Ch. 331..335: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 331-335

Chapter 331: Chapter 331 Good Things (6)_1

"Who?" In the main hall of the west courtyard, Ma Zhicai had just shown himself when Congyi and others spotted him, swiftly putting a sharp sword to his throat.

Ma Zhicai was so startled that his soul almost left his body, "No, no, misunderstanding, I’m a local scholar who accidentally wandered in here, please, Noble Ones, forgive me."

"Quite interesting." Si Jinhan sneered and said to Chu Suifeng after hearing him.

"Let him in." Chu Suifeng’s cold voice came through.

Congyi and the guards reluctantly pulled back their swords, then firmly rebuked Ma Zhicai, "The Prince ordered you to come in, behave yourself."

For some inexplicable reason, some of the guards didn’t like Ma Zhicai.

Uncle He Fuxing, who did not recognize Ma Zhicai and sat with Chu Suifeng, was frightened and so didn’t notice Ma Zhicai. Coincidentally, the old man was also at the table.

Seeing that the noise outside was actually caused by Ma Zhicai, the Lin Family’s old man’s temper flared up, his face turned red immediately.

Seeing the old man’s emotional but highly controlled response, Chu Suifeng and Si Jinhan understood something in their hearts.

"Why the clamour?" Chu Suifeng asked coldly.

"In response to the Prince, I simply wandered in here by mistake; I have not intended in any way to disrespect the Prince," Ma Zhicai somewhat regretted his actions, not expecting the Lin Family to be so busy, and for the old man to actually still be present with the Prince and the Third Master.

Thinking of the Lin Family’s dissatisfaction with him, his heart suddenly lifted, becoming more honest in his attitude.

"Wandered in?" Si Jinhan burst into laughter, "Old man, do you know this man?"

"He is a local scholar, surname Ma." The old man didn’t want to elaborate. Despite his dissatisfaction with the Ma Family, he wouldn’t pick on them today. The old man didn’t want an unpleasant scene on his great-granddaughter’s joyful day.

"Aren’t all the villagers arranged in the east courtyard? How could one accidentally wander into the west courtyard?" Si Jinhan wasn’t willing to let him off.

Ma Zhicai grew anxious and, embarrassed, began to sweat coldly on his forehead, "Responding to the Third Master, I mistakenly walked through the wrong door out of urgency."

This excuse seemed acceptable, for the doors and layouts of the east and west courtyards of the Lin Family were indeed identical.

However, Si Jinhan and Chu Suifeng were not easily fooled, they wouldn’t be deceived by his feeble excuse. This side had wealthier guests and was distinct from the east courtyard’s villagers. If Ma Zhicai had genuinely wandered in, he surely should have noticed the difference between the two courtyards by now.

"Miss Lin." At this moment, Congyi’s voice suddenly came from outside.

"You may do as you please today," Lin Ziyin said with a smile, "The dishes will be ready soon."

Many of the guests here were traders, so the feast was not the same as in the east courtyard. Moreover, several dishes would be personally prepared by Lin Ziyin.

Upon entering the living room and seeing Ma Tongsheng, Lin Ziyin’s face instantly revealed an angry expression, "Ma Tongsheng, this doesn’t seem to be the banquet for you."

"Weren’t you going out to relieve yourself? How did you end up here?" Bai Chunsheng was even more straightforward.

"I mistook the west courtyard for the east one." Ma Zhicai answered with a reddened face. He felt a resentment and frustration surging within him. He forced his way in, not even getting a chance to make a good impression in front of the Prince before Lin Ziyin and Lou Zheng arrived.

"Since that’s the case, you should hurry back," Lou Zheng was almost choking with rage. This young man’s intentions were undoubtedly dishonest, daring to take shortcuts, even currying favor with the Prince. He didn’t even consider, given his character, whether the Prince would accept him?

"Prince, Third Master, I have shown disrespect. I shall take my leave." Bowing his head, he retreated, becoming meek again.

 

Chapter 332: Chapter 332 Good Things (7)_1

"Are you Ma Tongsheng?" Si Jinhan looked at him with sidelong disdain. "Even in your own village, you manage to get lost. Do you need one of my men to show you the way?"

