Chapter 85: Building Canals

Chapter 85: Repairing the Water Channel

Farmers tend to wake up early in the morning. With livestock to tend to, they also need to get up early to cook pig feed and chop chicken feed. After Mr. Zheng finished washing up, he went to open the chicken coop and let the chickens out. Mr. Zheng's father also got up and first drove the ducks to the riverside to eat water plants. It wasn't good to keep the ducks cooped up all the time, so Mr. Zheng's father used a bamboo pole to herd them to the riverside before returning to have breakfast.

The two servants at home had already prepared breakfast, making meat buns with generous fillings. Each bite was full of meat. With the two of them around, life had become much easier for Mr. Zheng and his father, as many chores no longer required their personal attention.

Mr. Zheng said, "You should eat too."

The servants replied, "Mr. Zheng, we'll eat in the kitchen."

Mr. Zheng's father ate five meat buns and drank a bowl of soy milk, feeling completely at ease. Initially, they hadn't wanted the two servants to stay, thinking it improper. But now, enjoying such a breakfast in a clean house, they no longer dared to object. Life was just too good.

"Who should I rent the land to?" Mr. Zheng's father asked after finishing his meal.

"If you trust us, leave this matter to us. We'll definitely find suitable tenants," the servants said with a smile.

Mr. Zheng's father agreed to let the servants handle it. As illiterate farmers, they were relieved to have literate servants take care of such matters.

Leaving the two servants to look after the house, Mr. Zheng's father headed to the fields. With the decision to lease out the land, the amount of land he had to manage decreased, making his workload lighter. He didn't have to rush to the fields every day anymore. Carrying a hoe, Mr. Zheng's father walked briskly, exhaling a sigh of relief.

"You go to the fields. I'll go up the mountain to see if I can find some mountain pepper and pick a few soapberries. We're having chicken for lunch today, and I thought adding some mountain pepper would make it taste better."

"Go ahead. Eating so well every day, you might get used to it and find other food less appealing," Mr. Zheng's father said, feeling both happy and worried.

Mr. Zheng carried a basket on his back. At forty, he was still good-looking, which explained why his three children were all so handsome. He said, "Why do you keep fretting over unnecessary things? Sometimes Shan Cheng is just like you. Eat when there's food, and don't eat when there's none. Always fretting over unnecessary things."

With that, Mr. Zheng headed up the mountain. Besides, with Shan Ci as the county magistrate, how could they ever lack a meal? Mr. Zheng kept these thoughts to himself, not wanting to brag about Shan Ci all the time, as it would annoy others. The villagers already thought highly of his son, and constantly showing off would be inappropriate.

While gathering mountain pepper in the mountains, he ran into Aunt Miao, who was collecting firewood. The two chatted as they walked.

"What did you have for breakfast this morning? It smelled so good."

"We had meat buns and soy milk."

Aunt Miao was envious. Living next door, she could smell the delicious aromas coming from the Zheng household every day.

"My youngest daughter got married, and I feel a bit empty. It would have been fine if she married someone from our village, but she ended up marrying someone from another village. When she came back for a visit, she looked radiant and seemed to have a good relationship with her husband, so I felt relieved."

Mr. Zheng spotted some mountain pepper and went to pick it. He replied, "Children have their own fortunes. Besides, I've seen Miao's son-in-law, and he seems like an honest man. As long as she's happy, marrying someone from another village isn't a big deal. She can always return by ox cart."

"You're right. By the way, your Qing Yin is sixteen now, isn't it time to start looking for a match?" Aunt Miao threw some firewood into her basket.

"That's for Shan Cheng and Shan Ci to decide. As long as the child likes the person and they have good character, I have no objections," Mr. Zheng said, not worried about the matter. In the past, he might have been concerned about the child being mistreated, but now he felt more at ease. With two older brothers to support her, no one would dare bully her.

After saying this, Mr. Zheng finished picking the soapberries and bid Aunt Miao farewell, heading back down the mountain.

When he returned home, one of the servants had taken the laundry to the river to wash, while the other was sweeping the dust in the yard. In the past, the yard was dirt, and when it rained, it would turn muddy, leaving footprints all over the house. Even on sunny days, sweeping the yard always left it dusty and never completely clean. Now, with the yard paved with stone slabs, sweeping was much easier, and the yard looked much cleaner.

