Creating a paradise in an ant nest

Chapter 57 Boss's Birthday, Social Interactions

Liu He recognized it; it was the red-beaked pheasant fed by Huang Shideng next door.

The Red-billed Crested Woodpecker is a woodpecker that is adept at catching various insects in the forest, which is beneficial for pest control.

Liu He saw the Red-beaked Spirit Tortoise on his second day at Lingmu Garden.

He noticed its bright feathers, extremely fast flight speed, and aura unlike that of ordinary birds.

Later, he met Huang Shideng from a neighboring forest area.

Huang Shideng, seemingly introducing himself, was actually showing off as he introduced his Crimson-Beaked Spirit Beast, saying that he had bought it from the Beast Taming Sect for a high price of over three hundred spirit stones.

According to Huang Shideng, his red-beaked griffin has been raised for five years. It is very obedient and can both prevent and control pests in the forest area and help protect the forest area.

In its twenty-acre forest area, the red-beaked griffin can spot the grass with the slightest breeze.

It was precisely because Liu He knew that it was Huang Shideng's spirit bird that he scolded and drove it away.

Otherwise, just for stealing food from the ant colony and eating the ants, Liu He would definitely reward it with a flying stone technique to "teach it a lesson."

"Buying a spirit bird for over three hundred spirit stones, that's quite a generous gesture. It's even more expensive than a mid-grade spirit weapon."

With Liu He's spirit stipend, he certainly wouldn't be willing to spend so many spirit stones to buy a spirit bird.

The menial disciples of the Outer Mountain Forest Farm receive a monthly salary of three spirit stones, and it takes a year without spending any money to save up thirty-six spirit stones.

He thought that Huang Shideng had been in the sect for twenty years and had reached the sixth level of Qi Refining. It was normal for him to be richer than him, so there was no need to envy him.

"I will focus on my cultivation and advance to the fourth level of Qi Refining as soon as possible."

"The mid-stage of Qi Refining is completely different from the early stage of Qi Refining. The spiritual energy is transformed into threads, the power of the released spells is multiplied, and the degree of control over the spiritual energy also rises to a higher level."

Benefits and compensation naturally increased accordingly; outer disciples on Spirit Plant Peak received at least ten spirit stones per month.

Liu He returned to his wooden hut and devoted himself to practicing the "Gathering Spirit and Qi Technique".

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

time flies.

In the blink of an eye, Liu He has been at Lingmu Garden for a full month.

Miniature herbal garden.

The violets and radishes he planted have grown from tender buds into seedlings, growing lushly in rows and rows, showing promising growth.

He casts the "Spiritual Nourishment" spell twice a day, morning and evening, nourishing both the True Tiger Red Hemp and the Violet Green Radish.

The true tiger red hemp has also grown taller, showing the rudimentary form of the spirit hemp grass.

"There are more than 270 seedlings in total, and the germination rate of radish seeds is over 90%, which is good."

Liu He imagined that a year later, when these violet radishes were harvested, he would have an inexhaustible supply of spirit radishes.

"It's a pity that this spirit plant garden is a bit empty; it would be better if more spirit plants were planted."

Even if his miniature spiritual plant garden were expanded to a hectare, it would still be a tiny plot of land, no bigger than the palm of your hand. And the spiritual plants would be so small that they would be even less noticeable than sesame seeds.

No matter how many spiritual plants he plants, he can take care of them all with a single Spirit Nourishment spell.

Therefore, the more spiritual plants you plant, the better.

However, he didn't have many opportunities to obtain seedlings of spiritual plants.

Just then, Liu He saw a huge, overwhelming shadow rapidly approaching in the distance from the Spirit Plant Garden.

"Is someone coming?"

From his perspective, the figure was too far away for him to make out its appearance.

With a thought, he traveled back to the wooden house in reality.

As I stepped out of the wooden house, I happened to see Huang Shideng take off and land in front of it.

"Senior Brother Huang."

He spoke first.

"Junior Brother Liu He."

Huang Shideng noticed the True Tiger Red Hemp planted next to the wooden house, but he didn't recognize it at first: "Huh, are these the spirit herb seedlings you got from the flower garden? What are they?"

