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Chapter 244 Abundant Harvest Every Year
During the tournament, the date for the finals of the Heavenly Dao Society was already set, attracting even more people to Zhongzhou.

Within days, sand and gravel flew everywhere outside Zhongxing County, and dust waves rose one after another.

Visiting friends, receiving guests, and watching the game.

Most people here had already heard about the story of the rural private cultivator from the Heavenly Academy defeating Yan Hao, who was about to break through to the next realm, and were very curious about the protagonist in the rumors.

Small families with daughters are especially prone to having all sorts of schemes.

However, everyone was soon told that after Ji You successfully challenged the champion, seeing that no one was willing to step forward to challenge him, he returned to Fengzhou to prepare for the autumn harvest, which left everyone bewildered.

The autumn harvest is a term that cultivators haven't heard of for many years, yet it's now associated with the Heavenly Dao Society, which feels strange.

However, in the eyes of the other twenty-odd participants who had reached the Tongxuan realm, this behavior was nothing short of irony, as if they had already predicted that no one would dare to challenge him in this arena.

This is the Heavenly Dao Assembly, a grand gathering of immortal sects and aristocratic families across the Nine Provinces. How could a private cultivator be allowed to dominate all the heroes?

However, subsequent events proved that no one actually challenged him.

At this time, the two carriages had already entered Fengzhou.

Fengzhou borders Zhongzhou to the north and south, and Zhongxing County is only a step away from the border of Fengzhou, so the distance is not far.

Ji You and Kuang Cheng sat in the carriage, feeling the smoothness of the road and a sense of comfort in their hearts.

The official road in Fengzhou was completely repaired a few days ago. He came here not only to prepare for the autumn harvest, but also to inspect the road. Now it seems that it is indeed in good condition.

They could see pedestrians coming and going on the wide road, and a small market had appeared near the village. Although there weren't many stalls, there were quite a few people, and the coming and going was heartening.

The market as a business model arises from an abundance of food and resources.

Just over a year ago, in Fengzhou, someone in every household was starving to death, let alone having any surplus.

“The markets that naturally gather in the nearby villages can be managed and maintained by the government.”

"When the scale becomes larger, we will move them together and merge them to allow the economy to circulate."

"The policy regarding refugees remains the same as before: allocate land to them so that they can settle down and build homes."

"And there's that thing I mentioned before: building schools where adults can also enroll. We don't need to teach anything fancy; just teach them to recognize characters."

Cao Jingsong, Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, and Ban Yangshu were sitting in the lead carriage, looking at Ji You and Kuang Cheng gazing out the window, and couldn't help but exchange glances.

Taking advantage of the break in the Heavenly Dao Society to go home and farm is indeed a rather abstract idea, and only he could do it.

Who knows what kind of discussions have taken place in the Pantheon now?

However, this is very much in line with his identity as a private cultivator in the countryside.

All cultivators in the world talk about their family background. Some people from humble backgrounds can't hold their heads high even if they enter a sect because of their talent, unless their family is prominent.

This wicked disciple, however, never considered it a shameful thing, and was so strong that people didn't even dare to laugh at him.

The only remaining issue is ensuring the continuation of life.

The enduring strength of a family is not due to the efforts of one person, but rather to the inheritance passed down through generations.

Many prominent families in Qingyun Tianxia have declined due to a lack of successors, so in their view, the strengthening of the Ji family is an urgent matter.

However, they heard about something else: twenty-eight daughters of prominent families had sent him letters, but they were returned.

Indeed, given Ji You's current reputation, it's normal for him to be picky. But the problem is that he rejected them without even meeting them.

Ji You is definitely not a gentleman who can remain unmoved by temptation; his excessive caution arouses suspicion.

“Miss Yuan of the Dan Sect is not very jealous. The Heavenly Dao Gathering was clearly a good opportunity, but she had no intention of taking a concubine.”

"?"

Upon hearing the sound, Ji You turned around, made a shushing gesture, and looked at the carriage that was following behind on her right.

The four exchanged a glance and couldn't help but look at the carriage next door.

The carriage came from Xianxian Garden to meet them. Inside was Wei Rui, the granddaughter of Prime Minister Wei. She had gotten off the carriage to greet them before setting off.

Cao Jingsong frowned upon hearing this: "What are you shushing about? I've been telling you about the continuation of the bloodline for so long, but you just don't take it seriously."

