Chapter 287: Good Brothers
Back at the county yamen, Wen Xiuyi sneezed twice in a row.
Magistrate Chen couldn’t help glancing over at him. “What’s wrong? Catch a chill?”
Rubbing his nose, Wen Xiuyi shook his head and continued reviewing the data Magistrate Chen had handed him. “Nah. Somebody’s probably missing me behind my back.”
“Haha!” Magistrate Chen chuckled. “Who’d be missing you? Don’t tell me you hooked up with some young widow after visiting the countryside so much lately?”
Without lifting his head, Wen Xiuyi replied, “Yeah, I hooked up with a young widow like you.”
Magistrate Chen pulled a face of absolute disgust. “Yuck. I’m a married man with a family, thank you very much.”
Wen Xiuyi shot him a side-glance. As if he hadn’t had a family, too—it was just that his wife had passed away early, that’s all.
“Alright, cut the nonsense. Is this data you brought back accurate?” Wen Xiuyi asked.
These papers contained the rice yield data from villages under various neighboring counties that Magistrate Chen had gathered over this period. Naturally, it hadn’t been pulled from official yamen records; he had dispatched people specifically to inspect the local hamlets in person. Its authenticity was undoubtedly far more reliable than the official archives stored in the yamen.
Slumping back into his chair, Magistrate Chen said, “All the surrounding neighboring counties are right here. As for regions further out, we’ll have to wait a while longer. It won’t be gathered that quickly.”
Wen Xiuyi cast a glance at him, suddenly raising an eyebrow. “Are you really just a county magistrate? Don’t tell me you have some extraordinary background behind you?” Otherwise, how could he have gathered it so quickly and accurately?
Magistrate Chen grunted twice. “I wish I had one.” It was simply a matter of money making the mare go, nothing more.
Though he had dipped into his own purse, if things truly played out as Wen Xiuyi said—where a page in the history of Annan Kingdom would be reserved for him in the future—then spending this money was well worth it.
Noticing the furrow in Wen Xiuyi’s brow, Magistrate Chen sat up straight and asked, “What is it? Something wrong with the data?”
Wen Xiuyi gave a noncommittal nod. “It’s not that the data is wrong, it’s just… the yield is far too low.”
Magistrate Chen’s expression immediately turned serious. Taking the papers back, he scanned them closely. He had already reviewed them earlier and hadn’t felt anything was amiss. For as long as anyone could remember, the yields had always hovered around these numbers, give or take. If Heaven smiled upon them with a year of favorable weather, the harvest would naturally be a bit higher.
Thinking he had made a mistake, he flipped through the pages repeatedly and said, “There’s nothing wrong here. It’s been like this every year, hardly any difference.”
Wen Xiuyi let out a soft sigh. “That’s precisely why I said the yield is far too low.”
Magistrate Chen: “…” Does this guy really know how to farm? Does he?
Packing away the data, Wen Xiuyi asked again, “Do you have a map?”
“A map? A what?” Magistrate Chen was thoroughly baffled.
Wen Xiuyi covered his mouth and coughed—a slip of the tongue.
“An atlas, I mean.” In this era, it was called a geographical atlas, wasn’t it?
Magistrate Chen frowned. “I do, but what do you want it for?”
“Bring it out for me to see.” Wen Xiuyi was entirely unceremonious.
Magistrate Chen didn’t budge, merely saying, “This atlas isn’t something just anyone can look at.” It concerned the geography and terrain of Annan Kingdom; although the yamen possessed one, it truly wasn’t something meant for casual eyes.
Wen Xiuyi, however, pulled him right up out of his seat and nudged him backward toward the bookshelf. “Aiya, just bring it out so I can take a look. Hurry up.”
Half-reluctantly, Magistrate Chen unlocked a cabinet, retrieved a geographical atlas, and unfurled it across the desk.
This was the very first time Wen Xiuyi had seen the full layout of Annan Kingdom.
The nation mapped out here differed greatly from the geography of his former world, yet many regions still bore striking similarities—such as the southern coastal strip.
Although the map abruptly ended right along the coastline, Wen Xiuyi still managed to pinpoint the location he was looking for.
