Chapter 62: Yi Pin Xian

In this era, rapeseed did exist, but it wasn’t cultivated—it grew wild and wasn’t used for oil extraction. Similarly, sunflowers and peanuts were nowhere to be found. But that wasn’t a problem for Tian Mi; she had bought seeds during her last trip to the market.

She checked the stove in the backyard, estimating that it would be ready for use by tomorrow.

Previously, she had asked Qiu to order 300 flower-shaped molds in three different designs. Aside from using them to make cosmetics, she also planned to craft three types of soaps: regular soap, goat milk soap, and medicinal soap.

Once everything was prepared, her journey to becoming a wealthy entrepreneur could begin in earnest.

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Meanwhile, Bai Mucheng had arrived in the southern region and joined forces with Li Xianming. They hadn’t even started their campaign yet, but the surrounding counties near Nanjun City were already surrendering one after another, fearing that if they delayed, the Prince of Ding might personally attack them—which would be disastrous. Those associated with the Prince of Yu were either executed, exiled, or sold as slaves if they were lucky.

Bai Mucheng’s task quickly shifted from warfare to taking in surrenders and stabilizing the region. He requested the court to send officials to take over governance, leaving Nanjun City isolated.

Bai Mucheng didn’t even have the time to deal with the city, leaving its residents in constant anxiety, fearing both his arrival and the chaos it might bring.

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After eight days of exhausting travel, Zuo Zhengfeng finally reached the capital. After tidying up briefly, he entered the palace with haste.

Using the Prince of Ding’s token, Zuo Zhengfeng was granted an audience with the Emperor immediately. The Emperor read the Prince’s letter, and his disbelief was evident.

“Are you saying this crop can yield over 2,000 catties per mu?” the Emperor asked in astonishment.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Zuo Zhengfeng replied. “Both I and the acting county magistrate personally oversaw the harvest. To be precise, it yielded 2,400 catties, and that was on newly cultivated land. I’ve brought back some seeds, as well as fruits grown by Miss Tian for Your Majesty to inspect.”

Since this was sent by the Prince of Ding, it was only fitting to invite the Empress and the Crown Prince to join.

When the fresh, vibrant fruits were displayed on the table, the Empress couldn’t stop smiling. Her son was truly capable and filial, going to such lengths to send her such beautiful and delicious-looking fruits. The bright colors of the fruits made them look appetizing, especially the peaches and cherry tomatoes.

The peaches, in particular, looked even better than those depicted in paintings of the God of Longevity’s birthday peaches, making one’s mouth water just at the sight.

When Zuo Zhengfeng sliced the watermelon, the Empress was even more captivated.

Both the Emperor and the Crown Prince were equally drawn to the juicy watermelon.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is a treasure melon—it’s absolutely delicious!” Zuo Zhengfeng said, swallowing hard. Though he’d eaten it many times before, he couldn’t help but crave it again.

His amusing expression made even the Emperor chuckle.

“You must’ve had your fill of it over there,” the Emperor teased.

Zuo Zhengfeng grinned sheepishly. “Hehehe.”

The group began eating slices of watermelon.

It wasn’t just visually appealing—it was truly delicious. Juicy, crisp, and sweet, it left a refreshing coolness in one’s mouth.

The Emperor suddenly remembered that Zuo Zhengfeng had only brought back one watermelon due to its size, which made transporting more difficult.

The Empress savored the taste, her joy evident. “This child, the Prince of Ding, is so thoughtful! Such delicious fruits—I’ve never seen anything like them.”

The Emperor, in high spirits, pointed to the bag of potatoes on the ground and said, “These fruits are delightful, but they’re just for enjoyment. The true treasure here is this bag of potatoes.”

The Crown Prince, still relishing the watermelon, looked at the peaches, cherry tomatoes, and the two bunches of grapes. Everything looked so enticing. Curious, he asked, “Father, what’s so special about that bag of unremarkable tubers?”

The Emperor finished his watermelon and replied, “It’s the treasure that will ensure no one in the realm goes hungry—yielding over 2,000 catties per mu.”