After hearing this, Lou Zheng broke out in a cold sweat. He had heard from Brother Dayou that Si Jinhan’s temperament was extremely unpredictable. When he originally doubted Ziyin, he nearly strangled Ziyin to death.

Ma Zhicai didn’t quite catch the implied sarcasm in Si Jinhan’s words, and his face flushed red with shame.

"No need." Lin Ziyin, of course, understood Si Jinhan’s words. Seeing Ma Zhicai’s behavior, she naturally felt angry, but her attitude was the same as the old man’s. Today was her sister’s happy day, she didn’t want anything unexpected to happen at home. "It’s quite considerate of you, Third Son, but today is my sister’s big day. It’s only right for everyone to drink a couple of extra cups of cheer in the village. In a bit, I’m preparing a few seafood dishes for the Master, Prince, and Third Son, it’s your lucky day."

"So, does that mean I owe the Master this favor?" Si Jinhan was displeased to be relegated to a supporting role.

"Unhappy to be indebted to this humble monk?" Hui Zhen asked with a stern countenance.

"How could that be? I’m indeed pleased." Si Jinhan didn’t dare to offend Master Hui Zhen any further. This Great Monk wasn’t like the others, he was prone to madness. What if he poisoned him? Better to stroke his vanity and keep him placated.

Seeing Lin Ziyin laughing and chatting with Si Jinhan and Master Hui Zhen, Ma Zhicai felt even more wronged.

A woman, gaining favor from important figures by the mere flutter of her eyelashes, while he, with all his knowledge and wisdom, went unnoticed. The world was very unjust.

"Lou Zheng, grandfather, uncle, please keep Prince and the Master company. I will prepare some seafood for you." Lin Ziyin said with a smile. "Oh, also, when my brother and Brother Dayou come over to give their toasts, Third Son, you’re not allowed to make them drunk."

"Bring forth your entire culinary skill," Chu Suifeng ordered indifferently. "Let the servants handle the other tables."

"They wouldn’t be able to." Lin Ziyin said with a smile, "Thankfully, we don’t have that many guests, just one table. I’ll prepare a little extra." Lin Ziyin responded cheerfully.

Chu Suifeng’s face sank.

Lin Ziyin acted as if she didn’t notice, and turned to leave with a smile. As she turned, she noticed Ma Zhicai still sulking to the side.

She sneered in her heart. Was he still holding out hope or unable to accept his defeat, this so-called scholar?

"Still not leaving? Will I truly have to send someone to see you off?" Si Jinhan’s words carried a layer of frost, and Chu Suifeng’s gaze was even colder. The whole room seemed a few degrees chillier.

"I’ll be leaving immediately." Seeing the Prince’s anger, Ma Zhicai finally reacted. Bowing as he backed away, he quickly made his exit from the hall.

"This type of person is actually a scholar? We should really take a good look at how his tutor educates his students." Si Jinhan muttered discontentedly.

Lou Zheng sighed quietly to himself at the side, foreseeing that after having offended the Prince and Third Son, even if Ma Zhicai passed the Scholar’s Examination, becoming an official would likely be an uphill battle.

But, honestly speaking, his inability to become an official might actually be a good thing, considering the character of the Ma Family.

Having understood this, Lou Zheng decided not to worry about the Ma Family any longer.

Ma Zhicai staggered out of the western court and didn’t even go to the eastern court. He went straight home.

When Lin Ziyin entered the kitchen and saw the wide variety of seafood that Chu Suifeng had brought, she was instantly elated. Upon seeing so much seafood, she was thrilled. Not for anyone else, but to satisfy her own palate, she brought out her entire repertoire of cooking skills.

The visiting merchants had not expected that they would have such a delicious meal in the Lin Family. They had tasted various types of seafood in their travels, but none were as delicious as what they had at the Lin Family’s home.

"Delicious, truly delicious." Hui Zhen merrily ate and commented, sipping his wine with his chopsticks never pausing. "I never thought that things from the sea could taste this good."

Chu Suifeng’s lips twitched slightly. This little girl always managed to surprise him.

