Ch 91: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

The two main things Jiang Ji needed to accomplish in the capital were promoting winter wheat seeds and meeting Lu Huaizhou’s parents. He had completed both, and even successfully arranged his engagement. On top of that, he had gained the title of Duke Chang. It could be said he had exceeded expectations.

His next phase was to return and establish the textile workshop. Once things stabilized there, he could move to the capital and marry Lu Huaizhou.

However, he also needed to start planning his ventures in the capital.

He found Han Qingshan and Yu Yang and discussed future plans with them.

“Uncle Han, Yu Yang, in a few days I’ll be returning with my mother and the others. In about half a year, the whole family will move to the capital. I plan to open a restaurant here, but with my current status, it’s not appropriate for me to run it personally. I also don’t feel comfortable handing it to outsiders. I need your help. Are you willing?”

Seeing the young master’s trust, Han Qingshan nodded without hesitation. “We are willing. Wherever you go, we follow.”

Yu Yang nodded as well. “Just tell us what to do, Young Master.”

“Good.” Jiang Ji had expected this. “Here’s the plan. When we go back this time, I’ll return your contracts and free you from servitude.”

Both men were stunned. Han Qingshan exchanged a glance with Yu Yang and frowned. “Young Master, you want to free us? You don’t want us anymore?”

Jiang Ji blinked. “You don’t want to be freed?”

“No servant wouldn’t want freedom,” Han Qingshan explained. “But I am willing to remain a servant for life to serve you.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “You need to be free to help me run the business.”

Han Qingshan froze. Yu Yang thought for a moment and said, “Young Master, you mean that as Duke you can’t open a business, so you’ll use my master’s name. But servants can’t run businesses, so you’re freeing us for that?”

“Exactly.” Jiang Ji nodded. “I need you to act as the restaurant owners. It will be registered under your names. Essentially, I’ll be hiring you to run it for me. In a year or two, when the variety of vegetables increases, I’ll open a hot pot restaurant and have Yu Yang manage that one.”

“Understood, Young Master,” Han Qingshan said.

Yu Yang’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected to be entrusted with managing a shop as well.

Jiang Ji continued, “In addition to your monthly wages, at the end of the year we’ll split the restaurant’s profits eighty-twenty. You’ll take twenty percent. How does that sound?”

Han Qingshan was stunned. “Young Master, my wages are already enough. How could I take a share of the profits?”

With Jiang Ji’s abilities, the restaurant would certainly be profitable, especially in the capital.

Jiang Ji said, “Uncle Han, this is compensation for your work. Don’t refuse. Living expenses in the capital are high, and you’ll need to save a dowry for Xiang’er too.”

Han Qingshan was deeply moved. “Young Master…”

“That’s settled,” Jiang Ji said firmly, cutting off further protest. “I don’t mistreat those who follow me. As for how you divide that twenty percent, you can decide yourselves. Yu Yang, don’t worry. You’re still young. When we open the second restaurant, you’ll receive the same share.”

Yu Yang nodded. “I understand, Young Master. I’ll continue learning from my master.”

“Mm. I’ll ask the Regent to find a reliable manager. You may not have much experience yet, so learn from him.”

“Yes.” Both nodded.

Jiang Ji added, “I’ve already asked the Regent. Once you become commoners and live in the capital for a year, you can transfer your household registration here. We’ll be moving here as well. I’ll arrange a house for you. I’ve already picked one, a two-courtyard residence just behind the Duke’s estate. You can settle there with peace of mind.”

Freed from servitude, given a home, and entrusted with a career, Han Qingshan and Yu Yang were so moved they couldn’t speak. They both stood and knelt.

Han Qingshan said gratefully, “Thank you for your great kindness, Young Master. We will never forget it and will serve you for life.”

“Get up,” Jiang Ji said, helping them up. “Let me go over what needs to be done to open the restaurant.”

They sat down again.

Jiang Ji outlined the preparations: renovation, selecting staff, training cooks, hiring workers, training servers, and so on.

“…That’s about it. Management can follow the rules of our Jiang Ji Restaurant. There will be a manager to help, but training the chefs must be done by you. You’ve done that before. Also, as owners, you’ll need to learn management and bookkeeping.”

Han Qingshan nodded. “Understood.”

“Good. This afternoon we’ll look at the house. Tomorrow, we’ll check out potential shop locations. Steward Zhong has already found a few options.”

“Yes.”

After finishing the discussion, Jiang Ji let them go.

Back in their quarters, Han Qingshan and Yu Yang were both excited.

“Master, we’re going to be free,” Yu Yang said happily.

Han Qingshan nodded, his eyes slightly moist. “The Young Master treats us too well.”

Yu Yang sighed, “The luckiest thing in our lives was probably being chosen and bought by him.”

Han Qingshan nodded. “Indeed.”

Over the next few days, Jiang Ji became busy again, inspecting houses, visiting shop locations, and checking on crops outside the city. He wanted to settle everything before returning.

Lu Huaizhou knew Jiang Ji would be leaving once these matters were arranged, so he returned early every day to spend more time with him.

At night, as they lay together, Jiang Ji hugged him and said, “Our mothers seem to have set our wedding date. Next year, the eighteenth day of the fifth month.”

“Still seven or eight months away,” Lu Huaizhou said, dissatisfied.

Hearing the hint of impatience in his tone, Jiang Ji leaned in and kissed him, soothingly saying, “It’ll pass quickly. Besides, in the first month of the year I still have to come back to distribute spring wheat seeds, and also sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, and cotton. The north can grow those too. Once the spring wheat is rolled out, we can promote other vegetable seeds as well. And we’ll need to spread chili varieties in both places, otherwise the restaurants won’t be easy to run.”

