"'Carrying a thorn stick to apologize'?"
Jiang Yushu thought for a moment, threw off the quilt and got off the bed, saying, "You are a guest. Please sit in the living room and wait for a while."
"Hey!" Cuimei nodded, quickly sent the maid to pass on the message, and returned to help with the dressing.
Jiang Yushu fixed her eyes, combing her hair in the mirror. Noticing her pale complexion, she lightly smeared some lip balm on and whispered, "Put on some red, so I don't look sick."
"You're not well yet, so you shouldn't be meeting guests." Cuimei opened her jewelry box, picked out a jade hairpin, and bent down to help her insert it diagonally into her hair. "If you go out, you'll be exposed to the wind again. If you catch a cold again, it will be troublesome."
After a simple make-up, Jiang Yushu stood up, wrapped herself in a thick fur coat, and said with a smile, "It's okay. I've been lying down for two days and I'm almost well again. Actually, I have something important to discuss with Shopkeeper Wen!"
Cuimei helped her out and asked curiously, "What's the matter?"
"It's a long story." Jiang Yushu walked briskly, "Follow me and you'll hear it yourself later."
The master and his servants walked down the stairs, followed by a maid carrying a gift box. When they stepped out of the courtyard, they saw the guards fighting in the open space opposite. They had all taken off their outer robes, rolled up their sleeves, and were sweating profusely, with red faces.
"Hey—down!" Peng Changrong exerted his strength and threw his opponent into the snow with an over-the-shoulder throw, earning applause and cheers. He raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat off his face and caught sight of Jiang Yushu. He hurried over to greet her and asked with concern, "Madam! I pay my respects to you. Are you feeling better?"
The other guards came forward and saluted and greeted.
Jiang Yushu smiled and replied, "It's okay, I'm almost healed now. Are you still having a martial arts competition on a snowy day? Why don't you find an empty room?"
"Hehehe, it's spacious outside. It won't be cold after playing two games. It feels so good!" Peng Changrong was sweating profusely.
Cuimei quietly slipped a handkerchief to her husband and said helplessly, "Wipe your sweat quickly! Really, you're always busy. What's the point of having a martial arts competition on a snowy day? If you have energy and nowhere to use it, why not arm wrestle?"
"Hey, arm wrestling is boring. It's far less exciting than a martial arts competition." Peng Changrong grinned at his wife, holding the fragrant handkerchief.
Cuimei pursed her lips and whispered angrily, "You're so silly!"
Jiang Yushu paused for a moment, then continued walking and said gently, "Alright, you guys continue practicing."
"I'm accompanying my wife to meet a guest. You must stop at a certain point. The New Year is almost here, and you shouldn't get hurt unnecessarily." After saying that, Cuimei trotted to catch up with Jiang Yushu, and the group slowly walked away.
Peng Changrong sniffed the embroidered handkerchief, reluctant to wipe the sweat off his face, and stuffed it into his arms. He still raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat off his face, and after watching him leave, he replied, "I know! When we brothers exchange martial arts, we always stop at the right time."
In a moment, the living room
When Jiang Yushu and her companions stepped through the threshold, Wen Yizhai and his wife immediately stood up to greet them, bowing respectfully:
"I, Wen Yizhai, greet Lord Jiang."
"I pay my respects to you, sir."
Jiang Yushu raised her hand to support him and replied with a smile, "No need to be polite, sit down."
"Thank you, sir."
Wen Yizhai and his wife waited until the magistrate sat down before they sat down. Wen's wife was reserved. She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. She tilted her head to look at her husband.
"Alas," Wen Yizhai stood up, his face apologetic, and bowed his hands in apology. "I'm truly sorry. Back then, when you were... ahem, you were impeached without cause, the imperial envoys sent by the court summoned and questioned me, so I know some of the inside story. That incident had nothing to do with you, but it caused you considerable loss. I should have apologized sooner, but my mother was seriously ill and passed away, so I was so busy that I put it off until today. I hope you can forgive me."
Jiang Yushu was startled and looked at the guests: both of them were wearing plain white clothes. Wen Yizhai was in his early thirties, with slightly buck teeth and was tall and thin; Wen's wife wore light makeup, pearls and silver jewelry, and only a blue hairpin in her hair was eye-catching. She was dressed very simply.
"My condolences." Jiang Yushu calmed herself down and said seriously, "That incident has nothing to do with you. The censor heard about it and the misunderstanding has been explained clearly. Don't take it to heart."
