Chapter 75: Instead of Just Planting Sweet Potatoes, Why Not Spread the Word?

Dachui, who had never lifted a finger at home, stood frozen in place.

He stared at the young neighbor girl in front of him, never imagining that this would be the reason she was upset.

Though things weren’t exactly luxurious at Dachui’s Home, and his mother often gave him a beating, Dachui had never once worried that she’d stop liking him just because he didn’t do any chores.

He only knew one thing: no matter what he did, his mother would always love him.

Bai Yun’an, who had quietly snuck over to see how Little Chui was cozying up to Juanjuan, also stopped in his tracks.

He looked at Juanjuan, who hadn’t noticed him yet.

He truly hadn’t expected that Juanjuan would be afraid people wouldn’t like her if she didn’t cook.

Dachui didn’t understand, but Bai Yun’an did.

【This… is probably a classic case of a people-pleaser, huh?】

【Makes sense. Coming from a home as messed up as hers used to be, it’s no surprise she turned out like this.】

Just as Bai Yun’an finished that thought, he saw Little Juanjuan in the distance suddenly sense his presence.

She looked shocked and scared, maybe even a little shy. Then she turned and bolted.

Bai Yun’an: ???

What the heck? What did I do?

Why’d she run the moment she saw me?

“Juanjuan, why are you running?”

Dachui, panting heavily, caught up to Juanjuan, still confused about why she’d taken off.

Juanjuan glanced back. Her third brother hadn’t followed. She let out a sigh of relief.

Dachui noticed her reaction. His little brain turned a few gears, and based on what he knew about Juanjuan, he asked tentatively, “Are you… embarrassed?”

Juanjuan puffed up angrily. “No! Of course not!”

Dachui: “Oh, then that means you are! Hahahaha!”

Juanjuan: …

Her tiny fists clenched, and she punched him squarely in the arm.

“I said I’m not!”

Dachui: …

Come on, you just punched me and you’re still saying you’re not?

But whatever. If she says she’s not, then she’s not.

Dachui scooted closer and said, “Hey, your parents are doing pretty well now. You don’t have to do so much work every day anymore.”

“Look, your second brother cooks now, your mom does the laundry and keeps the house tidy, your dad brings home the money. As for foraging and gathering firewood, your big brother and third brother can handle that.”

“And you! You can be just like me—eat, drink, and be happy every day!”

Juanjuan looked at Dachui with a bit of envy, then said, with the tone of a child trying to sound wise beyond her years, “Forget it. I can’t explain it to you…”

Her family situation was too complicated. Dachui would never understand.

Dachui: …

Excuse me? What do you mean you can’t explain it to me?

What’s wrong with me, Wang Dachui? I’m smart, okay?

But Juanjuan clammed up. There was no way to explain this kind of thing.

So the two kids just squatted in the corner by the door.

Bai Yunqi had just returned to Dachui’s Home after hiding the gold and jade pendant at home, when he spotted the two gloomy little kids squatting at the entrance.

“Hey, what are you two doing? Sitting there like a hen brooding over eggs?”

Juanjuan looked up and politely greeted, “Big Brother.”

Dachui, on the other hand, wasn’t having it. “You’re the hen! Your whole family’s a bunch of hens!”

Juanjuan beside him: …

Bai Yunqi chuckled, amused by the kids. “Juanjuan, Little Chui just called you a hen!”

Juanjuan: …

Dachui: !!!?

“I did not!”

“You totally did. You said my whole family’s a bunch of hens, and Juanjuan’s part of my family, isn’t she?”

Dachui was flustered, ready to throw down.

But then he suddenly stopped, stood in front of Bai Yunqi, and said, “You fell into a cesspit. Your mouth stinks. I’m not talking to you!”

Bai Yunqi: …

【You little brat! I’m gonna beat you!】

Just as the older brother was about to roll up his sleeves, Dachui wasn’t backing down either, ready to fight.

Juanjuan quickly rushed between them and pushed them apart. “Don’t fight! You guys, stop fighting!”

Bai Tian had just returned, carrying a freshly forged machete, and was left speechless by the scene.

He stared at the two boys about to brawl and the little girl trying to break them up.

For no reason at all—maybe from watching too many absurd short videos—a scene suddenly popped into his head: that classic moment of someone yelling, “Stop fighting!”

Bai Tian: 【I didn’t expect this! Such an iconic scene, unfolding right before my eyes like this.】

【Unbelievable. What a shame I don’t have a phone—this would’ve been the perfect moment to capture.】

Hearing her father’s voice, Juanjuan blinked. “Huh?”

She looked around and spotted her father standing on the nearby path, a massive blade slung over his shoulder.

Maybe it was the bond between father and daughter, but even though Juanjuan didn’t say a word and only glanced at him, Bai Tian seemed to understand exactly what she wanted—she wanted him to break up the fight.

