Qin Wan was sincere and really wanted to give Xie Qing these seeds: "I have limited funds under my name. I believe that Your Highness the Crown Prince can conduct multiple farming experiments in various places in the Great Zhou to see what the yield is."
"If you and I cooperate, I will only need to cultivate good varieties in the future, and Your Highness, you only need to provide me with the future planting data."
Xie Qing said solemnly: "Don't worry, I will never let you down."
He paused, realizing he had said the wrong thing, and then he started over: "I will never let you down for your hard work in cultivating the fine seeds."
His ears felt hot, and he touched the tip of his nose, telling himself that he had only said the wrong thing. To calm himself down, he said, "Since Song Shao has found a way out with you, and you have his indenture, why not let him follow you?"
Xie Qing then said to Song Shao, "If Miss Qin is willing to accept you, you must obey Miss Qin's orders in the future."
Qin Wan was just about to ask Song Shao to come over. This kid was quite capable, except that he was a bit unlucky.
Thinking of Song Shao's experience, Qin Wan wanted to laugh. She smiled and said, "I'll have someone tell the steward that they won't have to avoid you anymore. When we get back, I'll give you some of the grain we have. You can distribute it to the Crown Prince's farm as you see fit."
"Yes! I thank Miss Qin and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
For a spy, achieving this point is really a failure. His ruthless master would have chopped him into pieces and fed him to the dogs long ago.
If this happened on the battlefield, in the enemy country, a spy like him would die ten times more than it would be enough.
Song Shao was truly grateful.
Qin Wan waved her hand and asked Song Shao to go down, and then sent someone to the foot of the mountain to inform the manager. If the person who was under strict supervision ran away, wouldn’t the manager have to search all over the mountain for him?
After giving all the instructions, she covered her mouth and yawned: "Okay, I'm going to bed."
The next day, Yijia got up before dawn, made breakfast, and then went to see Song Shao off down the mountain.
Yi Jia was furious when she saw Song Shao: "I stayed here for so long, thinking you were going to steal something confidential and important, but who knew you would only steal a few rice seeds."
Song Shao chuckled and said, "This grain seed is naturally a good thing. Even with the poor rainfall last year, an acre of land yielded at least four to five dan. How can it not be something confidential and important? This place is close to the border. If someone steals it, wouldn't it be a great opportunity for foreigners? Don't worry, young lady, I will keep a good eye on the farm from now on! I have stolen grain seeds before, so I know where the defenses are lax!"
"puff."
Yijia was amused by him and asked about the defense of the farm. When they reached halfway up the mountain, they met the manager and followed them down the mountain.
Before she set off, Xie Qing sent someone to inform her that they would take a different route down the mountain today and that she should send the carriage there in advance.
Qin Wan got up and found the breakfast made by Yijia already placed in the room. Just as she picked up the bowl, she saw Xie Qing pushing the door open and coming in.
Seeing that there was food on the table, Xie Qing sat down directly, picked up a bowl and served himself a bowl of rice. He looked so familiar, as if it was a matter of course.
Qin Wan glared at him angrily: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, there is no food in the room?"
Xie Qing raised his eyes and looked at her: "Do you think your maid can cook for me?"
As soon as Qin Wan heard what he meant, she knew that Yi Jia was also angry with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so she didn't make breakfast for Xie Qing.
But considering the amount of food, I brought some of them out too.
Qin Wan then said to Tao Yao, "Go and call Master Du as well."
Tao Yao responded, turned around to call someone, and just as she opened the door, she saw Master Du coming out of the room and heading towards this side.
Tao Yao turned around and smiled, "Why bother calling? It just came on its own."
Prince Du happened to hear this and snorted, "Why are you teasing me behind my back?"
Tao Yao was serving rice while saying, "You two, come here to eat our lady's food, and you've become addicted to it."
Prince Du sighed, took the bowl from Tao Yao's hand with familiarity, and said, "I went to the kitchen on the mountain to check it out. The food there was really not that good. I thought Miss Yijia's cooking was so delicious, so I came here to have a bite. Miss Tao Yao, you won't be reluctant to leave, right?"
Tao Yao glanced at him and said, "Eat quickly, we have to leave early to go down the mountain."
Qin Wan found out after dinner that they had changed the way down the mountain. This time they walked down along the canal, with the sound of gurgling water all the way, and there was no sign of drought at all.
Qin Wan was a little curious: "Why didn't you take this road when you went up the mountain?"
Xie Qing said, "One is that we don't need to take a detour, and the other is that we need to go up the mountain first to avoid being seen. Do you believe it? If we just show up at the foot of this mountain, Prefect Shen Yang will know about it in less than two hours."
Qin Wan wasn't surprised by this. "As a prefect, I have to be aware of suspicious individuals within my territory. It's not surprising to know that a strange face has entered the country. However, are you sure he knows your identity now?"
Xie Qing calculated the time and said, "When we left the main force, although we left secretly, if it takes too long, someone will notice our departure and send a letter. The prefect will definitely pay attention to the appearance of unfamiliar faces."
Qin Wan nodded and asked, "Are you not afraid of being discovered if you go down the mountain now?"
Xie Qing asked unhappily, "You're trying to argue with me, aren't you?"
Qin Wan glanced at him sideways and smiled with her lips pursed.
Xie Qing also laughed, and the few of them went down the mountain chatting and laughing.
When you have walked more than halfway, you will meet people fetching water.
At first, there were only a few people there. The further down they went, the more people there were. When they reached the foot of the mountain, the water from the mountain gathered into a pool.
Xie Qing pointed to the pool of water and said, "This is actually a spring. After the drought, the water output here has decreased. However, because some spring water is still flowing out, the water quality here is clean, and the area is wide, so the water from the mountain is diverted here."
Qin Wan frowned as she watched the people lining up to get water, carrying bags on their shoulders or in wheelbarrows. "People living near Qingquan Mountain are having an easier time, but what about those farther away? What if someone's selling water?"
Xie Qing said: "There are people on duty here. According to the household registration, each family can only take one truck of water a day. If someone would rather endure the thirst themselves and sell the water, then there is nothing we can do about it."
Qin Wan looked at the guards who were surrounding the water source not far away and maintaining order, dressed like bandits. She nodded and suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid that the prefect Shenyang will suppress the bandits if you keep doing this here?"
Xie Qing said: "He is a coward by nature. If he really had the means, Shen Yang would not have reached this point now."
Cowardly, stupid, arrogant, and reckless.
He did not dare to suppress the bandits, but dared to spread rumors to confuse the people, slander the prince, and assassinate him.
In the previous life, this water source was discovered by a few bandits, who enclosed the land and sold water.
Someone reported the matter to the government office, but the prefect of Shenyang did not dare to suppress the bandits and instead pushed the matter onto the local gentry.
Only after the gentry surrendered the bandits did the prefect take action to take over the water source. In the beginning, a cart of water cost ten coins, then five hundred coins, and finally, the people had to sell their children but still could not afford a bucket of water.
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