The servant had already slaughtered and prepared the chicken. Seeing Mr. Zheng return, he hurried to the kitchen to wash some peaches and placed them on the table in the yard. "Mr. Zheng, have some peaches."

Mr. Zheng nodded and set down his basket, washed his hands, and took a slice of peach. The peach was sweet and juicy. Mr. Zheng leaned back in his cotton-padded chair, which was very comfortable.

"You should have some too."

The servant smiled and said, "Mr. Zheng, I'll go cook the chicken first. How would you like it cooked?"

Mr. Zheng replied, "Stir-fry it with plenty of chili peppers. I picked some mountain pepper this morning, so you can use it for the chicken."

The servant nodded and took the basket to the kitchen.

Lord Zheng worked hard in the fields and didn't let Mr. Zheng bring him lunch at noon. He carried his hoe back home to eat. There wasn't much work, so he didn't have to stick around in the fields during the hottest hours. After eating lunch, he could take an afternoon nap before returning to the fields.

Thinking about the chicken they talked about this morning, Lord Zheng quickened his pace. On his way back, he ran into some women and young men bringing food to the men working in the fields.

"Old Zheng is heading home again."

"Brother Zheng's life is really comfortable."

"Uncle Zheng is hurrying back to eat."

Lord Zheng chatted with them briefly without holding them up. From a distance, he saw the house with its blue tiles and white walls, and his heart filled with joy. Before even stepping into the yard, he could smell the delicious aroma coming from his home.

He walked into the yard, set down his hoe, and washed up in the kitchen. Mr. Zheng called out, "Hurry up, it's time to eat."

Lord Zheng eagerly came over, "It really is chicken."

Those who had come back from delivering meals to the men in the fields couldn't help but notice the delicious smell. Ever since the servants came, the Zheng family had been living it up with all kinds of tasty dishes, and the house had undergone a complete transformation. It was completely different from other households. The blue-tiled house was even fancier than the village head's, probably costing hundreds of taels. They even started raising piglets and cows.

"Forget about finding a son like Lord Zheng. Even passing the imperial exam to become a scholar would improve our lives."

"That sounds good, but it's not so easy. Not just in our village or town, but in our entire county, there are only a few scholars." An old woman took her husband's lunchbox back to wash.

They could only talk with envy, but the Zheng family's luck was something they could never hope to have.

The two servants had taken charge of the Zheng family's daily life, even replacing the dishes and utensils with new ones. The white porcelain bowls were a joy to look at. They also splurged on an iron pot, which wasn't cheap. Not many families in the village could afford to cook with an iron pot, as most used clay or stone pots. Clay pots didn't retain heat well but heated food quickly, though they were heavy. Stone pots retained heat well but were slow to heat up and also heavy.

Iron pots were lightweight, heated food quickly and evenly, preventing parts of the food from burning or remaining uncooked. The flavor of stir-fried dishes was better because of the even heating, and it also saved firewood.

In Qingxiang Village, there was another family, the Zhong family, who used to be the wealthiest in the village before the Zheng family rose to prominence. Now that the Zheng family had prospered, the Zhong family no longer seemed as wealthy and had little to boast about.

The Zhong family had two brothers and two sisters. Both sisters had married outside the village. The eldest sister had two children, but her husband died of tuberculosis. The eldest sister struggled to raise her children alone, often returning to her parents' home to ask for help, especially during busy farming seasons.

When the eldest sister first married, she married into a wealthy family with dozens of acres of good land, and her husband was handsome. Who would have thought he would fall ill? After having two children, it was difficult for her to remarry. Her husband was the only son in his family, and now they needed support. It wasn't until they rented out the land that their lives improved.

The second sister married an ordinary hunter and only returned home during festivals, spending the rest of her time living in the mountains with her husband. During festivals, the Zhong family always had wild game. The most successful were the two sons. The younger one worked as an accountant in town, earning four taels of silver a month, while the elder one ran a food shop in town. Every time the two sons visited from town, they brought back large and small packages, making the villagers envious.

This time, Da Zhong brought back pork and nuts. On the way, the villagers casually chatted with him, asking what he had bought and nothing more.

