Chapter 49: Road Construction

Chapter 49: Road Construction

Zheng Shanci stopped fishing once he had caught five fish. He chose not to have the servants carry the bucket, opting to carry it himself. Seeing this, Xia Dalang also didn’t let the servants carry the bucket and followed Zheng Shanci with his own bucket. The people Xia Dalang had called to the estate today were all beautiful maids and young men, but Zheng Shanci didn’t even glance at them, proving he really wasn't into that sort of thing. When Zheng Shanci first arrived in Xin Feng County, he had given them a big slap in the face, seemingly to assert his authority, but how could a man not be interested in such things?

Xia Dalang gave up on this thought.

"The Xia family seems different from the other three families. You guys are just too timid," Zheng Shanci said as he placed the bucket in the kitchen. "Steam these fish, please."

The cook acknowledged the order.

The eagerness to follow and accompany him was to gauge Zheng Shanci's attitude. When Xia Dalang heard Zheng Shanci hint at his thoughts, he felt a surge of joy and nodded in agreement: "Lord Zheng is right, we are timid and haven’t done much... illegal things."

The Xia family always got the short end of the stick, always being pushed forward to offend others whenever something happened. This wasn’t humane, but it was also because they were indecisive, having some connections with everyone but not deeply involved. Dealing in contraband salt was a capital offense, and the Xia family had provided transportation channels. They had also bought land from the common people at low prices, but not as excessively as the other three families. If the Xia family didn’t do these things, the other three families would have crushed them.

But you rose above the corruption, first by eliminating this traitor. The wealthy families in the city were also in a difficult position.

Zheng Shanci had his own understanding. The Xia family was relatively clean, so he only targeted the main culprits and would decide on the rest based on their situation.

"Timid yet still encroaching on land and selling smuggled salt?" Zheng Shanci walked out of the kitchen, intending to take a walk in the woods. Hearing this, Xia Dalang's heart skipped a beat—it seemed they had been found out. Feeling increasingly uneasy, Xia Dalang followed closely, his mind adrift, and meekly said, "Lord Zheng, these are baseless accusations. Our family wants to be on good terms with you."

"If we're talking about the city, I also want to be on good terms with you. If I really need to lend a hand, I will definitely help you," Zheng Shanci patted Xia Dalang's shoulder. "But you also shouldn’t make things difficult for me, right? If we both get what we want, that’s a win-win."

Xia Dalang nodded, carefully noting down Zheng Shanci's words, planning to relay them to his father later. Xia Dalang felt that Zheng Shanci's attitude towards their family was still friendly, which was good. Since ancient times, the common people didn’t fight with officials, and the Xia family didn’t have that kind of foundation. Families like the Qi and Cheng had the right connections, while the Xia family only had money.

On the other side, Yu Lanyi and Mr. Xia were walking in the woods. Yu Lanyi spotted two rabbits and his eyes lit up: "Do you have any bows and arrows around here?"

Mr. Xia: "Huh?"

Snapping out of it, he quickly sent someone to get a bow and arrow from the estate. Yu Lanyi, having obtained the bow and arrow, shot down the two rabbits and said, "We'll have stir-fried rabbit meat for dinner."

Mr. Xia: "..."

Where on earth did this guy learn to shoot like that? Mr. Xia smiled and said, "Young Master Yu is so skilled with the bow. Who taught you? I’d like to learn in my spare time."

This was a probe for information.

Yu Lanyi: "I learned with my elder brother when I was young. He taught me. If you're serious about learning, you'll need to head to the capital."

Mr. Xia's heart stirred, but he just smiled. As they chatted on, the topic shifted to Lord Zheng's disinterest in beauty. Yu Lanyi raised his chin and said, "He's no fool. Are they prettier or more noble than me? Marrying me, he ought to be counting his blessings."

Yu Lanyi thought of his own delicate yet strong body and good flexibility. Remembering this, his face turned red again, feeling both embarrassed and angry. Zheng Shanci looked refined, but in reality, he was like a dog.

His body was marked with red, as if he wanted to consume him entirely, leaving no inch untouched.

He hadn’t seen Zheng Shanci's appearance, only heard his damp breathing and felt the rise and fall of his chest.

Zheng Shanci looked slender, but he was well-built when undressed.

Annoyed, Yu Lanyi let loose a few more arrows, damaging some of the flora.

Mr. Xia observed and said, "From day one in Xin Feng County, Lord Zheng has turned down all offers of song and dance. Since then, no one has invited him to dinner with any performances, young men, or women."

This Yu Lanyi might indeed be connected to the Yu family, which would explain Lord Zheng's behavior. With such influential in-laws, Lord Zheng wouldn’t dare to stray, as it would jeopardize his career. Mr. Xia snorted lightly. Men prioritize their careers above all, unlike us young men who devote ourselves entirely to our husbands, while they always seek more.

