Chapter 89: Naughtiness

◎ Could it be that the Marquis has a grudge against his own son? ◎

"Hua'er, does he know about Lian'er?"

Zhu Ying hastily nodded, "Of course, after saving the Master that day, he even took a glance at the residence. Moreover, before he left, the Master instructed me to protect the Young Lady..." Before Zhu Ying could continue, Hua Zhan interrupted him and countered with a question, "Did he order you to spy on her?"

He waved his sleeves with a cold expression, "Being so close, you knew what Lian'er was doing in her room and even stole the poem she wrote. If Lian'er were to find out, how would she react? Wouldn't her reputation as an unmarried woman be ruined by your actions?"

Zhu Ying: "..." He recalled the letter intercepted by the Marquis, which was all about the Young Lady... He could only defend himself, "The window was open, I didn't peep, nor did I dare look at anything inappropriate..."

He just felt that since the Young Lady was so fond of the Master and treated him so well, he should report everything truthfully to the Master so he could understand her deep affection and devotion. What if the Master fell for another captivating woman outside and forgot about the Young Lady, who had always been deeply devoted to him?

As a loyal subordinate, he naturally hoped that the Master wouldn't be an ungrateful person but would treat the Young Lady well!

However, Hua Zhan coldly harrumphed, "Naughty!"

He knew his eldest son well. Even if Hua'er was curious about Lian'er, he would never order his subordinate to steal letters or constantly monitor her. At most, he would ask him to look after her.

This wayward youth is merely acting on his own initiative!

Zhu Ying: "..."

He lowered his head, not daring to meet the marquis's piercing gaze, presenting an appearance of obvious guilt and unease.

Yet, something suddenly occurred to him, and he lifted his head, disbelief etched on his face as he asked, "Her reputation? What do you take Madam for? You know very well that the Master is still alive..." When he returns, he would surely give Madam a grand ceremony befitting her status as the rightful wife and treat her with the utmost respect. Why would there be any mention of her reputation? Wasn't this referring to an unmarried maiden awaiting marriage?

With his hands folded behind his back, the man gazed into the distance with his chin slightly raised. He cleared his throat and said, "Yes, if Lian'er were to meet a worthy partner, I would indeed assume the role of a father for my dear in-law, and see her off on her wedding day."

Zhu Ying stared at the Lord Hou, whose countenance was grave and sincere, finding it almost inconceivable to believe.

Is this my father? The father of my master? ?? Knowing full well that the master is still alive, he treats his daughter-in-law as his own daughter, even contemplating the prospect of escorting her to her wedding in the future.

Does Lord Hou hold a grudge against his own son?

He wore an embarrassed expression, wanting to say something, but at that moment, the Marquis straightened his face and asked, "Since Hua'er is aware of Lian'er's existence, what are his intentions towards her? If he is still alive, he should not abandon her for his entire life."

Despite his fading spirits and lack of concern for worldly affairs, he had been watching closely as his daughter-in-law conducted herself over the past year. He would rather Hua'er disappoint her parents and grandmother for a lifetime than betray her!

The underlying message was not only about whether Yu Lian could learn of Hua Ji's survival but also about how Hua Ji viewed his devoted fiancée - now wife in the eyes of all.

To everyone, Yu Lian was the Hua family's eldest daughter-in-law, irrevocably tied to Hua Ji.

Zhu Ying pondered; he was unsure of his master's intentions, but it was clear that his master didn't plan on revealing his existence to anyone, not even the Marquis, who had stumbled upon the truth himself.

As for how his master would treat the young madam, that was beyond Zhu Ying's knowledge as a subordinate. Instinctively, he believed that with such an exceptional young madam, why would his master disappoint her?

No man on earth could resist such profound affection.

Handing the letter to Zhu Ying, Hua Zhan asked him to recount his discovery of the eldest son's survival and convey a few words of advice: that Hua Ji should prioritize safety over ambition. He also asked Zhu Ying to inquire if he could share the news with Yu Lian, and even his grandmother.