"Father, Mother, I've come to see you," Da Zhong called out.

Old Man Zhong saw it was his eldest son and quickly invited him to sit. Da Zhong had come with a request. After they ate, Da Zhong spoke up, "Father, the food shop is short on funds. I wanted to borrow some money."

Old Man Zhong, still smoking, asked, "How much do you need?"

"Just ten taels of silver."

Old Man Zhong was taken aback. Ten taels of silver wasn't a small amount for them. By evening, Da Zhong left with eight taels of silver.

Why envy the Zheng family? The Zheng family had spent so much on Zheng Shanci.

...

Xinfeng County

Zheng Shanci was reviewing the account books of the perfume and glass factories. These two factories had been operating for a shorter time than the others, but their profits had already risen within a few months. Ordinary perfume sold for one tael of silver, while glass perfume sold for two taels. The labor costs were the same as those in the textile factory, but the production output was higher.

Tan He came to pay a visit, "Lord Zheng."

Zheng Shanci almost didn't recognize Tan He. In his memory, Tan He was a pale scholar, but now his skin had darkened, and he looked full of energy.

"Tan He, take a seat for now."

Tan He thanked Zheng Shanci, clasped his hands and said, "Lord Zheng, the roads to Jinxing Town and Hua Town have been completed. Since several villages are close by, we only constructed one concrete road. Traveling on that concrete road doesn’t take much time."

"I trust you. There are still roads in two more towns to be completed. You've just returned, so get some proper rest. There will be many tasks to handle at the county office in the future."

Hearing Zheng Shanci's words, Tan He felt a warm glow in his chest and smiled, "Honestly, Lord Zheng, I can't stop now. I just want to complete the construction of the roads to Dong'an Town and Wu Town. I’m bursting with energy."

Zheng Shanci was utterly dumbfounded.

A natural-born workaholic.

Zheng Shanci still insisted that Tan He rest first, "Even if you don’t rest, the workers deserve a break too."

Tan He reluctantly headed back.

These days, there weren’t many major issues, and Zheng Shanci’s workload had become much lighter. After work, he’d head home to spend time with Yu Lanyi. Since Yu Lanyi returned, Zheng Shanci looked forward to going home even more.

Yu Lanyi shot him a look, "I’ve distributed all the gifts I brought back from the capital. Your gifts are all in the room."

He wore two red bracelets on his wrist, which accentuated his fair complexion.

Yu Lanyi was still drowsy after being pinned against the door by Zheng Shanci the night before, which had nearly terrified him.

At home, no one nagged him about how to sit or stand, and Yu Lanyi's mood improved again. It was nice to see his father and father-in-law at home, but the Marquis of Changyang and Mr. Yu always managed him, making Yu Lanyi feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"I know," Zheng Shanci went to grab Yu Lanyi's hand.

Yu Lanyi glared at him, "You rascal!"

Where did you learn all these moves? You were so reserved at our wedding. Yu Lanyi had once suspected that Zheng Shanci was all show and no substance, but now he no longer doubted it.

Zheng Shanci thought that last night was indeed a bit excessive.

After a little spat, the two returned to their sweet relationship.

Returning home also had its troubles, such as having to review the account books. This time, Yu Lanyi didn’t shove the account books at Zheng Shanci but sweetly asked for his help. He himself endured and looked at the account books.

Zheng Shanci was quite surprised, only pouring a cup of fruit tea for Yu Lanyi and accompanying him by his side. After Yu Lanyi finished reviewing the account books, he asked, "Why are you so on top of things today?"

"In the future, with a large family and business, I still need to review the account books, otherwise, how will we manage the family's money? I’ve come to realize how important money is, and that I should handle my own responsibilities."

Zheng Shanci: "Lan Yi, you’re amazing."

Yu Lanyi pouted.

"These are just small matters. What's the big deal? I will read more books in the future to cultivate my mind."

Zheng Shanci: "...Uh."

He didn’t quite believe that.

Yu Lanyi whispered to Zheng Shanci, "My sister-in-law is due in a month or two, have you hired a midwife?"

"Yes, she’s staying at the mansion."

Yu Lanyi felt a bit awkward, he turned his head away, "I’m still young; I’m not ready to be a dad yet."

