Ch 18: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

Jiang Ji quickly asked what had happened.

The three of them walked to a quiet corner, and Zhao Ru explained everything that had taken place.

Jiang Xia said cheerfully, “Mother, it was brother who told me to go find that Madam Qian!”

Zhao Ru looked at her son in surprise. “You told Xia’er that?”

“Mm.” Jiang Ji smiled. “I overheard them talking—sounded like her husband had taken a concubine and was neglecting her. She was anxious about it, so I told Xia’er to give it a try.”

“So that’s why.” Zhao Ru sighed. “No wonder she bought it without hesitation.”

Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia then went off to buy more cloth and silk. Jiang Ji asked his mother for a bit more silver and went to the bookstore to pick out books for Jiang Yan.

He wasn’t sure what Jiang Yan liked to read, so after browsing for a while, he bought a Record of Major Events from Past Dynasties and Travels in the Dasheng Kingdom, which described local customs across the land. Finally, he added The Dasheng Legal Code—he wanted to understand the laws of this dynasty so he’d know what was permissible and what wasn’t.
He also grabbed three elementary reading primers from this era.

After buying the books, Jiang Ji purchased four sets of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. The village school in the next village would open soon, and he planned to send Jiang Nan, Jiang Bei, and Jiang Xia to study. One extra set would go to Jiang Yan.

With his errands done, Jiang Ji went to find Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia at the fabric store, and together they bought some vegetables to take home.

“Brother, what did you buy?” Jiang Xia asked curiously when she saw the big bundle on his back.

“Books and writing tools for you all.”

“Books?”

Jiang Ji nodded. “We didn’t have the money before, so I couldn’t send you to school. Now that we do, you, Jiang Nan, and Jiang Bei will all go.”

Jiang Xia’s eyes widened. “Me too?”

Jiang Ji turned to her. “Why not? You don’t want to?”

“It’s not that,” Jiang Xia waved her hands, “but I’m a girl—and already thirteen.”

“Thirteen? That’s still young,” Jiang Ji said casually—it was only about middle school age to him.

Jiang Xia: … In two years I’ll be of marriage age.

Zhao Ru smiled gently. “Xia’er, do you want to go?”

Jiang Xia hesitated. “I used to want to.”

“Then go,” Jiang Ji said. “You don’t need to learn poetry or composition—just learn to read and listen to the teacher’s stories. Later you’ll be able to read contracts and documents yourself, so no one can trick you.”

“But spring plowing is coming soon,” Jiang Xia said worriedly. “I should stay and help at home.”

“No need,” said Jiang Ji. “I plan to hire people to do the heavy work. You just focus on studying.”

Jiang Xia looked toward Zhao Ru, who nodded with a warm smile. “If you want to go, then go.”

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Xia clenched her teeth and nodded. “Alright.” Just for two years, she told herself.

When they got home, Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia went to prepare dinner while Jiang Ji took the books and writing tools to his room.

“Jiang Yan, come take a look. I didn’t know what kind of books you like, so I bought a couple at random. You can see if you like them.”

Jiang Yan examined each one, noticing the primers and extra writing sets. “These are for Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei?”

“Yeah, and this set is for you.”

Jiang Yan looked genuinely surprised. “You even bought some for me?”

“Of course. I thought you might get bored. The supplies are cheap ones, but they’ll do for now.”

Jiang Yan picked one up, studied it carefully, and said sincerely, “Thank you.”

Just then, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei ran in. When they saw all the books on the table, Jiang Bei’s eyes lit up. “Big brother! Mother said we’re going to school—is that true?”

“That’s right. Do you want to go?” Jiang Ji asked.

“Yes!” Jiang Bei said immediately.

“No!” said Jiang Nan.

The brothers stared at each other. Jiang Bei looked shocked. “Jiang Nan, you don’t want to go to school?”

Jiang Nan shook his head. “No way. School’s too tiring! Look at Da Zhu—he has to write big characters even after class. He never gets to play.”

Jiang Bei frowned. “But I want to go.”

“Then go by yourself. I’m not going,” Jiang Nan said stubbornly.

Jiang Ji flicked him on the head. “You’re going whether you want to or not.”

“Ah—?” Jiang Nan pouted. “Big brother, can’t I not go?”

“Nope. If you don’t, no more candy,” Jiang Ji said bluntly.

For the little glutton Jiang Nan, that was the ultimate threat.

Sure enough, as soon as he heard there’d be no sweets, he surrendered. “O-okay then… I’ll go.”

Jiang Yan, watching from the side, couldn’t help but smile. He picked up The Dasheng Legal Code and started reading.

“You’re starting with that one?” Jiang Ji asked in surprise.

“What about it?”

Jiang Ji leaned closer. “I actually bought that for myself. Didn’t expect you’d be interested too.”

Jiang Yan raised a brow. “Why did you want to read it?”

Jiang Ji answered naturally, “We live in this country, so we should understand its laws. Otherwise, what if we accidentally break one?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “That’s what I thought too.”

“Then you read it first. I’ll take it after you’re done.”

Jiang Ji said and headed out.

Jiang Yan watched him leave, then turned back to the table of books and supplies, a faint smile touching his lips.

