As for the remaining watermelons, they gradually ripened and were all bought up by the Jiang, Qu, and Zhou families at a high price of 300 wen per jin.
After doing the final calculations, a total of 58,500 taels of silver were earned, not counting the ones given away.
When Old Jiang and Old Hu heard this number for the first time, their legs trembled.
Having worked on the fields their whole lives, it was the first time they realized that farming could be so profitable. Are these watermelons or gold?
When the villagers heard that the watermelon given to them by the Jiang family was worth four or five taels of silver, they felt both heartbroken and regretful.
They felt sorry for the Jiang family for not valuing money, giving away so many watermelons so casually.
At the same time, they regretted their own greediness. Eating something worth four or five taels of silver without blinking an eye. Their household expenses for a whole year didn't even amount to four taels. In short, they felt various discomforts.
Fortunately, most of the villagers saved some seeds, hoping to grow some next year. Even if more people grew them next year and they were not worth as much, they could still be eaten at home.
After the last watermelon was harvested, it was already early July.
Jiang Yuqing calculated the time and immediately had Jiang's father send someone to prepare the more than twenty mu of land and urgently plant a batch of sweet potatoes.
The sweet potato seedlings came from the two mu of sweet potato fields that Jiang's family kept for themselves.
Generally speaking, sweet potatoes that have been cut off from the vines will have a significant reduction in yield. Jiang Yuqing couldn't bear to waste these two mu of sweet potatoes, so after cutting off the vines, she quickly watered them with spiritual water and used her special ability to stimulate their growth.
She didn't dare to make it too obvious and only stimulated them a little every day. After a while, the cut vines quickly grew back, even more lush than before they were cut.
Someone found it strange and asked how the sweet potato vines in their house grew so fast.
The Jiang family used a pre-prepared explanation, saying that they used a special potion prepared by their master for such good growth.
The person then asked if there was any more of that potion, and if there was, they wanted to buy some.
The Jiang family replied that it was long gone.
Because the cost was too high, if it wasn't for not wanting to waste these two mu of sweet potatoes, they wouldn't have used it like this.
And casually mentioned a price, which immediately scared the person away. The matter was easily brushed aside.
As for the newly planted sweet potatoes in the fields, Jiang Yuqing secretly watered them twice with spiritual water and used her ability to stimulate their growth once, with the protection of Jiang's family.
After that, she let them grow naturally.
Although it was a bit late, they should be able to harvest before the frost in November.
In the capital city.
Imperial study.
Emperor Xia Jing finished a plate of chilled watermelon, took the handkerchief handed to him by Li Deshun, and leaned back in his chair, satisfied.
He casually picked up the document on the desk and glanced at it again, smiling, "This Jiang Wenyuan is truly a talented farmer. Last year, he grew sweet potatoes, and this year he grew watermelons.
I heard that in the manor I rewarded him, he also planted new crops, and they are growing well. I wonder how the future yield will be compared to the officials in the Ministry of Agriculture. They have become useless bags of rice."
Li Deshun couldn't respond to these words, nor did he dare to.
Emperor Xia Jing lightly tapped the desk with his finger and suddenly said, "Li Deshun, how come I heard that you also received a basket of watermelons?"
Li Deshun's spine shivered as he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this is not what I, your servant, requested from Lord Jiang. This is a gift from my little friend to me."
"Oh? I had no idea that you made a new little friend during your stay in Qingzhou for half a month," Emperor Xia Jing exclaimed.
Li Deshun rubbed his old face and said, "Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me. This little friend of mine is none other than Lord Jiang's youngest daughter. When I was staying at the Jiang residence, we got along quite well. After returning to the capital, I had someone send her two small items as gifts. It seems that she also cherishes the friendship we had, which is why she sent me a basket in return."
"Ah, so that's the story? How old is this little friend of yours?"
"Your Majesty, she is a little over two years old."
"Two years old?" Emperor Xia Jing chuckled, "Instead of calling her a little friend, you might as well adopt her as your grandniece. That way, you can take advantage of being an elder!"
Li Deshun wore a bitter expression and said, "I would like that, but to put it bluntly, I may have some face in front of Your Majesty, but privately, I am still a lowly eunuch who can't hold his head up high. If a noble young lady like her recognizes me as her granduncle, wouldn't it bring shame upon her?"
"I see! So, you genuinely care about this little girl," Emperor Xia Jing remarked.
Li Deshun replied, "Indeed, Your Majesty, you don't know how wonderful she is."
"From what you've said, this young lady from the Jiang family seems quite interesting," Emperor Xia Jing, who rarely showed interest, said. "Come, tell me more about her."
And so, Li Deshun went on and on...
It was said that Jiang Yuqing was the only girl born into the Jiang clan of Qingzhou in the past two hundred years, which even surprised the Emperor himself, who was accustomed to grand scenes.
He thought to himself that the feng shui of the Jiang clan seemed a bit skewed. If only the good fortune of having male heirs could be shared with the Jing family.
The imperial lineage had been thin for several generations. Now in his forties, Emperor Xia Jing only had one legitimate son and one illegitimate son, the latter of whom was born with two missing fingers, a disabled child.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince was healthy and, despite being young, possessed a steady and profound character, suitable for shouldering great responsibilities.
Thus, the Great Xia's throne could be considered secured.
Although Emperor Xia Jing received two carts of watermelons, he couldn't reward all the people he wanted to. The favored concubines of the harem and the capable ministers from the previous dynasty, none of them were left out.
So much so that after dividing them up, he himself didn't get more than half.
Correction, he had already finished eating them all, not a single one was left.