Kuang Cheng held his breath at this moment: "Instructor Cao, it would be best if you said less."

"A teacher for a day is a father for life. My unfilial disciple's parents have already passed away. If I don't take care of this matter, who will?"

"Having a child isn't something that can be decided by just one person, but I believe Brother Ji has his own opinion."

"I know what I'm doing."

Ji You answered, recalling the lingering sword energy in her arms yesterday, and thought to herself, "I know it must have hurt a lot."

After saying this, he looked calmly in the direction of Fengzhou Prefecture, and a scene began to appear in his mind.

It was at the entrance of Jizhai Village. The sun was gentle and the sky was clear. A beautiful young woman hung a wooden sign in front of the gate that read: "Cao Jingsong and dogs are not allowed to enter."

In a hurry, the carriage entered Fengzhou Prefecture.

Looking out, the golden wheat fields stretch as far as the eye can see, extending for thousands of miles. When the autumn wind sweeps by, millions of wheat ears bow down in unison, then slowly raise their heads, creating layers upon layers of waves. The golden shimmering waves ripple all the way to the foot of a small hill in the distance, merging with the drifting clouds on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Cao Jingsong was still earnestly explaining the importance of the continuous cycle of life, only to find that Kuang Cheng and Ji You were pretending to look at the wheat field and responding less and less.

Especially after entering Fengzhou Prefecture, the two of them stopped talking altogether, their eyes constantly glancing at the carriage next to them, as if they were on guard against something.

Before long, the carriage slowly came to a stop, and Ji You and Kuang Cheng were the first to jump off the carriage shaft.

Because of yesterday's heavy rain, the ground in Fengzhou still gleamed with a wet, dark sheen. In the puddles in the low-lying areas, a few ginkgo leaves that had been knocked down by the rain floated, their golden edges slightly curled, resembling half-folded fans.

As the two stepped onto the wet ground, they saw that a crowd had already gathered in the town's threshing ground, seemingly discussing the autumn harvest.

To the left of the Fengzhou Prefecture government office, there were also many horse-drawn carriages, all used for transporting grain between the agricultural areas and the prefectural city.

This year, Fengzhou's output will be extremely high. All the mansions, large and small, in Fengzhou have rented grain carts and are fully prepared.

Once there is a surplus of grain, animal husbandry can be developed.

At this moment, Cao Jingsong and the other three climbed out of the carriage one after another. After their feet touched the ground, they all raised their heads and looked at Wei Rui's carriage.

Ji You and Kuang Cheng had been looking at the carriage the whole way, so even though they knew who was inside, they still felt a sense of uncertain curiosity.

The next moment, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Wei Rui appeared from the carriage. A pair of delicate embroidered shoes stepped onto the ground, and she looked around with curiosity after landing.

After all, this is the place she will marry into in the future. She had wanted to come here for a long time, but Fengzhou is a vast area and the roads have not been repaired yet, making it difficult for a woman like her to come here.

After seeing her, Cao Jingsong and the other three continued to gaze at the carriage.

Because they could hear sounds coming from inside the car.

Before long, a round-faced woman stepped down from the carriage shaft, followed closely by a woman with an oval face.

Upon seeing the two women, Cao Jingsong, Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, and Ban Yangshu were all stunned, because they recognized them as the personal maids who served the young master of Lingjian Mountain.

Recalling Ji You's constant attention to the expressions and demeanor of the two carriages, the four of them held their breath, wondering how their wicked disciple (Ji You) could have brought the appraiser's maid home.

Does the young master of Lingjian Mountain know about this? If he doesn't, wouldn't he be doomed?

To the four people's surprise, the two women did not look around like Wei Rui after getting off the carriage, but instead turned to look at the carriage.

Before long, in everyone's sight, the young master of Lingjian Mountain slowly appeared from behind the carriage curtain.

She got up early this morning to get ready, and I don't know what she was nervous about. She was wearing a white long robe with wide sleeves embroidered with silver ephemeral flowers, and a layer of gauze shawl over it. Her face was as fair as fresh snow, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and her eyes were slightly raised as she looked around.

Lingzhou is located in the far south of Kyushu, while Fengzhou is located in the far north of Kyushu, which can be considered as far apart as the ends of the earth.

As the junior appraiser of Lingjian Mountain, she should have never had any connection with this place in her life, nor would she have ever thought of going to Fengzhou to see it.

