The harvesting of sweet potatoes was not only a significant event for the elders who had experienced hunger, but an even more momentous occasion for the common folk of Ninghe County who relied on the land for their livelihood.
As dawn broke, many people began to arrive, drawn by curiosity.
Guo Gong of Wei’s guards cordoned off the area with ropes, keeping onlookers at bay.
When some people claimed to be there to help, Guang Qing refused them all. The current workforce was sufficient for harvesting the sweet potatoes, and any more would only lead to chaos.
A guard from Guo Gong of Wei’s estate, while running towards Xu Hengyan who was busy in the field, noticed Xie Jiang leisurely eating a sweet potato under the shade of a tree. After a brief hesitation, he hurried over to Xie Jiang.
“Young Master Xie, Prime Minister Xun and Young Master Yi have arrived.”
Young Master Xie and Young Master Yi were good friends, so it was only natural to inform Young Master Xie of Young Master Yi’s arrival.
Xie Jiang stood up and looked towards the road. He saw a convoy of guards escorting two carriages slowly making their way towards them.
After informing Xie Jiang, the guard from Guo Gong of Wei’s estate quickly ran back to the field to report to Xu Hengyan.
Xie Jiang, tucking the remaining half of his sweet potato into Luo Tie’s hand, lifted the rope barrier and stepped out. The crowd of onlookers automatically parted to make way for him.
Both carriages stopped by the roadside. Yi Yancheng, dressed in dark robes, stood by his carriage, waiting for Prime Minister Xun to emerge from the carriage behind. Xie Jiang smiled and waved at him.
Yi Yancheng gazed at her intently, his eyes fixed on her with a fierce intensity, as if he wished to consume this troublemaker with his gaze alone.
As soon as Xun Geng dismounted, he spotted Xie Jiang and asked Yi Yancheng, “Is this the young master from the Xie clan?”
His appearance alone was exceptionally gifted. From this young master Xie, it was evident that the Xie clan must have produced many brilliant individuals over the years to have gained complete control of Nanyang.
Yi Yancheng replied, “Yes.”
Xie Jiang stepped forward and bowed to Xun Geng.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xun Geng asked, “I heard that the Duke of Qin and the Duke of Zhao arrived long ago. Have they already started digging sweet potatoes?”
Xie Jiang briefed them on the progress.
The two then followed Xie Jiang through the crowd and walked towards the field.
“What are you all gathered around there for? I could hear someone crying from a distance just now, I didn’t expect there to actually be someone crying?”
“Oh, the Duke of Zhao and Marquis Yongxin are a bit emotional,” Xie Jiang replied.
“The yield looks very promising.”
Xun Geng looked at the piles of sweet potatoes stacked like small mountains in the field and understood the reason for the Duke of Zhao and Marquis Yongxin’s tears.
Xu Hengyan and the Marquis of Yongchang had already come to greet them.
Xu Hengyan straightened his clothes and bowed to Xun Geng, “I didn’t expect Prime Minister Xun and Young Master Yi to come today.”
Xun Geng said, “I’ve long heard that the sweet potatoes Young Master Xie brought from Lanyong could yield five thousand catties per mu. Who would believe it was true without seeing them dug from the ground with their own eyes?”
The Marquis of Yongchang nodded, “We thought the same. When Old He passed by here, he reportedly took a special look at the field, but the sweet potatoes had only recently been planted then, still just small sprouts.”
The Marquis of Yongchang gestured with his hand as he spoke.
Xun Geng asked, “So? Are Old Gao and Old He crying so loudly because the yield exceeded expectations?”
Xu Hengyan replied, “We’ve dug about half a mu. The clerks from the county office just had it weighed, and it came to over two thousand five hundred catties.”
Initially, the Duke of Zhao had been crying while digging sweet potatoes from the field. Upon hearing the figure, he couldn’t stop crying. The Marquis Yongxin, recalling events from his youth, also wept uncontrollably.
Taking advantage of the conversation, Xie Jiang subtly moved closer to Yi Yancheng and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
Yi Yancheng noticed her small gesture and felt as sweet as if he had drunk honey, but his face remained stern, giving nothing away.
The next moment, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning, jolting upright. His eyes were filled with disbelief.
In broad daylight, she actually…
How dare she! Where is that little thief placing her hands! Isn’t she afraid of being seen!
Xie Jiang was indeed not afraid of being seen. Everyone’s attention was on the sweet potatoes; who would notice her small action? She smiled brightly at him, her eyes filled with unspoken words – I missed you, and this is the only way to express my longing.
She rubbed him and, still not satisfied, gave a firm squeeze.
The squeeze caused Yi Yancheng’s muscles to tense, his neck turning so red it was almost bleeding. He grabbed her hand, which was causing trouble, and pulled it away from behind him.
He tightly gripped her wrist but was reluctant to let go.
The ungrateful girl had sent Lou Yi’an to treat his injuries. Didn’t she know that her personal return to the capital and her appearance before him were more effective than Lou Yi’an’s medicine?
“Two thousand five hundred catties? Truly?”
Xun Geng visually estimated the enclosed mu of land. The portion already dug was indeed about half.
Xu Hengyan, with a rare smile on his face, said, “To be precise, it’s two thousand five hundred and sixty-three catties.”
Xun Geng exclaimed “Good” several times, the creases around his eyes unable to hide his joy. “So, one mu of land can truly yield five thousand catties of sweet potatoes?”
The Marquis of Yongchang smiled and said, “I think it might even be more!”
Xun Geng called out loudly, “Then hurry and dig! Quickly finish digging the remaining half mu, and we’ll know if it reaches five thousand catties!”
The old farmers wiped away their tears and continued working with renewed vigor.
The Duke of Zhao and Marquis Yongxin, having cried their fill, rolled up their sleeves and dug with even more fervor than before.
As the elders dug with all their might in the front, their accompanying servants squatted in the field, ensuring not a single sweet potato was missed.
The Duke of Qian, with his sharp, red eyes, pointed at Xie Jiang and scolded, “You brat! You said earlier that five thousand catties was a rumor, only three to four thousand! Are you tricking us, you brat!”
Hearing the Duke of Qian shift the topic to Xie Jiang, Yi Yancheng casually released her hand.
Xie Jiang replied, “For the sake of my own life, I could only speak conservatively. Da Yu had never grown sweet potatoes before. Who knew if the climate or soil conditions would be suitable? If I had immediately claimed five thousand catties and failed to reach it, wouldn’t you, Duke of Qian, have skinned me alive?”
The Duke of Qian snorted, “You brat, so young and already full of cunning!”
Too eager to know the true yield of one mu of land, the Duke of Qian cursed Xie Jiang a couple of times before rolling up his sleeves and returning to work.
With more people, the work progressed faster.
As the one mu of land was nearing completion, Xun Geng called Guang Bai and instructed him to cordon off several more mu of land.
The yield from just one mu could not be considered an average yield.
Afterward, unable to contain himself, he joined Xu Hengyan in personally digging sweet potatoes.
Xie Jiang and the Old Duke of Qin returned to the shade of the tree to rest.
Yi Yancheng also joined them.
The Old Duke of Qin asked Luo Tie for another sweet potato and began to eat it.
“These sweet potatoes are truly excellent, such good stuff, so delicious. Without adding sugar or honey, they’re still this sweet…”
“They’re also convenient to cook, just throw them into the fire. I heard they can be stored for a long time?”
Xie Jiang personally peeled one and handed it to Yi Yancheng, then turned to the Old Duke of Qin and said, “They can be stored for over half a year in a cellar.”