They remained busy until nightfall, finally having measured the approximate extent of Magic Medicine Tun.
After all, a single Spirit Insect could only affect one hundred and fifty acres of Magic Potion, so the scale of Magic Medicine Tun was quite small, totaling only five hundred acres.
In the short term, five hundred acres would suffice.
Russell didn't believe he had any means by which to obtain additional Spirit Insects; they were too rare.
The reason why nobles continuously had Spirit Insects was because, over the long-term cultivation of Magic Potion, there was a small chance for new Spirit Insects to be nurtured from the Magic Potion. Although there was also a chance for Spirit Insects to appear in the wild, it was almost negligible.
If, within a Spirit Insect's lifespan of ten to twenty years, it could nurture another Spirit Insect, it would be considered very fortunate.
As for the evolution of Spirit Insects into Mushroom Birds or Little Sprites, the probability was equally minuscule.
Fortunately, Little Sprites typically lived for over fifty years, and it wasn't rare to see them live for a hundred years. Such a long lifespan was enough for a family to cultivate many Spirit Insects, and then, with some luck, one of them could evolve and continue to ensure the family's supply of Magic Potion.
"I hope my Mushroom Bugs and Spirit Insects work hard at cultivating Magic Potion, and then swiftly nurture a new generation of Spirit Insects…"
Butler Morris handed over a jade box containing Spirit Insects.
Russell took it absentmindedly.
Inside lay three fat insects, lazily sprawling. These insects were adorned with splendid patterns and had a lustrous, jade-like texture that made them appealing and cute, rather than disgusting like common bugs.
"Mushroom Bug, little fellow, you go and settle in first." Russell extended his hand, and the Youguangxun Mushroom Bug with its bright green pattern crawled onto his palm, following his will.
These Spirit Insects had already been contracted and were telepathically linked with Russell, who could command them with simple thoughts.
"Wow, truly magical and beautiful creatures," Charles exclaimed from the side, "It truly is unimaginable that it is these beings who create the Magic Potion and magical materials, adding infinite beauty to our lives."
Approaching the largest, thickest birch tree, Russell placed the Youguangxun Mushroom Bug onto the trunk.
It seemed to understand that its new home was ready.
The Youguangxun Mushroom Bug crawled about the trunk for a few moments before opening its tiny mouth impatiently and spitting out a minuscule seed, which would have been invisible without close observation.
The seed landed on the trunk of the birch tree.
In an instant.
A cluster of green mushrooms grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, with delicate stalks and flat caps, looking extremely dainty. A cluster of Glowing Mushrooms produced seven or eight fruiting bodies, arranged in a ring, resembling a large green flower at first glance.
This type of mushroom emitted a green luminescence at night, like a will-o'-the-wisp.
Some people called it ant street lamps.
However, the fungus here was clearly larger than ordinary magical Glowing Mushrooms. This one on the birch tree was as big as a washbowl.
"Well done, little guy." Seeing that the fungus had securely taken root, Russell picked up the Mushroom Bug and placed it back into the jade box — when the fungus was attacked, it would shrink into a seed and then convert into magic power to return to the Mushroom Bug's body.
Protecting the Mushroom Bug was tantamount to protecting the fungus itself.
"Rudi," Russell turned around and looked at an elderly man among the serfs, "you have long planted Glowing Mushrooms for my father. Now, I am appointing you as the head of Magic Medicine Tun, responsible for managing the serfs and planting Glowing Mushrooms well."
Rudi was a serf craftsman bestowed to Russell by the baron; though labeled a craftsman, he was essentially a serf who knew how to cultivate Magic Potions.
Upon hearing this, Rudi couldn't help expressing his joy, "Rest assured, Master, Red-nosed Rudi will definitely cultivate the finest Glowing Mushrooms for you!"
Having appointed the head of Magic Medicine Tun, Russell wasted no time and dashed towards another measured plot of farmland.
The farmland was planted with wheat.