"Alright, we’ll do as you say," Zheng Shanci was very accommodating.

"This matter is all up to me. I am the true head of the household," Yu Lanyi said happily.

After a month, the people of Xinfeng County had finished their spring planting and could finally take a breather. Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi were still sound asleep when hurried footsteps were heard outside.

Jin Yun knocked on the door, "Sir, young master, wake up! The eldest lady is in labor!"

The two were startled and immediately got up to dress, hastily tying their hair with ribbons before rushing out.

They arrived outside the room where Zheng Shancheng stood by a pillar, his face filled with worry. The mansion was brightly lit, and Zheng Qingyin arrived in a hurry as well.

Servants and maids were bustling in and out.

Yu Lanyi said, "Bring the ginseng I brought from the capital to the kitchen and stew it!"

Zheng Shancheng gave Yu Lanyi a grateful look, "Thank you, second sister-in-law."

Zheng Shanci said, "Elder brother, don't be nervous. The eldest sister-in-law has been well cared for during this pregnancy."

Though he said so, Zheng Shancheng nodded reluctantly, his heart still in suspense. Yu Lanyi's drowsiness had completely vanished. He heard Lin Geer's screams and saw basins of blood being carried out from the room, his heart pounding.

He had a maid bring chairs, and the whole family sat outside, waiting.

Zheng Shancheng said, "Shanci, you still have to go to the county office tomorrow. You should go back and rest first."

"It's alright, elder brother," Zheng Shanci replied.

Lin Geer's screams ceased, replaced by the sound of a baby's cry. The door opened, and the midwife brought the child to Zheng Shancheng, saying, "Congratulations, eldest young master, it's a boy."

Zheng Shancheng carefully reached out to hold the baby, who was crying with eyes still closed, and was momentarily speechless.

Zheng Shanci also breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Everyone will be rewarded. This month, everyone will receive double pay!"

"Thank you, sir."

Yu Lanyi leaned over to look at the baby, who was still wrinkled and hard to distinguish. Zheng Qingyin saw his little nephew and extended a finger to hook the baby's hand. The baby's hand curled slightly, loosely gripping Zheng Qingyin's finger.

"So tiny," Yu Lanyi said in surprise.

A wet nurse took the baby away to place him in a crib and cover him with a small blanket.

The mansion's servants went to clean up, and Zheng Shancheng went in to see Lin Geer.

Lin Geer had used too much energy and was still asleep. Zheng Shancheng stayed by her side, while Zheng Shanci and the others went back first. Zheng Qingyin had already embroidered little shoes and a small floral outfit for his nephew, planning to deliver them the next morning.

Yu Lanyi had someone make a small silver lock, also preparing a gift. Yu Lanyi returned to the room, lying in Zheng Shanci's arms, clutching his lapel, and said, "Luckily, the eldest sister-in-law gave birth quickly, otherwise it would have been excruciating."

It sounded excruciating.

"If I ever have to give birth, make sure the doctor gives me plenty of anesthesia," Yu Lanyi said, thinking the pain was worse than breaking a leg.

He had fractured a bone as a child from disobedience and had to lie in bed for months.

It wasn't heart-wrenching pain, just enough to make him pass out.

Zheng Shanci stroked Yu Lanyi's head and agreed, "Actually, having children or not is fine."

Yu Lanyi hummed, his current thought was that he didn't want children now. He wanted to have children in the capital, and let the future take its course without forcing anything.

"Go to sleep, you still have to go to work tomorrow morning," Yu Lanyi said softly.

In the morning, Yu Lanyi heard rustling sounds, probably because Zheng Shanci was getting up. He was startled, and since there was no one else around, Zheng Shanci began to undress in front of Yu Lanyi. After he changed into his official robe and left, Yu Lanyi felt a bit regretful.

He had once bitten those abs.

They had been married for some time, and indeed, they were not in a hurry to have children. Yu Lanyi was in good spirits. He covered himself with the blanket and went back to sleep. After waking up and having breakfast, he headed to Lin Geer's room.

Lin Geer was sitting with a pillow behind her back, wearing a hat, and smiling. Zheng Qingyin was also there, and on the bed were small shoes and a floral dress.