So, Little Boss Bai hefted his giant blade, slammed it into the ground with a thud, and barked with authority, “Stand down! What are you fighting for?!”

Faced with that massive blade, both Dachui and Bai Yunqi wisely chose silence.

Bai Tian handed the blade to Bai Yunqi, then scooped up his little girl into his arms.

“Did you miss Daddy?”

Then he turned to his eldest son, who was still holding the blade. “You didn’t cause any trouble for Grandma Wang, did you?”

Juanjuan nodded. Of course she missed Daddy—but she missed Mommy even more.

Bai Yunqi nodded as well: 【Of course not. I even helped the family deal with a big problem.】

【If I hadn’t stepped in, those people at the village entrance would’ve come looking for trouble at our house.】

Held snugly in her father’s arms, Juanjuan looked down at her big brother in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to step in behind the scenes too.

She wondered if Big Brother had run into Third Brother.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Third Brother stepped out of the Wang family’s courtyard. His face wore the same harmless, gentle smile—soft as the clouds in the sky.

But only Juanjuan knew: when Third Brother spoke in his mind, he could be downright scary. Especially that sharp, intense tone of his.

“Dad, you’re back!”

Bai Yun’an greeted them with a bashful smile, his eyes drifting toward the massive blade.

【Tsk… this blade isn’t even well-forged. And really, parents who’ve never lived through the apocalypse—do they even know how to use a weapon?】

【Still, good thing I was here. I already scared off the troublemakers from Zhenxiu Restaurant. Honestly, this whole thing started because of me. You make a mess, you clean it up. That’s fair.】

Juanjuan’s gaze flicked between her big brother and third brother, puzzled. Which one of them had dealt with those bad guys?

Or were there two bad guys?

Surely her brothers didn’t take turns beating them up, did they?

…

When Jiang Dai arrived, she found Liang Tian’er going over the accounts.

The young woman, barely eighteen, sat with poise among a mountain of ledgers. A thick stack of completed ones sat beside her, and though she tried to hide it, fatigue was etched between her brows.

“Sister Jiang.”

Liang Tian’er rose to greet her.

She was no stranger to the world, raised in a wealthy household and well-versed in reading people.

This Jiang Dai, though she looked like a simple farmwife, had an air and manner of speaking that were anything but ordinary.

Especially during the last negotiation at the Bai household—it had left Liang Tian’er with the impression that the Bai couple were not your average rural folk.

But according to the information from her manager, the Bai couple were nothing like what she saw before her.

Bai Tian was said to be a gambler and drunkard who beat his wife and children, even squandering the family fortune.

And Jiang Dai? Supposedly a reclusive housewife who never stepped beyond the threshold.

Completely unlike the warm yet sharp-witted Sister Jiang she had met.

Liang Tian’er could only conclude: the rumors were wrong. Gossip couldn’t be trusted!

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

After the greetings, Jiang Dai wasted no time stating her purpose.

“Last night, we had a break-in. The thief didn’t enter the main or side rooms—only the kitchen. We suspect it might’ve been someone from Zhenxiu Restaurant.”

Liang Tian’er said nothing, waiting for Jiang Dai to continue.

“So, I’d like to ask Miss Liang to help us find two reliable, skilled guards to stay at our home for a while.”

“Of course, as a token of thanks, I’ll also provide the basic care methods for Sweet Potato, along with the pros and cons of cultivating it. That should save Miss Liang some trial and error.”

“Of course, if Miss Liang chooses not to help, we won’t force the matter.”

Jiang Dai wasn’t some naive child. In the adult world, unless there were deep ties or life-saving debts, everything came down to benefits and interests.

Even children understood: if I keep giving you candy and you never give me any, eventually I’ll stop sharing too.

Liang Tian’er might look young, but in Jiang Dai’s eyes, she was nothing like a typical fifteen-year-old from the modern world.

She might not have had nine years of compulsory education, but growing up in a merchant family and traveling far and wide had given Liang Tian’er the poise and savvy of someone well into their twenties.

Liang Tian’er chuckled softly. “Sister Jiang, you’re being too polite. If I hadn’t come knocking in such a rush, and if the people from Zhenxiu Restaurant hadn’t been tailing me, I wouldn’t have brought you this trouble.”

“Mo Han, go find two trustworthy maids. They’ll accompany Sister Jiang back home shortly.”

Mo Han acknowledged the order and turned to carry it out.

“Don’t worry, Sister. The maids I keep by my side are all trained in martial arts. Just say they’re relatives coming to stay for a while. However…”

Liang Tian’er lifted the teapot and poured tea, gesturing for Jiang Dai to sit.

“I noticed your house isn’t very large. When do you and your brother plan to move into town?”

“There’s no rush. We’ll wait for the Sweet Potato dividends to come in. Once we have the silver, we’ll make plans.”

Jiang Dai had no intention of asking Liang Tian’er for extra favors.

