Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 129 The Storm Has Just Ceased, and the Clouds Gather Again (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
This dinner party marked the first meeting between Yang Can and Dong Shun, the chief steward of the Yu family's external affairs.

This was also Yang Can's first meeting with the three major retainers of the Yu family.

Although the dinner was just a chance for everyone to get to know each other and build rapport, and had no other purpose, it was of extraordinary significance to Yang Can.

If they hadn't recognized his abilities, the three chief retainers of the Yu family wouldn't have specifically summoned him during their routine duty-reporting gathering.

At this point, Yang Can not only secured a place in the heart of the clan leader, but also officially entered the sights of the three great retainers of the Yu clan.

After several rounds of drinks, the amber-colored liquor shimmered with tiny, shimmering halos in the glass.

Amidst the clinking of cups, the conversation between the three retainers gradually shifted to the Yu clan.

Yang Can picked up the tin wine pot, and when the spout was tilted, it was so steady that not a single drop of wine spilled out.

He poured wine for each of the three people and then used serving chopsticks to distribute the honey-preserved lotus seeds from the dish to their plates.

It seemed that the young man was focused entirely on serving the three high deacons, but his ears were secretly perking up.

The truly useful information is often hidden in the seemingly casual conversations of important figures.

Even gleaning snippets from Dong Shun's composure, Yi She's sighs, and Li Youcai's witty remarks is more authentic and valuable than news heard from outside.

Dong Shun put down his cup, his fingertips tracing the dark pattern around the rim, his voice heavy with melancholy: "Alas! This year, the crops in Longdong have suffered a nearly 30% crop failure. The spring rains didn't really soak the crops, and the crops in the higher fields were already half a head shorter when they started to sprout."

Li Youcai laughed and said, "Grand Steward, there's no need to worry. Didn't Steward Yang improve that tall waterwheel earlier, which can draw water from the river to higher ground?"

Li Youcai glanced at Yang Can; this was making him famous. Li Youcai was a grateful person.

Li Youcai said, "This year it's because we didn't have enough time. Next year, we'll build more waterwheels in Longdong, and the water shortage problem will definitely be solved."

Dong Shun nodded slowly, tapping the corner of the table lightly with his knuckles: "I have already sent people to Longdong to survey the river channels. We need to find some places with fast-flowing water to place waterwheels."

If it really works, that land will suffer less from drought in the future, and won't have to rely entirely on God for food anymore.

At this point, he looked up at Yang Can with a hint of approval in his eyes: "You're really quick-witted. You've improved the plow by saving 30% of the effort, and the waterwheel can solve the immediate problem!"
Having lived most of my life, I'm somewhat ashamed to admit I've never considered this possibility.

Yang Can bowed slightly, his tone respectful but not obsequious: "The Grand Steward is in charge of the layout of all the grain fields of the Yu clan. From sowing to harvesting, every single thing is a major event. How can he have the energy to take care of these trivial improvements?"
"My subordinates are merely tending to their assigned plots of land; that's why they have the leisure to dabble in unorthodox techniques."

Dong Shun chuckled softly. He had been in charge of the clan for decades, so how could he get carried away by a mere polite remark?

Yi She, standing to the side, suddenly sighed and said with a wry smile, "The East Steward is in charge of agriculture and has always been meticulous. The fact that the Yu family's harvest has been stable for the past few decades is largely due to the East Steward's efforts."

Even if production decreases in Longdong, it is ultimately a natural disaster and will only affect one area. It won't have much impact on the foundation of our Yu family. Moreover, installing more waterwheels next year will solve the problem.

But here I am…

He shook his head slightly and sighed, "Ever since the He Youzhen incident, not only did he fall from grace, but all his subordinates, regardless of whether they were involved in his smuggling of mountain goods, were also eliminated."

"I don't even have a manager who can handle things independently. How am I supposed to protect this trade route?"

Yi She became even more dejected as he spoke: "The Suo family has been eyeing our Yu family's business recently, and has been stealing a lot of business from us, both openly and secretly."

