Song Fengsui fell ill in the spring, though it was nothing serious—just a cough and a headache.
He took good care of himself and had been staying obediently at home these past few days, taking medicine and resting.
Duan Yan, meanwhile, was as busy as ever. He had recruited a batch of new soldiers to the training grounds. They had been selected in the second month, and now that it was the third, their training was at its most intensive. Although veteran soldiers were overseeing their drills and they were not as dependent on Duan Yan as a new batch usually was, he still had to personally train them a couple of times now and then.
There was also another important matter. By late March, although Rock Town warmed up late, it was already time to plant the potatoes.
Potatoes were ordinarily planted in both spring and autumn, but the potato seed stock he had on hand was limited. He was worried that Rock Town might be too cold in winter for them to grow properly.
If the potatoes rotted in the ground, there would be no way to obtain another batch of seed potatoes under the current circumstances. For that reason, Duan Yan discussed the matter with the experienced farmers on the estate. To be cautious, they decided it would be better to plant them in spring.
Once they had a harvest and new seed potatoes this year, they could try planting them in autumn as well.
Although potatoes were highly resistant to disaster, growing them still required considerable care.
The round seed potatoes did not need to be planted whole. A single potato could be cut into several pieces, provided each piece had one or two eyes.
After being cut, the pieces had to be placed somewhere cool and shaded so the cuts could form a protective layer. They then needed to be treated against pests and mixed with fertilizer and wood ash. Potatoes also required well-rotted manure rather than fresh dung. Chicken, duck, and pig manure had to be piled up and allowed to mature before it could be used; otherwise, it would “burn the seedlings.”
Potatoes also had certain requirements when it came to soil. Loose, sandy loam was best, while waterlogged soil had to be avoided, lest the potatoes rot. For that reason, they would be planted on raised ridges to make it easier for rainwater to drain away.
Potatoes were also somewhat domineering. Land that had been used to grow them one year would no longer be suitable for planting potatoes the following year, so crop rotation was necessary.
Duan Yan selected several tenants from each of the three estates—men with many years of farming experience—to take charge of growing the potatoes.
The old farmers examined the grayish, square-shaped tubers from every angle. They smelled them, but could detect hardly any scent at all. Even with all their experience, they still shook their heads.
“Never seen these before. Are they really edible?”
“If they weren’t, would the master have hauled them all the way here from somewhere else? A whole cartload, heavy enough to crush a man. Last autumn, when things were so tight, would he have wasted a cart on something useless?”
“But what do they taste like? How are they supposed to be eaten? When I squeeze one, it’s neither soft nor hard. I don’t dare dig my fingernail into it, but the flesh does feel rather crisp.”
The tenants gathered together and discussed the matter in hushed voices.
“They don’t taste strange. They’re floury and soft, with a mild sweetness. They’re a little like taro, but not quite the same.”
The others had heard this from a tenant who had accompanied Duan Yan on the buying trip, but they remained skeptical. Since Duan Yan had not yet arrived, they voiced the doubts in their hearts.
“There’s war going on outside, and our town is building such high walls. Who knows how many years things will stay unsettled. At a time like this, the estate has divided up fields to grow medicinal herbs, and now it wants to set aside more land for these potatoes. There won’t be much left for proper crops!”
This was hardly the time to try anything fancy and risk reducing the grain harvest. The medicinal herbs were one thing—everyone suffered from headaches and fevers now and then, and with the town closed off, they could not simply go outside to buy medicine. Growing some herbs of their own at least gave them a way to cope.
But these potatoes they had never even seen before… what use were they? With the town sealed off, were they just going to grow them for novelty?
Naturally, none of them dared say such things aloud. But even if they kept quiet, everyone was thinking the same thing.
“We eat and drink according to the estate’s arrangements. Whatever the master tells us to do, we’ll do it. Those matters aren’t something we can change just by worrying over them.”
As they spoke, they caught sight of Duan Yan approaching and immediately fell silent.
Duan Yan had heard the murmuring from the warehouse before he even entered. He had not caught every word, but he knew perfectly well that the people beneath him would have their doubts.
Anyone who tried something first was bound to be questioned. He could explain all the benefits of potatoes ten thousand times, but none of it would be as convincing as the moment when the crops failed, the granaries ran out of rice, and a steaming potato filled their bellies.
“Since everyone is here, I’ll go over the method for planting potatoes in detail. You’re all experienced farmers, and we’ve already discussed these matters several times. If you still make unnecessary mistakes once the planting begins, I won’t be lenient.”
