Chapter 103 Jinjiang First Release Chapter 103 Planting Potatoes and Peppers...

When Hong Huan arrived in Huaitong County, he didn't even go to the Qin family first, but went directly to the county government office.

Magistrate Ma arrived early in the morning, his pen dipped in ink, and he was just wondering whether to write another letter when he suddenly saw the man walk into the courtroom. He was startled, "Hong, Censor Hong, why are you here at this hour?"

He put down his pen and hurried down to greet the person.

Hong Huan got straight to the point: "Master Ma, who wrote the letter sent to me from your office?"

Magistrate Ma's heart skipped a beat. "This... is a scholar from Huaitong County named Fang Shu. You must have heard of him. But he's not here right now. Do you want to see him?"

Hong Huan said, "I do. I hope Master Ma won't alert anyone else, especially the Qin family. I only saw Fang Shu. Not many people know about my visit to Huaitong County, so I hope Master Ma won't make it public for now."

Magistrate Ma said, "Okay, Lord Hong, I will proceed with caution. However, I suggest you bring Fang Shu's husband along. Together, they are invincible and there's no problem they can't solve."

Hong Huan knew Fang Shu, and of course Yu Qinglong, so he said, "Okay, let's go meet them both."

Magistrate Ma hurried to do it.

Fang Shu and Yu Qinglong had just finished their meal when they saw the yamen runners arrive to announce the meal, and they started to pack up. Fang Shu took the opportunity to ask, "Are you sure you're inviting us?"

The yamen runner said, "That's what Master Ma said. He said you two should hurry up, as a distinguished guest is waiting."

Yu Qinglong and Fang Shu knew it was most likely Hong Huan as soon as they heard it.

After they packed up and got into the carriage, Yu Qinglong rubbed his belly and whispered to Fang Shu, "Aren't you nervous at all?"

Fang Shu said, "Why are you so nervous? I didn't steal or rob him, nor did I owe him anything or ask him for anything. I'm not even as nervous as I was when I kissed you for the first time."

Yu Qinglong retorted, "Sit up straight."

Fang Shu moved forward instead, putting his ear to Yu Qinglong's stomach to listen.

What could he possibly hear? Yu Qinglong was disgusted, but he didn't push the man away. He even pulled at Fang Shu's ears twice.

When the couple arrived at the gate of the county government office, they saw that it was almost the same as usual. No big preparations were made just because the censor had come. They guessed that this censor Hong might have come secretly, so they didn't ask any more questions outside.

But when I got in, I found that the usual acquaintances were gone, replaced by a group of strangers. Even the people serving tea and water looked unfamiliar.

But this man obviously knew the couple. As soon as he saw them come in, he said, "You two are Mr. Fang and Mrs. Fang, right? Please come this way."

The two were led to the study behind the yamen, where Magistrate Ma and another man of medium build, approximately thirty, sat in chairs and talked. As soon as Magistrate Ma saw them, he began to introduce them, "This is our Anqing Province Inspector, Hong Huanhong. Sir Hong, these two are Fang Shu and Yu Qinglong."

Fang Shu and Yu Qinglong said in unison, "I greet Master Hong and Master Ma."

Hong Huan said, "Sit down and talk."

Magistrate Ma said with a stern look, "Then Lord Hong, please chat with them. I have some things to attend to, so I'll excuse myself for now."

Hong Huan nodded without saying anything more. Seeing Magistrate Ma leave and his subordinates close the door, he asked directly, "Mr. Fang, how sure are you about the contents of the letter?"

Fang Shu said: "My Lord, I am not sure."

Hong Huan's face darkened. "Are you saying you're deceiving me?"

Fang Shu said, "It's not a lie. My lord, it's really because my wife couldn't bear to see Mr. Hong and begged me for a long time before I made this decision. My wife is knowledgeable in medicine and saw that Mr. Hong was depressed and worried. Mr. Hong also said that if he couldn't get you this time, he would leave you. That's why I asked you to come to Huaitong County to talk."

Yu Qinglong said, "I heard that you and Mr. Hong are very close, so I dared to do this. I saw that Mr. Hong looked unwell, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well in a long time. But in this situation, even if he was given the chance, he would have difficulty getting pregnant."

"So what's the solution?"

"Let him leave the Hong Mansion."

"How dare you!" Hong Huan said, "Han'er and I have been friends since childhood. I will never let him leave the Hong Mansion no matter what."

"Don't worry, sir. This 'leave' is not the same as 'leave'. I mean that Mr. Hong should leave the Hong Mansion but not leave you." Yu Qinglong said, "What I am going to say next may be a little disrespectful, but I hope that sir Hong will forgive my rash mistake."

"Okay, go on."

"Mr. Hong has been childless for a long time, and he's already suffering. If the elders urge him, he'll be even more anxious. He won't be able to eat or sleep well, and his physical condition will only deteriorate. Not only will he not be able to conceive, but even his overall health will be a problem. If you truly care about Mr. Hong, I suggest you take him out of the Hong Mansion and settle him somewhere else, and don't let him continue to spend time with the elders. At least let him feel more at ease first, eat well, sleep well, and then his qi and blood will flow smoothly, and his yang energy will gradually return. The probability and chance of pregnancy will naturally increase."

