Chapter 82: Home at Last

Chapter 82: Going Home

Yu Lanyi boarded the carriage and bid them farewell.

Next year, he would spend the New Year with Zheng Shanci, and it would be another year before he could return to the capital. Fortunately, they could still exchange letters. After making the carriage seat more comfortable, the thought of enduring over two months of travel overwhelmed Yu Lanyi.

The mixed feelings of leaving home lingered in his heart, while the anticipation of returning home began to rise.

Before leaving, Yu Lanyi had bought new storybooks in the capital to pass the time. He didn’t enjoy needlework, so the two months ahead seemed unbearably long. After reading storybooks for a month, Yu Lanyi, out of sheer boredom, bought needles and thread to make a pouch.

Jin Yun said, "Young Master, maybe you should just give up. You could always buy more storybooks."

"Who do you think you’re underestimating?" Yu Lanyi, provoked by Jin Yun’s words, insisted on making a pouch. However, it wasn’t long before his fingers were pricked multiple times. He tearfully put down the needle and thread, his fingers now numb.

Jin Yun sighed as he put away the needle and thread.

While Yu Lanyi was on his way back, Zheng Shanci remained busy at the county office. Boss Guan and Boss Qian had come, and at this rate, they would likely rush over right after the New Year.

Zheng Shanci had Wang Fu bring in tea, planning to have a leisurely discussion with them.

Boss Guan took a sip of tea and said with excitement, "Lord Zheng, the liquor we bought from you has been extremely popular. It sold out within a month. If it weren’t for some delays, I would have come earlier. As for the perfume, since we initially acquired only a small amount, we could only sell a few bottles each month, keeping the customers eager for more. The glass perfume you provided fetched a particularly high price." Boss Guan deliberately avoided specifying the exact amount. A regular bottle of perfume cost one tael of silver, while the glass bottle perfume was priced at two taels.

Since Boss Guan had only one glass perfume bottle, he first sold the regular perfume to establish the reputation, then he auctioned off the glass perfume. This auction not only boosted the value of the glass perfume but also allowed the bidders to flaunt their status, as it was a unique item.

Thus, the glass perfume was auctioned off for ten taels, allowing Boss Guan to earn a fivefold profit. He set the price of the regular perfume at two taels and planned to set the glass perfume at four or five taels.

"The silk and chili sauce are also in demand. I’ve already decided to open a specialty chili sauce shop. Although the profit is less than that of perfume, it’s still profitable. Selling silk to fabric shops also brings in money," Boss Qian said with a smile.

In truth, he wanted the chefs from the Zheng family’s eatery even more. According to his thinking, opening a restaurant in Qingzhou with such a small eatery would be profitable. Running just a small eatery in a small county was a waste.

However, saying so would be too impolite and might offend Lord Zheng.

"Last year, the perfume and glass factories weren’t completed. Now that you’ve come this year, they’re already built, so you can take as much stock as you need," Zheng Shanci said, seeing their smiling faces, and added thoughtfully, "However, glass is difficult to produce, so the amount of glass perfume we can provide you will be limited."

Boss Guan laughed heartily, "Scarcity increases value, and we understand that. By the way, we’ve also written an IOU to your office. Today, as we come to do business with Lord Zheng, we should first settle the debt."

Zheng Shanci feigned surprise, "Boss Guan, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. You are all trustworthy people, and I have faith in that."

He asked Wang Fu to fetch the IOU from the accounts office.

The bosses felt quite comfortable hearing this. They were wealthy and disliked owing money, especially when doing business with the government. Regardless of what Zheng Shanci truly thought, his words sounded generous.

Wang Fu brought the IOU and also brought an accountant. After verifying the accounts, the bosses settled their debts. They discussed new orders, which turned out to be several large ones.

After signing the contracts with them, Zheng Shanci felt refreshed. With their money, the finances of Xinfeng County were halfway secured for the year. Zheng Shanci was very enthusiastic and even asked if they needed accommodations arranged.

The bosses thanked Lord Zheng for his kindness, saying they had already settled in an inn and would likely stay for a few more days.

Hearing this, Zheng Shanci didn’t press further and encouraged them to spend more time in Xinfeng County.

"Lord Zheng, with the cement formula, can we use it for building houses and roads?" Boss Guan asked.

Zheng Shanci smiled, "Of course. The formula has been sold to you, so you can use it however you like."

