Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

When Qi Jianlin heard the county magistrate say this, his eyes lit up instantly. He was able to have so many seeds and take them back himself, which would surely be a great achievement. Then he happily located the county magistrate, Niu Dabao, and asked, "Where is Niu Dabao now? Can you take us to see him?" And let's take a look at the sweet potatoes.

Upon hearing this, the county magistrate immediately responded cheerfully: "Don't worry, sir. I will take you to check out the planting conditions in the village and the situation of Niu Dabao, Qi Jianlin and others." After that, he waved his hand, led a group of yamen runners behind him, and walked out of the county government gate with the lord who came to inspect.

The team was so huge and impressive that it attracted the attention of passersby. People whispered to each other, discussing what this hurried team was doing. Someone speculated: "Look at this scene, are they going to arrest someone? Look at those yamen runners, they all have serious expressions, and the county magistrate is leading the team himself!" Another person echoed: "That's right, maybe there really is a big case. Could it be a murder? Oh my God, if there really is a murder, it would be too scary!" However, some people held a different opinion: "I don't think so. They don't look that nervous or anxious. Maybe it's just a routine matter."

For a moment, the streets were abuzz with speculation, but ultimately no one could truly determine the group's true purpose. Ignoring the surrounding clamor, the group hurriedly headed towards Niujia Village.

Niujia Village wasn't too far from Li County's government office, only about thirty miles away. Everyone rode on their fine horses, galloping along like the wind, at a remarkable speed. It would only take a little over two or three hours to reach their destination.

Finally, Niujia Village came into view, already within its boundaries. Looking out, the fields were bustling with people working diligently. Some were busy turning over the rice seedlings, their movements deft and efficient; others were carefully planting insects, expressions of focused concentration; and still others, buckets in hand, were constantly irrigating the crops, ensuring their healthy growth. What a busy yet peaceful and tranquil rural scene!

Xiang Lin stared intently at the lush green leaves, his heart overflowing with an indescribable excitement. He had never before witnessed leaves this vibrant and lush. He quickly turned to the county magistrate who had come with him and asked, "Sir, these leafy plants are so short. I wonder what kind they are? Could they be sweet potatoes?"

The county magistrate stepped forward quickly, bowed deeply to the gentleman with a broad smile on his face, and then said respectfully, "Your Excellency is right! Look, these are indeed sweet potatoes!" He pointed to the green seedlings and continued, "Look at these lush green seedlings! They are very useful! The leaves can not only be used to feed our pigs, ducks and other poultry and livestock, but we humans can also eat them.

And growing beneath these leaves are the fruits of the sweet potatoes. These fruits are truly amazing, with an extremely soft, sweet, and delicious taste that leaves a lasting impression! Speaking of sweet potato cultivation, we have to credit Niu Dabao and his family. They were the first to plant all their fields with sweet potatoes, and after seeing such a bountiful harvest, other families in the village followed suit and started planting sweet potatoes. Look at this vast, green field before you—it's all sweet potatoes! Such a vibrant scene is truly delightful! I believe this year will surely be a good year with good weather and abundant harvests!

Qi Jianlin couldn't help but feel a surge of joy when he heard this. His tense face instantly relaxed, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a delighted smile.

He straightened his clothes slightly, then walked quickly towards the county magistrate and said anxiously, "Sir, please take me to their home to investigate! Especially, I want to see how the sweet potatoes they planted are doing."

Seeing this, the county magistrate quickly agreed and walked forward quickly. Qi Jianlin followed closely behind him. The two of them walked hurriedly and soon arrived at the east end of the village.

From a distance, you can see a fertile piece of land at the foot of a hillside. At this moment, there are several figures busy in the field, they bend down, their hands constantly turning over the green sweet potato vines.

When you get closer, you can clearly see that beads of sweat are hanging on these people's foreheads, but they are completely unaware and are still concentrating on their work.

Seeing this, the county magistrate hurriedly quickened his pace and ran straight to the fields, shouting at the people working there to come over and greet him.