Hearing this, Yu Lanyi was reassured that Zheng Shanci was keeping his word. He felt relieved and praised Zheng Shanci: "He has never been interested in such things."

The two young men chatted and laughed in harmony, returning to the estate with the two rabbits. Yu Lanyi noticed Zheng Shanci sitting in the courtyard, a small fire brewing tea.

"Finished with your talks?" Yu Lanyi asked, crossing his arms and looking at him.

"We discussed some matters. Are your legs still sore?" Zheng Shanci persuaded the Xia family to contribute some silver for road repairs. Seeing that Yu Lanyi was still full of energy, he asked in a low voice.

Yu Lanyi looked around and dismissed the servants, leaving only him and Zheng Shanci in the courtyard.

"You mustn't do that again," Yu Lanyi glared at Zheng Shanci, then asked, "Do you want to be on good terms with the Xia family?"

Zheng Shanci nodded with a smile, "Divide and conquer."

Yu Lanyi pouted, "I shot two rabbits and want to make stir-fried rabbit."

Zheng Shanci suggested, "Let's opt for something lighter."

Like steamed fish.

Yu Lanyi, exasperated, gave Zheng Shanci a few playful punches, "Don't you know it's a day off? Why did you go so far?! You're driving me up the wall!"

Zheng Shanci could only endure the unbearable burden of life.

Xia Dalang came to call them for dinner. Upon entering the room and seeing Zheng Shanci holding Yu Lanyi, he averted his eyes and said, "Lord Zheng, dinner is served."

"Coming."

Still upset, Yu Lanyi could only longingly gaze at the stir-fried rabbit meat on the table. He rested his face in his hands, occasionally glancing at it.

Xia Dalang had the chef roast a whole lamb today, crispy outside and tender inside, which Zheng Shanci enjoyed.

While eating, he didn't forget to look after Yu Lanyi, serving him a bowl of fish soup and carefully picking out the larger fish bones to place in his bowl.

"Eat slowly and watch out for bones."

Yu Lanyi ate the fish, still feeling somewhat pleased. After dinner, they said their goodbyes to the Xia couple.

Xia Dalang and Mr. Xia personally saw them off to their carriage, then got into their own.

Mr. Xia relayed Yu Lanyi's words to Xia Dalang, "Husband, I think their status is not ordinary. Remember, Elder Cheng is a retired governor with connections in Qingzhou. Lord Zheng shows no fear and has ties with General Yu from the border. I believe we should not oppose Lord Zheng. After all, Elder Cheng has already retired."

Xia Dalang replied, "Do you think I'm unaware of this? Lord Zheng can leave once his term is up, but we are generations deep in Xin Feng County. If we don't resolve this matter now, we'll end up paying the price. I'll have an artist draw a portrait of Young Master Yu and ask around in Qingzhou if anyone recognizes him. If he's indeed from a high-ranking family, we have no choice but to back down; we can't risk provoking them."

Mr. Xia said, "I've already dispatched someone to investigate; the scout should be back by now."

Hearing this, Xia Dalang was delighted and excitedly grasped Mr. Xia's hand, "How did you anticipate this?"

"We're dealing with Young Master Yu, we knew his status was not ordinary. You might not see it, but we can. The County Magistrate's Husband is not someone an ordinary family could raise."

Wealthy families can raise pampered young masters, but someone like Yu Lanyi, only a family with power could raise him.

He can call Lord Zheng by his name directly. Not to mention Lord Zheng is the county magistrate, even in ordinary families, daring to call one's husband by his full name would be courting death. Lord Zheng even picks out fish bones and serves soup for Yu Lanyi during meals.

Xia Dalang was extremely satisfied with Mr. Xia, he sighed, "You are indeed far-sighted, truly from a noble family."

Young masters from great families are best at managing the household, Xia Dalang thought, after all, it's necessary to have a proper husband, the rest are just concubines not fit for public appearance.

Returning to the Xia residence, Xia Dalang immediately went to the main hall, and Mr. Xia summoned the scout to inquire.

The scout first paid his respects, Xia Dalang waved his hand, "Never mind that, speak quickly."

The scout said, "Yes, young master. I first followed Mr. Xia's instructions, took the portrait of the County Magistrate's Husband to inquire, initially without success. Then I met someone working at the Qingzhou governor's residence, who upon seeing the portrait said he seemed to have seen him before when he followed the governor to the capital."

The scout paused.

Xia Dalang was on the verge of losing his patience.

"Hurry up and speak! Do you think this is some kind of storytelling session?!"

Mr. Xia was equally anxious but kept his cool. He reached out and tugged at Xia Dalang, signaling him to calm down.

The scout, chastised, spoke faster: "I gave that man some money, and he remembered seeing this young master near the Emperor."

Xia Dalang and Mr. Xia both froze, holding their breath.

"They say he's the rightful heir of the Marquis of Changyang's family."