"Yes." Wen Yizhai bowed deeply, "Thank you for your understanding."
The two sides had a very shallow acquaintance, and apart from exchanging pleasantries, they talked about business. Soon, Jiang Yushu started chatting: "This autumn harvest, the Wen family's crops were very good. Congratulations."
When a commoner speaks to an official, especially a businessman, Wen Yizhai behaves politely. He was about to stand up to reply, but the female official waved her hand to excuse him. Only then did he dare to sit down and talk. He said respectfully, "I rely entirely on the county magistrate's blessing. Fortunately, I listened to your and Lord Sun's advice. Otherwise, I would have accomplished nothing this year and would not be able to explain to my father."
"Where?" Jiang Yushu smiled dignifiedly. "Your family has been a royal merchant family for generations, with businesses spread across the northwest. You are well-known. The young manager is young and promising, yet so humble. I'm sure he's highly regarded by the old manager. I'm deeply sorry that you two have come all this way to apologize during this New Year's Eve."
"Your Excellency is too kind, I do not deserve it."
Highly regarded by my father? Sigh… Wen Yizhai clasped his hands on his knees, forced a wry smile, and then immediately resumed his respectful attitude. “Your Excellency is so kind, and I feel even more guilty. When you took office, I was busy serving my mother and was unable to congratulate you. I am extremely regretful.”
Jiang Yushu has been experienced for many years and is very good at socializing. "Filial piety is the most important virtue. When your mother is ill, it is natural that serving her is the most important thing."
"Thank you for your understanding!" Wen Yizhai breathed a sigh of relief.
When visiting female officials, most men choose to bring their wives with them, but the wives can hardly get a word in. They just sit there and listen, hearing one set of polite words after another.
After a while, Jiang Yushu replied with a smile, "Ya Ma? I've been busy reviewing this year's work and am almost done. By the way, when I was reviewing the petitions from the six families, I saw your request for land reclamation. You want to reclaim an additional twenty hectares of land next year, right?"
"Yes." Wen Yizhai's spirits lifted, eager to be approved on the spot. "For the past two years, the Wen family has strictly followed government regulations and paid taxes in full and on time. I heard that the newly dug Run River is calling for merchants to settle on both sides. I would like to respond to this call and would like to plant 20 hectares of land next year. I beg your permission, sir."
Jiang Yushu's eyes were bright and firm. "As long as you abide by the rules and discipline, if there are no unexpected events, you should be able to get approval. Keep an eye out, it will be announced in the notice."
"Yes, yes!" Wen Yizhai breathed a sigh of relief again.
Jiang Yushu took the opportunity to say, "Actually, next year, the government will not only call for the reclamation of fertile fields on both sides of the Run River, but also the reclamation of sloping land."
"Ah?" Wen Yizhai was stunned. "Slope? I just rushed here from home the other day and haven't heard of it yet."
Jiang Yushu said slowly, "It hasn't been officially promulgated yet, but the rules have been roughly finalized. They will be posted after the Lantern Festival next year."
Wen Yizhai pondered for a moment and then asked, "According to past regulations, we grow crops on the plains, and we also grow crops on the slopes? Potatoes? Or... raising cattle and sheep?"
Jiang Yushu shook her head and said, "Neither." After she finished speaking, she turned her head. Cuimei understood and turned around to get the gift box and handed it to the maid standing behind Wen's wife.
"It's our first meeting, so this is just a small gift. Please don't despise it, Madam Wen."
Wen's wife opened her eyes wide in surprise, and hurriedly stood up, flattered. She knelt and thanked him, "Thank you very much, Master Jiang, for your reward."
Wen Yizhai also stood up and thanked him profusely, "Your Excellency is truly honoring me."
Jiang Yushu raised her hand to signal the guests to sit down. "Sit down, sit down quickly. The box contains only some silk. My in-laws settled in Heqin. There's a hill in the garden of our house, and on the low slope, there's a patch of mulberry trees. During my downtime, I raised silkworms to relieve my boredom. I unexpectedly discovered that mulberry silkworms are quite well adapted to the climate and soil of the northwest, and the silk fabrics they produce are not much worse than those in the south of the Yangtze River. If you don't believe me, just open the box and take a look."
"I believe it, of course I do!" Wen's wife replied stiffly. Wen Yizhai flattered her, "Your Excellency discovered it yourself, how could it be false? It must be true! Could it be that... the reclaiming of sloping land you just mentioned is a call for mulberry planting and silkworm breeding?"
