Chapter 77

The ox cart moved slowly along the road.

Ye Qing was talking to someone, a man named Gao Pu, who was a prominent figure in the Ye family village: "Tell me, how did you find me?"

Gao Pu smiled apologetically and said, "Young Master Ye has been away for a long time, and the clan was worried. They sent a few people to take turns waiting at the county entrance. I just happened to be the one who found you."

Ye Qing's status was different now; he was the clan's rising star, and they couldn't afford to be careless.

After a moment of thought, Ye Qing sighed and said, "I'm truly grateful to the clan for their concern, but I feel quite uneasy... By the way, how are the wheat fields doing?"

Gao Pu immediately beamed and said, "This year, the weather has been favorable, and the wheat is growing very well. Moreover, there's a decree from the imperial court to exempt taxes, which has reduced the tax burden by twenty percent. This is truly the emperor's grace..."

Ye Qing also smiled. The Ye clan owned a total of thirty hectares of land, and this reduction would bring significant benefits. However, this was a precaution for the impending disaster. Thinking of this, he sighed and said, "This scene is beautiful, but it won't last long!"

"Master Ye, what do you mean by that?"

"I mean we need to stockpile grain!"

Ye Qing watched the scenery by the roadside and said calmly, "We've had peaceful days for a long time, and the actual grain reserves are not sufficient. This is not a good situation."

After a pause, he changed the subject and asked, "Are we almost there?"

"Yes, we're almost there. We've reached the path. Look, Master Ye, this is your land!"

The ox cart arrived at the field path, and Lü Shangjing greeted them. After a month, his originally fair face had tanned slightly, but he was beaming with a smile: "Master, this year will be a great harvest. I estimate we can get four hundred kilograms per mu."

In this world, due to the controllable climate, the yield per mu was slightly higher, but reaching four hundred kilograms was still not easy. Ye Qing firmly shook his hand, the rough calluses on Lü Shangjing's hand pricking his heart. He then patted his shoulder: "Indeed, the favorable weather has helped, but your diligence and hard work are truly commendable."

Since taking on this task, this scholar had spent almost half of his time every day in the fields, working with Sun Guatian. During the busy farming season, he even rolled up his pants and worked alongside the tenant farmers, rapidly gaining agricultural experience. Now, he managed everything smoothly, and the effort and dedication were evident.

Lü Shangjing smiled and said, "I dare not take credit. The actual work is done by the tenant farmers, and Sun Guatian provides guidance and support. Master also bought water wheels to reduce the labor burden. I dare not claim credit."

Ye Qing sighed, his voice becoming hoarse: "You can't say that. In these peaceful times, finding a few scholars to teach and spread knowledge is easy, but to find someone who speaks the truth and does practical work, there are very few in the entire county. I asked you to manage the private fields, and you have put in so much effort. With your talent, doing this is a bit of a waste."

"Master, six months ago, you told me that a long journey begins with a single step. If we don't do well with these three hundred mu, how can we manage three thousand or thirty thousand mu in the future?" Lü Shangjing smiled and joked, "Besides, I'm also looking forward to the shrine position you promised. How could I not put in effort?"

Seeing this person's transformation in just a few months, Ye Qing was impressed. This person originally had great talent and potential. Now, with his practical efforts and integration, he had transformed through these three hundred mu, no wonder he could stand out from the Yuzhu Pavilion system and become the "Yuan Family Chancellor" in his previous life.

Thinking about this, he smiled and said, "I've been traveling for a month, and I feel that my Daoist and literary pursuits have made significant progress. I feel I'm not inferior to others. Inside, you have been planning and promoting my reputation, and personally supervising the fields and managing external affairs. When we achieve success, how could I be stingy with a shrine position?"

At this point, Ye Qing bowed solemnly, and Lü Shangjing hurriedly returned the bow. They both stood up and smiled at each other, not saying another word for a moment.

It was now dusk, and the sky was darkening. Ye Qing thought about a letter he had received from home.

Sun Guatian, after inspecting the three hundred mu, reported privately: "Just in terms of hard work, ordinary people can improve, let alone someone like Mr. Lü. Now, he only manages three hundred mu, but when Young Master Ye takes charge of the clan affairs in the future, I, an old man, might really have to assist him!"

This last sentence was a humble and yielding gesture from the clan's most skilled farmer, but it also showed that he was showing goodwill as he saw Ye Qing's influence growing.

Ye Qing, of course, wouldn't take it seriously, but he was confident he hadn't misjudged the person.

He thought to himself, "Although I don't deliberately seek it, my rise has been observed by the clan members step by step. They can feel my development and react according to their own situations."

"Many of the family-born children have openly or secretly pledged their allegiance to me in the past two months, but among my brothers, many still resent me for taking Xiao He, thinking I'm encouraging disorder, out of jealousy."

"By specifically asking for Jiang Zinan as my personal maid, who is the clan leader's adopted daughter and manages the clan affairs well, my influence in the clan has expanded several times over in these two months, even though I haven't been directly involved."

"Qianqian has been acting as the mistress, and the courtyard has been peaceful. I've also promoted Lü Shangjing to the position of executive, giving him full authority over the three hundred mu of private land and external affairs. In this small domain, I've gradually established my influence."