A fair exchange of benefits was enough. Owing too many personal debts was never a good thing.

This time, thanks to Bai Tian’s insistence, they hadn’t sold the Sweet Potato outright for silver. Instead, they took a stake in Shiwei Restaurant.

As long as Shiwei Restaurant turned a profit, they’d receive dividends.

Their share wasn’t large, but they could expect to earn a hundred or so taels of silver a year. Not enough to make them rich, but it was a steady, long-term income.

More importantly, they’d established a connection with Liang Tian’er. In the future, if they came across things that existed in the modern world but not in this one, they could continue to profit through this network.

It didn’t have to be physical items—it could be ideas or methods.

Why not just grow Sweet Potatoes themselves and get rich?

Jiang Dai and Bai Tian had actually discussed that.

But they decided it wasn’t a viable plan.

First of all, neither of them had ever farmed before, nor were they trained in agriculture. Every profession has its specialty, and modern people weren’t omnipotent.

So yes, they could grow a few Sweet Potatoes for fun, but relying on them to build a fortune? They didn’t have that kind of confidence—especially when they were short on time and money.

Second, Sweet Potatoes were hard to monopolize. Once word got out, anyone could grow them. If they tried to keep it secret and later produced processed Sweet Potato goods, the cost would be too high.

Even selling them in town would be tricky. Price them high, and no one would buy. Price them low, and they’d lose money.

And expecting people to stop growing grain and switch to large-scale Sweet Potato farming? Not realistic. The past few years had seen good weather and bountiful harvests.

Who would abandon successful crops to take a risk on something new?

So when Liang Tian’er came knocking—

Bai Tian and Jiang Dai knew: this was the opportunity they’d been waiting for.

The channel, the springboard they needed had arrived.

Sweet Potatoes had their drawbacks, yes—but for those with vision, their advantages were immense.

As a crop that could thrive in harsh conditions and serve as emergency food during natural disasters, Sweet Potatoes could grow where other crops failed. That was their greatest strength.

A lifeline in a snowstorm was always more valuable than a ribbon on a gift.

Liang Tian’er understood this well. What she wanted was to fully study the Sweet Potato and confirm whether it could truly be cultivated under difficult conditions.

The first to present Sweet Potato to those in power, hoping to trade it for something she desired.

Jiang Dai shared about half of what she had learned about Sweet Potato from her past life’s variety shows with Liang Tian’er. At the end, she added apologetically, “I’ve only grown a small amount myself. Most of this knowledge was passed down from my ancestors. When the time comes, it’ll still need to be adapted to local conditions. You’ll need to test it out yourself, Miss Liang.”

“Alright! That’s no problem!”

No matter what Jiang Dai said, Liang Tian’er was determined to test everything herself. Only after confirming that Sweet Potato could truly thrive in harsh conditions and yield a decent harvest would she dare present it to Princess Consort Duan.

“Miss, the people have arrived.”

Mo Han appeared at the doorway, kneeling respectfully.

Jiang Dai looked over and saw two young women standing at the entrance, both in their early twenties. Their looks weren’t particularly striking, but they carried themselves with a spirited energy.

They were likely from martial families too—Jiang Dai felt an instant sense of kinship.

“I’ll keep an eye on things at Zhenxiu Restaurant. For now, Sister Jiang, please take them with you. Also, here’s a fifty tael silver note—consider it my apology.”

Jiang Dai didn’t stand on ceremony with Liang Tian’er. Her thoughts were already back with the four children at home.

After thanking Liang Tian’er, she left with the two women.

Once the door closed, Mo Han stepped to Liang Tian’er’s side and poured her a cup of tea.

“Miss, you seem to think highly of that woman.”

Liang Tian’er let out a sigh. She glanced at the headache-inducing account books on the table, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes to rest. “That couple is very clever. And…”

“And they’re different from other couples.”

Mo Han was puzzled. “Different how?”

“I can’t quite put it into words, but there’s just something different about them. It makes me envious. Maybe it’s…”

Liang Tian’er recalled the scene when the couple had discussed Sweet Potato with her.

She hesitated, then said two words: “Equality and respect.”

“Equality and respect?”

Liang Tian’er straightened up again and resumed calculating the accounts. “Yes.”

Unlike most men in Jingcheng, who wouldn’t let their wives get involved in their affairs, and unlike most women in Jingcheng, who believed they should submit to their husbands in all things.

She didn’t understand why her grandfather, whose only child was her mother, still insisted the family would die out if the estate wasn’t passed to her father. He even forced her father to take a concubine and have a child who wasn’t of the Liang bloodline to inherit the Liang family’s wealth.

It didn’t matter. If her mother wouldn’t fight for it, then she would.

She didn’t blame her mother. There are all kinds of people in the world, and her mother was simply the kind who didn’t fight. But Liang Tian’er couldn’t accept that.

So, whatever she wanted—she would fight for it herself.