Chapter 40: A Chance Encounter Between Two Reborn Individuals...
[Liuzhou has poor soil. The following three types of wasteland are typical examples: sandy and stony land on hillsides, yellowish-white soil on hillsides, and waterlogged depressions at the foot of mountains. What methods should be used for reclamation, and what crops should be planted?]
Wen Zhongnan sat in the flower hall staring at the first question. A familiar-looking palace maid came over and served him by grinding ink and laying out paper.
Qi Chengming glanced over there, twisted his somewhat tired wrist, and instructed: "No time limit for doing the questions. If he doesn't understand, take him up the mountain to see for himself."
The questions he set were not only to assess his abilities, but also to test him. He wanted to see if the Second Young Master Wen had any foundation, and also to see if the Second Young Master Wen, who liked new things, could adapt to his style.
Wen Zhongnan heard this, glanced up, but didn't react. His brows were furrowed, still hesitant.
...Logically speaking, he should perform well so that His Highness will treat him differently.
However, the traces left by His Highness's knowledge of the celestial beings were too obvious, and Wen Zhongnan did not want to reveal them in this particular aspect.
So... he has to do a good job.
However, it must be done to the extreme outside the scope of divine knowledge.
Having made up his mind, Wen Zhongnan picked up his pen and began to write, pausing from time to time to think and furrow his brow to check his calculations.
Xiao Dezi, somewhat curious, quietly peeked over while tea was being served. Young Master Wen was furiously writing on a problem; judging by the dense handwriting, he was probably writing an essay. But the topic he was writing about…
The rice plants in a paddy field are slender and short, with small ears and yellowish-green leaves. How should the following fertilizers be applied, and in what quantities?
Example 1: Human excrement, human excrement and urine, horse manure, sheep manure, cow manure, silkworm manure, stable manure, cow pen manure, sheep pen manure...
Example 2: Pond mud, river mud, furnace ash, wood ash...
“…?!” Xiao Dezi’s vision went black.
Although he was an illiterate eunuch, he had been diligently learning a little over the past two months by His Highness's side. Normal reading was still difficult for him, but he remembered clearly all the tasks assigned by His Highness—such as the word "feces."
But why... does this question contain so many words related to "feces"?!
Xiao Dezi shrank back and tiptoed away.
The attitude of the head eunuch of the palace served as a barometer for the other eunuchs and maids. After Xiao Dezi retreated from the flower hall with his head bowed and eyes lowered in embarrassment, the remaining eunuchs and servants outside also slowed their movements and lowered their breathing, as if wondering if the prince was doing something important.
The waiting time was agonizing.
Qi Chengming didn't stay in the flower hall to wait. Instead, he strolled to the small kitchen, where Aunt Fang pampered him and stuffed him with a plate of mung bean cakes. Although the cakes were simple to make, Qi Chengming never tired of them. He even overheard Aunt Fang once muttering that the prince was too easy to please.
Qi Chengming wandered back to his study and continued dealing with the items the caravan had brought back.
The thick stack of banknotes and vouchers, along with boxes of readily available silver, totaled approximately one million taels.
Qi Chengming opened the mahogany box, grabbed a silver ingot from it, and knew immediately by its shape that his caravan couldn't have earned so much money in such a short time. This must be a tribute from the Bai family.
Bai Xuan also sent a letter, which simply stated that this was the bulk of the profits from the restaurant and shops this time, and the next batch would still rely on caravans. The Bai family sent two managers, two head chefs, five kitchen apprentices, and ten skilled workers, who could bring their families to reunite with them after settling down in Liuzhou City.
Furthermore, both chefs have learned the iron wok cooking method taught by the prince and are already able to make those basic dishes.
"Very good." Qi Chengming breathed a slight sigh of relief. The restaurant and soap shop were both renovated, and everyone was present. They were just waiting to choose an auspicious day to open!
"Knock, knock." A gentle knock came from the study door, followed by the slightly breathless voice of Steward Song, who seemed to have just rushed over after hearing the commotion.
"Your Highness... I heard that the caravan has brought a renowned agricultural expert?"
