Chapter Forty-Four: Working With Me Means Plenty to Eat

The three of them moved in unison, unable to wait as they each took a bite. Madam Zhang managed to keep her composure, maintaining the poise befitting her status as one of the more respectable matrons in the household, accustomed as she was to having meat from time to time. The two farmhands, however, were not so fortunate. In good years, they had meat a bit more often, but recently, it was only during the New Year or on special occasions that they could indulge.

They had thought that simply having meat was happiness enough, but upon tasting it, all three were astonished—even Madam Zhang was not immune. This was unlike any meat they had tasted elsewhere. How could it be so delicious?

They buried themselves in their bowls, and when the meat was gone, even the rice soaked in the savory juices was indescribably tasty. At first, they ate quickly, but as their meal progressed, their pace slowed. They ate quickly because it was so delicious, unable to resist mouthful after mouthful. Yet they also slowed down, reluctant for the pleasure to end so soon.

When they finished, the two farmhands were too shy to speak, but Madam Zhang could not help but ask Wei Ruo, “Young Miss, was this meat prepared by the kitchen? How is it so extraordinarily good?”

“It was made by Xiumei,” Wei Ruo replied.

“Miss Xiumei’s culinary skills are remarkable!” Madam Zhang praised, her gaze toward Xiumei now holding a newfound respect.

From the first time Madam Zhang had met Xiumei, she had looked down on her. After all, Xiumei was a servant bought by the He family for Wei Ruo, a country girl with little refinement—nothing like those who had come from the Commandant’s residence. Yet who would have thought that this girl possessed such skills! Perhaps not all country folk were as uncouth and narrow-minded as she had believed; some were quite capable indeed.

Sensing Madam Zhang’s surprise, Xiumei could not help but smile. It was the first time she had seen Madam Zhang, who was always so haughty, look at her with such an expression.

Wei Ruo addressed Madam Zhang and the two farmhands. “Lunch is just one aspect. As long as you work diligently with me and complete the tasks I assign, I will not treat you poorly.”

At this, one of the farmhands, A’Gui, could no longer contain himself. “Does the Young Miss mean we will continue to have such delicious lunches in the future?”

“Not just lunch—there will be other benefits as well,” Wei Ruo assured them.

“Please rest assured, Miss! We will do our best to follow you!” A’Gui declared eagerly.

“And I will too!” Xiao Ba, the other farmhand, chimed in.

Though it was only a meal, to them it was a rare treat. They did not know what other rewards Wei Ruo spoke of, but this was enough to make them want to work even harder for her.

Madam Zhang said nothing. She found the meal delicious, but she was not so easily swayed as to change her opinion of the young mistress over a single lunch.

As she pondered, Xiumei approached and handed Madam Zhang a small cloth bundle. She also gave one each to A’Gui and Xiao Ba, all of equal weight, substantial in the hand.

Curious, Madam Zhang opened her bundle and saw the contents. “Is this the sweet potato snack the young miss shared with the other ladies before?”

She had heard about it—apparently it had been well received—but she had not seen it herself until now.

“Yes,” Wei Ruo replied. “It keeps well and is very filling. You can eat it yourselves if you’re hungry or take it home for your children to try.”

Out of curiosity, A’Gui and Xiao Ba each sampled a piece. They said nothing, but their expressions made it clear they enjoyed the sweet potato very much. For people like them, sweets were a rare luxury, so their reaction was even stronger than most.

Madam Zhang watched for a while. Outwardly, it looked nothing special, not as appealing as fancy pastries. Yet driven by curiosity, she, too, tasted a couple of bites. Her reaction was not as pronounced as the farmhands’, but she clearly enjoyed it.

Just moments ago, Madam Zhang had thought herself above being swayed by a single meal. Now, with a bundle of sweet potato in hand, she found herself wavering. The young mistress really did seem generous to those who worked for her.

All three ate only a single piece, saving the rest. The lunch had been plentiful, so they were full, and they wanted to bring the treat home for their families to taste.

After lunch, everyone returned to work. This time, the two farmhands were noticeably more energetic. They had not been lazy before, but had only been doing their duty. Now, Wei Ruo had given them motivation to work with greater enthusiasm.

Not far away, another group of people had also left the South City Gate, just as Wei Ruo had.

Chu Lan’s gaze swept over the desolate southern outskirts. He had expected it to be as bleak as he’d imagined, but was surprised to see a few figures in the emptiness.

“What’s going on?” Chu Lan asked his attendant.

“Your Highness, those people are from the Wei family, the Commandant’s household. They say they are experimenting with cultivating the wasteland. If successful, they’ll bring people from the city to farm here once the war situation improves. The local magistrate, Magistrate Qian, has already approved it,” the attendant reported.

As was his habit, Chu Lan’s attendant had gathered information about the area before their arrival.

“People from the Wei family?” Chu Lan was surprised. “When did they become involved in such things? That doesn’t sound like something that family would do.”

Lu Yuhong smiled. “Your Highness, the Wei family seems to have a few surprises up their sleeve. Last time it was calligraphy, now it’s land reclamation.”

Chu Lan didn’t refute Lu Yuhong, but kept his gaze on the Wei family’s workers. “Who is the one directing things over there?”

The attendant observed carefully before venturing, “It’s likely the young miss of the Wei family who has just returned to the household.”

“The young miss who just returned?” Chu Lan’s interest was piqued.

“The Wei family claims she was raised in the countryside due to ill health and only recently brought back,” the attendant explained.

“So, having been raised in the country, she’s skilled in farming?” Chu Lan asked.

“That’s what people say,” the attendant replied.

Lu Yuhong laughed. “A count’s daughter, raised in the countryside and well-versed in farming—now that is unusual.”

“Whether she’s truly skilled remains to be seen. It’s not enough to simply work the land; we’ll know only when we see her results,” Chu Lan replied, unconvinced.

“That’s true. Only results matter. But compared to this, I’m still more interested in that Four Treasures Studio,” Lu Yuhong said. Although he had been politely refused by the shopkeeper on their last visit, he hadn’t forgotten about Four Treasures Studio, feeling it was a great opportunity to make money.

After a brief pause, Chu Lan led his entourage toward Moonview Mountain, not lingering over this minor incident.