Lu Huaizhou tightened his arms around him. “When you go back to set up the textile workshop, will you have enough time?”

“Probably,” Jiang Ji said, a little troubled. “The main issue is finding a capable and trustworthy manager who understands textiles. We’ll also need to open a fabric shop back home, so it’ll all have to be managed together.”

“Have Uncle Zhong find one for you.”

Jiang Ji’s eyes lit up. “That works. Then I won’t hold back.”

“You don’t need to be polite with me.” Lu Huaizhou pulled him closer. “I’ve already told my mother. From now on, Lu Shun will follow you.”

Jiang Ji’s eyes brightened even more. “Is that really okay? He’s the next steward they’ve carefully trained.”

“It’s fine. We can train another one in the household. Steward Fu is still young.”

“Then I’ll go thank our mother tomorrow,” Jiang Ji said with a grin. “Oh right, I heard from Uncle Zhong that the residence is training new guards?”

“Mm. The Duke’s residence can have its own guard unit. I’ll assign you one, and have Lu Jiu and Lu Wen accompany you back.”

Jiang Ji frowned. “There’s nothing particularly important on my side, and with Lu Shun helping me, let Lu Jiu and Lu Wen stay with you. You have more to handle.”

“Your safety is the most important thing,” Lu Huaizhou said.

Jiang Ji fell silent.

His heart felt full. He leaned in and kissed Lu Huaizhou, only to be pulled closer as the kiss deepened.

…

Two days later, Jiang Ji had arranged everything and it was time to depart.

At the gates of the Regent’s residence, three carriages were ready. Lu Jiu and Lu Wen stood on either side with a squad of guards. They would accompany Jiang Ji back.

Madam Lu held Zhao Ru’s hand, saying her farewells. She glanced at Jiang Xia and said, “I still think Xia’er should stay. She could live with me, and I’d take her to gatherings. In a couple of years, we could find her a good match.”

During this time, while Jiang Ji had been busy, Madam Lu often came to accompany Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia, even taking them to a few flower-viewing gatherings. She truly adored Jiang Xia, lively, clever, and straightforward, without any affectation. She almost wished she were her own daughter.

Zhao Ru smiled. “No rush. Xia’er won’t marry until she’s eighteen. There’s time.”

Madam Lu sighed. “Honestly, why would Xiao Ji make his sister wait until eighteen to marry?”

Jiang Xia walked over with a grin and looped her arm around Madam Lu’s. “Aunt, eighteen is perfect. I can spend more time with Mother and with you. Once I’m married, I won’t have this kind of freedom anymore.”

Madam Lu tapped her nose affectionately. “You, honestly.”

Nearby, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei were each playing with a diabolo, shaking it back and forth. They had recently learned it from Lu Jiu and the others and were having great fun, even buying several to bring back for their friends.

“Why isn’t Brother out yet?” Jiang Xia peeked toward the doorway.

Zhao Ru glanced over and smiled. “They’ll be out soon.”

Inside the room, Lu Huaizhou and Jiang Ji were locked in an inseparable kiss. Facing months apart, they both seemed intent on making up for the coming absence in advance.

When they finally parted, Jiang Ji’s eyes were faintly flushed at the corners. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs after the breathless moment.

“I’ll write to you,” Jiang Ji said, cupping Lu Huaizhou’s face. “And I’ll come back in the first month.”

“Mm.” Lu Huaizhou brushed his lips lightly against his, still holding him tightly.

Jiang Ji kissed him once more, then sighed softly and forced himself to pull away. “Mother and the others must be waiting. Let’s go.”

Lu Huaizhou paused, gently touched the corner of his eye, then took his hand and led him out.

At the gates, everyone turned to look as they emerged. Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei stopped playing, knowing it was time to leave.

Lu Huaizhou said to Zhao Ru, “Aunt, take care on the journey.”

“You as well,” Zhao Ru replied, patting his arm.

He then looked at Jiang Xia, Jiang Nan, and Jiang Bei. “Be good. Study well.”

Jiang Xia nodded. Jiang Nan said, “Jiang—no, Brother Huaizhou, we’ll be back next year. Don’t miss us too much.”

Lu Huaizhou: “……”

Jiang Bei, far more reluctant to part, looked at him earnestly. To him, Lu Huaizhou, who had achieved top honors in the imperial exams and become Regent, was an idol.

“Brother Huaizhou, I’ll study hard.”

Lu Huaizhou patted his head. “Good.”

Jiang Ji stepped forward to Minister Lu and Madam Lu, bowing. “Uncle, Aunt, we’ll be heading home now. Please take care of your health. We’ll see you next year.”

Minister Lu nodded slightly. “Go on. Safe travels.”

Madam Lu held his hand and patted it. “Go on, good child. Remember to write.”

“I will.”

Jiang Ji turned back and embraced Lu Huaizhou once more. Then he helped Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia into the second carriage, while he took Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei into the first. Han Qingshan and Yu Yang boarded the last carriage.

Lu Huaizhou instructed Lu Jiu and Lu Wen, “I’m entrusting them to you. Protect them well.”

Lu Jiu and Lu Wen clasped their fists. “Yes, Your Highness.”

The convoy slowly departed from the residence. Jiang Ji and the others leaned out, waving as they left.

Lu Huaizhou watched the carriages recede into the distance, only withdrawing his gaze once they were out of sight.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Ji sat down with a faintly dejected expression.

Jiang Bei looked at him and asked, “Big Brother… do you really not want to part with Brother Huaizhou?”

Continue reading the rest of the chapter.

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