Yuanbao was very excited about Chen Xiaomai's return.
As soon as Chen Xiaomai returned, Yuanbao rushed over and hugged Chen Xiaomai, howling loudly.
Chen Xiaomai seemed quite moved as well, howling along with Yuanbao. If someone didn't know better, they might think he had two dogs at home. Lu Lin watched the two of them hugging and jumping around without saying anything.
After Chen Xiaomai returned, Yuanbao often clung to her, coaxing her to cook him delicious food.
Chen Xiaomai seems to like Yuanbao's approach very much, and often cooks extra meals for Yuanbao.
Lu Lin looked somewhat worried, fearing that the wheat would make Yuanbao too fat and round. Fortunately, Yuanbao did look chubby, but not too much so. He looked a bit round, but it was alright.
"Uncle, the brother who climbed over the wall hasn't come back!"
Chen Xiaomai shook her head, somewhat disappointed, and said, "No, he's going to the academy."
"Go to the academy? Why would I go to the academy?!"
Chen Xiaomai puffed out her cheeks and said, "I don't know. I heard that if you do well in the academy, you can become an official. Maybe it's for the purpose of becoming an official."
Yuanbao bit his finger and said, "Studying is so annoying! You have to know so many characters and write with a soft pen. It would be so much better if you could just buy one like Dad does."
Chen Xiaomai tilted her head and said, "Yeah, I don't like studying either. I don't think my second brother likes it much either. Lin Ge's way is pretty good and saves trouble. Maybe it's because Brother Ji doesn't have money."
Yuanbao nodded knowingly and said, "I see. The brother who climbed over the wall doesn't seem to be cut out for business. It looks like he'll have to go back to school."
Will the brother who climbed over the wall ever come back?
Chen Xiaomai nodded and said, "Yes, he said he would come back to see me after he finishes high school."
Lu Lin overheard Xiaomai and Yuanbao's conversation for a while, and his emotions couldn't help but become somewhat complicated. Was Ji Yun'an's telling Xiaomai that he would come back to see her after high school intentional, or unintentional?
Lu Lin looked at Xiaomai, shook his head, and thought to himself: Oh well, they're just two little kids. They'll forget everything in time. Let's keep Xiaomai for a few years. With such good cooking skills, she won't have trouble getting married.
Do you think it's so easy for Yuanbao and Xiaomai, those two brats, to buy official positions? Buying an official position costs a lot of money. For someone like him who started from scratch, buying an official position is one thing, but if Ji Yun'an were to buy an official position, the higher-ups might think that Ji Chengkang embezzled a lot of money.
Moreover, it wouldn't look good if word got out that someone from Ji Yun'an's background would buy an official position.
Ji Chengkang returned to the camp. Of the silver that Ji Yun'an and Chen Xiaocai had earned together, Ji Yun'an received 1,200 taels.
Of the 1,200 taels, Ji Yun'an took 300 taels and gave the remaining 900 taels to Ji Chengkang.
Ji Chengkang mainly used the nine hundred taels of silver to settle the demobilized soldiers in the camp, improve their food, build city defenses, and purchase military supplies.
With the money, the atmosphere in the camp improved considerably, and everyone worked with more energy.
Ji Chengkang was very pleased to have benefited from his nephew's fame so quickly.
Liu Yun walked in and said, "General."
Ji Chengkang glanced at Liu Yun and said, "No one's causing trouble in the military camp, is there?"
Liu Yun shook his head and said, "No, they're all behaving themselves. Anyone who causes trouble can forget about going to Lu Lin's winery."
The soldiers would take turns delivering wine to other towns from the distillery. Lu Lin was generous, and everyone who went would receive a small jar of wine. The food there was also good. As a result, the people in the camp regarded helping the county government as a lucrative job, and they counted down the days, looking forward to their days off.
Liu Yun didn't know what to say. The soldiers in this camp didn't get along with the previous county magistrates, but they got along well with Lu Lin.
One or two soldiers saw Lu Lin as if he were a big piece of meat. Liu Yun felt that Lu Lin's prestige among the soldiers was approaching that of General Ji.
"General, the story of Journey to the West is very popular!"
At night, a group of people would spontaneously gather around the campfire to listen to stories.
Listening to stories at night has become a major pastime for many people.
"That story is indeed wonderful." When this storybook was popular in Kyoto, Ji Chengkang was somewhat dismissive of it. However, many friends asked about it, so Ji Chengkang asked Ji Yun'an for a copy of the first volume. Once he read it, he was hooked. After finishing the first volume, he was still not satisfied. So, Ji Chengkang shamelessly asked Ji Yun'an for the second and third volumes.
"Young master is amazing!" Liu Yun said.
Ji Chengkang shook his head and said, "He's not that great. He just benefited from Lu Lin's influence."
Liu Yun nodded and said, "Our county magistrate always seems to have many unusual ideas."
This "handcart" has been promoted throughout the country and seems to be very popular. Lu Lin's move has truly benefited the people. With Lu Lin's talent, he could probably design other things that would benefit the people. However, Lu Lin has spent a lot of time researching food.
Liu Yun has been going to Chen Xiaocai's restaurant frequently lately, eating with gusto while lamenting Chen's lack of ambition.
Time flies, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye. It will soon be Lu Lin's second term in Shaxian County, and Lu Lin has chosen to stay on.
