An Jing also knew that many people in Xiyun Kingdom didn’t have cotton clothes or quilts to stay warm in winter, and cotton was very insulating. If the production of cotton could be increased, with much cotton in Xiyun, then naturally, the price of cotton would come down, allowing the impoverished common people to afford cotton fabrics and thus reduce the number of people in Xiyun who freeze to death each year.
Therefore, An Jing didn’t keep it a secret and said, "Cotton seedlings have well-developed root systems, and it doesn’t seem right to scatter the cotton seeds directly into the field as before. Brother Yi and I tried using the Nutrition Bowl for cultivating cotton seedlings, and indeed, the seedlings have grown much sturdier than before. We couldn’t be sure at first whether it would definitely increase cotton production, but looking at the cotton in our fields, it has increased quite a bit."
Su Chengyu didn’t understand what the Nutrition Bowl was, but he was the Crown Prince; he didn’t need to know specifically how to plant cotton as long as the farmers all knew how. Therefore, he didn’t ask what the Nutrition Bowl was, but instead praised, "Brother Yi, Sister-in-law, such great talent!"
Xiao Changyi suddenly said, "Actually, it was all figured out by my wife."
An Jing’s heart instantly filled with sweetness. Not because her husband had pushed all the credit onto her, but because her husband’s heart was full of her and her alone.
Taken aback and showered with a face full of dog food, everyone: "..." Prince, how do we detect even a hint of pride in that cold expression of yours?
After a long silence, Su Chengyu spoke again with a gentle smile, "Sister-in-law’s talent is rare in this world. If Sister-in-law would allow the method of using the Nutrition Bowl to grow cotton to be promoted throughout the country, it would be a great fortune for Xiyun."
An Jing said, "Since I’ve told you, naturally I agree. It’s just that now is not the season to plant cotton, we’ll have to wait until next year. Next year, first I will teach some people how to plant, and then, let those people go to the various prefectures and counties to teach the farmers there how to plant."
Su Chengyu said solemnly, "On behalf of the people of Xiyun, I thank Sister-in-law."
An Jing shook her head and said, "This is what I should do."
Xiao Changyi said, "This should be recorded as a major merit."
Su Chengyu was merely stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Brother Yi is right, this should be recorded as a major merit."
After a pause, Su Chengyu sighed and said, "If it wasn’t for the full court of civil and military officials opposing, the Emperor of Xiyun would have certainly granted my request to make Sister-in-law a Third Rank Agricultural Official."
An Jing truly admired Su Chengyu’s courage to take the lead for the good of the people, but she just smiled and said, "I don’t like being an official. I like being free and unbound. Luckily, the position of a farmer official is a leisurely one, and my adoptive father has also allowed me to go to work if I wish, or stay away if I don’t want to go, which is why I accepted it."
That she accepted it...
Does this mean that if it had been a busy position and highly restrictive, she wouldn’t have accepted it?
Su Chengyu felt a slight surprise at An Jing’s frankness but wasn’t upset at all.
On the contrary, he found An Jing to be even more exceptional and realized that she treated him like family, without any pretense.
Ever since he could remember, there were only two people who had the complete trust of Su Chengyu: one was the Emperor of Xiyun, and the other was Xiao Changyi.
Now, Su Chengyu found himself wanting to trust An Jing, his sister-in-law, completely. She possessed a kind of magic that made people trust her more and more. Really.
Thinking this way, Su Chengyu’s gaze toward An Jing inevitably became filled with more sincerity and trust. This was the woman his Brother Yi had chosen; Brother Yi’s judgment had never been wrong, and this person must truly be worthy of his complete trust, to confide in wholeheartedly.
Without saying anything, Xiao Changyi simply stood in front of his wife the moment he saw the warmth rise in Su Chengyu’s eyes.