Returning Home and Reorganization
As dusk fell, Shen Yan and Ling Zhan stepped into the courtyard one after the other.
The lights inside the courtyard were exceptionally warm, and the children flocked to the area like fledglings returning to their nest.
"Father! Mother! You're both back!"
Little Stone was the first to rush forward, grabbing Shen Yan's clothes with one hand and tightly gripping Ling Zhan's fingers with the other, his little face filled with joy.
"Dad! You're finally back!" Tiger and Bean Sprout surrounded Shen Yan, their voices filled with obvious relief.
"Mom, are you tired? Have you eaten?" Da Niu and Da Ya looked at Ling Zhan with concern.
Su Wan and Xuan Chenzi stood a little behind, watching this scene, both showing relieved smiles on their faces.
Looking into the children's dependent eyes and hearing their sincere calls of "Dad," all the awkwardness vanished in an instant.
He bent down, picked up the little stone, and gave it a good shake. His voice was still a bit muffled, but it was already warm: "You little rascal, did you miss your dad?"
"I want to! I really want to!" Little Stone hugged his neck and giggled.
Ling Zhan nodded to the children who had gathered around him and said succinctly, "It's nothing."
Her gaze swept over Shen Yan's retreating figure, carrying the small stone, before settling on the hot water and towel Su Wan had brought. She silently accepted them and began to clean the dust from her face and the grime from her hands. She carefully placed the sachet containing the soiled seeds into a dry, secure wooden box in her room.
With the shadow of conflict dissipating, the focus of life immediately returned to the urgent winter wheat harvest.
Shen Yan seemed to be venting all the pent-up frustration of the past few days in the fields, shouting and directing with extraordinary effort. Ling Zhan, on the other hand, became the most silent and efficient executor. Her harvesting movements were precise and swift; she was as capable as two or three strong laborers, and the bundles of wheat she tied were uniform in size and incredibly sturdy.
"Watch closely! Tie it like your mother does! Quick and secure! Not a single grain of wheat will fall!"
Shen Yan pointed at Ling Zhan's movements and loudly instructed the children who were helping. He no longer tried to "manage" Ling Zhan, but instead tacitly handed over the core aspects that required strength, speed, and precision to her, while he was responsible for scheduling, transportation, logistical support, and communication and coordination with the villagers.
Su Wan demonstrated her outstanding coordination skills.
The leftover ingredients from the banquet were cleverly utilized to provide additional meals for the children responsible for the harvest; the accounts were clear, and Ling Zhan instructed that the small wages given to the children who did the work be paid in a timely manner; she also organized the girls to help with drying, winnowing, and storing.
In the Shen family's mere two acres of wheat field, sickles flew, shouts rang out, wheelbarrows creaked, and dust billowed across the threshing floor—soon, the heavy wheat grains flowed continuously into the spacious, dry granary of the new house, and the air was filled with the intoxicating sweet fragrance of new wheat.
Then there are the mature vegetables or herbs on the ridges of the fields and on the land that has been reclaimed.
The winter wheat had just been harvested and the ground was still warm when Chen Yan and Ling Zhan immediately began tilling the cotton fields.
When those two special cotton varieties were brought out, it caused a sensation in Kaoshan Village and even the entire Qingzhou County.
Ordinary cotton seeds have plump grains and a lustrous color, making them clearly superior varieties.
The few "divine cotton" seeds that Ling Zhan took out from his bosom, though stained and carefully cleaned, still exuded an extraordinary aura under the sunlight due to their warm, jade-like texture and unusual size.
The news spread like wildfire.
First, the village head, accompanied by several elders, came to the door, marveling at the few "miracle cotton" grains. Then, Zhou, the county clerk, arrived again, this time on the orders of the county magistrate, his attitude even more solemn. The county magistrate clearly placed great importance on being able to grow higher-quality, higher-yield cotton locally.
This concerns people's livelihood! It also concerns political achievements!
"Young Master Shen, Madam Ling,"
Master Zhou had a friendly smile, but his eyes were shrewd.
"The county magistrate highly commends the two of you for finding the superior seed and benefiting your hometown. The magistrate intends to promote this cotton seed within the county. I wonder what you two think? The county government is willing to purchase the superior seed at market price or allocate official land for trial planting, with the profits to be shared according to the contract."
Shen Yan instinctively looked at Ling Zhan.
When it comes to core resources like seed allocation, he knows exactly who has the final say.