Boss Guan looked pleased. Their generous payment this time was also due to the profits they made from the cement. Building roads and water channels were achievements that officials were eager to pursue, and since they offered low prices, the officials were even more willing to cooperate.

As merchants, they could earn less, but they would never operate at a loss.

Boss Guan thought to himself that if Lord Zheng said so, then the cement could also be used to build river embankments. He could then contract these projects and make a considerable profit.

The accountant returned to the finance office with the ledger and promissory notes. Seeing he had returned with so much money after just one trip, the others inquired about what had happened.

"Lord Zheng has made a deal with several merchants."

The folks in the finance office were in awe and quietly impressed.

"This comment was loaded with meaning," they murmured in agreement.

There was no charcoal heater in the room, and there was no snow outside. Zheng Shanci knew it was time for his meeting with Instructor Liu, and he was going to give a lecture to the students at the county school. Zheng Shanci planned to talk about agricultural policy, as the imperial examinations usually tested this subject. For the rest, he intended to take the students to the fields to see for themselves. Having never taught before, he felt a bit jittery.

The next morning dawned bright and clear. Zheng Shanci went to the county school on his day off.

Instructor Liu had already informed the students that Lord Zheng would be coming to give them a lecture. The students were buzzing with excitement. Those from well-connected families had glimpsed Zheng Shanci at banquets at the Zheng estate, accompanying their elders, but they still felt a tad intimidated.

Now that they heard he was coming to lecture, they were all looking forward to hearing what Zheng Shanci would say.

Zheng Shanci stood at the lectern, looking at the students in long gowns below. Looking at their young faces, he saw reflections of his own past. Back in the day, clad in school uniforms, they sat in sunlit classrooms, with teachers, spectacles perched, wielding protractors. He looked at the glass windows and smiled.

"I'm not much of a lecturer. If you're here to listen, I'll just share my thoughts. Mencius once said, 'Don't mess with farming seasons, and you'll have more grain than you can eat.' Let's use this to talk about how timing is everything in farming. If you were a farmer, what would you plant each year, and how would you boost your harvest? You can share your thoughts."

The students started pondering, something they'd never really thought about.

A student rose and declared, "I'd plant wheat, sow in spring, water and fertilize, battle summer droughts, and harvest in fall to sell. I'd apply more fertilizer to increase the yield. Or, I'd improve farming tools so we could grow more crops."

Many students nodded in agreement, seeing the logic. Fertilizer and tools were their best bets for boosting yields.

Instructor Liu nodded as well.

Zheng Shanci grinned and remarked, "Where would you plant wheat?"

The student was momentarily stunned and instinctively replied, "I would plant wheat in Xin Feng County."

"But Xin Feng County's soil isn't wheat-friendly, at least not year after year," Zheng Shanci responded. "Facing such issues, you should adapt to the land and work with what you've got."

"Last year, why did our county plant medicinal herbs..."

The students listened and nodded.

"I had you imagine being farmers because there's no shortage of solid agricultural policies out there. If you want to stand out in the imperial examinations, you need to focus on innovation. Find a new perspective, and you can explain your views on agricultural policy from the perspective of a farmer, then reflect on it from the standpoint of a ruler."

Zheng Shanci called on a few more students to speak and said, "Your essays are good, but they lack detail. You can ask Instructor Liu to take you to the fields to see for yourselves. The imperial examination is a means to rise in status, but if you have other ambitions, then learn more and explore the world."

After finishing his speech, Zheng Shanci was escorted out by Instructor Liu.

Some students were deep in thought, while others took notes on what Zheng Shanci had said, clenching their fists.

After exchanging pleasantries with Instructor Liu, Zheng Shanci left by carriage.

The following days were uneventful. Tan He continued to repair roads in the countryside, and Scribe Jiang invited Zheng Shanci to go fishing.

Scribe Jiang had initially taken up fishing to please Zheng Shanci, but now he had genuinely come to enjoy it.

The two sat quietly by the river, with Scribe Jiang casting his bait while chatting with Zheng Shanci. They mostly talked about matters at the county office. The construction department had repaired the villagers' collapsed houses using clay bricks and coated them with cement, making the structures more stable. After the repairs, many villagers were envious, but they couldn't afford to tear down and rebuild their houses. However, Scribe Jiang had a solution: he bought cement to coat the houses. The village had many wooden houses, but even more were made of earth, so applying cement was a cost-effective solution.

