Chapter 130

Chapter 130

The kitchen of Ning'an Prefecture government office.

Ji Yuan took the flour he bought and started making the dough for Ningzhou Baba. He added salt and sugar while kneading the dough so that the aroma of the dough could be brought out.

In addition to the exquisite dough, the fillings such as white sugar, sesame, peanuts, and rose bean paste are also very particular.

Ning'an Baba is a local wheat flour pancake with a rich sweet filling.

I’ve eaten it several times before, but this is the first time I’ve made it using my own method.

He was already good at making sweets, and after learning it carefully, the Ningzhou Baba he baked had a slightly charred crust, and tasted sweet and warm when he took a bite.

This kind of food has a sweet filling and a chewy dough, making it very popular.

Early in the morning, Ji Yuan went to the eastern suburbs of Ning'an City, carrying the Ningzhou Baba he made himself.

The eastern suburbs are secluded and mostly contain government fields, exiled criminals, and local prisons.

Those exiled prisoners were either sent directly to prison or lived in makeshift huts, waiting to be assigned work, depending on their crimes.

After all, Master Cheng of the Cheng family was an official. Even if he was exiled, his official status remained, so a separate small house was arranged for him, even somewhat far away from the prison.

When Ji Yuan carried the baba over, he was not wearing an official uniform and looked like a leisurely young master from some family.

When they arrived at the gate of the Cheng family's courtyard, the woman in charge of taking care of the Cheng family hurriedly bowed through the fence made of branches.

Now that we have arrived in Ning'an Prefecture and the territory of Jiyuan, it is quite easy to arrange someone to take care of us.

This woman was originally from Ning'an Prefecture. If Ji Zhizhou asked her for help, she would definitely agree.

I heard that this is a relative of Teacher Ji Zhizhou, so we should take better care of him.

Ji Yuan didn't ask her to open the gate directly. Instead, he asked, "Is the Cheng family okay?"

"Mrs. Cheng is not feeling well, but she has taken medicine and is resting."

"Master Cheng hasn't woken up yet."

"Miss Cheng is up now and is packing her things."

Ji Yuan nodded and handed over the Ningzhou baba he made: "Let her eat some breakfast before you get busy. Everything will take its time."

As the two were talking, Cheng Yisan walked out of the room. After arriving yesterday afternoon, she washed herself from head to toe and changed into clean clothes.

The clothes were certainly not made of silk or brocade, but they were better than what he wore during exile.

But she is too thin now, with a slender waist. If you look closely, she is so thin that it is a little scary.

Fortunately, her eyes were bright, which made her full of energy again.

"Master Ji."

Cheng Yishan finished shouting, and then said awkwardly: "Yuan Ge'er."

Ji Yuan lowered his head slightly when he was called, and coughed lightly, "This is local food, you should like it."

Cheng Yisan walked over and looked at the steaming food in the basket. She could smell the sweet aroma before she even took it in her hands.

Cheng Yisan's eyes lit up, and she pinched the pancake with her rough hands. She didn't even feel it was hot, so she broke off a piece and tasted it.

The sweet filling really made Cheng Yisan squint her eyes subconsciously.

She really liked it.

Ji Yuan asked the woman who was helping him to take two pieces as well, and then he sat down with Cheng Yisan at the stone table in the yard to talk.

The two did not talk much about what happened on the road, nor did they talk about things in the capital.

In fact, both of them were basically "transferred" here by someone.

It’s not that we don’t want to talk about those things, but we don’t need to talk about them for the time being.

In due time, there will be a result.

What I am talking about now is basically about the future.

The Cheng family was exiled six thousand miles away and sentenced to ten years in prison.

During these ten years, they were basically unable to leave Ning'an Prefecture. No matter what, they had to settle down here.

Because they were prisoners, they were basically government slaves, and what they did specifically depended on the arrangements of the local government.

Generally speaking, it means farming, building roads, and doing hard labor.

Those who can read are better and can do some lighter work.

Naturally, all four members of the Cheng family can read.

Ji Yuan had a plan in mind, but he first took out the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone from under the basket and continued, "Although I had already written a letter to Cheng Jiaoyu when you arrived at Wuxin Mansion, now that I have finally received the person, I should let him know that he is safe."

"Just write the letter and give it to me. I'll deliver it as quickly as possible."

