Chapter 543 – Winds of Destiny (Part 13)
Months have passed since spring plowing, and the weather has turned hotter still, making the Political Affairs Hall feel like a sauna every day.
Jiang Pengji had no such worries; she donned a simple, lightweight outfit, sleeves rolled up to her shoulders, pant legs bunched halfway up her thighs, her bare arms and legs making Wei Ci blush for no apparent reason, while Yang Si gave her an odd look.
“Do you harbor some illicit thoughts about your lord?”
Yang Si wrote with one hand while fanning himself with the other.
Even so, he was still drenched in sweat, his shirt clinging to his back like it was trying to escape, beads of perspiration popping up on his forehead.
Wei Ci’s hand trembled, ruining the neat letter he was drafting, leaving a rogue black line. He sighed and crumpled the paper, looking calm while his fingers betrayed him with their shakes. “Jingrong’s nonsense—both you and the lord are men…”
Yang Si scoffed, “Changshou Wang certainly has his fair share of boys and darlings, and it’s not like he’s hiding it.”
Having seen the dark side of aristocratic families, Yang Si didn’t believe they all adhered to “yin-yang harmony.” How else could male favoritism be so prevalent?
“What if they are men? Speaking of which, Zixiao is twenty-two this year, right? With no wife or concubine in the back courtyard, people won’t just assume you have an unspeakable secret—no doubt they’ll think you’re into young boys… that’s perfectly normal,” Yang Si chuckled, relishing the sight of Wei Ci’s changing expression, feeling like he had chugged a bowl of ice water in the sweltering summer, “If you fancy your lord, what’s so bad about that?”
Wei Ci countered, “Jingrong is twenty-nine, and he’s still all alone.”
Yang Si retorted, “That’s just me having high standards; ordinary women don’t catch my eye. Matchmakers have trodden through my door, but I just wasn’t interested.”
Wei Ci choked for a moment. “I have no intention of founding a family.”
Seeing a trace of worry cross his face, Yang Si softened a bit, afraid he might touch a sore spot.
“Still tangled up in that broken divination?”
Just then, Jiang Pengji’s voice echoed from outside.
As she walked in, she said, “What broken divination? Finished with the affairs, and you’re chatting away without me?”
Yang Si’s mouth twitched; Jiang Pengji had just been out in Jiao County to conscript laborers, and now she was back already?
Once she stepped through the door, the two could see she was cradling two round green objects in her arms.
Wei Ci gawked, “Green Gate Green Jade House?”
Yang Si and Jiang Pengji both went blank, while the audience in the live stream was equally puzzled.
Watermelon is just watermelon; why add such elegance?
Jiang Pengji simply didn’t know watermelon had such a nickname, and Yang Si had never seen one before.
Wei Ci froze for a moment before coming to his senses. What the refined gentry referred to as “Green Gate Green Jade House” was none other than watermelon, which had yet to reach from the Western Regions… He recalled correctly that this was a tribute sent by various vassal states to curry favor with the emperor after Jiang Zhao’s ascension. It was delicious and refreshing in the sweltering summer, quickly becoming a treasure for the common people to enrich themselves.
Now… how did it suddenly appear?
“So it has another name! I call it watermelon. It’s pretty easy to grow; we could consider planting some here in Cheng’an County for summer hydration,” Jiang Pengji placed the two watermelons on the table, pulled out a dagger, and chopped one in half.
Chilled in well water, the fruit released a cooling vapor.
“Wasn’t it said that only the Western Regions have these…?” Wei Ci remarked.
“Indeed, it’s from the Western Regions. My uncle travels back and forth for trade and loves to collect peculiar plants. He sent me some last year. I planted them in the little garden at the Xiangyang County government; I heard they bore fruit, and I tasted one—it wasn’t bad.”
In truth, Jiang Pengji had no clue about plants from ancient times; she had learned about watermelon from the audience in her live stream, who taught her how to plant it and care for it. She had memorized the tips and passed them on to the steward.
Hastily back from Jiao County, after hearing Qi Guanrang mention it, she returned to Xiangyang County to pick a few.
Rare items are always expensive. Jiang Pengji wanted to quickly restore Fengyi County, ensuring that commerce didn’t wane.
However, such fruits were merely for enjoyment and couldn’t replace grain; even in planting, the numbers and fields would need restrictions.
If the common people saw others profiting from watermelon, everyone would want a piece of the action. Who would plant food crops?
What would they eat without grain?
Jiang Pengji pondered these matters while presenting the platter of watermelon to the two.
“Zixiao can’t have too much; these are cold in nature. Just a slice or two for a treat,” she cautioned.
【Yuan Yuan Xia Tiao】: Seeing watermelon makes me want to eat too! Pure natural watermelon, soooo juicy and sweet, I just want to go downstairs and buy one.
【Starry Big Boss】: I’m already holding half a watermelon, scooping it with a spoon—so much better than nibbling one piece at a time.
The backyard garden in Xiangyang County only had about an acre and a half; she had someone send some to reward her subordinates.
In summer, munching on watermelon could even lift one’s spirits.
Yang Si found Jiang Pengji annoying but had to admit the food here was delicious, even the summer fruits stood out.
“My Lord, I’ve already instructed the workers to dig the irrigation canals and chop enough bamboo to slice and dry,” Wei Ci reported.
“Good. How’s the new bricks from the kiln?”
“We can already produce excellent quality bricks; while they’re not as sturdy as the regular blue bricks, they won’t break easily,” Wei Ci replied.
The three continued to chomp on watermelon while discussing business, the scene too lovely, making the live stream audience quite envious.
【Tuhui Big Boss】: Thanks, streamer! I reckon this year’s watermelon farmers are going to be thrilled.
The mysterious nature of the live stream and its cross-dimensional hype had sparked the emergence of numerous new industries.
Just as an example, now that watermelon appeared in the stream, nearby fruit shops were likely to sell out!
Advertising effects can be terrifying!
Will the watermelon farmers not be grinning from ear to ear?
Jiang Pengji said, “I trust you to handle this.”
The bamboo strips were placed along the irrigation ditches, and the newly fired bricks were to cover the canals.
Since late spring, the weather had grown progressively hotter, with not a drop of rain yet, and Jiang Pengji’s premonitions were about to come true.
During this time, she had mobilized nearly half the labor force to dig channels, reservoirs, and wells while Jiao County and Maolin County were also working tirelessly, all preparing for the impending summer. Although construction in the county town had slowed, it hadn’t halted. The once desolate county, ravaged by the Green Garment Army, began to exude an air of vitality.
As long as everyone united in purpose, almost nothing was impossible.
Entering June, with the weather scorching and the sun blaring, not even wild cats or dogs dared linger outdoors.
A major event impacting the entire Dongqing situation occurred without warning: the Second Prince’s consort, An Yina, dropped dead.