Without waiting for the banquet to end, he immediately called Lin Ziyin over.

Lin Ziyin, herself craving seafood, sat down without hesitation and started eating calamari.

"The seafood spoils quickly. Even if it’s delicious, it can’t be transported." Chu Suifeng set down his chopsticks and watched her eat.

"It can be dried. But, Prince, if you intend to develop aquaculture along the coast, it would be best to devise a plan." Lin Ziyin said.

"What kind of plan?" Chu Suifeng asked, staring at her.

"State purchase with a fair price. Contract fishing grounds, diversify culturing." Lin Ziyin responded.

"Drying depends on the sun?" Chu Suifeng frowned.

"A portion can be sun-dried, but most of the products would need to be dried mechanically. Again, it’s crucial to find the black powder I mentioned." Lin Ziyin added, "Otherwise, most of this is just talk."

After listening, Chu Suifeng stayed silent, allowing her to enjoy her meal.

Once the celebrations were over, some of the merchants came over to inquire about the seasoning.

As the seafood business had not yet officially started, Chu Suifeng ordered his soldiers to keep everything about the seafood preparation confidential.

With the order issued, none of the merchants dared to inquire any further. Everyone felt a sense of loss as it seemed it’d be difficult to taste such delicious seafood again in the future.

Chapter 333: Chapter 333: Greenhouse (1)_1

Chu Suifeng was genuinely interested in the black powder that Lin Ziyin mentioned. As the master of the Northern Land, he had lived frustrating years. Since he was sent away at the age of six and witnessed the desolation of the Northern Land, despite his tireless efforts to govern, the poverty of the Northern Land had only slightly improved.

Due to the climate of The Northern Land, its vast territory with sparse population, the inaction of the Imperial Court, and the harassment of the Tatars, he was mentally and physically exhausted. His heart was willing, but his strength was insufficient - this was a true portrayal of his daily feelings.

As a man, who doesn’t want to achieve something significant? But unfortunately, too many factors limited his progress. There were also many coastal areas in the Northern Land, with a considerable number of fishermen. These fishermen lived even more impoverished lives.

Chu Suifeng initially wanted to improve the lives of these fishermen, but he lacked the capability for change.

Now Lin Ziyin had given him a glimmer of hope, and he certainly was willing to strive to realize this desire.

"Spare no effort in finding it." He once again gave the order.

"Yes, Prince, I will immediately send out more people." Congyi responded.

Lin Ziyin was somewhat conflicted. If the coal was found, would it be a good thing? After all, coal is a non-renewable resource. If it was discovered, the history of coal usage would be advanced considerably. But then again, the pollution of air and other concerns riddled her mind.

However, without coal, they could only rely on manpower to cultivate the land, and they might not make much progress even with tremendous effort.

"Leave the matter of black powder to me, you just need to think about making a plan." Chu Suifeng said, noticing her conflicted expression.

"Although finding black powder is a good thing, it also causes much pollution to the surrounding environment." Lin Ziyin said softly.

Pollution? This was a new word, but Chu Suifeng could more or less understand what it meant. "What kind of consequences will it have?"

"Firstly, the surrounding water sources will be polluted. Of course, if managed well, and as long as not everyone exploits it recklessly, the problem might not be too big. Secondly, when black powder is burned, it will produce smoke and pollute the air. Therefore, strictly speaking, we shouldn’t use it extensively." Lin Ziyin replied shyly.

"The state’s mineral resources are not freely accessible to everyone. I will make every effort to find it and then assign people to regulate it. Rest assured." Chu Suifeng said.

"Miss Lin, you are overthinking. Who would dare to touch the Prince’s possessions? Even with great audacity, they might not dare to act." Si Jinhan smirked, "Since it’s underground, extracting it certainly won’t be easy, and any mining efforts will undoubtedly create a significant commotion. In this case, we can merely dispatch soldiers to guard it."

"Does the Prince have many people?" Lin Ziyin murmured. He had been complaining about the sparseness of the Northern Land’s population, but now he seemed to have enough people to guard the coal.

Si Jinhan and Chu Suifeng choked on her question. Indeed, the lack of manpower was their biggest concern.

