Huangfu Xian’s neck recoiled, his eyes darting around. “I’ve got a terminal illness. I can’t sit on this throne. Whoever wants it can have it. I’m out, no more words, farewell!”
He squeezed his legs around the horse’s belly, put in some force, and the Red Hare mare’s hooves left the ground. In an instant, it took him and bolted, leaving Huangfu Xu with a constipated expression behind him.
“Um… Prince Xian’s days are numbered. As his brother, I must stay by his side and take good care of him. This minister has little to say, Your Majesty, farewell!”
Huangfu Xu, while yanking the reins, cursed the person fleeing ahead. Just running off like that, not caring about his fate. He’d extort some silver from him once he caught him.
Zhao Jiaqi, watching the dust kicked up behind Huangfu Xu, sighed again.
Truly, to avoid the throne, he could even say he was dying. Wasn’t he afraid Heaven would hear him and take him?
In the carriage, Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi exchanged a look. He asked, “These two scoundrels have both run off. Do we continue or continue?”
Zhao Jiaqi chuckled. With no choice between two options, she said directly, “We continue. We’ll stop at the next town, wait for Song Fei, and inspect together this time.”
This would also be a chance to get the agricultural and sideline products chain going. It was also an opportunity for him, the Minister of Revenue, to conduct a field inspection and strive to succeed his father.
Zhao Jiaqi didn’t need to think to know how the Prime Minister, holding court in the capital, must be stomping his feet and cursing right now!
And as for who he was cursing, whoever answered would be cursed!
The group traveled discreetly. Qiu Fen, being pregnant, did not accompany them this time. Fan Zehao had also left Wangcai, whom he used often, in the capital to look after the house and Yu Meng.
Langxiang Town, Yuelai Inn.
Fan Zehao, holding his wife’s small hand, went to stroll through the town. On one hand, it was to inspect the town’s economy, and on the other, to see if there was any bullying, monopolistic practices, or collusion between officials and bandits.
This was the closest town to the capital. It wasn’t large but was very prosperous, no less than a prefecture. Carriages could be seen on the streets at any time, some low-key and luxurious, others high-profile and extravagant, and some ordinary.
“Looking at the commoners’ attire, their ruddy faces, and their smiles, it’s evident they are living well. Let’s go to the countryside and see the local customs!”
After surveying the townspeople, Zhao Jiaqi suggested touring the rural areas.
If the villagers lived well, then the people in the towns and counties would also fare well. It wouldn’t hinder their inspection or their earning of money to travel.
Fan Zehao saw that the sky was still young, and a trip to the countryside wouldn’t be much. They were out to have fun, and as long as his wife was happy, his goal was achieved.
Holding his wife’s hand, he mounted his horse and headed directly to a village.
The paved roads were relatively easy to travel, but once they reached the muddy country paths, they were full of potholes. It would surely be bumpy for a carriage. If the villagers wanted to sell anything, it would be fine on a sunny day. But on a rainy day, the mud would be so thick that it felt like each step would stick two pounds of mud to one’s soles!
“To get rich, you must first build roads. This saying is absolutely true. Tomorrow, send a letter to the Prime Minister to start this matter as soon as possible. It cannot be delayed any longer!”
Zhao Jiaqi nodded repeatedly. It made sense. With the busy farming season just a month away, they might as well finish the road construction within this month.
Then, the villagers could easily and conveniently transport their grain and dried goods to town to sell.
“We’ll write it tonight and have Shi He send it back. It’s not far!”
Doing it early or late was still doing it. It was better to do it sooner.
The horses they rode were slow. By the time they reached the village entrance, they saw a memorial archway standing there, with two large characters, ‘Nancun,’ written on it.
Having passed through many villages, Zhao Jiaqi did not see an old scholar tree at the entrance this time, which piqued her interest.
She dismounted with Fan Zehao’s support and they entered the village. Few people were out on the streets, and the houses were kept tidy.
Lightly built houses with large tiles, occasional clucking of chickens and ducks, and the barking of dogs rose and fell. Walking further into the village, they could hear the cheerful sounds of children reading.
The couple followed the reading sounds to a private school.
The private school was a large courtyard, clean and tidy, with red bricks laid on the ground. In the corners were targets and bows and arrows, and opposite them were swings and the like.
This clearly indicated separate play areas for boys and girls. However, Fan Zehao was very fond of archery and similar activities. A strong youth makes a strong nation. Practicing martial arts from childhood not only strengthened the body but also provided a skill. This private school was good.
The two slipped away before the teacher noticed.
As they left the village, they unexpectedly saw a farmer making tofu in his yard. This reminded Zhao Jiaqi of a method for making fermented tofu.
Immediately, she let go of her husband’s hand and walked into the farmer’s courtyard, inquiring about the tofu market from the villagers.
“Hello, sister-in-law. I’m a passing tourist. Seeing you making tofu, could I ask where you sell this tofu you make? And how much per jin?”
The entire family was busy when they suddenly heard a voice. Those working heads-down all looked up, their gazes sweeping towards Zhao Jiaqi.
The person addressed as sister-in-law frowned, looking at her fine clothes and accessories, noting she didn’t seem poor or destitute.
Li Hua wiped the water from her hands and then on her apron. “We sell our tofu to restaurants in the capital. It’s only five wen per jin.”
So that was it. Five wen per jin was still quite cheap, Zhao Jiaqi nodded slightly.
Looking at the formed tofu, she took out her purse. The smallest silver ingots were five liang each, with the rest being ten liang ingots and sycees, and even gold leaves were plentiful.
Zhao Jiaqi took out a five-liang silver ingot and offered it to the woman. “Please set aside five liang worth of tofu for me, and then send it to Yuelai Inn, to a man named Shi.”
Li Hua’s eyes widened as she saw a five-liang silver ingot lying in the woman’s tender hands. Five liang silver! This was business coming to her doorstep.
“Yes, yes, yes! Madam, when do you want it?” Li Hua cupped the silver in her hands and asked obsequiously.
Zhao Jiaqi: “Tomorrow!”
“Yes, yes, yes! Tomorrow morning, I’ll definitely deliver it to you!” Li Hua agreed directly, regardless of whether she could make it.
Clutching the silver in her hand, she happily escorted Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao away before closing the door to discuss the delivery tomorrow.
As they left the village, Fan Zehao held her hand with one hand and led the horse with the other. He asked his wife curiously, tilting his head, “Why buy so much tofu?”
Five liang of silver was a thousand jin of tofu, which was a considerable amount. Not to mention whether their small group could eat it all, the key was seeing so much white tofu; they’d be full just by looking at it.
Zhao Jiaqi smiled, revealing her little tiger teeth. “Aren’t we out to develop agricultural and sideline industries this time? I actually know a few ways to make tofu dishes. It can be eaten as pickles or stir-fried. So, I’m buying tofu this time to experiment. If it’s successful, we’ll buy land and build workshops, involve the nearby farmers, and make it a tofu industry. That would be good too!”