Time slowly came to the golden autumn of August. Lu Zifeng was busy harvesting peppers during this period, because this time the peppers had a bumper harvest. For Lu Zifeng, the most important thing was the hot pot business he and Prince Situ Jin's restaurant had together. He had planned to stock up on peppers this year and next year for use in the hot pot restaurant.
This year, Lu Zifeng made a fortune, and the unique spicy taste of the chili peppers made people unable to stop eating, so the hot pot restaurant's business was not affected even in the hot summer, because many people wanted to buy chili peppers from Lu Zifeng, but Lu Zifeng didn't sell them because he didn't have many chilies left before the new chilies of this season came out.
Looking at a field of fiery red peppers, Lu Zifeng smiled.
After being busy for more than half a month, all the peppers were harvested. Lu Zifeng arranged for people to dry the peppers on the threshing ground on the farm because some people came to steal the peppers a few days ago. For safety reasons, Lu Zifeng went to the Prince's East Palace and asked the Prince to send hundreds of soldiers to protect the peppers.
Now we just have to wait for the peppers to be dried, weighed and stored. We also have to arrange for someone to separate the pepper seeds as seeds for next year.
When he was riding a horse and leading his men back to the Duke Dingguo's Mansion, he happened to meet Lu Ziyan's servant who had returned from southern Xinjiang to deliver a message.
"Meet the prince."
Lu Zifeng dismounted and looked at the servant.
"How is your master now?"
The servant chuckled and took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Lu Zifeng.
"To reply to the prince, my master is very good and has made great contributions."
Lu Zifeng took the letter, read it, and nodded.
"Well, go in first. I'll write a reply later and take it back to your master."
Lu Zifeng took the letter and first went to Lu Mingyuan's study. At this time, Lu Mingyuan and Lu Zimo were both reading. They were about to take part in this year's provincial examination, so they were studying at home these days.
"Dad, this is the letter from the second son. Please take a look."
When Lu Mingyuan heard that it was a letter from his second son, he quickly took the letter, opened it and began to read. After reading it, he smiled.
"Humph, this brat, he ran away without a word back then, but now he dares to write back. But judging from what the letter says, he is doing quite well with Xiao Changhe now."
Lu Zifeng also smiled helplessly, "Dad, you should know that the second son doesn't like to study. It's impossible to force a cow to drink water. Now that he's doing well there, let it go. He's mainly afraid of getting beaten when he comes back."
Lu Zimo, who was reading a book on the side, interjected.
"Brother, I think he's afraid of you. In the eyes of Second Brother, you're more frightening than Dad."
Lu Zifeng twitched his lips and smiled helplessly, "That's why I didn't stop him when I heard he went to join the Southern Xinjiang Army. During that time, that kid would sneak into those brothels and taverns from time to time to mess around. It's good that he went to Southern Xinjiang. At least he can correct his bad habits in the army. Fortunately, I sent a letter to Xiao Changhe, so I feel relieved to let him watch over him."
Lu Mingyuan knew that his eldest son was quite capable, so he didn't worry too much and nodded.
"Well, you should pay more attention to the second son! I still need to take the provincial examination, and I don't know the results yet. I don't have the energy to think about the second son these days."
Seeing that they still wanted to read, Lu Zifeng was about to go back when he heard Lu Mingyuan say.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, your wife is accompanying your mother back to the Marquis' Mansion to stay for a few days. If you want to see your wife, go to the Marquis' Mansion!"
Lu Zifeng was stunned when he heard this and asked curiously.
"Why did you go back to live in the Marquis' Mansion when everything was fine? Isn't it good here?"
Lu Zimo said.
"Brother, my sister-in-law is pregnant. Mother said that she has never been to the Marquis' Mansion to take care of her pregnancy, so she wants her to live there for a while. I guess mother wants her to give birth there so that she can bring some joy to our mansion."
After hearing this, Lu Zifeng didn't say anything. Let his mother do whatever she wants!
"I understand. I'll meet my grandmother and grandfather later, and then I'll go back to the Marquis' Mansion to stay for a while. It's been a long time since I last stayed there."
Lu Zifeng came to the most remote yard in the backyard. This was where the two old people grew vegetables. Looking at the yard full of vegetables, Lu Zifeng thought that there must have been no shortage of vegetables in the mansion during this period!
The two old men were squatting in the vegetable garden, pointing at some vegetables and talking. When they heard footsteps, they looked up and saw that it was Lu Zifeng coming. Lu Lancheng smiled and said.
"Brother Feng, have you harvested all the peppers?"
“Everything has been harvested,” he then took a packet of pepper seeds from Lu Qiu and handed it to Lu Lancheng.
"Grandpa, these are pepper seeds, but you can't plant them now. They will freeze in the winter. You can only plant them next spring."
Lu Lancheng took the pepper seeds with a smile, "Yes, I know everything. By the way, you planted a lot of peppers this year. Do we have enough to eat?"
Lu Zifeng smiled. "Yes, Grandpa, don't worry! I've saved a lot for our family. Even if I can make some money, I'll still leave enough for everyone."
Lu Zifeng was also helpless. Some time ago, after the peppers grew up, he would bring some back from the farm from time to time and put some when cooking. Who would have thought that everyone in the family disliked the spicy taste, except the two old men who liked the taste of the peppers the most. From then on, the two old men had their eyes on Lu Zifeng's peppers and agreed to get some seeds, saying that they would plant them themselves next year. That's why Lu Zifeng gave them seeds today.
They stayed at the Duke Dingguo's Mansion until it was almost dark, and then Lu Zifeng rode a horse with Lu Qiu and others to the Marquis Cheng'en's Mansion.
When Situ Yao arrived at her own courtyard in the Cheng'en Marquis Mansion, she was sitting in the house drinking tea. When she saw Lu Zifeng coming back, she hurriedly prepared to get up to greet him, but was stopped by Lu Zifeng.
"Hey, no, you're pregnant, just sit down!"
Situ Yao stood up and said with a smile.
"It's not that exaggerated. It's just a pregnancy. It's not like I can't move. The imperial physician said that my baby is sitting very steadily. I can get up and move around occasionally, but I can't sit or lie down all the time."
Lu Zifeng smiled and walked forward to support Situ Yao.
"Since the imperial physician said so, then just move around a bit, but don't overwork yourself."
After Lu Zifeng finished washing up, the two of them walked and chatted to the front yard hall, where they were going to have dinner with their mother, Tan Yunniang.
After dinner, Lu Zifeng showed Tan Yunniang the letter Lu Ziyan had written back. "Mother, don't worry, the second son is in Southern Xinjiang! He's learned martial arts very well. Besides, he's not the only one there. Nan Shaoqing of the Nan family has also gone."
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