"Ahem… well, let me say a few words first! Recently, everyone has been very busy, running around before and after. Now that the autumn harvest has finally been completed successfully, my wife and I discussed it and felt that we should reward everyone properly."
As he spoke, he distributed the money pouches from the tray one by one.
"Thank you, Master!"
"Thank you, Madam!"
Li Nanqiao and the others were all smiles upon receiving their bonuses. Even Lei Zhong, who was usually stern, showed a rare grin.
After all, who would ever refuse silver?
"I get one too?" Pei Xiu never expected to be included. She had only been here for a little over a month, and strictly speaking, she belonged to the Gu household.
"Of course," Qin Ke nodded as if it were only natural. "These things should be handled fairly. Since you're here now, you naturally have a share as well."
"That's right, Sister Pei—just take it."
Pei Xiu smiled and nodded. The money itself might not mean much to her, but it stirred a strange feeling in her heart. Watching Qin Ke joke and laugh without the slightest air of authority, she lowered her gaze slightly.
"Wife, have a taste," Qin Ke said as he scooped a small bowl of rice for Lu Youqing. "This is rice we grew ourselves—see how it tastes."
Lu Youqing didn't eat much in the evenings, so he only filled the bowl halfway.
She looked at the glistening, fragrant white rice in the bowl. Each grain was plump and translucent. She had already caught the rich aroma as soon as she stepped out of the study, making her mouth water.
The taste was sweet and fragrant, soft yet springy. Each bite revealed the delicate texture and resilience of the grains—an exceptional mouthfeel.
"I've never eaten rice this good before. Your rice is truly amazing," Han Qi said, unable to resist after being tempted by the aroma for so long. As soon as they picked up their chopsticks, he eagerly dug in.
"Try it with this," Qin Ke said, placing a piece of rib into her bowl.
Lu Youqing looked at the glossy, richly colored ribs and took a curious bite. The savory sauce instantly filled her mouth, and the meat was tender, having fully absorbed the seasoning.
Seeing her eyes light up, Qin Ke knew she liked the dish and promptly added two more ribs to her bowl.
True to her role as a Gu household steward, Pei Xiu tasted each dish not only to savor the flavor but also to silently compare it with the dishes at Caiyue Tower, considering the feasibility of improving recipes.
Qin Ke had no idea she was still working even while eating. He was simply thoroughly satisfied with the meal, especially since the system-produced rice tasted exceptionally good.
The only pity was that in the more than half a year since arriving here, Qin Ke hadn't eaten a single spicy dish. For someone who once couldn't live without chili, this was quite hard to endure.
At this very moment, Qin Ke had already quietly added chili peppers to the first batch of greenhouse vegetables.
…
With sufficient funds in hand, Qin Ke began preparing his next step.
He had Lei Zhong find people to clear the former rice and melon fields. The remaining melon vines and rice stalks needed to be cleaned out. Since the village's autumn harvest was mostly over, finding labor wasn't difficult.
After clearing the fields, they needed to be plowed again. Potatoes had high soil requirements and needed loose, well-aerated earth, so the plowing had to be deeper than usual.
This was no small task, but Qin Ke was no longer short on money—he could simply hire more people.
As for Li Nanqiao, he had her go around the village asking who intended to sell their land. She had grown up in the village, making her well suited for the task. Ideally, he wanted contiguous plots—buy as much as possible.
Qin Ke himself had more important matters to attend to. The county-level imperial examination was about to begin, and he wasn't comfortable letting Lu Youqing go alone.
Since Lu Youqing was currently a commoner, she first needed to take the county-level preliminary exam. The county exam was presided over by the Yong'an magistrate, with the main subjects being eight-legged essays and poetry.
Qin Ke had glanced through Lu Youqing's study materials while she was preparing. His conclusion was utter confusion. Asking someone who barely understood classical Chinese to learn eight-legged essays was nothing short of torture.
As for poetry, all the verses he'd memorized back in school had long since been returned to the teacher after graduation—let alone his handwriting, which was barely better than that of a seven-year-old.
That said, he had complete confidence in Lu Youqing. If that counted as "beauty in the eyes of the beholder," so be it.
Gu Lanxi truly was an excellent patron. Upon learning that Lu Youqing was taking the examinations, she even sent them a carriage. It was no wonder the Gu household was full of capable people—Qin Ke himself would gladly work under such a boss.
Compared to the crude donkey cart they'd used before, this carriage was leagues better. The interior was spacious, with hidden compartments for food and books.
For convenience, Qin Ke planned to stay in the city the day before the exam. He remembered well how hotels surged in price during major exams back in his previous life—sometimes even booking a room was impossible.
After some thought, he simply rented a courtyard house in the city, had it cleaned in advance. It was spacious, had a kitchen, and was far more convenient than an inn.
That morning, Qin Ke set off for the city with Han Qi and Lu Youqing. The comfort of the luxurious carriage was incomparable to a donkey cart. Upon entering the city, they found the streets packed with people—many dressed like scholars, carrying books as they walked.
They were clearly candidates for the imperial exam. Qin Ke observed them closely. Most were teenagers: some smiling confidently, others tense and anxious, while a few clutched their books, cramming at the last moment.
As they passed along the main street, a prison cart came toward them. Qin Ke recognized the escort—it was the same officer who had once come to arrest him.
The man didn't notice their carriage, instead scanning the surroundings vigilantly. Qin Ke lifted the curtain, and Lu Youqing looked up as well, clearly seeing the disheveled, lifeless man inside the cart, head hanging low.
"Isn't that Song Yaozu from our academy?"
"Haven't you heard? He committed murder on purpose—he's to be executed today."
Qin Ke caught the murmurs of the crowd. He had thought he would feel pleased, even gratified, seeing such an outcome—but instead, his emotions were complicated.
In this world, all things hinge on a single thought—one thought leads to heaven, another to hell.
Pei Xiu's Observation Notes:
Qin Ke is informal in manner, seems to lack a sense of hierarchy, treats subordinates kindly, excels at cooking, and dotes on his wife.
However, one thing is puzzling: a grown man of imposing stature constantly clings to his wife and acts spoiled—truly incomprehensible.
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Currently at chapter 204 for advance chapters
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