Chapter 1453: Chapter 1453: Steward
In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed. Ming Teng returned to the capital from Pinggang, bringing back a significant amount of seafood.
Zhulan asked, "Did you trade for it?"
Nowadays, premium seafood is reserved for bartering for grain. Ming Teng brought back two large baskets.
Ming Teng nodded, "Grandson traded two carts of rice and five carts of rice husks. I chose only the kinds of seafood our family loves to eat."
Zhulan let out a breath, relieved that Ming Teng hadn’t brought it back recklessly. With everyone watching their grain supplies so closely, it’s better to be cautious. Their family wasn’t lacking grain to trade for seafood. "These past few days, the market price for grain has been rising."
Ming Teng sat a little farther away from his grandmother, mindful of the smell on his body. "Is silver not worth as much as it was in previous years?"
Zhulan understood too—grain shortages, rising prices, and the decreasing purchasing power of silver. The Imperial court, despite having gold reserves, dared not release them into the market for fear of triggering worse inflation. Seeing her grandson looking weary, she asked with concern, "Can you rest for a few days?"
Ming Teng and Xu Chen had discussed it. Each would take seven-day shifts so both wouldn’t have to stay in Pinggang at the same time, allowing for rest. "Grandson can stay home for seven days."
"Perfect, we can nourish you a bit."
"Thank you, Grandma."
After sitting for a while longer, Ming Teng returned to his courtyard. His great-grandfather and father had gone to the manor. A thought crossed his mind—he wanted to take his wife to the manor for a few days.
When he got back to the courtyard, he saw his wife staring blankly by the window. "What are you thinking about?"
Lau Jia looked up in surprise. "You’re back."
"Mm."
Lau Jia caught the scent on her husband’s body, and her stomach churned. She couldn’t hold back and started retching, which delighted her maidservants, who immediately sent someone to fetch the doctor.
Ming Teng asked, "Is your stomach uncomfortable?"
"Maybe I ate something bad."
Lau Jia didn’t think she was pregnant; her menstrual cycle had always been very regular.
The doctor arrived quickly and checked her pulse carefully. "Weak spleen and stomach—you’ll need to take care of them and nourish yourself more in the coming days."
Lau Jia knew she wasn’t pregnant but still couldn’t help feeling disappointed. After the doctor left, her spirits visibly dampened.
Ming Teng realized, "You’re anxious about having a child?"
"My sister-in-law got pregnant not long after getting married. I’ve been married almost a year now with no news. Great-grandfather is old and has always hoped for heirs from the Rong family. I’m getting anxious."
Ming Teng sat down and said, "Having children is about fate. They will come when the time is right. Let me tell you this—you must not take any potions or remedies for conceiving. Our family forbids it."
Lau Jia had never considered taking such medicines. After all, even medicine has its risks. She was also cautious. "I understand."
Ming Teng continued, "Tomorrow, let’s go to the manor for a few days. I’ll spend some quality time with you."
"Really?"
"Really."
Lau Jia beamed with joy. Ever since her marriage, her husband hadn’t properly spent time with her.
In Zhangzhou Province, not far from the capital, despite the snowy weather, Chang Yi pressed on quickly.
Entering Zhangzhou, Chang Yi frequently glanced out the window, while Mrs. Zhao curled up into her thick cloak. "What’s there to see? It’s just snow outside."
"I’m just looking."
"This weather is so cold—traveling in winter is such a hardship."
Even though the carriage had been modified for better warmth, it still didn’t retain heat well.
Chang Yi said, "This winter is particularly frigid."
Mrs. Zhao’s heart ached for her daughter. "My son-in-law is managing a place that lacks everything. It’s been tough on my daughter and grandson."
Chang Yi fell silent. Before his father passed the imperial exam, their family’s days had been hard too. It hadn’t been that long since, but they could no longer return to those difficult days.
The carriage suddenly came to a stop. Chang Yi inquired, "What’s going on?" f.(r)eew ebnov\
A guard on horseback approached. "There are commoners ahead stopping the carriage to beg."
Chang Yi asked, "How many?"
The guard, feeling a pang of sympathy, replied, "Just one family, with children. The youngest looks around three years old, and his lips are already turning blue from the cold."
