Chapter 236: Good Things

 Chapter 236: Good Things

Due to time constraints, Daohua and her group didn’t play for long before preparing to head back.

“When will these sunflower seeds be harvested?” Before they left, Xiao Yeyang suddenly asked.

Daohua was puzzled. “Why are you asking about that?”

Xiao Yeyang replied, “This field of sunflowers is a birthday gift you gave me. Of course, I need to harvest them.”

Daohua was momentarily stunned.

She had indeed said that this entire sunflower field was a gift for Xiao Yeyang, but as the wealthy young prince, wasn’t his focus supposed to be on the flowers themselves? Why was he now paying attention to the sunflower seeds?

She had been planning to sell the seeds!

Seeing her confused expression, Xiao Yeyang immediately guessed her thoughts and said, somewhat displeased, “What’s this? You’re planning to keep part of the gift for yourself?”

Daohua quickly shook her head, denying it. “That’s not it! As soon as the sunflowers ripen, I’ll send someone to notify you.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang’s expression finally softened, satisfied.

A gift given to him should be fully and completely received.

As they were leaving, Xiao Yeyang had Defu go and pick a few sunflowers, saying he wanted to take them back to put in a vase for display.

Seeing this, Dong Yuanxuan and the others were tempted as well. However, before they could speak, Xiao Yeyang directly refused, “This is my birthday gift. Are you all really going to ask for some?”

Each person asking for just a few would end up destroying his entire sunflower field!

Dong Yuanxuan and the others were left speechless.

One hundred acres of sunflowers, and they were bold enough to ask for some!

Dong Yuanxuan pouted and whispered to Su Hongxin, “I didn’t expect the Young Prince to be so stingy.”

Su Hongxinunderstood, however. “The Young Prince doesn’t want others picking the flowers, which only shows how much he values this gift. Think about it: if you received a gift you really liked, would you want to share it with others?”

Dong Yuanxuan immediately chuckled. “I wouldn’t share it, but I’d still be happy to look at it!”

Soon, the group began to head back.

At the city gates of Xingzhou, everyone except Zhou Jingwan was heading back to Wuhua Mountain.

Daohua, having made a quick stop at the Yan Manor earlier, received two exquisite wooden boxes from Qin Xiao Liu. These were simple makeup boxes, designed similarly to modern cosmetic cases.

“These are gifts for my two older sisters.”

Dong Yuanyao, who had been thinking about the lipstick, quickly smiled and took the box, opening it.

The makeup box had three layers: the top layer contained various makeup brushes, the middle layer held twelve different shades of lipstick, and the bottom layer was filled with skin creams and powder.

“So much?” Dong Yuanyao said with joy. The contents of the box covered all the essentials for daily makeup.

Zhou Jingwan stood to the side, craning her neck to take a look. When she saw the box contained fewer items than Daohua’s gift to her, a happy smile appeared on her face.

As expected, she was Daohua’s best friend.

Su Shiyu, surprised to also receive a gift, shyly smiled and timidly took the makeup box from Daohua. “Thank you, Yan Mei Mei!”

Daohua smiled and shook her head. “No need to thank me. I’m just glad you like it.”

“I do!” Dong Yuanyao immediately responded, then looked at Daohua a bit embarrassedly. “I really like it. Thank you.”

At that moment, Yan Wenkai’s voice came from the distance, urging, “Are you all ready? If we don’t leave now, it’ll be dark soon.”

Daohua quickly replied, “We’re ready.” Then she turned to Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu, “You two take care, and next time you’re free, you must come visit me at home.”

Both Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu nodded quickly, bade farewell, and then walked towards Dong Yuanxuan and the others while holding the makeup boxes.

Once the two had left, Xiao Yeyang, who had been standing to the side, snorted in dissatisfaction and glanced at Daohua. “I thought you had prepared a gift for me today?”

Daohua replied, “Actually, it’s just for you. I had already prepared the two makeup boxes after our last horseback ride. I originally wanted to give them to Dong and Su, but I didn’t have the chance until now.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang's expression improved slightly. However, he soon felt that as a grown man, it would be unbecoming to dwell on such trivial matters, so his face showed a hint of discomfort.

Daohua didn't notice and urged, "Let's go, the banquet is still going on over there!"

