Chapter 232: Chapter 214, Benefit_1
“How did it go, has the issue with the grain seeds been resolved?”
Because Commander Shen had come to Xingzhou City, Yan Zhigao had gone out to meet him. By the time the ship left, he had returned, which coincidentally was also the time to finish his official duties at the Governor’s Office. He simply went directly back to the family quarters.
Upon hearing Madam Li’s inquiry, he first nodded his head, then immediately asked, “How does our daughter have so many grain seeds in her possession?”
Madam Li was taken aback.
Our daughter…
This was the first time the master had referred to his daughter with such affection.
Seeing that Madam Li did not respond, Yan Zhigao, while changing his outer garment, said, “What are you standing there stupefied for?”
Madam Li glanced at Yan Zhigao, stepped forward to help him adjust his clothing, and then shook her head with a smile. “That girl said it’s called ‘being prepared for a rainy day, better safe than sorry.’ If she has grain, she won’t panic. She said that even if there were a natural disaster with a severe drought, with the stock of food she has, our family wouldn’t go hungry.”
She sighed as she spoke.
“I think, it must be because of the hardships she suffered while traveling with her mother to Linyi County that toughened her up, which is why that girl likes to stockpile grain.”
In Yan Zhigao’s mind, the image of his mother and a few others dressed as beggars at the doorstep of the Linyi County Governor’s Office surfaced.
At that time, he was only focused on the joy of reuniting with his elderly mother and hadn’t given much thought to how people, both old and young alike, managed to evade bandits along the way or how they had begged for food.
Seeing Madam Li’s distressed expression, Yan Zhigao patted her hand. “Daohua is a very good girl, and Mother was right, she is indeed our family’s lucky star.”
“In the past, although the Little Prince was quite close to our family, it was only a playful friendship between children, and deep down, I always felt uneasy.”
“After all, there are so many people surrounding the Little Prince, and our children are not irreplaceable. If a few more playmates who are even better at engaging and entertaining him appear, they might be pushed aside by the Little Prince.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Li was displeased. “How can our children be any less than others? Wenkai might be boisterous, and Wentao too sincere; they are one thing, but what about Wenxiu and Daohua? Go on, tell me, where do they fall short compared to other children?”
Yan Zhigao showed a helpless expression, “I’m not saying our children are inferior to others, what I mean is, the nature of relationships between people is not unchanging.”
“Look here, the Little Prince is only fourteen now, at the height of his playful years, so our boisterous children have caught his eye. But what about in a couple of years? If he becomes more composed, perhaps he’ll need different companions, you see.”
This time, Madam Li did not argue.
Yan Zhigao, seeing he had convinced his wife, continued with the previous topic.
“However, with the assistance of this grain seed event, our family has indeed formed a deeper bond with the Little Prince, as well as the Guo Family backing him.”
“I heard from Lord Dong that the bandit problem in Fenxi was very serious, and the Emperor was deeply concerned. Therefore, as soon as the high-yield grain seeds were available, the first thought was of Fenxi, because if the people can fill their stomachs, naturally, they will not join the bandits.”
“Had the grain seeds been lost and the people unable to survive, provoking even greater banditry, the penalty Governor Guo would face would certainly not be light.”
“We might as well have saved Governor Guo’s life.”
As Yan Zhigao analyzed the situation, Madam Li came to a deeper understanding of the matter and nodded, then promptly attributed credit to their daughter, “All of this was thanks to Daohua.”
Yan Zhigao laughed, “Yes, yes, I didn’t say otherwise.”
Madam Li sighed, “I hope the grain seeds arrive safely. That way, the people of Fenxi will have hope, and my lord, you will have gained merit.”
Yan Zhigao nodded, “Yes, in times of natural disasters and human calamities, it is always the common people who suffer.”
…
The docks of Zhongzhou Provincial Capital.
Watching the grain seeds being transported to Fenxi, Dong Jiancheng also breathed a sigh of relief.
Although the matter of the grain seeds did not concern him much, if the bandit problem in Fenxi were not resolved, Zhongzhou, being a neighboring province, would not have an easy time.
Not to mention anything else, just dealing with the influx of refugees would be enough of a headache, not to speak of the potential issues it could cause for public security.
This time, it must be delivered safely!
Regardless, the high-yield grain seeds had originated from his jurisdiction; if they were to alleviate the banditry in Fenxi, he would also have a share of the merit.
