Before going home, Shen Zhiyan gave her the fish.

"You didn't get a single fish today, so here, take this!"

Ye Caiping picked up the small yellow catfish: "Oh, thank you."

"Um."

He gave a curt reply, then turned and left.

...

Ye Caiping arrived at Wangjia Village in an oxcart, jumped off, and headed straight for Wang Shuantou's house.

As he entered the courtyard, he cried out, "Uncle Wang, Uncle Wang, save me! Save me!"

Wang Shuantou was planing furniture when he looked up from a pile of wood: "What's wrong?"

Ye Caiping walked up to Wang Shuantou, panting, and said, "Make me something!"

In order to get rid of learning chess from Shen Zhiyan, she boasted that she would give him a new type of fishing rod with a wheel.

Although fishing rods can be purchased through the system, their alloy material is something that doesn't exist in this era.

She couldn't possibly explain to him again that it was dug up from the mountain, could she?

So the only option is to make one out of bamboo or wood.

Wang Shuantou breathed a sigh of relief: "You scared me to death, I thought something terrible had happened. What did you do? Tell me."

"Bring me paper and a pen."

Ye Yong, who was not far away, quickly ran into the house and soon brought out a pen, ink and paper.

Ye Caiping quickly drew a fishing rod with a reel: "Make me a fishing rod."

Wang Shuantou took the blueprints and nodded: "The pole body needs to be made of bamboo. The wheels can be made of wood. The purpose of the wheels is..."

"Used for reeling in or releasing the line."

As a veteran craftsman, Wang Shuantou understood immediately upon hearing this; he could figure it out on his own without even needing to ask for details.

"Okay, I can do it. When do you need it?"

Ye Caiping said, "Before noon the day after tomorrow."

"No problem. You can come pick it up first thing the day after tomorrow."

"Thank you, Uncle Wang. How much is this?"

Wang Shuan waved his hand: "What money do you need? It's just a little gadget."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Wang."

It doesn't cost money; just bring him some good food.

It was just time for Ye Yong to finish work, so he walked home with Ye Caiping.

...

Back home, Ye Yong went to his room to change his clothes.

Ye Caiping carried a fish basket into the inner courtyard.

Grandma Ye was picking water spinach under the eaves when she saw Ye Caiping carrying a fish basket. She smiled and took it from her, saying, "Oh, it's fish! I haven't had fish for days. You've come at the perfect time."

As he spoke, he reached inside, finally pulling out only a small yellow catfish: "That's all?"

"Um."

Grandma Ye said, "It'll be gone in one bite. Why don't we chop it up and feed it to the chickens? The chicks love to eat small fish and shrimp."

"No!" Ye Caiping immediately stopped her. "You absolutely have to cook it. I'll cook it myself!"

Seeing that she insisted, Grandma Ye smiled and said, "Alright, I'll cook it then!"

Ye Caiping returned to her room and looked at the accounts of the spicy soup workshop for today.

Dinner was ready quickly.

The family sat at the table, and Xiuxiu and Xiaoyan served the food one by one.

Finally, Grandma Ye brought out a small bowl containing a stewed small fish and placed it in front of Ye Caiping:

"Here, your little fish. It's so precious, you can have it all."

The Ye family members exchanged bewildered glances. Jin'er, sitting next to Ye Caiping, asked, "Mother, is this a yellow catfish?"

Ye Huan'er: "It's just a yellow catfish."

It's just an ordinary little river fish. If you want to eat yellow catfish, just buy a few pounds and stew it. But this one and a half... what's going on?

Ye Caiping: "Oh... this... I caught it this afternoon."

The Ye family members understood. Ye Jin'er said, "Mother has regressed. She used to catch basketfuls of fish, but today she only caught one."

Ye Xuan, sitting across from him, silently picked up his chopsticks. He couldn't help but think... it looked more like his husband's handiwork.

Ye Caiping coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject: "Today is April 12th, right? Xuan'er will be competing on the 15th."

As soon as he said this, everyone's attention fell on Ye Xuan.

Du looked a little anxious: "Yes, there are still three days left. What did your tutor say? Does he approve of you taking the county exam this year?"

Ye Xuan said, "Of course I have to take the exam. When I became your apprentice, I was told that if I didn't pass the county and prefectural exams, you would stop teaching me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Madam Du and Old Lady Ye and the others became somewhat nervous.

Ye Caiping remained calm because Shen Zhiyan had said earlier that Ye Xuan was certain to pass the county-level examination. He even believed that Ye Xuan could pass the prefectural-level examination if Shen Zhiyan wished.

Madam Du asked, "If you pass the county exam, you'll be a student of the lowest level, right? What's the prefectural exam? If you pass it, you'll be a scholar of the lowest level?"

Ye Xuan said, "Only those who pass the county and prefectural examinations can become students. The provincial examination is in August; only those who pass it can become scholars."

Everyone at the table was talking about scientific expeditions.

Only Ye Caiping kept her head down, focused on eating her little fish. Her mother's cooking skills were getting better and better; it was delicious!

After the meal, Ye Caiping called Old Man Ye and Ye Daquan into the room.

“Father, elder brother, the county magistrate will be coming to see my 60 mu of cassava fields tomorrow,” Ye Caiping said.

"What?! The county magistrate?!" Both father and son jumped up. "What's going on?"

Ye Caiping said, "Father knows that the cassava I planted is special; it's non-toxic and called yellow-fleshed cassava. I've already reported it to the county magistrate, and it will be widely promoted in a year."

"There's one thing you absolutely mustn't tell me about, and that's the origin of yellow cassava."

Ye Caiping then repeated what she had said to the county magistrate: "Just say that you found it with me in the ravine."

The father and son didn't ask about the true origin of the yellow cassava; they simply nodded.

Ye Daquan patted his chest: "It's nothing, anyway, it was you who brought it back in the first place, little sister."

...

The next day.

Ye Lizheng arrived at Ye Caiping's house early and sat in the living room chatting with Old Man Ye and Ye Daquan.

Ye Caiping changed her clothes and was about to go with Ye Lizheng to the village entrance to wait for Magistrate Lu.

Before they could set off, Xiao Yan came in and said, "Auntie, a carriage has arrived outside."

Ye Caiping and Ye Lizheng exchanged a glance, and then the group went out.

Magistrate Lu had just alighted from his carriage when he saw Ye Caiping and greeted her with a smile, "Hello, Madam Ye."

Magistrate Lu and his advisor Luo were both dressed in plain clothes, accompanied by six men who appeared to be yamen runners.

Ye Caiping, Ye Lizheng, and the others quickly stepped forward to greet them, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency."

"No need for formalities," Magistrate Lu said with a smile. "Just call me Master Lu."

Ye Caiping smiled and said, "Master Lu is dressed so simply."

Magistrate Lu laughed heartily, and Clerk Luo said, "This yellow-fleshed cassava hasn't been promoted yet. If people find out now that your cassava is different, I'm afraid they won't even be able to grow it."

Ye Caiping understood that if Magistrate Lu and his entourage arrived in their official robes, it might arouse suspicion among some people.