Chapter 82: Offering Gifts

Chapter 82: Offering Gifts

Shu Huacai and Zheng Yiwan were busy at the inn all day long, leaving only Ru Tang, Shu Pozi, and the female tutor hired by the Shu family at home.

When Shu Pozi saw Qiu Huanian bringing Jiu Jiu, she quickly invited them in, served tea, and then hurried out to fetch the Shu couple.

Qiu Huanian told her not to trouble herself, "I’m here to bring a book to Ru Tang. I’ll sit for a while and then leave. Don’t let me disrupt their business."

The oyster sauce from Qiu's Six Staples was sold every five days, with only twenty bottles available per sale. There were two exceptions: Shuyi Inn and Xianwei Restaurant near the examination hall. These two places received two bottles of oyster sauce monthly. Those who couldn’t buy the sauce could spend a fortune dining there to satisfy their cravings instead.

The business at Shuyi Inn and Xianwei Restaurant had more than doubled thanks to the oyster sauce effect.

This was Qiu Huanian’s way of repaying the two families for their past kindness.

The oyster sauce from Qiu's Six Staples had become the most sought-after item in Xiangping Prefecture and throughout Liao Province.

With only twenty bottles sold every five days, the sauce was in constant demand. Large households, if they consumed it freely, couldn’t keep up with the purchasing pace.

To fulfill the master’s orders, every time the oyster sauce went on sale, the entrance to Qiu's Six Staples would be crowded with servants, all fearing they might miss out if they were even a little late.

Given Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse’s status, and with the backing of the Zhu family and Su Yi, the Left Administration Commissioner of Liao Province, no one dared to make trouble. They could only wait in line quietly.

Qiu Huanian heard from Zhu Jingcheng that the oyster sauce had even become a 'trendy item' for gifts among wealthy families, often listed individually on gift lists.

Qiu Huanian was pleased with this trend but had no intention of blindly increasing production.

If there were too much of it, it would lose its rarity. Expanding the business too quickly might be beyond what he and Du Yunse could handle.

It was better to earn a moderate profit while using scarcity marketing to enhance the reputation and prestige of the oyster sauce and Qiu's Six Staples.

After Qiu Huanian and Jiu Jiu arrived, Ru Tang paused her studies to greet them, and her tutor also came out.

"Greetings, Lord Qiu."

"Please, have a seat. No need for formalities."

Ru Tang’s tutor, who was in her early twenties, was named Yuan Jia. Qiu Huanian thought she looked familiar. Yuan Jia smiled gently and said, "My younger brother, Yuan Ruo, is a classmate of your son. Previously, when Young Master Du invited his classmates to your home, I accompanied my brother and had a brief encounter with you, Lord."

After learning about Chun Sheng’s difficulties, Qiu Huanian hosted several small gatherings at home to help Chun Sheng make friends.

Yuan Ruo was the classmate who often reported Chun Sheng’s misdeeds but would lend him lecture notes.

The two boys had started off on the wrong foot but had since become inseparable friends.

"So you’re Yuan Ruo’s sister. I’ve been so busy lately that I didn’t remember you."

"Lord Qiu, you are wise and talented, with many responsibilities. It’s understandable that you might forget after not speaking before. But now you’ll remember."

Yuan Jia spoke softly, but her words were clear and logical. In the Yu Dynasty, women who could work as tutors were not ordinary; they had to be capable and supported by their families.

Qiu Huanian handed "Elementary Mathematics: Equations" to Ru Tang, who immediately excitedly pulled Yuan Jia to look through it together.

Yuan Jia wanted to apologize, but Qiu Huanian told her not to be formal, as he didn’t care about such rituals.

Thus, the teacher and student immediately became engrossed in reading.

Ru Tang’s interest in mathematics partly stemmed from her tutor, Yuan Jia, whose mathematical knowledge was much higher than Qiu Huanian had expected. As they read, Yuan Jia asked insightful questions, all hitting the mark.

After reading a dozen pages, she barely managed to suppress the urge to continue and sincerely said, "Being able to tutor Ru Tang and having the privilege of reading such a remarkable book ahead of others is truly a fortunate thing."

Ru Tang smiled and said, "From now on, Mr. Yuan can read with me every day, and I still need Mr. Yuan to teach me."

"That's natural."

They sat for a while and talked about Zhu Xia, whom they had just seen outside.