But at this moment, she felt the same way as Wei Rui, filled with a sense of closeness to this place. Her eyes darted around, her aloofness tinged with a touch of cuteness.

After glancing at him twice, Yan Shuyi suddenly turned around and looked at Cao Jingsong with a stern face.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu remained expressionless, but they both glanced at Cao Jingsong out of the corner of their eyes.

Cultivators have keen senses, and since the two carriages weren't far apart, they listened to Cao Jingsong's earnest advice all the way...

Cao Jingsong, Wen Zhengxin, and the other three stood there stunned, their eyes wide open.

In fact, when Yan Shuyi peeked out from the carriage with her stunningly beautiful and aloof face, they had already held their breath, their minds going completely blank.

They could actually accept that the personal maid of the young master of Lingjian Mountain had been abducted here. It just goes to show that Ji You was truly enlightened (but also incredibly audacious) and exceptionally capable.

However, the fact that the young master of Lingjian Mountain himself appeared here was something they simply couldn't understand.

That was the next leader of Lingjian Mountain, the most powerful woman in the world, completely unrelated to this place.

At this moment, Yan Shu also withdrew his gaze, glanced at the two characters "Ji Zhai" on the door plaque, and showed a curious expression. With a slight turn of his eyes, he stepped over and walked over. When he reached the door, he glanced at Ji You and then stepped over the threshold.

It's alright, it just knows to head home on its own.

Ji You watched Yan Shuyi walk inside, her heart filled with admiration.

"Why is the young appraiser of Spirit Sword Mountain here?"

Cao Jingsong and the other three turned to look at Kuang Cheng, their faces still showing lingering shock.

Kuang Cheng pursed his lips: "Weren't you all wondering before why Brother Ji was so cautious about taking a concubine when Miss Yuan is clearly not a jealous person? That's because Miss Yuan is not the first wife."

"?"

"Brother Ji's first wife is... Fairy Yan from Spirit Sword Mountain."

At this moment, memories of the past flooded into everyone's minds like a tidal wave.

For example, during the battle between Ji You and Chen Ruiyang, after seeing Cao Jingsong, the young master of Lingjian Mountain suddenly sat up from his seat and arranged Cao Jingsong's seat in front of him.

There was another detail they didn't notice at the time: Yan Shuyi didn't sit down again until Cao Jingsong had already sat down.

In addition, when Ji You asked questions at Lingjian Mountain, the courtyard he was assigned to was higher than anyone else's, and there were even people specifically guarding him.

Wen Zhengxin and Pei Ruyi also remembered the pair of shoes and socks that had been left in Junior Brother Ji's room, and the Little Master of Lingjian Mountain who happened to appear opposite them.

Going a step further, Cao Jingsong also recalled the day the news of the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain successfully breaking through to the next realm came, and Ji You smiled as if he had found silver.

All the questions they had been pondering suddenly seemed to find a perfect answer. But even after they understood this, they still found it difficult to accept.

"My beloved disciple, please allow me a moment to speak!"

"He's become my favorite student again?"

"My beloved disciple, please allow me to ask you a question. What exactly is going on?"

Ji You glanced thoughtfully at Yan Shuyi, who was strolling in the courtyard: "I don't know where to begin. It's just that we bumped into each other by chance before, and we both felt we got along well."

Cao Jingsong glanced at him and thought to himself that his explanation was too simplistic. That was no ordinary woman; she was the next leader of Lingjian Mountain.

Instructor Cao always took pride in Ji You, feeling that none of the so-called prodigies in the world could compare to him, but the Little Master of Lingjian Mountain was different; she was a true prodigy.

So even though he was his own wayward disciple, he still couldn't understand what the young appraiser had taken a liking to this guy. It was like his own little pig had eaten a jade cabbage.

Why didn't you say so before?

“I said it before.”

"when?"

“When we were at the Heavenly Academy, you asked me why I was smiling like I had found silver. I said it was because I was happy that she broke through her cultivation level. I never lie.”

Cao Jingsong: "???"

In fact, Cao Jingsong, Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, and Ban Yangshu were among the few people Ji You trusted. Moreover, although the young appraiser was stubborn, she actually wanted people to know that she was the first wife. Therefore, Ji You did not intend to hide it from them. She hadn't had a suitable opportunity to say so before, so letting them know now saved her trouble.

It's fortunate that Gongshu Chou didn't come. He definitely couldn't know about this, because he would probably write about something that would elevate his status in his book. Even if it meant risking his life, he had to leave his name behind.

