At night, Song Qiming pushed open the door to the study.
"Sister, how many pounds of potatoes did we bring over from the capital?"
Song Jinzhao paused her writing, her gaze fixing on Song Qiming's face.
"Less than two hundred pounds. The Emperor ordered that the entire second harvest of potatoes be handed over to the imperial court. These were secretly kept from the surplus; they cannot be planted openly."
Song Qiming sat down in the chair opposite the desk, his furrowed brows holding a thousand sorrows.
"The potato seeds transported by the imperial court to the Southwest Province were all kept by Gu Zhongxun. This crop has a high yield, and I want to plant them on the newly reclaimed wasteland."
Compared to rice, planting potatoes was much more efficient and could help the commoners of Suining Prefecture live a better life much faster.
His fingertips lightly tapped the desk, stopping rhythmically as Song Jinzhao looked up.
"Then ask Gu Zhongxun for them. We don't need too much; sparing a dozen pounds or so will be enough."
"As long as we do it openly on paper, no one will calculate exactly how much is planted in the end. And how many potatoes we harvest is ultimately up to the heavens."
Song Qiming thought about it and found it reasonable. "Then I will write a letter to Gu Zhongxun tomorrow."
...
In the front hall of the government office in Songzhou City.
Gu Baozhu and Gu Jinghong were just about to head out when they saw a courier hand a letter to the clerk in the dispatch room, mentioning it was sent from the Suining prefectural office.
Gu Jinghong crossed his arms, his eyes full of envy.
"If I had known that County Princess Linghui and Lord Song would wipe out all the bandits and robbers in Suining City, I would have followed them back then."
Such decisive and swift action was exactly what Gu Jinghong had always wanted to do.
Gu Baozhu's eyes carried a look of yearning.
"Lately, Father has been mentioning County Princess Linghui and Song Qiming more and more. I really want to go to Suining City and see for myself."
Their eyes met, and the two sighed at the same time, "Alas."
They had barely managed to beg to be let out early; their family would definitely not allow them to go to Suining City.
Gu Zhongxun opened the letter. After reading its contents clearly, his face darkened.
Asking for this and then asking for that, why are young people so impatient?
Can't they just stay peacefully in Suining City for three years?
Gu Zhongxun brooded for a long time before finally writing a letter in anger and handing it to the clerk.
Upon receiving the letter, Song Qiming's expression dimmed.
Seeing his poor complexion, Shi Simian asked in a low voice, "Lord Gu is unwilling to give us the seeds?"
Song Qiming nodded in response, as if a heavy weight were pressing down on his neck.
"He said that Suining Prefecture has no garrison troops, and once the potatoes are planted, they might be stolen by the people of the Wumeng and Shimen tribes, so he refused."
Shi Simian raised his voice, his face full of disagreement.
"A dozen pounds isn't even enough for half an acre. How could five hundred bailiffs not be able to guard it? Lord Gu simply doesn't want to give them to us."
Song Qiming's lips pressed into a thin line.
Gu Zhongxun's letter was tough in its stance, and between the lines, there was a faint hint of dissatisfaction with him. Could it be that he gave too little silver last time?
"Tomorrow, I will personally go to Songzhou City to plead with him. You must keep a close eye on the reclamation of the wasteland; we absolutely cannot miss the planting season."
Shi Simian replied, "Rest assured, My Lord. I will keep an eye on the progress."
The soil of the wasteland was hardened and full of stones. After it was reclaimed, the soil quality still needed to be improved.
With only one month left until the planting season, time was very tight for them.
Riding at top speed, it took Song Qiming only one morning to rush to Songzhou City.
"My Lord, the Prefect of Suining is outside requesting an audience."
Gu Zhongxun suddenly raised his head from behind his desk.
"Did County Princess Linghui come?"
The bailiff shook his head. "Lord Song only brought a servant and four bailiffs. I didn't see the County Princess."
Gu Zhongxun breathed a sigh of relief and ordered, "Bring him in, and treat him with a cold attitude."
The bailiff was puzzled but still nodded to show he understood.
