Ch 101: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

By the time Jiang Ji returned home to Changping with Lu Jiu and the others, it was already early February.

All living things were beginning to awaken. Fresh green shoots covered the earth.

The farmers were busy plowing the fields and sowing all kinds of vegetable and fruit seeds.

The Jiang family’s farmland had already been rented out to the villagers, but from afar, Jiang Ji spotted Zhao Ru in one of the aunties’ fields, seemingly helping with planting.

“Mother!”

Jiang Ji shouted loudly. Zhao Ru looked up when she heard him, and immediately raised her hand high and waved.

“Xiao Ji! You’re back!”

Zhao Ru turned around to say something to the others nearby, then called back to Jiang Ji, “You all go home first. I’ll be back soon.”

When the villagers of Shanqian Village saw Jiang Ji and the others return, they started shouting from the fields in the distance.

“Duke Chang, you’re back!”

“Duke Chang has returned!”

Laughing, Jiang Ji raised his voice in reply, “I’m back! Auntie, what seeds are you planting?”

“Chili peppers!”

“My family’s planting watermelons!”

Jiang Ji smiled. “Be extra careful with the watermelon planting. Ask Village Chief and Uncle Tugen for advice more often.”

“Alright, got it!”

It was still mid-afternoon. Jiang Ji simply dismounted, telling the guards to lead the horses back first while he headed down into the fields toward Zhao Ru.

When Lu Jiu and Lu Wen saw him get off his horse, they immediately followed. The two of them were responsible for staying close to protect Jiang Ji.

Chatting casually with the villagers along the way, Jiang Ji eventually reached Zhao Ru’s side.

Seeing him approach, Zhao Ru brushed the dirt from her hands and looked him over carefully before asking with concern, “You must be tired, right? Didn’t I tell you to go home and rest first? Why did you come over here?”

“I’m fine. Not too tired. I just wanted to come take a look.” Jiang Ji stepped into the field.

Zhao Ru was teaching Uncle Dagui’s family how to plant watermelon seeds. Since all the family land had been rented out, she couldn’t sit still watching everyone work, so she simply came out to help.

Uncle Dagui’s family had built a new house last year, and his son had gotten married as well. At the moment, the whole family was busy working in the fields together.

“Duke Chang, the honored lady has been teaching us how to grow tomatoes, watermelons, and chili peppers these days,” Uncle Dagui said with a grin. “She’s helped us tremendously.”

“My mother just can’t sit idle,” Jiang Ji said with a laugh as he crouched down and lifted the straw covering to take a look. “What seeds are planted over here?”

“Bitter melon and tomatoes. We just sowed them a couple days ago.”

Jiang Ji nodded. “A lot of people planted watermelons and tomatoes this year, didn’t they?”

“That’s right. A lot planted chili peppers too. Your sales last year were so good that when the county office started selling seeds, people rushed to buy them. By noon, all the watermelon, tomato, and chili pepper seeds were completely sold out.” Uncle Dagui chuckled. “But our family used the seeds you left at home instead. The watermelon and chili pepper seeds too. We didn’t buy ours from the county office.”

Before leaving for the capital, Jiang Ji had intentionally left different varieties of chili pepper and watermelon seeds at home, reserved exclusively for Shanqian Village.

Everyone knew Jiang Ji had specially saved them for the village alone. Only they had access to those varieties, and the villagers were all deeply touched by the special care he showed them.

After staying a while longer in the fields, Zhao Ru and Jiang Ji finally headed home together.

Along the way, Zhao Ru asked, “Everyone in the capital has been doing well, right?”

Jiang Ji nodded. “Everyone’s been quite well. Madam Lu asked me to pass along her greetings to you.”

“Good. We actually received a letter from her just a couple days after you left.”

Smiling, Jiang Ji said, “We arrived there on the fourteenth, so we spent the Lantern Festival at the Lu Residence. Oh, right, the restaurant in the capital has opened already. Business has been very good.”

“I’m not worried about the restaurant business. How are Qingshan and the others? It must’ve been hard for them in the capital where everything’s unfamiliar. I heard winters there are terribly cold.”

“They’re all doing quite well too, so don’t worry.”

“That’s good.” After asking about affairs in the capital, Zhao Ru continued, “The money from the county office’s seed sales has already been delivered. I heard quite a few people are planting cotton this year.”

“Mhm. I was the one who suggested it to the magistrate,” Jiang Ji replied. Then he added, “Mother, we should start preparing for the move.”

Zhao Ru stopped walking. She gazed over the fields for a long while before quietly saying, “Alright. Then we’ll move.”

Jiang Ji looked at his mother, then at the surrounding farmland, feeling a touch of emotion in his heart as well.

The two chatted idly all the way home. That evening after dinner, the family gathered in the main hall to discuss everything that needed to be done for the relocation while Lu Shun recorded things in a notebook.

First, they needed to determine who would be going to the capital with them.

Most of the household servants were bound by lifetime contracts, though some still had family members remaining in Changping. Jiang Ji said nobody would be forced to leave, and instructed Lu Shun to confirm each person’s wishes one by one before making arrangements.

