Su Luo bowed and said, "This humble woman greets Your Excellency the Prefect."
"Madam Su, you are too kind. I am Xu Hongkuo. I came here specifically to see that you have successfully grown a second crop of rice. This has truly broadened my horizons."
Xu Hongkuo was the prefect, and Yongle County was just one of the counties under his jurisdiction. When he heard Magistrate Jiang's report, he couldn't believe it.
Even if someone could cultivate the seedlings, there would be no rice. It wasn't until he and the county magistrate went to the field to check that the rice ears were full.
In about ten days, it will be ready for harvest.
"It's all just about solving the problem of food and clothing. Please come inside and have a seat, gentlemen."
Su Luo invited the two to the reception room in the main courtyard and personally brewed tea for them.
“Madam Su, your ability to grow a second crop of rice is a great thing for the country and the people. Therefore, I plan to send people to guard Madam Su’s three acres of land day and night to prevent villains from entering.”
However, Madam Su needn't worry about their meals; the county government will take care of it. What do you think?
No one will do anything for others without a reason, unless there is something in it for them.
But Su Luo could guess what Prefect Xu was thinking. He just wanted to get some seeds for the second crop of rice from her.
"I appreciate Lord Xu's kindness, but I believe Magistrate Jiang has also told you my principle: I grow grain to eat. If you want seeds for the second rice crop, you must exchange them with me."
"You probably already know, even if I don't say it, that I have a hundred acres of fertile land bestowed by the emperor, and I still need to keep a few dozen kilograms for myself to cultivate."
Su Luo also considered selling the seeds of the second crop of rice, which would bring her a large sum of money this year.
But after this year, there will be plenty of rice on the market next year, and the second crop of rice will no longer be valuable. It would be better to cooperate with the government.
The government offered her the first harvest of rice in exchange, which would not only earn her a good reputation but also benefit Yan Chuan's future career.
"Of course, Lady Su. Since you have made such a contribution, I will definitely report your merits. His Majesty is always fair in his rewards and punishments and will not let Lady Su down."
"Then this humble woman thanks you very much, sir."
Xu Hongkuo looked at Su Luo; she was young, but exuded wisdom.
Now that the second batch of rice has appeared, there will be many ways for it to enter the Nanning Kingdom. This woman has given up immediate gains and chosen a long-term approach. She is quite remarkable.
"You two must be tired from your journey. Please have a meal at my humble abode before you return," Su Luoluo generously invited.
Magistrate Jiang didn't seem to care, but Xu Hongkuo said with a serious smile, "No, my mother at home is unwell, and I'm worried about her, so I need to go back as soon as possible."
Since that was the case, Su Luo didn't try to stop her.
He got up to see the two out.
“Yan Chuan’s mother, I heard from your Uncle Li that Doctor Du is staying here. I’ve come to have him take my pulse.”
Aunt Li is almost five months pregnant, but Li Niu's care for her hasn't diminished at all.
"Aunt Li, Dr. Du is in the pharmacy. Go find him."
Seeing that Su Luo still had guests, Uncle Li and Aunt Li decided not to disturb her and went to the pharmacy on their own.
Su Luo opened a pharmacy, and the whole village knew about it. If anyone had a headache or fever, they wouldn't have to go to the county anymore. Plus, there was a Doctor Du here, which made things much more convenient for everyone in the village.
"My lords, please..."
Xu Hongkuo took two steps and then stopped. He had a beard on his square face, deep eyes, and a resolute face that exuded authority without anger.
"Madam Su, is the Doctor Du you just mentioned the one from Ji'an Hall in Yongle County?"
Su Luo nodded: "That's right, does the Prefect also know Doctor Du?"
Xu Hongkuo had only heard that there was a doctor named Du from the capital in Yongle County, whose medical skills were highly praised.
His mother suffers from headaches every time the seasons change, and no medicine can help. He came to inspect the second rice harvest, and another reason he wanted to ask Doctor Du to go to Anchangzhou to treat his mother.
"I wish to see this Doctor Du. Please lead the way, Madam Su."
Su Luo led the two to the pharmacy, where Du Xiuyuan was taking Aunt Li's pulse.
"Everything is normal. At this stage of the month, you should still move around more and avoid overly nourishing your diet. A balanced diet of meat and vegetables is best."
Aunt Li withdrew her hand and said, "Dr. Du, you are really amazing. Ever since my morning sickness stopped, Old Li has been buying me meat every day, and I've even gained weight."
Aunt Li has gained a lot of weight, and the pregnancy has made her look a bit bloated.
"You two still need to be careful. As long as the fetus is healthy, it's fine. It's best not to eat too much nourishing food or make the fetus too big, as this can be dangerous during childbirth."
Childbirth is like a brush with death, so it's best to be careful.
“We’ve got it, we’ll definitely eat a balanced diet,” Li Niu said.
This child was his late-in-life pregnancy, and it might be his only child in his life. He cared for him even more than his wife.
Upon seeing Su Luo and the others enter, the two stood up to say goodbye.
"Your Excellency, Yan Chuan's mother, let's head back now."
The two men glanced at Xu Hongkuo, not recognizing the prefect, and simply nodded and smiled as they passed by.
Du Xiuyuan moved a few stools for the three of them to sit down: "Magistrate, who is this gentleman?"
"This is the Prefect of Anchang Prefecture. He has something to discuss with you, Doctor Du."
"So it's you, Prefect! My apologies for not recognizing you. Are you feeling alright, Your Excellency?"
Du Xiuyuan was well-known, and those who came to him were usually unwell.
"It's not me, it's my mother who has been suffering from headaches for a long time, so I would like to ask Doctor Du to go to Anchangzhou to take a look at her."
Go to Anchangzhou?
Du Xiuyuan looked at Su Luo. He had only been studying here for a few days. If he were to go to Anchangzhou, it would probably take four or five days to travel there and back.
"Your Excellency, has your mother been taking any medication?"
"I took a lot of herbal medicine, which initially provided some relief, but now the medicine is not very effective. I heard that Doctor Du is a highly skilled physician, so I would like to invite him to come and see me."
It's common for elderly people to experience headaches during seasonal changes. If they take medication for a long time, they may develop resistance, which will naturally reduce the effectiveness of the medication.
Du Xiuyuan looked at Su Luo with a troubled expression. If medicine was ineffective, acupuncture would be the only option, but the patient was an old woman. Many people would rather die in pain than undress for their doctor's treatment.
"Alas...this old man..."
"Dr. Du, why don't I go with you?"
Su Luo could see Du Xiuyuan's predicament. As a woman herself, she thought it might be easier for her to go over.
"Does Madam Su also know medicine?"
Xu Hongkuo asked Su Luo, he had forgotten that Doctor Du was not at Ji'an Hall, but living in this small village. Why was that?
"Your Excellency, to be honest, Madam Su is actually my teacher, and her medical skills are superior to mine."
Du Xiuyuan proudly revealed that Su Luo was his master.
Even the county magistrate was unaware that Su Luo possessed medical skills.
Xu Hongkuo was even more shocked. Such a young woman not only grew a second crop of rice, but even a doctor from the capital was willing to become her apprentice. Was she really just a village woman?
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