Chapter 230: Chapter 212: I’m Glad I Could Help You_1
Yan Wenxiu continued, “The butler and his men have also gone back to their hometown to collect more seed grain, but the amount won’t be much, and it might be delayed. I’m not sure if we’ll still be on time for planting this year.”
Xiao Yeyang fell silent.
From Xingzhou to Yan Family Village and back, even if the horses never stopped, it would take ten days to half a month, and then sending it from here to Fenxi would probably take until the middle of November.
By then, the optimal planting season would have already passed.
Xiao Yeyang furrowed his brows, “How many bushels can your family gather?”
Yan Wenxiu: “Around 2000 bushels.”
Upon hearing the quantity, before Xiao Yeyang could say anything, Defu anxiously blurted out, “So little? How is that enough?”
Yan Wenxiu quickly added, “My third uncle estimated that we could gather about 5000 bushels from our hometown.”
Defu: “But the timing from your hometown might be too late, and even with an extra 5000 bushels, it’s still not enough.”
Xiao Yeyang tapped the stone table and said gravely, “Even if it’s not enough, there’s no other way. Let’s send over what your family has collected first.”
Daohua sat beside them, watching the two of them converse with serious expressions. After they finished, she finally asked, “Are you collecting seed grain?”
Xiao Yeyang, preoccupied with the transportation issue, casually nodded.
While Yan Wenxiu was lamenting the Yan family’s thin resources; if only they had more estate and manor lands, they could have been a great help to the Little Prince and the Governor Guo, but sadly, the Yan family had risen too late in the game.
Because he was so absorbed in his thoughts, he didn’t hear Daohua’s question.
Unsatisfied with their perfunctory response, Daohua asked again, “Why don’t you ask me if I have any seed grain?” After saying this, she looked puzzled at the two men, unable to comprehend why they would send people back to their hometown without asking her, the person right in front of them.
Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenxiu turned to look at her in unison, their faces a mixture of confusion, surprise, and anticipation.
“Miss Yan, do you have seed grain?” Defu eagerly asked this question first.
Daohua tilted her head back slightly, “Of course, I do. Don’t forget, I have several estates in my hands.”
Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenxiu both inhaled sharply.
Forgive them, for they had truly forgotten, or rather, habitually overlooked this fact.
In their eyes, women from the inner house had no place in such a big affair and were powerless, so the idea of involving Daohua had never crossed their minds.
Not only them, but even Yan Zhigao had not thought of this.
Xiao Yeyang licked his somewhat dry lips and ventured, “How much seed grain do you have?”
Daohua raised her eyebrows, “How much do you need?”
Seeing her confidence, Xiao Yeyang’s eyes brightened, and he gestured with his hand: “Do you have 10,000 bushels?” His uncle had lost 20,000 bushels of seed grain; with over 10,000 bushels, the Guo family could find a way to absolve his uncle of the punishment.
Daohua laughed, “Look how cautious you are. It’s just 10,000 bushels of seed grain, right?” She patted her chest pronouncing boldly, “I’ll supply it for you.”
At her words, both Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenxiu showed expressions of surprise and delight.
However, Yan Wenxiu, worried that Daohua was too young to understand the amount, hastily confirmed, “Big sister, it’s ten thousand bushels, not one, ten, or a hundred bushels, okay?”
Seeing herself underestimated, Daohua was displeased, “I’m not a three-year-old child. Of course, I know how much 10,000 bushels is.”
Xiao Yeyang trusted Daohua and quickly said, “Your seed grain is stored at your estate, right? Give me the address, and I’ll send someone immediately to collect it. We must hurry, as Fenxi is waiting to plant.”
Daohua said to Wang Manman, “Go call Brother Xiaoliu over, and have him take some men to the granary.”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Defu, who promptly said, “I’ll go with Miss Manman.”
After the two left, Yan Wenxiu turned to Daohua, “Big sister, how did you manage to store so much grain?”
Daohua spread out her hands and tilted her head with a smile, “I didn’t store it. It was just harvested this autumn. I’ve been busy practicing horseback riding lately and haven’t had the chance to sell it yet.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenxiu exchanged a quick glance, and then both smiled in relief.
They knew that Daohua liked to sell things to save silver, and then buy even more estates.
Xiao Yeyang soon furrowed his brow and asked, “The autumn harvest? Could these wheat seeds withstand the cold?”
Daohua: “Don’t worry, Daohua’s products are definitely of fine quality, capable of not only resisting the cold but also pests.”
The seeds used on her manor were cultivated using the yellow soil from her space. The reason for planting so much was to spread the quality grains more quickly and widely.
Yan Wenxiu glanced at Daohua, knowing how his father had acquired the high-yield grains, so hearing what Daohua said, he wasn’t worried about the quality of the seeds.
Soon after, Xiaoliu followed De Fu to join them.
Daohua said to Xiaoliu, “Brother Xiaoliu, take De Fu and the rest to the granary to collect the seeds.” Pausing, she cocked her head towards Yan Wenxiu.
“Is ten thousand bushels enough? Do you need more?”
Xiao Yeyang’s breath caught, and then he coughed a few times, clearing his throat, “If you have extra, naturally, the more the better.”
Daohua immediately turned to Xiaoliu, “Give them all the seeds from the granary.”
Xiaoliu nodded in agreement.
Then, Xiaoliu led De Fu and the bodyguards brought by Xiao Yeyang to the granary on Daohua Manor to collect the grains, and Yan Wenxiu followed as well.
…
“Alright, the issue with the seeds is resolved, you need not worry anymore, just wait in peace,” Daohua said with a smile as she poured another cup of tea for Xiao Yeyang.
Looking at the freshly brewed tea, Xiao Yeyang felt truly thirsty. He picked up the cup and started to drink, contemplating as he sipped.
The matter of his uncle losing the seeds had indeed taken a twist for the better.
Now, as long as the seeds were quickly delivered to Fenxi, he no longer needed to worry about his uncle facing punishment.
With the situation resolved, he felt a great sense of relief.
After drinking most of the cup, Xiao Yeyang set it down and watched Daohua across from him, who held her cup and sipped it gently with a smile. A warm surge began to swell in his heart.
Although he was born into the Imperial Family, with a distinguished status, he didn’t have many close people.
From his early years, his father had never supervised him; although his Imperial Uncle cared for him, he was preoccupied with state affairs. So, it had been his uncle who had educated him all along.
His uncle’s trouble with losing the seeds, facing possible punishment, had caused him real anxiety and concern.
Fortunately, there was Daohua.
This person, since their first meeting, had ceaselessly surprised him and unveiled unexpected delights, compelling one to draw closer.
“Thank you!”
Upon hearing this, Daohua laughed, and seeing the seriousness on Xiao Yeyang’s face, she nonchalantly waved her hand, “There’s no need for formality, we’re friends, after all!”
Xiao Yeyang was stunned for a moment, then knitted his brows, “Friends?”
Noticing his reluctance, Daohua’s expression soured, “What, don’t you consider me a friend?”
Xiao Yeyang found the term ‘friend’ a bit odd, but seeing the look on Daohua’s face—that she would be upset if he dared say otherwise—he promptly shook his head, “We are friends.”
Daohua smiled again, “Friends should help each other, so you don’t need to be so polite with me. Besides, haven’t you also helped my family a lot?”
Xiao Yeyang fell silent for a moment, “I haven’t actually done anything for your family.”
Daohua put away her smile, her face serious, “You don’t need to do anything to have helped our family.” Then her face broke into a smile again, “Anyway, I’m very happy to have been able to help you this time.”