The emperor nodded. "Vice Minister of Agriculture, you must hurry. The busy farming season is approaching."
"Yes! Your subject will begin today to work with the Grand Minister of Agriculture to distribute the court's seeds as quickly as possible."
After giving these instructions, the eunuch announced loudly, "If you have anything to report, please do so; otherwise, the court may adjourn."
After the court session, Su Luo followed Lin Kaiji to the manor. This manor was guarded day and night by special personnel and was used by them for cultivating seeds and as experimental fields.
Unlike Su Luo, they did not cultivate new species, but they still experimented with how to plant crops to harvest more, and recorded the results before teaching the techniques to the people.
“The Deputy Minister of Agriculture says that the cabbage seeds in this field are ready to be harvested. I plan to finish harvesting them today and tomorrow, and then you can decide how to store them to prevent them from being eaten by insects.”
It's already March, and all the cabbage seeds are dried up in the ground.
“Grand Minister of Agriculture, actually this cabbage doesn’t need to be left on the ground for so long. It can be harvested half a month earlier. Otherwise, it’s easy for it to fall to the ground.”
Indeed, some cabbage pods will burst open and fall off if touched.
"Well, we can only put a cloth underneath, and we should pick up the ones that have fallen on the ground, otherwise it would be a waste."
Lin Kaiji's eyes were full of heartache. These seeds had fallen, and there weren't enough people to pick them up. He was also worried that they might sprout.
"It's alright, Minister of Agriculture. Once we've finished collecting the seeds, you can have the local people come here to pick them up. Tell them they are cabbage seeds, and they'll be all gone in no time."
Even if we can't pick them all, they'll sprout new shoots from the ground this season, so nothing will go to waste.
This method has always worked for Su Luo; it's a very good method, except that the cabbages that grow this season won't be as big.
"Very well! This is the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and you have experience."
The cabbage seeds were harvested in two days. Next, high-quality rice will be selected, as some areas require these high-quality seeds to achieve greater yields.
In places like Changping Village, their geographical location is good, so they can use the seeds they saved themselves.
There are also pesticides, which the people in the Ministry of Agriculture also need to prepare. These are distributed free of charge to the people by the imperial court according to their household registration and land ownership.
This time of year is when the imperial court spends the most money, and Su Luo was so busy that she didn't finish until mid-April.
Nangong Chiyu was ordered to personally escort the Northern Liang envoy out of Nanning territory, a journey that took a month.
At Fu Man Lou, Su Luo received a letter from Steward Shi, who said that the seedlings had been cultivated, one estate would be used to grow cotton, and Shui Qing Estate would be used to grow vegetables and rice.
Since there are already eight cotton-growing estates in the capital, there's no need to grow so much cotton on the family estate.
Along with this letter came cotton seeds sent by Steward Shi, as well as a handwritten letter from Yan Chuan.
He wrote two letters, one to Su Luo and one to Yi Huan.
Su Luo first read the letter Yan Chuan wrote to her. His handwriting was very neat, and it was clear that he had practiced diligently.
Without saying much, he told Su Luo that he and his grandmother were doing well, and also talked about things at the academy, saying that his teachers and classmates were all doing well.
He asked Su Luo and Yi Huan how they were doing and told them to take care of themselves. He didn't mention missing them at all, but every word he said was full of longing.
The only last sentence was, "Mother, when will you and my sister return?"
When Su Luo saw this sentence, her eyes reddened slightly; her son missed her.
Back at the Du residence, when she handed Yan Chuan's letter to Yi Huan, Yi Huan started to cry as she read it.
"Mom, Huanhuan misses her brother and grandma. When are we going back?"
Su Luo wiped away Yi Huan's tears. She had done all the work that the Deputy Minister of Agriculture should do, and it would be over soon.
"Five days, give Mother five more days. Once Mother has settled things in the capital, we'll go back."
"real?"
Yi Huan jumped up immediately and walked to the portraits of Zhao Ruyun and Yan Chuan, saying...
"Brother, Grandma, Huanhuan and Mom will be able to go back to see you soon."
This portrait was brought back by Chi Yi, and Yi Huan could only look at the portraits of the two of them every day to ease her longing.
But now they only have five days left before they go back, and she will soon be able to see her real brother and grandmother.
"Wow... Mom, Huanhuan is so happy! We can finally go back soon. No, I want to go find Lady Yun. I want to buy lots and lots of things for my brother and grandma. Things that can only be found in the capital, I want to bring back to my brother."
Su Luo affectionately patted Yi Huan's head, then gave Su Zuo one hundred taels of silver after they came out, asking him to drive the carriage and take Yi Huan and Yun Hui out to buy things.
One hundred taels of silver is enough for Yi Huan to spend for the next few days, no matter what she wants to buy.
With Nangong Qing and A Xu at Fu Man Lou, Su Luo felt at ease, and Du Siyuan was also managing the pharmaceutical factory of Ji An Tang.
He's completely capable now and can handle anything, big or small.
Du Xiuyuan continued to go to the Imperial Hospital, while Yun Hui took care of things at home.
Su Luo's biggest worry is Xie Wanwan, and now Wanxiu Pavilion has already taken shape.
The address was chosen at the end of East Street in the capital, so as not to disturb the neighbors. She and Su Luo bought this house. The land was large, but the house was dilapidated and remote, so it could only be rebuilt.
The project was completed in two months by three contractors.
"Madam Su, we are currently making summer clothes. The fabric is mainly lightweight, and there is also this light blue color, which makes the skin look even fairer."
There is a good reason for this. Twenty embroiderers were hired, and they all passed many tests and won Xie Wanwan's favor before they could come to Wanxiu Pavilion to work.
"Hmm! This is a good choice. This is your second time establishing Wanxiu Pavilion. Seeing how well you've managed it, I'm relieved."
Su Luo was initially worried that Wanxiu Pavilion in the capital was too big, and she had been busy with court affairs for the past month and hadn't had time to visit it much.
But now she's at ease. Whether it's pattern making or the high-end custom designs personally made by Xie Wanwan, she personally oversees everything.
"Actually! Ah Xu helped us a lot behind the scenes to get Wanxiu Pavilion on track so quickly..."
After saying this, Xie Wanwan blushed slightly, her eyes filled with shyness.
It just goes to show that when people are loved and cherished, happiness overflows.
"Oh! No wonder you've been coming home later and later these days. Are you reluctant to leave Ah Xu? Tell me secretly, how far have things progressed between you two?"
The Xie residence wasn't ready yet, so every day A-Xu would escort her back to the Du residence to stay. The two were now inseparable.
"Don't tease me, Madam Su. We haven't even gotten to that stage yet."
Xie Wanwan blushed, and her ears turned red as well. Su Luo didn't believe that nothing had happened between them.
"Tell me, I'm quite surprised that you'd be interested in that hothead Ah Xu."
After hesitating for a long time, Xie Wanwan finally said, "It's just holding hands, and...and hugging, and he's not a hothead."
Su Luo chuckled and immediately began to protect him.
"I'm glad you're happy together. But besides visiting Wanxiu Pavilion, there's something else I wanted to tell you. Yi Huan and I are planning to go back to Changping Village. You can't leave here, so..."
With the new Wanxiu Pavilion in the capital, Xie Wanwan naturally couldn't go back with Su Luo and the others. Yi Huan would also have to find her a new tutor in the future.
"That's so sudden. When are you setting off?"
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