Chang Yi frowned and tightened his heavy cloak. "I’ll have a look."
As Chang Yi arrived at the front, he saw the guards already aiding the child, wrapping him in a guard’s coat. The child’s face was pale blue, and his breathing was faint, as if he could stop any moment.
In the snow, a couple in their thirties knelt, with a few older children behind them. Every one of the children was trembling from the cold. Their jackets were stuffed with straw for insulation, offering little warmth. Their shoes were similarly made, and kneeling in the snow had left their knees raw and aching, yet the children endured without a sound.
For boys, their natural strength helped somewhat, but for the girls, enduring this cold would leave scars, and even if they survived to marry, their days wouldn’t be easy.
Chang Yi had anticipated a harsh winter for poor regions, but witnessing it firsthand made him sigh. He gestured for the young servant to clear out a guard’s resting carriage, allowing the family to warm up first. If he ignored them, today’s weather would surely take their lives. Even if they didn’t succumb to the cold immediately, falling ill from exposure would be fatal.
This family’s path led only to death.
At the imperial palace in the capital, Zhou Shuren was exhausted. As the Imperial court’s steward, he had to worry about everything. Taking the report Prince Qi handed him, he asked, "This little?"
Prince Qi sighed. "Many families don’t have much grain stored. After winter set in, most poultry was slaughtered to conserve food. The remaining birds are either saved for New Year’s or kept for laying eggs next year. As for pigs, sheep, and other larger livestock, most were slaughtered when winter began."
Zhou Shuren remarked, "...Looks like we’ll need to raise them in the south."
Prince Qi said, "Flooding increases the risk of disease outbreaks. Many livestock in the south were also culled."
Zhou Shuren set the report aside. "Nevertheless, we need to raise them."
The Emperor declared, "Then make the arrangements."
Zhou Shuren merely provided the strategic direction; others would handle the implementation.
The Crown Prince spoke, "Foreign ambassadors have expressed interest in trading for fish cakes."
Zhou Shuren turned to him. "What do they wish to trade for them?"
The Crown Prince replied, "Medicinal herbs."
Zhou Shuren glanced at the Emperor. Seeing the room turn to him, the Emperor said, "Given how many frostbite and illness cases there are among the populace this year, I believe we can exchange for some medicinal herbs."
Thinking about their dwindling stockpile of herbs, Zhou Shuren ached inside. Years of careful accumulation had been depleted this year. He said, "I agree."
The Crown Prince added, "Another nation wants to trade timber for fish cakes."
Zhou Shuren surmised that the Emperor had authorized this proposal, indicating his interest in acquiring timber.
The Emperor, hands clasped behind his back, mused, "It takes years for a tree to mature. The recent construction and export of ships have depleted a significant amount of timber. I believe this is a good trade."
In recent years, they had purchased some foreign timber, but the rising prices caused by shipbuilding had made it increasingly expensive. Trading fish cakes for it now seemed worthwhile to him.
At the Zhou family, Zhulan was reviewing the account books. This month’s expenses were slightly higher, with the largest cost being the greenhouse. The manor had always had greenhouses, but not on a large scale. This year, both she and Zhou Shuren had a sense of foreboding and had sent their eldest son to build more greenhouses on the manor.
Xue Mei said, "Mother, my in-laws are also planning to build a greenhouse."
"Why do they suddenly want a greenhouse?"
"My in-laws want to grow some vegetables. With a greenhouse, the crops can ripen earlier. They believe vegetables could fetch a good price next year."
Zhulan chuckled. "Your in-laws have been growing vegetables for years. They’re quite experienced."
"Yes, every spring, they eagerly anticipate the season. The vegetables they grow in spring always bring in a good profit."
Zhulan thought of Jiang Miu. "How is Miumiu back in her hometown?"
Xue Mei scowled. "The moment I think of it, I get upset. My eldest uncle and his brothers dare not write to us, but they keep pestering Miumiu, begging her to intercede on their behalf."
"What does your mother-in-law say?"
"In front of me, my in-laws scold my uncle’s family often. My mother-in-law clearly wants me to vent my anger. I just pretend not to understand. This time, no matter who pleads their case, it won’t work."
Zhulan said, "As long as you know where you stand."