But this did not prevent Russell from reclaiming it, officially replacing it with the Magic Potion Field of Long-rain Blossoms and planting a Long-rain Blossom fungus that bloomed with small bird-like blue flowers in the middle of the wheat field.
"Starting tomorrow, Hans, Rudi, you must arrange for the new serfs to join Magic Medicine Tun and then harvest these wheat crops. Under the guidance of these technicians, seed the Long-rain Blossoms for me, covering one hundred and fifty acres of land."
The wheat seedlings that had not yet grown would not go to waste; after harvesting, they could be used as silage to feed cattle and sheep.
Wuyao Snake Manor did not rear cattle or sheep; previously, Alfalfa Hamlet was specifically responsible for growing forage and transporting it to other estates with livestock.
Russell now planned to rear some cattle and sheep himself in the future, so there was no need to send it elsewhere.
As for the time being, this alfalfa was just right for feeding war horses.
A moment later, in another field across the river, Russell placed down the third coriander fungus, officially completing the arrangement of the fungi.
By then, the sky had completely darkened.
Russell wasn't heartless enough to let the serfs like Hans go home to eat, but had specially ordered the kitchen in the manor's guest house to make plenty of bread.
One could hardly contemplate the white bread made from fine wheat flour.
Butler Morris could only distribute to each of the busy serfs a piece of hard black bread mixed from wheat bran, barley flour, bean powder, and grass seeds—the bread was coarse and sour.
"Praise the lord, you are as generous as a Great Dragon!" Hans said with a wide grin as he received a piece of black bread the size of a hollow brick.
Unlike the soft white bread, this black bread was compact, and such a piece was at least enough for his entire family to have dinner.
The serfs left the guest house, thanking profusely and chewing on their black bread.
Russell, along with Charles and Eric, went to the dining room on the second floor to enjoy a dinner with beer and roast meat.
As for his four Knight Attendants, they were currently stationed at Magical Medicine Tun, each guarding a fungus. The newly planted fungi needed to absorb nutrients urgently; being attacked or nibbled would cause great harm to the fungi and severely affect the growth of the Magic Potion.
"Morris, send more roast meat to John and the others," Russell ordered.
"As you wish, my lord," Butler Morris responded promptly, hurrying to the kitchen to convey Russell's command.
"Oh, heavens," exclaimed Mrs. Moore, the chef wearing an apron with sleeves rolled up, in a shrill voice. "The lord is enormously generous—bread and roast meat... The serfs of the manor are blessed to death, it takes several lifetimes to meet such a lord!"
She then shouted at Barbara, a kitchen maid washing pots, "Silly girl, how many times must I tell you to check the roast!?"
"It's still roasting, not ready yet, Mrs. Moore," Barbara replied.
"Heavens, I asked you to check the roaster, and you've learned to talk back to me!" Mrs. Moore fumed, hands on her hips. "Seeing bags of flour turned into bread for those stinky serfs upsets me enough, don't you start annoying me too!"
Barbara reluctantly wiped her hands and rushed to the roaster, "I'm watching it, Mrs. Moore."
After pacing by the table for a moment, Mrs. Moore called out again, "Mrs. Brown, did you bring back the cheese? I still need to make pudding for dessert for the lord!"
"Here it comes, running," Mrs. Brown replied, hurrying over.
"Sorry I have so much to do," Mrs. Moore's tone softened, and she put on a smile, "I can only ask you to help."
Mrs. Brown quickly said, "That's not an issue, Butler Morris arranged for me to help out in the kitchen, treat me like a kitchen maid, freely command me."
While stirring the cheese, Mrs. Moore remarked, "You and Mr. Brown must have had a leisurely and relaxing time before, alone in the guest house. Now that the lord has arrived, the guest house is bustling, but there's endless work every day."
"It was always necessary to clean the entire guest house without a moment of laziness; now there are more people and more conversation, it's better than before," Mrs. Brown replied as she took over Barbara's task, donning gloves and preparing to wash pots in the sink.
Before touching the water, she quickly raised her hands to her chin, whispering a quick prayer, "Praise the lord!"