After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 185: A Visitor from the City
Seeing him run away, Guan immediately chased after him, yelling, "Come back here! I haven't finished talking yet! You useless coward!"

Under these circumstances, Ke Dasong and his two sons, as in previous years, brought a flock of sheep to Dongmen Village.

Su Chunlin prepared a feast to entertain him, and also told him about Ke Yunyun's situation, and briefly mentioned the government decree.

"Does my brother-in-law mean we can't buy sheep next year?" Ke Dasong and his two sons were all terrified.

Su Chunlin quickly shook his head, "That's not what I meant. I just wanted to let you know that you can raise fewer sheep next year. Everyone made money this year, and you were still able to sell all your sheep. But it's hard to say what will happen next year."

Ke Dasong looked worried. "What should we do?"

Ke Zhengping sighed and comforted his father, "Dad, we've actually made more money in these three years. No one can stay rich forever. Our family now owns land and a house in town, as well as a pasture. We're not doing badly."

Let's raise fewer next year. If things improve on my uncle's side, we can raise more then.

Su Chunlin nodded vigorously, "My nephew is so open-minded. That's what I was planning to do too."

Since Ke Yunyun was not in Zhaohua County, and the women of the Ke family did not come out with her, Ke Dasong and his two sons sold the sheep and hurried back.

When passing by Shenjiazhuang, Ke Dasong brought four sheep to the door.

He also mentioned his concerns to Su Tai.

Su Tai comforted him for a while, then prepared a lot of bread, cakes, brown sugar, and cotton clothes for them, and saw them off out of the village.

Busy as we were, December arrived in the blink of an eye.

As soon as December began, Shen Yi's house became lively.

When the Da Xun River was frozen over, Manager Li of the Ji Xiang Inn personally came to the door in a horse-drawn carriage, bringing generous gifts.

"Manager Li, what's going on?" Shen Yi asked, puzzled.

Shopkeeper Li pleaded in a humble voice, "Shen Yi! We've known each other for a long time, could you sell me some more greenhouse vegetables? I don't need much, just corn and tomatoes, okay?"

Shen Yi frowned. "Manager Li, it's not that I don't want to sell, but my wife is pregnant this year, and I've been busy with the guokui business, so I haven't planted many at all."

"Oh dear! What should we do?" Manager Li was frowning and almost cried.

Shen Yi pressed for an answer.

Shopkeeper Li had to say, "Do you know about Prefect Qin Song of Lizhou? He has a precious daughter. Miss Qin has had a poor appetite since she was little and is very difficult to raise. Especially after winter, I heard that she only eats a fist-sized amount of food a day and becomes very thin. But by chance, she ate your corn and tomatoes and her appetite improved greatly."

Lord Qin and his wife were overjoyed and sent people out to inquire. Since the goods were bought from a merchant who was passing through the prefectural city, it was not easy to find that person. It was only now that they had found a clue.

They eventually led me to my inn, so I had no choice but to bring them here. They're in the carriage outside right now!

Shen Yi's expression changed drastically, and he quickly went out.

"I was unaware that our distinguished guest had come from afar. Please forgive any neglect we may have caused."

People from humble backgrounds like theirs couldn't afford to offend the prefect.

"Master Shen, you're too kind. We apologize for our sudden visit."

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a somewhat plump and shrewd middle-aged man stepped out. "My name is Liu Ming, and I am the steward of the Qin family."

"Manager Liu, please."

Shen Yi invited the man into the house. Liu Ming looked around the Shen family's house, then at the floor, and praised, "Master Shen is truly a man of taste. This house is both elegant and rustic, clean and tidy, excellent!"

Shen Yi was embarrassed by the praise and said modestly, "It was all for my wife and children."

Liu Ming admired Shen Yi and praised him profusely before revealing his purpose.

Shen Yi hesitated and said, "Manager Liu has come from afar with such sincerity, I will certainly fulfill your request. However, we don't have many greenhouse vegetables at home this year, so I can only do my best to prepare them for you."

Liu Ming immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Shen Yi, "Thank you!"

After pouring brown sugar ginger tea for the two of them, Shen Yi immediately ran to the backyard to find Su Tai.

Liu Ming took a small sip of tea, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, and said to Manager Li, "This Master Shen is really skilled; his sweet soups are sweeter than those outside."

Shopkeeper Li had no doubts. "That's right! Last year, Master Shen's brown sugar was of excellent quality, even cleaner than the ones outside. It's a pity he didn't get much, so I couldn't bear to sell it to anyone."

"Oh? Master Shen also has a way to source brown sugar?" Liu Ming was quite surprised.

Shopkeeper Li nodded. "Master Shen's family sells guokui (a type of flatbread), and sweet guokui require brown sugar. He must have connections."

Liu Ming seemed to be deep in thought, and after a long while, he spoke softly, "Do you think it would be unreasonable for me to ask him to buy some brown sugar?"

"That shouldn't be the case! Master Shen is an honest man. If he can sell it, he definitely won't hide anything or play tricks. If he can't sell it, he'll explain it clearly. We've known each other for so many years, I can vouch for his character." Manager Li's words were full of protection and affirmation for Shen Yi.

Liu Ming also had some different thoughts in his mind.

About 15 minutes later, Shen Yi came out of the backyard again, this time carrying a basket of corn.

Upon seeing the corn, Liu Ming excitedly jumped up from his stool. "Yes, that's it! This is exactly what my young lady wanted. I didn't expect Master Shen to be so skilled. I'm truly impressed!"

Shen Yi scratched his head sheepishly, "This is corn. Liu Guan should check it first. And there are tomatoes too. I'll go pick them now."

Liu Ming was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.

A little while later, Shen Yi brought out another basket of tomatoes.

Liu Ming thought that was about it, but he didn't expect there to be a third basket, which contained some cabbage, white radish, cauliflower, and a few bunches of green vegetables.

Shen Yi said breathlessly, "Manager Liu, I've picked all the vegetables that could be picked from my greenhouse for you. I don't know if the rest will grow any more."

Liu Ming thanked him sincerely, without doubting Shen Yi's words at all. After all, these vegetables were of many different kinds and looked like they had been planted haphazardly in a vegetable garden.

After the servants loaded the vegetables onto the cart, Liu Ming quickly took out twenty taels of silver and gave it to Shen Yi, saying, "I know that vegetables grown in greenhouses during winter are rare. I don't know if this amount of money is enough? If it's not enough, I'll make up the difference."

Shen Yi quickly said, "That's enough, that's enough. Manager Liu gave you too much. Please wait, I'll go back to my room and get you the money."

"No need, no need." Liu Ming stopped Shen Yi and said sincerely, "These dishes may be just precious greenhouse vegetables to Master Shen, but they are life-saving for our young lady. Twenty taels of silver is what you deserve."

If Master Shen has any other good items, I would like to buy some more.

Shen Yi subconsciously looked at Manager Li.

Manager Li mouthed, "Brown sugar!"

Shen Yi suddenly realized and said, "To be honest, I don't have many good things here. There are some foods that are not commonly found outside, like brown sugar and white sugar."

"White sugar? What is white sugar?" Liu Ming asked with great interest.