Chapter 359: Just Being Polite
A gust of wind rustled through the valley, and the crimson leaves of the maple trees answered with a sound like scattered applause.
If someone happened to pass by, they might have thought a warm welcome was underway.
Jiang Chen approached on his Shattered Moon Flowing Frost, noticing how different Red Leaf Valley had become. The boisterous energy of summer had faded, replaced by a quiet tranquility.
“So, is buying anything going to be a long trip from now on?”
“That Sea of Flowers place isn’t bad. At least the scenery is nice!”
Fewer people came to trade these days, but the valley wasn’t completely empty. As long as the five major trading posts remained, business continued.
After landing, Jiang Chen made his way toward the spirit farmers’ trading post, surveying his new domain. As far as he could see, every building except for the five major posts was gone. They hadn’t been demolished but moved away whole, leaving the once-crowded streets feeling unnervingly spacious. It was something he’d have to get used to.
For the official disciples of the Spirit Farm and Beast Mountain, shopping was about to become a hassle. They’d have to travel much farther to get what they needed. But on the other hand, the scenery had undeniably improved. The Sea of Flowers was the kind of place you visited once and immediately wanted to see again. Beyond the birdsong and fragrant blossoms, its main attraction was matchmaking.
With the Sea of Flowers back in business, the matchmaking events were sure to follow. For men like Jin Fugui and Mo Yu, spring was truly in the air.
Soon, Jiang Chen stepped into the spirit farmers’ trading post—the Harvest Alliance. The interior was sparse, with many shelves and stalls missing, making the space feel even emptier.Just then, the light tapping of footsteps announced an arrival, and a beautiful figure walked into view.
Jiang Chen cupped his hands. “If it isn’t Senior Sister Su!”
Su Qing paused, looking him over. “Aren’t you the one who’s always with Senior Brother Chen…?”
She had a vague impression of him as Chen Tian’s little follower, another Wood Spirit Root farmer. He had come here before to argue about the stalls for Fire Peak.
Then her eyes fell to the token hanging from his waist, and she froze mid-sentence. Good heavens, she’d almost forgotten. This man was now the Spirit Farm’s one and only Cultivation Envoy.
Her tone shifted instantly. “Cultivation Envoy Jiang!”
Jiang Chen sighed dramatically. “Senior Sister, you must be incredibly busy. Is this the first time we’ve seen each other all year?”
Su Qing forced a laugh. “You have no idea! I was so busy that when you were appointed Cultivation Envoy, I didn’t even have time to attend the ceremony to celebrate!”
Jiang Chen waved a dismissive hand. “That’s all in the past. No need to bring it up.”
Jiang Chen blinked. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly!”
Su Qing offered a sweet smile. “Cultivation Envoy Jiang, you and Senior Brother Chen are friends, which makes us friends. What are a few resources between friends?”
Jiang Chen gave a slight nod. “Alright, then I won’t stand on ceremony with Senior Sister!”
Since the trading post was moving anyway, he might as well stock up. It would save him a lot of time on trips back and forth later.
At first, the smile on Su Qing’s face was brilliant. But as time wore on and Jiang Chen continued to take more and more items, her smile began to twitch, then stiffen. Her gaze grew increasingly vacant as he piled up goods.
Jiang Chen gathered a mountain of various ingredients, tossing them all into his Jade Green Gourd for preservation. “Senior Sister,” he said with sincere gratitude, “thank you for your hospitality!”
Su Qing’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s nothing, really! If it’s not enough, please, take more!”
Seeing that it would be rude to refuse such a generous offer, Jiang Chen started packing things again. “Well, if you insist.”
Su Qing’s jaw dropped. *I was just being polite, you shameless bastard!* she screamed internally. *Do you think this is your personal pantry?!*
A short while later, Jiang Chen had amassed another large pile of ingredients. He finally stopped, wearing a troubled expression. “Senior Sister, that’s really enough this time. If I pack any more, my gourd will be full.”
Su Qing had been about to make another polite offer out of habit, but the words died on her lips. She realized with dawning horror that this man truly had no filter for social niceties. Her lips twitched several times before she managed to force out, “As long as you’re happy.”
Jiang Chen grinned. “With Senior Sister taking such good care of me, of course I’m happy.”
Su Qing took a deep, steadying breath. “Well… I still have some things to attend to…”
Jiang Chen understood instantly. “And I should be going. Goodbye, Senior Sister!”
He turned and left, his heart filled with the simple joy of a bountiful harvest.
Once outside, he headed for the other trading posts. He planned to buy a little of everything. Even if he didn’t need it now, it was always good to have reserves. Unfortunately, none of the other merchants were as “enthusiastic” as Senior Sister Su. On the bright side, because they were all preparing to move, their prices were significantly lower. The more you bought, the better the discount.
By the time he returned home, Jin Fugui had been waiting for quite a while.
The wait, however, had been worth it. Lunch was an extravagant feast. While Jiang Chen’s cooking wasn’t quite at the level of true Spirit Cuisine, every dish he made carried some beneficial effect. More importantly, the color, aroma, and flavor were all superb.
Jin Fugui ate like a man who’d found an oasis after a long drought, clutching his bowl and devouring the food.
Jiang Chen poured him a cup of Top-quality Spirit Wine. “Slow down. No one’s going to steal it from you.”
Jin Fugui took a huge gulp of wine, washing down a mouthful of food. He let out a ragged breath and said, “Nothing beats your cooking!”
“Just hang in there a little longer,” Jiang Chen consoled him. “It’s only until next month. Once we sell our haul, we can afford to eat Spirit Cuisine every day.”
Jin Fugui’s eyes narrowed, a shrewd glint within them. “I’ve noticed something. As news of the Return to Ruins Secret Realm spreads, the prices for Metal and Fire attribute spirit beasts have been climbing. Meanwhile, the prices for all other attributes have dropped.”
Jiang Chen caught his meaning immediately. “You want to speculate? Buy low now and sell high later?”
Jin Fugui nodded eagerly. “Exactly! That’s exactly what I mean!”
Jiang Chen thought for a moment, then produced a Storage Bag. “Inside are the 10,000 Mid-grade Spirit Stones I got from selling the Calyx Boat. Take them for now.”
Jin Fugui hastily put down his bowl and chopsticks, waving his hands in refusal. “How could I possibly take this?”
Jiang Chen pushed the bag firmly into his hands. “I have enough for my own needs,” he said seriously. “I don’t need to purchase any more Yang-attribute materials. For you, this is a chance to soar. You can’t miss it.”
Jin Fugui’s eyes shimmered, his voice thick with emotion. “Old Jiang, you…”
Jiang Chen clapped him on the shoulder. “We’re brothers. What’s the need for all this formality?”
When he had first proposed the venture, Jin Fugui had sold his spirit beasts and his land without a second thought, going all-in on the Return to Ruins Secret Realm. Now that a golden opportunity had presented itself, how could Jiang Chen let his brother miss out?
Jin Fugui raised his wine cup, his expression solemn. “Old Jiang, I won’t say any more. It’s all in the wine!”
He proceeded to drain his cup, then another, and another, downing each in a single gulp.
At first, Jiang Chen was genuinely moved. But as he watched half a bottle of his precious Top-quality Spirit Wine disappear with no end in sight, a realization dawned.
“You son of a bitch,” he muttered, his warm feelings evaporating instantly. “You just wanted an excuse to drink my wine!”