Chapter 199: Herb Seeds
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
A carriage drove into the Chu Village.
Now that the villagers of the Chu Village had broadened their horizons, they were no longer as curious as before about carriages.
“Who is this?”
“He must be here to look for Qingzhi.”
“If he’s looking for Qingzhi, he’s most likely here to discuss business.”
As everyone discussed, the carriage arrived at Chu Qingzhi’s house. Then, a man in a snow-white robe got out of the carriage.
The man was tall and handsome. It was hard to tell if he was male or female.
When he got out of the carriage, Chu Qingzhi happened to come out of the house to go to the wasteland.
The man was the first to bow to Chu Qingzhi. “I’m Tan Xueqing. Greetings, Miss Chu.”
Chu Qingzhi raised her eyebrows. After changing into his male outfit, he looked much more masculine and handsome. “Come in and sit.”
Tan Xueqing smiled and said, “Miss Chu, there’s no need. I came over to thank you. There are still many things waiting for me to deal with at home.”
With that, he got the coachman to move the things in the carriage to Chu Qingzhi’s house.
Chu Qingzhi looked at the items being carried into the house one by one and hurriedly said, “Young Master Tan, I was asked to investigate the case by the county magistrate. You don’t have to thank me like this.”
However, Tan Xueqing insisted, “Miss Chu, you still saved my life nonetheless. It’s only right for me to express my gratitude.”
If Chu Qingzhi had not saved him, the Tan family would have been wiped out.
Chu Qingzhi didn’t say anything else. After a moment of silence, she took the initiative to find a topic. “What are your plans next?”
Tan Xueqing lowered his thick eyelashes slightly. “Take good care of the Tan family’s business. 1 don’t have any other plans for the time being.”
With such a huge change in the Tan family, it would be difficult for Tan Xueqing to manage all the business under the Tan family.
Chu Qingzhi said, “Then 1 wish you success in taking over the business.”
Tan Xueqing said, “Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
Chu Qingzhi glanced at Tan Xueqing’s fair and flawless face and asked the last question in her heart, ���Young Master Tan, can 1 ask you why you were disguising as a woman?”
Tan Xueqing smiled and said, “I thought you wouldn’t ask. Actually, it’s like this. When my mother was pregnant with me, she accidentally heard the conversation between Grandma and Third Uncle. She was terrified, so she replaced me with the child of her trusted aide when I was born. Later, she changed back. From then on, in order to survive, I disguised myself as a woman.”
The Tan family’s matter was really complicated. Chu Qingzhi comforted her. “It’s all over now.”
Tan Xueqing suddenly felt sentimental. “Yes, everything is over. All the grudges ended from now on.”
Chu Qingzhi glanced at Tan Xueqing. It wasn’t good for her to say anything, so she didn’t say anything.
After sending the gifts, Tan Xueqing thanked Chu Qingzhi again and left in the carriage.
Chu Qingzhi stood at the door of the courtyard and watched him leave. She wished him well. It was not easy growing up in the Tan Family.
In the herb garden.
Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang stood by a piece of soil and were extremely surprised.
Despite having traveled extensively for so many years, Yuan Hongjun still found it unbelievable. “Did Lingzhi really grow in the soil?!”
Bao Linjiang said with a sigh, “Master is indeed Master. She can grow lingzhi just like that.”
The soil that the two of them were looking at was where Chu Qingzhi had dumped the lingzhi soil that day. Actually, Chu Qingzhi was not sure if it could grow lingzhi. She wanted to give it a try, but she did not expect it to succeed.
Chu Qingzhi walked over. “What are you guys looking at?”
Bao Linjiang turned around, his deep facial features tinged with excitement.
“Master, there’s a small lingzhi growing in the soil.”
Chu Qingzhi’s eyes flashed with surprise as she quickly walked over. A small lingzhi the size of a pinky was growing in the soil.
Lingzhi in this era was very valuable. The Lingzhi that they had dug up previously was more than half a catty. It was more than 250 grams and could be sold for at least five hundred taels of silver.
Yuan Hongjun said, “Master, I’ll go and water it.” As he spoke, he ran to fetch water.
Bao Linjiang looked around. “Master, 1’11 mix some soil for it.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled and looked at the entire herb garden. The sealwort that was planted at the beginning had already grown to half a foot tall. The other herbs had also grown very lush, and every one of them was alive.
Although they were growing healthily, the herbs were still scarce. There were a total of ten acres of land, but only one acre of land had herbs growing on it.
Chu Qingzhi looked down at the young man who was mixing Lingzhi’s soil seriously and asked, “Linjiang, do you know where 1 can get some herb seeds?”
Bao Linjiang immediately looked over. “Master, you want herb seeds?”
Chu Qingzhi nodded.
Bao Linjiang said, “I’ll write to my family immediately and ask them to send me herb seeds.”
Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment. “Sure, but I don’t want them for free. 1’11 pay you accordingly.”
Bao Linjiang disagreed. “Master, it hurts our relationship to mention money.”
“Linjiang, if the seeds are yours, I can take them with good conscience, but they belong to your family. Do you understand what 1 mean?” Chu Qingzhi had no intention of taking advantage of his family.
Bao Linjiang nodded. “Master, then I’ll buy the seeds from my family to give them to you.”
“You have money?” Chu Qingzhi did not think that Bao Linjiang had much pocket money, so she was a little surprised.
“Master, you’re underestimating me.” Bao Linjiang blinked. “I have some savings. In the capital, my consultation fees usually start from a hundred taels.”
Chu Qingzhi sized up Bao Linjiang. The young man was confident and didn’t seem like he was bragging. “1 couldn’t tell you were rich.”
Bao Linjiang raised his chin. “So, Master, I’ll buy the seeds for you. Take it as a gift from your disciple.”
Chu Qingzhi agreed. “Okay.”
After Bao Linjiang returned to the military camp, he immediately wrote a letter and asked Tang Jinghong to send it to the capital.
When Tang Jinghong found out that he was collecting herb seeds for Chu Qingzhi, he immediately got someone to send the letter to the capital.
After Yuan Hongjun found out that Bao Linjiang had spent his own money to buy herb seeds for Chu Qingzhi, he also wrote a letter home and asked his family to send herb seeds.
Several carriages carrying goods entered the Chu Village.
The leader was a burly middle-aged man. He stopped a villager and asked, “Uncle, may 1 ask where Chu Qingzhi’s house is?”
The old man pointed. “Over there, the one with a hibiscus tree in the courtyard.”
The middle-aged man cupped his hands. “Thank you, Uncle.” Then, he led the convoy towards Chu Qingzhi’s house.
When the convoy arrived, a villager came to the herb garden to inform Chu Qingzhi. Chu Qingzhi hurriedly rushed back.
Chu Qingzhi asked in confusion, “You are?”
The middle-aged man sized Chu Qingzhi up. “I’m from the Ning mansion. We were sent over by Young Master Ning. There’s glutinous rice in the carriages. This is the first batch. There’s more on the way..”