[A divine skill?]
Shen Zhi was flattered by this description.
Shen Tang nodded solemnly and said, "[Yes, it's a divine skill, a divine skill capable of changing the current world order!]"
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhi felt even more uncertain.
Even though Shen Tang painted a picture of a idyllic paradise for her, Shen Zhi remained unmoved, her heart filled with fear and dread. She was just an ordinary woman; how could she possess such power? It sounded like a witch!
Jia is also puzzled and requests clarification from his lord.
Those who couldn't understand Shen Tang's surprise weren't just Shen Zhi, but also literary figures like Liao Jia. In their view, Shen Zhi's way of the scholar was indeed interesting, but it didn't have much practical value, and they couldn't understand why their lord regarded it as a treasure.
The naive scholar's way cannot produce food like Lin Feng's, so it is useless on the front lines and in battlefield logistics.
"You guys really can't do without me." Under the watchful eyes of so many inquisitive people, Shen Tang stopped keeping them in suspense and, while revealing the secret, guided everyone to think outside the box. "Didn't Shao Mei buy flowers from Yao He before? She even made some demanding requests about the color, the number of petals, and the size of the petals. Didn't you guys notice anything in that?"
Everyone's gaze fell on Liao Jia in unison.
Liao Jia knew his demands were somewhat unreasonable, but he had paid the deposit in full, and Shen Zhi readily agreed, saying it was no problem. It was a mutually agreeable transaction, not him deliberately making things difficult: [Why are you looking at Jia like that? Jia also knows nothing about it…]
Everyone turned their gaze back to Shen Tang's face—except for Gu Chi, who had just copied the homework, but he was still in shock at Shen Tang's wild imagination and hadn't fully processed it yet. When he came to his senses, he took a deep breath, his eyes filled with awe, elation, and curiosity as he looked at Shen Zhi. Qi Shan and the others grew increasingly anxious, as if several Su Shangs were scratching at their hearts.
Gu, the Lord's mouth double, on the pond: [My lord means that since Lady Shen can make flowers exhibit the characteristics she desires, could it also be possible to improve grain varieties to her liking, giving them qualities such as cold resistance, drought resistance, insect resistance, and high yield?]
Everyone: [...]
How dare you even think of that, my lord?
Cold-resistant, drought-resistant, insect-resistant, and high-yielding?
Any grain variety possessing even one of these qualities would be considered top-grade, fully qualified to be offered to the government, or even become royal tribute. But her lord was different; she wanted them all, and not only that, she wanted all these qualities concentrated in a single seed.
What kind of expressions are those?
Chu Yao sighed softly and said, "I dare not think about it."
He still remembers things from his childhood.
My family was poor when I was young; the walls were drafty. My father was lazy, so my mother not only had to bear and raise his children and do all the housework, but also tend to the few acres of rented land. Watering, fertilizing, weeding—she did this every day without fail, because the crops in the fields were so fragile. Too cold was no good, too hot was no good, too much water was no good, too little water was no good, and she also had to watch out for pests.
You can't get even a tenth of the reward for putting in ten percent of your effort.
Such suffering, and they still can't get enough to eat!
But if we don't do this, the whole family will starve!
It was not a family or household of Chu Yao.
Every household is like this!
This has been the case for generations!
but--
Is this how it should be?
Shen Tang suppressed a smile, her eyes sparkling with pride, and said, "Why wouldn't I dare to think about it? Think about it! Now you can think about it freely and boldly; we can all make it happen. Extraordinary power should be paired with extraordinary imagination!"
Shen Tang swept across the eight directions, while Shen Zhi trembled in fear.
She desperately wanted to say she couldn't do it, but a tiny voice whispered in her ear, a seductive urge from her own heart: "What if? Chen Zhi, what if you could do it? Since heaven has granted you this opportunity, allowing you to dream such a magnificent dream, why not be bolder? Take this dream to its fullest potential, and let your name be etched in history."
He naively admitted that he was completely misled.
She succumbed to her desires, while the others were stuffed with the empty promises Shen Tang made. Shen Zhi, once a marginalized figure with little presence, suddenly became the center of attention. Liao Jia even wrote a booklet about her insights and reflections on the ways of the scholar and gave it to Shen Zhi for reference. Chu Yao and others went so far as to say that Shen Zhi could consult them about any cultivation problems she might have.
Chen Zhi: [...]
The pressure is even greater, isn't it?
By gathering the strength of many, she quickly mastered the ways of the scholar.
The good news is that she can indeed improve the quality, but this improvement is not something that can be achieved overnight. It takes dozens or even hundreds of generations for the superior quality to be stably inherited. The bad news is that Chen Zhi's talent is limited, and her scholarly path is not perfect. The prerequisite for her to be effective is that the target flower can bloom, and it must be a flower with a certain ornamental value.
Upon receiving the message, Shen Tang practically wore her disappointment on her face: [I thought this 'blooming' was just a concept.]