"Lord Zheng, I've caught another fish," Scribe Jiang said with a smile.

Zheng Shanci said, "Lord Jiang, your fishing skills are improving."

Zheng Shanci caught two fish, so it wasn't a complete loss. He had been feeling a bit under the weather recently, so he planned to take the fish back to steam and have some fish soup.

The fish he wanted to catch hadn't shown up yet.

By evening, Zheng Shanci and Scribe Jiang said their goodbyes and headed back to their homes. Zheng Shanci handed the fish he caught to the kitchen, saying, "Steam this fish and make sure to send some to my sister-in-law."

The cook nodded in agreement.

Zheng Shancheng stayed in the room to have dinner with Lin Geer that evening. Lin Geer was still dealing with morning sickness and had a craving for plums, so a plate of plums was set out on the table for her. When she heard from the kitchen that the fish was caught by Zheng Shanci, Lin Geer drank a bowl of fish soup, her expression relaxing.

"Being pregnant is really tiring," Lin Geer complained.

Zheng Shancheng picked out the fish bones for Lin Geer and responded, "It is tiring, and it's hard work."

Lin Geer was taking care of herself, her complexion was rosy, and she had put on some weight. The meals at the residence were delicious and made to her liking, much better than in the countryside, though staying at home was a bit dull.

"Lan Yi should be back soon. It'll be much more lively when he returns," Lin Geer said, missing her sister-in-law.

"Eat up, you've only had a bowl of fish soup so far," Zheng Shancheng said, serving her some meat dishes.

...

Zheng Shanci finished carving the wooden sculpture, but it looked like a mess, so he gave up and guiltily put it away before getting back to his official duties. The county magistrate of Lan County sent him a letter, inviting him to visit Lan County, and Zheng Shanci agreed.

County Magistrate Fang just complained to Zheng Shanci, saying that business in Lan County had moved to Xin Feng County, with a hint of accusation in his words. The next morning, he claimed he had been drunk and spoken carelessly, making Zheng Shanci suspicious.

Zheng Shanci acted as if it was just drunken talk, "Brother Fang, what are you talking about? I'll forget everything you said while you were drunk."

County Magistrate Fang felt a pang in his heart, thinking it might still be worth keeping in mind.

Zheng Shanci knew this wasn't a place to linger, so after some polite exchanges with County Magistrate Fang, he made his escape. Some people from Lan County had gone to work in Xin Feng County because the factories there paid well and offered housing. Once they started working at the factory, they didn't have to pay rent, which was a great deal. Since Lan County was close to Xin Feng County, it was inevitable that they would be affected.

This led County Magistrate Fang to start complaining.

"Some snacks in Lan County are quite rare," Zheng Shanci said as he left the county office, buying some snacks from a street vendor.

If he only discussed matters with County Magistrate Fang and then went back, Zheng Shanci felt it would be a waste. So he wandered around Lan County and ran into Xu Geer, who was accompanied by a handsome man with a cheerful demeanor.

When Xu Geer saw Zheng Shanci in Lan County, he was about to bow, but Zheng Shanci quickly said, "We're not in the office, no need for formalities."

"Lord Zheng must have important business here, otherwise I would have invited you to dine in Lan County," Xu Geer said openly.

"Then let's skip it. If you want to treat me to a meal, do it in Xin Feng County," Zheng Shanci replied casually.

While Xu Geer was talking to Zheng Shanci, the ladies and young men nearby looked at Zheng Shanci with admiration. After Zheng Shanci left, they crowded around Xu Geer and asked, "Xu Geer, who is that gentleman? I've never seen him before, and he's such a young and handsome man."

The lady speaking was someone Xu Geer had met in Lan County. He laughed and said, "That's our county magistrate. Don't get any ideas; Lord Zheng isn't interested in such things."

"So it's him. The concrete road and the factories in Xin Feng County were his doing. Someone like him is bound to get promoted. Does he have a wife? What about a concubine?"

Xu Geer knew they hadn't given up, so he said, "Lord Zheng has a husband, and for the sake of his career, he won't take a concubine. His husband's family holds an official position in the capital. Do you think momentary pleasure is more important than his career?"

Hearing this, their interest waned. Men, after all, value their careers. Unless they've already achieved success, they won't indulge themselves.