Ling Zhan was squatting beside the newly turned experimental field, carefully feeling the moisture and temperature of the soil with his hands.
Upon hearing this, she stood up, her gaze calmly sweeping over Master Zhou and the surrounding villagers, her voice clear and steady: "This cotton needs to be tested for seeds. Ordinary cotton seeds can be exchanged." She pointed to a larger bag of ordinary high-quality seeds beside her, "Exchange land for seeds, or... exchange a house-protecting plant for cotton."
Her last sentence clearly indicated that she had accepted Su Wan's previous suggestion.
"Exchange land for seeds? Exchange a house for cotton?" Master Zhou pondered these two options.
Su Wan stepped forward at the opportune moment and explained gently, “Master, fellow villagers, although these new cotton seeds are good, they haven’t been tested in the local soil and water. Sister Ling’s idea is that ordinary improved seeds can be distributed to everyone for trial planting. Families who are willing to plant them can exchange one acre of wasteland of equivalent fertility near the village for the seeds needed for one acre of cotton field. In this way, my family gets the land, and the villagers get the improved seeds, sharing the risks. As for those few ‘miracle cotton’ seeds, they are too rare and precious. My family needs to try planting them first, and only after confirming their properties and reserving enough seeds can they benefit everyone.”
She paused, then looked at Clerk Zhou, “As for the house to protect the property… I’ve heard that the county government still has a few vacant old official houses in the south market area of the town? If Your Excellency is interested, you can use one of the houses facing the street with a backyard to exchange for enough seeds to plant a hundred acres of cotton fields. The cotton seeds can solve the problem of the food shortage and ensure the smooth planting of the cotton fields.”
This statement is clearly and logically presented!
This approach balanced the county government's reputation and promotional needs with maximizing their own interests.
They even proposed practical solutions to the problem of summer famine and lack of crops.
Master Zhou's eyes lit up.
He clapped his hands and laughed, "Brilliant! Madam Su's plan is brilliant! It benefits both the public and private sectors, and brings good news to many! I will report back to the magistrate, and there will surely be good news!"
His gaze toward Ling Zhan and Shen Yan held a deeper meaning.
The villagers who were watching were also discussing it.
Exchanging developed wasteland for improved crops carries little risk and promises good returns.
This is especially appealing to families with plenty of manpower but little land.
In the days that followed, the Shen family was extremely busy, both inside and outside their new residence.
Especially Chen Yan and Su Wan.
They were responsible for signing contracts with villagers willing to switch crops and measuring the wasteland, working diligently but without chaos.
The newly acquired wasteland was chosen to be adjacent to existing farmland, laying the foundation for future expansion.
Ling Zhan became the absolute core of the technology.
She personally planned the experimental fields, especially the exclusive plots for those few "miracle cotton" plants, accurately measuring the plant and row spacing, and guiding the tilling depth and base fertilizer ratio, mainly well-rotted farmyard manure and wood ash.
When sowing, she did everything herself. Her hands, which were used to holding knife handles, picked up cotton seeds and pressed them precisely into the soft, moist soil. Her movements were meticulous, as if she were performing a precise ritual.
She guided the older children, including Hu Zi, Dou Ya, Da Niu, and Da Ya, as well as the hired workers, in the planting of ordinary cotton.
Shen Yan was in charge of coordinating manpower and material support; the two worked seamlessly together and were incredibly efficient.
Master Zhou soon brought good news: Magistrate Zhao had agreed to the plan of exchanging the old official house for grain seeds.
Shen Yan took some time to go to town and see the house.
The location was good, with three storefronts facing the street, a sizable backyard, and two side rooms; it could be used immediately with a little renovation. After the land deed was completed, the seeds were delivered in time, relieving some of the bolder villagers' worries about summer famine and ensuring the smooth start of cotton planting.
Looking at the neat rows of ridges in the field, with hope budding beneath the newly covered thin layer of soil, Shen Yan wiped away his sweat and walked over to Ling Zhan, who was checking the soil moisture by the edge of the field. He handed Ling Zhan a water bag and said, "Have a drink. If you do it the way you said, it looks much better than what they planted haphazardly."
His tone was filled with undisguised trust and... a hint of closeness that he himself didn't even realize.
Ling Zhan took the water pouch and drank a few mouthfuls.
