Ten days later, Zhao Qingfeng brought a basket of potatoes and sweet potatoes to present as a gift to Prefect Shen.
"Greetings, Your Excellency. This year has been blessed with favorable weather, and I have been able to promote high-yield crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes in my jurisdiction."
The crops are growing well, with a yield of 1,000 jin per mu. It is expected that the people will have a prosperous year this year.
I brought a basket of potatoes and a basket of sweet potatoes for the adults to try.
If the cooks in your household don't know how to prepare these two ingredients, I can personally teach them.
Zhao Qingfeng spoke so naturally, while Prefect Shen's face twisted in disbelief.
The fake smile on her face was almost impossible to maintain.
"A wise man keeps away from the kitchen; how come Magistrate Zhao is also a skilled cook?"
Prefect Shen was truly surprised by Zhao Qingfeng's unconventional behavior.
Zhao Qingfeng chuckled sheepishly.
"To be honest, sir, I come from a rural background and my family makes a living by farming."
The men in the Zhao family started tending the fire at the age of five or six.
It is essential for children as young as seven or eight to be able to independently prepare simple home-cooked meals.
My grandmother always said that if you know how to cook, you'll never go hungry.
Therefore, it is perfectly normal for me to know how to do kitchen work.
Not only are all of my rank and file a good cook, but even my sons-in-law are all quite skilled.
Prefect Shen suddenly observed a moment of silence for the sons-in-law of the Zhao family.
Wait, he seems to have discovered something incredible.
"Doesn't this mean that Prince Rui can cook?"
Thinking of this, Prefect Shen became interested.
Not only did they call the cook over and have Zhao Qingfeng teach them various ways to cook potatoes and sweet potatoes, but they also asked Zhao Qingfeng to help them taste the cook's skills.
Zhao Qingfeng was stunned. He had come to report on his work, so why was he being asked to stay for a meal?
The more he thought about it, the more something seemed wrong. He had always kept in mind the teachings of his elders that boys also need to learn to protect themselves.
Unsolicited favors are always suspicious, especially from one's superiors, who are even more likely to have ulterior motives.
Therefore, Zhao Qingfeng immediately became cautious.
After reporting their work, the chefs began serving the dishes.
Looking at the sumptuous dishes laid out on the table, Zhao Qingfeng did a preliminary calculation and found that the cost of the ingredients was at least ten taels of silver.
Ten taels of silver is enough for the people in the city to eat and drink well for a whole year. It's enough for the people in the countryside to save up for several years.
It seems this prefect has quite a lot to ask for.
Thinking back to his brother-in-law, Prince Rui, Zhao Qingfeng felt he had grasped the key point.
Therefore, he became even more cautious and humble, fearing that he might make a mistake and cause trouble for his sister and brother-in-law.
According to custom, attendants are not allowed to sit at the table with their master when he eats, especially when a subordinate visits the residence of their superior.
Therefore, Prefect Shen and Zhao Qingfeng sat there eating and drinking.
Zhao Huacai stood to the side watching.
Just as the two were having a pleasant conversation, Shen Yaoyao pretended to have just returned from outside and barged directly into the banquet hall.
"Father, Father, your daughter is back! I bought you your favorite cakes today."
The voice arrives before the person.
Shen Yaoyao wanted to see her "Magistrate Zhao" again, but she was quite surprised to see Zhao Huacai standing behind Zhao Qingfeng as soon as she entered the door.
He said something to Zhao Huacai.
“It’s you, what a coincidence. Father, this is Magistrate Zhao, whom I sought help from when I was in Qi County.”
As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Zhao Huacai.
Zhao Qingfeng understood everything now; it turned out that Prefect Shen had summoned him for this very purpose.
After hearing Shen Yaoyao's words again and connecting the dots, it became clear that Shen Yaoyao had mistaken someone for someone else.
Zhao Huacai recognized the girl at a glance; wasn't she the daughter of the prefect who claimed to have gotten separated from the servants?
She bowed respectfully, saying, "So you are Miss Shen. My apologies for not recognizing you."
Prefect Shen also sensed that something was wrong with the taste.
Especially noticeable was the familiar attitude the daughter displayed towards Zhao Qingfeng's entourage.
Without even glancing at Zhao Qingfeng, he knew there must be some misunderstanding.
"Yaoyao, don't be rude. Come, let me introduce you."
This is my beloved daughter, Yao Yao. This is Zhao Qingfeng, the magistrate of Qi County.
Shen Yaoyao was stunned. She looked at Zhao Qingfeng and then at Zhao Huacai.
"No, no, you're the county magistrate, then who is he?"
Shen Yaoyao pointed at Zhao Huacai.
Zhao Qingfeng smiled faintly, "Him? He's the future county magistrate and prime minister."
One sentence not only eased Zhao Huacai's embarrassment, but also the embarrassment of the Shen family father and daughter.
Shen Yaoyao then realized that she had mistaken the person for someone else last time.
He was immediately annoyed, feeling that he had been tricked by Zhao Huacai.
On second thought, it seems that no one ever mentioned him as the county magistrate.
By simply saying "this humble one," Miss Shen understood and stopped worrying.
After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, he left.
She needs to calm down.
Since she has mistaken the person, should she continue to make the mistake or correct the situation?
Without the aura of a county magistrate, Zhao Huacai no longer seemed as handsome as before. Yet, I was also a little reluctant to part with his dignified bearing.
In Shen Yaoyao's mind, Zhao Qingfeng's appearance was obviously too ordinary.
He's a bit too tall and strong. And what the Northeast has no shortage of is tall and strong men.
Even though they lacked education, they were no less handsome than Zhao Qingfeng.
Clearly, Zhao Huacai's refined and gentle appearance was very appealing to Shen Yaoyao.
Is it because you are unique enough that you caught my attention?
Whether you are truly outstanding or not is not important; what matters is that you are special enough.
Zhao Huacai was clearly the special one.
It resembles a three-legged toad; that's quite rare.
Shen Yaoyao was sent back to the courtyard.
Prefect Shen was a little unhappy, believing that Zhao Huacai had deceived his daughter's heart.
Upon asking, it turned out to be a misunderstanding.
Whether it was Zhao Qingfeng or Zhao Huacai, they were just doing their jobs as usual, and there was no such thing as "malicious intent" on their part.
It's just that my daughter had a preconceived notion that the person surnamed Zhao in the county government office was the county magistrate.
Little did they know, many of the officials in the county government office shared the surname Zhao, and were even relatives of the county magistrate.
After inquiring, Prefect Shen felt that Zhao Huacai was also a very good young man.
Although he's only a student in the lowest level of the imperial examinations, this kid hasn't been studying for very long.
I have the knowledge; if I take the imperial examination next year, I might pass.
Given time, if one continues down the path of the imperial examinations, one might very well rise above others.
Regardless of whether they are legitimate relatives of Prince Rui, they are at least connected to him.
"Young man, work hard. The future is bright."
Prefect Shen's encouragement to Zhao Huacai.
Zhao Huacai thanked Prefect Shen for his guidance in a humble yet respectful manner, which earned her a higher opinion of him.
Shen Yaoyao replied that in the backyard, she had been fiddling with her handkerchief for a long time and pounding the bed several times, regretting that he had been so self-righteous back then.
"How embarrassing! I'm so ashamed."
He immediately began to think about whether Zhao Qingfeng or Zhao Huacai was better.
However, she also understood that after today's misunderstanding, it was basically impossible for her to get back together with Zhao Qingfeng.
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