Volume One, Chapter Nine: Do You Know Crown Prince Zhu Biao? He's My Close Friend!

"An especially important famine-relief foodstuff? Does that mean... the yield of these sweet potatoes is very high?"

Zhu Biao immediately seized upon the core of Jiang Lin's words and hurriedly asked for clarification.

Jiang Lin nodded. "Exactly. In our future, the yield of sweet potatoes can reach as high as three thousand jin per mu. Converted into the Ming Dynasty's units of measurement, that is roughly over twenty shi!"

"What?!"

Zhu Biao and Lady Chang widened their eyes in unison. Beside them, Zhu Xiongying mimicked the pair, his already large eyes bulging as if they might pop out. The exaggerated expression was incredibly adorable.

Jiang Lin continued, "Besides sweet potatoes, corn and potatoes are also extremely high-yield crops. One produces about ten shi per mu, and the other over twenty shi per mu."

"Most importantly... sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes are all highly adaptable crops that can grow in various climatic conditions."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao couldn't help but gasp. His hands trembled with excitement, and he made a firm resolution in his heart.

"Jiang Lin, do you have a map of that... South America place?"

Originally, he had only felt a vague sense of yearning for South America, with no real intention of going there. After all, the Ming Dynasty had only recently been founded; the lives of the people were not yet particularly stable, and it was not the time for overseas expansion. Such things that drained the treasury and exhausted the people were strictly forbidden.

But now, having learned the yields of these three crops, Zhu Biao felt he had no choice. He had to have his Imperial Father train a fleet as soon as possible to bring these three crops back to the Ming Dynasty from South America. This was a divine omen for the prosperity of the people! With these three crops, the people of Ming would no longer have to suffer from hunger.

Jiang Lin understood Zhu Biao's meaning immediately and asked with a smile, "Your Highness, are you asking for a map because you want to send a fleet to South America to retrieve the seeds?"

Seeing Zhu Biao nod, Jiang Lin waved his hand. "Your Highness, there is no need for a map. I have the seeds. If you want to plant them, I can give some to you."

"Really? Do you have seeds for all three crops?" Zhu Biao was pleasantly surprised.

Jiang Lin nodded. "That's right, I have them all. It's just that the planting methods for the three differ slightly. However, rest assured, I will explain everything to you clearly. You only need to go back and follow these steps, and then gradually teach the vast populace of Ming."

The smile on Zhu Biao's face could no longer be contained; he was overjoyed. It was only at this moment that he realized the Jiang Lin before him was the true treasure of the Ming Dynasty.

"Young Master Jiang, you are a man of the future, yet to me, you are no different from an immortal. You first saved my lady, and now you provide me with such precious gifts..." Zhu Biao stood up suddenly and bowed to Jiang Lin, his expression filled with reverence. "We are of similar age; I wish to become your sworn brother. I, the Crown Prince of Ming, can guarantee that as long as you do not betray the Ming, no one within these borders will dare to touch a hair on your head!"

***

After hearing Zhu Biao's words, Jiang Lin's heart surged with emotion. He completely believed in the weight of this promise. In the eyes of Old Zhu, two people were of the utmost importance: the Empress Ma who had built the empire by his side, and the Crown Prince Zhu Biao before him. With the Crown Prince as his backer, Jiang Lin could walk anywhere with his head held high. Excluding Old Zhu and Empress Ma, he could ignore everyone else.

*Oh, you know Crown Prince Zhu Biao? He's my buddy!*

It wasn't just Jiang Lin; Zhu Biao also felt he had gained a great deal. Being bound to such a remarkable person would surely be his greatest asset when he ascended the throne. As long as the two brothers worked together, they could make the Ming Dynasty even more glorious, perhaps even stronger than the future eras.

For the rest of the time, Jiang Lin explained the specific cultivation methods for the three crops to Zhu Biao... Zhu Biao listened intently; this was a matter of national importance.

"By the way, Brother Jiang, I also wanted to ask you about some things from the future..."

Before Zhu Biao could finish his question, Zhu Xiongying tugged on his sleeve. "Daddy, Xiongying is so sleepy. Xiongying wants to go to sleep..."

Zhu Xiongying yawned, looking listless. Lady Chang added, "Xiongying usually takes an afternoon nap; he hasn't rested well today."

Zhu Biao looked out the window and noticed the sky was already darkening. "Brother Jiang, it's getting late, so we shall take our leave." He rose from his seat and bid farewell to Jiang Lin.

Zhu Xiongying also waved at Jiang Lin. "Big Brother, goodbye! I'm going back to the palace. When I have time, I'll come back to watch cartoons and see the Gourd Brothers fight the monsters!"

Just as Zhu Xiongying was about to leave, Jiang Lin quickly called out to him. "Little Xiongying, wait a moment!"

"What is it? What do you want?" Zhu Xiongying turned back, looking confused.

Jiang Lin reached into his system storage and pulled out a large bag of snacks, containing shrimp crackers, potato chips, snow crackers, senbei, and lollipops. He handed it to Zhu Xiongying with a doting smile. "Little Xiongying, these are snacks for you."

With that, Jiang Lin stuffed the snacks into Zhu Xiongying's arms. The tiny boy holding the giant bag looked even more adorable in his clumsiness.

Zhu Biao said with some embarrassment, "Brother Jiang, I have already accepted so many great gifts from you, how could I possibly..."

"They're for the child!" Jiang Lin cut off Zhu Biao's polite refusal with a single sentence.

***

After seeing the family off and watching their figures fade into the distance, Jiang Lin felt a faint sense of unease, a premonition that his days of quiet life might be coming to an end.

*Forget it, whatever! For now, just enjoy every day!*

Jiang Lin turned and went back inside, sinking into the soft sofa. He operated the television with the remote, opened the file manager, and began to browse with excitement...

Previously, he had received a 100TB flash drive from an express blind box. He discovered it contained over a hundred pre-downloaded movies, covering every genre and type, foreign and domestic—everything one could imagine.

He scrolled through the list, finding many he hadn't seen yet. He kept scrolling, thinking of comparing them to find the perfect one to watch. He reached the bottom of the list.

Just then, a folder named "H" caught his eye...

For a moment, Jiang Lin frowned, his interest piqued. Opening it, he found a row of folders labeled "New Folder 1" through "24." Jiang Lin blinked and casually opened one, his eyes suddenly burning with intensity.

Inside were rows of videos without thumbnails, all with garbled filenames.

*Holy crap! So there were good things like this? What on earth have I been watching all this time?*

***

Eastern Palace.

Upon returning to the palace, Zhu Biao immediately went to the Crown Princess's chambers. He took out the instrument Jiang Lin had given him and pressed the power button. No sooner had he begun to scan than a siren blared.

[Beep—detected high concentration of manganese powder in the room's air...]

"It really is here?" Zhu Biao muttered, searching for the specific source. When he reached the place where the incense burner was kept, the instrument's alarm became shrill. Opening the lid, his gaze turned cold and fierce.

"Guards!"