Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 253 - 146 Heavenly Venerate Medicine Garden, Rotation of the Sun and Moon (4K)

Chapter 253: Chapter 146 Heavenly Venerate Medicine Garden, Rotation of the Sun and Moon (4K)

Half a month later.

"Is it enough for those kids to come only half a day every day?"

Looking at the clueless kids leaving, Yuan expressed her concerns.

According to Zheng Fa’s rules, the children came to the temple in the morning to study and would return home before lunch, spending only two hours a day.

Zheng Fa was silent for a while before responding, "Sister Yuan, the people of Half Mountain City indeed have short lifespans. Not to mention the five-year-olds, ten-year-olds are already considered strong enough for labor... If they spend the whole day in the temple, their families would struggle to get by."

Zheng, who grew up on a farm, knew very well that full-time study was actually a luxury.

Even when Mr. Zheng was alive, he would help with a lot of chores every day.

Not to mention that the conditions in Half Mountain City were still not as good as those at the Zhao Family’s Farm.

Considering the average lifespan of around thirty years in Half Mountain City, a ten-year-old could already be considered a youth...

Most children in Half Mountain City either had to help with cooking at home or follow their elders to the mountains and rivers.

Zhang seemed to understand the ways of the world a bit better than Yuan and said, "It’s still because there is too little food."

Zheng Fa agreed in his heart.

To allow a portion of people to focus solely on studying, there needed to be enough food.

The production of edible mushrooms was beyond Zheng Fa’s expectations but was still limited and far from the staple food.

Any developmental plan must be based on a foundation of a full stomach—

This is where domesticating crops and cultivating Spirit Plants came into play.

Zheng Fa took a pragmatic view: "Let’s take it slowly. As they say, it takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred to cultivate people. Education and farming are not matters that can be rushed."

Beside him, Yuan commented with a hint of disdain, "These kids are also quite foolish..."

Even Zheng Fa had to nod his head at that.

He did not expect any geniuses among these hundreds of kids...

But they made Xiaoqing seem too much like a genius by comparison.

Zhang, however, had a more optimistic view:

"You can’t really blame them; first, they’ve never been to school before."

"Second, they don’t understand the benefits of studying."

"With neither foundation nor purpose, it’s naturally hard for them to make progress." Zhang took a pause and looked outside the temple at Xiaoqing, "But this girl, despite her poor background, is diligent."

Xiaoqing was holding a book in one hand and a stick in the other, writing and drawing in the mud in front of the temple.

Among all the "students," she was particularly hardworking.

At least, she was the only one who reviewed the material after class.

Her brows were furrowed, clearly in puzzlement, deep in thought.

Seemingly unable to figure something out, she tossed aside the dry stick, pouted, and squatted on the ground, almost in despair.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and called out:

"Xiaoqing."

"Huh?"

"Have all those beans been planted?"

Zheng Fa inquired.

He had previously researched a way to cultivate a type of bean with Spirit Tree Thunder in the Heavenly Stele Realm.

Zheng Fa had instructed Xiaoqing to specifically set aside a plot of land for this purpose.

"All done!"

"In the future, these beans will serve as a reward."

Xiaoqing asked in confusion, "Reward?"

Zheng Fa explained, "To reward children who study well."

In the end, it was a sort of tangible scholarship.

Ordinary crops would not be distributed by Zheng Fa; these were essentials that most people depended on for survival.

But the yield of Spirit Plants was relatively scarce, not something everyone could have.

Zhang previously said these kids had no aspiration to study; that’s when Zheng Fa had this idea.

Xiaoqing clearly understood.

"So..."

She stuttered.

"Hm?"

"Do I have some?"

"Of course!"

Upon hearing that, Xiaoqing excitedly picked up the stick again.

Watching her spirited demeanor, Zhang spoke with an unusual tone, "Junior Brother Zheng, you always have some peculiar yet effective ideas."

This time, Zheng Fa didn’t take any credit and merely smiled, "It’s not that others can’t think of it; it’s just that no one in the Xuanwei Realm is willing to invest so much in education."

Zhang fell silent.

That was quite obvious, not to speak of others, even the Jiushan Sect didn’t have enough Spirit Plants to go around, let alone for these non-cultivating children?

Yuan seemed to think of something and suddenly piped up:

"Junior Brother Zheng, I quite enjoy studying myself!"

"Sister..." Zheng Fa was somewhat at a loss for words, "At least pick someone who can write..."

"Nonsense, I have to be able to outdo those who can write..."

...

Zheng Fa led the two sisters towards the Hundred Treasure Hall.

Originally, there were four or five Cultivators inside exchanging spiritual materials, their faces full of excitement as they discussed among themselves.

But as Zheng Fa entered the hall, those Cultivators exchanged glances and simultaneously headed towards the exit, passing Zheng Fa with a polite yet distant smile, and even a faint hint of fear.

It’s as if they didn’t want to stay in the Hundred Treasure Hall at all.

Yuan asked curiously, "Junior Brother Zheng, are they very afraid of you?"

"Sister Yuan, if you had a hundred stones of Yellow Rice, would you be happy?"

"Of course!"

"What if you suddenly met someone who said they had ten thousand dan of it, would you still be as happy?"

Yuan was stunned for a moment, then came to a realization, "Out of sight, out of mind!"

Zheng Fa nodded, feeling somewhat impressed—these people were really wise to leave; otherwise, he was afraid their Dao hearts would collapse...

In his previous visits to the Heavenly Stele, Zheng Fa could say he relied on his own efforts.

But this time it was different, he had brought the two sisters with him!

The over twenty thousand points of Heavenly Merit in the copper seal were the best praise for the two sisters!

Despite the fact that he had earned just over ten thousand points of Heavenly Merit in the past, the sisters had stepped in and doubled his gains...

Of course, this included his research on the two types of Thunder Skill: Heavenly Tribulation Thunder and Cloud Rain Thunder, but he also saw the diligence and effort of the two sisters.