Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Amidst His Majesty's "whip," Bian Yushu looked up in despair at the vast fields of rice fields all around him.

Isn't it said that what's not fully cultivated are the edges and corners?

They only tilled the edges, not even the corners, let alone the large tracts of land.

Shang Jingming led the ox, gave the reins a gentle tug, and the ox followed forward.

Bian Yushu gripped the plow handle, tilted the direction, and the plowshare sank into the soil and got stuck immediately.

His face turned red from straining. He already lacked arm strength, and his posture was incorrect, so he couldn't plow at all.

Fu Lu kindly reminded him, "Young Master Bian, the plowshare is too deep; you need to lift it up a little."

Bian Yushu did as instructed.

He mentioned...

He mentioned...

He simply couldn't lift it...

Bian Yushu had no choice but to use both his hands and feet, kicking the curved plow with one foot.

He kicked out, and the cow pulled forward. Bian Yushu missed his kick, slipped, and landed hard on his backside, covered in dirt, his face showing utter bewilderment.

Qin Ji couldn't help but chuckle, turning to wipe his hands with a handkerchief beside him, pretending not to see the slightly innocent and helpless look in his cheap eldest disciple's eyes.

Hearing the noise, Shang Jingming steadied the ox beside him and turned around to see the silly roe deer sitting on the ground.

He loosened his grip on the reins, squatted down next to Bian Yushu, rested his arms on his knees, and said with a teasing expression, "What's wrong with you? Couldn't you plow it at all from the start, Senior Brother?"

Bian Yushu was still stunned from the fall, and when she heard his nickname with the wavy hair, she became even angrier.

He scrambled to his feet, brushed the dirt off himself, and angrily shouted, "Who can't plow anymore? Who can't plow anymore!"

Bian Yushu rolled up his sleeves, looking like he was ready to fight this piece of land. "I wasn't prepared just now, let's try again!"

Shang Jingming, resting his chin on his hand, asked, "Are you sure you don't want to switch with me?"

If he accepts this proposal from his arch-rival Shi She, he'll probably be ridiculed by him for a whole year!

Plowing the land is really hard for him, sob...

Bian Yushu was somewhat tempted by his arch-rival's suggestion, and his gaze secretly drifted toward Qin Ji by the edge of the field.

Qin Ji wiped his hands with the handkerchief handed to him by Fu Lu, shook his head and sighed, "It seems I won't be able to get a single meal from Yu Shu."

Bian Yushu's expression changed, and she turned to Shang Jingming: "What are you talking about? How can you delegate the task of plowing the fields for the teacher to someone else?"

"This shows how much the teacher values ​​me!"

Shang Jingming: "..."

This idiot, he'll take them all by using reverse psychology.

They're probably burping from all that eating, aren't they?

He stood up, dusted his hands off, strolled back to the oxen, and picked up the reins again: "Shall we continue?"

Bian Yushu said decisively, "Continue!"

He gripped the plow handle tightly again with fierce determination, channeling all his strength into his arm, and shoved the plow head into the soil once more, seemingly about to repeat the same mistake.

Qin Ji took a sip of tea. "Don't just use your arms. Use the strength of your waist and legs, follow the rhythm of the ox's thrust, and borrow its strength. Don't force it."

Upon hearing this, Bian Yushu's eyes lit up. He took a deep breath and forced himself to relax his shoulders as His Majesty instructed. He then used the strength of his waist and legs to exert force in sync with the rhythm of the ox's exertion.

Although his face was still flushed from holding it in, this time the plowshare was lifted, and a look of joy flashed in Bian Yushu's eyes.

Seeing this, Shang Jingming adjusted his speed slightly to match Bian Yushu's pace.

And so, stumbling and bumping along, they managed to plow a distance, albeit crookedly, but the plowshare was raised too high, and the ground was plowed too shallowly, not deep enough.

But this is a huge improvement compared to before.

Encouraged, Bian Yushu gripped the plow handle tightly and urged Shang Jingming, "Continue!"

Shang Jingming simply led the oxen and had no objections.

After the two of them finished plowing the entire plot of land, Shang Jingming hadn't shed a single drop of sweat, but Bian Yushu was almost exhausted.

His face was flushed, he was sweating profusely, and his temples were soaked with sweat, but his eyes were bright and sparkling.

He scurried up to Qin Ji, his eyes practically begging for praise, "Teacher, the plowing is done."

A faint smile flickered in Qin Ji's eyes as he gestured for Fu Lu to wipe his face.

Fu Lu picked up a clean cloth, soaked it in the basin of water, and wrung it out.

Qin Ji's lips moved slightly, "Sit."

Bian Yushu obediently sat down on the small wooden stool, and when Fu Lu came forward to wipe his face, he happily thanked him, "Thank you, Grandpa Fu."

Qin Ji took a sip of tea. "Fu Lu, tell me, how is our young master Bian's plowing of the land?"

Fu Lu glanced at the field and said, "It's truly remarkable that Young Master Bian managed to finish plowing this row, his first time working in the fields. This filial piety of being willing to share His Majesty's burdens and working diligently is most commendable."

Bian Yushu's lips curled into a wide smile as he listened.

He looked at Qin Ji expectantly, "Teacher~ Will you be able to eat food from your own fields by the end of the year?"

Qin Ji glanced at the newly plowed land, stroked his chin, and said, "We probably still won't be able to get anything to eat."

Bian Yushu, who was waiting for His Majesty's praise, felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and wilted visibly like a frostbitten eggplant.

Qin Ji leaned back in his recliner, ate a piece of fruit, and raised a finger. "Fu Lu, tell Young Master Bian."

Fu Lu explained gently, "Young Master Bian is not strong enough to plow too deep. He only skimmed a shallow layer. Although the seedlings will sprout easily, the seeds will not take deep root and will not grow strong."

If the weather is unfavorable, even a slight breeze or rain could topple the seedlings.

As Fu Lu said this, Shang Jingming happened to walk over and spoke up, "This kid isn't up to par, shall I plow it again?"

Who's failing?

He is the senior disciple.

Who's failing?

Bian Yushu's competitive spirit was immediately aroused, and he jumped up with a flushed face, "It's clearly the plow that's no good. People with little strength simply can't control the depth of the plow."

A meaningful glint flashed in Qin Ji's eyes. "You say the plow won't work, that weak people can't control it, but farmers rely on it to till the land. Does that mean weak people don't have to farm or pay taxes?"

"Yu Shu, it doesn't matter if you lack strength, but don't speak recklessly."

Bian Yushu plowed the field with great effort, but instead of receiving praise, he was scolded and immediately became dejected.

Qin Ji glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his gaze suggestive: "Or do you have a way to make this curved plow better adjust the plowing depth?"

Upon hearing this, Bian Yushu's eyes lit up, and he jumped up and ran like a rabbit to the side of the curved plow.

Qin Ji calmly handed Shang Jingming a piece of fruit, saying, "Sit down."

Shang Jingming: "..."

It turned out to be the case.

...

First update delivered! I'm 100 points short of generating this with love, I know. 100 points is nothing to you all, just a simple kiss~