Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Delivering the Horse
So, flattering is not an easy task. If done well, it’s all good, but if you flatter the wrong way, it becomes quite awkward.
Ma Yaosong wished he could slap himself. How did he come up with such a lousy idea! The Commandery Princess obviously did not favor that Young Master Zheng, and just barely humored him for a few days before sending him back to the Capital City. How did it occur to him to suggest his grandfather find such a horse to irritate the Commandery Princess?
Just as Ma Yaosong was wallowing in self-pity, the Commandery Princess suddenly turned to him with a smile: "Ma, that horse looks good, bring it over for a look."
Ma Yaosong immediately snapped to attention and cheerfully obliged, leading over a Hua Ma in the direction pointed by the Commandery Princess: "Commandery Princess, this is a mare. Though it may not look that impressive, it actually has the best endurance and is suitable for long marches."
Jiang Shaohua nodded with a smile, examined it for a moment, and then mounted the Hua Ma, taking a lap around the field. It was indeed a well-trained, rare, fine horse.
Jiang Shaohua was very pleased and, after dismounting, commanded: "This horse is good; I shall take it."
Ma Yaosong was overjoyed and repeatedly agreed with smiles.
Song Yuan rode over after taking a lap and was somewhat surprised to see the Commandery Princess choose such an unremarkable Hua Ma: "The Commandery Princess usually prefers spirited and good-looking horses; why did you choose such an inconspicuous one today?"
Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "When I was younger, I was not sensible and liked good-looking things. Now I know that what suits you is the best."
There was more than what was said in the Commandery Princess’s words, filled with a deep meaning.
Song Yuan gave the Commandery Princess a profound look: "As long as the Commandery Princess likes it."
Jiang Shaohua casually smiled and said: "Let me choose another for Cui Du. He’s been busy at the field manor and couldn’t come with me for inspections, so I’ll send a good horse back to him."
Song Yuan, Cui Du’s nominal uncle who often took care of him, laughed upon hearing this: "The Commandery Princess is considerate."
Jiang Shaohua carefully looked around and chose a gray mare. Song Yuan immediately arranged for two trusted aides to send the gray horse back to Nanyang County.
Who knows how delighted Cui Du will be when he receives this horse.
...
Someone was probably talking about him behind his back, as his ear felt a bit itchy.
At this moment, Cui Du was leading more than two hundred people busy transplanting rice seedlings in the fields.
When working, wearing clothes made of coarse fabric is the most convenient.
After entering the field manor, Cui Du changed from his silk and satin robes to simple gray short shirts. His once short hair had grown considerably and could barely be tied into a small tuft. Long hours spent in the fields had tanned his previously fair skin to a light wheat color. When he smiled, he revealed a set of white teeth.
His right ear itched, but without wiping his hands, Cui Du scratched it a few times and soon brushed it off. While moving around, he loudly commanded: "Be mindful of the spacing when transplanting the seedlings; they shouldn’t be too close."
"Lin Zhuangtou, I’ll be over here, you go check over there."
Lin Zhuangtou nodded in agreement.
Farming is the most laborious work. Every year during spring planting, the manor is busy for over a month. Since Cui Du came to the field manor, everyone had to put in even more effort.
However, seeing row after row of neatly arranged green seedlings being moved from the greenhouse and planted into the soil, their tender leaves swaying lightly in the spring breeze, Lin Zhuangtou and others felt extremely satisfied.
Corn and sweet potatoes were new crops they had never planted before. Nevertheless, after farming for decades, their instincts as farmers told them that these seedlings had a strong vitality and would surely take root and grow in this fertile soil.
The field manor was bustling with spring farming activities, with everyone working from early morning until late at night, wishing they could split themselves in two. Cui Du was even busier, and by nighttime, he would quickly wash up and fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
He really had no choice; he was just too exhausted.
After the fifteenth day of the new year, he had stayed at the field manor, busily selecting and cultivating seedlings and farming, without ever returning to the Prince Mansion.
However, with the Commandery Princess not at the Prince Mansion, it wouldn’t be of much interest even if he returned. It was better to stay settled at the field manor, planting corn and sweet potatoes, hoping for a bountiful harvest in the first batch. The Commandery Princess would surely be delighted...
In his sleep, Cui Du’s lips curled up into a sweet smile.
Three days later, all the seedlings were planted into the fields. Looking out, row after row stretched out, luxuriant in the spring breeze.
In everyone’s eyes, this was the most beautiful scene.
"Hope the field manor will have a bountiful harvest this year." Lin Zhuangtou’s dark face lit up with a smile: "By then, Mr. Cui will be the great benefactor of Nanyang County. The Commandery Princess will surely give a generous reward!"
Cui Du was down-to-earth, amiable, and never put on airs; he also lacked the flaws of a wealthy family’s young master. Whenever there was a need for seed selection, farming, building greenhouses, etc., he personally took part in the work, doing it enthusiastically.
After a year of interaction, Lin Zhuangtou had long been won over and held great respect for Cui Du.
"Awards or not, it doesn’t matter." Cui Du laughed and said: "What matters is that these two new crops are suitable for dry soil and have high yields. When they are promoted in Nanyang County in the future, the common people won’t go hungry."
"Also, corn stalks and leaves can be used to feed cattle and sheep, while sweet potato vines and leaves can feed pigs. In times of food shortage, they can also be used to stave off hunger."
One could say they were valuable in every part.
Cui Du spoke eloquently, and Lin Zhuangtou listened with great interest.
At this moment, the sound of galloping horses approached from the distance. Cui Du was somewhat surprised and looked up to see two trusted aides riding towards him.
One of them had a familiar face, none other than Sun An, the trusted aide by the Commandery Princess’s side.
After dismounting, Sun An cupped his hands to greet: "Mr. Cui, I have been commanded by the Commandery Princess to deliver a fine horse for you."
The other trusted aide added with a smile: "This is a good horse bred at the Biyang Racecourse. Commander Song and Commander Liu each picked one, the Commandery Princess chose a Hua Ma, and this gray horse was specifically chosen for Mr. Cui by the Commandery Princess."
The Commandery Princess always kept him in mind.
Cui Du felt sweetness and joy in his heart, smiling as he approached to stroke the gray horse. The gray horse was very docile, allowing its new owner to pet it.
The more Cui Du looked, the more he liked it, and he simply mounted it and took a ride.
Sun An and the other trusted aide exchanged a smile.
Lin Zhuangtou, seeing this, also smiled.
...
After delivering the horse, Sun An returned to the Prince Mansion.
Huang Sanmei was five months pregnant, and her belly was already showing.
Sun An was delighted to see this: "When I left, your belly was still flat. Now it’s already this big."
Huang Sanmei smiled gently: "This is not that big yet. In two or three more months, my belly will protrude far out. As you accompany the Commandery Princess on inspections, when you return, the child should be born by then."
Sun An felt a little regretful: "I’m sorry for not being able to accompany you all the time."
Huang Sanmei had gained some weight, and her eyes appeared softer: "Just focus on your duties without worry. Here in the Prince Mansion, Mrs. Zhang is looking after me, so you don’t need to be concerned."
After a pause, Huang Sanmei gently asked: "Has the Commandery Princess already inspected Ye County! Did my father cause any trouble during the inspection?"