As a government slave, delivering letters was naturally extremely difficult.

Cheng Yisan knew the importance of these pens, inks, paper and inkstones, and she felt as if she were in another world.

There are pen, ink, paper and inkstone at hand, and sweet wheat cake in hand.

My parents and brother are all fine.

Cheng Yisan was in a trance for a moment.

It's all over, it's all over.

Cheng Yisan looked up and thanked Ji Yuan solemnly.

She didn't expect that she would be taken care of like this by Ji Zhuangyuan. Fortunately, her cousin had a good student.

Cheng Yisan touched the paper.

Since her exile, she has never touched paper or pen again.

"Thank you." Cheng Yisan said again.

Ji Yuan said: "No need to be so polite."

"You should recuperate for the time being. Ning'an Prefecture does not start spring farming until April, so you can only do some miscellaneous work recently."

"Wait until you're well again, and then we'll talk about it."

The Cheng family was unjustly exiled, and Ji Yuan would not sit idly by.

Ji Yuan also has information on other exiled prisoners. Except for the Cheng family, most of the others have committed murder, which is why they were punished this way.

In comparison, the Cheng family was really wronged.

Ji Yuan's words made Cheng Yisan feel relieved but also embarrassed.

At that time in the capital, they didn't interact much with each other.

If my uncle had not gone to Beijing to report on his work, the two families would have had even less contact.

Unexpectedly, now their whole family has to rely on Ji Zhuangyuan.

After Ji Yuan left, Cheng Yisan opened the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, feeling indescribable in her heart.

"Stop fighting! Stop fighting! I confess. I confess everything."

Lord Cheng fell ill again, but fortunately this time it did not last long and he soon returned to his dazed state.

The servant arranged by Ji Yuan helped Lord Cheng change his clothes and eat, while Cheng Yisan helped his father comb his hair.

The family of four finally regained some dignity.

It's just that it will take some time for the wounds on my body to heal.

After half a day, Lord Cheng touched the pen, ink, paper and inkstone. No one knew what he was thinking about. He picked up the pen, wrote a few words, and put it down again.

Cheng Yisan took the paper and pen and wrote back to her cousin Cheng Jiaoyu, telling him not to worry.

They have arrived in Ning'an Prefecture.

She firmly believed that things would get better in the future.

The Cheng family settled down.

Ji Yuan is responsible for daily food and medicine.

This matter won't cause much trouble.

In the entire Ning'an Province, no matter what Ji Yuan said, everyone would do it.

During this period of time, Cheng Yisan also learned about Ji Zhuangyuan's experience after being "transferred" to Ning'an Prefecture.

In fact, so many exiled prisoners, and even the officers who were still resting, felt that Ning'an Prefecture was different from what they had imagined.

I thought the border areas of Tianqi Kingdom would be very difficult.

In fact, there are frequent horse-drawn carriages here, and there is no shortage of necessary goods. It seems that many new restaurants have been built.

This kind of scene is something that outsiders would never expect.

However, if you observe carefully, you will find that these changes seem to have occurred after Ji Zhuangyuan came.

Cheng Yisan admired him in her heart and also thought of what the ladies in Beijing said.

At that time, the Cheng family had not yet been completely destroyed, so she had naturally heard some rumors.

In fact, after Ji Yuan was transferred to Ning'an Prefecture in Dianzhou Prefecture, he was still the topic of conversation among the noble ladies in the capital.

After all, such a young and handsome top scholar is rare.

Many people said that he had offended someone and might not be able to come back, while others said that if he managed to gain merit, he would be able to return to the capital.

Now it seems that it was indeed the latter, and Ji Zhuangyuan quickly returned to everyone's attention.

Cheng Yisan shook her head. She was re-repairing the fence of the wall. She learned from her aunt who was helping her and tried to make it more solid.

Their family needs to spend at least ten years to repair and fix up the house.

“That’s not right.”

Mr. Cheng suddenly said, "That's how it should be."

Lord Cheng couldn't see, but after listening to his daughter's conversation with others, he gave another way to build a fence.

Cheng Yisan looked over instantly and the things in her hands fell.

Her dad, her dad is in better spirits?!

Ji Yuan, who came to deliver a letter, happened to see Cheng Yisan's surprised expression. After knowing what happened, he was even happier.

Cheng Yishan was rarely so excited. She said, "My father knows all these. He learned them when he was in the Ministry of Industry."