Even the Emperor could only get half, so it was natural that Li Deshun, a eunuch, wouldn't dare to surpass the Emperor's authority. He could only reluctantly offer his own basket as a contribution.
Fortunately, Emperor Xia Jing wasn't too unreasonable and left him with one.
To protect his last watermelon, Li Deshun "accidentally" mumbled, saying that the Crown Prince, the Marquis of Zhengguo's Mansion, and the Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Pingyang's Mansion, Qin Jue, each received a basket.
In other words, Your Majesty, you should ask them for it!
The watermelons were divided equally among everyone, so why should I be the only one at a loss?
That's how Li Deshun thought.
The watermelons from the Marquis of Zhengguo's Mansion and the Marquis of Pingyang's Mansion, the Emperor didn't dare to ask for them. But Crown Prince Jing Yan suffered the consequences.
Emperor Xia Jing, under the pretense of visiting his son to strengthen their bond, barged into the Eastern Palace and forcibly took one of the remaining two watermelons.
He justified it by saying that a son should show filial piety to his father, which infuriated Jing Yan to the point of rebellion.
The emperor relished eating the watermelon his son "filially" presented to him and casually asked, "When did the Jiang family become associated with the Duke of Zhenguofu?"
Li Deshun's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, but he remained composed and replied, "There is indeed some connection. I know a bit about this matter."
"Tell me about it!"
Li Deshun pondered for a moment and then said, "It seems to have happened during the autumn examinations last year. The eldest grandson of the Duke of Zhenguofu took advantage of his family's inattention and sneaked out through a back door's dog hole. In a nearby alley close to the Imperial Academy, he was robbed by a group of ruffians."
He was fortunate to be rescued by Mr. Jiang, who happened to pass by and hired a carriage to send the child back. I heard that Mr. Jiang didn't even leave his name at the time.
Later, the Duke of Zhenguofu's household found out about Mr. Jiang's identity and the Duke's heir personally sent a generous gift to express gratitude. Mr. Jiang, who was still a jinshi scholar at the time, didn't dare to refuse but found it troublesome to accept.
After much consideration, Mr. Jiang returned the favor by sending back a ginseng root he happened to have on him, reluctantly putting his mind at ease. Around that time, the jinshi examination results were announced, and Mr. Jiang achieved an impressive fourth place.
The Duke of Zhenguofu's people felt that Mr. Jiang was sincere, so they sent someone to instruct him on the etiquette and formalities required when meeting the emperor during the palace examination.
Later on, Mr. Jiang was selected as the top scorer in the palace examination by His Majesty. However, he declined the opportunity to enter the Hanlin Academy and expressed his desire to serve in an official position outside, hoping to do practical things for the people.
This matter came to the attention of Mr. Qin, who was then the county magistrate of Qingzhou. He wanted Mr. Jiang Wenyuan to succeed him as the county magistrate and took the initiative to write to the Duke of Zhenguofu, asking for their assistance in appealing to the Ministry of Personnel. This was how the matter of Mr. Jiang Wenyuan returning to Qingzhou to assume office came about."
In fact, the emperor was well aware of the intricate power dynamics within the court. It was not something that could be easily explained in just a few words.
There is a saying that when the water is clear, there are no fish. As long as things don't go too far, Emperor Xia Jing would usually turn a blind eye.
Moreover, the Duke of Zhenguofu's household and Qin Jue had indeed done a great favor this time.
The Duke of Zhenguofu's household considered Mr. Jiang Wenyuan to be sincere, and he truly was.
For example, this time they sent him watermelons. The opening line of the accompanying note read, "I humbly offer this to the Holy One."
The rest of the note was a simple statement in plain language: "The watermelons grown in my humble home have ripened, and two carts have been sent for Your Majesty to taste them fresh." It was signed without a single unnecessary word.
They even attached a detailed handwritten record book on watermelon cultivation.
As he flipped through it casually, Emperor Xia Jing realized that when he became a retired emperor, he might even be able to personally grow some watermelons for his great-grandson to enjoy, following the instructions in this booklet.
The emperor felt fortunate and exclaimed, "If he hadn't requested to serve outside, I would have missed out on a true pillar of the state."
He suddenly asked, "So who was originally intended to go to Qingzhou as a replacement?"
Li Deshun replied, "It seems to be a scholar who ranked at the bottom of the third class."
"A scholar who ranked at the bottom? Rather ordinary in terms of talent, then. According to the regulations, he can only go to the county school to serve as a magistrate or perhaps become a county yamen official, and nothing more."
Even for a low-ranking county magistrate, it would be difficult to have a chance, let alone in Qingzhou, a solidly middle-ranking county.
If there isn't something fishy going on, I wouldn't believe it even if you killed me.
The emperor, being as shrewd as he is, immediately grew cold and asked, "Whose doing is this?"
Li Deshun shook his head and softly replied, "Your Majesty, it was the Distinguished Gentleman Tong Fuqiu, who is a distant relative of this fellow scholar and currently serves as the Minister of Rites."
"Tong Fuqiu?"
Emperor Xia Jing suddenly remembered that when the urgent memorial and sweet potatoes were delivered from Lingzhou Prefecture, which was six hundred miles away, Tong Fuqiu had vehemently opposed it right then and there.
He accused Jiang Wenyuan of deception and attempting to deceive the emperor.
At the time, he found it strange that no one in the court, neither civil nor military officials, had spoken up, but the Minister of Rites, who had nothing to do with the matter, had rushed to oppose it. So, this was the root cause.
Understanding the whole story, Emperor Xia Jing couldn't help but grind his teeth in anger.
All this trouble caused by an insignificant scholar who didn't even make it to the final rankings. That damn Tong Fuqiu truly has grown weary of life.
