Chapter 169: Jiahe County Lord
"I'll go down to the pond and turn over some bamboo leaves."
"Don't you want your feet anymore?"
Li Wenjing pressed Lin Zhiyi to sit on the stone and put shoes and socks on her again.
Lin Zhiyi missed modern rubber shoes very much. If they were available, he could wear them.
"I'm not that delicate."
"Don't go down. Sit here and wait patiently. I'll turn the bamboo strips over."
Li Wenjing cut a thick branch nearby and stood by the pond, turning over the soaked bamboo strips. The smell of lime mixed with rotten juice hit my face.
Lin Zhiyi smiled.
It seems that having him following behind is still very useful.
"Flush for three days, and when the water is clear, you can use it."
As the two of them left, a figure appeared behind them.
It’s Mu Qin.
He looked at the pool for a long time.
He didn't know what the Lin family was making, but he couldn't stand the smell alone.
Ever since the Mu family father and son sent people to destroy Li Wenjing's fields, not only did they fail, they also lost two taels of deposit.
Although those villagers were bitten by wolves, he was wearing a mask when he approached these people, so no one knew it was him.
They were complacent about it, thinking that Li Wenjinghao was unaware of it.
But when they went to other villages to find people to destroy Li Wenjing's fields, other villages had already heard that the fields in Xishui Village were protected by wolves. Even if they were offered a lot of money, they did not dare to take on the task.
So, until September, when the sweet potatoes in the fields were about to be harvested, they did nothing.
The King of Qi cursed the Mu family father and son for being useless.
Lin Zhiyi dug a fresh potato from the ground with a shovel, peeled it, and cut off a small piece for Li Wenjing, "Try it."
Li Wenjing was surprised, "Can it be eaten raw?"
"Yes, you see."
Lin Zhiyi took a bite of the sweet potato.
Li Wenjing took the small piece of sweet potato in his hand and took a small bite. It tasted sweet and it turned out that it could be eaten raw.
"How is it? Your father said that if you can grow crops, you can return to Chang'an. You can go back now."
Li Wenjing glanced at Lin Zhiyi without saying a word.
I must go back, but not now.
Not only are the sweet potatoes ready to be harvested, but other crops in the field are also ripe.
Lin Zhiyi went to another field and dug more than twenty potatoes and put them in a basket. "Let's go. We'll have a potato feast today."
Li Wenjing was surprised. Does this mean potatoes are vegetables?
But the basket was too heavy and Lin Zhiyi couldn't lift it after trying several times.
Li Wenjing stepped forward, picked up the bamboo basket, and put it on his back, "Let's go."
Lin Zhiyi stretched out her hand, "Hold my hand."
Looking at Lin Zhiyi's black little hands, which were covered with mud, Li Wenjing took Lin Zhiyi's hand without hesitation and said, "Let's go home."
The two of them talked and laughed as they walked on the narrow path.
Lin Zhiyi mentioned returning to Chang'an today. They didn't know how long this peaceful life could last, and they cherished it very much in their hearts.
Before the two of them reached the gate, they saw that the villagers had surrounded the Lin family's house.
When I got closer, I saw a group of soldiers standing at the gate of the Lin family.
They looked at each other and hurried home.
I thought something had happened, but as soon as I reached the door, Fang's mother ran out happily.
"Girl, very happy, girl, very happy."
Lin Zhiyi was confused. "What's the good news?"
"The imperial edict has arrived, and it was sent from Chang'an by the emperor himself."
Lin Zhiyi did not dare to delay and came to the courtyard, where he saw a eunuch standing there.
And Eunuch Wang was talking to that eunuch.
Seeing Lin Zhiyi coming, Eunuch Wang hurriedly introduced: "This is Miss Lin. Miss Lin, this is Eunuch Wu from the palace."
When Eunuch Wu saw Lin Zhiyi, he did not show any contempt. Although he knew that she was the daughter of a criminal, he had seen all the ups and downs in the palace over the years. The fact that the emperor was willing to award Miss Lin meant that there was still hope for the Lin family.
He took two steps forward, flicked his whisk, and bowed respectfully, "Miss Lin, may you be well. I have come here by your order to congratulate you."
When Eunuch Wu said this, not only the Lin family was shocked, but also the villagers of Xishui Village.
What? This old eunuch is someone close to the emperor?
Before they could sigh in shock, they saw Lin Zhiyi kneeling down. "The guilty minister's daughter, Lin Zhiyi, accepts the decree."
Everyone knelt in the yard, and only Li Wenjing was standing there.
Eunuch Wu just glanced at Li Wenjing without saying a word.
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: I believe agriculture is the foundation of the state, and food is the people's lifeblood. To ensure a well-stocked granary, one must rely on the skill of the plow and hoe. Now there is a daughter of the Lin family, Lin Zhiyi, intelligent and precocious, with a heart devoted to farming. Her ingenuity has created a curved plow, light and labor-saving, allowing deep plowing and easy weeding. The people of the countryside are eager to follow her example. This achievement benefits both the state and the people, and is truly commendable!"
"I, mindful of her talent and virtue, and her contributions to the countryside, have granted her special rewards to honor her achievements: First, I confer upon her the title of Lady of Jiahe County, the same rank as a fifth-rank lady, and allow her to wear a phoenix robe and wear jade pendants, as a token of my honor and favor.
"Second, I will give you one thousand taels of silver and one hundred pieces of silk for your household expenses."
"Alas! A tiny instrument can save millions. A woman's wisdom can bring honor to the nation. Strive to do your best and strive for further progress! Announce this to the world, so that everyone will know. I decree this!"
Only then did Lin Zhiyi see several red boxes in the yard.
She cursed in her heart, the old emperor is shameless, is he going to snatch her patent away?
She didn't contribute the curved plow to the court, and by doing this, the old emperor was telling the world that she had contributed the curved plow to the court, right?
Now I’m afraid that even Boss Cui’s iron shop can no longer forge iron privately.
She was doing it for money, so what was the point of having a fifth-rank imperial decree without any real power?
So she was sent away for just one thousand taels of silver?
"Lord Jiahe, please accept my order."
Eunuch Wu saw that Lin Zhiyi was hesitant to accept the imperial edict and reminded him.
After being reminded three times in a row, Lin Zhiyi didn't react at all.
Lin Fu hurriedly said, "Zhizhi, take the imperial edict first."
He turned around and said to Eunuch Wu with a smile: "Look at this child, he is so happy that he is silly."
Lin Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief and accepted the imperial edict, "Thank you, Eunuch Wu, for coming all the way here."
Madam Song winked at Madam Fang, who understood. She pulled out a purse from her bosom and stuffed it into Eunuch Wu's hand. "This is a gift from our Madam. Please buy some wine, Eunuch."
Lin Zhiyi ignored the villagers' shock, discussions and cheers, and went straight into the house with the imperial edict.
She entered the room and closed the door immediately.
Then the door opened with a creak.
Seeing Li Wenjing coming in, Lin Zhiyi threw the imperial edict directly to Li Wenjing, "Your father is such a bandit!"
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