Chapter 287

The Yan Guogong Marchioness had watched the little girl grow up since she was small; it was just some food from the manor, so giving some was nothing.

It wouldn't do to suddenly ignore Fubao. Pastries and such didn't matter; as long as Fubao didn't ask for spirit melons or spirit fruits, giving them was fine. The Yan Guogong Marchioness did this, and He Shizi didn't mind when he found out.

That brat Rong Yang wouldn't come, so it served him right that his things were taken away by Fubao.

He Shizi missed the little Tuanzi Rong Yang, but that brat didn't miss him!

It would be better if the child just ran back in a hurry.

When the Rong Heir Apparent learned that Fubao had taken a pile of food from the Yan Guogong Fu, he didn't take it to heart. This really was nothing; noble families were truly not lacking in a bit of food. What was valuable were spirit food, precious medicinal herbs, and beast crystals.

If Fubao had touched those, the Rong Heir Apparent would have had to intervene. He absolutely would not allow anyone to touch Rong Yang's things; cultivation was so difficult, and it was not easy for a child to grow up.

No one told the little Tuanzi, but Rong Yang knew anyway; his guard had told him.

After the guard finished reporting, he retreated to the side.

The little Tuanzi continued to write calligraphy at the desk. Qin Bi glanced at the guard, her heart stirred, and she held Rong Chi and asked: "Rong Yang, do you want to eat fruit jam? Let's boil some fruit jam to eat."

Rong Yang looked up: "Eat."

The little milk Tuanzi followed: "Eat..."

Qin Bi smiled at this little foodie, deliberately coaxing him to speak: "What do you want to eat?"

The little milk Tuanzi couldn't get it out; he couldn't speak, and his little mouth went "pfft, pfft" blowing bubbles. Qin Bi giggled, and the child followed along, happy, waving his little hands and dancing, looking incredibly adorable.

Qin Bi was in a great mood and sent the little milk Tuanzi to the study to see the Rong Heir Apparent.

In the study, Rong Juan listened to his subordinate's report, and Qin Bi handed the little milk Tuanzi to him: "I'm going to boil fruit jam for the child."

Rong Juan took the little milk Tuanzi, and the child babbled "eat, eat, eat." Rong Juan scolded him: "Little foodie."

Qin Bi left the study and headed straight for the kitchen to direct the maids and matrons to wash the spirit fruits. Once washed, they had to be dried of surface moisture; it had nothing to do with cultivation, but spirit food was beneficial for cultivation.

Besides, it was good for the child to eat fruit jam; it could improve his palate.

The advisor received the Rong Heir Apparent's instructions and opened a teleportation array to go to the wilderness. The unripe melons were mostly ripe in these two days; after pulling the vines, they wouldn't bother with the rest, as the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue would send people to clean up.

As for the grape spirit fruit trees? The Rong Heir Apparent would find a way to transplant them back.

The peach trees were visibly wilting, and it was estimated they wouldn't last until transplanting. The Vice Minister of Revenue circled the peach trees all day; if the Rong Heir Apparent didn't want them, the Ministry of Revenue wouldn't mind raising these few spirit fruit trees.

Lin Yao saw this and said: "They won't survive."

The Vice Minister of Revenue hurriedly asked: "Does the Rong Heir Apparent still want them?"

Lin Yao: "..."Yes."

The Vice Minister of Revenue left. He hadn't coveted the grape spirit fruit trees; they were growing perfectly well, lush and leafy, and no matter how one thought about it, it was impossible for them to give them to the Ministry of Revenue.

The Vice Minister of Works also came to look around, stroking his beard as he observed the spirit peach trees, but he left without saying anything.

Lin Yao glanced at them, turned his head, and continued to lead people to pull up melon vines, incidentally picking the small watermelons on them to keep for pickling. They wanted even the smallest ones; anyone who wanted to pick up scraps should give up the idea early.

Qin Tan and Qin Lang, this grandfather-grandson duo, plus the concubine-born son of the Third Branch, were even better at scraping the land clean. The whole family pulled up all the melon greens in the fields to take back and eat as cold dishes.

Lin Yao went over to take a look and, not wanting to be outdone, thought that since the Heir Apparent's wife was a Qin family member, she must also cherish the melon greens. They pulled them all up and took them back. Having eaten the spirit melons grown by the Heir Apparent's wife, the advisors and guards were all very dedicated.

