Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 125 - 90: Earth Soul Activated, A Strange Premonition!

Chapter 125: Chapter 90: Earth Soul Activated, A Strange Premonition!

The Minister of Agriculture Official was responsible for promoting farming and ensuring a bountiful harvest. During the Harvest Festival, not only the weather in Gucheng but also throughout Nanyang County would be adjusted accordingly.

The County-level Minister of Agriculture Supervision controlled the weather on a large scale. Occasionally, some details were not in place, so the Ministers of Agriculture at lower levels had to perform their duties.

In the past two days, Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui had to inspect and patrol Anping Town.

They took a stroll around Anping Town and finally arrived at the home of the town’s chief.

Collecting harvest statistics and levying taxes did not concern Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui. They mainly just asked about the situation.

The chief was already in his fifties. Seeing the two, he was not at all reserved and started chatting with them as if they were his own youngsters:

"This year, Gucheng, like every other year, has had favorable weather with timely rain and a great harvest."

"As long as people are willing to put in the work, anyone can support their family and eat well."

"However, there are always those who are lazy. Take Huang Silang from the sixth group, for instance. He is usually lazy and lives off his parents. Even now, during the Harvest Festival, he hasn’t gone to help out at home."

"Last year, his elderly parents, both in their seventies or eighties, were unable to work. The primordial rice was almost left to rot in the fields, and it was the neighbors who helped with the harvest. He didn’t even thank them. Instead, he said they were meddling unnecessarily... Hey, this year no one is willing to help, and he’s still lying at home, not working and expecting the court to provide them with relief grain..."

"That relief is for his elderly parents! He is over thirty years old, still strong and able, and yet he speaks such shameless words! Old Man Huang is truly cursed to have such a son!"

Hearing the chief’s words, Shen Zhui became furious and immediately asked, "Where is this Huang Silang’s home?"

"He’s not at home."

"Then where is he?"

"See, he’s at the Niu Family Mansion playing dice."

Shen Zhui immediately stood up. "How dare someone gamble here? This is outrageous! Mr. Zhao, let’s go!"

"Coming." Before leaving, Zhao Xing used the Five Elements to observe the chief. Although he had been staring into the chief’s eyes while he spoke, he took one more look.

He then checked the calendar and found nothing unusual. He petted the small mountain cat and followed the guardian grass man.

.....

"Are you Huang Silang?"

As soon as Shen Zhui and Zhao Xing arrived, they saw a disheveled, vacant-eyed man emerging from the Niu Family Mansion.

They recognized him immediately from the records and portraits they saw with the chief. He was indeed Huang Silang.

"No, you’ve got the wrong person." Huang Silang buried his head and started to walk away.

"Stop!" Shen Zhui shouted, "Why are you running?"

Huang Silang halted. It was clear he recognized the two government officers. In his mind, he recalled his past petty thefts and wondered which one had been discovered.

"Come with us," Zhao Xing confirmed he was the one, so he got back in the cart.

Huang Silang tried to climb into the cart but was kicked down.

"Ouch!" Huang Silang fell to the ground.

It wasn’t Zhao Xing or Shen Zhui who kicked him, but the mountain cat.

It hissed from outside, looking very displeased.

This guy stank, and it didn’t want Huang Silang inside the carriage.

"You’ll walk," Shen Zhui said.

Huang Silang was displeased. "Sir, it’ll take at least an hour to walk to the county. Won’t I be exhausted?"

"We’re not going to the county. We’re going to your home!"

Huang Silang’s eyes darted around, "Sir, you’re not arresting me? I haven’t done anything wrong?"

Shen Zhui, amused by his question, said, "You don’t know if you’ve done anything wrong?"

Huang Silang chuckled awkwardly, "I haven’t, I haven’t... So, I’ll get going now."

"Stop! Who said you could leave?"

"Your elderly parents are working in the fields, and as their son, you should bear these heavy tasks..." Shen Zhui reasoned with him patiently.

Huang Silang looked irritated, clearly not listening at all.

His ears had become calloused from hearing these words too many times.

Shen Zhui preached for fifteen minutes, and Huang Silang remained silent.

Zhao Xing pulled Shen Zhui aside: "Brother Shen, get in the carriage first. Let me talk to him. I am the Minister of Agriculture, and it is my duty to promote farming."

Shen Zhui nodded and entered the carriage.

Zhao Xing stared at Huang Silang and asked, "Why aren’t you helping your parents harvest the primordial rice?"

"I’m lazy."

"..."

Damn, he really sounded justified.

Seeing that they were not there to arrest him, Huang Silang felt even more confident: "If you pity my parents, why not give us some money? Or help us harvest the primordial rice..."

A shameless person was invincible, and there was nothing more to say to someone like that.

Zhao Xing lashed his whip across his body, "Go! Get to your family’s field!"

"Ouch, why are you hitting me? Okay, okay, I’ll go..." Understanding Zhao Xing wasn’t joking, Huang Silang immediately shrank back and led the way.

They arrived at the field.

Sure enough, two elderly people were working in the field.

Huang Silang stood motionless on the ridge.

Zhao Xing said nothing further, casually made repeating grass man next to him, asked Shen Zhui for the whip, and handed it to the grass man: "Watch him harvest the primordial rice. If he doesn’t work, whip him."

"What?" Huang Silang protested, "You’re overstepping. Whether I plant or not, what does it have to do with you... Ouch, they’re hitting me, the officers are hitting me!"

Huang Silang lay on the ground, wailing at the top of his lungs.

Nearby neighbors heard the commotion and came over, laughing immediately.

"Good! Beat him!"

"Shameless scoundrel!"

"It’s Huang Silang. If the officers are beating him, there must be a good reason."

Seeing their son beaten, Huang Silang’s parents rushed over, but before they could plead, the neighbors stopped them.