Chapter 70

Chapter 70

After the gift-giving, it was nearly noon, and everyone began gathering around the tables, waiting for the feast to begin.

The full-moon banquet was exceptionally lavish, with ten dishes per table. Besides chicken, fish, and meat, there were also plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, all picked just yesterday by Chen Qingyan from the experimental field.

Although it was spring, a time when grass grows and orioles sing, field vegetables hadn't come into season yet, and those sold in shops remained quite expensive. Ordinary folks could hardly afford them, and even wealthy families seldom enjoyed such fresh produce regularly.

The sugar-coated tomatoes dish, in particular, was something many had never tasted before. Several ladies from wealthy households couldn’t help but praise, "This banquet is truly exquisite. Just the other day, my son wanted to eat tomatoes, and buying five cost me fifty *wen*. Serving so many tables must have cost a fortune."

Someone nearby said sourly, "The vegetable shop is their own, so it probably didn’t cost much."

Another woman countered, "That’s not right. Even if the shop is theirs, the vegetables don't grow themselves. Shipping them from distant places still incurs costs, doesn’t it?"

Little did they know, these vegetables were indeed grown by Wang Ying himself, though he could never tell anyone in this lifetime.

After the meal, guests gradually began to leave. When Mrs. Lu saw that Li Shi was free, she approached and called out to her.

"Mrs. Chen…"

"Ah, Sister-in-law Lu, did you enjoy the meal?" Li Shi walked over with a warm smile.

"Yes, yes, it was quite delicious."

"We specially invited a chef from Yingke Lou to help with the cooking. It was hard to get him at first, but thankfully my son-in-law has some connections with the restaurant owner, so we managed to invite him."

Mrs. Lu nodded in agreement.

"By the way, you mentioned earlier that you had something to tell me. What is it?"

Mrs. Lu hesitated, "Let’s go inside to talk."

Li Shi followed her into the room, where Mrs. Lu suddenly said, "Shumei, I’ve wronged you…"

"What do you mean by that?"

Mrs. Lu stammered as she explained the foolish things her son had done, leaving Li Shi utterly stunned. "Are you saying those people who spread rumors about Qingyan were hired by your son?"

"I know Changan was wrong, so I’ve come specially to apologize on his behalf. Given our long-standing friendship, please forgive him."

Li Shi was at a loss for words. After clutching her chest for a moment, she finally said, "You know very well how close we’ve been all these years. How could you not know that Qingyan fell seriously ill—nearly to the point of death—after being falsely accused of cheating during the county-level exam?"

"Back then, I prayed to Buddha and chanted scriptures daily, sought divine help, and consulted doctors everywhere. I would have given my own life to save his. After painstakingly nursing him back to health, your son’s hired men almost killed him again!"

"Changan is slow-witted by nature…"

"Enough, say no more! From today onward, let’s stop associating between our families." Li Shi had the congratulatory gift she'd brought returned to her.

Mrs. Lu sighed as she held the silver bracelet, realizing that Li Shi would not forgive her son.

After Mrs. Lu left, Li Shi was so upset that she cried again. But since there were still guests at home, she quickly wiped her tears and went back to attend to them.

*

Meanwhile, Li Cheng and his two sons happened to be seated at the same table as Liang Boqing.

The father and sons were somewhat reserved, as Old Liang’s reputation was too formidable. He was a giant among scholars, and it was hard to imagine such a person appearing in their small, insignificant town.

They ate very little during the meal, their eyes fixed on Liang Boqing and Chen Qinghuai beside him.

Was he really that Liang Liufang?

What was his nephew’s relationship with Old Liang?

After finally finishing the meal, Li Cheng found Chen Qingyan and pulled him aside for a private conversation.

"Qingyan, I came here this time to ask if you’d be willing to come with me to Tianyang County to study?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle. I’ve already taken a master, and with my young child still in swaddling clothes needing care, I won’t be able to go."