Jiang Shi and Lin Shi also came. Once the vines were pulled, they wouldn't come to the wilderness anymore. This day could be counted as a day for scraping the land clean. As female relatives, Jiang Shi and Lin Shi were even more diligent and thrifty in managing the household.

Jiang Shi went to Qin Lang's farmland, saw that the melon greens had all been pulled, and asked Qin Tan: "Third Uncle, can these greens be eaten too?"

Qin Tan was a County Magistrate, so he naturally knew what farm ingredients could be eaten, and he replied: "These greens have a good texture; you can dig them up to eat. Since they grew next to the spirit melons, eating them should be beneficial."

Jiang Shi went back and told Lin Shi.

Consequently, both families dug up all the greens and such.

Qin Yan was very shrewd and immediately ordered the First Branch's concubine-born sons to dig up the greens as well.

Rong Yan also ran over to inquire and went back to tell Jiang Xu. Now it was good; when the people from the Ministry of Works came over and saw this, they left silently. Good heavens, they hadn't noticed it before, but the people of the Marquis Manor were all money-grubbers.

He Zu's farmland hadn't been harvested yet; he had planted beans, peanuts, and several types of green vegetables like chili peppers.

Qin Bi brought Rong Yang to the wilderness, and Rong Yang ran over to find He Zu. No one knew what the child said to He Zu, but afterward, Yan Yan Huwei Yan led people over to harvest the crops.

They weren't ripe yet, but Rong Yang liked to eat boiled bean pods and boiled peanuts.

"Little Uncle," Rong Yang took out boiled melon seeds for He Zu: "Here are melon seeds for you to eat."

He Zu was pleasantly surprised and hurriedly took them—just a few seeds: "Rong Yang, your grandmother and the others all miss you."

"I'm busy right now," Rong Yang said in a milky voice: "When I have time, I'll go back to the Yan Guogong Fu."

"Okay," He Zu nodded happily.

Qin Bi and Lin Yao walked over to He Zu's farmland to take a look. When they returned to their own farmland, Qin He, Qin Han, and others arrived. Qin He and Qin Yan were dressed in fine silks and satins; one look and it was clear they were not the type to have fields in the wilderness.

Qin Han was dressed simply and elegantly. She had brought her husband and children and went straight to find Jiang Shi and Lin Shi: "Sisters-in-law, I'm seeing if there is any farm work."

What farm work could Jiang Shi have for her family to do? Jiang Shi was busy directing the maids and matrons to dig up greens. Jiang Shi said: "It's almost finished; you all should rest. There's no need to go into the fields."

Qin Han looked around; Jiang Ren was running around playing, and Jiang Mo went to find Qin Tang.

"Qin Bi Jiejie, you're here too?" Qin He greeted her.

Qin Bi didn't feel she had anything to say to Qin He and asked: "Is something the matter?"

Qin He curled her lip inwardly—who was she acting so cold and aloof for? Qin He smiled on the surface and said: "Are you sure you won't plant another crop? I have good fortune and am going to help the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works summon rain to irrigate the fields."

Qin Bi waited for her to continue. Only then did Qin He say: "If crops, or even spirit crops, grow in the wilderness farmland next, I don't want anyone to steal the credit again."

As soon as Qin Bi heard this, she understood; Qin He thought she would come to steal the credit.

The sisters of the Marquis Manor were not allowed to be at odds, and Qin Bi didn't want to make the elders unhappy, but Qin He's words were unkind, so Qin Bi naturally wouldn't be polite: "With such great ability, why don't you cultivate a plot of land yourself instead of taking over farmland that others have already cultivated? If you're worried about others stealing the credit, just cultivate a plot of land yourself."

Qin He was choked; she was as beautiful as a fairy and would never go down into the fields.

Qin He swished her skirt and went to find Qin Yan: "Eldest Cousin, I'm going to summon rain for the farmland. When this field grows crops, it can't be said to be someone else's credit."

How could Qin Yan not understand the meaning in Qin He's words? Qin Yan said: "Wait until you summon the rain and the crops grow before saying anything."

In Qin Yan's view, it was unlikely.