After lunch, Zhao Ru brewed medicine for Jiang Ji and then went back to sewing with Jiang Xia.

That day’s sixteen taels from sales had given them both huge motivation. The undergarments cost less than one tael to make, so they’d cleared fifteen taels in profit—it was incredible.

They had never imagined silver could be earned so easily.

Though Jiang Ji had never paid much attention to women’s lingerie before, he often passed lingerie stores in his previous life, and the advertisements had left some impression.

“Mother, you can add more variations,” Jiang Ji suggested. “Like lace trims, lotus edges, or little bows. Make one line for everyday wear and another for… well, people like Madam Qian. Those can be a bit bolder.”

Zhao Ru was inspired by the lace idea, but asked in confusion, “What do you mean by bolder?”

In his previous life as a rich young master, Jiang Ji had seen plenty of the world, and with the internet’s influence, he knew roughly what that meant.

With help from the livestream viewers’ comments, he explained, “The everyday ones can be thicker, with padding. But Madam Qian’s type should be thinner, maybe no padding. The lower band doesn’t need two layers, and the straps can be narrower—light and sheer, but not fully see-through. Basically, the goal is… to look alluring.”

Zhao Ru: …

Jiang Xia: …

Both of them blushed crimson. Still, it was a business, and they needed ideas.

“Oh, I see. I’ll try,” Zhao Ru said after a pause.

Once he finished giving advice, Jiang Ji went out—time to carry out his own plan.

He had originally meant to chop a tree, but as soon as he stepped outside, he remembered that there was still a leftover log at home.

He searched around the yard and finally found a piece of timber about a meter long and a foot thick, tucked away in the firewood shed corner. It had been left there years ago by his father after chopping wood.

Jiang Ji was overjoyed—what a lucky find! Just when he thought he’d have to go searching high and low, the perfect piece of wood was right there all along.

He immediately dragged the log out and began sizing it up with an axe.

After a moment, he realized using an axe might split it unevenly, so he ran over to the village head’s house to borrow a saw. Then, using a piece of charcoal, he drew cutting lines on the log.

Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei followed him like little shadows. Curious, Jiang Bei asked, “Big brother, what are you doing with that wood?”

“I’m making a wooden trough,” Jiang Ji said.

Jiang Nan tilted his head. “What for?”

“For the toilet.”

Both boys blinked in confusion. Why did going to the toilet need a wooden trough?

Jiang Ji grabbed a plank to use as a straightedge, drew the rest of the lines, and started sawing.

He wasn’t very skilled with the saw—his movements were jerky and uneven. Several times, the blade got stuck in the wood, and it took him a lot of effort to wrench it loose.

Just then, Jiang Yan came out on his way to the latrine. Seeing what Jiang Ji was doing, he walked over and asked, “What are you making?”

“I want to hollow this out into a trough, but I’m not very good with the saw.” Jiang Ji scratched his head. “This blade’s too thin—it keeps getting stuck.”

“Let me try,” Jiang Yan offered.

Jiang Ji looked at him skeptically. “You know how?”

“I don’t know,” Jiang Yan replied calmly. “I’ll try.”

Jiang Ji: …

“Alright, go ahead.”

He handed the saw over, not expecting much. If even I—a modern rich kid—can’t get it right, he thought, there’s no way a pampered noble from ancient times can.

But the next moment, he froze in disbelief.

Jiang Yan planted one foot on the log, gripped the saw firmly, and began cutting—smooth, clean, steady strokes, the blade gliding effortlessly back and forth with a sharp hiss.

Jiang Ji: ?! This made no sense!

“I thought you were a young master from a wealthy family. How do you even know how to saw wood?” he blurted out.

Jiang Yan looked equally puzzled. “I don’t know. It just feels… easy.”

Jiang Ji: …

Expressionless, he muttered, “Careful—don’t saw past that black line.”

Jiang Yan glanced at him, lips curving faintly, then stopped and walked toward the gate.

“Where are you going?” Jiang Ji called.

“To the latrine.”

Jiang Ji: …

Jiang Yan returned shortly after and picked up the saw again, continuing the work.

“Won’t that pull on your wound?” Jiang Ji asked worriedly. “If it tears open, we’ll be in trouble.”

“I’m not using my core muscles,” Jiang Yan replied.

Jiang Ji blinked. So he’s only using his arms? And still has that much strength?

He thought back to himself earlier—he’d been using both arms and core and still struggled.

Is this guy really a noble?

Still, Jiang Ji was happy to have the help.

Once Jiang Yan finished sawing out the four corners, he set the tool down. “The rest can’t be sawed through directly. You’ll need to shave it down with an axe first.”

“Alright, I’ll handle it. You should rest,” Jiang Ji said.

He took up the axe carefully, not daring to swing too hard for fear of splitting the whole thing in two, and began chipping away bit by bit.

Jiang Yan didn’t leave. He brought out a stool and sat nearby, watching quietly as Jiang Ji worked.

Between the chopping, sawing, and chiseling, they labored through the entire afternoon—and finally, with Jiang Yan’s help, Jiang Ji completed the wooden trough.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