Yu Lanyi: "Congratulations, sister-in-law. This is the gift I prepared."

Lin Geer: "Come on, sit down. No need for gifts among family. If it weren't for being at your second brother's house, I wouldn't have been able to give birth to this child."

Yu Lanyi asked Jin Yun to hand the gift box to Lin Geer.

"Sister-in-law, you're too kind," Yu Lanyi said. After saying this, he noticed the baby carriage nearby and leaned over to look. The baby was still sleeping, tiny, and today its face looked a bit more open than yesterday, not as wrinkled as when it was first born.

"My husband has nicknamed the baby Duo Duo. For the formal name, I've asked my second brother to choose. He's an educated man and surely knows better than us. Besides, he's a Jinshi, so naming the child will bring some literary aura," Lin Geer said, her voice soft when talking about her child.

Having a child really changes everything.

Zheng Qingyin said, "Sister-in-law, you should rest well. You still need to recover from childbirth."

Yu Lanyi also said, "I've already told the kitchen to prepare special meals for you, sister-in-law. You don't need to worry about that. Just focus on recovering well."

"That's exactly right. In our village, there was a man who didn't take good care of himself during the postpartum recovery after giving birth. Later, he developed a cold syndrome, always in pain during winter, and it became difficult for him to conceive again."

Lin Geer had also heard of such things and nodded seriously.

Yu Lanyi and Zheng Qingyin left Lin Geer to rest. Zheng Shancheng had gone to the kitchen to bring porridge for Lin Geer. He had no appetite when he first got up, but after Zheng Qingyin came to talk to him, he started to feel hungry.

After giving birth, Lin Geer's tastes were still changing. Fortunately, her husband had never been impatient, and the kitchen could make anything.

"Sister-in-law, I love the hairpin you gave me," Zheng Qingyin said with a smile. "I even made this dress specifically to go with this hairpin."

When Yu Lanyi saw the butterfly hairpin in the capital, he immediately thought it was perfect for Zheng Qingyin. Zheng Qingyin was soft and gentle, perfect for beautiful accessories like butterflies.

Yu Lanyi then noticed that Zheng Qingyin's dress was embroidered with butterflies. Seeing how much she valued his gift, he felt really happy. "When we visit the capital in the future, we'll go shopping together."

Zheng Qingyin was stunned; he had never considered going to the capital. That place is the heart of the Great Yan Dynasty. He thought Xin Feng County was already quite big. When he first arrived in Xin Feng County, he was curious but also self-conscious about the unfamiliar shops, worried he might do something foolish. Fortunately, his sister-in-law had always taken him around, and now he managed the textile factory and was studying with Mrs. Ma, making great progress.

"Sister-in-law, if I ever get to the capital, I'll need you to come with me," Zheng Qingyin responded.

Yu Lanyi laughed, "Of course, I'll have to play the host."

Zheng Qingyin smiled, "Sister-in-law, you're so kind."

That was a tone of gratitude.

After returning to Xin Feng County, Mr. Xia invited Yu Lanyi to go boating. Yu Lanyi found it strange; in this water-scarce area of Xin Feng County, what kind of boat could they possibly use? He feared they might end up boating on sand.

Mr. Xia's invitation piqued Yu Lanyi's curiosity, and he sent word that he would go.

Mr. Xia got ready and asked Xia Dalang for some money, "I'm going out for social engagements for the family. Shouldn't you give me some spending money?"

Xia Dalang said, "Why ask me? Go to the accountant."

"Then I'll tell the accountant it's on your orders. Don't deny it later."

Xia Dalang waved his hand and nodded. Yu Lanyi had just returned, and his husband was already seeking him out. Eating and drinking were inevitable, and the old man at home was eager for them to be close, so it wasn't a big deal to spend a little money.

In Xinfeng County, even if you go all out, it won't cost much money.

Mr. Xia took some silver and headed out, saying that by inviting Yu Lanyi, he could withdraw more silver from the accounts. His connection with Yu Lanyi also earned him respect in his husband's family, and his father-in-law treated him much more politely, urging his husband not to always visit the concubine's room.

He also invited Xu Geer when he went out. Xu Geer had been shuttling between Lan County and Xinfeng County recently. It seemed that the Xu Family Head had abandoned the idea of adopting a male heir and wanted Xu Geer to take charge, taking in a son-in-law.