"I’ve selected some people to go to the West to cultivate the wilderness. I plan to establish a city there." Chu Suifeng said.

Lin Ziyin smiled stiffly. The grand matter of establishing a city should not be told to a woman like her. "So, if possible, I would like you to pass on the knowledge and experience of rice cultivation successfully." Chu Suifeng glanced at her and added lightly.

So that was the endgame the Prince had in mind.

Lin Ziyin pursed her lips. It seemed Chu Suifeng regarded her as the chief agronomist, a position she hadn’t even been paid for.

Listening to the Prince, Lou Zheng and Bai Chunsheng grew restless as if agitated by a cat’s paw. The way the Prince spoke, it seemed as if Lin Missy was about to grow rice. But how? With the extremely cold climate of the Northern Land and the short growing season, how could rice be grown? The villagers did indeed plant some rice, but it was only because the Imperial Court required it. They were forced into it. Didn’t they see that the yield was pitifully low?

Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Greenhouse (2)_1

"If it is possible, Prince, while searching for coal, you could also look for a kind of self-igniting material and another kind of substance," Lin Ziyin considered, "However, the quantities of those materials needed are not much."

"What are they? You just need to list them out." Chu Suifeng ordered with a serious expression.

"I will write them out for you later." The last thing that Lin Ziyin thought of was potassium. The black soil was fertile enough, and the use of organic fertilizers could promote crop growth, but if a small amount of potassium and phosphate fertilizers were added, even if it’s just a little, it would undoubtedly be hugely beneficial to crops.

However, she didn’t harbor high hopes. After all, potassium and phosphorus are not easily found, and the impact of using them or not did not seem to be too significant.

But Chu Suifeng really took it to heart. He knew that anything that Lin Ziyin needed to find would surely have a significant impact in the end. So, he conveyed the order repeatedly.

Ma Dalang was somewhat uneasy at the banquet because he hadn’t heard from his son Ma Zhicai since he had left. He wondered whether Zhicai had earned the Prince’s appreciation in the end? Would the Prince allow Zhicai to follow him closely?

His expectations were high, yet he didn’t worry about any potential accidents with Zhicai. After all, there was only a wall separating the eastern and western courtyards. If any issue arose, the commotion would have reached the eastern courtyard already.

In his concern, his heart was exuberantly racing, yet the smile on Ma Dalang’s face never faded.

The Yan Family, however, wasn’t very pleased. The mother and her two sons from the Bao Family, like ghosts reincarnated, would swiftly finish their food as soon as it arrived. Neither the Yan Family nor the Huang Family could touch their plates before they were emptied.

Moreover, the trio ate in a disgusting manner, grabbing food with their hands. The sight of the dirty hands of Gouzi and Ergouzi made Mrs. Yan feel like vomiting. The Lin Family’s food, however, was truly delectable, with an aroma that tempted one’s appetite. The smell reached into her nostrils, making her mouth water.

"Are you in some sort of famine? You are not only eating but also ruining the food with your hands. How can others eat then?" Mrs. Yan glared fiercely at the Bao Family while scolding them.

"The elder sister is wealthy, she wouldn’t care about something as trivial as food. Unlike us being orphans and widows without any income. Naturally, we crave for food. Also, why resent us with your well-fed kids? Just eat if you want to, nobody is stopping you." Mrs. Bao glanced at Mrs. Yan dismissively and then buried her head to eat exuberantly.

Even Mrs. Huang looked askance at the Bao Family’s mother and her sons. But she was also there with her two kids. If she were too slow, they wouldn’t get anything to eat. Consequently, the moment the dishes arrived, she tapped into her instincts and started grabbing food as well. As for Ma Youcai, he outdid everyone with the amount of food he grabbed.

Observing the behavior of the Yan Family’s kids, Mrs. Bao rolled her eyes. Mrs. Yan had the audacity to criticize her, even when her own children were acting uncivilized. She didn’t care, she just wanted to eat.

Fortunately, all the dishes from the Lin Family were genuine. Large meatballs, fish, pork knuckles were all authentic, without any adulteration.

