An Jing and Xiao Changyi had planned long ago that as soon as their youngest son, An Yiyun, could sit up by himself, they would let Meng Zhuqing and those two helpers’ wives leave.
Now that An Yiyun could sit up by himself, An Jing and Xiao Changyi indeed let Meng Zhuqing and the others go according to the plan.
Then, it was truly just their family of six left in the home.
Without help in the house, An Jing and Xiao Changyi became busier than before, but they felt exceptionally fulfilled and stable.
On the nineteenth day of the second month, Meng Zhuqing came to report to An Jing and Xiao Changyi, saying the thirty people who came to learn about planting cotton with the Nutrition Bowl had all arrived at the Qilin County posthouse.
All thirty of these people were from different places, all agricultural officials, among them two were Sixth Rank Agricultural Knowledge, and the remaining twenty-eight, like An Jing, were all Seventh Rank Farmer Knights.
Before using the Nutrition Bowl, it was necessary to prepare the seedbed, and An Jing, thinking that it was actually a good time to do so, said to Meng Zhuqing, "Tell them to come here to learn tomorrow."
The next day, at the hour of si, the thirty agricultural officials arrived at the entrance of An Jing’s courtyard.
These thirty agricultural officials were all men, in their prime years, all of them inwardly believed that even if a woman like An Jing possessed talents, it was improper for her to be in the limelight, let alone hold an official position.
Such matters of being an official should be the concern of men.
Women should be at home washing clothes, cooking, and taking care of children.
Although they thought this way, none of them showed it outwardly.
After all, An Jing was an official specially appointed by the Emperor of Xiyun; if they were to show their disapproval, wouldn’t that be suggesting the Emperor of Xiyun made a mistake? And they certainly did not want to risk losing their heads over it.
As soon as An Jing saw that all thirty men had arrived, she clasped her hands and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, the land of my family is right at the doorway. Please follow me to the fields where I will explain in detail about the Nutrition Bowl nursery cultivation of cotton."
As a Farmer Knight, An Jing referred to herself as "this official," which was not inappropriate for the twenty-eight people of the same rank, but among the thirty were two Sixth Rank Agriculture Knowledge who were petty and tended to make a big deal out of small issues. Seeing that An Jing did not refer to herself as a subordinate official but as "this official," the two did not show any reaction, but they took serious note of it inwardly.
These two individuals were named Guo and Tong, respectively.
As soon as An Jing finished speaking, she bent down to lift her elder son, Su Yi Jing, out of the nanny’s arms; then, holding Su Yi Jing, she led the way, intending to take the thirty agricultural officials to the fields.
The twenty-eight Farmer Knights saw An Jing holding a child and exchanged looks, puzzled at what An Jing intended.
Guo Nongzhi and Tong Nongzhi had just taken note of An Jing in their minds and were taken aback by her actions when Guo Nongzhi asked loudly, "Lord An, what’s the meaning of taking a child in your arms? Could it be that you plan to teach us the Nutrition Bowl planting of cotton with a child in tow?"
An Jing stopped in her tracks and turned back with a smile, "Yes."
The twenty-eight Farmer Knights thought: This is why a woman shouldn’t be an official; women should stay at home and take care of the children. Look at what a spectacle this is!
Seizing the opportunity, Tong Nongzhi also spoke up, clasping his hands towards the direction where the Son of Heaven resided, "The Emperor bestowed grace on Lord An for her talents, appointing her as an official, but here Lord An is, bringing a child to work. Such neglect of duty, not serving the Son of Heaven with full diligence, betrays the Emperor’s favor!"