Although the family was tired, everyone was smiling contentedly. After drinking some tea and eating some snacks, they went to the Dafeng factory. Merchants would be coming to pick up goods tomorrow, so they needed to prepare in advance and make sure their subordinates were careful about the procedures.
The specialty product exhibition was in full swing, attracting more and more merchants and ordinary people. By the third day, the place was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.
The white fungus at Song Anxin's stall and the dried mushrooms at Lin Fengnian's stall had already been sold out. The two of them were also busy at their respective salted duck egg and Quanqing sake stalls at home.
"Come, come, have a taste. Everyone who has tried the 'Rich and Oily Egg' says it tastes great."
"Spring-clear wine, a heavenly spring pool where one gets drunk, how often can one taste such fragrance in the mortal world..."
"Cloud-grown wood ear fungus, tender and smooth, is a rare find..."
"..……..."
Amidst the hustle and bustle, two guards riding tall horses appeared on the street of the specialty products fair and slowly stopped in front of Song Anxin's stall.
A guard dismounted and asked, "Are Huiyi and Lin Nongshi here?"
Lin Fengnian and Song Anxin quickly came out.
"The history of forestry and agriculture is here."
"I am Huiyi. May I ask who you two are?"
The two guards immediately bowed, and one of them said, "I am a messenger from Liuzhou Post Station. An imperial decree has arrived from the capital. Please receive it, Huiyiren and Lin Nongshi."
Song Anxin was surprised that the imperial edict had arrived so quickly. She hurriedly knelt down, and Lin Fengnian followed suit.
The local people and merchants were astonished. What?! The woman who sets up her stall every day and the honest-looking man are actually Huiyi Ren and Lin Nongshi?!
How could Huiyi and the others not know that a peasant woman had obtained the title of seventh-rank imperial consort on her own merits, and in less than a year, she had risen from the seventh rank to the fifth rank. No one in history had ever risen through the ranks faster than her.
What's even more surprising is that Huiyi's son, a farmer who works the land every day, was recently granted the title of Eighth-Rank Agricultural Official by the imperial court!
Despite their shock, everyone knelt down upon hearing that it was an imperial edict, and the street was soon filled with kneeling figures.
The vast majority of people had never heard of an imperial edict before, and for a moment they lowered their heads with secret anticipation in their eyes.
A messenger produced the imperial edict and loudly proclaimed: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Throughout history, grain has always been the most important matter for the people, and I have always been concerned about it. For many years, I have reduced taxes in the hope that the people could have enough grain to live on. However, grain production has always exceeded the people's needs... Lady Huiyi relieved my worries and sought happiness for the people by creating the technique of soaking seeds, which led to a bumper harvest. This is truly a comfort to my heart."
However, Consort Hui once again gave me a pleasant surprise, discovering a new staple crop, the potato. This crop boasts an astonishing yield per acre and can be grown in both the north and south; in some areas, it can even be cultivated for two seasons. For our Great Yin Dynasty to possess such a high-yield crop is truly a blessing for the people and a boon for the Great Yin Dynasty… Consort Hui has always diligently served in her position, contributing greatly to the court… Her talent is outstanding, therefore she is hereby promoted to the fourth rank of Gongren… Agricultural Secretary Lin, together with Consort Hui, has devoted himself to researching new crop cultivation methods to ensure abundant yields… He is hereby promoted to the seventh rank of Agricultural Secretary… This is my decree!”
After the imperial edict was read, everyone below was stunned. Several county magistrates who happened to be in the Ningdu County government office and rushed over after receiving the news all stared wide-eyed, their faces full of disbelief. They had actually been promoted again!
The fifth and fourth ranks are a significant hurdle, yet Huiyi managed to rise to the fourth rank so effortlessly in such a short time! Even the Forestry Commissioner was promoted by one rank; this family is truly astonishing.
Song Anxin accepted the imperial decree, and she and Lin Fengnian knelt down together in the direction of the capital: "Thank you for your great grace, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
A messenger respectfully said, "Congratulations, Lady Hui, and congratulations, Lin Nongshi! The imperial reward has been sent to Lady Hui's residence. We went to Lady Hui's residence but did not see Lady Hui and Lin Nongshi. We came here after hearing from Lin Nongshi's wife that you were here."
Song Anxin took the money for delivering the good news and gave it to the two messengers with a smile, saying, "You two have worked hard. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please be careful on your way back."
The messengers knew there was a lot of money inside as soon as they took the money bag, and their faces lit up with joy. They clasped their hands and said, "Thank you, Lady Hui, thank you, Lin Nongshi. The imperial edict has been read, so we will take our leave now."
After the two messengers rode away, the people immediately started commotion.
"Oh my, I've only ever heard this tune in storytelling, I never thought I'd get to hear it live today."
"Yes, this is much more impressive than what you read in books. To be able to personally receive the imperial edict, this trip was definitely worthwhile."
"I even peeked up a bit, and the brightly lit imperial edict was so dazzling it hurt my eyes..."
Everyone started discussing it, and then they talked about what they had just read from the imperial edict.
"This Lady Hui is really amazing. Not only did she develop the seed soaking technique, but she also discovered this potato. Did you hear what the guard said? It can yield a thousand catties per mu and can be planted for two seasons."
An old woman said, "If that's true, then we won't have to go hungry anymore, and we won't have to scrimp and save on our meager food every day."
"The imperial edict has already been issued, how could it be fake? This year's bumper harvest is all thanks to Hui Gongren for teaching us how to soak and germinate seeds... and Lin Nongshi has even improved the methods of planting and fertilizing. Linjia Village's mu of land yields dozens of jin more rice than our village. Now, with the addition of this thousand jin of potatoes per mu, oh my, I can't even imagine how good life will be in the future! I want to live a long life."
Many people exclaimed, "This Lady Hui is truly a good official who wholeheartedly works for the benefit of us ordinary people!"
"That's right. During the few days that Hui Gongren and Lin Nongshi have been setting up their stall here, you can't tell at all that they are officials. They are really very easygoing. Hey, there are a lot of people over there congratulating Hui Gongren and Lin Nongshi. I'll go and offer my congratulations too."
Song Anxin and Lin Fengnian were surrounded by a crowd of people offering their congratulations. They were dressed much like ordinary people and did not have the airs of officials and their wives. They had genuinely done so much for the people, so people did not feel intimidated like they would when they saw other officials. Instead, they felt more respect, closeness and gratitude.
"Congratulations, Lady Hui and Lin Nongshi! You are truly good officials for our people!"
"Huigongren, I never knew you were Huigongren! We are so grateful to you for our bumper harvest this year!"
"Congratulations to Hui Gongren and Lin Nongshi. We need officials like you who work for our people."
“...……..”
Amidst the congratulations and praises, Song Anxin responded with a smile, but a bittersweet feeling welled up inside her.
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