Pointing at a small, isolated island drawn off the coast, Wen Xiuyi asked, “Can we get the rice yield data for this place?”
When Magistrate Chen looked down, his brows instantly tied into a tight knot. “Do you even know what kind of place this is?”
Wen Xiuyi looked at him and asked, “What kind of place?” Isn’t this just our beautiful Hainan Island?
Magistrate Chen said slowly, “Yazhou—a land of exile! Those banished to Yazhou are lucky if they can even survive. You’re actually expecting them to grow grain?”
Wen Xiuyi: “…” Seriously, those banished over there—who knows if they’re going to suffer or to enjoy a tropical paradise.
Gazing intently at the spot, Wen Xiuyi asked, “Are there really no native inhabitants living on the island?”
“There are, of course,” Magistrate Chen said, thoroughly puzzled. “But what does that have to do with us boosting grain yields? Don’t tell me the grain growing on that island turns out better than what grows here?”
Wen Xiuyi didn’t know how to explain it to him. This path was one that that great elder had spent decades walking with his own two feet.
Wen Xiuyi knew he wasn’t as great as that elder, nor did he expect to magically succeed in a single bound and create hybrid rice all on his own. Relying solely on himself, he knew deep down he wasn’t worthy.
Hearing that the beautiful Hainan Island was currently a desolate land of exile, a pang of heartache still shot through Wen Xiuyi. Yet the hope that ought to be harbored remained essential. Perhaps he couldn’t accomplish it himself, but there would be countless generations following after him. One day, success would surely come.
Noticing Wen Xiuyi staring at the location in a daze, a thought suddenly popped into Magistrate Chen’s head. He asked, “Old Wen, you’re not thinking of getting rice seeds from over there to experiment with, are you?”
Wen Xiuyi turned to look at him, his expression flat. “What? Is that not allowed?”
Magistrate Chen: “…” Is it too late for him to jump off this thief’s ship now?
Folding the atlas and putting it away, Magistrate Chen said as he worked, “I’ll think of a way.”
Delighted, Wen Xiuyi gave Magistrate Chen a giant bear hug. “Good brother!”
Disdainfully pushing him away, Magistrate Chen grumbled, “Aiya ya ya ya! You’re bloody annoying! What’s a grown man hugging another man for?”
Wen Xiuyi merely chuckled, letting out a deep, long breath.
(Some details might not be entirely accurate, but my respect for the grandfather is no less than anyone else’s. So please don’t argue with me—eat well, sleep well, and take care.)
Since they didn’t need to visit the countryside today, the two stayed at the yamen for a while. Once they cross-checked the data, they prepared to head out.
Magistrate Chen wanted to invite Wen Xiuyi to Zui Xian Tower for a feast.
“Pass, pass. I have to go pick someone up,” Wen Xiuyi replied, wondering if Wen Yao and Li Yi had finished their business yet.
Full of curiosity, Magistrate Chen asked, “Pick up who?”
Right at that moment, a runner from outside came trotting in, bowing respectfully. “My Lord, Lord Wen, Lord Wen’s guard has arrived and wishes to see Lord Wen.”
Before long, Xun Feng was led inside. Cupping his fists toward Magistrate Chen, he turned to Wen Xiuyi and said, “Uncle Wen, Miss Yao Yao and my Young Master are at Zui Xian Tower. They sent me to ask if you and Lord Chen would like to join them for a meal.”
Magistrate Chen recognized Xun Feng. His Young Master?
His Young Master?!
Wasn’t that the Heir of Prince Fu?!
The Heir of Prince Fu is here again?!
Magistrate Chen was so overjoyed he nearly stumbled off his feet.
Wen Xiuyi, however, remained entirely composed, asking, “Is their business settled?”
Xun Feng nodded. “All settled. Manager Qiu hosted a banquet, and Doctor Jin, the eldest young master, and the rest are all attending.”
“Alright.” Wen Xiuyi nodded, looking toward Magistrate Chen. “Old Chen, coming along?”
Magistrate Chen almost giggled like an idiot. Would he refuse? Would he? Of course he wouldn’t!
This overwhelming wave of good fortune was finally about to land on him!