They're opening branches everywhere, and they're cutting prices to grab customers. I have no staff to use, and I'm being pressured relentlessly. Who could be in a worse situation than me right now?

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp, the bottom of the glass hitting the table with a dull thud.

Yang Can quickly stood up, tilted the tin pot again, and poured the wine steadily into Yi She's empty cup. He smiled and said slowly, "Deacon Dong, Deacon Yi, although natural disasters have a magnificent power and seem difficult to resist, they do not happen every year."

Man-made disasters often stem from self-interest; while they are unavoidable, there are always ways to prevent them. The Yu family has been established for nearly three hundred years; its roots are deep and strong, and it can weather this storm.

Dong Shun stroked his beard, slowly savoring the words: "Natural disasters are insurmountable, but they are not frequent; man-made disasters are unavoidable, but they can be prevented..."

That makes sense. Each has its own shortcomings, and each has its own way of dealing with them.

Deacon Yang is so young, yet he possesses such insightful wisdom.

Listening from the side, Li Youcai had already begun to think: I knew I hadn't misjudged him; Yang Can really is capable.

Unlike that scoundrel Yi She, when I asked him for advice on workshop management, he always put on airs and kept it to himself. I can't count on him at all.

In the future, I should still keep in touch with Yang Can more often. If I encounter any difficulties that I cannot solve on my own, I can ask him for help, and he will definitely be happy to lend a hand.

……

After the banquet, Yang Can returned to his residence in the cool night dew. As soon as he opened the door, a warm and sweet fragrance, along with the steam, wafted towards him.

Rouge and Vermilion each held a carved wooden basin, squatting by the couch carefully adjusting the water temperature.

A few dried osmanthus flowers floated in the basin. Amidst the rising steam, the pale golden petals swirled gently on the water's surface, filling the room with a sweet fragrance.

The two girls wore light red pomegranate-red skirts, the hems of which were gathered at their knees, making their figures look as delicate as newly blooming flower buds.

At this age, they are like green peaches on the branches, not yet ripe and plump, still somewhat unripe and slender.

Upon seeing Yang Can enter, the two women quickly lifted their skirts, stood up, curtsied, and said in a clear, crisp voice, "Master is back."

Hearing the sound, Qingmei got up from the couch, still clutching half of the unfinished embroidered brocade in her hand.

Those were baby clothes for an infant. On the plain white silk, a sika deer was already mostly embroidered, with the patterns on the deer's antlers being fine and delicate. It was clearly prepared for the child in Suochanzhi's womb.

"Please sit down, sir. This servant will take off your boots."

With quick reflexes, Rouge stepped forward and helped Yang Can sit down on the edge of the couch. She deftly untied his boot laces and lifted the boots aside.

Although Zhu Sha wasn't as clever as her older sister, she was quick to learn. As soon as she saw Yan Zhi make a move, she immediately came over and carefully helped Yang Can take off his socks. Although her movements were still a little clumsy, they were full of seriousness.

In her mind, taking care of horses also requires the same level of care, and now that the caregiver has changed, what difference does it make?

In other words, she can ride the horse if it's well taken care of, but she can't ride the person.

Therefore, she felt no shame or discomfort at suddenly changing from serving horses to serving people.

"Please, sir and madam, bathe your feet," Rouge said in a crisp voice, her intentions subtly concealed in her words.

This was not a social occasion, and Yang Can had not yet married a wife, so she deliberately omitted the word "young" and addressed Qingmei as "Madam".

Qingmei listened, and the corners of her mouth subtly curved into a smile. Indeed, it sounded very comforting.

Yang Can and Qingmei sat down side by side on the edge of the couch. Yanzhi and Zhusha each pushed the wooden basin forward, tested the water temperature with their hands, and then said softly, "Master, Madam, the water temperature is just right."

As she was about to bend down to wash their feet, Qingmei stopped her with a raised hand: "We can do it ourselves, you two just wait here."

As the two were soaking their feet, Qingmei suddenly remembered something and said with bright eyes, "Master, when I went to the young mistress's room to deliver some snacks just now, I felt the baby move!"

