Chapter 261: She Has Already Dared

Qiao Mai glanced at them, then looked at Yuan Jiaqi, "I want to arrange some benefits for my Xianggong."

The few of them immediately perked up their ears.

Yuan Jiaqi looked bewildered, "Wife, just give the order, and I, your husband, will certainly follow the rules!"

"Next year the trees in Shexian will need another year to grow; use this year to promote the New Wheat Seed."

"New Wheat Seed?"

"Yes, I have cultivated a batch of specially cold‑resistant Wheat Seed. If it works, Shexian could plant two harvests a year, and the yield per mu is high; as long as there is soil or sand, it will firmly grasp the nutrients and keep growing."

The men at the wine table all swallowed saliva, "How long from sowing to harvest?"

"About three months or a bit more."

"Hiss, I say, share some of your Wheat Seed with us as well?"

"Then you can spend your whole life lying on the kang."

"Perfect, I don't want to either."

"Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl, don't act out of misplaced loyalty?"

It's been several days, and Qiao Mai still refuses to speak up, wanting to give the Duke's family a hard time.

"She already dared it—killed more than ten of my Dark Guard and made you like this. Do you think she wouldn't dare?"

"In short, once my Xianggong's county promotion is underway, it'll be your turn."

"Don't worry, I can hold up the sky if it falls, and as for the two children, how could I let that go to waste?"

"You can drop that, how long has he been in office? He's already a Fifth‑rank County Magistrate, what more can you demand?"

The old master and old lady, hearing that Qiao Mai had been pestering the Duke's family for several days, felt very uneasy.

"I listen to you, but I cannot agree to become in‑laws with her."

"What's the matter?"

"Hmph, you can't stop the exploitation by corrupt officials; what good is higher yield?"

"You,"

Yuan Jiaqi watched them shove wheat into their mouths, quickly slipped the Wheat Seed in his hand into a bag, then tucked the bag into his sleeve.

Several men each grabbed a handful of wheat, held it up to examine, "The grains are plump, larger and rounder than ordinary Wheat Seed."

Afraid it wouldn't kill them, the two families might fight again.

"On behalf of Quanwei City and all the people of Beifang, I thank you."

"Hmm."

"The Emperor has already harvested a batch of officials' heads; in the short term, those who buy or sell offices dare not act rashly."

They moved into Mu Guniang's house; to quickly contact the Xiling people, the Duke that same day handed over a note, truly showing no airs.

"You still haven't realized that her martial skill is so high; avenging our whole family would be easy. For this home, for the children, and for yourself, why look back?"

Even Zihan, along with Feng'er, didn't want to leave; after the end of March, he and Chuan'er had agreed to go together.

The Duke watched his wife lying uncomfortably on the kang, wishing he could cure her at once, but he knew he couldn't rush; this matter was his family's fault.

"So you used this method to let your husband earn merit and get promoted?"

"Yes, it never involved you in the first place!"

"Think about it, the Duke's daughter, a princess, could she willingly marry her daughter off to our family?"

"Work hard, strive for an early promotion; otherwise, our in‑laws would look down on us even more."

"Then that's good; we won't step forward."

The Duke, sitting at the edge of the kang, said, "I've already handed over the note; when you get to them, you must apologize."

"If you can be promoted, do it; if not, as long as their daughter is willing, the Qiao family dares to marry her."

"That still won't work."

"Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl, bring your Wheat Seed so we can take a look?"

Zhu Xianling was jealous, and Wang laughed, "No matter who plants this wheat first, it's all under my jurisdiction, so the credit will be partly mine."

"Haha."

"I—I won't apologize to a village woman."

"After the New Year I'll prepare; they only start sowing underground in March."

"Make a First‑rank County Magistrate clamor?"

"Don't thank yet; let's talk after the harvest. I estimate that on land like Shexian's, each mu could yield eight hundred kilograms or more; on our side, over a thousand kilograms per mu."

