Du Ke had read the memorial, so he was aware of its contents.

However, compared to the memorial, this letter included additional matters.

For example, regarding the management of land in the military camp, Qin Fang had found someone from the family to manage the fields.

In Du Ke’s view, this was just a small matter.

In fact, it was quite normal in the capital to let family members handle beneficial affairs.

Moreover, Qin Fang had only provided a monthly salary of five hundred wen, which was indeed low.

However, this also indicated Qin Fang’s caution and lack of greed.

“Dear husband.” The voice of Madam Du came from the door.

“Son…” This was the voice of Old Madam Du.

Mr. Du, Old Madam Du, and Du Ke’s wife had all come together.

Mr. Du said, “Why did someone suddenly call us here? Is something happening?”

Seeing that his son had invited both his mother and wife, Mr. Du thought the matter was not serious but might still relate to the family.

Du Ke stood up to welcome Mr. Du, Old Madam Du, and his wife into the study.

After they were seated, Du Ke began, “Father, do you still remember the Qin Fang I mentioned to you some time ago?”

Mr. Du replied, “Of course, I remember. I said that he is a person with good fortune. Why? Did you call us here today because of him?”

Du Ke responded, “Indeed…”

He recounted the events from the Imperial Study. “The emperor spoke highly of Qin Fang, declaring him to be my disciple, so he must indeed be my disciple. Although Qin Fang and I have a bond and could be considered teacher and student, if the emperor had not said this, I would not have taken him as a disciple.”

Mrs. Du(Du Ke’s Wife) said, “This is indeed unusual. Generally speaking, the emperor does not like civil and military officials forming connections. Now, however, he has taken the initiative to let Qin Fang acknowledge you as a teacher.”

Mrs. Du was a gentle woman; she was not particularly striking in appearance but had a very pleasant voice.

Her speech was slower, in contrast to the meticulous Du Ke.

Yet, after twenty years of marriage, their relationship was very harmonious.

Mr. Du said, “The emperor allowing Qin Fang to acknowledge you as his teacher means he has a very good impression of him.

By recognizing you as a teacher, Qin Fang has essentially stepped halfway into the capital; the emperor is helping him find a patron.

Furthermore, since Qin Fang comes from a humble background and has no roots, even if he acknowledges you as a teacher, his foundations and connections would still be based on yours.

Therefore, it does not expand your power, nor does it affect the emperor.”

Du Ke said, “I cannot fathom the emperor’s thoughts, but it is true that he has a very good impression of Qin Fang.”

Old Madam Du remarked, “I see that Qin Fang’s wife is a clever girl. With the management of military land, producing ice with sulfur and nitrate, along with the potato flour and sweet potato flour, that girl has sent such significant gifts to the emperor.

It’s only natural for the emperor to regard Qin Fang favorably. If the agency matter is established, the emperor could easily turn a profit of several million taels of silver.”

This was the least amount; if the agency fee were high, it could quickly add up to tens of millions of taels.

Just thinking about such a large sum made Old Madam Du feel astonished.

Mr. Du said, “You should only say this at home. Be careful it doesn’t get out.”

To say the emperor was making a profit without effort was quite a statement.

Though it might be true, some things were better left understood among themselves.

Old Madam Du laughed dismissively. “I’m only saying this at home; do you think it could be spread outside? Or that our son and daughter-in-law could let it slip?”

Unable to counter her, Mr. Du turned to Du Ke. “So, the reason you called us here today is… If it’s to acknowledge Qin Fang as your student, the emperor has already spoken. This matter is settled and doesn’t require discussion with us.”

Du Ke replied, “Even so, I think it’s important to mention it to you. Qin Fang is only twenty-two now; when he reaches my age, his future will surely surpass mine. As you said, Father, sometimes luck is indeed very important.

Initially, Qin Fang went from being a seventh-rank captain to a fifth-rank general, all because of the emperor’s casual decision.

After all, he was just promoting someone from Yongzhou, and he chose Qin Fang, who proposed the plan to break down the military into smaller units.

Qin Fang is a peasant and doesn’t involve any factions.

Besides, he was assigned to Yunxiang County in the remote Ren Prefecture, where no one in the court would oppose him.

Who would have known that Yunxiang County would have sulfur and nitrate mines? This is what we call luck and fortune.”

Mr. Du said, “Rest assured, since you have taken Qin Fang as a student, he will definitely be treated as one of our Du family.”

Du Ke added, “Actually, I am also quite curious about Qin Fang’s wife.”

As soon as he said this, both Old Madam Du and Mrs. Du turned their attention to him.

Du Ke didn’t think much of it and continued, “Qin Fang’s wife, Yang Haiyan, was originally a maid from the Yang Tai Fu family. Her luck isn’t any worse than Qin Fang’s.”

At this point, Madam Du interjected, “Indeed! If Yang Tai Fu hadn’t participated in the struggle for the crown prince, the Yang family wouldn’t have been…

Then this Mrs. Qin would still be a maid. It would be difficult for her to rise from a servant to a respectable status.

