The Zhao family continued to live their quiet lives behind closed doors, ignoring everything that happened outside. Zhao Dawen stayed behind but never came to see them, and he was unaware that they were still in the prefectural city.
The two families kept to themselves and chose to live their own lives.
Spring goes and autumn comes, and it's that time of year again when the Zhao family makes money, followed by the autumn harvest.
This time, the prefect did not take away Zhao Dashu's grain; he had even more land of his own, so he could experiment with it on his own land.
Looking at the harvest figures for each acre of land compiled by his subordinates, the wrinkles on the prefect's face deepened even further.
"Great, great, that's wonderful!"
He was now certain that Zhao Dashu's method was feasible, and he would implement it within his jurisdiction during next year's spring planting season.
He believed that increasing grain production would also ensure a supply of fish, and he was confident that everyone would comply.
The excited people wanted to find Zhao Dashu to share their joy, but then they thought that the imperial edict had not yet arrived. Wouldn't it be better to wait until His Majesty's reward arrived before celebrating together?
He then stopped thinking about it, saying, "I'm going to Aunt Xu's room tonight."
"yes!"
With no man to share his life with, the governor consoled himself by thinking it would be good to find a girl he liked and cared for.
Zhao Dashu stroked his beard and said, "My daughter still has to be you. Our family's harvest is 50% higher than the neighbor's farm. The yield has almost doubled."
"Who else in the whole world could do this besides you? Even His Majesty the current emperor would find it difficult! My dear daughter, if you were a boy, you would definitely have the talent of a prime minister!"
"Dad, shh, don't get too cocky!" Zhao Xiaoyu quickly told her father to shut up. Luckily, it was just the two of them; if outsiders heard them...
"Isn't there nobody here? So I can't even praise you?"
"Alright, go ahead and praise me, keep praising me." Zhao Xiaoyu sat up straight, looking at Zhao Dashu expectantly.
Zhao Dashu: ...What a wretched girl, I have so much to say but I can't say a single word now.
It wasn't until winter, just before the Lunar New Year, that they finally received the imperial edict.
After the prefect sent someone to inform them in advance, everyone busied themselves preparing to receive the imperial edict, and the steward hurriedly prepared the incense table.
"Zhao Dashu, receive the imperial decree!" The imperial envoy unfurled the bright yellow silk, his voice high-pitched.
Zhao Dashu led his entire family to kneel on the ground, saying, "This humble subject receives the imperial decree."
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Zhao Dashu has offered excellent agricultural strategies, benefiting all people and rendering meritorious service to the nation. He is hereby granted the title of 'Agricultural Advisor,' equivalent to a seventh-rank official, with an annual salary of one hundred shi (a unit of grain). He is also awarded one thousand taels of silver, one hundred bolts of silk, and a jade belt. This is the imperial decree!"
Zhao Dashu was stunned. It wasn't until Zhao Xiaoyu quietly tugged at his sleeve that he hurriedly kowtowed, "This humble subject... thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"
Zhao Dashu's hands were still trembling as he received the imperial edict.
The prefect stepped forward with a smile, "Congratulations, Advisor Zhao."
"Thank you, Prefect!"
Zhao Xiaoyu frowned. "What's this 'advisor'? Does such a position still exist in this day and age? Or did the emperor create this position for his father?"
consultant?
Will her father have to go to the prefectural city every day from now on?
Zhao Dashu wanted the imperial envoy to stay for a meal, but the envoy didn't linger and left before the envoy could even ask what benefits the prefect had received.
Everyone had left, and the Zhao family home was eerily quiet. Only when Zhao Dashu held the imperial edict did he feel a sense of reality.
"Xiaoyu, has your father become an official?"
Zhao Xiaoyu glanced at her stunned mother and said, "Yes, Father, you've become an official, a seventh-rank official!"
What a lowly official! Your Majesty is truly generous!
"Really? Heh, I've become an official!"
Zhao Xiaoyu: So, is Dad overjoyed, or worried about having to go to work?
Old Master Qian's voice trembled, "Big...Big Tree...you've become an official?"
"Yes, old man, it seems I have indeed become an official. I am an official now!"
The imperial envoy's gifts were still in the courtyard, and the bright yellow imperial edict was still in his arms. Logically, this couldn't be a dream. No, this definitely wasn't a dream!
Zhao Xiaoyu felt that her father's official position must have been casually bestowed by the Emperor; it sounded very arbitrary. She just didn't dare say it, but her father seemed quite pleased.
"Dad, you're amazing!"
Zhao Dashu also felt that he was great. Wouldn't this count as bringing honor to his ancestors? I guess so.
Grandpa Qian excitedly circled around the yard, saying, "Big Tree, shouldn't you go back to the village? Such a joyous occasion must be told to our ancestors, and we must open the ancestral hall."
"For the first time in history, our Old Sow Village has produced an official! Our ancestors would be ecstatic if they knew, wouldn't you say?"
Go back to the village?
No, no, no, they haven't been back for a year, why would they go back now? They won't go back, they'll talk about it next year or the year after.
"Old man, I won't be going back this year. I'm just a minor official of the seventh rank, nothing to brag about."
Zhao Xiaoyu watched her father show off quietly.
"Father, the prefect is probably busy entertaining other officials these days. When he has some free time in a few days, go and ask him what this official position is all about. Should he go to the government office every day like him?"
Go to the government office every day?
Zhao Dashu stared at his daughter in shock. Could it be? If she went to the government office every day, this wasn't a reward, it was clearly a punishment!
“Alright, I’ll go see the prefect in a few days. I shouldn’t have to be on duty. The officials have already told me that His Majesty wants me to study agriculture properly. How can I have time to study agriculture when I’m in the government office?”
That's true.
My father's official position is probably just a sinecure; it's all just empty talk.
I thought I'd be granted a noble title, but it turns out I didn't. It seems getting a noble title these days is really difficult.
Zhao Dashu finally got a government position, and the whole farm was filled with joy. After the reward was moved into the house, he ordered people to kill chickens and pigs so that everyone could have a good celebration.
Even without relatives or fellow villagers, it's just as good to be happy with the farmers.
Song was pulled into the house by Zhao Xiaoyu like a puppet.
"Mother, snap out of it!"
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