Free Web NovelChapter 327: Chapter 294: Harvesting Peanuts
Outside the city estate, the autumn harvest was underway.
"Mei, this is a new variety planted on the estate. It’s called peanuts. It was arranged by Miaoxue’s owner, and we had no idea how to plant it..."
"Peanuts, take me to see them?"
"Isn’t this a longevity fruit? How did you manage to grow it?" Yue Mei’Er recognized it at a glance. It’s a unique plant fruit from the Southern Wilderness Continent, highly favored by the natives, who even gave it a rather remarkable name, longevity fruit.
They say those who eat this fruit regularly can live longer.
That’s obviously impossible, but this thing is rarely seen in Da Li, especially in this northwest land, it’s even rarer.
Could it be that this climate could also cultivate such "longevity fruit"?
Planting!
This large expanse of "longevity fruit" is far more valuable than growing grain.
"Where did the seeds come from? Do you have any insights on planting?" Yue Mei’Er asked.
"They were arranged by Miaoxue’s owner, who also provided the planting method. We just followed her instructions and then we were allowed to cultivate this otherwise useless sandy land, and unexpectedly, crops don’t grow well in this sand, but peanuts grow extremely well..." The tenants on the estate were very cheerful.
Good cultivation comes with high rewards.
"Do you know how to harvest them?"
"Yes, dig them up, pick them off, dry them, and when they’re dry, shell them and keep the peanuts inside," the tenant leader explained.
"Carry on then. When the first batch of peanuts is ready, bring them to me. I want to calculate the yield," Yue Mei’Er instructed.
"Yes, Mei."
Yue Mei’Er pondered for a moment. Si Miaoxue wasn’t interested in farming; this must have been arranged by Lin Miao. That man really is the destined Saint Heir; he knows everything. Fortunately, I made my move, or I’d truly regret it.
I really wish I could go back again!
It doesn’t bear thinking at all, Yue Mei’Er’s cheeks flushed and realized she had to go back to wash her undergarments again.
Youwei has a medical clinic, and anything related to medicine is probably going to be handled by her. Si Miaoxue has the business of colorless glass and sugar, which will surely make a lot of money in the future. And now, even though she’s managing a bunch of things, she doesn’t have her own enterprise yet. She needs to find an opportunity to ask Lang Jun to set up an industry under her name as well.
She can’t lose to Si Miaoxue.
...
"Break the engagement, why does Fifth Senior Brother want to break the engagement?" Xia Zhu heard this and turned pale. This concerns her reputation.
If someone spreads rumors without knowing the truth, her reputation could be ruined. It’s a very serious matter.
What is Shen Haidong trying to do?
"He told me it’s voluntary, and here’s a hand-written explanation from him on why he wants to break the engagement. It has nothing to do with you. He wants to give you freedom and himself closure." Xia Yuan handed Xia Zhu a letter penned by Shen Haidong.
Xia Zhu was momentarily stunned, trembling hands reaching out to take it. As she opened the folded letter, she recognized Shen Haidong’s handwriting immediately, as familiar as it had been since childhood. free𝑤ebnovel.com
"My sister, Xia Zhu..."
As she read on, Xia Zhu’s eyes welled up with tears. She knew how much Shen Haidong liked her, silently staying by her side. But she also understood that if it weren’t for meeting Wen Ruyu, she would have married him by the engagement.
However, feelings are hard to control, and she and Wen Ruyu never made their relationship clear. She didn’t, and neither did Wen Ruyu.
She was conflicted inside. Though she never had any "affairs," she strictly adhered to the rules in her interactions with Wen Ruyu, yet she couldn’t control her admiration and fondness for him. She never thought of ending the engagement with Shen Haidong...
It was just a feeling that shouldn’t have emerged at this time.
Wen Ruyu indeed was a wonderful person. They shared common conversations, were highly compatible, and admired each other, and she could sense his fondness for her, which was unhidden in his eyes, but Wen Ruyu never expressed his feelings to her.
He was a gentleman, aware that she was engaged; expressing desire to a betrothed woman was unethical.
"Father, what is this all about? Why did Fifth Senior Brother suddenly break the engagement?" Xia Zhu asked, puzzled, after reading the letter.
Xia Yuan sighed, "Remember that night I called you back and asked about your relationship with your teacher?"
"Father, didn’t I already explain that? How could I have that kind of relationship with Mr. Lin? The women around him are all younger and prettier than me. Why would he think of me that way?"
"Before I called you back, Mr. Lin came by specifically to discuss your engagement with Shen Haidong. He clearly opposed it and told me that you and Shen Haidong are closely related, and any offspring from the marriage would likely have problems."
"Mr. Lin specifically came to talk to you about this?" Xia Zhu was shocked. "Why have I never heard Mr. Lin mention this?"
"I guess he also approached your Fifth Senior Brother, Shen Haidong, which is why he made the decision to break the engagement."
"This, this..." Xia Zhu was stunned. She herself didn’t know there was such a convoluted inside story here.
