Yun Ye always felt like he was an ox breaking new ground. To live comfortably in this new world, he had to do everything himself—it couldn’t be solved just by having high position and great power.

In terms of living standards, commoners of the later world absolutely lived more comfortably than ordinary bureaucrats here. Wealthy families could strut around the world with greasy mouths showing off their good fortune if they had meat to eat twice a month on the first and fifteenth.

Not knowing the taste of meat for three months—this was the common standard of living. Recalling how he used to dump fatty meat slices down the drain, his face flushed with embarrassment. If he still did that here, he’d be drowned in spittle.

April was the most comfortable season in Guanzhong, with suitable temperatures morning and evening. As long as he wasn’t at the academy, by evening Yun Ye would take Wang Cai to stroll around the estate.

The farmers gradually became familiar with this young estate master. From initial fear when first meeting, to current familiarity—this was a slow process. After Yun Ye broke the leg of Hu Village’s master, elderly men would approach Yun Ye during his strolls to chat and inquire whether the old matriarch was well. Yun Ye always smiled in thanks, which earned him an approachable, people-friendly image on the estate.

Wang Cai served as an excellent bridge in this. The Yun family never tethered Wang Cai, so when he had nothing to do, he’d wander around the estate without a groom following. Seeing sorghum tassels hanging on farmers’ walls, he’d pull some down to eat a few bites, then stretch his neck waiting for people to take money from their purses. At first, no one knew—seeing it was the estate master’s precious horse, they could only accept their bad luck, because the sorghum hanging on the wall was the entire family’s reserve grain for surviving famine.

Not until Wang Cai ate wheat being dried by an estate guard’s family did that guard, after Wang Cai ate his fill and he scratched his belly, casually take a few coins from the purse hanging around his neck. Only then did the farmers learn that Master Wang Cai never ate for free—it was just that they themselves didn’t know to take the money.

From then on, Master Wang Cai became the most popular animal on the estate. No one regarded him as a horse—no one had seen such a smart horse. First were the children on the estate, who would cut the tenderest green grass from the mountains, wash it clean to feed Wang Cai, scratch his entire body, then take one coin from his purse to buy candy.

The farmers’ children were all simple and honest. Children who didn’t make it in time to feed the horse would rather suck their fingers watching other children eat candy than privately raid Wang Cai’s pocket.

Watching farmers squatting at wall corners holding old bowls shoveling thin gruel into their mouths, his heart ached wave after wave. These were the most hardworking people on earth!

He had to do something for them. What use were airplanes and cannons? Raising these people’s standard of living was the most important thing to do—and it had to be done quickly and sustainably.

Potatoes were a good choice, but right now even he didn’t know where Li Er had planted the potatoes. Five corn seedlings had sprouted. The Yun family specially found the best farmers for these five seedlings. Grandmother could check on them eight times a day—Yun Ye didn’t need to worry. As for seed degradation, Yun Ye had faith in the wormhole. He firmly believed that since fate had sent him and several seeds here, it wouldn’t just give him an illusory hope. Yun Ye fundamentally didn’t expect to see the Great Tang fleet circumnavigate the globe and run to the Americas to bring back corn seeds in his lifetime.

He invited several old scholars to his home and also invited Zhao Yanling over.

Yun Ye cooked himself, making seven or eight dishes, warming a large pot of wine, then stood at the Yun family gate waiting for people.

They came quickly. Old servants drove ox carts to the gate. Yun Ye helped the four old men down from the cart and attentively ushered them inside.

“Showing such attentiveness without reason—either treacherous or thieving. Your meal won’t be easy to eat, young man. Better speak plainly so I can enjoy the delicacies in good spirits.” Facing a table full of delicious food, Li Gang swallowed his saliva but still said very principled words.

“You’re overthinking, sir. I’ve seen all your hard work these past days. My conscience couldn’t bear it, so I specially want to reward you all.”

Scholar Yushan was a straightforward person. Grabbing the wine pot, he first downed three cups straight, then picked a pleasing piece of chicken and put it in his mouth. He didn’t say a single word—he had made up his mind to only eat and not engage.

Scholars Yuanzhang and Lishi shared the same intention, sitting cross-legged on the kang and chewing away in silence.

Zhao Yanling sat awkwardly, standing awkwardly, completely baffled.

Helping Old Li onto the kang and pouring him a cup of wine, then pressing Zhao Yanling onto the kang, he said: “Today let’s not talk about messy court politics or confused academy matters—just eat and drink.”

“Really?” Old Li grabbed his chopsticks and asked suspiciously.

“Naturally it’s true. I’m planning to first entrust the academy matters to you all while I do something else myself.”

“Hmph! Do you think I’m senile? The academy is where your life’s hope lies. Would you be willing to abandon it? Speak! What do you plan to do that would be more important than the academy?” Li Gang took a sip of wine and asked. The other four also put down their chopsticks and looked at him.

“Of course I won’t abandon the academy. It’s just that if I don’t do this thing, I can’t eat or sleep peacefully.”

“Oh? Tell us—there’s something that troubles even you, this slippery character?”

“I’m preparing to be a farmer for a while.”

“Be a farmer?” All five stood up in surprise, looking at Yun Ye uncomprehendingly.

“What kind of farmer do you old gentlemen think I would be?”Yun Ye’s face was full of solemnity.

Scholar Lishi drew in a breath and said: “Whether you’ll be a good farmer, I don’t know. You’ll definitely be the smartest farmer.”

“That’s exactly the problem. Our Great Tang prides itself on valuing agriculture, yet places the most excellent talents in the court hall. This mistake isn’t only made by our Great Tang—every dynasty throughout history has made this error. I just want to try if I, as a farmer, can lead the entire estate to prosperity.”

Li Gang laughed heartily, laughing until tears came out. Pointing at Yun Ye, he couldn’t even catch his breath. Quickly help the old man regulate his breathing—if he laughed himself into Niu Gao’s fate, that would be terrible.

After a long while, Li Gang finally calmed down. Wiping away tears, he asked hoarsely: “You really plan to be a farmer?”

“Naturally. If I don’t make the entire estate prosperous and let every family have meat to eat, I won’t consider it finished.”

Old Li solemnly extended his palm. Yun Ye also extended his palm. One aged, one ruddy—the palms struck each other three times. The oath was made.

“Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to worry about academy matters. Even if it costs me this old life, I’ll watch over the academy for you. This is my promise.”

“No matter what happens, Yun Ye will make the entire estate, young and old, prosperous. If even one person lacks clothing and food, I’ll be a farmer for another day. This is my oath.”

The six people ate in silence. After Li Gang picked up a few chopsticks full, he put down his bamboo chopsticks and asked: “When did you conceive this intention?”

“Yesterday while wandering around the estate, I discovered the farmers’ lives are truly bitter. Though I had a tragic background, under my teacher’s protection, I never suffered the slightest grievance. Speaking of life, I lived even better than now. I still complain about the lifestyle of princely families, yet those farmers—I don’t know how they’ve endured for thousands of years. I just want to try letting them also live good lives and taste the pleasure of being human.”

“You’re the most extraordinary person I’ve ever met. Perhaps a genius’s thinking isn’t something we can reach. But I know that once you succeed, your merit will benefit the state and benefit a thousand autumns.”