A Good Country Wife
Chapter 383 - 377_1

Chapter 383: Chapter 377_1

"Wow, so many seeds," Lin Yue examined the contents as she rummaged through them, finding sacks filled with sweet potato varieties and other sizable seeds like potatoes, while two large chests contained smaller volumes of various seeds, neatly packed in bags. Some of them Lin Yue had never seen before and couldn’t identify; only by planting would she learn what they grew into.

Upon entering, Zhao Erhu found Lin Yue so engrossed with the seeds on the floor that she didn’t even notice his arrival. "Wife, the ground is cold. Why are you sitting there? Get up and take a stool to sit on."

Seeing that his wife was completely absorbed and paying him no mind, Zhao Erhu had no choice but to fetch a stool for her, lifted her up onto it, and joined her in examining the seeds brought by Jiang Ziqi.

It took most of the day, but Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu finally sorted the recognizable from the unfamiliar seeds, though only a few were unknown to them, with the majority being recognizable.

After putting away the seeds, Lin Yue remembered the letter she had read earlier; there was more than just seed matters to discuss with Zhao Erhu.

"Brother Jiang’s letter suggests that we should make a trip to the Capital City. The workshop is easy to start, but some procedures and details are best known by us. Even if I wrote down the methodology, I fear some nuances might be missed, and the quality won’t match what we’ve sent. We’ll only know for sure once we’re there to oversee everything ourselves," she said.

Zhao Erhu frowned upon hearing this, his mind full of concerns. "But we can’t just drop our affairs here at a moment’s notice. Not to mention that we’re still building the house, there are also the tavern and the grocery store where the crucial recipes are kept under our own care. The workers only handle the basics. If we go to the Capital City, we’ll have to put these businesses on hold, incurring significant losses. Plus, with the start of spring, we need to begin planting crops, and only you know how to sow these new seeds from Doctor Jiang. We can’t just leave this to someone else."

Lin Yue shared Zhao Erhu’s concerns. Although the idea was tempting—she had only ever traveled as far as Xin’an City and yearned to see the Capital and experience its local customs—current domestic affairs made leaving impossible.

"Brother Jiang merely suggested it; he didn’t insist we go right now. After all, the workshop’s main products are still acceptable. They’re selling well, even if they’re not as good as ours. However, for the goods required by the court, we must produce and send them from here. The court has high standards that can’t be compromised. We should discuss further whether or not to go to the Capital City," she continued.

Hearing Lin Yue’s reasoning, Zhao Erhu’s worry eased somewhat. At first, he had thought about leaving her behind and going alone if necessary, but the idea of leaving his beautiful wife at home alone was unsettling—not because he distrusted her, but rather for fear of those with ill intentions taking advantage of a household without its male master present.

"Then let’s postpone the trip until we can manage to leave. We can’t leave the household matters unattended right now."

"Indeed, the new Magistrate is about to take office in Xin’an City, we don’t yet know what changes that may bring. Without someone to manage things at home, it’s better to wait and see."

Since Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu decided not to go to the Capital City, Lin Yue sent a reply to Jiang Ziqi, who wasn’t surprised by their decision. He was well aware of their busy situation and that they couldn’t easily take their leave.

"Do you know who the new Magistrate of Xin’an City is?" Jiang Ziqi asked after receiving the letter, mentioning that, as per usual practice, the Magistrate’s appointment should have already been dispatched or he was possibly already en route.

"Family Head, the new Magistrate of Xin’an City comes from a notable background. He’s a relative of the Ceng Family, specifically the cousin of Empress Ceng Lu. His reputation is quite poor—not only is he uneducated, but he’s also known for being greedy and lecherous. Apparently, he secured this Magistrate position through the Empress’ influence. It’s said that the Empress whispered into the Emperor’s ear," Axin commented with a hint of jest.

"Nonsense! Haven’t you learned after all these years what is and isn’t appropriate to say? Misfortune often comes from the mouth; the Emperor and the Empress are not for you to criticize. I do not want to hear such talk from anyone in the Jiang Residence again," Jiang Ziqi scolded with visible displeasure. As the Family Head, he had to consider many things, and Axin’s casual remark revealed much deeper concerns. He worried about his household’s carelessness, especially if any forbidden words reached the Emperor’s ears—they could bring disaster.

Emperors are unpredictable, and even though Jiang Ziqi prided himself on having grown up with the Emperor and shared a special bond, when it came to matters of the state and upholding imperial authority, personal affection counted for little. The Emperor’s trust in him stemmed from his indifference to fame and fortune, and not being involved in such matters. But upon assuming the role of Family Head of the Jiang Residence, his position changed, and the future was uncertain.

"I was wrong, Axin. I won’t criticize the Emperor’s actions anymore, and I will ensure that the servants do the same. But despite being rumors from the streets, what I said about the Magistrate’s appointment by the Emperor does hold some truth," Axin acknowledged his error.

"The Emperor is wise; there must be a reason for his actions. Nonetheless, with such an individual appointed as Xin’an City’s Magistrate, the place is unlikely to remain peaceful. It seems we’re in for turbulent times," Jiang Ziqi sighed, and piecing together his premonitions, these developments appeared unfavorable for Zhao Erhu’s family, who also supplied the Government Office with provisions. With his family’s innovative products drawing attention, he feared Magistrate Ceng Lu might target them.

Ultimately, Jiang Ziqi couldn’t help but worry for Lin Yue. Setting aside their personal relationship, even their business partnership necessitated that he protect Zhao Erhu’s family. "Order our men to keep a closer watch on Xin’an City, especially Zhao Erhu’s household. Advise Manager Liu and others to look after them more attentively, and if they face any difficulties, report to me immediately," he instructed.

"Yes, Family Head. I’ll pass on your orders now." Having served Jiang Ziqi for many years, Axin understood his Family Head’s intentions thoroughly. The importance he placed on Lin Yue was unmatched by others, making her affairs paramount; negligence was not an option. He saw to it personally that the matter was handled properly.

At that time, the newly appointed Magistrate of Xin’an City, Ceng Lu, was en route there, just as Jiang Ziqi had anticipated.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.