Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

However, I didn't give up easily. After careful consideration, I finally hit upon a brilliant idea. In my final attempt, I carefully and skillfully tied the seedlings together with branches from other plants, disguising them as ordinary hemp rope. Thus, with my wit and determination, I successfully evaded the landowner's scrutiny and finally brought home these precious seedlings as I had hoped.

Niu Dabao paused and continued, "After careful care and trial planting, I discovered that sweet potatoes are truly a treasure! They aren't particularly picky about soil or climate. They thrive in both fertile and poor soils. And they produce abundant fruit regardless of whether the climate is dry and rainy or humid and rainy. So I tried planting them on a large scale here, and to my surprise, it was a success!"

Qi Jianlin stared at Niu Dabao intently, his face beaming with energy and a vigor and confidence that was hard to ignore. Seeing this, Qi Jianlin couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion, a surge of uncontrollable excitement welling up in his heart.

Because he knew that Niu Dabao was currently engaged in a cause of extraordinary significance, and that this cause could very well become a lifeline for countless people struggling on the brink of starvation. For ordinary people, their wishes were often simple and practical - as long as they could have enough to eat, warm clothes, and a job to support their livelihood, they would feel satisfied.

Thinking of this, Qi Jianlin could no longer suppress his curiosity and anticipation, and hurriedly asked: "Niu Dabao, how long will it take for these sweet potatoes of ours to fully mature? Are there any extra sweet potato seedlings available for planting now?" As he spoke, he looked at Niu Dabao eagerly, as if he wanted to get an answer from him immediately.

Niu Dabao, once he touched upon a field he was familiar with, seemed to light up, radiating an irresistible radiance of confidence. This confidence wasn't just superficial; it naturally emanated from his words and actions, inspiring awe and respect.

Niu Dabao said cheerfully, "They'll be ripe in a month! But we don't have that many tomato seedlings this time. They all rely on their roots to grow." He paused briefly, as if remembering something important, and added, "Oh, by the way, I left some unplanted."

Xu Jianlin, who had been listening quietly nearby, couldn't help but frown slightly at this. He pondered: With only a month left until the potatoes reach maturity, and including the return journey, it would take almost two full months to reach their starting point. In two months, it would likely be late spring, and while the weather wouldn't be quite as cold, it wouldn't be particularly warm either. In that case, perhaps growing sweet potatoes would be a good option...

Thinking of this, Xu Jianlin nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Niu Dabao and said slowly: "Well, I understand.

Qi Jianlin slowly lowered his head, his brow furrowed, and he fell into a brief moment of contemplation. Time seemed to freeze, and the surroundings were silent, with only the sound of his gentle breathing echoing in the air. After a long moment, he suddenly raised his head, his eyes like torches, fixed firmly on Niu Dabao. His fiery and resolute gaze, like two sharp arrows, shot straight at Niu Dabao, making him feel an invisible pressure coming at him, and his whole body became uncomfortable.

Niu Dabao was a little flustered by this sudden gaze. He subconsciously began to feel his body constantly, muttering to himself: "Is there something wrong with me? Why would this gentleman stare at me like this?" However, no matter how he checked, he couldn't seem to find anything unusual.

Seeing Niu Dabao so uneasy, Qi Jianlin realized that he might have put too much pressure on him, so he slightly lowered his gaze, but the tangled and expectant look in his eyes was still clearly visible. Finally, he took a deep breath, as if making up his mind, and slowly said, "Niu Dabao, I wonder if you would like to earn some money?"

Niu Dabao was stunned at first, clearly not immediately understanding what Qi Jianlin meant. But he quickly realized what was going on and bowed, saying, "Sir, I'm just an ordinary citizen, naturally hoping to earn more money to support my family. I'm just unsure what kind of money-making opportunity you're referring to. If there's ever a need for me, please let me know."