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua and reached into his chest to retrieve the handkerchief he had used to blindfold her earlier, intending to return it. But after hesitating for a moment, he withdrew his hand, coughed lightly, and said, "Alright, let's go then."

After walking a few steps, he turned back and said, "By the way, I really liked the gift," and hurriedly left.

Watching Xiao Yeyang's hasty departure, Daohua smiled and said, "This guy, acting all awkward, is actually kind of cute."

Hearing this, Zhou Jingwan frowned and looked at Daohua, then shook her head.

She didn't think the Young Prince was cute at all!

Especially when he was stern-faced, she was quite afraid of him. She couldn't understand how Daohua could think he was cute.

"Alright, let's head back too!"

Once they could no longer see Xiao Yeyang, Daohua and Zhou Jingwan boarded the carriage and headed back to the city.

After entering June, the weather improved and the rain stopped. The watermelons and grapes at the farm began to ripen.

The harvested watermelons and grapes were not sold at the fruit and vegetable stall but were instead transported using Zhou's boat to the provincial capital, where they were wholesaled directly to Li's uncle.

The produce from the Yan family's farmland was also sold this way.

This was because during this year's spring planting, Yan Zhigao had distributed watermelon and grape seeds from the county office. Any household in Xingzhou, upon presenting their household registration, could receive about an acre's worth of seeds to try planting.

Since the seeds were free, many people took advantage of the offer, and now there were watermelon fields and grapevines everywhere in Xingzhou.

In order to avoid competing with the common folk for market share, the Yan family, with Li's help, decided not to sell in Xingzhou city.

After mid-June, many merchants came to Xingzhou City to purchase watermelons and grapes.

Two years ago, Li's family had been the first to sell watermelons and made a considerable profit, then opened a winery and earned another sum of money. Some business-savvy merchants saw the large profits in watermelons and grapes and began to take notice.

Since learning that Yan Zhigao was promoting watermelons and grapes in Xingzhou, Li's family had actively helped publicize it. As a result, the news of Xingzhou's watermelon and grape production spread throughout the province.

"With the heavy rainfall this year, I thought the watermelons would be less sweet, but it seems the ones from Xingzhou are unaffected."

"Yes, the taste is even better than the ones I had in the South a few years ago. We can purchase more and sell them in the North. They'll surely be popular with the high society."

The merchants inspected the watermelons and grapes and found them to be excellent, so they quickly made their purchases.

As a result, the farmers who had planted watermelons and grapes made some extra money.

At the Yan residence, the family could clearly sense that Yan Zhigao had been in a good mood lately.

On his day off, the family gathered together. Old Madam Yan couldn't help but ask, "Oldest son, have you found some money lately?"

Yan Zhigao smiled, about to say something when his younger brother, Yan Zhiyuan, spoke up first, "Mother, you don't know, older brother is even happier than if he found money."

Old Madam Yan became interested. "Oh? What good thing happened?"

Yan Zhigao cleared his throat and replied, "This year, with the heavy rains, I was worried about a poor harvest, and the people would suffer. But the county office distributed watermelon and grape seeds, and now merchants are flooding into Xingzhou. The people have extra income, so I feel more at ease."

Hearing this, Old Madam Yan smiled, "That is indeed a good thing."

Yan Zhiyuan chimed in, "This is the third year brother has been in charge of Xingzhou. With this achievement, he'll surely rise in rank next year."

Yan Zhigao quickly waved his hand, "Second brother, don't speak carelessly. Appointments are for the court to decide. I just need to do my job well. Let's not discuss such things again."

Yan Zhiyuan laughed and replied, "I was just being talkative."

Yan Zhigao didn't pursue it further but quickly glanced at his eldest daughter, thinking of the difficulties faced by the other local Prefect Magistrates, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

His eldest daughter was truly a blessing. If she hadn't suggested promoting watermelons and grapes, he would have been in a much worse situation now.

Due to the heavy rains, it was certain that the grain harvest would be poor. But now, the people in Xingzhou had extra money, which would help them get through the year.

Around noon, as the Yan family was about to have lunch, the family steward, Sun, hurried in.

Yan Zhigao put down his chopsticks, "Is something wrong?"

Sun replied, "Master, Master Xiao just sent a message. The dam in Jiguang Province in Zhongzhou has breached, and he wants you to return to the county office immediately."

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhigao immediately stood up, said nothing more, and left with Sun.

(End of this chapter)