The story then becomes that Gongshu Chou once fought to the death with the husband of the young master of Lingjian Mountain, and neither of them was at a disadvantage...

At this moment, the young appraiser was strolling around the courtyard, walking from one end to the other, observing carefully.

Wei Rui's expression was similar to his; she kept sizing him up.

Ji You's return was a last-minute decision, and Qiu Zhong was unaware of it. Upon hearing the noise, he came out to greet her and immediately ordered someone to prepare a meal.

Having lived longer, one naturally gains more experience. Qiu Zhong immediately noticed that Yan Shuyi's manner of surveying the courtyard and her arrogant expression were strikingly similar to his mistress.

So at the banquet, they subtly inquired about many things, such as "where the young lady lives" and "how many people are in her family," which made Cao Jingsong and his companions feel uneasy.

They never dreamed that the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain would be placed in such a scene.

So, during this meal, I was truly gasping for breath after breath of cold air.

After the meal, the three of them couldn't help but huddle together and whisper for a while. The main topics of their conversation were "shock," "unbelievable," and "incredible."

In Qingyun Tianxia, ​​marriage has always emphasized matching social status, and Cao Jingsong was somewhat worried that Ji You would be bullied in the future.

The young appraiser has always been aloof and arrogant, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he never smiles.

It wasn't until the next morning that they saw Ji You and Yan Shuyi by the lake.

The two talked about something, and then Ji You reached out and pinched her delicate face before floating away, leaving them all stunned.

Then, as was his custom, the young master of Lingjian Mountain activated his sword energy, then landed on his own, leaning against the stone railing by the lake, his feet swaying lightly, his whole body radiating pleasure...

A moment later, the young appraiser sensed their presence and turned to look at them.

Upon seeing those bright red lips, the four of them fell silent, feeling as if the world had gone mad...

Ji You's return this time was not specifically to introduce Yan Shuyi to the family; the autumn harvest remained his primary objective.

So from the second day onwards, he entered a busy period of leaving early and returning late.

First, he went to Fengzhou Prefecture to check this year's register of refugees, the number of people who had their land allocated and houses built, and the Yellow Register compiled this year.

Over the years, Fengzhou's population has been declining sharply, so the phrase "vast land with sparse population" is actually tinged with blood.

But starting this year, the number of people in Fengzhou has stabilized.

While the number of native residents has not increased, it has at least not decreased, while the number of migrants is constantly increasing.

As Ji You strolled through the streets, she heard at least three different accents.

Besides worrying about these things, he also specially chose a day to gather the owners of the out-of-town villas in Fengzhou together, drink tea, and chat.

During the tea ceremony, the eyes of these manor lords were extremely complex, yet they also appeared very docile.

"This spring, we reclaimed a lot of new land, and the planting area is three times larger than before. So this autumn harvest will be a big task, and we will need the cooperation of all the villages at that time."

"Of course, of course. As for the autumn harvest, whatever Young Master Ji says is fine."

"Then I, Ji, will thank you all in advance."

"What are you saying? We're family. We just hope that Young Master Ji will be able to help us out in the future."

In fact, many disciples who had been marginalized by their families and came from other places to seek refuge were quite puzzled by this scene. After Ji You left, they couldn't help but ask, "This person is only at the Tongxuan Realm, why be so polite?"

The owners of those immortal manors remained silent, only unable to suppress a sigh.

Ji You's timing was excellent, or rather, the timing he deliberately chose was very appropriate.

He initially used the pretext of taxes to attract lower-level cultivators to join the joint harvesting team, but the higher-ups of these immortal manors actually had a lot of opinions about it, and there was a period of unrest during the spring planting season.

This time, the owners of these immortal manors actually planned to negotiate the terms again.

For example, the promised double dose of pills, and the spirit stones used to settle the debts for the disgraceful members of the manor were changed from Yunzhou stones to Snowfield Demon stones.

But just yesterday, they received news from Zhongxing County that he had defeated a direct descendant of the Heavenly Sword Peak of Lingjian Mountain who was about to merge with the Dao in the Heavenly Dao Tournament. He had suppressed all the geniuses of an entire realm by himself, and his entry into the Holy Land of Sages was a foregone conclusion.

Such a person is very likely to become an elder of the Immortal Sect after he/she comes out.