"You're quite attentive." Qi Chengming gestured for Steward Song to come in and sit down, casually handing him a cup of tea. "You've been running too fast, haven't you? Take a break first."
Only the young eunuch remained, flattered and bewildered, holding the tea poured by the prince, his mind a complete blank: "..."
Reorganize the language.
No, this won't do! The organization has failed!
In fact, Song Gu had been going up the mountain these past few days, supervising the villagers diligently piling up the ridges for planting new crops according to the requirements, disinfecting them, and waiting for the seeds. He didn't know much about farming, so he had made several trips to the government office. Mr. Qin said that reliable supervisors were hard to find, so he could only let the villagers in the village fill in for now and learn how to do it. After he finished composting the fertilizer in a few days and applied it as base fertilizer to the soil, they could start planting.
He was only responsible for monitoring the progress, and now, upon suddenly overhearing some snippets of conversation about "a talented person arriving," he was overjoyed. The servants in the Prince's mansion were still talking vaguely, saying that the Prince had personally set a question for that scholar, and that the examination was still underway, but a problem arose... that person seemed to be some young master from the Wen family in Jiangnan?
When Song Gu heard this name, he was filled with surprise and uncertainty.
The young master of the Wen family? Is it the young master of the Wen family that he knows?
In his previous life, Song Gu had always been a senior eunuch in the palace, becoming the head eunuch after the new emperor took over. He wasn't particularly knowledgeable about politics or military affairs, but he had heard of this general's name. That general later won many battles for His Majesty, fighting extremely hard, but…
His most famous achievement was refusing the new emperor's offer of a position.
No, perhaps the rumors and the facts are different, but I heard that when His Majesty recruited him during his time as a prince, that young master Wen did not stay... He reappeared when the new emperor ascended the throne, and young master Wen had become General Wen.
Many people believe that General Wen fought so desperately in battle out of remorse and a desire to make amends. After all, losing the Emperor's favor is terrifying, and having wronged the Emperor in the past is even more so. Song Gu didn't know if it was true or not. He had never interacted with the other party, but he had a question in his mind—was it because Young Master Wen came from a prominent family in Jiangnan and couldn't bear the poverty of Liuzhou?
There was no answer to this guess; it was impossible for a high-ranking eunuch like Song Gu to rush over and ask the general such an offensive question for no reason. But this didn't stop him from secretly regretting it: if he had this opportunity, if he could have gone to Liuzhou with the Second Prince... he would never have thought Liuzhou was poor and desolate; he would have served His Highness faithfully.
Why wasn't it him? Why did he meet the new emperor so late?
Fortunately, he has been reborn and has come to Liuzhou.
Song Gu lowered his eyes, feeling much more at ease, but he remained vigilant.
He was unaware of the circumstances surrounding the new emperor's rise from humble beginnings; perhaps it was during this trip to Liuzhou that Young Master Wen and His Highness first met. He also didn't know that General Wen was skilled in farming in his youth, but... but this meant that this time, Young Master Wen, on whom His Highness placed his hopes, would again refuse His Highness's offer of recruitment.
You know, His Highness doesn't just give questions to others casually.
...The thought that His Highness's expectations might be disappointed made Song Gu anxious and uncomfortable all over.
"What's wrong?" Qi Chengming asked, noticing the young eunuch's furrowed brows, as if troubled by something trivial and restless.
"I'd like to meet that renowned agronomist, is that alright?" Song Gu took a deep breath and made the request.
"Of course, I'll still need you guys to coordinate and work together on my few acres of land. What's wrong with you today?" Qi Chengming noticed that after he said that, Steward Song's expression became even more bitter and resentful, so he couldn't help but ask.
"..." Song Gu hesitated for a moment, unable to come up with a suitable reason, his mind went blank.
Fortunately, another knock on the door interrupted them.
It was Xiao Dezi's voice: "Your Highness, Young Master Wen has finished writing."
