One mid-grade Spirit Stone per day for seven days made seven stones. For an Earth Lotus that could sell for fifty mid-grade Spirit Stones, that was only one-seventh of the price.

Logically, this payment wasn’t excessive.

But Jin Man felt a bit displeased. What right did a mere Qi Condensation stage Spirit Farmer have to demand such high payment?

Therefore, facing Jiang Chen’s “lion’s open mouth,” he didn’t respond, choosing instead to remain silent.

Let’s see who cracks first.

Seeing the other party fall silent, Jiang Chen wasn’t anxious. As long as he didn’t give up, the task was still active.

When the time came, the other party would only have two choices left. One: Compensate him and terminate the cooperation. Two: Re-post the task once more.

Whether it was the first or second option, both would waste time and resources. So, it was a matter of who could hold out longer.

Next, Jiang Chen originally planned to leave the pit. But then he thought again. Since I’m already here, why not go see Tie Zhu?

After all, they had a contract between them. He could deliver the 50 jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice for summer in advance and schedule the autumn soil-loosening time.

Immediately, Jiang Chen took out Tie Zhu’s communication talisman and tried to make contact. But the signal was poor; the other party couldn’t receive it.

This situation meant the person was currently in the Earth Vein.

Seeing this person lingering without leaving, Shan Fei couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “What are you still dawdling for?”

Jiang Chen put down the communication talisman and said, “I still need to find someone.”

“Tie Zhu?” Shan Fei had never heard this name at all.

Jiang Chen gave a brief introduction. “A formal disciple here at the Qi Condensation stage.”

Shan Fei frowned and walked toward another area, arriving at what looked like a registration desk. He instructed an Earth Spirit Root female disciple inside, “Check if there’s a formal disciple named Tie Zhu.”

Soon, the Earth Spirit Root female disciple nodded. “There is indeed.”

The Earth Spirit Root female disciple glanced at a form. “He didn’t complete his mining task today, so he’s still in the Earth Vein.”

Jiang Chen stepped forward to ask, “When will he come up?”

The Earth Spirit Root female disciple shrugged at the question. “Whenever he finishes, that’s when he comes up.”

After all, Earth Spirit Root cultivators could withstand pressure. Sometimes staying down for several hours wasn’t a problem. If they didn’t complete their mining task, they generally wouldn’t come up.

Shan Fei said gravely, “Non-Earth Spirit Root cultivators cannot enter the mine shafts. You can only wait here.”

Jiang Chen really didn’t want to stay in this sunless place. He still had to go home and cook for the yellow dog and pearl chickens. Since he couldn’t meet him this time, then next time it would be.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you up.” Shan Fei called out.

Immediately, the two began retracing their path back up.

Time came to evening.

Tie Zhu, with a sallow complexion, and several other Earth Spirit Root disciples emerged from the mine shaft.

“But how can we Qi Condensation stage cultivators compete with Foundation Establishment stage ones?”

“Tie Zhu, didn’t you sign contracts with several Spirit Farmers?”

“Forget it! Even though this guy cooperates with several Spirit Farmers, the proportions are all too low!”

“The proportion with that guy named Lin An was decent, but then…”

The voices of those around him were rather grating.

Tie Zhu opened his mouth but found himself unable to refute when words reached his lips. If only his judgment had been a bit better, he wouldn’t have to work himself to death every day.

At that moment, an Earth Spirit Root female disciple from another area asked, “Are you Tie Zhu?”

“Yes, that’s me.” Tie Zhu looked at her somewhat surprised, wondering if she fancied him.

As it turned out, the Earth Spirit Root female disciple said, “Someone was looking for you during the day.”

“Who?” Tie Zhu was both surprised and a little regretful.

The Earth Spirit Root female disciple recalled, “Thin and tall, wearing a bamboo hat. Seemed like a Spirit Farmer.”

“A Spirit Farmer?” A person instantly appeared in Tie Zhu’s mind. He couldn’t help but blurt out, “Senior Brother Jiang!”

Right! Summer had ended. Senior Brother Jiang must have already harvested his spirit rice. His sudden visit should be related to those 50 jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice. Although not much, it was at least the most stable income.

At this moment, those who had been mocking Tie Zhu earlier all showed looks of envy. At least he had a Spirit Farmer cooperating with him. He could get some spirit rice every season. No matter how little it was, it was better than them mining in this sunless Earth Vein!

The next morning.

Just after sunrise, Jiang Chen was busy working. He planned to dry out the rice straw and then make a nest for the pearl chickens.

From now on, temperatures would drop day by day; days would get colder and colder. He couldn’t let them roam free anymore.

“Woof! Woof!” While working, the yellow dog suddenly started barking.

“Hmm?” Jiang Chen looked to his right and saw someone approaching.

Jiang Chen recognized the voice immediately and said with realization, “Ah, Tie Zhu.”

Soon, Tie Zhu stood before him, his face full of excitement.

He hadn’t slept a wink all night. He rushed over from the Earth Vein before dawn even broke. Although fifty jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice didn’t warrant such intense focus, he was just happy about it.

Everyone said Tie Zhu had poor judgment when it came to people, and even he himself thought so too. But there were times when even a blind cat finds a dead mouse. This led to the people around him who knew him not daring to mock him anymore.

Jiang Chen didn’t waste words either. He took out fifty jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice from his small storage pouch.

Seeing it was still Tier-2 Spirit Rice made Tie Zhu inwardly sigh with relief.

Then he took out last season’s contract talisman and tore it up in front of both of them, marking an end to their summer cooperation.

Jiang Chen stopped what he was doing, went to the kitchen first to cut half a watermelon for Tie Zhu, and then continued moving the remaining straw.

Holding half a watermelon, Tie Zhu saw this but didn’t eat it; instead, he put it aside and started helping with the work. “Senior Brother, let me help you.”

Jiang Chen didn’t refuse either; two people working together indeed sped things up considerably.

Before long, the empty space on the other side of the house was already piled high with straw. It just needed a few days of drying, then he could harvest a large amount of hay.

Tie Zhu patted the grass bits off his hands and curiously asked, “Senior Brother, what are you making?”

Jiang Chen smiled. “I plan to make a chicken coop for the pearl chickens.”

Tie Zhu thoughtfully asked again, “Do you need to build an earthen den to shelter them from the wind and rain?”

Jiang Chen paused, then nodded. “You’re right, I indeed need one.”

Tie Zhu immediately patted his chest. “This Junior Brother’s Earth Pull has already reached the second layer; I can control earth qi concentration to change the shape of the soil.”

Then, the two confirmed the location.

At a visible speed, Tie Zhu created two earthen dens on the ground.

Why two?

One for the pearl chickens. Another for the yellow dog.

These things were extremely sturdy; even kicking wouldn’t deform them. Under normal circumstances, using them for a few years would be absolutely no problem.

Jiang Chen specifically put the yellow dog and pearl chickens inside to try them out.

The pearl chickens were just the right size, and the internal space was very spacious. After all, they were already adults and wouldn’t grow bigger anymore.

But the yellow dog was not okay; it was a bit small.

Moreover, it was still in its growth stage and would still grow bigger. Therefore, even if it could accommodate the dog now, he would definitely need to modify it later.

This posed no difficulty at all for Tie Zhu.

Again he operated Earth Pull, expanding the doghouse to double the size.

This time, not to mention one adult yellow dog, even two would be no problem!