Upon hearing that Zhu Xia had offended the eldest young mistress of the Zhu family and was expelled from the Zhu family's elementary school, Ru Tang's face showed no joy, only a deep melancholy.

"Zhu Xia and I have been close friends since childhood, always playing together."

"She wasn't always like this."

Thinking about Zhu Xia's gradual changes over the past two years, Ru Tang felt a pang of sadness.

Although she had already broken off her friendship with Zhu Xia due to differing views and frequent quarrels, she still couldn't take pleasure in her misfortune when mentioning her once closest friend.

Jiu Jiu asked curiously, "What was Zhu Xia like before? How did she change so much?"

Qiu Huanian took a sip of tea, allowing Jiu Jiu to ask, think, and understand on her own.

"Zhu Xia never used to talk about concubines, heirs, or virtues. Every day, she just played with us, kicking sandbags, swinging on swings, playing hide-and-seek, and arranging flowers... She was even more fun-loving than I was."

"Later, her father managed to marry her sister off to the Zhu family, and she gradually changed."

"If she had remained the same, I wouldn't have comforted her after hearing about her father's continuous taking of concubines. It wasn't until after our argument that I realized Zhu Xia had completely become someone I no longer recognized."

Ru Tang lowered her head sadly, and Yuan Jia gently patted her head in comfort.

"The teachings and examples set by parents and elders are crucial for children."

Jiu Jiu nodded thoughtfully, "Even a piece of uncut jade, if left in a muddy ditch, will only become a broken stone."

Qiu Huanian and Jiu Jiu stayed at the Shu family until it was nearly time for Chun Sheng to finish school, then took a carriage to pick him up, also giving Yuan Jia a ride to pick up her brother.

The private school Chun Sheng attended was run by a classmate of Du Yunse's from Qingfeng Academy, and it was filled with children from ordinary families. Chun Sheng's clothing was already the finest among them.

Jin San skillfully parked the carriage by the street and waited until the school gate opened, and students began to file out.

Chun Sheng and a cute, slightly disheveled child with bangs covering his forehead came out of the yard, arguing.

Seeing Qiu Huanian in the carriage, Chun Sheng's eyes lit up with surprise, and he ran over immediately.

"Brother Hua! Why are you picking me up from school today?"

The child who had been arguing with Chun Sheng also looked into the carriage, "Sister?"

Yuan Jia said sternly, "Yuan Ruo, hurry up and greet them properly."

Yuan Ruo immediately pressed down his bangs and stood up straight, "Hello, Qiu Huanian, hello, Sister Quehan."

Qiu Huanian smiled, "Get in the carriage; we'll give Yuan Jia and Yuan Ruo a ride on the way."

...

Su Xinbai suddenly changed his stance and punished Zhu Lu, the eldest daughter-in-law of the second branch, and the news quickly spread throughout the vast Zhu family.

Although the punishment of copying three volumes of scriptures in the ancestral hall was extremely light compared to other family laws, it was undoubtedly a signal that Su Xinbai was going to intervene in the affairs of the Zhu family's inner household.

The Zhu family was large and prosperous, with interests entangled everywhere. The sudden intervention of the previously aloof golden Buddha caused widespread unease.

Even the old lady of the Zhu family wanted to call Su Xinbai over to question him, but she was dissuaded by the matron beside her.

"The eldest young mistress has just disciplined the second young mistress. If you summon him now, wouldn't it be disrespectful to the eldest young mistress and the Su family?"

The old lady sighed, "Ah, what a mess—when is Jingcheng coming back?"

"The servants at the gate have sent word that the eldest young master will return this evening."

"Enough, this is not a matter for anyone to inquire about. Let Jingcheng handle it himself."

The matron smiled, "It's good that the old lady understands."

The old lady waved her hand, dismissing the maid who was massaging her legs. "Eight years ago, during the Lantern Festival, Jingcheng went to the capital and came back like he'd lost his soul. I called the servants who went with him to ask for details and found out that he had fallen for the legitimate son of a high-ranking official in the capital."

"Our family, though wealthy, would never dare to aspire to such a match. But Jingcheng was like a man possessed, thinking of him day and night, and forbidding the family from arranging a marriage for him."

"I asked him what he really wanted, and he said he'd only give up when that young master was promised to someone else."

The old lady reminisced about these past events with a sigh, "Who would have thought that the high-ranking official would come to Liaozhou as the governor, and by a twist of fate, that young master would indeed condescend to marry into our family."