Looking at the cotton field that was beginning to take shape before her, and then gazing towards the distant mountain peak, she said, "The sowing here is complete. Su Wan can keep a record of the subsequent field management. The wheat in the cloud fields on my mountain peak is ripe, and the herbs should be harvested as soon as possible."
"Huh? You really farmed on the mountain?" Shen Yan asked in surprise! He quickly nodded, this time without any hesitation or obstruction. "The children... especially Little Stone, have been talking about it for days, saying there are gold nuggets and honey meat on the mountain. Are you going to take them there?" He asked for confirmation, not doubt.
"yes."
Ling Zhan answered decisively: "Tiger, Bean Sprout, Big Girl, and Big Girl can help with the harvest." She gave a clear list and division of labor, "Little Stone... gleaning."
"OK!"
Shen Yan readily agreed this time, and even added, "It's chilly in the mountains, so I'll have Su Wan prepare some warm clothes for them. You... take care of yourself too."
He spoke with much more naturalness when he expressed concern.
At this moment, Xuan Chenzi, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, stroked his beard. He looked at the two men standing side-by-side on the ridge of the field, their atmosphere unusually harmonious, then at the busy children in the distance. A mischievous smile appeared on his old face. He lowered his voice and said, “Amitabha! Young Master Shen, Heroine Ling! I see your faces are radiant and glowing, a sign of yin and yang harmony, auspicious for your family’s prosperity! Now that your new house is complete and everything is going smoothly, why not take advantage of this auspicious time and scenery to consummate your marriage, to have more children, so that these kids can rightfully have a few more younger brothers and sisters? I’ve calculated with my fingers, and tonight is the auspicious time…”
Before he could finish speaking, two cold, sharp, knife-like gazes locked onto him instantly!
"You old lecher! What nonsense are you spouting!"
Shen Yan's face flushed bright red instantly, feeling both ashamed and angry, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
Ling Zhan remained expressionless, his eyes calm and still, coldly uttering only one word: "Get lost."
Xuan Chenzi was so frightened by these two completely different but equally powerful "killing auras" that he shrank his neck and chuckled dryly, "Just kidding! Just kidding! I'll get out of here now, I'll get out of here now..." He quickly slipped away, leaning on his cane.
Shen Yan awkwardly stole glances at Ling Zhan.
He noticed that her face remained expressionless, as if she had merely shooed away a noisy fly and had already turned to check the planting depth of the next row. He touched his nose, his budding romantic thoughts now only a source of amusement and exasperation after the old Taoist priest had stirred them up.
However… looking at Ling Zhan’s focused and diligent figure, he became more and more pleasing to the eye!
A warm smile, which he himself was unaware of, crept onto the corners of his mouth.
A few days later, just as dawn was breaking.
Ling Zhan had already packed his bags, still dressed in his simple and neat shorts, and carrying a backpack that was larger than before. The four older children, Hu Zi, Dou Ya, Da Niu, and Da Ya, were also ready to go, their little faces full of excitement and anticipation. Little Shi Tou had already stuck to Ling Zhan's side, wearing thicker coarse cloth clothes and a small leather vest that Su Wan had specially altered to be smaller.
Shen Yan stood at the gate of the courtyard with her arms crossed, watching Ling Zhan carefully inspect each child's equipment, especially Xiao Shitou's shoes and leggings.
Su Wan then stuffed the prepared dry food and a small jar of honey into her large backpack.
"Listen to your mother, and don't run around! Especially you, Little Stone, if you dare to peek over the edge of the cliff, Dad will spank you when we get back!"
Shen Yan gave him a stern lecture, which earned him a funny face from Xiao Shitou.
"Dad, don't worry! I'll definitely take good care of my younger brother and sister!" Tiger patted his chest and promised.
After Ling Zhan finished his inspection, he straightened up, met Shen Yan's gaze, and nodded: "Return when the cotton is harvested."
This is a clear notification of the return date.
"Yes, I'll take care of things at home, don't worry." Shen Yan nodded in response, accepting her "notification" so calmly for the first time.
Ling Zhan said no more, turned around, and led the five children, stepping into the dim light of dawn, once again heading towards the vast, misty mountains.
Little Stone held Ling Zhan's hand tightly, waving to Shen Yan every few steps while turning back to look at him.
Shen Yan stood at the courtyard gate until the figures of one large and five small disappeared at the end of the winding mountain path before slowly exhaling.
A complex smile, a mixture of worry, pride, and relief, appeared on his face.
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