People busy working in the fields suddenly heard a loud cry: "The County Magistrate has arrived!" The sound was like a thunderclap, shattering the tranquil atmosphere of the fields. Everyone stopped their work and looked in the direction of the sound. Not far away, they saw a group of people dressed in neat and bright clothes, each holding a horse tightly in their hands, standing quietly at the edge of the field, waiting. And in the middle of this group was the County Magistrate.

Most villagers are quite familiar with this county lord. Back when sweet potatoes were first introduced to the area, it coincided with the Year of the Ox. That year, most crops were affected by natural disasters, resulting in poor harvests. However, when the county lord learned that the village had begun experimenting with sweet potato cultivation, he frequently took the trouble to visit and inspect the crops. Each time he visited, he personally walked into the fields, carefully observing the growth of the sweet potato plants and engaging in cordial conversations with the farmers to understand the challenges and difficulties they encountered during their cultivation. Because of this, most villagers in this village have a deep impression of the county lord.

While the County Master wasn't a high-ranking, imposing official, he was upright and fair, handling affairs with impartiality. Under his rule, taxes and levies were relatively low, and the burden of life for the people was not so heavy. Furthermore, despite being a minor official of the seventh rank, the County Master showed deep concern for the people's livelihoods, especially their basic needs of food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

On a sunny and breezy day, Niu Dabao visited his own field to check on the growth of his sweet potatoes and share some tips and tricks on sweet potato planting, care, and pest control with his children and grandchildren. He bent down, carefully observing each sweet potato seedling, its leaf color, stem thickness, and root distribution. As he did so, he patiently explained to the children, "For these sweet potatoes to grow well, first you need to choose the right seeds, and then the soil needs to be fertile and loose..."

From selecting high-quality seedlings to applying fertilizer and water appropriately, to promptly removing pests and weeds, Niu Dabao unreservedly passed on his years of valuable experience to his children and other villagers who came to consult him. Despite his detailed instructions, he remained concerned and would regularly check on the children's progress to see if they had truly grasped the key points he had taught them.

Just as Niu Dabao was engrossed in explaining the key principles of sweet potato planting and the various precautions he needed to take, he suddenly heard a commotion nearby. Then, someone shouted, "The County Magistrate is coming! The County Magistrate is coming!" Niu Dabao's heart trembled. He quickly stopped what he was doing, brushed off the dirt on his hands, and patted his clothes vigorously to clean the dust off himself. Without giving it a second thought, he hurried toward the sound and soon arrived before the County Magistrate.

Niu Dabao trotted all the way to the county grandfather, and before he could even stand still, he knelt on his knees with a "thump", kowtowed respectfully, and then greeted loudly: "I am Niu Dabao, the humble servant, and I pay my respects to you, sir!"

Seeing this, the county magistrate quickly stood up, stepped forward, and extended his hands as if to support him. He said anxiously, "Please stand up quickly. No need to be so polite." After Niu Dabao stood up, the county magistrate immediately asked, "How are the sweet potatoes growing this year? Has the yield increased compared to last year?"

Upon hearing this, Niu Dabao immediately showed a simple and honest smile on his face. He scratched his head and answered without hiding anything, "In reply to the county master, you can rest assured. The sweet potatoes are growing so well this year! Each one is huge. I estimate that every acre of land will yield at least two more loads than last year!"

Upon hearing this, the county grandfather's half-closed eyes suddenly widened, his face filled with surprise and joy. He couldn't wait to ask, "Are you serious?" Niu Dabao nodded vigorously, patting his chest and assuring, "Sir, how dare I lie! Based on my many years of experience in growing sweet potatoes, this year's sweet potatoes will definitely grow much better than last year's!"

Niu Dabao patted his broad and strong chest confidently, looked at the county magistrate with a determined gaze, and said with confidence: "County magistrate, you can rest assured! I, Old Niu, have been growing sweet potatoes for many years and have a wealth of experience! There will be no problems with the sweet potato planting this time! When the sweet potatoes have a big harvest, come and have a look. I guarantee that you will be grinning from ear to ear and be extremely satisfied!"