Li Cheng wasn’t angered by this. "Is your master the elderly gentleman who wrote the poem for the child earlier—the Yangzhou talent Liang Liufang?"

Chen Qingyan nodded, "Yes, it’s him."

"So it really is him!" Li Cheng’s face lit up with joy, and he grabbed Chen Qingyan’s arm. "How did you get to know him?"

"It’s a long story. He was originally an old friend of my fourth uncle and is also my cousin’s master. Earlier this year, my fourth uncle was transferred to Shanzhou, so he accompanied my cousin back to take the county-level exam. He’s been staying at our house and incidentally began teaching me and Qing Song as well."

"Wonderful! You must study hard under him! I’ve heard Old Liang is exceptionally talented, the leading scholar of Jiangnan. With him teaching you, you’re sure to pass with top honors in the future!"

Chen Qingyan smiled but didn’t respond, as he still wasn’t eligible to take the imperial exams and didn’t know if he’d ever be able to.

After the full-moon celebration, Li Cheng and his two sons stayed only two more days before returning home.

Originally, Chen Qingyan had wanted to take them to see the nearby spring in the county, but his cousin Li Bingwen said with a laugh, "Let’s save it for next time. There’s plenty to handle at home, and we’ve been away long enough—it’s time to go back."

Li Shi didn’t press them to stay and accompanied them with her children to the outskirts of town before returning.

In the carriage, Li Bingchen whispered, "Father, is Cousin’s teacher really the great scholar Liang?"

"Yes."

Li Bingwen couldn’t help but sigh in admiration, "I never thought Qingyan would have such fortune. Perhaps he’ll even pass the provincial-level exam someday." Knowing his own limitations, Li Bingwen had long given up on the imperial exams. After passing the *xiucai* exam, he took up a position in the county magistrate's office.

Now, only Li Bingchen in the Li family was still continuing his education, but his progress was shaky at best. Li Cheng felt too embarrassed to leave his son behind to study under the great scholar Liang.

While the brothers continued discussing Liang Liufang, Li Cheng remained silent, gazing at the landscape outside and sighing inwardly, wondering when they would meet again.

*

After the full-moon celebration, Old Liang moved back to the manor, and Qingyan, Qing Song, and Qing Huai returned with him.

Though his heart was reluctant to leave his young son, Chen Qingyan knew he had to focus on diligent studying. Even for the sake of his child, he needed to succeed.

He couldn’t let people point at Yuanbao someday and say, "Your father was a failure who cheated in the imperial exams."

Chen Rong and his family stayed behind, and Cao Kun came every two or three days to visit his husband.

Wang Ying couldn’t resist teasing, "Boss Cao, you come so often—are you worried we’ll sell your husband?"

Cao Kun scratched his head and chuckled, "Elder sister-in-law, you’re joking. It’s just that a day without him feels like three years."

Lin Qiu chided him, "Go on, don’t come so often. Don’t you have Porter Guild work to attend to?"

"Of course. Actually, I came to tell you we’re planning a trip to Hangzhou. It’ll take about two months for the round trip."

"So long?" Lin Qiu’s heart clenched at the news.

"I feel at ease knowing you’re staying here. When I return, it’ll be around the fifth or sixth month, just in time to take you all back to the county town."

Lin Qiu nodded, his eyes reddening.

Wang Ying, tactful as ever, took Yuanbao to the inner courtyard, giving the couple some privacy to speak.

Time slowly passed, and Little Yuanbao grew from a tiny kitten-like baby into a chubby little boy. A few days ago, we weighed him—he was already seventeen pounds.

Lately, Little Yuanbao starts laughing when played with. Whenever Wang Ying makes a clicking sound with his tongue, the little one bursts into giggles; his little face is absolutely adorable.

His appetite has also increased. Before, he would drink half a bowl of milk per meal, but now he needs a full bowl to feel satisfied.

