Chapter 282

Qin He felt choked with anger and uneasy.

She had always wanted to become the Marquis Fu's prodigy; aside from the few legitimate young ladies who had married out, Qin He did not think anyone else was qualified to compete for that title. But now, Qin He felt a sense of crisis.

Qin He looked listless. Qin Yan asked her, "Sister Qin He, what's wrong?"

Qin He pressed her head, saying, "I feel a bit dizzy."

"You just recovered from your injuries, and the sun in the Wilderness is too scorching." Qin Yan did not doubt Qin He's lie at all. "Why don't you go back? A weak body cannot withstand fatigue."

Qin He hesitated. When Qin Yan learned Qin He was dizzy, he also advised her to return.

Qin He only said, "I will stay with everyone."

The harvest was a major event, with many people watching. Qin He did not want to leave early. It was said that one could catch a bit of the joy from a harvest, and Qin He believed in such things. She would not be polite about the Marquis Fu's harvest joy; the Marquis Fu had benefited from her plenty of times.

She had earned so much silver for the Marquis Fu; whatever she received was only right.

Marquis Qin Yan inspected the fields. He picked some for his own family to eat, and there was another plot reserved for the Su Guogong Fu. Marquis Qin Yan discussed with Qin Yan, "Have your maternal grandfather's family pick the melons now. There aren't many, so it saves a trip another day."

Qin Yan asked the Su He Shizi's opinion. The Su He Shizi said, "How about we pick them?"

Everyone picked the melons from their plots, leaving one unpicked plot; no one felt at ease.

Qin Tang, Qin Lang, and a few others came over to help. With many people, the speed was fast, and the melons were picked quickly. There was a cartload of melons, which was quite a lot. The young prince came over, looking envious. Eunuch Fu was desperate, but the remaining melons all had owners, so Eunuch Fu could not even buy a few.

Qin He did not see the Su He Shizi give spirit crystals. Since the First House could give to the Su Guogong Fu, she thought they would not let her leave empty-handed either. The First House had benefited from her to open a shop; they should at least give her a basket of spirit melons.

Qin He waited. She would not ask for it; asking would make her seem too eager.

Would she, Qin He, lack any good things? How could that be?

Qin Bi said to Lin Yao and the Yan guard, "After we return, give you two baskets of cracked melons and two baskets of good melons. You must each get two or three melons. If it's not enough, ask the young He Shizi for more."

The advisors and guards were stunned, then delighted. "Thank you, Rong Shizifei, for the reward."

This was Qin Bi's first time as Rong Shizifei, and she knew nothing. Rong Juan did not stop her. Qin Bi guessed this reward should be acceptable. Although Rong Juan was young, he knew a lot. Qin Bi worried that rewarding them with cracked melons from ordinary watermelons might be improper.

The advisors and guards would not disdain ordinary watermelons or cracked ones. They were grown in their own Prince Fu; the cracks were just because they didn't move them well. They could eat them the same. Besides, cracked melons were not hard to sell.

The Rong Shizifei rewarded them with melons, and everyone was overjoyed.

The Third House's own family harvested melons and did not intend to share with anyone. They would wait until they returned to the Marquis Fu to distribute them to relatives and friends. There was no rush now. Qin Tan had many good colleagues and friends and had plans.

The Fourth House also had plans, such as for Jiang Shi's natal family and Lin Shi's natal family. They would discuss distributing the melons after returning.

Rong Yan's family also harvested melons for their own household; no one needed to share. Jiang Xu reserved a small plot of melon land for his maternal grandfather's family. They were picking them now, distributing them to his maternal grandfather's family in the Wilderness to avoid trouble at the Jiang Fu later.

Qin He went over to the First House. Seeing that the melons were all harvested, Qin Yan said, "Let's go back."

They activated the teleportation array, and everyone left the Wilderness.

Qin Bi and Rong Juan returned to the Rong Wang Fu. Today was the harvest, and there was still a pile of matters in the fu. Although Qin Bi did not need to worry about them, the child Rong Juan had to inquire. The Rong He Shizi had taught him how to be a young He Shizi since Rong Juan was very small.

