Chapter Fifty-Five: Ruo’er Truly Understands

“You have no need to worry about that, Miss Wei,” Chu Lan explained. “If I were to send someone to assist you, I would naturally dispatch an older woman to coordinate with you. I would never require you to interact directly with me or any other man.”

Seeing that the excuse of propriety between men and women had not deterred Chu Lan, Wei Ruo looked up at Wei Mingting, hoping he would intercede on her behalf.

Wei Mingting seemed to catch her silent plea. Turning to Chu Lan, he said, “Young master, your care for the people is a blessing to them. But my daughter has little experience in large-scale management. Perhaps it would be better to let her progress step by step…”

Chu Lan interrupted, “No need to say more, Master Wei. In matters of improving the wasteland to the south of Xing Shan County, Miss Wei is the most qualified. If she claims she cannot do it, then I doubt anyone else could say they can.”

Wei Mingting found himself unable to refuse further and conceded, “Since this is the young master’s goodwill, Ruo’er, you should accept. His Highness cares for the people as his own children and only wishes for the people of Xing Shan County to have enough to eat.”

“Then I shall respectfully accept,” Wei Ruo replied, having no other choice.

After conferring with Wei Mingting, Magistrate Qian, Chu Lan, and the others, Wei Ruo ordered Aguì and Xiao Ba to lift the rice seedlings and prepare for transplanting.

During the seedling stage, the seeds are sown densely. When it comes time to transplant, the seedlings are spaced further apart to ensure each rice plant receives enough sunlight and nutrients from the soil.

Thus, the seedlings from these two mu of seedling fields would be more than enough to plant two mu of paddy.

“Father, did some of the seedlings we planted on Mantou Mountain this year die off?” Wei Ruo asked.

The Wei family, like other households in Xing Shan County, grew early-ripening rice, and the transplanting season had already passed. The healthy seedlings had grown taller than a child by now.

However, Wei Ruo had heard that due to the weather, many families in Xing Shan County had suffered poor rice yields, with large patches dying off entirely.

“Your mother did mention it to me,” Wei Mingting replied.

During the brief time he spent at home, Madam Yun rarely bothered him with minor affairs, but the loss of rice seedlings was a matter that affected the family’s autumn harvest. Madam Yun dared not hide it from him and had informed him early so he could make preparations.

“Once we have the surplus seedlings here, Father, please arrange for someone to deliver them to Mantou Mountain to replant the areas that died,” Wei Ruo said.

Wei Mingting paused, then beamed with delight. “Ruo’er, how thoughtful of you!”

He could not help but marvel at his daughter’s attentiveness and how she always considered the family’s needs.

Wei Ruo’s plan was to send the seedlings north to Mantou Mountain, which would give her an excuse to visit Xiaoyang Mountain as well.

As for the seedlings, if they weren’t used for the Wei family’s own fields, they would have to be given away, as the other wastelands had yet to be cultivated and there wouldn’t be time to plant them elsewhere. She didn’t know the conditions of other families, and it would be a waste not to plant them on Mantou Mountain.

After all, these were seedlings they had painstakingly grown. It would be a pity to throw them away.

After all the seedlings were pulled up, Wei Ruo instructed Aguì and Xiao Ba to plow the fields again in preparation for transplanting.

Wei Ruo herself returned home, accompanied by some of the seedlings that were to be sent to Mantou Mountain for planting.

On the way back, Wei Ruo leaned against the window of the carriage, gazing at the scenery along the road.

Xiumei massaged her shoulders and calves.

“Miss, should we choose a few reliable people ourselves and teach them the method for improving the land, without letting others know?” Xiumei asked.

“That’s not necessary. I’ll make the method public. It will be more efficient that way,” Wei Ruo replied.

“But what if the apprentices learn it and end up starving the master?” Xiumei worried.

This wasn’t Mojia Zha, where the villagers had a good relationship with them. There was nothing to fear when Miss taught them. But here, they didn’t know the people well, and there was always a chance that a few bad apples would slip in.

“Don’t worry. Even if they learn it, it’s only the surface. They won’t grasp the underlying logic. They won’t be able to steal the master’s livelihood. Besides, your Miss has plenty of other skills; this is hardly my only one.”

Some abilities, Wei Ruo kept for her own livelihood, but some techniques could be shared to help innocent people in need.

For instance, the method of improving the land—keeping it to herself would be of little use, as not every place had barren soil in need of improvement, and she couldn’t make much money from it anyway.

Moreover, she wasn’t fully teaching others how to reclaim wasteland. Different wastelands required different methods of improvement; poor soils each had their own deficiencies and required distinct solutions.

Even if they were all alkaline soils, the ways to neutralize and improve them were not fixed. The proportions and mixtures all mattered. She only shared the method suited to the wasteland in this area. If anyone tried to copy it elsewhere, it simply wouldn’t work.

Before long, news of the events in the southern part of the city reached Madam Yun, who was utterly delighted.

With successful land reclamation, a late-ripening rice variety, praise from the authorities, and a mind for the family’s terraced fields, everything Wei Ruo did had touched Madam Yun’s heart.

Madam Yun lavished Wei Ruo with praise, each word making Wei Qingwan’s heart sink further.

Madam Yun did not notice the change in Wei Qingwan’s mood; she was too busy arranging for workers to go to Mantou Mountain and replant the seedlings Wei Ruo had brought back.

When Wei Ruo arrived at the Wei residence, Madam Yun did something unprecedented—she came to the door to welcome her.

“Ruo’er, you’ve worked so hard these past days!” Madam Yun’s face was alight with joy.

“I won’t go inside for now. I’ll take these seedlings straight to Mantou Mountain. Have arrangements been made for the transplanting?” Wei Ruo asked, her expression calm, merely following procedure.

“Everything is ready. The workers left for Mantou Mountain a quarter of an hour ago and are waiting for the seedlings to start planting,” Madam Yun replied.

“That’s good. I’ll go with them and check on the crops there as well,” Wei Ruo announced.

“That’s wise, but do remember to take care of yourself and not exhaust yourself,” Madam Yun said with concern.

Wei Ruo gave a brief nod and, without further small talk, instructed Uncle Liu to drive the carriage toward Mantou Mountain in the north.

Though she told Madam Yun she was going to check on the crops at Mantou Mountain, her real aim was to have a legitimate reason to visit Xiaoyang Mountain.

Madam Yun didn’t know Wei Ruo’s true intentions. She simply felt her daughter was exceptionally sensible and considerate of the family, using the extra seedlings to fill in the dead spots in their own fields and personally checking on the terraced fields.

Madam Yun was deeply moved. Although the family had its small disagreements, when it came to the greater good, her daughter always put the family first.