"Mr. Tang?" Yang Chuxia called out once, receiving no response, she then called out again.
Only then did Tang Tanghai react, speaking excitedly, "Once, I read in my father’s books about a special introduction to this thing. I have also heard that some of the large households in the Capital City possess something similar, but since it’s so extremely valuable, I have neither seen nor tasted it before. After that, while I was in the northern region, I continuously searched for a place specializing in cultivating it, but never found one."
"Each crop has its own requirements for soil, environment, and climate, just like how beetroots are suited to grow in the north, but may not survive in other places, and if they do, the taste isn’t right. It’s the same with sugarcane; the soil and climate in the south are much more suitable for its growth. Hence, it’s normal that you have not come across cultivation in the north. In fact, this thing actually comes from the borderlands, which are its original habitat. However, I’ve heard that even at the borders, it is quite scarce, which is why there’s even less of it transported to the Capital City, and thus why it’s so precious. But in your opinion, can this be used to make sugar?"
"My father’s book recorded that if this sweet-tasting thing could be obtained, it would be worth attempting to use it, but it did not clarify whether it was possible or not, so it still has to be tried to be certain," he wrote.
Upon hearing this, Tang Tanghai didn’t give her a definitive answer, but she knew for sure that sugar could be made from it. Now that a sugar-making expert had come, it seemed to be just a matter of time.
"In that case, I will trouble Mr. Tang with the forthcoming matters. First, I’ll have someone take you to rest a while, and after you’ve rested, we can then see what is needed for sugar making, and I’ll have it prepared," she said.
Tang Tanghai turned out to be even more enthusiastic about sugar making than Yang Chuxia had imagined, not even caring to rest first.
He hurriedly said, "I have brought some of the items needed for sugar making, but there are more that I require Madam Ye’s help to prepare. I will write to Madam Ye now."
At these words, Yang Chuxia was taken aback before sending Fugui to fetch paper and ink. Once he finished writing, she handed the note to Fugui and instructed him to have a servant manage it.
But then she heard the man ask, "Madam Ye, may I know how much of this sugarcane you have and how much you could provide for my use?"
"This is something the Yang Family cultivated this year, and the harvest was good. I believe that even if you were to waste some of the material, you wouldn’t use up the sugarcane from four acres of land," she responded.
Upon hearing there were four acres, Tang Tanghai’s eyes lit up; he didn’t know exactly how much that was, but was certain it wasn’t a small amount.
"Please rest assured, Madam Ye, as this item is precious, I will definitely not waste the material," he promised.
"I trust the person recommended by Young Master Mu," she said.
The significance of those words was profound, but Tang Tanghai found them quite acceptable. Yang Chuxia’s trust was placed in the person Mu Shaofeng introduced, not in Tang Tanghai the individual. Though the statement didn’t sound particularly polite, it felt authentic and not hypocritical, unlike some who might say ’I trust you’ and such.
There’s always a degree of caution in human interactions. No one would readily trust someone they’ve just met.
Subsequently, Fugui arranged Tang Tanghai’s accommodation, temporarily placing him on the Yang Family’s side, since her place would be busy with painting the small tower and such once spring arrived, none too quiet for research. The research area wasn’t set up anywhere else; it was right in the courtyard where he was staying. Yang Chuxia had Ms. Wang assign two servants to attend to him.
However, the servants said that he hardly required their service; they spent their days just peeling sugarcane and maintaining the fire for Mr. Tang.
Days passed one by one, and another year was almost over; there were about ten days left until the New Year.
And on the eve of the New Year, they finally welcomed a joyous event.