The old farmers immediately straightened up. They knew how seriously Duan Yan regarded this matter. They could think what they liked, but they did not dare be careless.
By the time he finished arranging everything, it was already afternoon. Duan Yan ate a simple meal, then brought home some freshly dug wild scallions and shepherd’s purse from the estate.
The slender scallions that grew in the wild during spring were even more fragrant than the small scallions grown at home. Finely chopped, they were delicious in dumplings or stir-fried with cured meat and used as a filling for steamed buns.
Duan Yan could see that Song Fengsui was recovering, but after being sick for several days, his appetite had been poor. In just a few days, the little bit of flesh he had finally managed to put on during the first month of the year had disappeared again.
Now that his health was improving, Duan Yan thought he would prepare two spring dishes for him and let him enjoy something fresh.
When he returned to town, Duan Yan did not go straight home. He handed the wild vegetables and the horse over to his attendants, saying he had to visit a shop. In truth, he turned around and slipped into a narrow alley.
The alley was called Yanghua Lane. It was so narrow that carts and horses could not pass through, and the eaves of the houses stretched far outward, blocking out the sky and sun. Even on a clear day, anyone walking through it would find the lane dark and gloomy.
Since it was dim even in broad daylight, people walking there could not always make out the faces of those approaching them. As a result, the lane was home to all sorts of disreputable characters.
There were old madams and old men in bright red silk flowers who liked to take in goddaughters and godsons. They fed and housed them well, then coaxed them into carrying out sordid, secret dealings.
Duan Yan had been left with no other choice. Over the past few days, he had wandered around town, deliberately looking out for the shifty fellows who sold little booklets. In the past, whenever he walked alone through the streets—without even needing to pay attention—such people would come up to him on their own and try to stuff something from their sleeves into his hands.
But lately, things had become strange. Those people had completely vanished from the streets.
April was nearly here. His study plan had not progressed in the slightest; in fact, he was still stuck at the stage of obtaining study materials. Duan Yan was beginning to feel a real sense of urgency.
Time was short and the task was heavy. If he remained careless, then when the exams arrived he might still make no progress at all. That would be disastrous.
Thus, Duan Yan decided to go all in. He had come personally to this filthy, chaotic place, intending to search thoroughly for study materials.
In truth, he could have handed the matter over to Gou San’er. Several times, he had wanted to ask for his help, but each time the words reached his lips, he had been unable to say them. He really could not bring himself to rely on others for everything. Besides, when it came to this particular item, it would be difficult to explain his exact requirements to anyone.
As Duan Yan pondered this, he felt that the alley was unusually quiet. A place that saw little sunlight year-round had slick green moss covering its stone paving. If one did not watch one’s step, it was all too easy to slip.
Just as he was wondering how to find someone, luck came his way. A person approached from the opposite direction, swaying with every step. Judging by the figure, it looked like an elderly woman.
In the same dark alley, Duan Yan could not make out the person approaching, and the newcomer could not make out him either.
The old procuress tilted her head to peer at the tall figure coming from the mouth of the alley. Judging by the shape of him, he was probably a man.
Her heart leaped with delight. Anyone walking this way at a time like this was most likely a customer!
Ever since trouble had broken out beyond the town and the gates had been closed, a place like theirs had enjoyed a rare stretch of peace and quiet. They had gone days upon days without a single customer.
Those lazy, gluttonous girls and boys under her roof were truly enough to make her cry out that she could no longer afford to keep them.
In the past, their regulars had either returned to the countryside to farm and scrape by, or enlisted in the army, training on the drill grounds every day until they looked like iron men, their bodies practically carved down to the bone.
Even the fellow who lived in this alley selling books had stopped doing business after the New Year. He said that with everyone shut inside and unable to go out, there was no new material to sell, and times were hard. The countryside, meanwhile, was bustling with activity. They said Commander Duan had come up with some new farming tools that were very useful for planting crops. The bookseller had simply gone back to his village, cleared the two mu of land that had lain fallow for years, and taken up honest work again.
Procuress Xiao cursed inwardly. What kind of person was that? He trained soldiers and managed farming too. How could he have such long arms, able to meddle in everything? He had turned the town into a monastery. Did he expect them to survive on air?
Seeing that the man was drawing near, Procuress Xiao hurriedly gathered her thoughts and put on her usual welcoming smile.