The textile workshop and cloth shop would continue under Meng Dahai’s management. The house here would also remain for them to live in, while they oversaw the property at the same time.

As for the restaurant in town, the kitchen staff were all servants bound by lifetime contracts. Jiang Ji planned to leave all of them there as well, along with the town residence, placing everything under Ding Xiaojun’s management.

For at least the next year, probably until September, the capital restaurant would still need people traveling back periodically to collect dried chili peppers. Once chili cultivation fully expanded locally, however, supply could eventually come directly from the region itself.

That was also one of the reasons Jiang Ji had begun promoting vegetable cultivation throughout Changping. Among the chili seeds he left with the county office were two varieties: one suitable for fresh green peppers, and another especially ideal for drying into dried chili peppers for sale.

Once everything had been discussed, Jiang Ji instructed Lu Shun to begin preparations. Only after confirming the number of people relocating could they purchase enough carriages, wooden trunks, and other supplies.

The following morning after breakfast, Lu Shun gathered all the household servants together and informed them of the upcoming move, telling everyone to think carefully about whether they wished to follow the family to the capital or remain behind.

Sister Guihua was the very first to declare that both she and her son would accompany Young Master and Madam to the capital.

In truth, many of the servants bound by lifetime contracts either no longer had any family left or had long since severed ties with them. Most had very few attachments remaining, otherwise they never would have sold themselves under lifetime contracts in the first place.

The overwhelming majority expressed their wish to leave together with the household.

Only one washing auntie chose to stay behind because her daughter was still working as a maid in another household, and she couldn’t stop worrying about her.

There were also several guards.

After Jiang Ji’s kidnapping, the family had hired six guards. Two had later been assigned to the restaurant, leaving four remaining at the estate. Of those four, three were hired workers rather than purchased servants.

One of the hired guards had no surviving relatives and had even accompanied Jiang Ji to the capital before, so he expressed his willingness to go again. The other two still had families here and chose not to leave.

After everything was tallied up, only the auntie and two guards ultimately decided to remain behind.

Once Jiang Ji learned of their decisions, he personally met with them and arranged for them to stay at the old residence. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. The guards would continue working security at the textile workshop, while the auntie would remain at the old estate helping care for Meng Dahai’s family.

After finalizing the list of people moving to the capital, Lu Shun began inventorying the belongings that needed transporting and headed into town to purchase carriages and storage chests.

During the days leading up to the move, Jiang Ji also visited the restaurant to meet with the staff there. After Han Qingshan and Yu Yang left, the person now managing the kitchen operations was Ding Xiaojun.

Jiang Ji taught Ding Xiaojun and the others another ten dishes, including both spicy and non-spicy options, so they could quickly rotate menu items whenever they ran short on dried chili peppers.

Jiang Ji Dining Hall had already become the undisputed number one restaurant in Changping, earning a profit of two to three thousand taels of silver every month.

Aside from merchants traveling north and south, many diners also came specifically because of its reputation, especially wealthy families from Pingnan County. Since they lived relatively close by, many prominent households would deliberately host banquets there as a sign of importance and respect toward their guests.

Jiang Ji had no intention of giving up the business here, so he specifically instructed Ding Xiaojun to take good care of the restaurant operations.

Jiang Ji also made a special trip to visit the magistrate and the others at the county office. He met with Master Zheng as well, handing over the correct cement formula ratios and discussing the blueprints for expanding the workshop buildings.

Once all matters had been properly arranged and the household belongings packed away, Jiang Ji’s family finally set out on the twenty-second day of the second month.

The magistrate and the others, along with the villagers of Shanqian Village, all came to see them off.

The Jiang family bid farewell to everyone one by one, while Zhao Ru and the others boarded the carriages with tears in their eyes.

Twelve horse carriages slowly rolled forward as the villagers followed them all the way to the village entrance.

Zhao Ru and the others leaned against the carriage windows, watching their hometown gradually disappear into the distance.

Jiang Ji rode on horseback, turning back to look at the little village and the stretch of land behind him. His eyes were faintly red as well.

Naturally, he was reluctant to leave.

Though he had only lived here for a little over a year, the place had already begun to feel like home.

It was here that he personally experienced the hardships of life, and also rediscovered the warmth of family. He had transformed from a spoiled rich second-generation young master who could not even tell the difference between chives and weeds into a major grower leading the villagers toward prosperity, experiencing a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment he had never known before.

And it was also here that he met Lu Huaizhou.

They had faced life and death together, endured hardships together, and shared a peaceful and happy stretch of beautiful days here.

All the major and minor events of the past year flashed through Jiang Ji’s mind one after another. The sorrowful moments and the joyful ones alike had all been engraved deeply into his memory.

The spring sunlight was warm and gentle. Tender buds swayed in the breeze while wildflowers bloomed brilliantly across the fields.

Jiang Ji led his family northward toward a new life.

*

Twelve days later, at the Ten-Li Pavilion outside the capital.

Jiang Ji was half asleep. Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei were leaning against him on either side, both sound asleep.

Suddenly, the carriage curtain was lifted, bringing in a gust of wind.

Still groggy, Jiang Ji opened his eyes vaguely and saw a dark figure bending to step inside.

