading between his lips and teeth.

The Fourth Prince savored this delicious food. Though not as refined as the porridge he enjoyed in the palace, its uniquely delicious flavor, like a playful little hand, gently tempted his appetite. Before he knew it, he had devoured the entire bowl of porridge. Ruqi watched him devour every last drop, and her heart finally settled.

Seeing him standing aside, the Fourth Prince couldn't help but jokingly said, "Zhu Qi, you have made a great contribution this time. When you return to the capital, you will be rewarded handsomely!" Upon hearing this, Zhu Qi hurriedly knelt on the ground and said with deep fear, "Your Highness, it is my duty to serve you. How dare I ask for a reward!" The Fourth Prince was very satisfied with this and said loudly, "If you do something well, you will be rewarded. If you do something wrong, you will be punished. There is no need for you to say more!"