Su Huaiyue raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a warm and confident smile, and replied softly: "Auntie, don't worry, as long as we all work together, this market will definitely be booming, and our lives will get better and better!"
Finally, the long-awaited opening day arrived.
The news of the opening of the farmers' market in Wangjia Village spread quickly to the surrounding villages like a spring breeze.
The villagers, who were used to ordinary markets, became curious when they heard that Wangjia Village had built such a novel and unique farmers' market. They called their friends and rushed to Wangjia Village in groups, wanting to find out what was going on.
As soon as the sky was getting light, the road leading to Wangjia Village was already crowded with people.
Men, women, young and old, dressed in clothes of various colors, some carrying backpacks, some carrying bamboo baskets, walked hurriedly but could not hide their excitement.
As soon as they stepped into the market, they were instantly shocked by the bustling scene before them.
Inside the market, stalls are neatly arranged, displaying a dazzling array of goods. The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and laughter intertwine as the entire market is packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.
Just as everyone was immersed in the excitement, a cry of surprise suddenly came from the crowd: "Look, it's Lord Li!" Everyone looked and saw a man in official uniform and with an imposing demeanor striding towards them. It was Lord Li who was collecting evidence against the Hu Mansion in Dongzhou.
Lord Li walked straight up to Su Huaiyue and Wei Che, his eyes full of admiration: "Miss Su, Wei Che, you've done a great job! The completion of this farmers' market has not only revitalized Wangjia Village, but also benefited the surrounding areas. It's truly remarkable."
Su Huaiyue said modestly, "Master Li, thank you for your praise. This is the result of the joint efforts of all the villagers."
Lord Li waved his hand slightly and continued, "I heard about your work in Dongzhou and was deeply impressed. This time I returned, I have something else to tell you. I have already submitted a letter to the court, detailing the Wei family's contributions. The Wei family has worked hard for the development of the village, and Wei Che has led the way. This deserves to be known to the court."
Upon hearing this, Wei Che said a few polite words, "Thank you, Lord Li, for your kindness. The Wei family is only doing our humble part."
Lord Li smiled again, his eyes showing some joy: "There is another piece of good news. The emperor has ordered Ma Youwei to be appointed as the governor of Dongzhou."
Su Huaiyue's eyes lit up. "Lord Ma is an upright official with a long-standing reputation for virtue. With him governing Dongzhou, this land will surely become more prosperous."
"What about the Hu Mansion?" Compared to other things, Su Huaiyue still wanted to know more about the fate of the Hu Mansion.
"The Emperor has long harbored suspicions about the Right Prime Minister, but has been worried about lacking evidence. This Hu Qiu, relying on the Emperor's remoteness, has been acting recklessly. I also reported this in my memorial. The Hu family has been exiled to the northwest, but the Right Prime Minister..."
After Lord Li finished speaking, he paused.
Wei Che frowned slightly, vaguely guessing, "Is it because the Right Prime Minister's foundation in the court is too deep to be shaken, so the Emperor only used the Hu Mansion incident to warn him?"
Lord Li admired Wei Che's keen eye for understanding people's hearts. "Yes, the Right Prime Minister is still the Right Prime Minister. The Hu family is not a close relative to him. Losing the Hu family is like scratching an itch with a shoe. I'm afraid it will cause more disputes in the court in the future!"
The Wei family was an exile and had long been far away from the imperial court, so these were not his concerns.
However, Su Huaiyue was confused about one thing. "Didn't Lord Li say that the memorial mentioned the hard work and great contributions of the Wei family, but the Emperor didn't say anything about it?"
Lord Li shook his head and sighed.
Su Huaiyue and Wei Che looked at each other and understood.
I guess some people don't want the Wei family to regain favor, so they stirred up trouble.
"Oh right," Lord Li suddenly remembered something, "after we have rested, we will continue on our journey."
Su Huaiyue said with some regret: "Wangjia Village has a great geographical location, and now it is even more peaceful. The scenery is better than any place we have seen along the way in Dongzhou. It would be a pity if we don't make good use of this unique, heaven-given geographical advantage."
"Miss Su, do you have any other ideas?"
"I am planning to build a unique vegetable picking garden in Wangjia Village and carefully carve it into a dream tourist destination that will attract visitors from all corners of the world."
"Picking Garden?"
Wei Che and Lord Li raised the question together.
"Yes, many wealthy businessmen and celebrities in Dongzhou are probably unaware of the sufferings of the world, and have never experienced the hard work of farmers. Building a picking garden can allow them to experience life. This will not only have an entertaining effect, but also allow them to witness the growth of these plants with their own eyes, so that they will cherish the present more."
Wei Che stood there quietly, his deep eyes full of admiration and trust.
Lord Li was shocked by the heroine's description when he heard it for the first time. "Miss Su, this vegetable picking garden is bound to be a great success! Just go ahead and do it. I will inform His Majesty and postpone the departure for a while."
They called all the villagers together again, and they gathered under the ancient locust tree in the center of the village. Su Huaiyue stood tall in front and announced the grand plan of building a vegetable picking garden to the public without reservation.
When the villagers heard this, they looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion and puzzlement.
"Miss Su, why are you suddenly turning this perfectly good vegetable patch into a picking garden? Our ancestors have been farmers for generations. We grow vegetables just to sell them for food and fill our stomachs. How can this work?"
An elderly man in his seventies with white hair walked forward tremblingly with a cane, and raised the questions in his mind with a worried look on his face.
Su Huaiyue's lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile. He patiently explained, "Uncle, please calm down and think about it. Our village's farmers' market has opened, and business is booming. Everyone's wallets are gradually getting fatter."
"But if we build a picking garden and attract people from outside to come and play and pick, it will not only bring in more income for everyone, but also spread the good name of our Wangjia Village far and wide. In the future, our lives will definitely get better and better, just like sesame seeds blooming - rising higher and higher!"
The villagers listened to her clear and logical words full of hope and longing, lowered their heads slightly, and talked among themselves. The worries in their hearts gradually dissipated, and they raised their heads, with eagerness flashing in their eyes, expressing their willingness to give it a try.
Planning the layout of the picking garden is undoubtedly an extremely meticulous job that cannot tolerate any carelessness.
Su Huaiyue did not dare to slack off at all. He personally took a few villagers who knew the terrain of the village well and worked tirelessly through the fields.
Holding measuring tools, they carefully measured the land step by step, and marked each suitable place with small stones.
Relying on his in-depth understanding of various vegetables, Su Huaiyue ingeniously divided the picking garden into several distinctive areas according to the growth habits and maturity cycles of different vegetables.
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