As for Mrs. Chen and the rest of the family, they were not to be considered. Mrs. Chen was not reliable, and if she found out Hua Ji was safe, she might inadvertently reveal the secret. The three younger siblings were out of the question as well.

After a sigh, Hua Zhan said it was best to forget it. He decided to write the letter himself and have Zhu Ying deliver it.

"The carrier pigeon is still alive, I've kept it in a cage for you. You can retrieve it from my courtyard later."

"By the way, your letter writing is too crude. Years ago, I developed a coded language for military communication, which Hua'er is familiar with. From now on, use this code in your letters to prevent them falling into the wrong hands."

Zhu Ying: "…Okay."

And so, the two returned, one with hands clasped behind their back, suppressing a mix of joy and complicated emotions, while the other appeared guilty and flustered.

Not long after the New Year, Yu Lian's workshop opened its doors.

It wasn't that she wanted to be an evil landlord exploiting labor, but the villagers had come to her door, urging her to start work as soon as possible. They were tired of staying at home and eagerly sought something to do, anything to earn some silver.

Moreover, they wished to finish the production in the workshop before the warm weather arrived and spring plowing began. Farming was the foundation of their lives, and no amount of silver could make them neglect it. They needed to plant their crops, for food in hand meant survival.

Thus, the workshop started operating at full speed. Since most of the fruit preserves were already made, there weren't many raw materials left. At this time of year, fresh fruits were not available, so they focused on making salted and vegetable canned goods. Fortunately, these sold much better than the fruit preserves.

After all, for the common folk of that era, filling their stomachs was crucial. A meat or salted vegetable can paired with dry bread made for a satisfying meal, whether at home or on the road during business trips. It was the most practical choice.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, March arrived. The snow had melted, revealing sprouting branches on trees. Fields that had lain idle enjoyed the blessings of winter snow, awaiting the farmers' plows to turn the soil and sow seeds.

Spring plowing was one of the most critical times for rural folk. If they didn't plant their crops now, they would face hunger in the autumn. Timing was crucial; planting too early risked the seeds freezing in the ground, while planting too late would result in stunted growth and poor yields. Experienced farmers could judge the right time to sow based on the weather conditions.

Yu Lian's family had been eagerly anticipating the spring plowing of their ten acres of land since last year. After waiting for half a year, they finally managed to invite an experienced old fruit farmer from the town, who had worked on Lord Chen's fruit orchard, to inspect their land.

The old farmer bent over and walked the entire plot from end to end. Upon finishing his inspection, he shook his head and said to Hua Sanduo, "Young man, you're still too inexperienced. You have no knowledge of farming or cultivating fruit trees. It won't work, it just won't."

Yu Lian and Hua Sanduo both wore expressions of confusion. Second Uncle, who was standing nearby, sighed, as if he had expected this outcome.

The old farmer continued, "This land has just been cleared. Not only is it lacking in fertility, but the soil is mostly sandy. Even by the river, you wouldn't get much out of it."

Yu Lian suddenly understood why the village chief had given them this piece of land so readily. With its proximity to the river for irrigation and no one else wanting to cultivate it, the problem lay in the poor quality of the soil.

Most villagers in Shangyi Village primarily grew wheat and millet, with some corners and small plots dedicated to various grains and beans.

Perhaps if they cultivated crops for a few years, the land could become slightly more fertile. However, when it came to fruit trees... The old farmer sighed and advised, "I suggest letting the land rest for a few years before planting fruit trees. Ideally, you should try to exchange it for another plot."

Yu Lian: "..." If they could exchange the land, what was there to worry about?

The old farmer took one last look and suggested, "Why not plant barley? Although it's not particularly tasty and doesn't fetch a high price, it's not picky about the land. It's perfect for cultivating new, recently cleared land during the first few years."