The matron picked up a small wooden hammer to help massage her back, "It seems this is a match made in heaven, and the sincerity of our eldest young master has moved the heavens."

The old lady sighed, "For generations, the Zhu family has had many wives and concubines, but we ended up with such a sentimental seed. The schemes of the second branch are just plain foolish. If Jingcheng were truly willing to take someone into his chambers, wouldn't there be someone by now?"

"With the old master and me growing weaker by the year, and the eldest son passing early, Jingcheng, as the eldest grandson, has been diligent. Now, most of the family's business is under his control. If he is unwilling, who can force him?"

The matron continued to massage her back while offering comforting words.

"The eldest young master's courtyard is the most tightly guarded; no one knows what happens inside. But I've heard some rumors these past two days that the eldest young master and the eldest young mistress have grown much closer. Maybe in a couple of years, the old lady will be able to hold a legitimate great-grandson."

"Ah, I hope so."

...

After lunch, Su Xinbai sat and read for a while, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

He decided to put down the book and rest on the couch for a while, but before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

Half-asleep, he felt someone enter the room. He wanted to open his eyes, but his eyelids were too heavy to lift.

The person stopped in front of the couch and bent down. Su Xinbai caught a scent of coldness in his nostrils.

Then, his lips were bitten and rubbed a few times before being deeply invaded.

"Mmm—"

Su Xinbai groggily opened his eyes and grabbed the other person's shoulders. Only after the intruder had finished their assault could he finally catch his breath.

"What time is it? When did you return?"

Zhu Jingcheng picked Su Xinbai up and placed him on his lap, kissing him while answering.

"I just got back and couldn't wait to see you."

Su Xinbai rested his chin on Zhu Jingcheng's broad shoulder and yawned slightly.

In the first few days, when Zhu Jingcheng would start messing around in the room before it was even dark, Su Xinbai would still put up a little resistance.

But since resistance was always futile, he had no choice but to get used to it.

The servants in the room had already discreetly excused themselves.

Zhu Jingcheng's hand traced Su Xinbai's beautiful, smooth waistline, itching to explore further.

Su Xinbai sensed the danger and twisted his body.

"It's still daylight."

"Xinbai, it's been almost two days since I've been with you."

Su Xinbai's face flushed, but he insisted, "We still have to wait until nightfall."

Kissing and touching were one thing, but doing more in broad daylight would be downright improper.

Su Xinbai's limit had already shifted to avoiding "serious business" during the day.

It probably wouldn't be long before his limits shifted even more.

Zhu Jingcheng reluctantly released him and kissed Su Xinbai's forehead.

"I'll have someone bring food from the kitchen and get water for you to freshen up."

Zhu Jingcheng stepped into the courtyard, gave orders to the servants, when suddenly a message came from outside—someone from the old lady's entourage had arrived.

Zhu Jingcheng went to the courtyard gate to talk with them, and Su Xinbai, hearing the noise in the main room, pursed his lips.

Zhu Jingcheng returned after a while, and Su Xinbai had already washed his hands and face, his forehead damp with strands of hair.

"What did Grandmother tell you?" he asked, pretending not to care.

Zhu Jingcheng stepped closer to Su Xinbai and reached out to brush away a few strands of hair from his eyes.

"She said our Xinbai was impressive today, dealing with the second branch."

Su Xinbai lowered his gaze, "What do you think?"

"Of course, they deserved it, though the punishment was too light. If you're still upset, I'll help you handle them."

"Who's joking? I'm asking—"

Su Xinbai's words trailed off.

Zhu Jingcheng smiled at him, "I'm serious too."

His eyes were filled with amusement, but his voice gradually deepened, "Anyone who dares to upset you will naturally face the consequences."

Su Xinbai's heart raced, and he blurted out, "So, do you really not want to take a concubine?"

Zhu Jingcheng was stunned, his long brows furrowing.

"I thought I had already bared my heart to you. Are you still questioning my sincerity?"

Su Xinbai turned his head away, nervously clenching his hands, but his words remained sharp.

"You love it so much, but sooner or later you'll get bored, and then—"

His eyes reddened, but he stubbornly refused to lower his head. The slight irritation in Zhu Jingcheng's heart instantly melted away, leaving only tenderness.

He waved his hand, dismissing the servants who kept their heads down.

Zhu Jingcheng took Su Xinbai's hand and crouched down, looking up at him.

"Xinbai, can't you see if I love doing that kind of thing, or if it's because I love you so much that I want to do it?"

