Chapter 267: You

Moreover, it's only half a day of teaching, just handling a meal; where could you find such a fine assignment?

Thus Fengyun and Yunfeng can free their hands to focus on study and Martial Arts, Feng'er was assigned by Qiao Mai to the backyard to farm, so this pair of sweethearts can finally meet every day.

The old master has been very pleased lately; he has successively cultivated Yuan Jiaqi into a presented scholar, also Fengyun, two provincial graduates, and Chuan'er, a licentiate; his aged face feels especially proud.

In an instant, the Qiao Family became the talk of Weicheng.

It's not that they wanted to stand out; they had to, the whole family are people of promise.

Various great clans set their sights on the Qiao Family, scheming to marry into them; they think the Qiao Family has good feng shui and nurtures people, Yuan Jiaqi is just thirty, a fifth‑rank County Magistrate, and his Dizi is not far behind.

At that moment, urgent reports came from the western and southern border passes: foreign enemies invaded, amassing 200,000 troops, eyeing the lands beyond the passes.

Now Fengyun brothers could not sit still; they went together to find Qiao Mai.

"Mother, Dizi has been training hard in Martial Arts, hoping to make a name on the Battlefield; please grant his wish."

"Don't worry, we will definitely protect ourselves and never leave you waiting at home."

The townsfolk cheered, "Sir, may we also join in the planting?"

"Mm‑hm."

Volunteering to enlist like they did is truly rare; many times even officials go to families to recruit, and Zhu Xianling was startled when he heard.

"Of course you can. From now on in Shexian we can harvest two crops a year: one in early spring, another in July. The New Wheat Seed matures in three and a half months, so we won't need winter wheat; our food supply will be sufficient."

"My family does not look down on you."

"My father‑in‑law is a good man; I want to win you an honor."

He spends each day either adjudicating cases or going to the workshop; the rest of his time he strolls by the wheat fields.

"You're really foolish!"

"My brother and I are not made for studying. Though this exam went well, we know we gave our all. Waiting to become Jinshi could take an indefinite time. Now the nation is in trouble, and a common man has his duty. Yun'er and I are skilled in Martial Arts; serving the country is proper. Moreover, your family is a military family; I hope that when I marry you, I can do so as a military officer."

"As a man, this is what I ought to do. My brother and I have long wanted to enlist. Seeing our father‑in‑law lead troops makes us envious; we hope that one day the two of us can be like him. Fortunately, Mother also taught us military strategy, and applying what we learn is the right way."

Not only does he go to the wheat fields to look, many people watch from afar; this is the hope of the Shexian townsfolk.

At the end of May, the two brothers went to the border passes; Qiao Mai often stared blankly at the moon alone at night.

Because of this, he thinks the yield per mu won't be low.

"Heavens, it's actually that high!"

The more she does this, the more Feng'er holds his breath, determined to use his own ability to win Mu Guniang a glory, so that the Betrothal will be easier and Jingcheng people won't mock her.

Because of this, he hasn't returned home for two months, and Qiao Mai hasn't gone to see him. If there were any trouble, he would have returned to find her, so she isn't worried about that side.

"Mm."

At the end of June, the trial field could finally be harvested; Yuan Jiaqi personally stood at the edge of the field, and the officials themselves went down to reap.

Qiao Mai wasn't angry after hearing this; such rumors likely originated from Fengyun's brothers' former clan members.

My goodness, two provincial graduates want to enlist; how can that be, how do they sign up?

He hurriedly sent someone to the Qiao Family to consult Qiao Niang; when the Qiao Family agreed, Zhu Xianling was at a loss.

Yun'er pursed his lips on the side, watching his elder brother and sister‑in‑law flaunt their affection; his own jealousy was so sour that his teeth felt like they might fall out.

After packing their gear, the two took the Pill and protective talismans that Qiao Mai had prepared for them and went to Yi County's County County Magistrate's Office to enlist.

They couldn't gain any benefit here; this time they were slapped again, and the anger they wanted to vent, she could understand.

