Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 700 - 358 Harvest_2

"Dad, a sweet seller has come outside our private school. His sugar figurines are really good. Dad, give me some money so I can buy a sugar figurine,"

When his youngest son hugged him asking for money, Lian Shouxin was neither angry nor impatient; instead, he became happy.

After conversing for a while, all the clouds on Lian Shouxin’s face had completely dispersed.

The dumplings were steamed, and Lady Zhang had also made an egg and wood-ear mushroom soup. The family sat down at the dining table and happily ate dumplings to celebrate Lian Shouxin’s birthday.

...

After sending a message to Sixth Master Shen, it didn’t take long for Lian Manman to receive a reply. It was a verbal message brought by Steward Zhong, saying that she should set the date for the sweet potato harvest and he would come at that time.

Lian Manman counted on her fingers and fixed the date.

In just a few days, Old Huang from the mountain passed on the news that Sixth Master Shen was coming to check on the progress of the mountain project. The date that Sixth Master Shen had chosen to inspect coincided with the day that Lian Manman had set.

Lian Manman understood that Sixth Master Shen was sure to inspect the mountains and then "by the way" come to see her family’s sweet potato harvest.

In the blink of an eye, the day arrived.

By the end of the si period, Sixth Master Shen’s procession had arrived at Thirty Mile Camp. This time, there were several more carriages in the team, all guarded by officials in uniform, and looking at the avoidance signs arrayed at the front of the procession, not only was there Sixth Master Shen, the General in Charge of Conquering Invaders, and Liaodong Prefecture’s Commander, but also the Magistrate, Administration Commissioner, Salt Transport Commissioner, and others.

Sixth Master Shen’s procession was grander than ever.

Sixth Master Shen’s horse team passed in front of Lian’s Breakfast Shop on their way to the mountain. Steward Zhong branched off from the group to greet Lian Shouxin at the shop.

"When Sixth Master comes back, he will follow you to the fields... Sixth Master has been busy lately and probably won’t be able to stay long," Steward Zhong said.

"All right, we are all prepared," Lian Shouxin hurriedly replied.

Thereupon, Lian’s Breakfast Shop closed up shop, and the whole family got ready with iron hoes, large baskets, and a big scale, all hauled to the sweet potato field’s edge in a small ox cart. Previously, Lian Manman had spread the word in every direction, saying that the sweet potatoes were going to be harvested on this day. The tenant farmers, who loved to see something new, especially a novel crop, were greatly attracted. With Sixth Master Shen and his company also going, Lian Manman was sure there would be no shortage of onlookers.

About half an hour later, Sixth Master Shen’s caravan grandly returned from the mountains.

This time, Sixth Master Shen didn’t alight from his carriage, but after saying a few words to Lian Shouxin through Steward Zhong, he had Lian Shouxin lead the way, and the whole group headed into the fields.

By the time Sixth Master Shen and the others got off their horses and carriages at the edge of the field, Lian Manman’s side was fully prepared, just waiting for Sixth Master Shen’s signal.

Sixth Master Shen stood at the edge of the field, first pointing out the vast expanse of corn fields, urging the attending officials to take a look.

"... I have already submitted an urgent memorial to the Imperial Court a few days ago, awaiting His Majesty’s approval. With the graciousness of His Majesty, if this corn truly produces a high yield, then Great Ming will no longer have any starving people..."

After this speech, all the officials nodded in agreement.

Sixth Master Shen then called Lian Shouxin over for a question, and since Lian Manman was also nearby, she followed along.

"No need for formalities," Sixth Master Shen said, seeing them approaching and preparing to bow, and waved his hand, "We’ll keep things simple with etiquette out here."

Lian Manman couldn’t be happier, because in this era, people were expected to kneel and bow at every turn, which she was somewhat unused to. In the past, her encounters with Sixth Master Shen had mostly been in private and not very formal. But today’s occasion was different; to speak to Sixth Master Shen, one had to kneel first. Fortunately, Sixth Master Shen had spoken these words, so Lian Manman was more than happy to merely give a curtsy.

"Sixth Master, please take a look at our sweet potato harvest. These sweet potatoes are edible, filling, and have a yield even higher than corn," said Lian Manman with a smile. While talking, she couldn’t help but glance behind Sixth Master Shen and indeed, she didn’t see Fatty Shen.

Today, Sixth Master Shen’s outing was strictly official, and with many officials from Liaodong Prefecture accompanying him, it was not suitable to have Fatty Shen tagging along. Reflecting on their conversation back at the shop, Steward Zhong had specifically mentioned that "Ninth Master is very unhappy and throwing a tantrum at home."

It was uncertain how Fatty Shen threw his tantrum at home, but Lian Manman thought if it involved rolling on the ground, with his chubby form, it was quite a sight, and just thinking about it made her want to laugh.

The officials who had accompanied Sixth Master Shen were all watching Lian Manman at this point, and they were all quite astonished. The speaking girl was a young peasant daughter, wearing an ordinary, half-worn jacket and skirt, barely in her teens, yet her appearance was already peerlessly clear and lovely, and her speech was crisp without dragging on. Although she was facing these officials, and her own father seemed a bit intimidated, this young girl stood unflinchingly confident, igniting their curiosity.

Sixth Master Shen glanced at Lian Manman, a small smile briefly curling at the corner of his mouth, then quickly returning to his usual demeanor, simply nodding towards Lian Manman and her family.

Lian Shouxin immediately, along with Wu Lang, Xiao Qi, and helpers like Lin Ahshui and Xiao Shi Tou, began to dig up the sweet potatoes and overturn the vines.

As for Lian Manman, along with Lady Zhang, Lian Yeye, and Lady Zhao, she and several others carried baskets, following behind to pick sweet potatoes into them.

Within a short while, about one third of the sweet potato field was dug up, and four or five large baskets were filled to the brim with sweet potatoes. Lian Shouxin and the others then carried the baskets one by one out of the field and, in front of Sixth Master Shen and the crowd, weighed them.

Xiao Qi stood by with an abacus, waiting for Lian Manman to call out the numbers, which he dutifully added up bead by bead.

"In total, three hundred and twenty-seven pounds," Xiao Qi announced in a high-pitched voice still tinged with youthfulness.

Sixth Master Shen narrowed his eyes slightly, but several of the accompanying officials gasped in astonishment, and the villagers standing further away were instantly abuzz with excitement.

×××......×××

Delivering the second update, asking for everyone’s pink support. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)