"My lord, thinking of me like this makes me truly sad."

Hearing such straightforward words of love, Su Xinbai's throat tightened. He felt both shy and regretful, realizing he shouldn't have been so hasty in judging Zhu Jingcheng.

Zhu Jingcheng smiled, "If my lord doubts me, it must be because I haven't done enough. Why don't you experience it more carefully?"

Zhu Jingcheng stood up and picked up Su Xinbai. Su Xinbai hesitated for a moment, his ears turning red as he nestled in Zhu Jingcheng's arms, allowing himself to be placed on the heated bed.

Soft silk curtains fell, hiding the intimate scene inside.

The kitchen sent the meal, but the masters of the small courtyard were too occupied to eat.

Dian Mo and Shijuan exchanged a sigh.

"Let's take it back to the kitchen to keep it warm. We can get it later if they want it."

The door to the main room didn't open again until nightfall. Zhu Jingcheng, robed, came out and called for hot water.

He personally bathed Su Xinbai, then cradled his exhausted husband in his arms and fed him.

Su Xinbai's protests were futile, and he could only blush as he took each bite.

As their relationship deepened, there was less need for servants in the main room.

Zhu Jingcheng selected Su Xinbai's favorite dishes, eagerly feeding him. Overeating at night could lead to indigestion, so they ate until they were half-full before he put down his chopsticks.

"Regarding the second branch, my lord need not worry anymore. Leave it to me to handle."

Su Xinbai wrapped his arms around Zhu Jingcheng's shoulders and hummed in agreement.

"I never enjoyed dealing with this in the first place."

"I know. Some in the mansion have gotten too comfortable and are afraid you'll stir up trouble. Do they even deserve your attention?" Zhu Jingcheng kissed Su Xinbai's ear.

"Xinbai's time is too valuable to waste on them."

Su Xinbai thought for a moment, still somewhat uneasy.

"Be careful. If it's too difficult, just let it be. What if they trip you up when you go out? At most, you'll just hear some annoying words at home."

Zhu Jingcheng laughed, "You silly thing."

"Who... who are you calling silly?" Su Xinbai widened his eyes in surprise.

For over twenty years, no one had ever called him that.

Zhu Jingcheng coaxed him, "Did I say something? You must have misheard, Xinbai."

Su Xinbai looked at him seriously, but to Zhu Jingcheng, he looked like a pampered little kitten.

Zhu Jingcheng couldn't resist kissing him again. Su Xinbai whimpered, his demand for an explanation forgotten.

...

Prompted by Su Xinbai, Qiu Huanian decided to take the initiative, submitting a memorial to the emperor with the mathematics text.

To present a gift to the emperor, just sending a book was clearly insufficient. Qiu Huanian came to the estate to check on the hand-pushed plow that Bing Qi and Bing Ba, the two brothers, were developing.

As spring deepened, the midday sun already felt warm.

Qiu Huanian, dressed in a pale blue tunic, walked along the fields of the estate. The tenant farmers, already familiar with the master who frequently visited, greeted him and continued with their work.

The cotton seedlings had long been transplanted, and the adjustment period was nearly over. The cotton plants were thriving, hinting at a bountiful autumn harvest.

Qiu Huanian found the two brothers by the two acres of land they had leased.

This land had been set aside from the larger plots of two families who had leased more land. Bing Qi and Bing Ba had been personally brought here by Qiu Huanian to work on the plow. Being skilled carpenters, they got along well with the tenant farmers.

When Qiu Huanian arrived, the two were testing the one-person plow at the edge of the field.

"Master Qiu, you've come?"

"I have some time to spare today, so I came to see how the hand-pushed plow is coming along."

"It's nearly done. Just a bit more fine-tuning, and we'll have the final design."

Qiu Huanian took the hand-pushed plow and gave it a try.

The brothers had incorporated engineering tricks, improving upon Qiu Huanian's original prototype to make it easier to push and less prone to damage.

With Qiu Huanian's strength, he could easily cut through the soil and loosen the earth.

Compared to the traditional plow, it saved both time and effort.

What's more, the materials used had not increased, and aside from the slightly more complex craftsmanship, there were no additional costs.

"Excellent. Work hard these next few days to finish up the product and the design. I'll present them together to His Majesty, and perhaps even get you a reward."

Bing Qi and Bing Ba exchanged determined glances.

Previously in the palace, they had been making toys for the amusement of the nobility, their creations quickly forgotten. Despite their high skill, they had felt little pride.