Officials here who want to get promoted must curry favor with their superiors and achieve some results. If their superiors write some good things about them in their memorials, and if they are lucky, they can get a promotion.
Lu Lin had no ambition to become a high-ranking official, so he didn't bother with the effort of currying favor with those in power.
Although the matter of the curved plow made Lu Lin's name known to the emperor, who is the emperor? He is busy with affairs of state and has three thousand beauties in his harem. He has long forgotten about Lu Lin.
The people of Shaxian were quite happy that Lu Lin remained in office. During Lu Lin's years in Shaxian, the lives of the people of Shaxian had improved considerably. Many villagers were worried that if a new county magistrate were appointed, their living standards would decline.
Villagers from several villages in Shaxian County even joined together to present Lu Lin with a plaque.
Lu Lin was very excited to receive the plaque, feeling that he had a talent for being an official.
In recent years, many villagers have earned a lot of money by farming, raising silkworms, and working for Lu Lin.
A year after Lu Lin arrived, there were very few people freezing or starving to death in Sha County, and many villagers had built new houses.
Ji Chengkang also hoped that Lu Lin would stay in his post, after all, Ji Chengkang and Lu Lin had been cooperating well over the years.
"Lord Ji." Chen Xiaocai cupped her hands in greeting to Ji Chengkang.
Ji Chengkang smiled and said, "Hello, Mr. Chen!"
Chen Xiaocai took a gamble and leased an entire commercial street back then. Over the years, the commercial street has developed into a major commercial area, and the original shops have seen their prices increase several times over.
Chen Xiaocai's name is widely known in Shaxian County, and everyone thinks that Chen Xiaocai is a business genius.
Lu Lin held the title of county magistrate, which was still somewhat unattainable for ordinary villagers. In contrast, Chen Xiaocai, who had more contact with the villagers, was more familiar with them.
"Lord Ji, is there something you need that you've called me out of such a hurry?" Lu Lin asked.
Ji Chengkang nodded and said, "There are some things. In a few days, someone will deliver military supplies. It will be Prince Cheng."
Lu Lin frowned and asked, "Is it the Imperial Uncle?"
Lu Lin had some knowledge of the royal family. The current emperor's father's generation fought fiercely for the throne, and most of the princes died. It seems that only two imperial uncles remained.
"I heard that Uncle Cheng is quite old. Why are we still having him comfort the troops? This shouldn't require his personal involvement."
“Your Highness is already so old, and this journey must have been arduous. What if something happens to you on the way?” Ji Chengkang smiled wryly and said, “It was Prince Cheng who requested it.”
Lu Lin couldn't help but sigh, "This prince is old in age but young at heart!"
Ji Chengkang shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Actually, there's a reason."
Lu Lin asked with some suspicion, "What's the reason?"
"This prince's primary wife passed away two years ago. The empress then arranged for his cousin to be his primary wife. Not to be outdone, the Consort Gui, not getting a primary wife herself, assigned him a cousin to be her secondary wife. Both wives came from prestigious families, and after entering the prince's residence, things became quite turbulent." Ji Chengkang couldn't help but shake his head.
Lu Lin: "...Master must be in his fifties or sixties. The Empress and the Imperial Concubine must have given the Prince young women in their late teens and early twenties. It's hard for him to resist the kindness of beautiful women!"
Chen Xiaocai couldn't help but say, "What were the Empress and the Imperial Concubine thinking, marrying such a young girl to the old prince? If the old prince passes away, won't the two girls be left to live as widows?"
Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiaocai and thought to himself: In the past, emperors would hold a selection of beauties every three years when they were fifty or sixty. Compared to that, the old prince was only given two beauties, which is already very good.
Ji Chengkang sighed and said, "We don't need to consider what the Empress and the Imperial Concubine are thinking. What we need to consider is this prince. If this prince comes here, he will likely stay for a while."
Lu Lin: "..."
Is this old prince so afraid of his wife? This prince would rather live a hard life outside than stay at home with his beautiful wife. So, the rich have their troubles, and the poor have theirs.
“Those without money can work hard their whole lives and still not be able to find a wife, while those with money have too many wives at home and dare not even go home.” “Is Your Highness going to stay here for a while? We are very poor here. What if we neglect you?” Chen Xiaocai said with some worry.
Shaxian has developed quite well in recent years, but Chen Xiaocai has been to Kyoto and is well aware of the gap between Shaxian and Kyoto.
It's not very clear yet. Perhaps the prince couldn't stand the hardship of this place and went back after two days.
Lu Lin calmly replied, "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. If His Highness comes, we'll just treat him well."
Ji Chengkang nodded. "That makes sense. This prince is very kind and doesn't get angry easily."
Lu Lin rolled his eyes, recalling the rumors he had heard. It was said that the struggle for the throne was extremely dangerous, with princes of noble birth dying one after another. After the retired emperor ascended the throne, several of these disobedient troublemakers were killed. One of the remaining princes was the retired emperor's own brother, born of the same mother, and their bond was extraordinary. The other was this Prince Cheng.
Prince Cheng's birth mother was of low rank and remained timid throughout. To put it nicely, she was kind and approachable; to put it bluntly, she was weak and incompetent. Perhaps because of this, the prince was forced to flee to avoid trouble by the two women in his family. In any case, he survived, and the current emperor, in order to demonstrate his benevolence, treated his remaining two uncles well.
Those princes who were once so glorious are now just bones. In a way, this prince was a winner in life.
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