They can certainly ask for more now, but they will suffer a terrible fate later.

Ji You initially lured them with a magical medicine to keep them from causing trouble, which Cao Jingsong worried was like raising a tiger that would eventually become a threat.

He had said back then that it depended on whether my cultivation speed was faster or these tigers were growing faster, and now it seems the answer is becoming clearer.

In fact, this matter is very abstract. To this day, the owners of these immortal manors still cannot accept that such a person would emerge from the barren land of Fengzhou.

While Ji You was busy with various things, Yan Shuyi and Wei Rui wandered around together, taking in the golden autumn leaves and the wheat fields swaying in the wind. They also saw the various slogans painted on the walls and the disciples of the Immortal Manor chatting with the girls of the Mortal Family.

Although Yan Shuyi always insisted that she was just browsing, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu could tell that she was looking at things very seriously.

Especially when they saw the vast expanse of golden fields, they could see a hint of admiration in their appraiser's eyes.

Yan Shu is the strongest among the younger generation, so there are very few people she admires.

It's true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu would have thought the same about anyone else.

"This year's grain surplus should be substantial, enough to feed the entire prefecture. Therefore, after the autumn harvest, all farmland under the names of local government officials and Jizhai will be stored in the granary and left untouched for the time being."

"After the seven major immortal sects and the imperial court pay their taxes, the people of the other eight states will likely have a very difficult time living."

“If we set up a business, after the taxes are paid, we can sell grain at a low price to the people of the other eight states, at half price and half donation, which should be enough to help them get through the winter.”

"When spring comes next year, we will start digging canals and building dams to further liberate productive forces. Then, under the guise of hiring, we will recruit people from the other eight prefectures to start raising livestock."

"This year we'll eat grain, next year we'll eat meat. Old Kuang, how many children do you think I can save this time?"

On the 29th, in the agricultural area outside Fengzhou.

People, led by the Fengzhou government, have already arrived here and begun to take stock of their impromptu harvest plan.

There were many horse-drawn carriages along the way, and many smiles as well.

At this moment, Kuang Cheng looked at them and couldn't help but speak: "Joy of Life".

Ji You paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Joy of Life..."

After returning from the agricultural area, Kuang Cheng wrote a calligraphy piece for Ji You, on which were written the two characters "君子" (gentleman), and handed it to Ji You: "The people of Fengzhou wanted to build a temple for you, but I stopped them according to your wishes. This is for you."

Ji You glanced at it and then waved his hand in refusal: "Forget it, I'm a petty person, unworthy of the title of gentleman."

Kuang Cheng was slightly taken aback after hearing this, and couldn't help but stare at him: "Brother Ji once told me that people in this world are nothing more than seeking profit and emotional value, but I still don't know what you are seeking?"

"There's no need to worry about so many things. As long as I can get a good night's sleep, that's all that matters."

"Um, speaking of sleeping, I overheard Lao Qiu subtly urging Fairy Yan to have a baby today."

"?"

Ji You lowered her voice: "How did you urge me? Tell me."

Kuang Cheng pursed his lips: "He probably just took Qiu Ru for a long time and told Fairy Yan how great it is to have a baby. Anyone who isn't stupid can understand what he meant."

"That's why Lao Qiu doesn't really know who Yan Shuyi is."

Ji You asked quietly, "What was Yan Shuyi's reaction?"

After a long silence, Kuang Cheng spoke: "It's like I want to beat you to death."

"I was wondering why I had a chill running down my spine all day."

Ji You stayed with Kuang Cheng for a long time, but still couldn't accept the title of "gentleman." After returning to his own courtyard, he saw Yan Shuyi staring at him with a fierce look.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu stood to the side, their eyes wandering, their lips barely twitching.

Today, the appraiser was secretly pressured to have a baby, and she was completely at a loss. This was the first time they had ever seen her like that.

"Why does your expression seem a bit unpleasant? You look like you're being pressured to have a baby?"

"?"

Yan Shuyi's eyes turned cold instantly, and a sword-wielding boom echoed through the courtyard. Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu, watching this, kept backing away, their eyes filled with reluctance. They thought to themselves that when it came to bravery, the son-in-law was the real hero.

However, one was unwilling to use force, and the other was too physically strong, so fighting would be futile.

Ji You shook her throbbing hand, thinking to herself, "If you don't dare to be the first to try, be careful someone else might be the first to eat you."

(End of this chapter)