"So fast?" Qi Chengming was surprised. He glanced at Chief Eunuch Song again, still worried. The young eunuch's brows had relaxed, and he looked unwilling to say anything more. Qi Chengming was a little concerned, but he didn't want his desire for control to become too excessive after becoming a superior, so he instructed him, "Don't keep anything bothering you. I will make decisions for you as long as I can."
"Yes, it's nothing serious." Song Gu felt a warm glow in his heart. He lowered his head and agreed, softening his tone.
"Let's go take a look together."
Qi Chengming immediately set off and returned to the flower hall.
Several sheets of white paper with ink stains were placed in front of Wen Zhongnan. The handwriting on them was elegant and unrestrained. The young man was sitting there bored, playing with his hair with a finger, his posture was terrible.
Qi Chengming picked up the policy essays and began to read them one by one. He was surprised to find that the Second Young Master Wen had a good understanding of Liuzhou's climate and also had his own research and knowledge about fertilizers, demonstrating solid skills. Although he didn't know if the Second Young Master Wen was really related to farmers, at least he could help Qi Chengming with farming.
A silence fell over the flower hall.
While His Highness was engrossed in reading on the main seat, Song Gu secretly observed the Second Young Master Wen. Wen Zhongnan, meanwhile, was also watching the familiar-looking young eunuch with interest: "..."
'It really is him, the future General Wen,' Song Gu thought to himself.
Wen Zhongnan was also pondering: 'Has this Eunuch Song been following His Highness so long ago? Turns out he's been a favorite since childhood.'
“Very good.” The young prince put down the stack of answer sheets, his tone much gentler. He asked, “I have a new crop that I’m about to plant, but I need someone knowledgeable to take care of it. Mr. Wen—would you mind using your knowledge to teach those farmers?”
This means entrusting someone with a task.
Song Gu's heart leaped into his throat, and he stared intently at the Second Young Master Wen.
“Okay.” Wen Zhongnan readily agreed, smiling happily. “You’ve come to the right person. Leave the crops to me. But—I have one more request.”
He wiggled his finger, looking nonchalant, which some people considered presumptuous, since he was speaking to a prince as a commoner—it was extremely rude.
"...How dare you!" Song Gu couldn't help but blurt out the words.
Qi Chengming stopped him with a glance, then asked gently, "What are your requests?"
Compared to others' bold attitudes, Qi Chengming disliked everyone's excessive distance and focus on the relationship between ruler and subject. Even though he knew that... whether he was a prince or aspired to be emperor, he couldn't blur the lines in his relationships with others, otherwise others would feel that his authority as "ruler" was diminished, and that the person in question would be allowed to become too unruly.
But who cares? He wants to govern others through status and means, not through mere attitude. At least for now, he still adheres to this principle; he doesn't want to be twisted into a lonely monster by the ancient court.
“Call me Wen Er,” Wen Zhongnan said.
A faint smile spread across his eyes, as if he were lost in some memory. The young man waved his hand dismissively, as if displaying a chivalrous spirit, "Don't call me Mr. Wen or any other title, that's too boring! Your Highness, just call me Wen Er from now on!"
Qi Chengming paused for a moment.
"Wen Er" doesn't sound like it's addressing a self-recommended retainer or a future high-ranking official. Instead, it sounds like the address of a normal, equal, casual acquaintance.
Regardless of whether Wen Zhongnan meant it that way, Qi Chengming instantly grasped that feeling. How long had it been since he'd experienced such a pleasant surprise?
Qi Chengming barely noticed the smile creeping onto his own face. He instinctively seized the fleeting inspiration and spoke without hesitation, as if exhaling a large mass of iron ore from his lungs with ease: "...You don't need to call me Prince or Your Highness, just call me..."
Qi Chengming hesitated for a moment before thinking it over.
Song Gu had already realized something was wrong, and opened his mouth to speak: "..."
"—Call me Worry-Free." In that instant, Qi Chengming chose a courtesy name for himself. He had never understood why the ancients had courtesy names; it turned out they were for the convenience of addressing the right person.
His name carries light and promises the future. But if there were a choice—
He didn't want to bear these burdens; he wanted a carefree life.
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Author's Note: Yes, Wen Zhongnan is the friend type.
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