She quickened her steps and sidled up to him. Before she could even see his face clearly, her seductive words had already floated out like a breeze.
“What a fine gentleman. Where might you be headed?”
“If you’ve got some free time, this humble girl knows a delightful place where you can have a good time. I promise you won’t regret it today—”
She had not yet finished speaking when a face as stern as iron suddenly came into focus.
When Procuress Xiao recognized him, she could only cry out inwardly, Good heavens!
Her luck was truly rotten. She immediately turned and tried to flee, but one foot landed squarely on a patch of moss, nearly sending her sprawling flat on her back.
Ignoring her disheveled state, she ran madly in the opposite direction, shouting, “Commander Duan is here! Commander Duan is here!”
She would never have dared imagine that Duan Yan had come for pleasure. She was simply scared out of her wits.
The sudden shout startled Duan Yan. He had come sneaking over in the first place, never expecting the procuress’s voice to carry so loudly. In an instant, the formerly silent alley became as agitated as a pot of boiling water.
Procuress Xiao had certainly shouted with impressive clarity. She had specifically called out Commander Duan. He was here—but what had he come to do?
Had he come for entertainment, or had he come to arrest someone?
Doors began opening along the alley, and in the dim light, Duan Yan could feel a series of scorching gazes fixed upon him.
“……”
For one brief moment, Duan Yan nearly lost his composure. If word of this got out, it would turn a small joke into a colossal one.
In his fluster, he smoothly drew the saber from his waist and shouted, “The world is in turmoil, and none of us knows whether we will live to see tomorrow! Yet you refuse to join the civilian militia to defend the town, and you refuse to go into the countryside to clear land and farm for the sake of providing grain. Instead, you openly engage in these filthy practices and corrupt the town’s moral climate!”
The alley was immediately filled with the rapid slamming of doors and hurried footsteps. Amid the chaos came cries of, “Commander Duan is here to clean up the streets! Run!”
………
“You… why did you suddenly decide to meddle in those affairs?”
The town was not large, and any matter of importance would spread everywhere in no time. An incident like the arrest of a procuress traveled even faster.
Duan Yan had not originally planned to crack down on prostitution. But once he had made a start, he truly took Procuress Xiao back to the government office for questioning. Afraid of being tortured, the woman confessed everything without much interrogation.
Only after getting involved did he realize how filthy the whole business was.
Procuress Xiao alone had kept seven girls and boys under her control. Three had originally entered the trade willingly. Of the other four, two were still quite young and had been lured into it by Procuress Xiao, while the remaining two had actually been kidnapped and brought in from elsewhere.
Besides Procuress Xiao, there were other procurers and madams in Willow Blossom Alley. Some had two or three people under them; those with fewer had only one.
These foul-hearted people had often forced girls and boys into the trade. Those who obeyed were given decent food and lodging, while those who resisted were tied up inside the house with ropes. Beatings and abuse were commonplace. They were not allowed to leave, and could move only within the tiny radius permitted by their short tethers.
After learning the names of the other procurers and madams from Procuress Xiao, Duan Yan immediately sent men to arrest them. The town was under strict watch, and these shameful criminals had nowhere to hide when they tried to flee. Every one of them was captured.
When Duan Yan reached their lairs, he found that many of the girls and boys who had been coerced were mentally unstable. When asked their names, they could barely answer. The procurers had sucked them dry, draining them of everything they had.
Seeing those scenes, Duan Yan regretted that he had not gone to clean out that alley sooner.
After everything had been dealt with, he returned home, only to find that Song Fengsui had already heard what he had done that day.
Song Fengsui was a steady man. He had not run straight to the government office to question him. Instead, he waited until Duan Yan came home before asking about it.
Duan Yan coughed dryly. The awkward part was that he had not initially gone there with the intention of launching a crackdown. The major operation that day had happened entirely by accident.
But after seeing the girls and boys who had been rescued, he felt that it had not been a bad arrangement after all.
“I hadn’t planned to deal with any of this,” Duan Yan said. “But those people were bold enough to solicit me. That shows just how rampant they must have been in their daily lives.
“Although there is some peace in the town now, it was won through the united efforts of many people. These scoundrels have contributed nothing, and instead engage in vile, corrupt practices. No matter how many important matters there are, we still have to set aside a day to put things right.”
Seeing how Duan Yan grew angrier the more he spoke, Song Fengsui guessed that the scene at the brothels must have been unpleasant.
