Chapter 64: Don't Panic, We Can Make Matchlock Muskets

"My Lady, we have come to express our gratitude. The land in Lingnan is barren, and every household has limited fields. Those who are poorer in the village cannot even afford to eat; they eat only one meal a day, and people are so hungry they are nothing but skin and bones."

Another village head continued: "Our County Magistrate said that this Seed was something you obtained with great difficulty, and it has a high yield per mu and tastes good as well, so we thought we would come over to thank you."

As they spoke, the dense crowd knelt down again.

Yan Ning hurriedly helped the Village Chief up and said quickly, "There is no need for such a grand gesture."

But the Village Chief still kowtowed three times before getting up.

This caught Yan Ning off guard.

Yan Ze said cheerfully, "Everyone get up. There will be more good seeds in the future, and we will share some more with you."

Seeing that they were about to kneel again, Yan Ning quickly said, "Let's wait until the seeds have grown. If you have any questions about planting the Seed, you can come and ask."

Yan Ning was shocked by their behavior.

It made sense; this is ancient times, and even under the feet of the Son of Heaven, there are people who cannot eat their fill or keep warm, let alone in this remote Lingnan?

These commoners are also simple and honest; after receiving the Seed, and before the seeds had even sprouted, they gathered so many people to come and kneel in thanks.

Yan Ning's heart softened, and she promised that if there were any problems, she could help take a look.

Grand Tutor Chen, who was to the side, looked at Yan Ning; this is truly good material for a Crown Prince!

Not only is she intelligent, but she also possesses great compassion.

As for her gender, that is not important.

There are precedents of women ascending the throne in previous dynasties.

It took a good while to disperse the commoners, and Yan Ning kept the two village heads and the one Village Chief behind to eat.

The two village heads were overwhelmed by the favor and said hurriedly, "This is too much trouble for you, we don't need to..."

Yan Ning said with a smile, "Stay and eat. Our Chef Li here has exceptional skills, and besides, I have something to tell you after we eat."

The few of them felt anxious, not knowing what Yan Ning wanted to say.

This meal was a delicacy the three had never tasted before, but for them, they were mentally tense, and the food tasted like nothing.

Yan Ning saw their reserve and revealed a kind smile: "You grandfathers need not worry; it is not a very serious matter. Let us eat first."

The three felt overwhelmed by the favor; to be able to sit at the same table and eat with such an impressive person was something they could brag about for many years when they returned.

After the meal, Yan Ning's expression turned serious, and she said solemnly: "I know you are grateful, but my family has run into some trouble. This Seed was exchanged from Huoshang, and I hope you will not tell others about our existence, and insist that it was bought by Magistrate Lin from a mysterious person."

Yan Ning had not expected that she originally wanted to get the seeds out to gain a good reputation so that people in the surrounding villages would be grateful, making it easier for them to get things done.

It was just that Yan Ning never expected they would come to kneel in thanks with such fanfare, having only just received the seeds before they were even planted.

The Village Chief and the two others looked at each other.

The Village Chief asked: "Yes, did we bring trouble to the young lady today?"

Yan Ning shook her head: "Not at all, it is just that I want to keep a low profile to avoid being targeted by those with ulterior motives, so when you go back, try to have the villagers not mention our family."

"By the way, if possible, try not to mention the new seeds before the harvest next year."

The Village Chief and the two village heads nodded repeatedly: "We will absolutely not cause you any trouble, Benefactor. I will go back and talk to them right now."

Yan Ning sent them off with satisfaction.

Yan Ze asked: "Daughter, we have already given the seeds to others. Regardless of whether they talk or not, those with ulterior motives will definitely investigate our family."

Yan Ning curled her lips, "It doesn't matter if we are discovered. By then, our family will have plenty of explosives, and we won't be afraid of being targeted. Besides, Dad, aren't you trying to make a matchlock musket? By then, we will have one for everyone!"

Yan Ze thought that was true; in over three months, it is not certain who will subdue whom, so he must hurry and make the matchlock musket.

The Village Chief Wang Sanxi immediately called all the nearby village heads over; not just the village heads, but one person from every household had to come.

Wang Sanxi's expression was serious: "I still feel that we caused trouble for the young lady when we went to kneel and pay our respects."

The two village heads who stayed behind also sighed. They were the ones who suggested the idea.

The people below whispered among themselves.

"This, what should we do if we angered the young lady?"

"I think that young lady is quite good, her speech is gentle, and she even had Magistrate Lin help buy the seeds; we cannot wrong the young lady."

"Then what else can we do?"

At this time, Wang Sanxi cleared his throat, looked at the vast crowd of people, and said: "Stop arguing, there is an urgent matter to tell everyone."

Wang Sanxi then said directly: "Young Lady Yan is kind-hearted and risked danger to share the seeds with us; we cannot cause trouble for her!"

At this time, someone asked: "Then what should we do?"

Wang Sanxi said: "Before the harvest, do not tell anyone that we have the magical seeds. Tell your wives to keep their mouths shut; don't go blabbing about this just to scrape some benefits for their maiden families."

"Fortunately, we only got the seeds yesterday and haven't told anyone. You all hurry back today and keep your mouths shut in every household. If this spreads, let alone Young Lady Yan, I will punish you all severely!"

The men who came said in unison: "We will absolutely not tell anyone!"

Wang Sanxi felt that was enough, "Alright, hurry back and tell your own families; don't cause trouble for our benefactor."

Just as everyone was about to disperse, Wang Sanxi remembered, "Wait a moment, Zhao Dazhu, Qian Pang, Cui Xiaoliu, Li Laiwang, you few stay behind."

These few were the well-known idlers in the nearby villages.

The few were stopped by Wang Sanxi, and their expressions were not very good.

Wang Sanxi felt frustrated that they wouldn't live up to his expectations; he really had no way to deal with these few idlers.

Five days ago, government runners came down and gave the method of composting fertilizer to the village head of every village, telling everyone to make it first and see.

Every household was applying fertilizer in their vegetable gardens.

Only these few idlers did nothing; two days ago, after getting the seeds, they even wanted to sell them to other people in the village.

Wang Sanxi tried to persuade them earnestly: "It is not easy to have this opportunity; when you sell the surplus grain later, won't you have money to marry a wife?"

"And you are so lazy, after you split up the family later, who will take care of you?"

The few remained silent.

Either way, they couldn't eat their fill and couldn't marry a wife, so why bother with that effort?

And what the Village Chief said about not only filling our bellies but also being able to sell the surplus, isn't that just nonsense?

Having listened to those people from Taohua Village, since nothing has been grown yet, who knows if they are lying?

They perfunctorily agreed: "Alright, alright, alright, we will work hard."

Seeing them like this, Wang Sanxi truly had a headache.

The Village Chief felt weary, "Suit yourselves then, just don't come crying when others have a bumper harvest and your family has nothing."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Yet among these six people, some were tempted, while others remained exactly as they were.

They simply did not believe this Seed was useful.