Xia Dalang wasn't joking when he invited them to go boating. It was still spring, and the ice and snow had just melted. There was still water in this river, enough for boating. Yu Lanyi stepped onto the deck, feeling a bit surreal. As soon as he boarded the boat, the surroundings turned chilly and quiet. Yu Lanyi reached out to tug at some water plants.

Mr. Xia also had tea and pastries prepared, and they chatted while eating.

Xu Geer called out to Yu Lanyi, "Lan Yi, tell us something interesting from the capital."

Yu Lanyi responded, "Nothing new, just the usual stuff." Although he said this, Yu Lanyi still shared some interesting stories with Xu Geer, who listened with great interest.

While they were boating, they heard shouts from the shore, like work chants.

On the shore, people were hauling stones and cement, working on something. Yu Lanyi immediately noticed someone in a green official robe among the crowd and quickly said, "Quick, pull the boat over to the shore."

The boatman obeyed and pulled the boat over, and Yu Lanyi quickly stepped off.

"What a stroke of luck to run into him here," Mr. Xia chuckled, covering his mouth.

Zheng Shanci had wrapped up half of his official duties this morning and thought of checking the water channel under construction, so he came with Scribe Jiang. The workers were clever, using cement for the water channel. Besides the workers directing the construction, there were a few Yamen Runners supervising, and the rest were laborers who were paid and fed, putting in their best effort.

Once the water channel was completed, it would directly benefit them, providing water for drinking and irrigation, saving them from running back and forth. When they were young and strong, running around was no big deal, but as they got older, it would be tough.

"Lord Zheng, this water channel channels water from the mountains and can irrigate hundreds of acres once completed. Due to Xinfeng County's climate, we made improvements, constructing a covered channel, which doubles the expense and manpower, and it won't be completed quickly," the worker explained, wiping sweat as he followed Zheng Shanci.

Zheng Shanci had read the worker's report and understood, "This is well done. After all, getting it done is what matters most. As long as the expenses, manpower, and time are justified, I back it."

The worker breathed a sigh of relief. He was worried about not finishing the channel before Lord Zheng's term ended and about overspending the county's funds, which made him anxious.

Fortunately, Lord Zheng didn't say anything.

The worker also took Zheng Shanci to see the cooking area. The county government did not mistreat the laborers, occasionally providing fresh meat bought from the market, and vegetables grown on official fields, which cost nothing.

The workers were trying their best to save money for the county government.

Zheng Shanci smiled and said it was good.

"Lord Zheng, look..." the worker continued to explain, his nerves gradually relaxing, speaking more fluently. Lord Zheng did not interrupt him, patiently listening without showing displeasure, which was a great encouragement to him.

Zheng Shanci patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "You've done well. Once this water channel is completed, I think you should name it. You can go back and think about it."

The worker was stunned by Zheng Shanci's words. He understood how important this water channel was to the people of Xinfeng County. Those who benefited from it would remember it, and naming it was an honor he never dared to imagine. Scholars aspire to leave their names in history, and so did he, being a civil servant.

Moreover, he had failed the imperial examination, and such opportunities were long gone for him.

"Lord Zheng, are you serious?" he asked excitedly.

"Of course. You took such a risk to build a covered channel, wrote reports requesting more manpower and funds, and time. Weren't you afraid of angering me? You dared to write it, showing you truly wanted to complete this water channel. This is what you deserve."

"Thank you, Lord Zheng!"

Scribe Jiang was also envious. Letting this young man name the water channel might lead to the people erecting a monument. Even if they forgot him, they would remember the name he gave to the water channel. What an honor! Not just leaving a name in history, but in the national archives of the Great Yan Dynasty, his name would be recorded in Xinfeng County's annals.

A hundred years later, the people of Xinfeng County wouldn't remember a Scribe Jiang, and he would leave no trace anywhere. If descendants passed it down, they might remember, but after three generations, it would be forgotten. Scribe Jiang himself couldn't even remember his ancestors from three generations ago.

The opportunity to name the water channel given by Zheng Shanci was more precious than gold, as it was what scholars desired most.