"Even the most foolish should see this strength and influence, understand my prospects, and the benefits of supporting me!"

"This is just the beginning. As long as Clan Leader Ye Mengqiu is still around, it can only be like this, but the resources of the Ye family will gradually tilt towards me. Although Uncle Three is a scholar, he can't resist this trend, after all, I'm only sixteen!"

"Once I pass the imperial examination, I will control most of the Ye family's resources, and even the clan leader can't oppose it, because only I can ensure the Ye family's interests for the next fifty years."

"Although the overall trend in the clan is like this, I need to be cautious about the details, striving for harmony and reducing internal friction during the transition. From my past experience, this is the foundation of my own power!"

Now, at the entrance of the estate, it wasn't a good place to talk much. Ye Qing and Lü Shangjing walked into the estate arm in arm: "Actually, I'm here to freeload."

"More than welcome! The estate has plenty of chickens and ducks, and the new batch of steamed wine is out, just as Master said, it's strong and smooth. We'll drink until we're thoroughly drunk..."

Luhua County

Yu Fan was pacing, with Mr. Kou behind him. The two came out one after the other, and the people following them stood with their hands at their sides.

It was dusk, and the sun was setting, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The two came to the northwest corner, and Mr. Kou looked at the garden scenery and smiled, "Indeed, it's a nice garden!"

"It's just a base in this county, a ten-mu estate. If you want it, I'll give it to you," Yu Fan smiled and said.

"No reward without merit. Even if the lord doesn't give it to me in ten years, I'll take it," Mr. Kou said, just as a bailiff and two constables entered.

"Greetings, Young Master!" The bailiff bowed and then stood up, smiling, "Thank you for coming, sir. If you have any business, just let me know."

Yu Fan's face was expressionless, and he said solemnly, "I hear you're familiar with the streets in the county. I'm here for a personal matter."

"Yes, sir, just let me know. I can talk to both the black and white sides in the county and get things done!"

Black and white sides?

Hearing this term, Yu Fan sneered. The black and white sides were only mentioned in the common folk. At a higher level, this term wasn't even mentioned—it was insignificant.

But he didn't mention it now, just said, "I'm looking for an old friend, a fortune-teller, but he only appears on the 15th of each month. You should place informants in all the neighborhoods, and once they spot him, report to me—be respectful, understand?"

"Yes, sir, I understand!" The bailiff responded solemnly.

"General doesn't send hungry soldiers. It's getting hot in April, so I'll give you some money to buy some iced tea. This is just a small token. When the task is completed, there will be a bigger reward. But if you can't manage your subordinates and they don't do their job properly, causing me trouble, be careful!"

This was not a polite request, but the bailiff responded repeatedly, smiling apologetically, "Sir, you understand the situation. The government is lax, and everyone has become complacent. But since it's your matter and you're so considerate, how can I not do my best?"

"I'll go back and mobilize all the brothers in the office and use the informants in the neighborhoods. I can guarantee that if this fortune-teller is in the county, even a fly won't escape my notice!"

After bowing and leaving, Mr. Kou smiled, "Lord, don't look at this man's low rank, just a ninth-rank official, but he's a powerful figure, in charge of the county's security. With his full effort, we'll definitely find the person!"

"You don't have to stay cooped up in the garden. You can go out for a walk, take a stroll. It's late spring in April, but the weather is still mild, perfect for a trip."

Yu Fan watched the sunset, composed himself, and realized he had been a bit out of sorts. He frowned and sighed, "Mr. Kou, you are my confidant, and I don't hide anything from you. I'm feeling uneasy and easily irritable. If I've been rude, please forgive me."

Mr. Kou, a very deep person, thought for a moment and said, "Lord, I can't accept that. You are the ruler, and I am the subject. This is a big matter, and being anxious and scolding a few times is normal. How can I ask for forgiveness?"

"Good, helping me relieve some pressure is also good!" Yu Fan sighed, then thought for a moment, "It's strange, when I came here and looked at the distant Jinyang Lake, I felt both familiar and terrifying, both wanting to get close and wanting to stay far away. This feeling is hard to understand and can't be resolved."

"But you're right, being anxious won't help. I need to relax, so let's go to Jinyang Lake!"

Jinyang Lake · Palace in the Water

The water in Jinyang Lake flowed gently, and the palace was silent. On the steps, there was a coral throne, and Long Sun was drinking heavily, with various aquatic creatures below.

Just as they were drinking merrily, there was a "snap," and a glass cup was crushed by Long Sun. The aquatic creatures were startled and froze.

One of them stood up, "Lord, what's wrong? Is there something?"

Long Sun frowned and looked up, seeing a water general, full of vigor, with scales covering his body. He smiled, "Nothing, I just thought of the time I was trapped, so I crushed the cup."

He then changed the cup and ordered, "Come, let's continue drinking!"

The aquatic creatures, not thinking much, resumed their merriment. Long Sun drank a cup, his eyes flashing with coldness, "Dragon Pearl, hmpf, if it weren't buried in the ancestral tomb, I would have killed you and taken it back. And considering your backing, I would have killed you immediately."

"Hmpf, but don't think this will end here. The Yu family, I will destroy your entire clan sooner or later!"

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