Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It had been two or three months since the spring ploughing and the weather was getting hotter. The door of the government office was left open every day but it still felt very stuffy.
Jiang Pengji did not care at all. She wore simple light clothes every day with her sleeves rolled up to her shoulders and the legs of her pants rolled up to her mid-thighs. Her fair arms and thighs made Wei Ci blush strangely, which in turn made Yang Si gaze at him in a weird manner.
“Do you have ulterior motives with regards to your lord?”
Yang Si was writing with a pen using his right hand while fanning himself with his left hand. Even so, he still felt that the back of his clothes was already drenched with sweat. His forehead was full of large drops of sweat too.
Wei Ci’s hand trembled. A discordant black line appeared on the originally neat and fine letter. He helplessly put away the scrapped letter. He looked calm but in fact his fingers were already trembling. “What are you talking about? The lord and I are both men…”
Yang Si pouted. Prince Changshou had raised many catamites and toy-boys. He did not even conceal it. Having seen the dark side of the aristocratic families, Yang Si did not think that they all believed in the principles of yin and yang. Otherwise how could homosexuality become popular?
“So what if you’re both men? Speaking of which, you’re 22 years old this year, right? You don’t have a gentle wife or a beautiful mistress. Even if the others don’t say that you’re having secrets which are awkward to disclose, they’ll think that you’re homosexual… This is normal,” Yang Si said with a smile. Seeing Wei Ci’s facial expression change in the hot summer was as thrilling as drinking a huge bowl of ice water in the dog days of summer. “It’s not a big deal if you’re in love with your lord.”
Wei Ci retorted, “You’re 29 years old. Aren’t you single too?”
Yang Si replied, “I have high standards so ordinary women aren’t up to my taste. The matchmakers have broken my door in the past but I refused.”
Wei Ci choked and said, “I don’t intend to start a family.”
Seeing that he looked somewhat glum, Yang Si became a little softhearted for fear that he had hit Wei Ci’s sore spot.
“Are you still torn about the eight characters?”
At that moment, Jiang Pengji’s voice suddenly came from outside the door.
As she walked in, she said, “What about the eight characters? Seeing that you’re chatting so happily, have you finished handling all the government affairs?”
The corner of Yang Si’s mouth twitched. Jiang Pengji had gone to Jiaoping District a few days ago to capture some strong men. Why had she come back so soon? The two of them only saw the two round, green balls in her arms when Jiang Pengji entered the room.
Seeing the objects in her arms, Wei Ci said with surprise, “Are they green jade rooms?”
Yang Si and Jiang Pengji were stunned. The viewers in the streaming room were also puzzled.
Watermelons were watermelons. Did he have to say it in such a literary manner?
Jiang Pengji simply did not know that watermelons had such a title. On the other hand, Yang Si had never seen a watermelon before.
Wei Ci only reacted after being startled for a while. Watermelons which were called ‘green jade rooms’ by many arty aristocrats had yet to spread from the Western Region… He remembered quite clearly that watermelons were specially dedicated by the vassal small kingdoms in the Western Region to the emperor in order to court the favor of the emperor after the founding of the Jiang dynasty. They tasted quite good and it was good for relieving the summer heat in the hot summer days. Afterwards, it had even become a treasure for the commoners to build their family fortunes.
How… did it appear now?
“It may have such a name, but I call it watermelon. It’s easy to grow. We can consider growing some in Chengan District. They can be used to store water and to relieve the heat in summer.” Jiang Pengji put the two big watermelons on the table and cut one of them in half using a dagger.
It had been chilled in the well water, so its flesh was emitting cold air.
“I remember that it’s only available in the Western Region…” Wei Ci said.
Jiang Pengji cut the watermelon into pieces. Its bright red flesh made people drool.
“It’s indeed from the Western Region. Uncle Gu does business from the north to the south and he likes to exchange for some strange plants. He gave me a few last year so I’ve planted them in the small garden of Xiangyang District. I heard that it had borne fruit, so I ate one. It tastes good.”
In fact, this was not the case. Jiang Pengji knew nothing about the plants in the ancient times. The viewers in the streaming room who had planted watermelons at home told her about it. They taught her how to grow watermelons and told her about the things that she had to pay attention to. After writing them down, she told the person in-charge about the skills needed and asked her to look after them.
She went to Jiaoping District for work. Upon hearing what Qiguan Rang said, she hurried back to Xiangyang District and picked a few of them.
Things that were scarce were always expensive. Jiang Pengji wanted to make Fengyi County recover quickly so its business development could not be weak. However, this fruit could only be eaten as a snack and it could not be regarded as food. Even if it was grown, its quantity and the fields should be limited.
If the commoners found out that they could make money by growing watermelons and that everyone wanted to grow watermelons, who would grow crops? What should they eat if there were no grains?
Thinking of this, Jiang Pengji gave them the watermelon on the plate.
“Zixiao, you can’t eat too much. It’s cold in nature. You can just eat one or two pieces to satisfy your craving.” she exhorted.
Yuanyuan Xiatiao: “Now that I see watermelons, I want to eat some too. All natural watermelons are juicy and sweet. I really want to go downstairs and buy one.”
Xingxing Dalao: “I’m already holding half a watermelon and eating it by scooping its flesh with a spoon. It’s a lot better than eating it in pieces.”
One and a half acres of the garden in Xiangyang District were growing watermelons. She ordered someone to pick them and send them to her subordinates as a reward. One would feel less irritated by indulging in a watermelon in summer.
Yang Si disliked Jiang Pengji somehow, but he had to admit that the food here was delicious. Even the summer fruits were unique.
“Lord, according to your instructions, I’ve already asked the laborers to dig the water channel as well as chopping enough bamboos which will be cut into pieces and dried under the sun.”
“Okay. How’s the baking of the new bricks in the brick kiln?”
“Excellent finished products can already be produced. Although they’re not as sturdy as the ordinary flashed bricks, they’re not fragile anymore.”
The scene of the three of them discussing proper business while eating watermelons was too beautiful. The viewers in the streaming room expressed that they wanted to have some.
Tumi Dalao: “Thanks to the streamer, I think the watermelon farmers this year will have a laugh.”
Due to the mystery and cross-dimensional gimmicks of the streaming room, many emerging industries had been driven.
For example, as watermelons had appeared in the streaming that day, perhaps the watermelons in the fruit shops nearby would be sold out!
The effects of advertising were scary!
Would the watermelon farmers not beam from ear to ear?
Jiang Pengji said, “I’m happy with the way you work.”
The bamboo pieces would be placed on both sides of the water channel. The newly-baked bricks would be used to cover the water channel.
After the end of spring, the weather had gotten hotter and hotter. There hadn’t been a drop of rain since. Jiang Pengji’s hunch was about to be proven true.
During this time, Jiang Pengji had transferred almost half of the manpower to dig the water channel, reservoir, and wells. Things were in full swing in Jiaoping District and Maolin District as well. Everyone was preparing for the upcoming summer. Although the construction in the districts had slowed, it did not stop. The barren districts which were initially ravaged by the Tsing Yi Army had begun to exude a thriving atmosphere.
As long as the people were united and directed their efforts towards the same goal, there was hardly anything that could not be achieved. During the sixth month when the weather was sultry and the sun was scorching hot, even stray cats and dogs dared not to stay outside for a long time.
A huge event which affected the entire situation in Dongqing had happened without a warning. The wife of the second prince, An Yina, had died all of a sudden.
