After watching the clerk board the county government's carriage and leave, she returned to the hall and opened the box.
Inside is a Hetian jade ruyi, seemingly formed from solidified mutton fat, covered with frost and snow.
Qiao Lian'er was a little surprised that Magistrate Zhang would send such a valuable gift.
Jade ruyi are very rare because they are carved from a single piece of jade. It is rare to find a large, solid piece of jade in a stone. In addition to requiring skilled craftsmen, the process must be carried out with utmost care and caution. The slightest mistake can ruin a jade ruyi.
Jade ruyi are classified into different grades based on their quality. The one that Magistrate Zhang presented was of medium to high quality and was quite rare, with a value of at least two thousand taels.
Qiao Lian'er thought that she had only offered an idea and received such a generous reward. It seemed that Magistrate Zhang really valued and loved his daughter Zhang Ci'er.
She didn't need to tell her family everything, so she put the jade ruyi in her room.
Ever since this west wing room was assigned to her, she has tampered with it, setting up hidden compartments in the walls and traps under the bed.
If a thief breaks in and tries to steal her property, then spare her life.
To mitigate risk, not all of the valuables were placed in the artificial hill; some were also kept in her room.
Once the advanced item space is opened, all items will be stored in that space.
In the past two days, fewer people have been buying the film. The demand within a radius of dozens of miles has been almost exhausted, and even those who do come are from very far away.
Those who bought the film all started using it.
In the fields of every village, there is a white film covering the ground, and the seedlings that were sown have sprouted. Although the temperature has dropped considerably and winter has arrived, they are growing quite well.
Qiao Lian'er would go to the fields to check on the crops and wander around other villages to see how they were growing. She would correct any problems with the use of plastic film and gradually become familiar with people from several nearby villages.
"Lian'er, you're here! Come and see how my rice seedlings are doing."
Upon entering Daqiu Village, villagers immediately pulled her towards the fields.
“Aunt Zhao, why are you in such a hurry? You make people work for you as soon as they arrive. That’s not very kind of you. Lian’er, come to my house. I just went to the market to buy some sugar cakes yesterday.”
Li Erniang pushed Zhao Jia Da Niang's hand away, ran into the house, brought out a handful of sugar cakes, and stuffed them into Qiao Lian'er's hand.
"Li Erniang, let's give these to the children at home," Qiao Lian'er said, holding the sugar cakes, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Good girl, don't be shy, eat whatever you're offered." Li Erniang smiled and said, "Judging from the growth of the seedlings, they're not much worse than in spring and summer. I knew your idea would work. You're saving our lives."
Qiao Lian'er did not refuse Li Erniang's kindness again. She walked through the village and shared her sweet cakes with the children.
The children were delighted and followed her the whole way.
"Come in and have some water, Lian'er," said the old man from the Liu family, standing at the door.
"No, Grandpa Liu, I just had a drink at Uncle Sun's house," Qiao Lian'er said politely.
Qiao Lian'er would never forget anyone she had met and whose name she remembered.
She loved the harmonious local atmosphere and the simple, honest character of the community.
After visiting two more villages, Qiao Lian'er realized a problem: the soil in some villages was really bad, and the rice seedlings grew soft and thin with yellowing leaves.
Of course, the villagers didn't blame her, because the situation in spring and summer wasn't much better.
It's time to bring out the fertilizer.
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