In the greenhouse, a Venus flytrap grew luxuriantly. Its plump leaves were striving to open, revealing the pink flesh walls inside. The flesh walls had several black spikes growing on them—seemingly sharp but actually soft.
At the leaf’s tip grew an insect-catching clamp resembling a “shell” that could secrete sweet nectar. When small insects intruded, it could clamp them with extremely fast speed and digest and absorb them.
Yun Ye sat on a stool carefully placing a grain weevil into the shell. As the grain weevil continuously struggled, that shell slowly tightened and closed. From outside one could see the grain weevil still struggling, but after a little while, it slowly quieted down.
“This is a plant from a very distant place called the Venus flytrap. That is to say, it’s a type of grass that catches and eats insects—very miraculous. Since that old farmer gave you the seeds of this thing and left a method of contact, then go do it. I’m very interested in this old farmer.”
Yun Ye continued throwing insects into the Venus flytrap’s shells while softly arranging matters with Xiao Wu.
When Xiao Wu hurriedly walked out to post a notice at the door, Yun Ye picked up the Venus flytrap and carefully examined it for a long time. Seeing all the clamps completely closed tight, he placed it in the location with the most abundant sunlight.
Clapping his hands, he said to himself: “This thing only exists in the Americas. Hehe, now it actually appears in the Great Tang—truly curious. Could it be that at this time someone has already been to the Americas? If they went to the Americas, they shouldn’t have brought this thing—they should have brought rubber seeds back instead. Corn and potatoes also both come from the Americas. Could this old farmer want to seek like-minded people based on my whereabouts?”
“The Americas now are still the world of the Indians. No matter what sincerity I bring over, it would be strange if those people didn’t throw me onto the Sun God Temple’s altar. A bloody, backward, yet mysterious land—I truly want to go see it.”
On the surface Yun Ye appeared indifferent, but actually very anxiously waited for the old farmer to reappear. However, from the heavily snowing winter day until the first apricot blossom rain fell, he still heard no news whatsoever.
The notice at the door was changed and changed again by Old Qian, yet still there was not half a bit of news.
Later on, Yun Ye stopped thinking about these matters. During this period of leisure at home, he could properly enjoy the pleasures of family life. Worrying too much would make one age quickly.
Yun Ye and Yun Shou, along with eldest daughter Yun Mu, went to the fields today. The soil temperature was rising—it was the perfect time to plant garlic. The father and three children left early in the morning.
Xiao Miao, worried, also followed to deliver food. Her head wrapped in a blue cloth kerchief, carrying a bamboo basket, accompanied by Elyse, she went to the Jiazi Number field on the riverbank. Moas carried a plow walking from that direction, laughing heartily and conversing pleasantly with the estate’s farmers. Although his Guanzhong dialect still wasn’t very fluent, it didn’t prevent him from enjoying talking with these simple people.
Not disturbing Moas’s good mood, the two people followed the ridges passing through a large wheat field. At this time, the wheat field hadn’t been sown yet, only just plowed, emitting an earthy fragrance beneath white clouds.
Reaching the field’s edge, they saw the father and three children planting garlic along three furrows. They had already become very skilled. The shovels in their hands inserted into the soil then pried sideways, and a clove of garlic with its skin was planted. Then gently pressing the soil firm, the garlic head’s tip was faintly visible. The benefit of doing this was that as long as the garlic head sprouted, the green shoots could easily break through the loose soil and drill up from the ground.
Yun Shou was very familiar with these tasks because his father always brought him when going to the fields. In Yun Ye’s view, a qualified household head could be unintelligent, could be unkind, but must understand what the foundation of living was.
The Great Tang at this time was still a standard loess civilization. A noble with deep loess atmosphere not knowing how to farm was simply unforgivable. Not to mention the Yun Family’s fortune started from the land.
The riverbank land was actually vegetable plots. Every household had one, only differing in size. Now was the season for planting garlic. The fields were full of households planting garlic everywhere. Guanzhong people always liked eating garlic. Holding a large bowl of noodles without two cloves of garlic to accompany the meal was simply unimaginable.
Xiao Miao stood in the field grinning foolishly because her own family’s field was the largest. Other families only had narrow little strips, but only her family’s field domineering occupied the best location in a large piece.
When small, she dreamed of having a good large piece of good land to settle down and make a living. Now it was good—the family had much land. As long as she was willing, she could plant whatever she wanted.
Yun Mu didn’t like planting. But since Father was planting, she could only follow over. Unlike Father and eldest brother, Yun Mu didn’t like garlic cloves at all. Holding this thing in her hands for too long would make one’s whole body smell. So the garlic she planted was crooked and uneven in depth. Xiao Miao could only follow behind her replanting. When Xiao Miao caught up to Yun Mu, Yun Mu simply threw down the garlic basket, handing it to Little Mother to continue working. Anyway, Little Mother was easy to deceive—as long as she called out “Little Mother” a few more times, anything would work.