During the day, Li Shi and Chen Rong hardly stay in their own quarters, rushing to Wang Ying’s place every day to compete for a chance to hold their grandson. Wang Ying doesn't mind the break—carrying the little guy for too long makes his shoulders ache.

In the evening, after handing the child over to the nanny, Wang Ying heads early to the Experimental Field to wait for Chen Qingyan.

After the Experimental Field was upgraded to Level 5 last time, aside from a milestone reward, there were also many basic rewards.

For example, the time allowed inside increased by another hour, allowing him to stay for up to three hours a day.

The maximum growth speed multiplier for plants can now be adjusted to five times, though the required experience points have also increased.

After the upgrade, a one-click harvesting feature was added... making it feel more and more like a mini-game.

Not only that, harvested crops can now be stored directly, preserved in some unknown space according to their original shelf life. If not retrieved by the expiration date, they automatically disappear.

Besides retrieving them for use, there’s another option: converting mature crops into experience points to further upgrade the Experimental Field.

Wang Ying converted several thousand catties of stored wheat into experience, but it only increased the progress by two percent. He regretted it instantly—dammit, that grain could have been sold for a decent amount of silver, yet it gave so little experience!

Otherwise, the Experimental Field remains largely the same—you still get what you plant.

Around dusk, Chen Qingyan arrived. The first thing he asked about was Yuanbao: "Was he fussy today? Did he eat on time? Is he feeling well?"

"He’s eating and pooping just fine. How about your studies lately?"

Chen Qingyan wrapped his arms around him, kissed the top of his head, and said, "Today, during the classical discourse, the teacher praised me. It’s the first time he’s ever praised me!"

Liang Boqing, like many elders his age, has this habit: he is exceptionally strict with his nephews but adores his grandchildren.

A few days ago, Chen Qingsong slacked off, carelessly practicing his calligraphy for three days in a row, and the old man caned his palms until they were swollen.

"How are Mother and Aunt doing?"

"They’re well. They come every day to hold Yuanbao. Once the child is a bit older, I’ll leave Yuanbao with them and go to the manor."

Chen Qingyan hesitated, "You should stay with Yuanbao. He’s so little—it would be pitiful for him to be apart from his father and dad."

Wang Ying couldn’t help but laugh at this devoted father act. Since having the child, it was as if he had suddenly shed his youthfulness and matured into a responsible man.

This version of his little husband was even more captivating. Wang Ying couldn’t resist wrapping his arms around his neck and kissing him.

Chen Qingyan cupped the back of his head and kissed him back. The two stumbled backward, falling into a patch of wheat seedlings, their clothes scattering everywhere.

Perhaps due to having given birth, Wang Ying felt mentally and physically accepting of his gender, so he was no longer shy about intimacy, doing whatever felt comfortable.

He took the initiative, riding on top, swaying his hips with an irresistible allure. Sweat dripped from his forehead to his chin, then trailed downward, eventually disappearing between their pressed bodies, evaporating amid their vigorous movements.

After their passionate encounter, they lay breathless on their scattered clothes. Wang Ying rested his head on Chen Qingyan’s arm and asked, "How are the wheat crops at the manor doing?"

"Quite well. Yesterday, I ran into Estate Manager Chen. He said the wheat at our manor is better than that of the nearby manors."

Because the winter was warm, the wheat sprouted early. Only the villagers of Chen Manor and a few nearby manors took measures to protect their crops; others ignored theirs.

Then, after the New Year, the temperature suddenly dropped, and snow fell repeatedly, freezing all those wheat seedlings to death. By spring, the fields were barren, with only a few scattered wheat plants left.

Everyone hurriedly replanted other crops, but they could only harvest one round this year. Since millet and cereal crops wouldn’t mature by June, and other crops sown in July or August wouldn’t have time to harvest.

Wang Ying couldn’t stop thinking about the wheat seeds sent to the capital, wondering how they were growing now...

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Author’s Note: The vindication is about to happen, opening a new arc!