Chapter 40

On this day, the snow fell all night and had not stopped by morning. Ye Zifan personally led a group of people carrying food boxes, and upon arriving, he saw that the residential area and fields were all covered in snow, with only some footprints in the corridors, but no one was moving about.

Upon reaching the courtyard, he caught a whiff of a faint, cold fragrance. Turning his eyes, he saw a cluster of plum trees by the wall, and he couldn't help but be surprised: "How can there be plums here?"

"Third Master, it was Master Fu Guangxue from the Fu family in the county who specially had them moved here. They were planted last month, but a Taoist priest came with the trees and used some magic to make them thrive."

"Master Fu said that Young Master Qing is alone in his study, reading, which is a serious matter, but perhaps he might feel lonely. Therefore, he sent the plums, so Young Master Qing could enjoy them."

Ye Zifan was taken aback. The Fu family was also a prominent household, and Fu Guangxue was a scholar. He knew him, as they were from the same county. Fu Guangxue was somewhat proud, but he didn't expect him to send plum trees.

Ye Zifan approached and saw that the plum branches were covered with snow, and the blooming petals were red. A fragrant aroma filled the air, making one feel refreshed and at ease. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the plum branches resembled coiled dragons, which startled him. These were coiled dragon plums, which in the past were only planted by nobles. Although they had spread to the common people, they were still very valuable.

There were about thirty plum trees, and if each one cost one tael of gold, that would be thirty taels of gold in total.

The attendant saw Third Master deep in thought and said, "I heard that Young Master Qing wrote a poem, and Master Fu sent the plums over without hesitation!"

"What poem?"

"It's in the hall, Master. You can see it when you go in."

Ye Zifan entered and indeed saw a scroll hanging in a corner with the following poem written on it:

"At the wall's corner, a few plum branches bloom alone in the cold.

From afar, I know it's not snow, for the fragrance comes from the blossoms."

The ink was pure black, and the calligraphy was ancient and elegant, perfectly complementing the poem, exuding a refined and elegant atmosphere. Ye Zifan couldn't help but think, "Qing's poetry and calligraphy are almost perfect. It's a pity he isn't good at painting; otherwise, they would complement each other well."

But then he smiled wryly, "If he were also good at painting, I would say he is too focused on trivial matters."

He stood there in a daze for a long time before sighing, "—Talent is not enough; great talent is like a sharp sword in a scabbard, impossible to suppress."

He chuckled to himself, and at that moment, Ye Qing came out from the inner room, bowed to Ye Zifan, and said, "It's snowing outside, Uncle, why did you come in person? I really can't bear it."

"Where's the problem? The snow has been falling for a day and a night. Some people live in thatched huts, and if the accumulated snow collapses them, it will be a big trouble. Or if the heavy snow blocks the roads, many people will suffer from the cold and hunger. So I brought people to patrol, and since winter brings more thieves, we need to patrol to keep the area peaceful... I came to check on you as well."

Ye Qing listened silently. In this world, due to the supervision of ghosts and gods, and the importance of good fortune and virtue, both the government and large families would consider these aspects to avoid being too harsh.

This was not out of pure altruism but for the long-term benefit of their descendants.

In the Western world on Earth, some people criticize charitable acts, saying they are just for tax evasion or to benefit the rich, and they harshly condemn the donors' private motives.

However, they fail to see the benefits to society. The stories of "Zigong Redeeming a Man" and "Zilu Accepting a Cow" have been told for thousands of years, yet many still see public and private interests as opposing.

Even if Ye Zifan and others in the family acted out of self-interest, for the family's good fortune and virtue, how many such people are there in the world?

Thousands of Ye Zifans—how many lives could they save?

How many people suffering from the cold and hunger could receive food to survive the winter?

If "intentional good deeds are not rewarded," how many of the thousands of Ye Zifans could reach the level of a sage?

Without any reward, how many could persist, and how many would starve to death? Would their sins be "unintentional evil, not punishable"?

These were just fleeting thoughts. Ye Qing thought for a moment and said, "Third Uncle, patrolling the countryside is your duty, but among these thieves, there are truly some who are desperate poor. The government's disaster relief cannot cover everything."

"I want to contribute some silver to build a soup kitchen."

Ye Zifan was silent for a moment, his face showing a troubled expression.

"Third Uncle, the spring scholar exams are coming. These good deeds can accumulate some merit, which is my private motive," Ye Qing explained, smiling. "I know where your difficulty lies. Building a soup kitchen is a small matter, but it involves public sentiment and the system. This is a matter of public opinion and the government, which only the government can handle!"