For example, adding a flower to something can be effective.
But clearly, Shen Zhi isn't that incredible.
Shen Zhi was even more disappointed than Shen Tang. She felt like she had been living a magnificent and fantastical dream, and now that dream was about to end. The disappointment made her feel wronged and sad, and she wanted to cry. But Shen Jun's next words gave her a glimmer of hope: "If it's not a concept, then it's not a concept. One should learn to be content. Yao He, why don't you start by practicing on peach and pear trees?"
Once you've accumulated enough experience, you can then explore other product categories.
Shen Tang then began to make a wish: "I want big, sweet, and crisp peaches and pears! If the yield could be higher, then during harvest season, everyone in the government office would receive another benefit."
Chen Zhi: [...]
Shen Tang continued her eloquent explanation: "I remember that white pears require more water than sand pears. So let's train them to be more drought-resistant, or make the pear trees' root systems more developed. This will help retain soil moisture and absorb more water. Oh, and one more thing, I'll have the government post notices later, seeking people with beekeeping experience."
Chu Yao was on duty at the government office that day.
He was quietly recording Shen Tang's wish list when he heard this and asked her, "My lord, would you like some honey-steamed pear water?"
Otherwise, how could the topics range so widely?
[Raising bees certainly provides honey, but I'm a decent person, and a decent person wouldn't only think about eating. I just suddenly remembered—pear and peach trees need pollination before they bear fruit! How can they be without diligent bees? We can pollinate manually, but why do it ourselves when we can outsource it?]
Honey? That's just a byproduct!
It would have been better if Wu Hui hadn't mentioned it, because now she also wanted to drink honey-steamed pear water. Shen Tang secretly swallowed, suppressing the urge.
Under Shen Tang's guidance, Chen Zhi got back on the right track.
However, her literary talent is weak, and her cultivation speed is extremely slow. She often needs Lin Feng's cooperation to ensure progress. If there is no war next year, the two of them can join forces and make it a dream to let Shen Tang and others eat big, sweet, and crisp peaches and pears the following year.
The allure of peaches and pears can never compare to that of cotton.
Shen Zhi was summoned to Sibao County by a transfer order from Shen Tang.
Not only was her golden partner Lin Feng there, but also Luan Xin, the legendary Luan Hu Cao, who was said to be able to summon wind and rain. Shen Zhi couldn't help but stare blankly, lost in thought. If the three of them joined forces, what would they be called? Wouldn't they be invincible, worthy of being called the reincarnation of Shennong?
Once the vital energy was completely depleted, the flower buds closest to Chen Zhi had already adorned the branches, blooming gracefully into pure white flowers. Only then did Chen Zhi stop, wipe the sweat from her brow, and turn to look at Lin Feng and the other person: "It's done!"
The two simple words sounded like heavenly music to Lin Feng's ears.
"Yaohe!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, she lunged forward.
Shen Zhi was knocked back several steps by the force of the attack.
Although the exhaustion from her studies had left her pale, Chen Zhi's spirits were higher than ever before. She completely understood why Lin Feng was so excited! If things went smoothly, the common people under his rule would no longer go hungry, and he could even protect them from the bitter cold. How could such a great deed not drive one to madness? Thinking of this, Chen Zhi's eyes reddened and welled up with tears.
"Um!"
Luan Xin stood on the edge of the field, gazing at the two people who were crying tears of joy. His expression was neither sad nor happy, and he seemed lost in thought.
Lin Feng couldn't wait to tell Shen Tang the news.
"My lord! My lord! My lord!"
Before the person arrived, the sounds of voices and footsteps preceded their arrival.
Hearing Lin Feng's excited voice and learning from Liao Jia that Shen Zhi had arrived, Shen Tang guessed what was going on. As Lin Feng was about to enter the council hall, his usual brisk pace changed, but his hurried steps betrayed his inner excitement.
"My lord, great news!"
Shen Tang set aside a prepared letter.
He asked, "Is it done?"
"It's done! We haven't let our lord down!"
Looking at Lin Feng, who was unusually unsteady, she smiled and gently stroked his head, saying softly, "When has your virtue ever failed you?"
Lin Feng's excellence and hard work are evident to all.
Before long, Shen Zhicai and Luan Xin rushed over.
Shen Tang asked Shen Zhi if she had any plans to enter officialdom.
Before Shen Zhi awakened to the ways of the scholar, Shen Tang encouraged her to run her own business. Although she lacked literary talent, she could cultivate flowers and plants and create the best rouge and floral dew in the world. Now that she has the ways of the scholar, it would be a waste for her to remain a beauty guru and occasionally work for Shen Tang.
Since the ultimate goal in the universe is to pass the civil service exam, why not just go for it in one go?
Faced with Shen Tang's invitation, how could Shen Zhi refuse?
He agreed without thinking.
She could see clearly that without Shen Tang, none of this would exist. This magnificent and wondrous dream was a gift from the person before her.