Zheng Shanci stopped by a jewelry store, thinking he would buy a bracelet for Lan Yi when he returned. He walked in, and his jade-like appearance was rare. The shopkeeper glanced at him, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Sir, take a look at these accessories. They're all made with genuine materials," the shopkeeper said. Other ladies and young men in the store were selecting jewelry, and when they heard the shopkeeper attending to another customer, their eyes instinctively turned to Zheng Shanci.

Zheng Shanci wore a blue and white moon-patterned robe today. For his meeting with County Magistrate Fang, he also wore a jade crown, looking quite elegant. At his age, it's rare to find someone so handsome and with such a good temperament.

"Do you have any bracelets suitable for a young gentleman?" Zheng Shanci asked.

The shopkeeper replied, "Yes, please come this way, sir."

Zheng Shanci was dazzled by the array of jewelry; he felt out of place in such a shop, seeing little difference between the items. He pointed to a red bracelet.

The shopkeeper handed it to him.

"Sir, this is Lantian blood jade, known for its bright red color resembling chicken blood, hence also called chicken blood jade. It's a bit pricey, but the young gentleman will surely love it, and it will bring you honor when you gift it."

"Let me see that red bracelet as well," Zheng Shanci pointed to another.

"Sir, you have a good eye. This is red jade. It has excellent transparency, vibrant color, a warm texture, and it feels warm to the touch," the shopkeeper enthusiastically explained. The two bracelets Zheng Shanci had chosen were not cheap. Selling just one would earn him a handsome profit. He hadn't even considered selling two.

Zheng Shanci liked both and thought they would suit Yu Lanyi's fair skin, tall stature, and love for beauty.

"How much for these two bracelets?"

The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned, then quickly quoted the price. Zheng Shanci pondered and found it acceptable. "Please wrap them up."

He spent little and had saved quite a bit. Besides, he had shares in these factories and could now afford to nurture and care for Yu Lanyi a bit, to water and loosen the soil for him.

Thinking of this, Zheng Shanci couldn't help but smile, his longing for Yu Lanyi growing stronger.

The shopkeeper turned and instructed the clerk to wrap the bracelets. Zheng Shanci paid with a silver note, which was much lighter. He had brought extra money expecting a long social engagement with County Magistrate Fang, but it was just enough to buy the bracelets for Yu Lanyi.

The shopkeeper took the box from the clerk and said thoughtfully, "Sir, could you tell us your residence? We can deliver the bracelets to your home."

Zheng Shanci smiled, "That won't be necessary."

Wang Fu took the box from the shopkeeper and followed Zheng Shanci out.

The shopkeeper watched Zheng Shanci leave, sighing inwardly, wondering what kind of family could produce such a gentleman.

The young gentlemen and ladies in the shop chatted and laughed, "I've never seen such a person in Lan County."

"All the gentlemen in Lan County I've seen, none as outstanding as him. He must not be from here."

They chatted absentmindedly, impressed by Zheng Shanci's generous spending, extraordinary demeanor, and the fact that he was buying bracelets for a young gentleman, wondering who could be so fortunate.

They didn't know that just two years ago, this gentleman didn't even have three taels of silver to his name.

...

After the New Year celebrations in the capital, the officials returned to court. Emperor Wuming sent envoys to bestow rewards on Zheng Shanci, who also set off from the capital. The noble ladies and young gentlemen, having just caught their breath after the New Year, found the holiday visits full of social obligations, leaving them little freedom. Now they learned that Yu Lanyi had returned to Xinfeng County by carriage.

Emperor Wuming's decree and Yu Lanyi's affairs made the people in the capital remember this remote little place.

"Back so soon, why not stay longer in the capital? Could it be that he has no face to stay in the capital, only daring to return for a look during the New Year?"

"Just praised by the Emperor, but still merely a small county magistrate."

They mostly couldn't recall Zheng Shanci's exact appearance, but in their memory, they had a good impression of him, otherwise, they would have said he was ugly, even if he was just slightly handsome, in their eyes, he would still be considered ugly.

An Geer had just arrived and heard these words. Today, one of the young gentlemen was hosting and invited them for tea. The Marquis of Changyang's family were military officers, while those here were children of civil officials, so they didn't interact much. Today, all the attendees were children of civil officials.

An Geer said coolly, "What's the point of saying these things? Instead of always gossiping about others, better manage your own affairs. It's been so long, bringing it up now is meaningless. Besides, the Emperor hasn't praised your husbands, so don't invite me if you're going to talk like this."