Nowadays, no one would complain about having too much merit.
“Father, later Little Prince will take us to the Commandant Office’s training ground, and then we’ll head back to the Academy from there without returning to the residence,” Dong Yuanxuan ran over to his father to fill him in on their plans.
Dong Jiancheng glanced at the distance where Little Prince was laughing and chatting with the three gentlemen from the Yan Family, a flicker in his eyes, “Go ahead.”
Only after his eldest son had run off did Dong Jiancheng let out a sigh.
The Yan Family really were quite fortunate.
First, they had inadvertently saved Little Prince, and now they had done such a big favor for Governor Guo; their bond would surely deepen as time went on.
Look, wasn’t he taking the three Yan gentlemen to the Commandant Office right now?
Yan Zhigao and the Third Young Master Yan had chosen the martial path and would undoubtedly have to interact with the Commandant Office in the future. Being introduced to it early, broadening their horizons, could spare them some detours, while also expanding their networks.
This sort of treatment, even my own sons have never had.
…
Atop the main peak of Wuhua Mountain, Meilin Villa.
“Master, the grain seeds have been transported successfully,” a figure in black kneeled on one knee. Sitting before him, Guo Ruomei wore an expression of indifference, “Were the covert escorts arranged properly?”
The figure in black nodded, “Everything has been arranged well. There won’t be another incident where the grain seeds are hijacked.”
Guo Ruomei’s eyes narrowed slightly, “I hope so. You may leave now, but follow the grain transport team. If anything happens, send a Carrier Pigeon Message immediately.”
“Yes.”
Once the figure in black had left, Mei Shuang came in with tea, “Master, now you can be at ease.”
Guo Ruomei took the tea, shaking her head, “Until the seeds are sown in the field, I won’t be at ease,” she said, taking a sip of the tea.
As she looked at the blooming jasmine flowers in her teacup, a faint smile crept onto Guo Ruomei’s lips, “Speaking of which, the eldest daughter of the Yan Family has indeed helped us twice now.”
However, the smile soon faded from her face, and she spoke with a hint of annoyance, “It’s just that her eyes are too sharp.”
Last time there was finally a chance to contact her son, yet that girl completely disrupted it.
Mei Shuang remembered how the eldest daughter of the Yan Family had seen through their disguise last time, also feeling a bit embarrassed.
They had been too hasty; otherwise, how could a young girl notice that something was amiss?
Guo Ruomei took another sip of tea and, after a moment of contemplation, said, “Go tell Shen Qiao to properly teach the eldest daughter of the Yan Family, and make up for all the things a noble lady in Beijing should know.”
Mei Shuang nodded in acknowledgment.
Shen Qiao was the Guo Family’s Madam Shen. Initially, the master, out of gratitude for the Yan Family’s eldest daughter saving her young master, had her visit Shen Qiao, and that led to Shen Qiao going to the Yan Family to teach the young ladies.
Otherwise, with Shen Qiao’s reputation in Xingzhou, the newly arrived Yan Family would not have been able to invite her.
…
Zhou Residence.
Old Master Zhou was also paying attention to the incident of the lost grain seeds, and when he heard that the Yan Family had helped gather more than twenty thousand stones of grain seeds, he was quite impressed.
“When it comes to luck, if it’s coming your way, there’s no stopping it. Last year when Yan Zhigao had just arrived in Xingzhou, he was ostracized and bullied by everyone at the Prefectural Governor’s Office, but now… even Consultant Du from the Zhongzhou Provincial Capital is proactively seeking reconciliation,” he remarked.
Master Zhou nodded, his tone slightly envious, “Isn’t that the truth.”
Old Master Zhou gave him a glance, “I heard that when Little Prince took the three Yan brothers to the Commandant Office, Chengye wasn’t originally summoned. It was only after the eldest son mentioned it that he was able to join them.”
Master Zhou was indifferent, “Chengye studies literature, going to the Commandant Office wouldn’t be of any use to him, so it’s normal for Little Prince not to call him.”
Old Master Zhou shook his head in disappointment, “Is this a question of being useful or not? This is about whether Little Prince is willing to include our Chengye in his circle. Anyway, you wouldn’t understand these things.”
“Regardless, if the Yan Family continues to thrive, we will benefit greatly even though it hasn’t been long since they arrived.”