"But the imperial physician said that Han'er is weak and that's why it's difficult for her to get pregnant."

"What the imperial physician said is true, but I guess it's only half true. They naturally don't want to offend your elders, or perhaps they're afraid of saying the wrong thing. Why don't you think about it? Was Mr. Hong also this thin before he married into the Hong family?"

Hong Huan thought about it and realized it wasn't true. He and Yuan Sihan had known each other since childhood. Even before entering the Hong residence, his husband had been rosy-cheeked, cheerful, and lively. Although he came from a wealthy family and was the daughter of the first wife, he had been brought up a bit strictly, observing rules and etiquette. But he was still in good health.

But I don’t know when it became like this.

He had grown increasingly favored by the emperor over the years. His position might seem low, but his responsibilities were immense, and he was constantly on the move. Admittedly, he had neglected his husband, but whenever he settled in a new place, he would bring him over.

Could it be that it’s because the elders in the family put too much pressure on me?

His parents were quite strict. Since he was the only man among several brothers and sisters, they were always worried that the Hong family would have no descendants.

Hong Huan thought for a moment and said, "So according to what you two have suggested, you haven't found a way to make Han'er pregnant."

Yu Qinglong said, "Indeed. But the method we two proposed is indeed the most likely way to increase the chances of Hong Fulang getting pregnant. A tall building rises from the ground, how can you talk about the superstructure if the foundation is not laid? Hong Fulang is obviously a gentle and filial person, and he won't say he wants to move out. Then you can be the bad guy."

Hong Huan said, "I understand your suggestions. What about expanding potato planting?"

Yu Qinglong and Fang Shu thought that this person was okay and did not only care about his own affairs.

Yu Qinglong then went on to explain the benefits of growing potatoes. History does record that the introduction of crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn significantly alleviated food shortages and led to rapid population growth. So, promoting potatoes quickly wouldn't be a bad idea.

Hong Huan said, "In that case, I will make my own arrangements. Then, according to Mr. Fang, where is the most suitable place for Han'er to live?"

Yu Qinglong said, "I think Qixia Town is an excellent choice. The people there are simple and honest, and it's close to Xiaxi Village, where my husband and I live. Shuang'er can go there to play. You can also monitor the potato planting nearby. You can both work and take care of Hong Fulang. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

Hong Huan had never been to Qixia Town, but he had heard Cao Kuo mention it. The choice of garrison commander in the Huaitong County area was flexible, with several towns available for permanent residence. Cao Kuo chose Qixia Town because he felt it offered beautiful scenery and a suitable location.

But at this moment, he was more curious about another thing: "Has Mr. Fang ever been educated?"

"I've read some."

"Who is your master?"

"My husband is a commoner."

Hong Huan: “…”

Fang Shu secretly suppressed his laughter. If you put it that way, he actually felt a little guilty.

He felt that his Longger was mainly capable of self-study, and he only taught him a few more words.

Hong Huan twirled his jade ring, unconvinced. He'd seen many country boys before, but none had Yu Qinglong's courage and eloquence. He couldn't help but feel it was a shame for such a person to be born into such a family. Fortunately, Fang Shu was a scholar and seemed quite intelligent.

He said, "You two should go back today. Don't tell anyone about my visit to Huaitong County, including the Qin family. I will make the rest of the arrangements myself. If Han'er and I are truly blessed with a child, I will not treat you two unfairly."

Fang Shu and Yu Qinglong stood up and bowed to Hong Huan simultaneously, "Thank you, Lord Hong! I wish you all the best."

After saying this, the young couple left together and went to see Magistrate Ma first.

They didn't know when they would come back this time because they were about to get busy.

Magistrate Ma knew their talks with Hong Huan were going smoothly, so he felt relieved and said, "We're going to slaughter a deer today. We'll at least eat it before we go back. I've already arranged with my family to send half of it to Fuyue Restaurant."

Fang Shu said, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I am so lucky! We will leave early tomorrow morning, so this is the perfect time to have this meal."

Magistrate Ma said, "Okay. When the potatoes are planted and the city defense is complete, remember to send me a message."

The young couple keenly noticed that Magistrate Ma had completely changed his self-reference to "I" and smiled more intimately: "Yes, sir."

After arriving at Fu Yue Restaurant, the two thought about going back.

If he wanted to go back, he would have to see Qin Yushuang. It just so happened that Magistrate Ma was about to send a deer, and Yu Qinglong thought about having someone stew the deer meat in a clay pot.

Yu Qinglong wanted to see Qin Yushuang, so he sent a message through his servant. It wasn't long before Qin Yushuang arrived with Yuan Sihan.

Yuan Sihan hadn't really enjoyed socializing in the past two years, but even though he'd only met Yu Qinglong once, he felt incredibly comfortable with him. So, after a little persuasion from Qin Yushuang, he decided to go along.

The three brothers sat together, eating slow-cooked venison and chatting.

