The Lucky Heiress - Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: 338_1
Chapter 338: 338_1
“Greetings, Seventh Prince.” Wei Ruo curtsied.
She thought, ’Isn’t this Military Governor too free? Weren’t there recent reports of movements from the Japanese Pirates? How can he still have leisure time to meddle in side businesses instead of focusing on his main duties?
“Miss Wei has been working hard.” Chu Lan said.
“It’s my duty as a commoner, I dare not claim it to be hard work.” Wei Ruo replied.
Chu Lan looked at Wei Ruo’s submissive appearance, with a smirk appearing on his face. His gaze then fell on Wei Jinyi, who was dressed as an attendant
behind Wei Ruo.
Somehow, Chu Lan felt this attendant was unusually distinctive.
“Who is this person behind Miss Wei?” Chu Lan asked.
“This is my family’s Guard. My elder brother recently had an accident, so my house feared for my safety and sent two Guards to accompany me.” Wei Ruo
explained.
“I see.” Chu Lan took his gaze off Wei Jinyi.
He then asked Wei Ruo, “How’s the progress now?”
“Everything is within the plan, my prince, there’s enough time for planting winter wheat.” Wei Ruo replied.
“I trust in Miss Wei.” With that, Chu Lan grinned at Wei Ruo.
Wei Ruo felt uncomfortable under his gaze. She disliked conversing with him. Every conversation felt tedious, always feeling like he was laying a trap for her.
“Does Miss Wei know why I am here to monitor land reformation progress when there’s a risk of a Japanese Pirate invasion?” Chu Lan asked Wei Ruo.
“I wouldn’t know.”
Wei Ruo thought to herself, ‘who knows what you’re thinking, if you want to
say it, then say it, I’m fine if you don’t.’
“It’s because the military grain supplies promised by the imperial court have
not been delivered yet.” Chu Lan told her.
Hearing this, Wei Ruo lifted her head to look directly at Chu Lan.
Chu Lan found this amusing, “It seems Miss Wei still deeply cares about the soldiers battling on the frontline.”
“Why has the military grain supply been delayed?” Wei Ruo asked.
“Over the past two years, you must have heard about the continuous disasters across the lands, the state treasury is currently facing a food shortage and refugees are on the rise, making the transportation process extremely difficult.” Chu Lan explained.
So first, there is a food shortage, and second, there is a problem with transportation.
“However, the soldiers stand guard for the nation, they should never lack
food.” Wei Ruo stated.
“Does Miss Wei have any good suggestions on how to resolve this current issue?” Chu Lan asked Wei Ruo.
” My prince, you overestimate this humble commoner. If the problems the imperial court couldn’t solve, how could I know how to?”
“I don’t think so. Isn’t the current method of aid through work your idea?
“Aid through work is a long-term plan. The lack of food in the army is an imminent problem that needs to be solved immediately. They are different.”
Wei Ruo explained.
“Indeed.” Chu Lan turned around, looking at the large newly reformed land in front of him, “If this land could really grow crops on time, even if it can’t resolve the urgent need, at least it can give people some hope.”
Wei Ruo didn’t respond, she had an idea but didn’t plan to negotiate with Chu
Lan on this issue.
Seeing Wei Ruo keep silent, Chu Lan didn’t continue to ask about this issue, instead, he extended an invitation: “Miss Wei came to inspect the progress of the land reformation, shall I accompany you?”
“I’m afraid, my prince, just me and my maid and Guards here should be enough, I don’t wish to bother Prince any further, you are of high nobility and you must be extremely busy, it isn’t right to lose your time for me.”
“The work Miss Wei is doing is for the people of Taizhou prefecture, it’s the most urgent matter at present, how could it be considered a waste of time?”
Ten thousand wild horses galloped through Wei Ruo’s heart.
After cursing in her heart, she still had to pretend to be honored and terrified and to agree to it.
“Then I’m grateful for your accompanying, my prince.”
“Mm.”
“Where does Miss Wei plan to go now?” Chu Lan asked.
“I plan to walk along the river.” Wei Ruo planned to inspect the situation upstream and downstream of the river.
She was considering constructing a reservoir because although it rained frequently in Taizhou prefecture, the rainfall was uneven throughout the year. Periods of droughts when it was dry, floods when it rained, both of these affected crop growth and agricultural development negatively.
Building a reservoir could effectively balance these conditions, providing a healthier environment for crop growth.
“Alright.” Chu Lan agreed, then led Wei Ruo along the river downstream.
Chu Lan walked ahead, with Wei Ruo following behind.
With Chu Lan’s presence, Wei Ruo became more reserved.
She tried to keep a distance from Chu Lan, walking together with Wei Jinyi and diverted her attention to inspecting the reclamation progress, doing her best to ignore Chu Lan’s presence.
After walking for a while, the surroundings started to appear desolate, with wild grass and scattered stones everywhere.
This area was close to the river, but the terrain was complex with intermittent hills and shallow soil-covered mountains, making it unsuitable for farming.
So, Wei Ruo initially abandoned this area in her plan, waiting until other planned regions were successfully reclaimed before considering the development of these hilly regions.
“Be careful.” Wei Jinyi warned Wei Ruo.
They were walking on the hill on the riverside with no clear path, the loose stones could easily cause one to slip, and one side was a cliff eroded by the
river.
“Hmm.” Wei Ruo nodded.
Though this terrain isn’t suitable for farming, it was perfect for the construction of a reservoir. Simply erecting a dam at gaps between several hills might suffice in building a reservoir.
As they were walking, a giant snake suddenly sprung out from the wild grass towards Wei Ruo.
At the same time, both Chu Lan and Wei Jinyi reacted.
The two of them moved almost simultaneously, but Chu Lan was a beat slower, as Wei Jinyi grabbed the snake at its vital point.
Without waiting for the snake to struggle, Wei Jinyi broke its bones with a jolt of Inch Power.
Chu Lan’s expression changed after witnessing this scene, his gaze switched between Wei Jinyi and the snake.
He and the Guard from the Military Prefecture were at about the same distance from Wei Ruo, and they had both acted at the same time. However, he had been slower than the other man.
This kind of skill was something he had seen only once in over twenty years. He was certain that this man possessed highly advanced martial arts skills.
This made Chu Lan think of the highly skilled man who had attacked him some time ago.
Such high-level martial artists were indeed rare, yet he had encountered two in the small Taizhou Prefecture. Could it really be just a coincidence?
After Wei Jinyi killed the snake, he was about to throw it away, but Wei Ruo hurriedly stopped him: “Don’t throw it, this is a Qi snake, it’s a valuable asset! Whether it’s cooked or used as medicine, it’s excellent! This one’s so big, it could be made into a large pot!”
Wei Ruo looked at the large Qi snake in Wei Jinyi’s hand, already contemplated how she would cook it.
“Hm.” Wei Jinyi didn’t find Wei Ruo’s reaction surprising.
In fact, in these times of food shortages, mice in fields would be eaten, so naturally snakes were a food source too.
Xiumei quickly took out a cloth bag, allowing Wei Jinyi to put the dead Qi snake in.
This snake was indeed big, larger than Xiumei’s arm. It could be used to make a large pot of snake soup.
Chu Lan looked at Wei Jinyi and asked, “This Guard’s martial arts skills are exceptional.. May I ask where he learned such skills?”
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