The Empress didn’t seem particularly moved, but the Crown Prince’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“This truly is a treasure!”

The Emperor, still savoring the watermelon, glanced at Zuo Zhengfeng and remarked, “Something this exquisite, and you brought back so little?”

Zuo Zhengfeng was startled and immediately knelt. “Your Majesty, please forgive me. Watermelons are difficult to transport. If I’d brought more, they could have spoiled on the way, and then I wouldn’t have been able to bring back even one.”

That made sense. The fact he managed to bring even one was already commendable.

Such a remarkable woman existed among the common folk—she deserved to be rewarded! The Prince of Ding had even sent a request for her to be granted an official title.

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Meanwhile, Tian Dabiao purchased two manors near Qinghe County, totaling nearly 3,000 mu of land.

From her space, Tian Mi brought out 30 cattle and went to the county office to register them for ownership certificates.

Huang Yuanying explained that even wild cattle could be registered; the process wasn’t costly and mainly involved a small service fee and some taxes.

In this era, cattle were strictly managed. The certificates described the animals in great detail to prevent theft.

The same day Tian Mi provided Tian Dabiao with money to purchase the land, she also had Qiu order 30 plows. The current plows weren’t very efficient, so Tian Mi gave him blueprints for curved-beam plows to improve their farming capabilities.

Tian Dabiao was riding high on success, walking with an air of confidence. The Lotus Association he led was growing daily. He handed over the port operations to Zhou Yaozu and brought in Xu Yunpeng to assist him, much to Xu Yunpeng’s delight. Xu relished the brotherhood and camaraderie that came with it.

The management of the manors was entrusted to Qiu San, while Tian Dabiao also enlisted Cui Dahu and Cui Erhu to help. Busy from dawn to dusk, he managed both the port and the association’s affairs. Though the port wasn’t generating much profit yet, Tian Dabiao was satisfied seeing daily laborers finding work. He encouraged them to join the Lotus Association, ensuring they could make a steady income.

Zhou Yaozu was perhaps the happiest of all. He had witnessed the rise of the Axe Gang and its descent into tyranny. The anguish he had felt back then was now replaced by the hope he saw in the Lotus Association’s growth. With leaders like Tian Dabiao and Xu Yunpeng, who were honest and reliable, Zhou hoped the Lotus Association would never turn into another Axe Gang.

Tian Mi even commissioned a large stone to be placed outside the Lotus Association’s headquarters, engraved with its principles:

1. Unity and mutual assistance.
2. No bullying others with power.
3. Abide by the law.

The public was encouraged to report any violations by members.

On June 20th, Miaoren Hall officially opened. It offered a wide variety of herbs and ready-made medicines, particularly hemostatic powders and cleansing agents for external wounds.

Jin Mingwen immediately purchased a large batch for military use, instantly boosting the hall’s reputation. Tian Mi’s two uncles were ecstatic, as they had anticipated a difficult start.

When the workshop’s stove was finally ready, Tian Mi had her team purchase all the available pig fat in Qinghe County.

She summoned several helpers to clean, cut, and render the fat. Some managed the fire, others rendered oil or made soap, and Tian Mi took out goat milk from her storage for specialty soaps.

They produced three types of soap: regular, goat milk, and medicinal. The process required patience, as the saponification would take over a month.

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That evening, Second Uncle Xu informed her that the restaurant renovation was complete. They had decided to name it “First-Class Fresh Restaurant” and asked Tian Mi to choose an opening date from three auspicious ones.

Tian Mi, not particularly concerned about the dates, chose the soonest, June 28th. Everything was ready; all that remained was the final push.

The restaurant’s backyard featured a small fish pond, where they often fished for fresh ingredients. They also raised a few sheep, secured supply deals with vendors, and trained the kitchen staff extensively. Tian Mi had prepared all the necessary seasonings.

Given the summer heat, Tian Mi also taught them how to braise meat, providing a special spice mix for the dish. The light yet flavorful preparation was perfect for the season.

She also planned to sell watermelons exclusively at the restaurant, adding a unique draw.

“Hehehe!” She chuckled in delight.

Yi Pin Xian was bound to make a grand debut!