"Xia Zhu, I also thought Lin Miao harbored improper thoughts about you, but later hearing your straightforward denial, I wavered. I don’t believe Mr. Lin would be that kind of person; he is not even twenty yet and wouldn’t act this way. Besides, he has a fiancée as beautiful as a flower, so it’s impossible for him to do such things. However, this indeed confused me. Why did Mr. Lin suddenly make such a request? Xia Zhu, can you explain this doubt to your father?" Xia Yuan asked seriously and solemnly.
Xia Zhu hesitated for a moment, then suddenly thought of a possibility, but immediately dismissed it as unlikely. How could Mr. Lin know about her and Wen Ruyu...
Anyway, her relationship with Lin Miao has always been strictly that of a mentor and apprentice, without a hint of crossing that boundary.
She was quite clear about this, as Lin Miao had never shown any intimate behavior towards her, something she as a woman could easily sense.
Which girl by Mr. Lin’s side isn’t younger and prettier than her? Does he need to take the risk of being criticized and scorned to make a move on her?
Moreover, she was just of average appearance, not as talented or capable as Mrs. Sun Youwei. Only a woman like her deserved a man like Mr. Lin; she was not worthy.
"Father, my relationship with Mr. Lin is purely that of mentor and apprentice; there is simply no other connection. I don’t know why he approached you about this; I think he was just concerned about my marriage..."
"It’s reasonable for a teacher to be concerned about a student’s marriage, but suddenly mentioning it makes one have to be suspicious. Xia Zhu, you haven’t been truthful with your father!" Knowing his daughter well, Xia Yuan noticed her speech slow and hesitated a bit.
"Father, I truly don’t know. Haven’t you directly asked him?"
"If I were the type to ask, I would have already done so; why would I need to come to you?" Xia Yuan shook his head with a sigh.
Xia Zhu didn’t want to speak casually either. After all, her inner suspicions couldn’t be easily voiced, as the impact would be great.
"Alright, if you’re not saying, I won’t ask anymore. As long as your relationship with Mr. Lin is not of that kind, I’m relieved." Xia Yuan feared the most about this. Since it doesn’t exist, it’s not the worst outcome.
"Father, I will find out. Don’t worry, I will definitely give you an accurate answer." Xia Zhu promised.
"The answer isn’t important. What’s important is, daughter, what will you do about your marriage next?" Xia Yuan asked.
"Leave it to fate. At worst, your daughter won’t marry for life, accompanying you and mother."
"I haven’t dared to tell your mother about Haidong’s withdrawal from the engagement; she can’t take another shock. Don’t mention it either, I’ll wait for an appropriate time to tell her." Xia Yuan reminded.
"I understand, Father."
...
Huaye Tower, in the back kitchen, inside an operations room.
"Mrs. Wan."
"Little Hai Tang, why did you run to Dongshan?" Situ Wan was startled to see the dirty little girl in front of her.
"I escaped from marriage. Now I’m homeless and don’t dare to return to the sect, so I can only wander around." Explained the girl named Little Hai Tang, who was stuffing food in her mouth as if she’d been reincarnated from starvation, clearly having endured hardships along the way.
Luu Wan, unamused, said, "How did you know I was in Dongshan?"
"Mrs. Wan, although you deliberately concealed your whereabouts, what is your relationship with my master? You’ve always had secret communications, not using the sect’s eagle messages but rather my father’s northwest army’s eagle messages, right?" Qingtang laughed, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth.
"You little girl, you’re quite bold. Aren’t you afraid of me notifying your father to take you back?"
"My father wouldn’t do that; he’s happy now."
"Why, you escaped from marriage and he’s still happy?" Luu Wan was greatly puzzled.
"The poisonous concubine in the palace wanted me to marry her son and become a concubine; of course, I didn’t agree. But once the emperor decrees the marriage, there would be no room for reversal, and my father couldn’t openly refuse. What if it’s the emperor’s wish? So, before this issue happens, I fled. Even if the emperor decrees, as long as I’m not there, the poisonous concubine and the emperor are powerless."
"What’s the difference between fleeing now and escaping after a decree?"
"The difference is huge. Fleeing now could be considered traveling, and where I travel to is uncertain. If a decree is issued for marriage, finding me would be challenging. But escaping after a decree, that’s defying an imperial order—a serious crime that would trouble my father." Qingtang explained.
"Then, coming to me, I have no way to shelter you."
"You’re the head chef at this inn, aren’t you? Introducing me as a waitress isn’t difficult, right?" Qingtang said.
"You, the high-status young lady of Marquis Wu An, working as a waitress, if your father knew, I couldn’t bear the consequences." Luu Wan immediately refused.
"Mrs. Wan, you’re a true disciple of the sect, yet here you are as the head chef at Huaye Tower. Why can’t I be a waitress?" Qingtang said.
"I’m not the same as you." Luu Wan replied unamused.
"What’s different? Is Huaye Tower related to my Mr. Hua?" Qingtang asked wide-eyed.
"Don’t overthink. If you want to stay, fine, but you must apply on your own, and you mustn’t reveal our relationship. Otherwise, I’ll send you back." Luu Wan said.
"Fine, no problem. But Huaye Tower doesn’t seem to be hiring publicly right now?"
"You’ll find out tomorrow."
