In the sweltering heat, many things are not suitable for planting, but in order to determine the planting effects of potatoes in different seasons, Shi Tianbao really spends every day on the farm.

Despite being the Vice Minister of Revenue, Shi Tianbao was approachable and dressed simply, always accompanied by only a servant. He quickly became acquainted with Lin Zhuangshi and the others. In addition, he frequently visited the manor in Lingyun Prefecture, where he also became familiar with the steward, and naturally learned about Ling Dapeng's affairs.

"This... can't be right. They say a tiger father begets no dog son. Could General Ling's son be such a coward?"

Li Fu, the manager of Lingyunzhou Manor, wasn't a gossipy person, but Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun were somewhat disliked by others at the manor.

"It's probably because I wasn't raised in front of him when he was little!" Li Fu said cryptically.

"That's not right either. Manager Tao can be considered a heroine among women. She was able to lead her family to flee famine to the capital, and she was able to bring back so many magical seeds from Youzhou. She ran the restaurant business extremely well and was even highly appreciated by the Emperor. Most women couldn't do that!"

Li Fu didn't know just how capable Tao Wanniang was. His only acquaintance with her was from that one encounter, though she was described as a charming woman. "I'm not quite sure about that, but this second young master, sigh!"

Ling Yunzhou instructed Li Fu to follow Shi Tianbao's arrangements, so he specially set aside a piece of land on the estate to plant some potatoes.

From cutting the seeds into pieces to germinating them, and then planting them in the ground, Shi Tianbao watched the tender sprouts emerge every day, fearing that all the seeds would die in the sweltering heat. Their daily routine consisted of Li Fu and Shi Tianbao chatting as they watched over the plants.

That day, the two had only been talking for a short while when Ling Dapeng arrived, bringing up the main character.

“This stuff is from my mother’s field, right? I’ve been with my mother since I was a child, I know everything. Manager Li, leave the work here to me,” Ling Dapeng said, acting as if he were an expert.

Shi Tianbao and Li Fu exchanged a glance. They had just started talking about Ling Dapeng when he arrived, and they felt a little awkward.

"Um... do you know who I am?" Shi Tianbao asked deliberately.

“I don’t know, but do you know who I am?” Ling Dapeng said seriously. “Manager Li, please tell him my identity.”

"What are you saying? This is Lord Shi from the Ministry of Revenue, an official appointed by the imperial court. You are just a commoner, and regardless of your background, how can you be so rude to an official like him?"

Ling Dapeng felt no sense of superiority here. What he heard most was people talking about how good the crops were grown in that nearby manor, but that was his mother's property; and how good the manor's owner was, but that was his father's property! Yet, he, as the son, received no special treatment and was even criticized for being unreliable, which made him resentful.

“Manager Li, I can tell that these things are from my mother’s estate. I really know how to grow them. Let me handle this!” Ling Dapeng insisted.

This is absolutely unacceptable. Shi Tianbao just mentioned how unreliable Ling Dapeng is, so how can we entrust this matter to him?

"Do you think this is just about growing potatoes?" Shi Tianbao said sternly. "When to plant them, how many days to take them out of the ground, whether they prefer shade or sun, whether the soil is dry or moist—all of these need to be recorded daily. Can you do that?"

Ling Dapeng was taken aback. Was it really that complicated?

"Don't even mention you. Even your mother herself said she didn't know. She only brought back the seeds, which were planted by people on the estate. How would you know?" Shi Tianbao said deliberately.

Now Ling Dapeng really didn't dare to be so arrogant, but he really disliked working with other people.

"Then...can I help too?"

"No!" Shi Tianbao and Li Fu said in unison.

Ling Dapeng looked somewhat defeated. He glanced at Shi Tianbao, then at Li Fu, and finally said angrily, "If you can't, you can't. There's no need to shout like that. You're just looking down on me!"

"Ling Dapeng, how dare you talk like that? You refuse to do what I tell you to do, and you insist on meddling in things I'm not told to do," Li Fu said, frowning. "If you just do your job properly, no one will look down on you!"

"Don't think I don't know what you've been saying behind my back!" Ling Dapeng said angrily. "Do you think I want to stay here? I can leave anytime I want!"

Li Fu couldn't help but roll his eyes. It was as if the manor insisted on keeping him there.

"I am acting on the orders of the steward of the General's Mansion to keep you in check. If you really do not want to stay, I will go to the capital tomorrow to inform the General's Mansion."

Ling Dapeng didn't dare to really cause a scene, and if he didn't stay at the manor, he really didn't know where to go.

"You guys..." Ling Dapeng glared at Li Fu with some resentment, then walked away unwillingly.

"See that? I really don't know what's going on in his head. He's so tall, but he's a complete waste." Li Fu shook his head and said, "He was still a decent person when he was in the village last year. I don't know how he became like this after returning to the city."

Shi Tianbao also shook his head, "The General's Mansion has no successor!"

Ling Dapeng walked dejectedly along the ridge of the field. It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Although he had experienced great ups and downs, he missed the days when he was treated like a king and had people serving him.

"Hey, Ling Dapeng, want to get rich?" Suddenly, a man dressed as a tenant farmer called out to Ling Dapeng from the edge of the field.

"Who are you?" Ling Dapeng sized up the man; he didn't seem to be from the manor.

"Just tell me, do you want to get rich?" The man didn't answer directly. "If you want to get rich, do me a favor."

"What...what do you mean? Let me tell you, I don't do bad things. I, Ling Dapeng, am not that kind of person." Ling Dapeng spoke with righteous indignation, but he didn't leave, revealing that he was tempted.

“If you want to get rich, go to your mother’s farm and dig up some potatoes for me,” the man continued. “Your mother has committed a major taboo. There are so many restaurants in the capital, and she has a monopoly on them, and she even has things that can’t be grown on other people’s land. This violates the rules of the Chamber of Commerce.”

The man continued, "Digging a few potatoes might not mean much to you, but it's a big deal for the entire chamber of commerce and all the restaurants in the capital. One hundred taels of silver, are you in or not?"

One hundred taels! Ling Dapeng's eyes widened. He now had only a few coins left of all his possessions, and even the deed to his house in the capital was no longer in their hands.

"Just a few potatoes?" Ling Dapeng asked through gritted teeth in a low voice.

"Yes, it's just a few potatoes. Even if you get caught, what can anyone do to you? Do you think your parents would do anything to you over a few potatoes?"

"A wealthy man, a great general, yet he makes his own son work in the fields. Doesn't that make you feel bad?"

The man's words struck Ling Dapeng like a hammer blow, resonating deep within his heart.

"Okay, I'll do it!" Ling Dapeng said through gritted teeth, and then began to whisper with the man about how to make the deal.