I gently touched the young mistress's belly, and guess what? The little one immediately kicked me! She's got a strong personality and doesn't take things lying down!

"Oh? There is such a thing?"

Yang Can listened with interest, turned to look at Qingmei, and said with a smile, "I also want to touch it... So, when are you going to give me one too?"

As soon as he said that, he suddenly woke up, realizing there were two little girls next to him!

Yang Can's heart tightened, but fortunately he was quick-witted and changed the subject smoothly.

Qingmei rolled her eyes at him, her cheeks flushing slightly, and said coquettishly, "If you hadn't been so wasteful, Master, people might have already had it."

Rouge and Vermilion were completely bewildered. The master and mistress's conversation was so profound and unfathomable that they couldn't understand it at all. Yang Can chuckled at Qingmei's teasing and wanted to make a few more jokes, but when he saw Rouge and Vermilion beside him, he ultimately stopped talking.

Yang Can then asked, "Where are the servants and maids who came from Feng'an Fort? What happened to them?"

"The side rooms and outbuildings in the backyard are not finished yet."

Qingmei explained softly, "I'll arrange for them to stay in the front yard first, squeeze in with the eldest son's family, and then move them over when the houses here are finished."

I've calculated it; our yard is big enough to accommodate all of these people.

Yang Can nodded and said, "As for those children, I'm thinking of settling them in the orchard at the foot of the mountain."

There's plenty of open space there, making it easy to build houses, and the children can tend to the fruit trees nearby, so they're not idle.

Unlike Pan Xiaowan in Li Youcai's household, Qingmei was not only responsible for managing the trivial matters of the inner quarters.

Although she is Yang Can's person, she still holds the title of Second Steward of the Inner Courtyard.

Although she had been away from the eldest son's family for a long time, this status had never been revoked.

Hearing Yang Can say this, she thought for a moment and replied, "I've thought about this too."

The children can help with chores in the orchard, and they can run and jump around freely, which is much more comfortable than being cooped up in the yard.

"Not only that."

Yang Can added, "The orchard isn't far from where we live, so we can help out if anything happens. Plus, the children can learn some farm work in the orchard, so they don't waste their time."

As for literacy and martial arts training, these absolutely cannot be neglected; they must be taught by a tutor.

"Master and Madam are so thoughtful!" Rouge immediately chimed in, determined not to let her words fall flat. She had to be proactive in flattering the master.

"Those children are truly blessed to have a stable place to live and to be able to study and learn martial arts!"

Although Zhu Sha didn't speak, she nodded vigorously, just like a chick pecking at rice.

She's slow to react, but her sister is always right, so she just nods in agreement.

Before they finished soaking their feet, Zhu Sha quickly picked up the copper basin and tiptoed outside.

Rouge then took a clean, fine cotton cloth and first dried Yang Can's feet, then carefully dried Qingmei's feet as well, her movements swift and proper.

Qingmei glanced at the moonlight outside the window and said to the two of them, "It's getting late. You must be tired after a long day. Go back to your rooms and rest."

Rouge and Vermilion responded in unison, "Yes," and then curtsied to the two of them before lifting their skirts and quietly retreating.

Before leaving, Rouge thoughtfully closed the door for them, leaving behind the warmth and whispers in the room.

……

The next day at dawn, Yang Can got up.

He had his own kitchen in the courtyard where he lived, and Rouge and Vermilion had already prepared breakfast.

A bowl of warm millet porridge, two plates of refreshing pickles, and a few pieces of freshly steamed multigrain cake exude a homely warmth.

After having breakfast with Qingmei, Yang Can hurried to the study where he was on official business.

This study is located in the main hall of the front courtyard of the eldest son's house. Now that there is no male head of the eldest son's house, this has become the core place for him, the eldest son's chief steward, to handle affairs.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw a stack of files half a foot high on his desk, all of which were official documents waiting for his review.

At the top is the autumn harvest account from the farm. The yellowed pages are densely filled with records of the acreage, the amount of harvest, and even the losses are clearly marked.
Scrolling down, there was a livestock allocation list sent by the ranch, which stated that thirty warhorses and two hundred oxen were to be sent to Lingzhou.