After the banquet was over, both Mrs. Yan and Mrs. Bao scrambled to pile up the remaining food from the table into their bowls and straightaway left with their children without doing the dishes. According to tradition, the women attending a festive banquet in the village should voluntarily help to clean the table.

"Temperament." Mrs. Bai couldn’t help but spit in disgust while watching them leave.

"Mother, they have always been like this. It’s not a thing of a day or two." Mrs. Bai’s daughter-in-law, busy tidying up, remarked.

"Mr. Hao, Mr. Qi, Granny He... take care." Lin Ziyin and Lin Changshu, Guo Huiniang bid goodbye to their guests at the door. All elderly guests who had attended received parting gifts from the Lin Family before leaving.

Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Greenhouse (3)_1

The Lin Family’s pastries are sold far and wide, bringing great joy to the elderly folks who manage to get their hands on them.

Every event seemed to propel the reputation of the Lin family further forward.

"Zhicai, are you home?" Ms. Yan returned home to find her second son already in bed. "Where’s your father?"

"I’m home." Just as he was saying that, Mr. Ma stepped in and anxiously asked Zhicai, "So, what did the Prince say?"

"Say what?" Zhicai was livid, "We didn’t even get to talk. Who knew that old bastard from the Lin family would be sitting with the Prince, and that despicable Lin Ziyin clinging to the Prince relentlessly."

Thinking of Si Jinhan’s malicious eyes, Zhicai belatedly recalled Si’s words—what did he mean by ’see you off’? Where was he supposed to see him off to?

He felt a chill run down his spine!

"As I’ve said, not a single person in the Lin family is decent." Ms. Yan seized the opportunity to vent her anger and frustration, "The silver we sent them today went for nothing."

Thinking of the thirty cash coins they had spent, Ms. Yan felt particularly distressed. She didn’t consider the number of people from their family who had gone for dinner.

At times like these, Ms. Huang had already hidden with their child, avoiding Ms. Yan’s displeasure.

"Mom, I’m hungry, make me something to eat." Zhicai hastily urged. As for the feast, he had not tasted a single bite.

"You child, why must you skip the feast just to hold a grudge." Ms. Yan complained.

"Just go when asked to go, why the incessant chattering." Mr. Ma scolded her discontentedly.

Ms. Yan glanced at her son’s lifeless face, feeling a pang of pity. She said no more, and went to the kitchen to prepare food for Zhicai.

Lou Zheng and Bai Chunsheng lingered in the Lin’s residence after their meal, waiting for Lin Ziyin to finish seeing off the guests.

"Ziyin, are you seriously planning to cultivate rice next spring?" Lou Zheng immediately asked urgently upon seeing her.

"Ziyin, no offense, but the climate in our Northern Land doesn’t suit rice cultivation." Bai Chunsheng couldn’t wait to convey his concern.

Old Master and Lin Changshu sat quietly on the side, not saying a word.

"I was just about to discuss this matter with the two of you. Since you’re both here, it’s perfect timing." Lin Ziyin spoke with a smile, taking a seat, "I’ve studied it. The warm season in the Northern Land is too short if we were to cultivate rice the traditional way, because the rice growth cycle would not be enough. However, I’ve figured out a solution to this problem. Uncle Lou Zheng, Uncle Bai, are you interested in cultivating rice along with my family?"

"You really have a solution?" Lou Zheng asked in surprise, showing no doubt about her method. Hadn’t the Prince also believed in her words?

Lin Ziyin nodded, "If you’re willing to cultivate, you can give me a number so that I can prepare the seedlings in time. Right, I must be the one to prepare the seedlings. You won’t be able to."

Hearing this, Lou Zheng and Bai Chunsheng understood where the secret lay. The secret was in the seedlings. However, they did not press for more details since Lin Ziyin chose not to elaborate.

"Could Uncle Lou Zheng also help me ask around to see which households are willing to cultivate with us? That way, I can prepare in advance." Lin Ziyin said. The village had a small population, and large-scale planting would not occur in the first year. So, Lin Ziyin did not mind preparing some seedlings for the villagers.

After all, having one family monopolizing would inevitably incur resentment from the villagers. However, the situation would be different if everyone shared a common interest in this matter.