Chapter 450 Important Matters
When Ye Mingzhu arrived home, there was a carriage parked outside the door. She walked in without looking at it.
Yunniang came forward and whispered, "Master Cui, who was here last time, is here."
"Master Cui? Isn't that Xiao Wu? Why is he here?"
Before Ye Mingzhu had time to think about the reason why Xiaowu came, Xiaowu walked out of the hall, followed by Ye Yunan and Ludou.
Xiao Wu smiled and said to Ye Mingzhu, "Yun'an and Ludou have grown up a lot since we last met."
Ye Yun'an and Lu Dou both had proud expressions on their faces. Ye Mingzhu smiled and said, "They have indeed grown up a lot and can help me a lot now."
After hearing this, the two of them sat up straighter in their chairs, looking like little adults.
Xiao Wu couldn't help laughing when he saw the two of them. Then, fearing that they would get angry, he quickly started talking about other things. He first asked Uncle Yan and Aunt Qing, and then asked Jiang Hongyu.
Ye Mingzhu didn't know the purpose of his visit, so she just followed his words.
Ye Yun'an and Ludou listened to him motionlessly.
"Mingzhu, I have something to tell you." Xiaowu looked at Ye Yun'an and Ludou who had been listening to him attentively, meaning that this was not suitable for them to hear.
Ye Mingzhu still trusted Xiaowu very much. After thinking for a moment, she said to Ye Yunan and Ludou, "Brother Xiaowu hasn't seen you two fight yet. Why don't you two show him a set of boxing techniques outside?"
Ye Yun'an and Xiao Wu both obediently walked outside. They could see each other in the hall, but no one outside could hear their conversation.
Xiao Wu then spoke up, "Mingzhu, Brother Li has already reported the sweet potato crops grown on your farm to the imperial court."
Ye Mingzhu was stunned: "This is your business, you don't need to tell me."
Xiao Wu shook his head: "This is not just our business. Brother Li clearly stated in the memorial that it was your achievement and also mentioned that your manor was used."
Ye Mingzhu looked at Xiaowu and said nothing.
"Brother Li said that ever since he met you and Hongyu, you have always been helping him. He can't keep taking all the credit for your work. Now report the sweet potato incident to the court. I think you will be rewarded."
Xiaowu explained why Yu Jiaming did this.
Ye Mingzhu didn't care at all: "I said at the beginning that the sweet potato matter has nothing to do with me, you don't have to be like this."
Xiao Wu shook his head: "Brother Li said that the credit should belong to whoever it is, and he can't always take credit for other people's work."
Ye Mingzhu laughed instead: "This happened under his rule, so it can't be considered as taking credit for anything. I'm just an ordinary fisherman's daughter. Even if I can grow sweet potatoes, can the court still give me an official title?"
She just said it casually, but Xiao Wu looked strange, and she couldn't help but be stunned: "Can you really give me an official title?"
"There is no precedent of women serving as officials in this dynasty, but you discovered sweet potatoes and planted them. The court will definitely reward you." Xiaowu said hurriedly.
Ye Mingzhu always felt that Xiaowu had something else to say. It was impossible that he came today just to tell her that Yu Jiaming had reported the sweet potato incident.
"Maybe, I mean maybe, the higher-ups will ask you to grow sweet potatoes somewhere else." Xiao Wu said the purpose of his visit with difficulty.
Ye Mingzhu stood up and said, "Let me plant sweet potatoes, but I won't go."
Xiao Wu quickly stood up and said, "Don't get excited, don't get excited. I'm not asking you to plant the crops by yourself. I'm asking you to watch everyone else plant the crops. Also, once the imperial court issues an order, you have no choice but to go. You can't refuse."
Ye Mingzhu was so angry that her chest was heaving. "Master Cui, I haven't offended you and Master Yu, have I? I'm doing well here, and you asked me to go somewhere else to grow sweet potatoes. How come there are so many officials in the Dashun Dynasty, but not many of them can grow sweet potatoes? Didn't you write down the planting situation in a handwritten letter? You are not trying to avoid taking credit for my work, but to shirk responsibility."
Xiao Wu waved his hands vigorously: "We really don't mean that. We've already submitted the instructions on how to plant sweet potatoes. Even if we let you supervise the planting of sweet potatoes, we won't give you an official title."
"No need. You just said that in the Dashun Dynasty, there was no precedent for women to serve as officials. I don't want to set this precedent. I'm fine as an ordinary citizen."
Ye Mingzhu simply refused this matter.
Xiao Wu was confused: "If we do this well, our name will go down in history."
Ye Mingzhu found it funny. As a modern person, why did she want to be recorded in the history books of ancient times? She didn't think the court would allow a woman like her to be recorded in history books. When she finished her work, she didn't know who would come out to reap the benefits. So, she would not do this if she had a choice.
"Has this matter been decided, or is it still in the discussion stage?" Ye Mingzhu insisted on asking clearly.
"We're still discussing it." Xiaowu didn't say anything specific.
In fact, the court was even more disgusted with this matter than Ye Mingzhu. They felt that growing sweet potatoes was too important to be handed over to a woman. Besides, they already had the planting manuscript and could just use it to grow sweet potatoes. Why bother giving her an official position?
Ye Mingzhu looked at Xiaowu suspiciously, always feeling that he was not telling the truth.
"The capital is so far away from us, how did you know about the things we are still discussing?"
"The Yu family has a special channel that can deliver the news to Brother Li, and it will arrive in three days." Xiao Wu said seriously: "This matter must be true."
"Three days? So this news was from three days ago?" Ye Mingzhu continued to ask.
"right."
"So what's the latest news?"
"No latest news."
"Then what are you doing here?"
Ye Mingzhu was really confused. What could Xiaowu say about this uncertain news?
"Brother Li said that if you can't grow sweet potatoes, the court might confer you the title of county lady or township lady as compensation." Xiaowu explained in detail.
Ye Mingzhu still looked confused. She didn't understand what the benefits of conferring the title of Lord were.
Not to mention she is a modern person, even ancient people might not understand it.
Generally, only the mother or wife of a fifth-rank official can be granted the title of County Lady. Township Lady is even higher in rank. Such titles are more of an honor and usually do not come with a salary. However, the biggest advantage is that Jiang Hongyu's promotion will be faster as he is registered in the court.
"In other words, if I am conferred the title of county lady or township lady, the biggest beneficiary will be Hongyu?" Ye Mingzhu listened for a while and finally understood.
Her words sounded awkward, but Xiao Wu nodded. "Yes, as long as there's a chance, Hongyu will be promoted. After all, no wife of an official below the fifth rank in the imperial court has ever been granted a title."
This was said as if the court was very generous.
Ye Mingzhu asked, "Is this matter confirmed?"
Xiao Wu said a little embarrassedly: "Not yet."
Ye Mingzhu's expression immediately turned from sunny to gloomy. Bringing up something that didn't happen? Was he teasing her?
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