Chapter 129: Modest Expectations

 Chapter 129: Modest Expectations 

Seeing that her father remained silent, Daohua thought he hadn't understood, so she immediately took the ledger from his hands, flipping to the most important pages and explaining each one.

"Father, let me tell you, if you're worried, you can start with a small-scale trial. If the yield during the autumn harvest is really higher than that of regular crops, then you can promote it on a larger scale."

"Increase the food supply, father! Food is crucial for the livelihood of the people. If you can ensure that the people of Xingzhou City, and even those further away, don't go hungry, how many people will thank you?"

"By the way, look at this!" Daohua quickly flipped to a comparative chart she had made in the ledger. "Father, look at this. I think if you can promote the crops I’ve improved, I can keep making further improvements."

The grains stored in the Yan family’s warehouse were the ones she had cultivated in the poorest soil of her space. If she used red or black soil, the yield would certainly increase.

However, in order not to attract too much attention, this matter had to be handled slowly.

The current crop strains were the result of three years of work, which she had casually presented in the open as part of a playful act in Yan family village before she dared to bring them out.

Otherwise, how could she, a girl under ten, suddenly come up with improved crops? It would be too shocking. She didn't want to gain the title of a prodigy and attract the attention of people with ulterior motives.

There was an old saying, "Once the matter is done, leave quietly, and conceal both the achievement and the name."

Oh no, she shouldn't think about this anymore. If she did, she might end up getting touched by her own words.

Yan Zhigao, looking at his eldest daughter who was speaking so enthusiastically for the first time, felt a little uneasy. 

Why did it seem like she cared more about the people's livelihood than he did?

"Cough, cough!"

Yan Zhigao cleared his throat, took the ledger from Daohua's hands, and set it on the table, pressing down on it with his hand before speaking, "This ledger is from two years ago. Why didn’t you send me a letter about such an important matter?"

Daohua replied, "I was afraid you wouldn’t believe it. And besides, without having personally sown the seeds, how could I casually mention such things?"

Yan Zhigao looked at his eldest daughter again, and this time, he saw her in a new light.

Now he believed what both his wife and mother had said—his eldest daughter truly knew how to act with discretion.

"I'll take the ledger for now, and I will handle the matter of the crops," he said, then turned to Yan Zhiqiang, "Third brother, do you have winter wheat seeds?"

Since Xingzhou City grew winter wheat, he wanted to see the results this year if possible.

Yan Zhiqiang nodded, "Yes, but we don’t have much stock. If you want to promote it on a large scale, you can buy more from the clan. Now, every family in the clan is using the seeds Daohua developed."

"Third brother!"

Madam Li suddenly spoke up, "From now on, don’t mention that the seeds are from Daohua in front of others."

"Huh?" Yan Zhiqiang was stunned.

Madam Li explained, "Daohua is an unmarried girl. It’s fine for our family to know, but it shouldn’t be spread outside. In this day and age, a woman who’s too capable is not necessarily a good thing."

"Oh!" Yan Zhiqiang nodded.

After that, Yan Zhigao and Yan Zhiqiang continued discussing the seeds, not even stopping for dinner.

After dinner, when Daohua was about to return to her courtyard, Madam Li called her over.

"Mother, did you need something?"

Madam Li gently patted her daughter's head and took her hand, walking slowly as she spoke. "Flowering plants and creating flower beds are elegant pursuits for a young lady, and if you want to do it, I won't oppose it."

"However, the matter of improving crop strains is tied to the livelihood of the people, and it's not something a young lady like you should be handling. If the crops you’ve improved really increase land yield, that would be a very significant matter. It could even attract the emperor's attention."

Daohua opened her mouth to respond, "But it’s not that much, only a few stone more."

"A few stone?" Madam Li shook her head. "Don’t underestimate those stones. In times of famine, that amount of grain could save countless lives."

Daohua smiled. "Mother, I understand your concern. Don’t worry, I’m just tinkering around at home. As for other matters, leave them to Father to handle."

After all, as long as the family knew, especially her 'father,' who benefitted from this, he wouldn’t treat her as he used to, slapping her at the slightest provocation.

What she wanted wasn’t much—just to live freely in this family, to do what she wanted, to have her own ideas, and to ensure her opinions mattered when it came to decisions about her own life, not just following the old tradition of obeying parental commands.

Since her father had become the Prefect Magistrate of Xingzhou, Daohua had sensed a change in his attitude toward her and her mother, and that was fine by her. 

She knew that no matter how capable she was, in this patriarchal society, as a young lady, her life could only go well with the support of her father and brothers.

Helping them was also helping herself.

Madam Li smiled with satisfaction. "You're a smart girl. You must understand that as women, we cannot be stronger than men. Otherwise, you might not be able to marry."

Daohua immediately responded, "Then I won’t marry."

"Smack!"

Madam Li gave Daohua a light slap on the forehead, this time without holding back.

"Mother~"

Daohua rubbed her forehead and glared at her suddenly-striking mother.

Madam Li’s face was stern. "Such nonsense about not marrying—don’t ever say that again."

Daohua nodded gloomily.

When it came to marriage, both Madam Li and Old Madam Yan had an unexpectedly united stance.

"I want to marry someone I like. You can't just marry me off without my say!"

Madam Li glared at her. "You just said you won’t marry, and now you want to choose yourself. You sure change your mind quickly."

Daohua: “...”

Yan Zhigao placed great importance on the crop matter. Now, at the end of September, it was the perfect time to plant winter wheat. After receiving the seeds from Yan Zhiyuan, he gathered a group of experienced farmers and personally led them to plant the crops in the official fields.

The government’s fields weren’t typically easy to requisition.

But now, his sons and nephews were all classmates of the young prince, and the officials at the state government were very obedient to his orders. Many things were easily arranged with just one word from him.

Because of this, he felt confident in planting the family’s improved crops.

In the past, he would have been more cautious, worried about others stealing the credit.

Time passed, and it was now mid-October.

At Wangyue Academy.

Brothers Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao were helping each other back to their quarters.

Yan Wenkai winced and said, "Ugh, I’ll definitely be sore tomorrow! Today's training was brutal. Not a single part of my body doesn’t hurt."

Yan Wentao was puzzled. "I thought the young prince’s training was about the same as ours, but they seem to be handling it much more easily than we do."

"That’s because after their martial arts training, they take medicinal baths to relieve the pain," Yan Wenkai paused. "Wait a minute... we can take medicinal baths too!"

(End of Chapter)