The carriage slowly came to a stop at the gate of the manor on the outskirts of the capital. Yan Wan and Jing Xi got off the carriage and looked around the manor. The steward had been waiting at the gate for a long time. When he saw that the master of the house was a young girl, he did not show any surprise. Instead, he respectfully stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This humble subject, Wang Rong, greets the master."
Yan Wan stepped forward and gave Wang Rong a slight helping hand: "Manager Wang, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise."
"I've always heard my mother say that Steward Wang is a master at managing the estate. Seeing is believing, and now that I see the estate so well-managed, it's all thanks to Steward Wang," Yan Wan said politely. Wang Rong was originally a servant that Yan's mother brought from her maternal home when she got married. He was also a capable assistant to Yan's mother and was extremely loyal to her. Now, Yan's mother gave Yan Wan some of her most profitable estates as part of her dowry. However, this was the first time Yan Wan had met Steward Wang.
He's quite clever, honest and kind, yet also worldly-wise and shrewd. Yan Wan looked at Wang Rong with satisfaction.
"Manager Wang, could you please tell me about the general situation of the estate in a little while?" Yan Wan said.
"Yes, sir, please come in." Steward Wang respectfully invited Yan Wan and Jing Xi into the manor.
On the way, Wang Rong told Yan Wan about the general situation of the village. The village covers an area of more than 500 mu and has more than 50 farming households. Spring wheat is currently planted in the fields, and the harvest season is almost here. There is also a fish pond in the village, and some poultry such as chickens, ducks and geese are raised there.
Upon entering the estate, Yan Wan saw that it had been thoroughly cleaned inside and out, and nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that Steward Wang was truly a talented manager.
Yan Wan and Jing Xi sat in chairs. After Wang Rong poured them two cups of tea produced on the estate, he stood respectfully behind Yan Wan.
Yan Wan had a general understanding of the estate and had already made up her mind. She smiled and asked Wang Rong to sit in the lower seat. Seeing that Yan Wan had something to do, Jing Xi took a sip of tea and went out to explore the estate on her own.
"Manager Wang, do you know whose mountain is behind the manor?" Yan Wan asked softly.
“Master, that mountain is a barren mountain, there shouldn’t be any master here,” Wang Rong said after thinking for a moment.
"That's wonderful! I'd like to trouble Steward Wang to make a trip and buy that mountain," Yan Wan said happily.
Wang Rong really couldn't understand why the master would buy a barren mountain. However, he didn't ask, but simply nodded and said, "Yes, master."
"Hmm, how long until the wheat harvest? How many granaries are there in the estate?" Yan Wan asked again. If there was plenty of grain in the estate, she could put some into her spatial storage, and then collect some more from the surrounding area to take to the Northwest.
“Miss, the wheat will be ready for harvest in another half month. After the harvest, we can plant another crop. There are eighteen granaries on the estate, and twelve of them are full,” Wang Rong replied.
"Yes, take me to see it in a bit. I'll be taking the grain from ten granaries. Oh, and Steward Wang, there's no need to plant another crop after the wheat harvest. Please ask around if any of the surrounding estates are willing to sell. If so, buy them and merge them with this estate." Yan Wan clearly stated her arrangements.
"Does Miss want to plant some other crops on the estate?" Wang Rong didn't quite understand Yan Wan's meaning. There was clearly still room to plant another crop of wheat, so why not?
“No, we don’t need to plant anything. Even if we did, the crops would die of drought,” Yan Wan said earnestly.
"Manager Wang, after the wheat harvest, buy that mountain behind the city and build several granaries on it. Move the remaining grain into the granaries on the mountain. In a few months, if you see anything amiss, run to the mountains and hide." Yan Wan said with a serious expression. In a little over a month, the severe drought in the Northwest will begin. At that time, the refugees from the Northwest will definitely flock to the capital. The city gates of the capital will definitely be closed. Otherwise, if so many refugees flood into the capital, there will be chaos. If the refugees cannot enter the capital, then the estates on the outskirts of the capital will inevitably become their targets.
When that time comes, never underestimate the evil in human nature.
Wang Rong looked up at Yan Wan in surprise. He also felt that the recent heat was unusual, but he had only heard his grandfather talk about the drought that the young lady mentioned. Would that once-in-a-century drought really come?
Wang Rong suddenly felt a sense of urgency; it seemed he needed to make preparations as soon as possible.
At this moment, Jing Xi swaggered in from outside and looked at the two people with different expressions, saying, "Wan'er, are you done talking? If you're done, let's go see those people."
“Alright, Jingxi, let’s go. Please have Manager Wang lead the way,” Yan Wan said.
Wang Rong nodded in agreement and led the way. After walking for about fifteen minutes, they stopped at the gate of a courtyard. Wang Rong knocked on the door, and a lean man opened it. After Wang Rong led Yan Wan and the others inside, the people working in the courtyard put down their work, and the person lying down sat up. The crowd surrounded the red-clad boy lying on the tree trunk in a defensive posture, and the tense atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly became tense.
Yan Wan and Jing Xi exchanged a glance, both noticing the heaviness in each other's eyes, as these people appeared to be military personnel.
Squeak~
The door opened from the inside, and Li Guang walked out with a smile, quickly approaching and scolding, "What are you doing? Come and greet your master."
As if awakened by the noise, the girl in red on the tree climbed down and looked at the two little girls in front of her with great interest, as if she had seen something new.
"Manager Li, are these the men under your command?" Yan Wan asked.
“Yes, sir, these are all my brothers.” Li Guang paused for a moment, then answered in a muffled voice.
"Oh? What about that little brother in red over there? Is he also your brother?" Yan Wan asked, noticing the fleeting excitement in the boy's eyes.
“That’s my nephew, yes, nephew, Qin Si. Come over and greet your master.” Li Guang turned to the boy in red and said.
Qin Si smiled at Yan Wan, revealing two small tiger teeth, looking completely harmless. He obediently stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Yan Wan, saying, "Qin Si greets the master."
Such a delicate little girl looks really appetizing. Qin Si licked his tiger teeth and his Adam's apple bobbed. Isn't that interesting?
"Your surname is Li, and your nephew's surname is Qin?" Jing Xi asked, realizing it was obviously fake. She silently complained to herself.
"Yes, my nephew takes his mother's surname, hehe, he takes his mother's surname." Li Guang explained guiltily, wondering what kind of trouble the young master was up to. Why not just call him Li Si, but Qin Si instead!
"Oh, I see," Jing Xi said dismissively, afraid that if she asked any more questions, she would burst out laughing.
"Manager Li, I think your nephew is still too young to go on a mission. How about he stays at Yan's Hot Pot as a waiter?" Yan Wan said gently. It seemed that this young man was no ordinary person. She couldn't put him and his subordinates together. It was safer to keep him under her watchful eye. As long as he stayed in the hot pot restaurant, his men would obey her.
Upon hearing Yan Wan's words, Jing Xi smiled and thought, "Wan'er is really clever."
Li Guang looked at the young master beside him with a conflicted expression, unsure of what to do. Before he could even speak, the red-clad youth beside him exploded, glaring angrily and shouting, "What? You want me to work as a waiter?"
This is an absolute disgrace!
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