Seeing Niu Dabao's straightforwardness, Qi Jianlin stopped beating around the bush and got straight to the point: "To be honest, we plan to take you to a place where people are in urgent need of someone to teach them the essentials and techniques of growing sweet potatoes. Your skills could be put to good use. So, I'd like to ask you, would you be willing to come with us?"

When Niu Dabao heard this, his mind was in a mess. He didn't know where to start. He just kept muttering, "This...what should I do?" Seeing Niu Dabao so wavering and hesitant, Qi Jianlin thought for a while and said, "Well, it won't take too long to follow us. It will only take a year at most. Of course, you can choose to go alone, or you can take a helper with you. How about this, as long as you agree to this, I will give you a full five hundred taels of silver in a year! You know, this much silver is probably difficult for you to earn in your lifetime! If you decide to bring a helper with you, then I will give your helper two hundred taels of silver as a reward. And this silver is also I can pay you half as a deposit. Once you've successfully completed your mission and taught everyone there, the remaining half will naturally be given to you. So, don't worry. Our county magistrate is right here, and with him guaranteeing you, you don't have to worry about your safety. Furthermore, even when you're away, you can rest assured that your family will be well taken care of, as the county magistrate is here to look after them. He'll definitely not let anyone dare to bully your family. So, are you finally relieved now?"

Seeing Niu Dabao's hesitation and dithering, the county magistrate felt a little displeased, but he suppressed his temper and spoke softly, "Niu Dabao! Relax. With me here to take care of things, I will definitely not let any trouble arise in your family. The people coming this time are important figures from the capital, and they need you to take care of something. This is a great honor and a rare opportunity for you! You must do your best and handle this matter wholeheartedly. If you don't know what's good for you and refuse to comply, I'm afraid not only you, but also your entire family will not have a good ending."

When Niu Dabao heard this, he already understood the interests involved. He knew very well that as a commoner, how could he compete with those powerful people? Moreover, the county magistrate had given him enough face by saying this. If he did not know what was good for him and continued to make excuses, he would probably end up with nothing and in a miserable state. Thinking of this, Niu Dabao struggled for a while in his heart, and finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind. He respectfully bowed to the county magistrate and responded sincerely: "Thank you for your consideration and care. I fully understand your painstaking efforts. In this case, I will follow your teachings and do my best to complete the tasks assigned to me. I will never let you down!"

Qi Jianlin couldn't help but feel a surge of joy when he heard Niu Dabao's resolute and unhesitating affirmative answer, and a bright smile spread across his face. He nodded slightly and said in a gentle voice, "Very good! However, you need to think carefully about whether you should bring other people with you on this mission, or can you handle it alone? In addition, when we leave, the sweet potatoes will be ripe. We will not only take away those fresh and delicious sweet potatoes, but also the seedlings and planting techniques. So, in the coming days, you must properly arrange all the affairs of the family. Don't miss out on anything that needs to be explained to your family, and don't be careless about any work that needs to be prepared in advance. Especially the seedlings needed for the sweet potatoes, you must prepare a lot of them! Don't worry about this, we will send someone to take care of the transportation. Remember, the more the better!"

Upon hearing this, Niu Dabao quickly responded, "I know, I know! Don't worry, I will do my best to prepare enough sweet potato seedlings and guarantee your satisfaction!"

Qi Jianlin was deeply pleased to see Niu Dabao's positive and forthright attitude. His tense nerves gradually relaxed, and a satisfied and relaxed expression appeared on his face. He then turned to the county magistrate standing nearby and asked, "Who is the village chief here? We plan to rest here for a while and wait for the sweet potato seedlings to mature before we depart."

The county eunuch said hurriedly with a panicked look on his face, "Sir, please don't worry about this matter. I will send my legal advisor to find the village chief and ask him to come quickly to ensure that all food, clothing, housing and transportation are properly arranged for Master Zhu Wen and his group." The county magistrate immediately turned around and urgently instructed the legal advisor standing behind him, "Sir, this matter is extremely urgent. You must act quickly and handle this matter swiftly. You must not keep us waiting here for too long!"