Noble families, with their long lineages and inherited titles, are known even in the most remote areas. They were aware of the Marquis of Changyang's household—a top-tier family in the Great Yan Dynasty. The family's eldest son was the Emperor's childhood playmate and now serves as the deputy commander of the imperial guards. The Yu family's second son is stationed at the border, and the current Marquis of Changyang has solidified his standing by marrying into the Duke of Ying's family. The next generation's heir is already a trusted advisor to the Emperor, securing their family's top position in the Great Yan Dynasty for the next hundred years.

The Yu family—what a powerful clan.

A true heir, no doubt about it.

Hearing this, Xia Dalang slumped into his chair, and Mr. Xia was just as stunned.

"I have to find Dad, I have to find Dad..." Xia Dalang muttered incoherently, standing up and nearly stumbling in his haste to find Patriarch Xia.

This meant that while the Yu family rose to prominence, the Xia family was still toiling in obscurity. It was like a flood sweeping over the Dragon King's temple. Xia Dalang rushed to find Patriarch Xia, who, seeing his eldest son so flustered, frowned and berated him: "Where are your manners? Running around like a madman in your own house—what's wrong, are there ghosts after you?!"

"Dad! We can't go against Lord Zheng. Do you know who his wife's family is?" Xia Dalang was visibly agitated and fearful.

"Who?" Patriarch Xia thought, no matter how high, it couldn't be that high, otherwise why would they come to this backwater, Xinfeng County.

"The household of the Marquis of Changyang."

...

Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi headed back. Zheng Shanci picked up some pastries for Yu Lanyi, saying, "Fresh out of the oven."

Yu Lanyi grabbed a pastry, peeked out the carriage window, and noticed the streets were much cleaner than when they first arrived. Zheng Shanci was really making a difference in governing Xinfeng County.

"Zheng Shanci, I see what you're doing," Yu Lanyi said.

Zheng Shanci looked up at Yu Lanyi.

"You're making this place better."

Zheng Shanci was taken aback for a moment, then nodded to his husband. He tweaked Yu Lanyi's ear, and Yu Lanyi instantly bit Zheng Shanci's hand.

Zheng Shanci: "..."

That really hurt.

...

The town head, after getting seeds from the county office, handed them out to the village heads, who then distributed them to the villagers. Thus, they mobilized from top to bottom. The villagers were delighted at the thought of earning money by selling mature medicinal herbs to the county office. Some even came specifically to teach them how to plant the herbs and introduced new fertilizers, which further boosted their enthusiasm.

They had plenty of time and energy, just afraid of not being able to earn money. Now, the young men and women in their families could also work in the county's textile workshops. Although it was somewhat challenging, it was still a viable path.

Growing chili peppers, soybeans, and sesame could also earn money, as the county office would purchase them, leaving them with no worries.

"After selling the medicinal herbs, we'll go eat at the town's restaurant."

"And we'll build a new house to live in."

They chatted and laughed, initially skeptical about the "organic fertilizer" Zheng Shanci had mentioned. But after using it, the crops in the fields grew well, and the medicinal herbs were lush and tender, as if freshly sprouted.

The people of Jinxing Town were the happiest, as they no longer had to grow grain. They took home the seeds, planted them quickly, and tirelessly tended to the medicinal herbs and chili peppers daily. Willow, pear, and jujube trees were planted in circles around their yards.

Those with more land planted astragalus extensively, hoping to exchange it for silver at the county office once it matured.

Planting trees was also profitable, as the fruits could be sold for money. The people took home fruit trees, and these types of trees also helped prevent sand erosion and stabilize the soil. When Zheng Shanci and Scribe Jiang visited several towns, they saw empty plots planted with willows and the like, which brought him comfort.

Desert control takes generations of continuous tree planting to transform the land into an oasis and enrich the soil.

After observing, Zheng Shanci turned his gaze back to the fields to check on the medicinal herbs. Seeing their good growth, he gave a satisfied nod. He had come with the construction team to inspect the roads and took the opportunity to see how the people's medicinal herbs were doing.

The construction team knew more about road construction than Zheng Shanci. They first measured the length and width of the roads. Some roads would encroach on the people's fields, and the county office would need to compensate them accordingly.

In ancient times, roads were mainly built using earth, stone, wood, laid bricks and stone slabs, along with compacted earth and lime mortar to increase the road's hardness. The ancients were capable of building the Great Wall; they were smarter than one might imagine.

"Lord Zheng, are you planning to build roads not only in the villages but also to Lan County?" Tan He asked.

"The village roads will have to wait. We'll focus on building the town roads and the roads to Lan County first," Zheng Shanci replied. Economic development was the priority. Once the benefits were seen and there was money in their pockets, building roads would be much easier.

Tan He nodded. He had learned much from Zheng Shanci and was brimming with enthusiasm. Zheng Shanci also explained the methods of making cement and concrete to the construction team. He wasn't concerned about these methods being disclosed, as they were for road construction. Even if they did, others would only think about building roads.