Now, outside the palace, they were creating tools that farmers could actually use, and in the midst of gratitude and praise, they were gradually finding their purpose.

Qiu Huanian asked, "It's almost lunchtime. Are you going home to eat, or did you bring food?"

Before they could reply, Wei Li showed up with a basket.

Seeing Qiu Huanian, Wei Li gave a shy greeting.

"Brother Li and Granny Wei are not doing well, so we help them with their farming, and they help us with cooking."

Wei Li opened the basket, showing four cornmeal pancakes, a bowl of wild vegetables, two boiled eggs, and a small pot of sorghum porridge.

Bing Qi took the basket and unpacked its contents, "Thanks, Brother Li. The sun's getting intense; I'll whip up an umbrella for you soon."

Wei Li waved his hands in refusal, but Bing Ba smiled and gave his brother a meaningful look.

"My brother's craftsmanship is second to none. He'll make the umbrella in no time and deliver it to you later."

Wei Li had no choice but to accept.

With the meal delivered, Wei Li prepared to leave, leaving the empty dishes and basket for the brothers to return in the evening.

Qiu Huanian walked back with him.

As they walked, Qiu Huanian asked Wei Li with concern, "Have you been getting used to living on the estate these days?"

"I'm used to it. Compared to when I was fleeing for my life outside, this is already a life of luxury."

"That's good. Take care of yourself, and if you need anything, you can come to me."

Wei Li took the initiative to mention, "Township Lord, I can read and write, and I know a bit about painting. I can record the agricultural affairs on the estate and organize them for you, to help you compile the agricultural book."

Qiu Huanian was delighted to hear this, "That's great! I was worried I couldn't always check on the crops myself."

He immediately said, "I'll tell Old Deng later and have someone bring you writing materials. From now on, you'll be in charge of recording the crops' growth and any problems."

Wei Li's eyes sparkled with a smile, and he nodded obediently.

Whether it was reading or painting, he had once resented them deeply because his father hired a teacher to teach him, hoping it would help him climb the social ladder.

But now, he has accepted all of this and embraced his past self once again.

Deep down, he felt that the Wei family in Zhang County would soon no longer be a recurring nightmare.

Wei Li curled his lips and quickened his pace.

He glanced back instinctively, and behind him were endless blue skies and green fields, with wildflowers blooming across the fields.

In the distance, Bing Qi picked up the slightly burnt pancake he made and took a big bite.

...

Once Bing Qi and Bing Ba perfected the single-handed plow, Qimin Bookstore printed the first batch of "Elementary Mathematics: Equations."

Qiu Huanian grabbed twelve bottles of oyster sauce from the stock, along with six new books, the drawings and samples of the single-handed plow, and used his Township Lord token to arrange an official escort to deliver them to the capital.

The memorial accompanying the tribute was written by Qiu Huanian himself, with Du Yunse helping to refine it to avoid any missteps.

In less than ten days, the tribute was delivered to the capital by the official courier, and the memorial was placed on the desk of the Yuanhua Emperor.

Chief Eunuch Wen Xing had singled this out, knowing that the Emperor would be interested in anything related to Du Yunse.

In the afternoon, the Yuanhua Emperor came across Qiu Huanian's memorial.

"The Township Lord I appointed has proven his worth."

"Your Majesty?"

"Issue the decree: Township Lord Qiu has made contributions in writing books and developing agricultural tools. Reward him with a hundred taels of silver, a pair of jade Ruyi, and ten boxes of tribute medicine. The two craftsmen from the palace are each rewarded with ten taels of silver."

"Send the agricultural tools presented by Qiu to the imperial estate, to be overseen by the Crown Prince."

"Send the mathematics books to the imperial library, and order the Second Prince to lead the imperial library officials in studying them. I want to see him compile a practical book based on this."

As the Yuanhua Emperor's words fell, the scribe eunuch sitting in the outer room began drafting the imperial decree.

When this decree was announced, it left many observers baffled.

Since being released from house arrest, the Crown Prince had been devoted to agricultural affairs, traveling to and from the imperial estate every day. Whether it was an act or not, at least it made sense to have him oversee the agricultural tools.

But the Second Prince, Jia Hongyi, was a martial prince widely recognized as the most similar to the Emperor, with most of his supporters in the court being military officers or nobles.

By having the Second Prince handle the imperial library, was the Emperor still keeping him at a distance, or was he trying to cultivate a civil official faction for the Second Prince?