Chapter 1054 – Climbing Flower (4)
Feng Zhen tidied up his appearance slightly and stepped forward to salute, “Greetings, Lord—”
Despite his chaotic inner thoughts, he maintained a gentle and calm demeanor on the surface.
Jiang Pengji looked at Feng Zhen with a half-smile, half-tease on her face.
Today’s sun must have risen from the west, how could this carefree Feng Zhen suddenly look so dignified?
Perhaps it was due to the rush of the journey; Feng Zhen hadn’t managed to catch his breath just yet.
His cheeks were tinged pale from the cold wind, and his lips had turned blue. Given his generally frail physique, he appeared weak and pitiful.
“Before I left, I did give you instructions. Why are you here instead of staying properly at the military camp?” Jiang Pengji teased with a smile, “Moreover, the wind is so strong outside. If your fragile body were to be blown away, I’d have to find someone to bring you back.”
Feng Zhen nearly choked, gasping for air.
Who would be crazy enough to ride all the way here if they weren’t worried about the Lord?
Riding through the cold wind hurt like crazy!
“I heard that the Lord left the camp without anyone, fearing an accident, so I dared to defy military orders. Please punish me, Lord.”
Jiang Pengji felt her teeth ache at this. Under normal circumstances, Feng Zhen would usually be evasive; how could he possibly “plead guilty” so seriously?
What a performance!
“Your intentions are good; how could I actually punish you?” Jiang Pengji said, “But let this be a warning for next time.”
Feng Zhen clasped his hands and smiled, “Understood.”
Jiang Pengji rolled her eyes internally. In front of Wan Xiuer, she couldn’t really make Feng Zhen lose face.
Otherwise, she definitely wouldn’t let him off so easily.
“Lord, are you planning to take these climbing flowers with you?” Feng Zhen glanced at Wan Xiuer, “How tender and precious they are.”
In comparison, he was just accompanying someone to replant saplings; by any measure, he seemed to be at a disadvantage.
“What tender and precious!” Jiang Pengji snap back, “Not only are we moving these trees, but I also intend to send some people to your mother’s family.”
Feng Zhen’s heart skipped a beat—
No wonder he thought too far ahead; his lord was going to meet the in-laws?
Although Feng Zhen didn’t voice it, Jiang Pengji saw through his thoughts and felt a surge of mischief.
If it weren’t for Wan Xiuer being there, she’d definitely give Feng Zhen a lesson to teach him why flowers are so red.
Feng Zhen noticed Jiang Pengji’s expression darkening and suddenly realized he was mistaken.
To turn the tide, Feng Zhen asked, his expression serious and voice steady, sounding like a right-minded person.
“Lord, are there any issues with these trees?”
If it wasn’t about meeting the in-laws, then the problem must lie with the trees.
Jiang Pengji replied, “People in the north can knit wool sweaters to survive the winter, and those with better means can burn coal. However, if we transport a large number of sweaters south, the cost of each garment will skyrocket, making it unaffordable for many. The south has fertile lands but isn’t suitable for mass-breeding sheep with more wool. However, the fibers from these trees can solve this problem. They can be used to make thread for weaving cloth, and also as filling for clothing, thus providing warmth—don’t you think it’s important?”
Jiang Pengji smiled as she placed the tuft of fiber into Feng Zhen’s hands, which still bore the warmth of her palm.
When it came to matters of livelihood, Feng Zhen didn’t dare to be careless.
He gently pulled at the tuft of fiber and twirled it with his fingers.
“Can, can this really work?” A myriad of thoughts flashed through his mind, “A number of nobles use this for display; I wonder how easy it is to cultivate? If it’s difficult, then even if it can be woven and made into clothing, the common people wouldn’t be able to afford it. Another point is, how much arable land would this plant take up? If it takes too much good land, it would reduce crop yields. How much fiber can be harvested from one plant in a year, and how many garments can that eventually be made into? If a year’s labor doesn’t cover costs, it would be better not to plant it.”
Feng Zhen considered thoroughly; besides these issues, he had a string of uncertainties.
Although being able to make fabric from the fibers was good news, there were still many unresolved questions.
Don’t be fooled by Feng Zhen’s usual unserious demeanor; when he gets serious, he’s quite charming.
Didn’t you see the audience in the live stream cheering him on?
Wan Xiuer, hearing Feng Zhen’s questions, felt her previously fervent heart cool down a bit.
Indeed, it seemed she had been overly optimistic earlier, as many things hadn’t been considered.
At that moment, Jiang Pengji’s voice drifted into her ear.
“Exactly for that reason, we must send people to your mother’s family to see; I think we could find more useful information there.”
Even though they had a live stream, the two worlds were fundamentally different.
Not only were the distributions of land and sea different, but even the animals and plants varied.
If they followed the conditions from the audience’s world, such a crop as cotton wouldn’t even exist.
Of course, differences were rare; most were quite similar.
The cotton references provided by the audience could serve as a guide, but they couldn’t be taken as a conclusion.
Seeing her lord being rational made Feng Zhen stop dousing cold water on her plans, and instead, he curiously handled that tuft of fiber.
“If this truly can solve the clothing issue for the common people, I don’t know how many would voluntarily honor Lady Wan with a longevity plate, offering incense with every meal.”
Wan Xiuer’s cheeks flushed, “What merits could a mere woman like me possess? Mr. Feng’s words are overly flattering. Even if there’s merit, it’s due to Liu Xi’s efforts. Many nobles have planted this, but no one has suggested it can be woven into clothing to benefit the common people.”
Getting the common people to spontaneously honor a longevity plate—how many nobles throughout history have achieved such a thing? How could it be her turn?
Feng Zhen laughed, “Lady Wan has a sharp mind and speaks sweetly; no wonder the Lord is so attentive to you.”
Jiang Pengji cleared her throat, interrupting their conversation.
“This matter shouldn’t be publicized. We must send a few reliable individuals to handle it; absolutely no mistakes can be allowed. Moreover, Xiuer shouldn’t accompany the troops. Remember to send her to Wanzhou for safety. If these two tasks aren’t handled well, I’ll definitely hold you accountable—”
Feng Zhen clasped his hands and bowed deeply, solemnly agreeing.
“Understood.”
Matters of livelihood must be managed meticulously.
With the army’s rest time being short, tasks must be expedited.
Meanwhile, Wan Xiuer sighed in relief.
Thank goodness she had anticipated this beforehand and prepared her gifts early; otherwise, she would have been in a flurry.
Feng Zhen was quick and efficient, getting everything arranged by the next morning.
“Lady Wan, I have an unusual request.”
A hint of surprise flickered in Wan Xiuer’s eyes, but she kept her composure, “Mr. Feng, please go ahead.”
Feng Zhen brought over a box, which did not seem light.
“Since I’ve been apart from my young son Feng Yi for so long, I feel remorseful. For many years, I haven’t fulfilled my duties as a father, and I cannot bear the guilt.”
“Mr. Feng has his own difficulties; your son will surely understand,” Wan Xiuer replied, “Are you hoping that this woman could pass this to your son?”
Feng Zhen nodded, but his expression grew troubled.
Wan Xiuer asked, “Mr. Feng, are you facing a dilemma?”
Feng Zhen said, “Although there are loyal servants caring for my son, servants and biological fathers are different. If Lady Wan finds it convenient, I wonder… could you occasionally provide some care for him? At that age, his temperament is most unstable, easily influenced by outside factors, and I truly feel uneasy—”
