Ch 57: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

NEW NOVEL: The World’s Number One Resort

The Yan Emperor’s wife, Jiang Li’s mother, Yuan Nu, was a formidable warrior, and it was said that she was currently leading the warriors of the Shen Nong tribe in battle. Jiang Lin couldn’t help but think that this world truly had a fierce spirit; it seemed like everyone was a warrior, ready to pick up a weapon and head to the battlefield at a moment’s notice.

When it came time to eat, Jiang Lin was once again taken aback. Even though he had inherited Jiang’s memories, those memories were vast and jumbled, and many things didn’t come to mind until he saw them for himself—like the food in front of him.

It wasn’t as if the little prince spent all his time thinking about what he ate every day.

The first surprise was how unexpectedly lavish the spread on the table was. Jiang Lin had initially assumed that in this ancient era, there would be very few things available to be served at the table. However, he had clearly underestimated the significance of the name “Shen Nong.”

Staple foods like rice and wheat, which were common in later times, were already present. There were also a variety of vegetables, and the meat was plentiful—so plentiful that many types of meat Jiang Lin had never even seen before.

The only thing that matched Jiang Lin’s “ancient” expectations was that the cooking methods were simpler compared to later eras. There was no frying, sautéing, or stir-frying; most dishes were steamed, boiled, or stewed.

But that wasn’t a big deal. After all, this world had both the Yan Emperor and Shen Nong; it made sense for agriculture to be highly developed.

What truly shocked Jiang Lin was the exaggeratedly large stone table in front of him, and the oversized dishes and food laid out on it. Meat, vegetables, and even some fruits filled the nearly ten-meter-long stone table to the brim.

Was there some sort of tribal gathering today? Jiang Lin’s mind couldn’t quite process it.

“Come on, little brother! Eat more meat!” Second brother Yun noticed Jiang Lin staring at the dishes without moving and pulled him over to the side. He scooped up a large chunk of stewed meat from a big ceramic pot in front of him and placed it on Jiang Lin’s plate, adding, “You eat too little, that’s why you’re so weak.”

He wanted to say that Jiang Lin’s short stature was also due to not eating enough, though he found his little brother’s height quite cute. However, since his little brother hated being called short, Yun swallowed the second half of his sentence.

Jiang Lin: “…”

The meat was placed in the plate before him. It was as big as his head.

Jiang Lin glanced around and noticed that the Yan Emperor and his siblings all had similarly large chunks of stewed meat on their plates, with a large bowl of rice beside Yun.

They were eating at a rapid pace, and in the time it took Jiang Lin to observe and process everything, most of the several pounds of stewed meat on their plates had already disappeared.

Jiang Lin was dumbfounded: Do these people have bottomless stomachs?

His stare was so obvious that the Yan Emperor looked up at him and asked, “What’s wrong? Does the meat not suit your taste today?”

There was a hint of concern in his tone.

The youngest son was delicate and picky about his food.

For the ordinary warriors of the Shen Nong tribe, eating dozens of pounds of rice and meat in a single meal was normal. For warriors like Lang and Yun, who were elite fighters, their portions were even larger.

But Jiang had always been a picky eater, and he never ate much. The Yan Emperor had tried coaxing him, scolding him, but nothing worked.

Like his second son, the Yan Emperor secretly believed that Jiang’s delicate nature was partly due to his small appetite.

Jiang Lin blinked and said, “No, I’m eating now.”

Next to his plate was a small knife, made of metal.

Jiang Lin had learned from Jiang’s memories that the Shen Nong tribe had already discovered iron ore and had mastered some forging techniques. However, finished products were limited, and small, delicate items like knives were even rarer. The Yan Emperor and his siblings all had finely polished stone knives in front of them.

The most favored little prince indeed lived up to his reputation.

Jiang Lin picked up the knife and sliced off a piece of meat, placing it in the dipping sauce dish. The meat was simply stewed, and the dipping sauce was made from mashed ginger, garlic, and scallions, along with the juice of a plant Jiang Lin didn’t recognize, called “conghuang grass.”

When the leaves of conghuang grass were torn open, a faint green liquid would seep out. It tasted slightly bitter but also had a hint of saltiness, making it a unique seasoning that could be used as a substitute for salt.

Jiang Lin dipped the piece of meat into the ancient-style sauce and put it into his mouth. The next moment, his eyes widened—

It was absolutely delicious.

He hadn’t held out much hope, given that this was the ancient era. Even with the presence of Shen Nong, a figure steeped in myth, it was still a relatively undeveloped and primitive time. The five people at the table were all watching him expectantly, and Jiang Lin had mentally prepared himself to eat as much as possible, even if the food turned out to be unpleasant.

But to his surprise, the meat was incredibly delicious.

He couldn’t even identify what kind of meat it was; it had a texture somewhat like boiled beef but was much more tender. When he bit into it, his teeth effortlessly sliced through the soft interior, releasing a rich, savory broth that mixed with the unique flavors of the minced ginger, garlic, and the slightly bitter, salty juice from the “conghuang” plant. The taste was simply exquisite.

The most remarkable part was that after swallowing the meat, Jiang Lin could distinctly feel the food turning into a warm stream of energy that spread through his body. Ever since he began cultivating the “Nine Spirits Technique,” Jiang Lin’s senses had become extraordinarily sharp. Even the faintest sensation didn’t escape him, and he was certain: this meat had indeed slightly enhanced his physical constitution.

