Chapter 1772 – Big Pig’s Hooves
For this multiple-choice question, Jiang Pengji, as an adult, proclaimed:
“Multiple-choice questions are for little kids; adults take everything, of course!”
However, the mischievous Old Commander doused her enthusiasm with a bucket of cold water, leaving her feeling completely deflated.
Rubber trees were utterly unsuitable for cultivation in Dongqing, let alone Wanzhou. Attempting to transplant them would be a guaranteed failure!
“But that can’t be right! How could it be unsuitable?”
Jiang Pengji, undeterred, dug out details from that Mary Sue novel, reviewing the plot from beginning to end—nothing seemed off!
In this interstellar era filled with countless species, Jiang Pengji wasn’t a plant expert, so naturally, she didn’t know the living habits of rubber trees.
Your Dad: “It’s too cold where you are! Your seeds won’t sprout at all, and the two specimen trees won’t survive the transplant.”
Jiang Pengji looked utterly baffled. What did Old Commander mean by that?
She was already halfway in the bath with her pants down, and he was telling her it was that time of the month?
“How could it be unsuitable? I read the same reference book you provided! The story was set in the frigid depths of winter, and those rubber trees were thriving!” Jiang Pengji had thought she could successfully transplant rubber trees to Dongqing based on that novel, and now she was being told it wouldn’t work.
Recalling this, Jiang Pengji tentatively asked, “So it’s not cold-resistant?”
Your Dad: “Not cold-resistant, prefers high temperature and high humidity. I looked it up; below 5°C, they get frost damage. The planting area also requires a certain amount of annual rainfall, plus the soil needs to be deep, fertile, and moist acidic sandy loam. Oh, and since the branches are fragile and the roots shallow, they have poor wind resistance. Cold winds can affect their latex production, reducing yield.”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
Why didn’t he say that earlier?
Old Commander was just enjoying the spectacle of Jiang Pengji making a fool of herself; otherwise, he wouldn’t mislead her with a Mary Sue novel. How could he possibly lay it out plainly?
Had he not misdirected her, Jiang Pengji would have likely done more digging into travelogues that recorded details about rubber trees, thus noticing their growing environment.
Old Commander initiated a whole series of shenanigans, directly shoving Jiang Pengji into the black water ditch.
Jiang Pengji couldn’t help but scratch her head. “So, the places suitable for rubber tree planting would likely be in Southern Sheng and the original fiefs of the Southern Barbarian Four Tribes? If so, I’ll need to rearrange manpower. However, since the seeds are already in hand, we should at least give it a shot. We can first place the seeds in a warm greenhouse to simulate the humid and hot environment of the south, nurture the seedlings, and then transplant them to Southern Sheng in a few months.”
Time is precious; wasting it is not an option.
After being entertained by Old Commander, Jiang Pengji wasn’t about to take this loss lying down. She immediately demanded he send her a few barrels of latex.
Your Dad: “What’re you planning to do with the latex?”
She had specifically purchased an expensive plane ticket to dig up two rubber trees and also scored a bulk order of seeds… According to the store, these seeds had a high germination rate and were reliable in quality… After all that fuss, now he was asking her to request a few barrels of latex.
Tsk, Jiang Xiaojiumei, did you at least pay for the trouble of having someone purchase them for you?
She didn’t give a single cent.
Hmph, what an ungrateful woman.
Jiang Pengji said, “Dongqing can’t grow the rubber trees you sent on a large scale; in winter, the temperature drops below zero. Won’t the rubber trees freeze to death? Without fully grown trees, there’s no latex production. How can I study the 108 uses of latex without the output?”
She stood boldly in her entitlement as a handout seeker.
Old Commander was helping her now, essentially helping his future self!
This was all stuff Old Commander should be doing; Jiang Pengji’s conscience was free of guilt, and she felt energized in her commands.
After a while, instead of receiving an answer from Old Commander, she got a golden system notification.
“Your friend Your Dad has added you to the blacklist.”
Jiang Pengji: “???”
What on earth did Old Commander go through during his years of retirement?
Honestly, her temper was getting increasingly volatile; it felt like he’s pulling the blacklist-hand trigger too easily!
In just a few days, he blacklisted her twice—was he really going through a midlife crisis?
Though she was blacklisted, Jiang Pengji had no worry he could keep her out of contact forever.
She had her people meticulously count out the rubber seeds, putting all of them in storage.
While she wasn’t an expert on rubber tree seeds, based on her training as a genetic warrior years ago, she was certain these seeds were toxic—likely not deadly, but still potentially fatal. If taken by mistake, nausea and vomiting would be one thing, but losing lives could turn disastrous.
Having completed these tasks, Jiang Pengji tossed aside the misleading Mary Sue novel and paid it no mind.
Wei Ci, however, found it quite intriguing and asked to borrow the book from her.
“What’s so fascinating about this book?”
Jiang Pengji’s attitude was typical of someone who happily eats but then complains after putting down the bowl.
She finished the novel—it was enjoyable while it lasted, but now it was nothing but disdain.
Double standards galore that she could not even feel shame.
Wei Ci remarked, “There are many aspects worth studying deeply.”
“What’s there to learn? It’s like men and women together practicing the way of Huang and Chi; once the thrill passes, it’s all dull.”
Wei Ci’s ears turned red, his soulful eyes gazing at Jiang Pengji.
He countered, “Does Lord feel the same?”
Just as dull?
A strong will to survive drove Jiang Pengji to patch things up, lest she bruised the little man’s pride.
Without saying more, Wei Ci hugged those few scandalous books, and the domineering Ninth Miss walked away, her silhouette heavy with accusation.
Accusing whom?
Accusing Jiang Pengji, the big pig’s hooves who turned her back without even getting her pants on!
Hmph, it’s all so dull? Then let’s cultivate oneself quietly.
Jiang Pengji reached out in a failed attempt to coax Wei Ci back.
When she looked up, the screen was filled with an endless barrage of taunts toward Jiang Pengji being single by merit, with a few daring souls clamoring to take over her burden.
Pitiful indeed: Jiang Pengji felt for Zixiao—such big pig’s hooves would hurt a man’s pride!
Late Night Cat: “The streamer truly is a typical single gal by her own merits.”
Falling Plum Blossom: “I’m a straight shooter; I want to take over Zixiao. Do I line up for it or follow procedures?”
Winter Blooms in Summer: “Above, process first! Get through to the streamer before you can assume control, or you’re out of luck!”
Jiang Pengji was left speechless.
These idle folks were really getting bolder, daring to covet her Zixiao!
While they jabbed with playful banter, they weren’t entirely serious.
Jiang Pengji needed information on rubber trees, and the idle folks diligently acted as intermediaries, efficiently copying and pasting encyclopedic data from Badu and Gudai, allowing Jiang Pengji to sift through and record extensively into thick volumes, detailing the characteristics of rubber trees, their growing environment, and cultivation techniques, including but not limited to methods of cultivation, transplantation precautions, disease control, along with numerous planting insights from those engaged in related fields. This knowledge would help future folk avoid pitfalls, making it an invaluable treasure.
