Meng Hechuan looked at the tightly closed gates of the Song Manor. Frowning slightly, he ordered his subordinate to knock.
In the kitchen, two maidservants were cooking. Hearing the knock, they looked outside in confusion.
"Who would come visiting right at noon?"
One of them set down the vegetables in her hands and wiped them clean with a cloth. "Watch the fire, I'll go take a look."
Opening the manor gates, she saw the visitor dressed in official robes, flanked by yamen runners. The maid was stunned for a moment before immediately kneeling.
"This servant greets Your Excellency."
Meng Hechuan said, "Rise. Is the Township Lady at home?"
The maid stood up and hurriedly opened the double doors to their widest.
Bending her knees slightly and keeping her head bowed, she answered, "Eldest Miss went to the clinic. She won't be back for another half an hour."
"She still went to the clinic?" She was already a Township Lady, yet she still treated patients?
He stepped over the threshold. "No matter, I shall simply sit and wait."
After inviting the guests into the main hall, the maid quickly ran into the kitchen. "Qingshui, the Prefect has arrived. Hurry and serve tea, I will go to the clinic to call Eldest Miss back."
About half an hour later, Song Jinzhao returned in her carriage.
She walked into the main hall with a smile. "The clinic was closed yesterday, so there were quite a few patients today. I have kept you waiting, Lord Meng."
Meng Hechuan stood up, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply to Song Jinzhao. "It is I who lacked courtesy by not sending a calling card in advance. I did not expect that the Township Lady would still go to the clinic today."
Although Song Jinzhao's rank as a Township Lady was the primary seventh grade, and Meng Hechuan's rank as a Prefect was the primary fifth grade, one was a title bestowed by the Emperor, while the other was an official appointment by the imperial court. In terms of etiquette, nobility outranked officialdom, so he had to bow when seeing Song Jinzhao.
Song Jinzhao curtsied slightly to return the greeting. "Regardless of my status, I am still a doctor. May I ask what brings Lord Meng here today?"
Meng Hechuan raised his head and signaled his subordinate to present the gifts. "I came this time, firstly, to congratulate Miss Song on being granted the title of Township Lady Linghui by the Emperor."
"Secondly, to have your annual stipend for the first half of this year brought over. It is forty piculs of rice in total, all newly harvested grain from the latter half of last year."
"In our dynasty, the annual stipend is collected in two installments. When the second half of the year arrives, the Township Lady can send a servant or steward to the yamen to collect it."
Song Jinzhao glanced at the wooden box. Inside lay an exquisite white porcelain vase. Judging by the patterns, it was likely from a famous kiln, valued at around twenty or thirty taels of silver.
She signaled Qingshuang with her eyes to accept it. "There is no need for Your Excellency to go to such expense next time. The thought itself is enough."
Seeing Song Jinzhao accept the gift, Meng Hechuan pondered for a moment before saying, "There is one more thing. The Emperor has already ordered the popularization of out-of-season fruit and vegetable cultivation. Taking advantage of the fact that winter is not yet over, I wish to lead by example and guide the people of Anyang City to grow a batch first. We currently lack an experienced hand. Could the Township Lady lend me the steward named Fushun from your estate for a few days?"
Song Jinzhao smiled warmly. "It is his blessing to be highly regarded by Your Excellency. There is still half a month before the final batch of vegetables at the estate is ready for harvest. You must return him by then."
Seeing her agree so readily, the slight dissatisfaction Meng Hechuan felt toward Song Jinzhao for scheming against him completely dissipated.
"Naturally. It won't take half a month; ten days will suffice."
Staring at the newly released methods for out-of-season fruit and vegetable cultivation on the notice board, along with the trial planting registration rules posted by the yamen, Li Zien nearly spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.
The farmers he had hired hadn't even sneaked into Song Jinzhao's farm yet, and this secret was already announced to the whole world. It was simply appalling.
Deflated, he returned home and recounted the news to his father.
Li Tianchong's brows furrowed deeply. He abruptly turned, rushed into the study, and pulled out the signed contracts from the drawer.
Seeing the doubled penalty fee for breach of contract written on them, he pounded the desk in deep remorse.
"Why didn't I think of this at the time? She had planned this all along."
Originally, for vegetables that were impossible to get even if you fought for them, it didn't matter how high the penalty fee was, because they would never breach the contract anyway.
Looking at it now, every step she took had an ulterior motive.
She was worried that once the cultivation methods were popularized and everyone knew how to grow them, no one would be willing to buy her vegetables at a high price anymore. That was why she set the penalty fee so high.
Watching his father's reaction, Li Zien instantly understood as well. "Father, what do we do now? We've already paid the money!"
Li Tianchong tossed the contracts onto the desk and sat heavily in his chair.
"What else can we do? We can only swallow this bitter pill."
"Fortunately, the newly planted vegetables won't grow that fast. Keep an eye on the situation at the various restaurants. If the customers find it too expensive, we will lower the price. We'll just have to settle for earning a little less."
"Also, send someone to the yamen to register immediately. Don't let others beat us to it."
It was exactly as Song Jinzhao had expected.
After the notice was posted, more than half of the merchants who had signed contracts in advance regretted it. Had they known, they would have waited until the vegetables were harvested to buy them.
But they did not dare seek out Song Jinzhao.
Two days ago, they would have definitely run to the Song family's shop to pick a fight, forcing Song Jinzhao to lower the price and sign new contracts.
But now she was a Township Lady. They had no choice but to grit their teeth and swallow their grievances.