Cheng Yishan was too excited and kept talking to Ji Yuan.

Sir Cheng, you were selected as the third place in the palace examination that year, so your learning ability is naturally beyond doubt.

However, something happened at home and he was implicated, so even though he became the third place in the imperial examination, he had no actual position.

Later, by some strange coincidence, he went to work in the Ministry of Works, which was not given much attention at that time.

Her father studied architecture and construction on his own, and learned the differences between various types of wood and stone.

If a top student wants to learn something and puts in the effort to study it, it naturally isn't that difficult.

Mr. Cheng changed himself from a "liberal arts student" to a "science student" and taught himself "civil engineering".

So her father would definitely be involved in repairing the fence. Even though he couldn't see it, he would know what was going on as soon as he heard it.

Cheng Yisan was happy that her father spoke to her.

Ji Yuan said, "Does Master Cheng know how to build roads?"

Repair the road?

Cheng Yisan nodded.

Yes.

Her father knows how to build houses, roads, and even the canals needed locally.

Cheng Yisan was stunned and subconsciously looked at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan smiled: "That's great. After the busy farming season is over, the roads from Ning'an Prefecture to other places will begin to be built."

"With Lord Cheng's help, we will definitely get twice the result with half the effort."

Ji Yuan was really happy at this moment.

He had said before that he wanted to build a road and even wrote a letter to the prefect of Dianzhou Prefecture, who wanted to send people from the local engineering company to build the road.

But the mountains are so far away and the road is so long that no one is willing to come.

Those who are willing to come cannot carry the whole responsibility alone.

Ji Yuan also said: "I have invited the best doctor from Wuxin Prefecture. Your father's eyesight is due to anger and excessive worry, so he can't see."

"Maybe there is a way to heal."

"Let's get treatment first. If he gets better, we'll have to ask Master Cheng to take care of the road repair."

Lord Cheng was listening nearby and moved his ears.

There was still something wrong with his mind, but he was willing to do things.

Cheng Yisan looked as if she was not crying, and nodded heavily.

She didn't even know what to say.

No wonder everyone likes Ji Zhuangyuan, and no wonder the noble ladies in Beijing like to discuss him when they get together.

No wonder my uncle’s father praised him so highly.

Cheng Yisan seemed to have a new understanding of how good Ji Zhuangyuan was.

Cheng Yisan was holding the letter that Ji Yuan had personally delivered to her. It was written by her cousin, and one could tell at a glance that they still kept in touch quite frequently.

I guess it was because of their problems.

But Ji Yuan hadn't finished speaking yet.

Ji Yuan made another request: "Actually, I came here today to ask for your help on one more matter."

I?

Cheng Yisan was even more confused.

Ji Yuan said: "I would like to ask you to help build a local official school."

"Teacher Cheng said that you are very learned. You have been reading the Four Books and Five Classics with Master Cheng since you were young. The local official school is in urgent need of people with profound knowledge."

Ji Yuan looked at Master Cheng again: "I originally wanted to ask Master Cheng for help, but Master Cheng's eye disease may make it inconvenient."

"So I want to ask Miss Cheng, are you willing to help?"

Cheng Yishan's articles were taught by Mr. Cheng since she was young and were praised by Teacher Cheng.

You can even take the imperial examination.

These things were mentioned in the letter that Teacher Cheng wrote to Ji Yuan when he was extremely anxious.

Therefore, Ji Yuan had already thought about it and wanted to ask the Cheng family to help build an official school in Ning'an Prefecture.

Lord Cheng is inconvenienced now, and even if his eyesight is healed, he would still like to ask him to help repair the road.

Now it seems that the most suitable candidate for the official school is Cheng Yisan.

Cheng Yisan raised her head.

If she had heard this proposal when she was in the capital, she might have felt embarrassed.

But now, she would just agree.

She can do it and do it well.

If she does this well, she will be able to protect her entire family even if Ji Zhuangyuan returns to the capital in the future.

"willing."

"I can do it well." Cheng Yishan said very seriously, "I will definitely build the official school of Ning'an Prefecture very well."

The breeze blowing through Ning'an Prefecture in March brings with it the unique scent of water and trees, giving people a sense of vitality.

Ji Yuan looked at Cheng Yishan, and the corners of his mouth curved up: "Well, I believe it."