"It is a genuine tiger-skin hemp."

Upon hearing the name "True Tiger Red Hemp," Huang Shideng, who was about to get closer to observe it, stopped in his tracks: "Why do you like growing Spirit Hemp? That's a very unique hobby."

Even a tiny bit of Spirit Hemp Grass can cause excruciating discomfort; what cultivator would willingly choose to cultivate it?

"Um... I heard that Spirit Hemp Grass is valuable and easy to grow, so I planted it. Senior Brother Huang, is there something you need?"

Liu He casually replied with a remark, then changed the subject.

"There is indeed something. The day after tomorrow is Senior Brother Fu's forty-eighth birthday. According to the usual practice, we each need to prepare a birthday gift."

Huang Shideng came to deliver a message.

He was the closest to Marshal Fu among the ten men under his command, and it is no exaggeration to call him Marshal Fu's "confidant".

It wasn't Fu Shuai who requested the birthday celebration; rather, Huang Shideng came to remind him.

It's most appropriate for him to say this; it's impossible for Coach Fu to bring it up.

Forty-eighth birthday?

Liu He was puzzled. "Celebrating birthdays" is a custom of mortals. Cultivators pursue longevity and rarely care about their once-a-year birthdays.

If it's a 100th birthday, then it does have the significance of a birthday celebration.

Forty-eight years old is still young for a cultivator.

"Is Senior Brother Fu going to hold a birthday banquet?"

In Liu He's view, hosting banquets and giving gifts are the proper way to maintain social relationships.

"No."

Huang Shideng shook his head and lowered his voice: "Senior Brother Fu didn't say it publicly, but I was the one who informed everyone in the past few years. As his subordinates, it's enough for us to prepare a birthday gift to express our feelings."

This is purely a gift.

Liu He wondered whether this was Fu Shuai's idea or Huang Shideng's own initiative.

"Is this what Senior Brother Fu means?"

"Um?"

Huang Shideng frowned and raised his voice: "What are you saying? Senior Brother Fu never said he wanted to accept birthday gifts. I was just kindly reminding you; whether you want to or not is up to you."

As he spoke, he actually made a hand seal and used a sound transmission technique to transmit his voice to Liu He's ears: "Senior Brother Fu is in charge of us people. Whoever he wants to be nice to can have an easier time and earn more benefits."

It's very easy for him to target anyone he wants.

I've delivered the message; figure it out yourself.

He lost patience with Liu He, the new handyman disciple.

Some things can only be understood by oneself, and he was too lazy to say more.

"I understand, thank you for reminding me, Senior Brother Huang."

Liu He thought to himself that this matter must have been done by Huang Shideng at Fu Shuai’s private instruction, or at least “tacitly approved”.

"Senior Brother Huang, I'm new here and don't know much about this. What would be an appropriate birthday gift?"

He wanted to know what price range the gift should be.

Seeing that he was finally on the right track, Huang Shideng's expression softened: "Spiritual fruits, spiritual teas, or spiritual plants are all fine. If you have enough spirit stones, it would be even better to send spirit pills."

"Since you're still a menial disciple, there's no need to send anything expensive. Something within your means is fine; it's the thought that counts."

After saying this, he did not linger and bid farewell before leaving.

He still needs to inform Su Miao about this matter.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"What gift, though small, carries deep meaning? Would a mere mortal item worthless in spirit stones suffice?"

Liu He thought to himself, "This is what I'm thinking."

Despite his reluctance, he still had to give the gift.

This is clearly the pretext for Marshal Fu to accept gifts.

This is why many bosses like to host banquets—it allows them to openly and legitimately collect gifts from their subordinates.

There's a saying that goes like this: He may not remember who gave him what gift, but he remembers perfectly well who didn't.

Liu He was new to the area and didn't expect to offend Marshal Fu because of this.

"Sigh, I've only been here for a month and I've already received a monthly salary of five spirit stones, and I'm already going to spend it all."

He was helpless.

Then he thought about having to send Fu Shuai a birthday gift every year, which made him even more helpless.