"But we can play it on the edge. The heavy snow has blocked the roads, making it very inconvenient. I'm not building the soup kitchen for disaster relief, but to hire people to clear the roads and the snow from the roofs. Once the snow is cleared, we can also repair bridges and roads. This is a legitimate exchange of labor for pay, and no one can say anything about it!"

"Of course, even so, I will only build one soup kitchen. More than that, I might not be able to handle it. I will contribute 120 taels of silver to ensure that the soup is thick enough to stand a chopstick. This will help the widows and the poor in the village survive the cold winter. This is my wish—what do you think, Third Uncle?"

A single soup kitchen can feed a thousand people, and by using it to clear the roads and prevent house collapses, it can also provide a way out for potential thieves. This multi-faceted benefit would bring blessings to the village, and Ye Qing had explained it flawlessly.

Ye Zifan looked at Ye Qing in amazement, a mix of warmth and sorrow welling up inside him. He was happy that the family had produced such talent, but he was also sad, thinking, "Why don't I have a son like this?"

"You've said so much, how can I not agree? Fine, we'll build a soup kitchen to accumulate some virtue for you. Do you want to go personally?"

"No, I need to focus on my cultivation now, but Qianqian can go and oversee it," Ye Qing said, waving his hand.

Seeing Ye Qing speak with such poise and confidence, Ye Zifan sighed. He had watched Ye Qing grow up and always thought he was gentle and mild-mannered, with a face that suggested a lack of good fortune, which was why he had been forced into his current situation.

But in the past six months, through the child examination, he had seen Ye Qing's true colors—his decisiveness and wisdom. His talent and intelligence were already evident.

After returning, Ye Qing had not left the courtyard, focusing entirely on his cultivation.

In the morning, he would exercise and practice, then delve into the study of classics. In the afternoon, he would write articles, and after dinner, he would read books on geography, military strategy, governance, and travel, which were actually to supplement his past life's memories and perfect his plans.

These efforts gradually became known within the family, and even the clan leader sent people to check on him. Each time, he was found reading, and the clan leader even sent many valuable books and provided special treatment.

Whenever Ye Qing needed something, he just had to tell Qianqian, and it would be granted.

However, so far, Ye Qing had only requested books. The family's attitude was clear: as long as he provided the title, year, place of origin, and author, they would try their best to find the book, even exchanging it with other families if necessary.

Ye Zifan looked at Ye Qing with a deep gaze, noticing the faint red aura still permeating his face. He thought about Ye Qing's decisiveness, intelligence, perseverance, and attitude, which were almost frightening.

How could he have once considered this young man an ordinary person?

By the time Ye Zifan came to his senses, he found himself already leaving. The sky was dark and gloomy, and the wind was bringing down more snow. He took a deep breath and continued his patrol.

Ye Qing returned to his room, where a fire was burning, making it warm. He sat down and fell into deep thought. Soon, Qianqian came in.

"Do you want to go to the soup kitchen this afternoon?"

"Of course, I do. There are very few things I can do now, and I'll be done with my tasks soon," Qianqian said, a bit dejected.

Everyone in the Ye family knew that Young Master Qing was studying hard. Even when Qianqian went to buy private items, many sisters would rush to help, saying, "Young Master Qing is going to pass the imperial exams. If you don't take good care of him and do these things, you might delay his studies. If he gets sick from lack of care, it would be even worse..."

"How can I do that?" Qianqian could only say, watching helplessly as her tasks were taken over. Even the monthly salary and food were delivered to her.

The house cleaning was handled by the new maids in the courtyard.

Even more cunning aunts and uncles called her over to teach her how to "serve the young master," making Qianqian blush and unable to escape.

When she returned to the courtyard, she didn't mention any of this to Ye Qing, feeling too embarrassed.

"I know, there are fewer tasks, but your authority hasn't decreased. You still manage the grain, money, cloth, and fruits. They just bring them to you more diligently. But this is good, as it frees up your time, and you can learn more from me," Ye Qing had already planned this. He was young, and it wasn't appropriate for him to go to the soup kitchen.

But it was reasonable for him to provide the funds and for Qianqian to oversee it.

Qianqian might not realize it, but over the past few days, her appearance and demeanor had gradually changed. Although she wasn't yet as beautiful as in his memories, she was still in her youth, and the signs were beginning to show.

While her beauty was not yet fully developed, he could send her out to gain some experience and continue her studies in the morning.

The Three Classics and Five Canons in this world were not empty and useless studies. Each word pursued the great way, and even if one didn't fully understand them, they could cultivate one's character and capacity.

Regardless of how she developed in the future, this would be greatly beneficial.

Thinking back to his past life, he had no such experience and didn't understand Qianqian's true nature. In this life, he couldn't let her slip by so easily.

He had to understand the source of her character.