Most of the people dining in the restaurant's first-floor lobby were peddlers and porters. Lao Wu, in prison, had gotten to know all sorts of people, which had broadened his horizons. Knowing that these peddlers and porters were most knowledgeable about the market, he asked them how far Zhuling County was from here, what the price was for traveling by water or by land, and which was more cost-effective.

Lao Wu has always been dissatisfied with Ding Youtian and has always been resentful. He also knows that making a fortune by gambling is not glorious and is not the right way.

Didn't Ding Youtian and Jian Ning refuse to take their grain? That was just as well. He could sell it to Zhuling County and make more than double after deducting travel expenses. He could then go to the various villages and collect some, seizing the opportunity to make a killing. He could then hire a winemaker to open a distillery in the village. What Ding Youtian had accomplished, Ding Youtian could also achieve. Not only that, he wanted to bring Ding Youtian down!

The more Lao Wu thought about it, the more excited he became. After paying the bill, he put his shopping in his pocket and hurried home.

…

There was constant laughter and joy in the courtyard of the old house. The villagers who were helping were either squatting or sitting on the ground, holding their bowls and eating with their mouths full of oil.

Jane Ning brought back a big wild boar from the mountains, and also caught a turtledove and a hare in a trap. The sauerkraut and pig blood soup she made was well received by everyone, especially the old tutor, who nodded frequently and praised it highly.

The old tutor came this time specifically to discuss the issue of increasing grain production. The prince received a secret letter from Huo Jincheng and attached great importance to the issue of increasing grain production. The emperor was worried about the famine in Baiya County and the county magistrates of several local counties had been dismissed.

Furthermore, this year's grain production in several states and counties has been low, leaving little grain in national reserves. Furthermore, severe floods are inevitably followed by severe droughts, so we must be prepared. If we can truly increase grain production, we will be able to cope with the potential drought next year.

The Crown Prince summoned the Grand Tutor that night to inquire about the possibility of increasing grain production through hybridization, as mentioned in Huo Jincheng's letter. The Grand Tutor's eyes lit up when he heard this, because he had also had such an idea in his mind before, but he had been too busy with work to devote time to agriculture, so he gradually put it aside and forgot about it.

Huo Jincheng only mentioned in his letter that the method of sowing in stages could be used, but he did not specify the specific method because he was not familiar with crops. However, the old master knew about it and thought it was worth a try. He took the initiative to come to Dingjia Village to personally supervise the matter.

This morning, the old tutor listened to Ding Youtian's detailed explanation of the trial planting method, which gave him a better understanding. He looked at both Jian Ning and Ding Youtian with admiration. Before coming here, he had never imagined that such a young couple would exist in this rural area, and he had never imagined that the fine wine Huo Jincheng brought back was brewed by this couple.

"Young people are truly formidable!" The old tutor personally poured Ding Youtian a glass of wine and asked with a smile, "Young man, how can you possess such knowledge and insights at such a young age?"

"This is the only kid among the younger generation in our village who has attended school for a few years." The village head hurriedly told him.

"Oh." The old tutor looked at Ding Youtian and nodded. "From your conversation, I know that you are educated. Why did you start a business? Are you not interested in fame and fortune?"

Ding Youtian didn't react at all. The village head and clan leader looked embarrassed, not knowing how to respond. Ding Youtian laughed out loud and said, "To be honest, I failed the examination for the third consecutive year and had to turn to small business to support my family."

He spoke of shame, but his face was calm and composed. This composure and his demeanor at the moment made the old tutor feel vaguely familiar, but he could not remember where this familiarity came from.

Unable to remember, the Taifu stopped thinking about it and turned to look around the farmyard.

The wall they had demolished to expand the courtyard hadn't been built yet, and the dirt from the cellar had piled up into small hills, with several molds for building the earthen walls placed beside them. After dinner, Ah Man and Da Niu were digging a hole under the mounds with their four little foxes. The Grand Tutor's eyes fell on Ah Man.

The little girl seems to have grown a little taller.

Perhaps sensing the Taifu's gaze, Ah Man turned his head and looked at him. When their eyes met, Ah Man, with muddy hands, scratched his face with his claws and made a face at the Taifu.

The old tutor was very upset. He just called Meixiang, wanting her to grab Ah Man, when he heard Ah Man calling for his mother and running towards Jian Ning who came out of the dining hall.

Um, mom?

"Mother!" The fifth brother stepped into the main courtyard and saw Liu and her daughter Zhu'er there. He handed the flowered cloth he had bought for Lu and his daughter to Zhu'er and said, "Use it to make some clothes."

Lao Wu went to the side courtyard first and returned to his home to find out that Lu had taken her daughter back to her parents' home on the night he was arrested, and had left a message saying she wanted to divorce him.

Divorce? You're overthinking it.

He had already sent his two sons with a message that if Mrs. Lu didn't come back tonight, he would have someone write a divorce letter and send it to her tomorrow.

He would never spoil that woman. Spoiling a woman is something a coward like Ding Youtian would do!

"Is this for me?" Zhu'er was so happy that her freckles on her face were shining. She hugged the flowered cloth, as if she was afraid that he would change his mind. She walked out and said, "Thank you, Uncle Wu."

"Wu, what did you buy? Let me see it quickly." Meng saw that he was holding two oil-paper bags in his hands, and she was so greedy that she almost cried.

Liu was about to chase Zhu'er out, but when she heard this, she stopped and looked at his hand.

"Two packages of pastries, bought for Dad and Mom." Lao Wu handed over the pastries in his hand. Meng took it and quickly opened a package. She saw that it was sesame dates wrapped in sesame seeds. She grabbed one and took a big bite. She nodded repeatedly and made indistinct "hmm" sounds to indicate that it was delicious.

Her greedy look almost made Liu's jaw drop. In fact, Meng has always been greedy, but she just didn't know it. In the past, Meng always ate snacks secretly. This time, she was lying in bed and had difficulty moving. She didn't eat well for three meals a day, and her mouth was already dry. She didn't even think about where Lao Wu got the money to buy these things after he just got out of prison?

It was Liu who thought of it and asked first.

"Old Five, where did you get the money?"

"Sister-in-law, our family is going to be rich soon." Lao Wu glanced around, "Where are my father and eldest brother? Why don't I see them?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Ding came in with the boss, his hands behind his back.

As the eldest brother entered the house, he glared at the fifth brother fiercely. If his parents had not been there, he would have kicked the fifth brother.

"Dad, big brother." Lao Wu naturally would not tell them that he won money from gambling. He lied that he worked for someone after he was released from prison, and the things he brought back were extra rewards from his boss. Then he took out fifty cents.

Meng quickly stretched out her hand, and Old Ding's expression immediately became much better. He nodded his chin at her, indicating that Old Five should give the money to Meng.

As for the family, the Meng family is still in charge.

"What kind of good person did you meet? He gave you fifty coins in just half a day and even gave you something extra. Which family in town is he? Do you need him again?"

The eldest brother Ding Youwang asked.