At the very bottom are the salt production reports of Lingzhou Salt Lake and the monthly output records of Heishui Ironworks, each line of which is crucial to the livelihood of the Yu family.

Yang Can took a deep breath, draped the hem of his outer robe over the chair, and sat down.

He picked up his wolf-hair brush, dipped it in ink, and began to peruse the documents page by page, not letting any oversight slip by.

When encountering unclear figures in the accounts or questionable allocations in the lists, he would circle them with a pen and not forget to add a few words of commentary to express his doubts.

After he finished annotating, he called over the servant waiting outside and instructed him, "Take these circled areas back to their original locations for verification as soon as possible, and be sure to report the results quickly."

The servant bowed in response, then quietly withdrew with the dossier in his hand.

After finishing his official duties, Yang Can placed the wolf-hair brush back into the celadon brush washer, the brush handle striking the porcelain wall with a crisp "ding" sound.

He picked up the tea that had already been warmed on the table, took a small sip, and the warm tea slid down his throat, but it did not dispel the thoughts between his brows.

His thoughts had already drifted to the matter of the young mistress, Suo Chanzhi, giving birth.

He and Suo Chanzhi began their marital relationship in early March. Calculated from then, Suo Chanzhi's due date should be between the end of this year and the beginning of next year.

He kept this matter in mind and dared not slack off in the slightest.

He had to plan ahead, considering not only the specific time of delivery but also the current situation within the Yu family and the attitude of the Suo family.

If Suo Chanzhi could give birth to a boy, then everyone would be happy. He wouldn't need to do much; he could simply assist this "eldest son of the main branch" step by step.

But what if it's a daughter?

The moment the thought crossed Yang Can's mind, his fingertips tightened slightly, causing ripples to spread across the teacup he was holding.

The Suo family did not know that Suo Chanzhi was carrying his child, but they already knew about the "switcheroo" plan, and given the Suo family's style of doing things, they would definitely participate in it.

Suo Chanzhi had previously mentioned to him that the Suo family would fully cooperate, and that if there were any matters beyond her ability, she could entrust them to the Suo family.

But here's the problem: the baby boy who was switched will become Suo Chanzhi's nominal son, and the young master whom he, the eldest son's chief steward, will have to be close to and support every day.

If such a crucial candidate were to be chosen by the Suo family, there would be far too many uncontrollable variables.

What worries him even more is what if the Suo family takes advantage of the switch to take away his and Suo Chanzhi's biological child?
Although he and the Suo family are now considered "family," the Suo family's leader might not refuse having another bargaining chip to control Suo Chanzhi.

Thinking this, Yang Can shook his head. At the very least, this matter must not be handed over to the Suo family. He must take control of it himself to minimize the risks.

So, if he's in charge, where should he find this baby boy?
Yang Can closed his eyes, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table. The images of the pregnant women he had taken in floated into his mind, four of whom had due dates very close to Suo Chanzhi's.

Even if they gave birth a few days earlier than Suo Chanzhi, it wouldn't matter. Babies that small are not much different in size, so it's difficult to tell them apart.

Moreover, the four pregnant women were Xianbei widows, whose daily living conditions were far inferior to those of the pampered Suo Chanzhi.

Their babies, only a few days old, were probably not as strong as Suo Chanzhi's newborn child, which would be a good way to fool them.

But then Yang Can's heart jumped again. What if all four pregnant women gave birth to daughters?
From a probabilistic standpoint, the likelihood of such an event occurring is extremely small, but from the perspective of what is commonly referred to as "metaphysics," it is not necessarily impossible.

He had heard people say that sometimes in a delivery room, the births of boys and girls would "cluster" together, either several boys in a row or several girls in a row.

Although there was no evidence to support this claim, it concerned the overall situation, and he dared not take any chances. He had to be prepared for any eventuality.

So, where should we find this spare baby boy?
P.S.: It's almost the end of the month, so I'm asking for your monthly votes!

(End of this chapter)