Two days after the Dragon Boat Festival, the imperial decree granting Old Lady Hu the title of "Respectable Lady of the Fourth Rank" that Jiang Wenyuan had petitioned for arrived.
Old Lady Hu held the robe and hat of a Respectable Lady of the Fourth Rank sent by the imperial court, and was so emotional that tears rolled down her cheeks one after another.
After suffering all her life, in her old age she was finally able to enjoy the good fortune of her descendants and became a prestigious imperial decree lady.
Everyone urged her to go inside and try them on.
Old Lady Hu couldn't resist and let her daughters-in-law push her inside.
When the elaborately dressed old lady walked into the hall surrounded by several daughters-in-law, everyone was stunned.
Jiang Lao, who had just returned from working in the fields with a hoe over his shoulder, almost popped his eyes out when he saw this scene.
His daughters-in-law joked with him, "Dad, doesn't Mother look good in this?"
The foolish old man smiled, "Very good! It makes me look like a beggar."
If he hadn't slept with her for decades, he would have barely recognized that this was his wife.
Jiang Lao spoke bluntly, making his children and grandchildren burst into muffled laughter.
He didn't mind at all, and simply put down his hoe and went over to the old lady to size her up, looking up and down repeatedly.
Old Lady Hu glanced at him sideways, "What's the matter, don't recognize me?"
Jiang Lao glared at her, "You're my wife, how could I not recognize you."
He scratched his head awkwardly, "It's just that all of a sudden you look much younger, like the wife of a wealthy family." When I stand with you, strangers might think I'm your father."
All women like to be told they look young. Although Jiang Lao's words were somewhat crude, Old Lady Hu found them very pleasing to her ears.
She immediately became smug, "Of course. Back in the day, I was also the belle of the land. Yet I ended up marrying a fool like you, and after decades of hardship, now I'm too old to even look at."
"Not old at all! You're still a flower!"
"What flower?"
"That...that..." Jiang Lao was tongue-tied and looked to his sons for help. But his unfilial descendants all enjoyed watching the show, pretending not to know anything.
Jiang Yuqing could only step in to save the situation, subtly pointing to the trumpet flowers on the wall ten meters away.
Jiang Lao's mind lit up and he blurted out, "Trumpet flower!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Old Lady Hu's face dropped expressionless as she stared at him murderously.
That look was as if she wanted to tear him apart, sending a shiver down Jiang Lao's spine.
Meanwhile, his children and daughters-in-law covered their mouths, struggling to hold in their laughter as their bodies shook.
Jiang Yuqing covered her face in exasperation. I want to take back what I just said about him being smooth. My dear grandfather, I was obviously referring to the lush peonies blooming vigorously on both sides of the front gate. How could you abandon what's near and pursue what's far, looking at the withering trumpet flowers on the wall ten meters away? Should I praise you for having such good vision, or scold you for being so blunt? That's a sure way to get beaten by anyone else!
The Lord of the Realm says, I won't defend you. I can only admire you.
In the end, Old Lady Hu couldn't bear to hit him. She generously forgave Jiang Lao.
In their decades of marriage, his mouth had never said anything nice.
Moreover, it was the son they raised together, yet only she received the imperial decree while he was still a commoner.
Thinking this way, Old Lady Hu felt strangely appeased.
Ever since Old Lady Hu received the imperial decree, the old ladies in the village looked at her even more enviously.
Although the old ladies appeared aloof on the surface, they were quite pleased in their hearts.
From time to time, she would take her granddaughter out for a stroll, basking in the basket of compliments before returning home satisfied.
At first Jiang Yuqing didn't understand why, but after it happened many times, she realized that her grandmother wanted to show off and revel in the flattery. Just let her enjoy herself.
The old lady had a difficult life. At this point, this was her only hobby. Just let her be happy.
Time passed day by day amid lively chatter and laughter. Soon it was mid-May.
In the fields, the vines of the watermelons had sprouted small yellow flowers, and many had begun to bear plump, cute, fingertip-sized green fruits.
In a few more days when all the flowers had bloomed, they could start fruit thinning, which would ensure that each watermelon received ample nutrition for the best quality.
Fearing that people or livestock would damage them, Jiang Yuqing had specially instructed her grandfather to send people to guard the melon fields every day, and to weed as well.
As for the sweet potato seedling fields, transplanting had already been completed in late April, with the seedlings distributed among the commoners.
By now, all had survived and were growing vigorously.
The farmers treated this single mu of sweet potato field as the apple of their eye, even voluntarily forming patrol teams that guarded it round the clock in three shifts, for all twelve hours of the day.
They were afraid that the slightest inattention would allow the crops to be stolen or ravaged by unwatched livestock.
As for the 20 Imperial Guards, who were originally supposed to return to the capital after their mission,
Jiang Wenyuan had submitted a memorandum to keep them stationed at the manor to guard the rice paddies after their duties ended.
Now, the rice growing at the manor was thriving.
The long-term workers said they had never seen rice growing so vigorously. The seedlings were thick and strong, with many productive tillers, looking very impressive.
Jiang Yuqing had also visited twice, urging her father to pay close attention and inform her immediately if there were any signs of pest infestation, so she could find ways to control them.
Life continued steadily.
Doctor Qiu would take Jiang Yuqing up the mountain to gather herbs every three to five days. The old man said it would be a waste of the abundant medicinal herbs on the mountain not to collect them.
Gradually, the villagers of Xijingdu also found out that Jiang Yuqing had apprenticed herself to an elderly master physician to study medicine, and this master physician was living in the Jiang family home.