I hope this dream never ends!
The next day, it was Luan Xin's turn to be on duty at the government office.
_(:з」∠)_
Luan Xin was dumbfounded when he saw the arrangement.
Is there any way to allow him to simultaneously appear in the county government office, the household registration office, and the household registration office's private fields to assist Lin Feng and the other person in selecting high-quality grain varieties? Faced with the harsh reality, Wenxin Wenshi could not remain arrogant and chose to be "half-hearted".
He couldn't help but speculate about conspiracy theories—
He was on this duty roster because he had a literary talent.
Soon, he learned the real reason why others disliked being on duty—not because it involved more work, but because of the lord's incessant chanting. The lord liked to hum songs while handling state affairs, the tunes strange and the melodies irritating.
Luan Xin recalled taking over the shift with Liao Jia that morning, when the latter handed him a wooden box with a meaningful look. Upon opening it, he found two clumps of cotton inside.
Includes a note: "Earplugs".
Luan Xin: "..."
Unfortunately, Wenxin's hearing was exceptionally sharp, and this trick couldn't completely prevent mental harm. Luan Xin didn't want to be crippled in the leg and deaf on his next shift, so he took the initiative to start a conversation.
"What good news is there today? My lord seems to be in a good mood."
Shen Tang said, "There are two more payments."
Luan Xin was puzzled: "Two payments?"
Shen Tang smiled and said, "The ransom money has arrived."
Luan Xin's lips curved slightly.
"Does this matter truly put the Lord at ease?"
Shen Tang knew that Luan Xin did not approve of her actions.
"Why are you unhappy? It's all about justice. Being the head of this prefecture sounds prestigious, but everything costs money. War costs money, and governing costs even more. I don't have the ability to get all of Wenyan Gong's former officials to surrender. I can't just release them directly, nor can I keep them around indefinitely. I have to find a way to satisfy both sides, can I?"
She said in a casual tone, "I have a heavy burden of reputation, so I can't kill them all. I have no choice but to resort to this. I get the money, and they keep their lives."
Isn't that a win-win situation?
Luan Xin lowered his head and hummed in agreement.
"Of course, my happiness today is not just because of the two ransom payments..." nor because I got rid of two money-losing girls. "When I think about how by this time next year, a small number of commoners under my rule will be able to wear warmer cotton-padded clothes, and the year after that, every household will have cotton-padded clothes, and no one will silently freeze to death in the cold wind, I am happy. If I could drink, I would really like to have a few drinks to celebrate."
The task of selecting and improving cotton varieties was entrusted to Shen Zhi and his two companions. Shen Zhi could cultivate high-quality cotton seeds, while Lin Feng could ensure large-scale production of these seeds, and Luan Xin could guarantee the water supply. This trio, working together, could be considered a modern-day Shennong (a legendary figure in Chinese mythology associated with agriculture).
With the three of them around, Shen Tang can confidently and boldly make grand promises!
Luan Xin watched Shen Tang continue working with his pen, humming an unpleasant tune. His left hand, tucked into his sleeve, clenched and unclenched uncomfortably... He didn't know if Shen Tang's words just now were intentional or unintentional...
However, what was said without malice was taken seriously by the listener.
Construction of Sibao County is still in full swing.
Time flies by day by day, and before we know it, the end of the year is here.
On the 27th of the lunar year, the government held a ceremony to seal off the writing brush. Except for a few special departments where people were still on duty, other departments began to take a holiday and would resume their duties on the 8th of the new year.
Everyone also received a substantial reward.
Luan Xin also received a share, and it was a large red envelope.
The person who was always distracted was a little taken aback; had he really just stopped writing and taken a break so easily? Recalling the mountain of letters piled up, he had thought that, given his lord's personality, everyone would keep working until New Year's Eve…
Then, the first year of junior high school continued with the teaching duties.
Shen Tang was taken aback.
How could you have such a terrifying idea?
Even capitalists wouldn't dare to imagine letting their subordinates spend the New Year in the government office.
Luan Xin: "..."
"However, on the 29th of the year, the government office does have a team-building dinner to foster relationships. In layman's terms, I'll be hosting a banquet, and you can bring your family if it's convenient. Speaking of which, how many children does Gongyi have? It's our first meeting, so I should give him some money to ward off evil spirits." There's no war going on for the time being, so the money-grubbing Xun Zhen can't harm her, and she still has some money in her pocket. "According to the usual practice, Wu Hui and the others will also prepare a lantern market and fireworks. After a busy year, it's time to relax and enjoy yourself."
This is her fifth New Year in this world.
_(:з」∠)_
Tangmei: I won't say who was mentioned.
P.S.: This was so hard to write! Who could resist Tang Mei's passionate charm when she's so good at making grand promises? Personally, from Luan Xin's character perspective, I feel he's genuinely wavering, otherwise the character would be out of character.
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