Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 139 - 137: Is this my business?

Chapter 139: Chapter 137: Is this my business?

Many hands make light work. With the help of the villagers, over twenty people harvested the 100-acre fields, a task that would have taken four or five days completed in just two!

The weather was high and brisk during this period, and the sun was shining brightly. The paddy quickly dried out on the drying yard paved with cement ground.

Under eager eyes, the total weight of the dried rice was finally calculated.

"17,852 pounds!" Manager Xie announced loudly after calculating. You could hear the excitement quivering in his voice!

A yield of 17,852 pounds from a 100-acre field, that is 785 pounds and two taels per acre!

This was even more than previously estimated. Although it was only a few dozen pounds more, this rice could shell out about 20 pounds of finished rice, which many peasant families wouldn’t dare to consume in a month!

Shangguan Xuanyi had already said before he left to write a memo about the high yield of rice after calculating it per acre and hand it over to Officer Li.

Xiao’er explained in the note that due to Heterosis, rice seeds need to be reseeded every year. If the seeds were kept for self-use, the yield would decrease each season and eventually be the same as usual.

As for whether they understood what Heterosis was, she couldn’t explain too much as she couldn’t reveal it was because of the seeds from the space.

Rice can’t be kept for self-seeding. This must be made clear, otherwise, if farmers save their seeds and it no longer yields high, causing public resentment, they would bring trouble to themselves.

Wealth always comes with risks! She must avoid them as much as possible!

She also pointed out that the climate of their county should allow them to try two seasons of planting, intending to try winter wheat!

After handing over the note, Officer Li and the ten soldiers left.

Xiao’er and her family continued to hurry with the harvesting of other crops.

Shen Chengyao is a true farmer, even if the shops need his attention, he always finds time to check on the crops. He feels it’s the root of their family, something he must keep a hold of regardless of how busy or wealthy he becomes.

—

Today was the day when the results of the college examination came out.

When the man came to report the good news, Mr. Shen hurriedly had Mrs. Zhuang prepare reward money, and the two elders waited at the door in their best attire. However, the man bypassed them and went to the village chief’s house instead.

Mr. Shen stopped the cheer-bringing soldier and asked, "Sir, this is Shen Jingwen’s house. Are you here to congratulate Shen Jingwen?"

The soldier, courteous, thought they were awaiting the news, too. He said, "I’m here to congratulate Young Master Shen Zixuan, you might want to wait a bit longer."

Shen Zixuan was only ranked tenth, so it wasn’t strange the other students hadn’t been notified yet.

Upon hearing the soldier’s words, Mr. Shen was pleased. Knowing his grandson was successful, he felt incredibly blessed!

Mr. Shen and Mrs. Zhuang waited from dusk till dawn for another messenger, but nobody came.

Instead, Shen Jingwen returned home looking downcast.

Seeing their sad faces, Mr. Shen knew that Shen Jingwen didn’t pass. Although disappointed, he quickly adjusted his mood and comforted him: "Wen’er, it doesn’t matter if you didn’t pass this time. You’re still young, you can try again next year and you’ll definitely be successful."

Shen Jingwen was angry! His grandfather had bet on the right question this year when he saw the test paper, he was absolutely delighted. He thought he had a stroke of luck, only to fall short by one place! One place, and he would have become a scholar!

It’s all their third uncle’s family’s fault! Shen Jingwen thought bitterly.

At this time, the chief’s family invited them over for a meal. Shen Zixuan had become a scholar and even got a state-sponsored scholarship. The chief had invited the whole village to his house to celebrate the occasion.

Seeing the invitation, Mr. Shen didn’t look too pleased. Did they come to rub it in his face? Deliberately making his grandson feel uncomfortable! His grandson fell short, and they still came just to add insult to injury! He didn’t want to be pestered by the villagers, all of them knew both children had taken the examination and only one passed while the other didn’t. He wanted to refuse, but then Shen Jingwen had already agreed to it. Puzzled, Mr. Shen decided against raising any objections.

When they arrived at the chief’s house, most villagers were already there.

Seeing their father and older brother, Shen Chengyao and Shen Chengzu quickly got up to greet them.

Many people praised Shen Zixuan during the meal for his accomplishments at such a young age, what great things would he achieve in future!

Shen Chengyao jumped in and said, "Zixuan has always been studious, and even at such a young age, he managed to get into Juxian Academy on his own merit. My three little rascals got into Juxian Academy too, all thanks to his guidance. He’s the kids’ teacher and our family’s great benefactor."

Shen Jingwen was not pleased with these words! "Thump!" He put down his chopsticks and stood up, "What does my third uncle mean by this? Are you mocking me for not getting into Juxian Academy on my own merit? I had asked for your help by getting someone to write me an introduction letter too, do you need to belittle me in front of everyone?"

"Wen’er, you misunderstand. Uncle didn’t mean it that way!" Shen Chengyao was dumbfounded, what on earth did he say? He didn’t mean any of that!

"Stop pretending! You hypocrite! If it wasn’t for you preferring to help outsiders rather than your own kin, I would be a scholar now, I was ruined by you!"

If it weren’t for him helping an outsider into Juxian Academy, he would have made it. He only needed one more spot, and that spot was taken by Fang Wenri! How could he help an outsider and not his nephew, he’s just like an ungrateful wolf!

Even now, if he’d gotten into Juxian Academy, would he have been only one spot shy of becoming a scholar?

Shen Chengyao was dumbstruck, how did this get pinned on him?

Hearing this, whispers spread among the crowd, "Did Shen Chengyao sabotage his nephew’s chance of becoming a scholar? What’s going on?"

"How could that be? How could Shen Chengyao ruin his own nephew’s future."

Jingrui, who had come with Shen Chengyao to the feast today, got up angrily, "Elder cousin, what are you talking about? How did my dad ever harm you?"

"Really? If your family hadn’t helped Fang Wenri get an introduction letter, could he have gotten in? I was only one spot away from getting into the academy, and he took it from me! If I’d gotten into Juxian Academy, would I have been one spot shy of becoming a scholar?"

"Wenri got into the Beginner’s Class, and you were in the Intermediate Class, these were separate classes with separate recruitments, you’re just being unreasonable! Whether you become a scholar or not depends on your knowledge." Would getting into Juxian Academy ensure you become a scholar? Jingrui kept that to himself!