The Rong He Shizi directed people to move the watermelons to the warehouse. He also distributed the rewards Qin Bi had promised to the advisors and guards, giving each two or three ordinary watermelons. Rong Juan, taking charge, gave two baskets of ordinary watermelons to the Prince Fu's public funds.

This made the Wang Cefei and concubines extremely happy, and Rong Wang happily held Rong Juan.

The little milk bun Rong Juan went "aaah," stretching out his little hands. The Rong He Shizi pretended not to see and was busy holding the little milk bun. Qin Bi gave him a small watermelon. There, the child was giggling with joy and forgot everything.

While Qin Bi took charge of distributing melons in the Rong Wang Fu, the Qin Yan Hou Fu was also lively.

Jiang Shi asked Qin Tang in a low voice, "How many melons for Qin Han and the others?"

Qin Tang said, "Three or five melons will suffice."

Jiang Shi directed a maid to move two cracked melons. Considering that the Jiang Fu had other branches, and to avoid Qin Han being looked down upon, she moved two good melons as well. Lin Shi found Jiang Shi to discuss in a low voice.

"Give her three," Jiang Shi said. "Our two branches combined have seven melons; that is quite a lot."

Indeed, it was quite a lot. Lin Shi gave two cracked melons and one good melon.

Qin Han's family had finished eating, and it was already dark. They prepared to leave. Jiang Shi said, "Take the melons."

When Qin Han saw the melons in the basket, her expression turned bad. There was not a single spirit melon.

"Are there no spirit melons?" Qin Han opened her mouth to ask.

Jiang Shi's smile vanished. Qin Di said, "Your two elder brothers have uses for them."

Qin Han lowered her head and said nothing. Even if they had uses, it was to pave the way for her two elder brothers. Was she an outsider? Why couldn't they give her a spirit melon? Qin Han felt chilled to the bone, with a heavy, unspeakable weight in her heart.

Jiang Mo saw the atmosphere and felt awkward, not knowing what to do.

Qin Tang spoke up, "Give her a spirit melon."

Jiang Shi went to get a spirit melon, but Qin Xun stopped her. He said to Lin Shi, "Go to our courtyard and get a spirit melon."

Qin Tang and Qin Xun, the two brothers, were harmonious, making Qin Han seem unreasonable. Qin Han took the spirit melon Lin Shi brought and walked away quickly. Jiang Mo chatted with everyone.

Qin Han left unhappily. On the First House side, Qin Yan gave Qin He two ordinary watermelons. Qin He felt terrible. Was she worth only two ordinary watermelons? They looked down on her too much.

She wanted spirit melons, spirit melons!!!!!!!

The First House intended to give spirit melons, but not to Qin He. They sent them to the Second House. Whether Cui Shi was willing to give Qin He was none of the First House's business. They sent two ordinary watermelons to the Fifth House.

Qin He left without eating dinner, with no smile on her face as she departed.

The Third House was the liveliest. Qin Tan and his wife discussed with Qin Lang. They gave two baskets of ordinary watermelons to Qin Lang's maternal grandfather's family and moved up two spirit melons. Qin Lang hesitated for a moment, then moved up another spirit melon.

Qin Lang sent them to his maternal grandfather's family. Qin Tan sent watermelons for several colleagues and friends to taste. There was no need to worry about being presumptuous without an invitation; no one would find it presumptuous, nor would they disdain ordinary watermelons.

They were all court officials. A lower rank did not mean they lacked ears and eyes.

These melons were not cheap. The few families who received them were very happy.

By the time the Third House finished distributing the melons and ate, it was very late.

Everyone was starving, yet their faces were full of joy. After eating, Qin Lang was blessed and not stingy. He took several spirit melons, cut them open, and gave half a spirit melon to each of the Third House's illegitimate sons.

"Thank you, elder brother." The Third House's young illegitimate sons hugged half a spirit melon, delighted. Eating the spirit melon would benefit their spiritual power.

Qin Tan took the opportunity to admonish them, "Qin Lang treats you well; do not be ungrateful."

The illegitimate sons all agreed. Zhu Shi was satisfied and said kindly, "It is late; go rest quickly."

The illegitimate daughters were not left out either; each received a small piece of spirit melon.