Could this be why people in the ancient era lived so long and why everyone seemed to be a warrior?

As he pondered this, unaware of the world around him, the other five people at the table were watching him closely. Seeing him pause after just one bite, they assumed that the meat wasn’t to his liking after all.

Xuan anxiously tugged at a strand of her hair. “But everyone said this Qintou beef was delicious. I went to great lengths to hunt this one down. If Jiang still doesn’t like it, what are we going to do?”

In the Shen Nong tribe, there was no communal dining system. Food had to be obtained individually, either by growing it, hunting, or trading with others. Even the Yan Emperor’s family was no exception.

The meat Jiang Lin was eating was the main dish of the day, hunted by his fourth sister, Xuan, herself.

His third brother, Ji, cut a large piece of Qintou beef, chewed, swallowed, and mumbled, “It is really good.”

Jiang Lin snapped out of his thoughts, realizing that everyone was looking at him with concern. He understood what they were thinking, and a warm feeling spread through his heart. He smiled and said, “It’s delicious!”

To prove it, he cut another piece of meat and ate it in front of them, showing no sign of reluctance.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the Yan Emperor chuckled, “It’s rare, but Jiang has finally found something he likes.”

Xuan declared firmly, “In that case, I need to go out later and warn those guys not to compete with me for Qintou beef, or they’ll have to deal with me!”

In this era, there was no such thing as reasoning with others. Strength was the only logic that mattered. The warriors of the tribe wouldn’t go easy on Xuan just because she was the Yan Emperor’s daughter. If they all set their sights on the same unclaimed item, they’d fight for it, and the winner would take it.

With Jiang eating heartily, the Yan Emperor and the others finally stopped worrying and began to eat their fill with gusto.

Jiang Lin was once again left in awe. He had already noticed that this body had an enormous appetite. The large chunk of Qintou beef in front of him weighed at least four or five pounds. After finishing it, along with some rice, he felt just about satisfied.

In his previous world, this would have been unimaginable. The only person he knew who could eat this much was Xiao Zong in his true demon form, with a stomach like a bottomless pit.

However, to the Yan Emperor and his family, a meal consisting of only four or five pounds of meat was considered “picky,” “poor appetite,” or “eating too little.” They even felt guilty, thinking it was their fault for not finding food that Jiang liked.

If Jiang Lin had been puzzled by their seemingly unfounded concerns before, after witnessing the “normal” appetite of this family, he suddenly understood.

A Qintou ox typically weighed over ten thousand pounds, so it wasn’t consumed in one sitting. But on the table in front of them, the huge pot of stewed meat, along with the grilled and sliced meat, weighed several hundred pounds, not to mention the several large buckets of rice and baked flatbreads.

There were also dozens of plates of various vegetables, all of which were completely devoured by the group!

“Jiang.” The Yan Emperor, who had been keeping an eye on his youngest son, frowned when he saw that Jiang Lin had only eaten that one piece of meat. “If you liked it, why did you eat so little?”

Jiang Lin thought to himself, “Actually, I don’t think a piece of meat that large should be described as ‘little’.” But after seeing the Yan Emperor and his family’s appetites, he suddenly felt, “Maybe I really do eat too little.”

He coughed lightly and said, “I’m used to eating this much; it’ll take time to change that habit.”

Looking at the fruits on the table, he found an excuse, “Besides, I prefer fruits and vegetables to meat.”

This wasn’t entirely untrue. The table was laden with oranges, grapes, apples, pears, and several other kinds of fruit, each more delicious than the last. Because of the presence of Shen Nong, once he identified an edible crop, his divine power could find the most suitable way to cultivate it. Combined with fertile soil and optimal sunlight, the fruits were even sweeter and tastier than those sold in modern fruit shops.

Hearing this, the Yan Emperor understood, “Indeed, since you inherited the divine power of the God of Agriculture, it makes sense that you prefer fruits and vegetables.”

Ji, his brother, expressed concern, “But if that’s the case, Jiang won’t be able to get enough energy from his food.”

It was evident that they could draw strength from the meat they consumed, which enhanced their physical capabilities.

“Don’t worry,” the Yan Emperor reassured them with a smile. “Once Jiang fully harnesses the power of the God of Agriculture, he will grow strong through other means.”

He then turned to Jiang Lin and said, “Jiang, since the Tu Su tribe already knows about your divine bloodline, it’s likely no longer a secret. I plan to announce to everyone that you have inherited the God of Agriculture’s power. Do you agree?”

Jiang Lin, however, was focused on another aspect. He straightened up, a bit eager, and asked, “Does that mean I can start farming now?”

The Yan Emperor didn’t expect him to be so enthusiastic and felt a wave of satisfaction that his son had finally come to understand his importance. He laughed heartily, “I never forbade you from farming, Jiang. As long as you’re willing, it would make me very happy.”

The Yan Emperor was a decisive leader. After confirming Jiang Lin’s intentions, he immediately enveloped the entire Shen Nong tribe with his divine power.

Under the radiant sunlight and surrounded by crops, the people of the Shen Nong tribe heard their king and god’s hearty laughter:

“The Shen Nong tribe is blessed by heaven. My youngest son, Jiang, has inherited the divine bloodline of the God of Agriculture.”

After a brief moment of shock, everyone rejoiced, stepping out of their homes and cheering:

“The young prince has inherited the bloodline of the God of Agriculture!”

“The Shen Nong tribe is blessed by heaven!”