When he had first heard the wild rumors from outside, his heart had given a lurch. After all, Duan Yan had never mentioned any plan to deal with such matters, yet had suddenly gone and done it. It had inevitably made him worry.
Based on his understanding of Duan Yan, Song Fengsui did not believe the blockhead had any ulterior motives.
If he truly had, the two of them would not still be as they were now.
“It is a good thing to clean up the town’s moral climate,” Song Fengsui said sincerely. “Places large and small have plenty of businesses like that. But such shameful, hidden trades mostly prey upon the weak. Whether those girls and boys entered the trade willingly is one matter, but most of them are forced into it against their will. It is a good thing when those in power are willing to take responsibility and intervene.”
In the past, what Song Fengsui had feared most was the abduction and trafficking of girls and boys. Once kidnapped, they would often end up in precisely this sort of fate. It was enough to make anyone sigh with pity.
Duan Yan acknowledged this, then continued, “Don’t worry. I’ve already captured the people who organized everything. Their crimes are indeed grave, but given the circumstances, we cannot simply take their lives. There are plenty of places inside and outside the city that need labor. Their hands and feet have been shackled as well, so they can do nothing but work within the small confines allotted to them.”
“As for those boys and girls who suffered, those who can find their families will be quietly sent home. For those who cannot, we’ll arrange places for them to stay. They can make a living by farming and weaving clothes from now on.”
After finishing the serious business, Song Fengsui found himself admiring Duan Yan’s uprightness even more.
Looking at him, he still couldn’t resist using the matter to tease him a little. “With the wedding just around the corner, it’s fortunate that word going around is that you went to clear out a brothel, rather than visit one for entertainment. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have anything to say in your defense to Father.”
Hearing this, Duan Yan immediately grew solemn. “If I ever went to such places to fool around, may heaven strike me dead! Not only would I never go on the eve of my wedding, I would never set foot in one for anything other than official business.”
After saying this, he saw the clear, earnest look in Song Fengsui’s beautiful eyes, and his brows furrowed again.
Young Master Song trusted him so deeply. There shouldn’t be any deception or concealment between them.
He blinked. “...But it is true that I went to Willow Lane myself. The procuress meeting me there wasn’t entirely a coincidence.”
Song Fengsui was stunned. “Then why did you go there?”
Duan Yan was silent for a moment, but in the end, he honestly confessed everything.
Song Fengsui listened as Duan Yan explained that he had wanted to find some illustrated manuals. After searching the streets without success, he had finally decided to try his luck in Willow Lane, a place with a consistently dubious reputation. As a result, Procuress Xiao had called out to him, only to panic and scream when she got a good look at him.
Even though Song Fengsui tried not to laugh, the corners of his mouth still curled upward.
“You...” Song Fengsui’s cheeks flushed. “How could you be so foolish?”
Duan Yan said, “Then what if you—”
Before he could finish, Song Fengsui seemed to have grown inside Duan Yan’s mind; he immediately knew what Duan Yan was about to say. Without waiting for him to finish, he hurriedly cut him off. “I don’t have anything like that either.”
“A married couple should share everything. If you do have any, you can share them with me to look at. Even if you do.”
Duan Yan rubbed the tip of his nose. “Even if you did have some, I wouldn’t presume to entertain improper thoughts about you.”
“If I really had any, I wouldn’t need you to go to all that trouble and make such a grand spectacle of yourself.”
Song Fengsui’s ears burned. Back when he was in the capital, he had indeed hidden away several tactfully illustrated books. But even if he had them with him now, given Duan Yan’s complete lack of experience, he probably wouldn’t be able to understand anything beyond a fog of confusion.
His gaze darted about, and his speech became somewhat halting. “I studied medicine, so I understand a little from a medical perspective. With things so chaotic right now, don’t go making a fuss over it.”
“By then... by then, once we’re married, we can study it together.”
Duan Yan’s brows lifted slightly. When it came to being considerate, who could compare with their Young Master Song? He was actually this tolerant even about such matters!
He leaned closer. “Really?”
“If it isn’t true, are you planning to look for someone else?”
Duan Yan immediately knew when to stop. “Then I won’t run around making a fuss over this anymore. We’ll talk about it after we’re married!”
Song Fengsui’s entire face had turned red. Whether he thought about it shallowly or deeply, the matter was mortifying enough. He promptly sent Duan Yan away and told him to make shepherd’s purse soup for him.
