"Uncle Village Head, you've worked hard. This time, Shuixian Village donated more than two million catties of grain and a large amount of silver, which is more than enough to help the disaster victims get through this difficult time," Zhao Xian said.

In response to the severe flooding in Xunzhou, almost every resident of Shuixian Village mobilized, either going to the scene in person or donating money and supplies to help with flood relief efforts in Xunzhou.

Prefect Jiang bowed to everyone again to express his gratitude. He said that without the help of these people and the villagers of Shuixian Village, the damage caused by this flood would have been unimaginable.

Over the next few days, the floodwaters gradually receded, and some farmland began to emerge.

Farmers began working in the fields to replant crops and reduce losses caused by the flood.

At this rate of receding floodwaters, the floodwaters in Xunzhou City will recede completely in less than ten days, and the disaster victims can move back into the city. However, it will take at least several more months for everything to return to normal.

Upon seeing this, Li Guang bid farewell to Prefect Jiang and prepared to return to Shuixian Village by waterway.

Prefect Jiang led all the officials to see them off. At the Xunjiang Wharf, many people came to bid them farewell.

After everyone boarded the boat, it immediately set sail. However, because the return trip was upstream, the speed was much slower.

This will add two more days to their journey, but no one is in a hurry. They have been working very hard on flood relief and can rest well on the boat.

The merchant ship did not return to the Shuixian Village dock until the morning of the fifth day.

They were finally home, and everyone was very excited as they began to disembark.

A large number of people came to the dock, including villagers, soldiers from the military camp, and businessmen from the business world.

The village's waist drum team and yangko dance team have arrived. Their trip to Xunzhou for flood relief was a great success, equivalent to winning a major battle.

After the welcoming ceremony, Narcissus Village returned to its peaceful state, and people went about their business as usual.

After the rainy season ends, summer truly arrives, and the weather gets hotter day by day.

Li Guang had just returned when he threw himself into the busy farm work.

Several crops and vegetables promoted this year are growing well; tomatoes and loofahs, for example, are already ripe and ready to be served.

The tomatoes were ripe at this point, large and red, and looked very tempting.

During the time Li Guang was away from Shuixian Village, tomatoes ripened one after another. Although tomatoes could be stir-fried as vegetables, people still felt that they were better eaten raw, as they were sweet and sour and could be eaten like fruit.

Tomatoes became a rare commodity as soon as they hit the market. Since many people had never seen tomatoes before, they rushed to buy them, making tomatoes a hot commodity in the market and commanding high prices as soon as they came out.

Farmers are reluctant to eat such valuable things. They take the tomatoes to the market to sell, knowing that one pound of tomatoes can be exchanged for several pounds of rice.

Farmers know how to do the math. Tomatoes are much easier to grow than rice, and the yield is much higher. So many people started planning to plant more tomatoes next year.

Not only are the tomatoes growing well, but the loofahs planted at the same time are also growing well.

Since it was the first time people had come into contact with loofah, they didn't know much about it, but they were very excited to see the loofah growing day by day.

Actually, loofahs can be picked and eaten when their petals have just withered; if they grow any longer, they become too old.

But that's okay. Old loofahs can be used to make seeds, and loofah pulp is also a good thing. It works especially well as a dishcloth for washing pots and pans.

On this day, Wang Zhibo came to Shuixian Village to pay his respects to Zhao Xian. Upon seeing this, Zhao Xian knew Wang Zhibo's intentions.

Zhao Xian looked Wang Zhibo up and down and found that he was dark-skinned and thin. Wang Zhibo had suffered a lot during the construction of the irrigation canal.

"Your Excellency, what is the situation of the disaster in the southern part of Zhengyang County? Has the floodwaters receded?" Zhao Xian asked.

"Reporting to Marquis Zhengyang, the floods in the southern region have not caused much damage."

In my opinion, this flood was very timely, prompting us to reconsider the construction of the irrigation canals. We now have a new construction plan.

In this way, the constructed canals can be used for irrigation during the dry season and for drainage during floods, thus achieving two benefits at once.

Zhao Xian nodded. Wang Zhibo was very capable and thoughtful.

It is hoped that the irrigation canal he built will play a positive role in the agricultural development of the Great Northern Dynasty.

"The floodwaters have receded. Your Excellency, if you wish to restart the canal construction project, please do not hesitate to ask for the soldiers' support whenever needed."

"Thank you for your great help, Marquis Zhengyang. I plan to start construction in three days."

"Okay, I'll go to the military camp later to discuss the troop deployment with General Li Guang and ensure that the army arrives at the construction site in three days."

Suddenly, Wang Zhibo remembered something and spoke excitedly.

"Lord Zhengyang, I have good news for you. According to the court's arrangement, Vice Minister Shen has been transferred back to Huizhou to serve as governor. He has just taken office."

"Really? This is wonderful news! I'll make a special trip to Huizhou Prefecture to offer my congratulations." Zhao Xian said excitedly.

Zhao Xian knew that the governor was a second-rank official, equivalent to the current provincial governor. Shen Yong had been promoted from the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites to the governor of a province, rising from the third rank to the second rank, in just one year, which was no easy feat.

Because Wang Zhibo had a lot of things to do, he left after finishing his business. Zhao Xian wanted him to stay for dinner, but Wang Zhibo declined.

At this moment, on the boardwalk by the lake, Li Guang and Li Xue were strolling and admiring the lotus flowers, while several guards stood at a distance, not following them.

"Sister, Fourth Imperial Uncle has long seen through your relationship with Brother Zhao. He has tacitly approved of it. If you don't say it, no one else can point it out."

"Li Guang, are you talking nonsense? In the past two years, I have spent very little time with my father, and besides, I have never mentioned this matter to him."

I know nothing can be hidden from you. It's not surprising that you can see through my thoughts; how could Father possibly know what I'm thinking?

"Sister, there are some things you may not know. Fourth Imperial Uncle is bold and meticulous. When I asked for a title for Brother Zhao, Fourth Imperial Uncle saw through the scheme."

"These past few years, my sister has spent most of her time in Narcissus Village. Considering how she chased away the matchmaker sent by the Marquis of Huainan, Fourth Prince understood what had happened."

Li Xue was very clever. In fact, she had already guessed the Fourth Prince's thoughts, but she was not sure. After Li Guang told her about it, she felt more confident.

"Li Guang, what should I do next? Please help me make a decision," Li Xue said.

Li Guang didn't know much about marriage, but he had studied the matter carefully because of Zhao Xian and Li Xue and understood the process. Since Li Xue had asked about it, he would explain it to her.