He jumped in surprise before focusing properly.

“Lu Huaizhou!”

Dressed in simple black clothing, Lu Huaizhou curved his lips into a smile. In a single step, he arrived in front of Jiang Ji, leaned down, and kissed him lightly on the lips.

“You’ve finally arrived.”

Jiang Ji was still wearing a look of delighted surprise when he was suddenly kissed. Blinking, he watched as Lu Huaizhou sat beside him and reached over. Lu Huaizhou immediately took hold of his hand.

“Are you off duty today?”

“No. I asked for leave.”

The two held hands, looking at each other and smiling.

Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei slowly woke up. Seeing Lu Huaizhou suddenly appear, both were startled.

“Brother Huaizhou!”

“Did we arrive already?!”

Lu Huaizhou nodded with a smile. “You’ve arrived.”

Excited, Jiang Nan threw himself toward the window and shouted toward the carriages behind them, “Mother! Second Sister! We’re almost at the capital! Brother Huaizhou came to pick us up!”

From the carriage behind them, Jiang Xia lifted the curtain and poked her head out. “I know! It’s the same pavilion from last time!”

The servants in the rear carriages also lifted their curtains to look outside.

Xiao Yi shouted, “Third Young Master, this is still wilderness! I don’t even see any houses!”

Jiang Nan shouted back, “This is Ten-Li Pavilion. We’re only ten li away now!”

After another quarter hour of travel, the city walls finally came into view.

Jiang Nan shouted again, “We’re here! Brother Xiao Yi, look! We’ve reached the capital!”

Xiao Yi shouted back excitedly, “Third Young Master, I see it!”

The carriage procession slowly entered the city, and half an hour later they arrived at the gates of the Regent’s Residence.

Madam Lu was already waiting at the entrance with Uncle Zhong and the others.

Jiang Ji stepped down from the carriage. “Auntie.”

Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei also greeted her politely. “Greetings, Auntie Lu.”

“Ah, you’ve finally arrived!” Madam Lu said with a smile as she looked at them. “You must all be exhausted from the journey.”

“It was alright,” Jiang Ji replied with a smile.

Jiang Xia helped Zhao Ru down from the carriage. Madam Lu immediately stepped forward and took Zhao Ru’s hands warmly.

“In-law, Xia’er, you’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting day and night for you all. At last you’re here.”

Zhao Ru smiled. “We’ve arrived safely. And yet you personally came out to receive us. We’ve troubled you.”

“Auntie,” Jiang Xia called happily.

“Ah, Xia’er. It’s only been a few months, yet our Xia’er has become even prettier.”

Jiang Xia beamed from the praise.

Holding one woman by each hand, Madam Lu led them inside. “Come, quickly go inside and rest. After sitting in carriages for so long, you must be exhausted.”

“Exactly. These old arms and legs of mine can barely straighten anymore.”

“You won’t have to suffer through that again in the future.”

“That’s true.”

The women entered together warmly chatting away while Jiang Ji instructed Lu Shun to lead the servants alongside Uncle Zhong so they could settle in.

Lunch had already been prepared at the Regent’s Residence. After everyone settled down and freshened up, they enjoyed a proper meal before resting for the afternoon.

The very next day, Madam Lu came to the residence again to discuss Jiang Ji and Lu Huaizhou’s wedding preparations with Zhao Ru.

There were only two months left until the wedding. Preparations had to begin immediately or there would not be enough time.

Madam Lu explained, “Because Huaizhou is the Regent, though not an imperial prince, the wedding robes will be prepared by the palace, and the ceremony itself may follow the standards of a prince of the first rank. We won’t need to worry about that portion.”

Previously, Jiang Ji had only explained the betrothal and engagement customs to Zhao Ru. He had not yet discussed the actual wedding ceremony itself. Since Zhao Ru was unfamiliar with noble customs in the capital, she said, “Standards for a prince? I truly don’t understand these things. In-law, I’ll have to trouble you to explain everything carefully.”

“That’s exactly why I came today. Listen carefully while I explain.”

Madam Lu then thoroughly explained every detail of wedding customs in the capital, leaving nothing out. Zhao Ru listened attentively, asking questions from time to time, all of which Madam Lu answered patiently.

After hearing everything, Zhao Ru finally gained a general understanding. The customs were largely similar to those back home, though there were some subtle differences.

From then onward, the two women busied themselves with preparations for Jiang Ji and Lu Huaizhou’s wedding.

Jiang Ji was busy as well.

First, he had Uncle Zhong arrange accommodations for all the servants before bringing Lu Shun and the others to inspect Duke Chang Residence.

Since they would primarily live long-term at the Regent’s Residence in the future, Lu Shun would serve as deputy steward there. Matters specifically concerning Duke Chang Residence would be managed by him, while affairs of the Regent’s Residence would remain under Uncle Zhong’s authority. Household expenses would also be divided equally between the two estates.

After all those miscellaneous matters were arranged properly, everyone in the Regent’s Residence became busy preparing for Jiang Ji and Lu Huaizhou’s wedding.

Without anyone realizing it, time quietly entered the fifth month, and the day of their marriage soon arrived.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

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