Clutching a handkerchief, An Geer said, "You all know I'm about to marry Yu Lanyi, yet you invite me here and say such things, just to embarrass me."

With that, he covered his face and stormed off.

His friends who followed him saw An Geer leave. They glared at the others, clearly angry, and quickly chased after An Geer. Yan Geer, a close friend, called out An Geer's name, but An Geer had already boarded his family's carriage and returned home.

The other noble youths looked at each other. Used to playing with An Geer, they felt uneasy seeing him this upset. At first annoyed by An Geer's harsh words, now that he'd run off, covering his face, they felt it was inappropriate to have said such things in front of him.

After all, Yu Lanyi was soon to be An Geer's brother-in-law.

"From now on, let's avoid saying such things in front of An Geer. It wouldn't be good if this got back to the Marquis of Changyang, and it would also offend An Geer."

"Yes, we must not say such things in front of him anymore, and we should be more polite to Yu Lanyi."

Jiang Geer, who had invited everyone for tea, sighed. "This was my mistake. I will go and apologize to An Geer later."

With how things turned out, as the host, he had to smooth things over. The guests, all proud noble youths, weren't ones to easily swallow their pride. He had to go, no question, especially since he was close to An Geer. After everyone left, he had the tea set tidied up and brought a generous gift to An Geer.

When An Geer returned home, the Marchioness of Anxin looked at him, surprised. "Weren't you at Jiang Geer's tea party? Why are you back so soon?"

"I wasn't feeling well, so I came back early," An Geer replied.

"Should we call the doctor to check on you? You need to take care of yourself," the Marchioness of Anxin worried.

"I'm fine, I just need to rest in my room for a bit," An Geer shook his head, declining the Marchioness of Anxin's kind offer. He went back to his room, feeling a bit down. He'd grown up with these guys since they were kids, and hearing that, An Geer felt uneasy. Civil and military officials have always clashed, and naturally, he and Yu Lanyi didn't get along either. When they were kids, they'd even team up with others to fight when they got mad.

They were so young then, only six or seven years old. They liked to pull hair, generally avoiding hitting the face for fear of being seen by adults at home. They also pushed each other into the snow during winter, and several noble youths had rolled in the snow, some even eating a mouthful of snow, tears welling up in their eyes, holding back tears, their little faces turning red.

Yu Lanyi had learned some martial arts from Yu Zhangxing by imitation, but his family hadn't specifically hired anyone to teach him, finding it amusing to see the two brothers like this. He looked very spirited, holding his head high.

Yu Lanyi was very much doted on at home, wearing a gold necklace, dressed in a red cotton jacket, with two small buns tied up.

He joined in the tussle, fighting one after another.

An Geer was afraid of him.

Soon they faced each other, someone pulled Yu Lanyi's hair, and Yu Lanyi shouted in a mannered way, swinging his fists, not hitting the youth who pulled his hair but instead swinging towards An Geer.

An Geer fell to the ground and couldn't get up.

"Quick, call the adults!" The young boys panicked, chattering and hurriedly calling for the adults.

"An Geer, are you okay?"

"An Geer, let me see."

Yu Lanyi stood anxiously by, apologizing to An Geer.

An Geer took his hand away from his face, and a bloody tooth fell out, rolling into the snow.

"An Geer, your tooth fell out," a youth said in surprise.

Seeing his tooth, An Geer's little face turned pale, and he fainted again.

Because of this incident, the Heir of Marquis Anxin had even fought with Yu Zhangxing when they were young.

Fortunately, they were still young, and teeth could grow back. The Marchioness of Anxin placed An Geer's fallen tooth in his palm, saying lovingly, "It's okay, your tooth will grow back soon."

An Geer was heartbroken: "Wuwu... wuwu... mom."

He discovered a terrible thing, he was lisping.

The Marchioness of Anxin comforted him, "If you place your fallen tooth at the corner of the door, you will grow a good set of teeth, and they will grow back quickly."

Hearing this, An Geer immediately got up from his small bed, took his tooth, squatted down, and carefully placed it at the corner of the door.

Before his tooth grew back, An Geer usually didn't speak or laugh, afraid that others would see he was missing a tooth. When someone spoke to him, he wouldn't reply, just pinched the corner of his clothes and smiled shyly.