If Scribe Jiang was this person, he would be eternally grateful to Zheng Shanci and remember him always.

Besides this person, there were others from the workshop. Upon hearing Zheng Shanci's words, they felt a wave of regret and turmoil.

Zheng Shanci conducted another round of inspection. Everything here was done quite well, so he was satisfied for now.

"Zheng Shanci!"

Zheng Shanci thought he was hearing things. How could he be hearing Yu Lanyi's voice here? He thought it was an illusion but still turned toward the direction of the sound.

Zheng Shanci's eyes widened slightly, and a smile instantly lit up his face.

"What brings you here?" Zheng Shanci quickly walked forward to greet him.

Seeing so many people here, including Zheng Shanci's subordinates, Yu Lanyi replied with reserve, "I arrived by boat."

Zheng Shanci: "..." Such an obscure term.

Yu Lanyi didn't rush straight into Zheng Shanci's arms but simply gazed at him.

"I arrived with them," Yu Lanyi pointed out to Zheng Shanci.

Mr. Xia and Xu Geer quickly bowed in respect.

Mr. Xia rarely had the chance to see Zheng Shanci. Zheng Shanci had been in Xinfeng County for two years, and he still looked the same—tall and straight as a pine, elegant and handsome, leaving people in awe.

Zheng Shanci, unpretentious, told them not to stand on ceremony.

"Zheng Shanci, when will you be done?" Yu Lanyi asked.

"There are still some places I haven't seen; probably a while longer," Zheng Shanci replied.

"Then go ahead, official duties come first," Yu Lanyi said magnanimously, looking every bit the virtuous spouse.

Zheng Shanci smiled and agreed.

"Would you like to come along and take a look?"

Yu Lanyi shook his head, "I'll pass."

When Zheng Shanci finished checking some details, he turned back and saw a small figure in blue crouching by the river. Upon seeing him, it stood up, took a few steps, then halted.

Zheng Shanci strode forward.

"Have they left?" Zheng Shanci asked.

"I let them go first; I'll go back with you," Yu Lanyi said. His legs had gone a bit numb. After Zheng Shanci left, someone brought a chair for him to sit, but Yu Lanyi didn't sit, looking very unapproachable, noble, and beautiful.

The Yamen Runners didn't dare approach again, and the remaining workshop people didn't dare either. They had heard of Yu Lanyi's family background, knew he was not to be trifled with, and now his temper was bad, so they better not seek trouble. Such a young master must make Lord Zheng's life difficult at home.

Only when Lord Zheng appeared did this young master smile, speaking with a bit of arrogance and a bit of coquettishness.

"Alright, let's go back now."

Scribe Jiang was very perceptive. He said, "Lord Zheng, I'll go back with the workshop people; there are still things to explain to them."

Yu Lanyi gave Scribe Jiang an appreciative look.

The two could ride in the same carriage without any outsiders disturbing them. Yu Lanyi arrogantly stepped onto the carriage with his head held high.

Zheng Shanci's gaze softened as he gave Scribe Jiang a few more instructions, fetched some medicinal wine (a traditional Chinese remedy), and climbed into the carriage.

"Why did it take you so long to get in!" Yu Lanyi's temper flared upon seeing what Zheng Shanci had brought, but it quickly subsided.

"You must've been squatting by the river for ages. Let me massage your calves," Zheng Shanci said earnestly.

"There were chairs over there—why didn't you sit?" Zheng Shanci asked softly.

Yu Lanyi's face flushed slightly. "I just didn't wanna sit."

"You don't need to check my legs. They're fine. I even practiced martial arts when I was younger."

Zheng Shanci bent down, rolled up Yu Lanyi's pant leg, and cradled his slender, pale leg on his knee. He poured some medicinal wine into his palm and began massaging Yu Lanyi's calf. "Still sore, huh? A massage'll do you good. Practicing martial arts has nothing to do with your legs being sore now."

"Ugh!" Yu Lanyi turned his head away. "You're deliberately opposing me, and I can't argue with you. You're just taking advantage of your education and position as a county magistrate to bully me."

"How could a small-time county magistrate like me bully you?" Zheng Shanci chuckled, his gaze as gentle as spring sunlight. His words and the way he looked at Yu Lanyi made the latter feel quite embarrassed.