Perhaps they had heard that Chen Qing was going to recruit three people to work in the spirit plant hall, so they came to submit to him.
Now that he was alone and weak, they could still come and submit to him. He could not treat them badly lest he made people dislike him.
Chen Qing walked over, and six medium-grade spirit stones appeared in his palm with a shake of his hand.
He stuffed one in each of the three people's hands, and said indifferently, "Meet me at the spirit plant hall tomorrow."
The three of them felt the weight of the mid-grade spirit stones in their hands. They looked at each other and hurriedly stuffed them into their bosoms. They said in unison, "Yes, Hall Master!"
At night, Chen Qing asked Yu Qingshuang to borrow the daily account books of the spirit plant hall to understand the stock of spirit herbs on Carefree Mountain.
There were many types of spiritual herbs planted, but they were all saved up for urgent needs. They were not important.
The key was the three hard currencies: spirit ginseng, sword heart grass, and Gu spirit grass.
The spirit ginseng was related to improving one's cultivation, the Gu spirit grass was what Gu insects needed daily, and the sword heart grass was something that the Sword Gu could use to heal its injuries.
In the past, the spirit plant elder was in charge of Gu spirit grass, so there was quite a lot of it.
The reserve of the spirit ginseng was only about 150 kilograms, and the sword heart grass was even less, only about 10 kilograms.
'No wonder they think so highly of me!'
The gap between the spirit ginseng and the sword heart grass was too big. Purchasing more outside was necessary.
The next morning, Chen Qing and Yu Qingshuang sat at the same table when they heard that the spirit plant elder had gone out early to visit his friends.
Chen Qing looked at the slightly strange noodles in front of him, and took a bite. They surprisingly tasted good.
"Senior Sister, you made it?"
Yu Qingshuang ate her noodles calmly. "Grandma and Grandpa went out to visit friends together."
Chen Qing thought to himself, 'I didn't expect this senior sister who practices the sword to be so good at cooking. It's just that the food doesn't look good.'
After changing into the new clothes of the sect's hall master of the spirit plant hall, Chen Qing looked at himself in the bronze mirror. He actually became more awe-inspiring.
When Chen Qing stepped into the spirit plant hall, the courtyard was already filled with people.
The 16 people of the spirit plant hall were all here. When Chen Qing entered, they called out to him one after another. "Greetings, Hall
Chen Qing walked to the center of the hall of the spirit plant hall, and glanced at the hall master's seat. He turned around, and sat at the first seat on the left side of the hall.
"Sit down."
After everyone sat down, Chen Qing said, "Now that I, Chen Qing, have accepted the assignment of the sect, this spirit plant hall is now my business.
"Does anyone have any objections?"
Everyone looked at each other, and thought to themselves, 'Now that the spirit plant hall doesn't have a hall master, there's basically no difference between a vice hall master like Chen Qing and a hall master.'
Furthermore, today was the first time Chen Qing was on duty, and the spirit plant elder had already gone out to visit his friends.
At the same time, the elder brought along everyone in the family other than his granddaughter. Chen Qing also stayed at the spirit plant elder's house.
A man and a woman alone, who didn't understand what the spirit plant elder meant?
Seeing that these people did not move for a long time, Wang Ye immediately took the lead, and said, "Now that there is no hall master in the spirit plant hall currently, the vice hall master is naturally the most respected!"
The others agreed one by one.
Chen Qing glanced at everyone. They were all middle-aged and old cultivators. Thinking about it, it made sense. They would only work in the sect if their Gu insects could not be upgraded.
Young people who still had some hope would take on jobs outside to seek a better future.
It was good. At least they did not have too many thoughts, and could not cause any waves.
"The most important thing now is to plant the spirit ginseng and sword heart grass. Only then will we be able to reap the harvest this year.
"The sect means to open up 100 mu of spirit ginseng fields and 20 mu of sword heart grass fields.
"In my opinion, this is not enough. We should open up 120 mu of spirit ginseng fields.
"Senior Brother Zhou, you often come to the spirit plant garden to work. You know the situation here. Lead seven people to take care of the current spirit plant garden."
Zhou Ke smiled when he heard this. He stood up and cupped his hands. "Yes, Hall Master."
Chen Qing continued, "Senior Brother Wang, your Gu insect is a Green Ox Gu, it is very effective in opening up spirit fields. Lead seven people to gather mortals to open up spirit ginseng fields and sword heart grass fields."