Yu Lian turned to Second Uncle, knowing nothing about agriculture. Even in her previous life, despite poverty, she had never been involved in farming. Second Uncle nodded, and Yu Lian thanked the old fruit farmer. Seeing this, Hua Sanduo slipped a string of copper coins to send the old man on his way.

After the old fruit farmer had inspected the land, Yu Lian spent the whole day crouched in the field, studying it intently. Mrs. Chen and the others assumed she was disheartened, for Yu Lian was always composed and exceptionally capable, never failing at any task. This time, however, the land seemed to have defeated her.

She had personally chosen this plot from the very beginning, envisioning a vast orchard for her family. The old farmer's words, suggesting that even if they managed to grow fruit trees, their survival and quality were uncertain, had struck a blow.

The elderly Mrs. Chen, worried all day, decided to visit the field unaccompanied, leaning on her cane. She bent her aged back before her granddaughter-in-law, asking, "Is Lian upset?"

Looking up, Yu Lian saw her grandmother stooped and quickly stood, assisting her, fearful of causing her any strain.

Mrs. Chen chuckled and didn't resist as she was helped up. Together, they found a large riverbank stone to sit on.

Smiling, she asked, "How can a mere piece of land defeat you?"

"Where is my resourceful and confident granddaughter-in-law?"

"You and your father, mother, we all knew from the start how much hope you placed in this land. Back then, when our family first arrived with no source of income, you requested it from the village, fearing we'd exhaust our resources. Later, with the workshop established, you hoped for a bountiful orchard, expecting our business to flourish. Now that it might not come to fruition, your heart must be aching, isn't it?"

Yu Lian smiled, nodded, and then shook her head.

Indeed, this was a lesson learned. She shouldn't have ventured into an unfamiliar field impulsively, acquiring such a vast tract of uncultivated land. Although it wasn't expensive, combined with the labor costs for clearing it, the investment was substantial. If this land couldn't fulfill its promise and support the fruit trees she desired, hadn't she made a costly mistake?

She could consider this a setback caused by the harsh village chief. If she had been proficient in farming from the start, she wouldn't have fallen into this trap.

Yu Lian shared her thoughts with the old lady, expressing her self-reflection and the lesson learned. "Grandchild will be more cautious in the future."

Fortunately, she didn't rely on this land for her livelihood. Even when the plot was idle, she had already earned a substantial amount of silver. But imagining the scenario where a family had no means of income, barely scraping by for a year, only to discover that the land couldn't produce any crops, would truly be a disaster.

The old lady patted her hand affectionately and smiled with deep wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. "It's best that you think this way. Learning from your mistake and not repeating it is a good thing."

"Grandmother once thought my granddaughter-in-law was too capable, not at all like a delicate lady raised in the depths of a mansion. Now I see that you are indeed a noble lady, just more capable and able to handle major affairs. In Grandmother's opinion, falling here wasn't a mistake. Your father, mother, and I can understand. It's normal for Lian'er not to know these farming matters. If you did, Grandmother would wonder if the Wei Duke's household mistreated you, forcing you to endure hardships and learn farming."

The old lady's tone shifted as she continued, "Didn't your second uncle suggest leasing this land to another family? Lian'er, there's no need to worry. Let's do just that, let it rest for a few years before planting something else."

However, Yu Lian shook her head and smiled. "Since Uncle Old Farmer said we can plant barley, let's plant barley." At present, barley was not valuable or sought after due to its poor taste and difficulty in hulling, primarily used to feed livestock. No household in Upper Village cultivated barley.

Due to its low price, common folk tended to plant wheat, millet, and rice more often. Although they required more effort than barley, their higher prices made them profitable even after taxes. The surplus could be exchanged for coarse grains to feed the family, making them a more practical choice than barley.

But Yu Lian thought of an advantage of barley—brewing alcohol!

If its price was low, then they could make wine, and wine was expensive!

Thus, she spent the entire afternoon crouched in the field. After some initial self-reflection, the rest of her time was occupied with pondering the art of brewing alcohol from barley!