Qin Yushuang was already familiar with Yu Qinglong, so she didn't think it was a big deal. Yuan Sihan felt embarrassed and said, "Isn't this a bad thing for us? Brother Long, is it okay for you to drive your husband away like this?"

Yu Qinglong drove Fang Shu aside, and Fang Shu went to find Yan Xikuan and Ma Qinsui.

Yu Qinglong said confidently, "Why not? It's just the way it should be. It's not convenient for him to talk to us, but he has friends anyway. Brother Yuan, don't worry about it. My husband is a very reasonable person. Duan Ran won't be angry."

Yuan Sihan smiled and said, "That's good."

Yu Qinglong also handed Qin Yushuang the last few designs for the garments. "The first batch for summer is all here. You'll probably have to send someone to get the next ones from me."

In two months or so he might be due, and he wouldn't be here again for a while. The carriage was always a little bumpy.

Qin Yushuang said, "Don't worry, I'll go when the time comes. I've already made arrangements with my parents. My second brother will take me with him, so I can stay a little longer."

Yu Qinglong agreed, and the three of them chatted for the entire afternoon before reluctantly leaving.

At dawn the next day, Yu Qinglong, Fang Shu, Yan and Ma set out back to Qixia Town.

They also arrived at night this time, but the days were getting longer, and it was not completely dark when they returned.

Fang Wu took Yu Qinglong for a good look and saw that everything was fine. She smiled and said, "Yes, my son-in-law is still full of energy and spirit."

Although the time she spent away this time was not as long as before, she and her family couldn't help but worry about her as the month was getting older.

Yu Qinglong said, "I fell asleep halfway. But this time I woke up just before we got home."

Then, with a few quacking sounds, Black Iron Egg darted out from the backyard. It was a wild duck, and it could fly, so it wasn't always possible to corral it. But it didn't run around, so the family didn't deliberately keep it confined.

Yu Qinglong squatted with difficulty and gently nudged Heitiedan's butt with his toes: "Why are you everywhere? You just love to join in the fun."

The black iron egg cackled twice and flapped its wings.

Fang Dingman said, "It's showing off to you. It's started laying eggs these days."

Yu Qinglong said, "Ah? Then we have to feed it better."

Fang Shu said, "One day I'll ask my second brother to go to the river and get some small fish for it to eat."

Yu Qinglong teased Heitiedan again and asked, "Mom, have we planted the vegetables in the garden yet?"

Fang Wu said, "Not yet. Let's plant the green onions and the Chinese cabbage in a couple of days. They're quite cold-resistant. The rest will take a while."

It was already the beginning of March, and Yu Qinglong calculated that he would have to wait a little longer.

He vaguely remembered that in his previous life, his grandmother planted potatoes before his midterm exams every year, which was before May Day.

The time here was calculated according to the lunar calendar, so he had to subtract another month. He would have to wait another half month before planting potatoes. The climate here was similar to the city he had lived in in his previous life.

He had other plans.

As far as he could remember, potatoes were simply cut into pieces after sprouting and planted in the soil, with the sprout facing upwards. Sometimes, his grandmother seemed to smear some grass ash on the cut surface. But he also remembered that his grandmother had also tried to grow potato seedlings in pots first, then select the strong ones to plant outside.

The same can be done here.

After a night's rest, Yu Qinglong asked his second brother to make two large wooden troughs. He didn't ask Fang Shu simply because Fang Shu wasn't good at handicrafts. He was addicted, but the things Fang Shu made were, as Fang Wu had secretly told him, neither good-looking nor useful.

But you can grow potatoes.

Yu Qinglong asked Fang Shu to take out a sack of potatoes stored in the cellar, cut all the potatoes that had sprouted into pieces, smeared the cut surfaces with grass ash, and then planted them in wooden troughs.

The soil was mountain soil, and Yu Qinglong had Fang Shu mix it in with some sand before planting. He remembered going to the morning market with his grandmother and hearing vendors say their potatoes were grown in sandy soil and were particularly soft. Does that mean sandy soil is better for growing potatoes?

He wasn't sure, so he decided to give it a try. He'd split a trough three feet long and one foot wide, mixing half with sand and the other half without. He'd then record the results and see which side grew better.

In the other trough, I planted tomato and pepper seeds. I moved them outside during the day when the sun was shining, and put them back inside at night.

I water it every day, as carefully as I would serve my ancestors.

After about eight or nine days, these little things sprouted one after another!

Yu Qinglong and Fang Shu treated them with extra care, as if they were their own children. Aren’t those little green sprouts so adorable?

The couple was thinking about transplanting the flowers into the ground when they grew bigger, when they suddenly heard the sound of a carriage outside.

After a while, someone called out from outside the gate: "Long Ge'er! Are you home?!"

This cheerful and familiar sound, I knew it was Qin Yushuang coming!

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Author's words: Fang Shu: Why is there always someone taking up my husband's time? I don't even have enough time for myself [bursts into tears]

Qinglong: We're stuck together every day, isn't that enough? [question mark]

Fang Shu: Not enough, I want Long Er to stay in my arms [pitiful]

Qinglong: Aunts, quickly tear him away [sunglasses]