Jiang Yushu nodded and replied, "That's right! Tuning's climate and soil are suitable for growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms. When I took office, I brought a few mulberry saplings with me and planted them in the courtyard behind the government office. They're growing well. You can go and see them later."
The guest should naturally say "OK".
Jiang Yushu said with a pleasant expression, "Tu Ning is trying to experiment with silkworms. What does Shopkeeper Wen think? Don't hesitate, share your thoughts."
Wen Yizhai took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, and then said tactfully, "Your Excellency is daring to blaze a trail. Your courage and insight are admirable. However, mulberry cultivation and silkworm breeding have been prevalent in the south since ancient times, while our northwest is rich in furs: sheepskin, wolfskin, foxeskin, bearskin, and so on. Furthermore, to be frank, ordinary people often can't afford to wear silk. When the time comes... when the time comes... shipping it south? I'm afraid we won't be able to compete with the experts. After all, the south has more experience, and the northwest won't be able to catch up in a short time."
"I understand what you mean."
Jiang Yushu had been busy for a long time since she got up early. Her waist was sore from sitting. She changed her sitting position and said frankly, "Growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms is different from growing crops. The former is unfamiliar and requires more time and energy. Unlike crops, whether the harvest is good or bad, you can try again in the next round. At most, you will lose the seeds."
Wen Yizhai nodded in agreement.
Jiang Yushu continued, "But to raise silkworms, you first need to plant mulberry trees. Only when you have mulberry leaves can you start raising them. The initial cost is huge, and if anything goes wrong, all your efforts are in vain. Furthermore, Tuning borders Beiqi, and even some people with foresight are deterred by fear of war."
Wen Yizhai spoke and acted cautiously, nodding again to show his agreement.
"But I think this might be something worth trying!"
Jiang Yushu said calmly, "Therefore, the government is calling on the government and leading by example. The county has already issued orders to purchase mulberry seedlings and plant them next spring. In addition, the government will encourage merchants who are interested in silkworms: first, tax exemptions for the first two years; second, merchants will be allowed to open workshops locally; and third, they will be allowed to freely dispose of their own mulberry trees when the contract expires."
"Oh?" Wen Yizhai frowned, his mind racing.
Jiang Yushu observed the other party's expression and added, "However, for the convenience of governance, this county has temporarily decided to only approve three private workshops."
"Three rooms?" Wen Yizhai picked up the teacup, put it to his lips but did not drink it, and remained motionless.
Jiang Yushu nodded and revealed, "In fact, several people in the county are very interested and have made a special trip to the government office to inquire about the news. They are waiting to see the regulations."
Wen Yizhai hesitated, put down his teacup, and asked cautiously, "Does the government have a limit on the number of acres of land that can be reclaimed?"
"No less than five hectares." Jiang Yushu smiled. "Five hectares of sloping land is just a small hill."
Wen Yizhai quickly figured it out, "It's not a big deal to plant trees on the slope. We won't need too many mulberry seedlings."
Jiang Yushu said cheerfully, "Once it's established, if you take good care of it, you can pick its leaves year after year!"
Wen Yizhai knew full well that "wealth and honor are sought in danger." He put down his teacup, rubbed his hands, and a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes. "But I, a commoner, don't know how to do this. I'm afraid I won't be able to plant trees properly, and I'm afraid I won't be able to raise silkworms properly."
Jiang Yushu raised her head. "Everything depends on human effort. How can we know success or failure if we don't try? Next year, the government will definitely give it a try. If it fails, it fails. If it succeeds, the people will have another way to make a living."
"By then, the Northwest will gradually have its own silks and satins, and there will be no need to purchase them from the South at high prices. Shopkeeper Wen, the business opportunities are endless."
The hall door was wide open, and the cold wind rushed in. Wen Yizhai rubbed his hands vigorously, "Your Excellency's words make sense. I, a humble person——"
Before he finished speaking, a servant suddenly ran to the doorstep, wanted to step in but stopped, and looked at the magistrate anxiously.
Jiang Yushu caught sight of it and exchanged a glance. Cuimei understood and quickly approached, asking in a low voice, "Why are you so flustered?"
The servant rushed over, breathless, and answered nervously, "Someone's here from the government office. He's sitting in the main hall with a gloomy face. He said he's here to deliver an order from the court, an imperial decree! Quick, tell the madam!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