This kind of slacking off, Yun Mu could do unscrupulously. Yun Shou couldn’t do this—not only would Father not allow it, even Mother couldn’t be gotten past.
Walking back and forth twice, Yun Ye wiped the sweat beads on his forehead, called over Yun Shou and Xiao Miao to rest together at the field’s edge. Father and son each held a bowl of rice wine slowly drinking. Yun Ye bumped his son, now almost as tall as himself, with his shoulder and said: “During this period your mother had you manage the household. How did you do? Speak. Outside matters have a thousand threads and ten thousand strands—they’re not so easy to manage.”
Yun Shou finished his rice wine, looked at his father and said: “Actually there’s nothing difficult. Our family’s people are all old hands, loyal and devoted for ten or twenty years. What’s there to worry about? The Hebei Circuit manager’s accounts were off by over five hundred silver coins that couldn’t be reconciled. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the old manager practically wanted to slit his throat. This matter hadn’t occurred in many years. Over five hundred silver coins doesn’t count as a big matter. Hebei Circuit’s cash flow totals over twenty thousand gold coins annually. This bit of money truly can’t be put on the table. Yet the old manager turned the entire Hebei Circuit upside down. Finally discovered that his youngest son in Dengzhou became infatuated with a red singing girl, spent all his own money, then borrowed over five hundred silver coins from the public accounts and spent them on that singing girl. Originally just repaying it would solve everything, but he didn’t dare tell his own father and brothers. This caused the old manager to lose tremendous face at last year’s annual meeting.”
“Your child went to Qizhou last year to visit Auntie. The old manager brought his youngest son and knelt before your child crying pitifully, saying decades of old face had been completely lost, preparing to request resignation. Your child naturally refused, only admonished his youngest son a few sentences, wanting to let this matter pass. After all, the old manager’s face was far more important than five hundred silver coins.”
“Who knew after the old manager returned home, he forcibly used a knife to chop off one of his youngest son’s fingers, and also expelled him from the merchant fleet. That red singing girl was also redeemed by the old manager, who gave her to his own son, swearing not to let these two people step outside the door, planning to raise his own son like a pig.”
“Father, do you say the old manager went too far?”
Yun Ye nodded: “Indeed too far. His doing that was actually protecting his own son. Raising like a pig is just words—at most just not letting his youngest son touch the business. Taking money—as long as you take it once, there will be a second time. The old manager was just preventing trouble before it happened.”
“However, you are the master household. Looking at problems can’t be done this way. Rewarding merit and punishing errors is the weapon in your hands. Hebei Circuit’s accounts had a discrepancy, which means the work and systems there have loopholes. The old manager cannot escape blame, so making adjustments is inevitable. Son, you’ve always been a smart child. You know what to do. Father won’t get involved in your matters.”
“Father actually wants to ask what exactly is going on between you and Yanrong? These past few days have been awkward. That girl Helan also appears very awkward. Stinking brat, you didn’t do something, did you? You dare not learn from the old manager’s youngest son deceiving your own father, ending up making a complete mess that’s hard to clean up.”
Yun Shou stammered and blushed, not knowing where to start speaking. Xiao Miao covered her mouth giggling from the side. Seeing Yun Shou unable to speak no matter what, she helped him say: “Husband, there’s no incident. Mainly Yanrong’s mother is forcing Yanrong to return to the Eastern Palace. Yanrong is unwilling to go back, so she’s forcing Shou’er to marry her right now. Our family’s rule is that men don’t marry until eighteen years old, so Shou’er didn’t agree. Yanrong then cried loudly, saying Shou’er wouldn’t help her.”
“As for Helan, she keeps saying she’s already eighteen years old, yet still wears a maid’s hairstyle, thinking Shou’er doesn’t want her anymore. She’s also been throwing tantrums during this period. You don’t need to worry—these are all problems from being spoiled. In a few days it will be fine.”
Yun Ye smiled and shook his head, patting his son’s shoulder. This was his own little trouble—he still needed to resolve it himself. Just about to get up and go to the fields, he heard Yun Shou behind him say decisively: “Father, your child is already sixteen years old this year. It’s time to go to the army to temper myself. I beg Father to grant this.”
“Haven’t you already taken a position in the palace? The Thousand Bull Guards His Majesty newly established are quite imposing. Why do you still want to go to the army? You’re originally a military person. Each month’s provisions aren’t received for nothing.”
“Father, you at fourteen were in the Longxi army following Grandpa Cheng campaigning against the Western Qiang. Uncle Cheng at thirteen went to the army to temper himself. Your child is now sixteen years old—I should also go out and see the world.” Yun Shou seemed not to hear what his father said before, and stated his request once more.
Yun Shou was very serious. Yun Ye could only also become serious. Looking his son up and down, he suddenly discovered this brat had indeed grown into an adult. The childhood obesity had now become robustness—thick arms, thick legs, plus a round head—he truly had a bit of the flavor of a military household’s tiger cub. It was just that this request was too sudden. For a moment, Yun Ye didn’t know how to respond.