There is a Honghuayou Workshop, a Xifagao Workshop, and a Qingqi Workshop—three workshops opened at once. Because they deal with oil, any men who smoke were outright rejected.

Can't get any meat; this is getting anxious, haha!

No matter what they say, Jixiang Yuan remains quiet, while Yuan Jiaqi here is so busy he feels dizzy.

"They have studied martial arts with me for nearly ten years; if they cannot protect themselves on the Battlefield, how can they earn merit? Rest assured, I know what's at stake."

"But on the Battlefield, swords have no eyes."

"Alright then, when the time comes, I'll send people to take them to the border passes."

"Yes, Mother."

The Shexian townsfolk stare eagerly, hoping it works; if so, they won't have to worry about food supplies later.

He had Zhu Xianling first register the two, arrange lodging, and then he himself went to the Qiao Family once.

Compared with the workshops, he places far more importance on the wheat seed matter.

This month, he sent all his subordinate officials to guard the wheat.

The townsfolk all knelt at once, "Thank you, Sir, thank you, you truly are a good and upright official."

When Mu Guniang learned that Feng'er wanted to enlist, she chased to the County County Magistrate's Office in tears; with her status, no one dared to stop her.

Yuan Jiaqi, fearing a mistake, sent someone to harvest a mu, and the measured weight turned out vastly different.

He didn't mention the Duchess of the State; although she lies in bed, she still looks down on this future son‑in‑law.

He first harvested a mu on the spot, threshed it there, weighed it immediately; although the wheat wasn't fully dry, the difference was minimal. He personally supervised this weighing and reported the results to the onlookers.

"I… I'll be at home waiting for your triumphant return."

She looked at Yunfeng with teary eyes, "Why are you so foolish, what soldier are you becoming?"

Looking at the heavy wheat ears, he even smiles in his dreams.

"Qiao Niang, about the children's enlistment?"

"Ah, ah!"

"Oh, that's wonderful."

Qiao Mai looked at the two adopted sons, "I teach you martial arts both to strengthen your bodies and to serve the country. Since heroes now have a place to wield weapons, I won't stop you; go to the County County Magistrate's Office to enlist."

"If you want high‑yield wheat, you must know how to nurture the soil; you can't just apply fertilizer. Later I'll distribute a farming manual to each village—you must study it. Once you master it, the wheat won't get pests and will be high‑yielding."

A provincial graduate enlisting is unprecedented; what should we do?

He hurried again to send someone to consult Wang Zongsheng; he also found it unbelievable—another imperial examination and they could become officials, with limitless futures for the two children, so why enlist?

Putting those aside, he still has to tend to the wheat; it was sown in March, now it's June, and in three months it will be ready to mature.

She had just sent the two brothers away, and rumors spread through Tianshui Town that Qiao Mai is merely a foster mother, not sincere toward the two children; when she heard of the war, she sent them off, apparently wanting the two kids to die.

"I agree; they are skilled in martial arts and want to kill enemies on the Battlefield to serve the country. How could I, as a mother, stand in their way."

"New Wheat Seed, 965 jin, per mu yield,"

Each Zuofang has a manager, with twenty workers under them; the people cutting pine oil number in the hundreds.

"Hmm, those who wish to plant New Wheat Seed can bring their household registration; after the County Magistrate's Office issues a notice in a few days, each household may go to the County Magistrate's Office to receive twenty jin. No extra, and it's unavailable after the deadline."

They were so excited they could barely contain themselves, wiping away tears as they left. Yuan Jiaqi ordered people to harvest the wheat from the fifty‑mu experimental field completely.

Then he had people let the land rest for ten days and sowed another batch of wheat.

The rest were all sealed as seed and stored in the County Magistrate's Office; this is not public property but his personal private property. He wrote a detailed memorial of the harvest, and a swift horse delivered it to Prefect Wang.

After Wang Zongsheng read it, he again dispatched a trusted courier on a fast horse to Jingcheng.

(End of chapter)