"Then stay a few more days?"

Wang's family of three stayed until the third day of the new year before returning to the prefectural city; Yuan Jiaqi left on the fifth, and the Duke's family arrived in the Small Town on the sixth.

"Honestly, I don't want to leave; your home is just too comfortable."

The Duke regretted having spoiled his wife for so many years and sighed.

Qiao Mai, like performing a magic trick, pulled a small cloth bag from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"Thank you, thank you, Qiao Niang, for caring about the people."

"No, I want to recommend a promotion for my Xianggong,"

The whole house was filled with laughter; the more people, the merrier, and Mayor Qian sat for a while before returning to accompany his daughter‑in‑law.

"Qiao Niang, we're not competing with your husband for credit,"

The young master and the old lady were startled; they both went to Qiao Mai and asked.

Zhu Xianling stayed until dusk, then left with a cartload of delicacies looted from the Qiao family, and Wang sighed each time he came.

Yuan Jiaqi, a bit excited, asked, "Qiao Niang, can the wheat's yield per mu really be increased?"

It's just that he, like Zhu Xianling and the Yuan County Magistrate, doesn't want the credit, fearing they'd be transferred.

"Hmm."

I didn't expect the Prince of Zhen Guo's family to be so patient; they didn't act until the tenth day.

"Alright."

That night, Yuan Jiaqi held her in his arms.

Qiao Mai kept a cold expression, "This matter isn't for you to handle. Leave it to me; you keep doing what you normally do. Once it's resolved, I'll tell you the whole story."

"Hmm, you handle it; I'll only provide the high‑quality wheat seed."

The ten days of bumpy travel already wore down the Prince's wife's haughty aura.

"Finished?" Zhu Xianling curled his lip and asked, "Is this nothing to do with us anymore?"

The old master kept smiling at them from beside, happy that the Ming Imperial Court had such good officials.

With a splash, everyone laughed, "Qiao Niang really knows how to joke."

The whole family anxiously waited for Qiao Mai's audience; a day passed, then two days, and it wasn't until the ninth day that the Qiao family's matriarch finally replied.

"If this is really the case, the Ming Imperial Court's people will never lack food and drink again."

"What, what exactly is going on? How did they all come here?"

"She dares!"

"My Master said, on the tenth, please bring your whole family over."

Yuan Jiaqi took a long breath and said, "I, as husband, will certainly strive."

"First, trial‑plant in Shexian for two seasons; if it works, we'll expand to other counties, and then you can discuss how to divide the wheat seed harvested."

A few people got along well, and even nine‑year‑old Ling'er began to have her own friends; after all, it's the New Year, and her friends came to play with her.

If it weren't for the Prince of Zhen Guo and his whole family protecting the country, and for his kindness to his wife, just by the Prince's wife's deeds she would have annihilated this family eight hundred times.

Two County Magistrates and a Prefect heard it and felt their blood boil.

"Hope, huh?"

"I guess you think they might still be unwilling."

She now lies weakly on the kang, her eyes pitiful, truly making one both angry and resentful.

"Madam, consider today your New Year's surprise for your husband, okay?"

Qiao Mai smiled, "There's no need to be so cautious; I still have plenty of wheat seed. When the time comes, you pick a well‑reputed village to serve as the trial‑plant site."

In her house, laughter and chatter rose; Jin Mama, in the Upper Room, didn't intervene, letting them make a ruckus.

"No way, the Yamen has a pile of affairs; I can't be away from people anywhere."

"When did I ever deceive you? Didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

Qiao Mai met them in the front hall of her home, dressed in ordinary clothes with no extra adornments.

Seeing is believing; when the Prince of Zhen Guo saw Qiao Mai, he finally understood where her confidence came from.

From that calm gaze, he could tell that this woman regarded his family just like any ordinary people.

She didn't look down on them because of his status or rank. What does that indicate? It shows they have confidence.

(End of chapter)