In late August, Ye Hongyun gave birth to a daughter.

Wu Deyong took a leave and came back. After discussion, the Wu and Ye families decided to give their daughter to Duke Wei to raise.

During the wedding banquet, Old Lady Cai held Zhang Hulan's hand and thanked her: "Thank you, little girl. Our house will no longer be so lonely every day. If you hadn't asked us to do so, we wouldn't have been able to do it."

"You're too polite, Auntie. I just mentioned it casually. It's mainly because Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu are reasonable."

Madam Cai nodded, "Yes, both of my in-laws are very good people."

Zhang Hulan chatted with Mrs. Cai for a while and was called away by Wu Deyong.

Wu Deyong said to Zhang Hulan, "I have something to tell you."

"Brother-in-law, what's the matter? Tell me."

Wu Deyong said, "I will return to the capital to take up my post after the New Year, and Song Yuzhang will serve as the magistrate of Changning County. I will then find a new teacher for your village school."

"Then congratulations in advance to my brother-in-law on his promotion!" Zhang Hulan asked, "What position will my brother-in-law be assigned to when he returns to the capital?"

"To the Ministry of Personnel. But the rank won't be high."

Zhang Hulan said: "It seems that the emperor is still worried about the Ministry of Personnel and wants my brother-in-law to rectify the Ministry of Personnel. My brother-in-law will have a heavy burden on his shoulders in the future."

Wu Deyong said: "I am afraid that my ability is limited and I will disappoint the emperor."

"Brother-in-law, you are too modest. You have managed Changning County very well in the past few years." Zhang Hulan said, "The people of Changning County are really blessed. Brother-in-law has been in office for three years in Changning County, and their lives are much better than before. If Mr. Song can continue to work for another three years, the lives of the people of Changning County will definitely be even better."

Wu Deyong looked at Zhang Hulan with a smile and said, "Do you flatter everyone you meet?"

"No way! I'm just telling the truth, little sister."

Wu Deyong smiled and shook his head, then asked, "The court issued a notice a few days ago, asking all places to plant dry lotus roots. Was it you who proposed this to the emperor?"

Zhang Hulan nodded, "Yes. I proposed to the emperor to plant dry lotus roots on a large scale. People can make vermicelli and sell them, or they can buy dry lotus roots directly. Then the emperor will build winemaking workshops in each prefecture to make wine."

Wu Deyong was surprised for a moment, "You presented your wine-making recipe to the emperor?"

"Yes. The profit of this wine is too high, and someone will definitely want to take advantage of it in the future. Instead of that, I might as well give it to the emperor directly. The emperor said that the wine shop will be given to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and I will be in charge of the wine shop business, and he also left me 20% of the shares."

Wu Deyong gave Zhang Hulan a thumbs up and said, "You are so cunning."

"What do you mean by cunning? How can my brother-in-law say that about my little sister?"

Wu Deyong pointed at Zhang Hulan and said with a smile: "Are you not cunning? Once you gave away this winemaking recipe, you not only gained fame, but also won the emperor's favor. With the emperor's protection, you also retained a part of the wealth. This is killing two birds with one stone. You are really an old fox!"

…

Wu Deyong stayed at home for a few days and then returned to Changning County. A few days later, Wang Xingren came back with Zhang Dahua.

As soon as Wang Xingren returned to Beijing, he brought Zhang Dahua to see Zhang Hulan.

Zhang Hulan looked at Zhang Dahua with a smile. In more than half a year, Zhang Dahua had changed significantly from when she was a girl.

Zhang Hulan teased Zhang Dahua, "Dahua, Xingren didn't bully you, did he? If he did, tell your aunt and she will help you bully him back."

Before Zhang Dahua could speak, Wang Xingren quickly said, “Aunt, I dare not bully Dahua.

You don't know, she is very fierce now.

All the people under my command are afraid of Dahua but not me."

"What? Are you dissatisfied with my Dahua's fierceness?"

"No, no, please don't wrongly accuse me, Auntie. I like Dahua so much. Dahua can help me manage the people below, and I will be much more relaxed."

After laughing for a while, Wang Xingren asked, "Aunt, my mother said you have another business to cooperate with me?"

Zhang Hulan nodded and handed two bars of soap to Wang Xingren. "This is it. It's for bathing and washing hands. I'll sell it to you for 500 coins each."

Zhang Hulan asked someone to fetch some water so that Wang Xingren and Zhang Dahua could wash their hands with soap.

Both Wang Xingren and Zhang Dahahua like this soap very much, especially Zhang Dahahua.

Wang Xingren agreed without bargaining.

It was no use for him to bargain, because Zhang Hulan had to pay whatever she said.

"You can just go to my farm to get the goods later. Your father-in-law should have made quite a lot of them by now."

Zhang Hulan then said to Wang Xingren: "There is one more thing I want to tell you.

I have given the wine-making business to the emperor. I estimate that many places will build wine-making workshops next year.

The cooperation with you will not be affected. The emperor said that all the wine will still be sold to you and you will sell it on the market. You also need to find a way to sell the wine to other countries."

Zhang Hulan told Wang Xingren what she had said to Emperor Yongxing about exchanging the cattle, sheep, livestock and minerals from other countries so that he could be prepared.

Wang Xingren also admired Zhang Hulan's magnanimity. She just refused such a lucrative business.

Zhang Hulan and Wang Xingren signed another contract, and from then on all of Zhang Hulan's soaps were sold to Wang Xingren for 500 wen each.

…

By mid-September, the rice in the village began to be harvested.

The hybrid rice will be stored separately according to the numbers and will be planted next year to see the results.

This year, the average rice yield per mu in Zhang Hulan Village is 380 kilograms, which is several dozen kilograms higher than that in other villages.

After the rice is harvested, the fields are immediately plowed and dried, and then winter wheat is planted.

Zhang Hulan also dug up potatoes and harvested more than 800 kilograms.

Zhang Hulan gave 20 kilograms of potatoes to Emperor Yongxing and 10 kilograms each to Wu Bangtai and his family. She also taught them how to eat potatoes.

Zhang Hulan plans to take 100 kilograms home during the Chinese New Year and plant the rest next year.

Zhang Hulan also did something. There were some ornamental peppers in Shanglinyuan, the imperial palace, and the homes of some officials in the capital. Zhang Hulan asked the queen for help and asked for all the red and fallen peppers.

All the chili seeds are used to make seeds, and the good chili peels are sent to restaurants to be used as seasoning.

Zhang Hulan has collected two or three kilograms of pepper seeds, and she wants to take them back to plant on the stakes.

After the winter wheat was planted, there was nothing much to do in the village and the weather began to get cold. Zhang Hulan began her days of drinking tea at work every day.

There was a stove in the office, and the water on the stove was boiling, steaming.

Xie Xiaoman poured Zhang Hulan another cup of tea and looked at her slumped in the chair, looking so miserable that she wanted to laugh.

"My Lord, what's the matter with you?"

Zhang Hulan sighed, "Oh..., it's so boring..., there's no entertainment here, I'm almost bored."

Xie Xiaoman said, "Sir, how about I go find you some books to help you pass the time?"

"Forget it." Zhang Hulan waved her hand.

She doesn't like the nonsense in the book, she prefers gossip...

Thinking of gossip, Zhang Hulan's eyes suddenly lit up, "Yes, I can read it in the newspaper..."

If I start a newspaper, I will not only have gossip to read regularly, but I can also make money. This is a good idea...