Thus, following the logic of seeking help from those close by, family members would frequently come to the door for medical consultations.
With the visitors increasing, it inevitably became inconvenient.
Jiang Lao generously opened up the two side rooms near the main entrance into a small clinic and dispensary.
When Doctor Qiu treated villagers, he had Dumpling observe at his side.
He even let her personally take pulses, discern the patterns and causes of illnesses, and prescribe appropriate formulas.
Doctor Qiu would then point out one by one the deficiencies in his disciple's differentiation and prescriptions of sovereign, minister, assistant and courier herbs.
With her prior medical knowledge and Doctor Qiu's hands-on guidance, she progressed astonishingly fast in integrating and comprehending everything. It truly delighted Doctor Qiu to frequently boast about her to her parents as an extraordinary talent. If only he could kowtow on the spot to the Patriarch.
In short, not only did Bianque Valley have a successor, it might even reach new heights.
Was Doctor Qiu the sort to obtain a treasure and hide it for himself?
Of course not!
He proudly wrote to his disciples and granddisciples, even telling everyone in Bianque Valley about his new treasured little disciple, how smart and adorable she was, and what a prodigy in the medical arts.
Naturally Jiang Yuqing knew nothing about this.
As a result, much later when Jiang Yuqing was traveling, she was baffled by the unsolicited challenges from various doctors, though she was never defeated. Still, it was vexing enough to make her bald.
Only later when she found out these troubles had all been brought upon her by her boastful master did she get so angry she wanted to rush home and tie up the old man for a beating.
In mid-June, after inspecting the fields Jiang Yuqing reported the watermelons could start being harvested in two to three days. The Jiang family adults and children immediately became excited.
On the eighteenth day of the sixth month, everyone in the Jiang family rose early, including Doctor Qiu and several agricultural officials.
Plus several dozen servants of all kinds, they took baskets, straw, and some people had been hired to weave nets specially made of straw. They drove several carts and mule carts and set off grandly for the melon fields.
The more than twenty mu of melon fields were a vast green expanse, covered in round, plump watermelons, a very impressive sight filling everyone with the joy of an abundant harvest.
Jiang Yuqing took the lead in entering the field, tapping among the watermelons with her fingers, and finally selected a completely ripe one for her father to pick.
Jiang Wenyuan weighed the watermelon in his hand - it was no less than seventeen or eighteen jin, a real whopper. Carrying it onto the field ridge, he cut it open with a knife. The green rind and red flesh emitted a sweet aroma that rushed into their noses, making their mouths water.
Jiang Wenyuan nimbly divided the watermelon into several pieces, handing one to each person. As soon as they took a bite, they were satisfied. It really was sweet as honey with a cool, juicy texture. The early summer heat that had just arose instantly vanished without a trace.
With so many people, one melon was far from enough to share. Jiang Yuqing picked several more so everyone could eat their fill.
The Jiang family grew a tribute product of the Fanbang region, watermelons, which was a big deal. Especially with an agricultural official residing in the family, it was naturally impossible to conceal this from the higher-ups.
Therefore, this first batch of melons had to be sent to the capital as tribute for His Majesty the Emperor.
Since the road was long, the tributary watermelons could not be fully ripe ones. They had to be eighty to ninety percent ripe. Such watermelons, though not as sweet as fully ripe ones, were durable for transportation.
Since it was the first time growing watermelons, apart from Jiang Yuqing, only Jiang Wenyuan had the experience to judge whether the watermelons were ripe and how ripe they were.
Jiang Yuqing had the experience from growing many, while the latter purely from eating many. Every time before eating, he would habitually knock on the melon and gain experience from eating them.
Therefore, the responsibilities of selecting melons and leading disciples fell on the father and daughter.
Each of them led three disciples, teaching them hands-on how to select melons, while the others helped carry them. They put them one by one in sturdy nets, and when loading them into baskets, added layers of straw in between.
After loading the baskets onto carts, they stuffed more straw, making sure to protect them to avoid damage during transportation.
They selected a total of three carts of melons. After loading the carts, they immediately sent them rushing to the capital.
Among them, two carts were presented to the Emperor.
Another cart had one basket for Li Deshun, one basket for Jing Yan. This was specifically requested by Tuan Zi to send.
There was also one basket for the Duke of Protector's Mansion, and one basket for Qin Jue. These two families were close friends of Jiang Wenyuan.
When passing the prefecture city, they also gave one basket each to Li Zheng, Prefect of Lingzhou, and Luo Ren, Executive of Lingzhou.
These two were Jiang Wenyuan's top superiors, so when sending things to the capital, they could not bypass them.
Though called three carts, there were actually just a few dozen total.
Watermelons were simply too big, and a large wicker basket half a person's height could only hold five. Each cart could only load six baskets.
After sending off this batch, the Jiang family picked some more fully ripe ones and gave them to relatives and friends.
For example, Lu's and Lin's maternal families each got two baskets, Jiang Wenxi's master and Zhu's maternal granduncle each got one basket.
There were also deliveries to Jiang Wenyuan's former classmates, the county academy teacher, and friends in manors.
They also sent a basket to the private tutor of the Jiang family academy, and gave one to every family in the village regardless of surname. They were extremely generous.
When delivering, they also told them that they could keep the seeds and plant them if they wished.
This caused the villagers of Xijin Crossing to highly praise the Jiang family's benevolence. Jiang Wenyuan's reputation thus rose another level.