Wang Ye immediately stood up, and said, "Yes, Hall Master."
Chen Qing continued, "Everyone, in the past, the spirit plant hall was managed by the spirit plant elder. He's old and can't split himself up, so his management might've been looser.
"But today, since I, Chen Qing, have entered the spirit plant hall, I should be full of vigor.
"If this year's tasks are done well, I'll use my authority to distribute rewards—everyone will receive 20 pots of ginseng wine at the end of the year!"
Previously, everyone felt that it was alright. They just felt that Chen Qing's actions were reasonable.
At the end of the day, they were opening new fields, and Chen Qing was the one in charge. They were merely looking after some things.
But now, everyone's enthusiasm was completely different. 20 pots of ginseng wine, according to the current market price, were equal to 200 low-grade spirit stones.
They could only save more than 100 low-grade spirit stones every month when they took on jobs outside. These 20 pots of ginseng wine were almost equivalent to two months' salary.
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up. With these 20 pots of ginseng wine and their monthly salary, it was almost comparable to those disciples who took on jobs outside.
Most importantly, their job was very stable now. They did not need to go out and find a job themselves.
The job in the spirit plant hall officially stopped being a lame chore, and became a cozy assignment.
Seeing the joy on everyone's faces, Chen Qing continued, "Don't go back directly tonight. Let's go to the Bright Moon Building to drink."
Everyone thanked him.
Chen Qing gave Wang Ye and Zhou Ke a look, and the two of them left with everyone to work.
Chen Qing stood up. "Senior Brother Li He, come with me. We'll go to the Cultivation Hall to discuss some matters with Senior Brother Gongsun Xiu."
Not long after they left, they bumped into Gongsun Xiu on the way up the mountain.
Seeing that it was Chen Qing, Gongsun Xiu smiled, and said, "Junior Brother Chen, I was looking for you."
Chen Qing asked, "I'm also looking for Senior Brother."
Gongsun Xiu extended his hand, and suggested, "Then why don't you come to my place?"
Along the way, the smell of wine became stronger and stronger. When they arrived at the Cultivation Hall, the fragrance of wine was already overflowing.
Sitting down in the living room of the cultivation hall, Chen Qing asked, "May I know why Senior Brother Gongsun Xiu is looking for me?"
Gongsun Xiu said, "Junior Brother Chen, your annual salary has been set at 8,600 low-grade Spirit Stones.
"You're a new hall master. The mountain lord will allow you to receive a year's salary in advance on account of your solitary
"Whenever you want it, come and get it from me."
Chen Qing was overjoyed. He had originally wanted to borrow some spirit stones from the sect, but it was fine now.
It was 200 low-grade spirit stones more than Ye Yuntian had told him.
Chen Qing cupped his hands and smiled. "Thank you, Senior Brother.
"I wonder if Senior Brother has Wine Gu here."
Gongsun Xiu thought for a moment. "Junior Brother, do you want to brew wine yourself?"
Chen Qing pretended to be angry. "Xiao Zhong humiliated me too much yesterday, and laughed at my low cultivation level. That's why I had this idea.
"It's always more convenient to brew wine and cultivate by myself.
"Senior Brother, please don't blame me. I definitely don't have the intention to look down on you."
Gongsun Xiu pondered for a moment. "Currently, there are still three Wine Gu in the Cultivation Hall.
"If it were anyone else, I definitely wouldn't give it to them. However, since it's Junior Brother Chen who asked, I don't dare to refuse."
Chen Qing naturally knew the reason. He was about to have a large amount of spirit ginseng resources, which made the Cultivation Hall envious.
When Chen Qing was not the hall master of the spirit plant hall, Carefree Mountain's structure was actually rather deformed.
Because they did not have a large number of spiritual herbs, they could only rely on the cooperation between the Hall of War Affairs and the Shadow Hall to take risks outside and obtain resources. After selling them, they would buy spirit ginseng to make wine.
As a result, Carefree Mountain's stockpile had always been small and unreliable.
Once Chen Qing could take out a large amount of spirit ginseng, the stability of the entire Carefree Mountain would increase.
Therefore, although Chen Qing's cultivation level was low now, his status was not low.
Gongsun Xiu stood up and led the way. "Junior Brother Chen, follow me."
Chen Qing's fists opened and closed. He almost wanted to clap and cheer.
Success, Wine Gu was in his hands!