More importantly, just a maid, yet she can think of ideas for military farms, gunpowder production, and now potato and sweet potato flour.

If this were one of the famous pearls of the capital back then, I wouldn’t be surprised if Miss Yang came up with it. But it’s curious that it’s a maid by Miss Yang’s side who has done it.”

Old Madam Du said, “Mrs. Qin, being the head maid next to Miss Yang, learned everything from her. If Miss Yang could become a famous pearl of the capital, then if Mrs. Qin is clever enough, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to become another pearl as well.

However, at that time, she was still a maid, so no one knew her, and she needed to keep a low profile.”

It’s quite common in their families for a head maid to grow up with her mistress, studying and learning embroidery together.

Thus, Old Madam Du held this view about Yang Haiyan’s outstanding qualities.

Madam Du(Du Ke’s Wife) said, “Mother, once Qin Fang rises higher in the future, won’t it sound a bit less favorable that Mrs. Qin comes from a maid’s background?”

Even if she had a title and was conferred by the emperor as a country lady, ultimately… being a maid doesn’t sound very respectable.

The aristocracy values background, and a status like Mrs. Qin’s, even if she were a princess, wouldn’t be enough.

Old Madam Du shook her head with a smile: “I don’t think so. Everything still depends on the emperor’s intentions. If the emperor values you, even if you were a maid, everyone would still respect you.

If the emperor doesn’t value you, for instance, those royal family members who are confined, even if they are princes, are they not worse off than maids?

When it comes to intelligence, Mrs. Qin is not someone just anyone can compare with.

Would someone like her allow herself to be looked down upon? Besides, even if she is not respected, those who are beneath her still need to pay her respect.”

As the saying goes, a woman’s confidence comes from her man, but I believe a woman’s true confidence comes from herself.”

Madam Du said, “What you say is true. You have a clearer perspective than I do, and I need to learn more from you.”

Du Ke and Lord Du exchanged glances, not wanting to participate in the flattery between the mother and daughter-in-law.

After Du Ke greeted his family, the matter was set aside.

When he and Shen Lixian went to Yunxiang County, their first task was to take Qin Fang as a disciple.

However, Du Ke pointed to the potato and sweet potato flour and said, “Please refer to the recipes here and have the kitchen prepare a few dishes using this potato and sweet potato flour.”

For lunch today, not only did the Du household serve delicious dishes made from potato and sweet potato flour, but the emperor’s table was also filled with meals made from the same ingredients.

Yang Haiyan had written many recipes for dishes using potato and sweet potato flour.

The cooks of the Du household and the imperial kitchen followed these recipes, adjusted the flavors, and it must be said that the taste was outstanding compared to noodles.

Everyone was already accustomed to buns and noodles made from wheat flour and couldn’t taste anything special.

However, the texture of potato and sweet potato flour was different from wheat flour, resulting in dishes like noodles and steamed dumplings that had a delightful chewiness.

Both the emperor and the Du household agreed that potato and sweet potato flour would surely be a good business venture.

Although Du Ke and Shen Lixian were about to set off for Yunxiang County, they weren’t in a hurry, as they still had matters to attend to.

Therefore, Taoshan took Du Ke’s letter back to Yunxiang County first.

…..

Yunxiang County

The ten managers for the military farms had all been confirmed.

Besides Niu Er, Qin’s father, and Qin’s third uncle, the rest were locals.

The selected individuals were experienced old farmers with good reputations in the area, and the villagers spoke highly of them.

However, they hadn’t hired ten kitchen cooks yet. Niu Er’s wife, Qin’s mother, and Qin’s third aunt discussed it and decided that each of them could take on thirty people and redistribute the monthly allowance from the other kitchens to cover it.

Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan discussed this and felt it was feasible.

Thus, Niu Er’s wife distributed forty people, Qin’s mother thirty, and Qin’s third aunt also took thirty.

As for the monthly allowance, Niu Er’s wife received eight hundred wen, while Qin’s mother and Qin’s third aunt each received six hundred wen.

For this reason, the three women were quite happy for a while.

Cooking for thirty people three times a day was indeed exhausting.

Qin’s mother and Qin’s third aunt hired a woman locally to help, paying her one hundred wen per month, and with the assistance of Qin’s father and Qin’s third uncle, they managed to get by.

Yang Haiyan really didn’t want Qin’s mother to tire herself out.

Moreover, since Qin’s mother held a title and received an allowance each month, she sent another maid over to help her.

Honestly, Qin’s mother and Qin’s third aunt now felt like modern women striving for a career in Yang Haiyan’s eyes.

One afternoon, while Yang Haiyan was having hot and sour vermicelli soup, Uncle Hong hurried in: “Country lady… country lady, two beggars are at the door, saying they’re relatives of our general.”

Yang Haiyan paused, holding her chopsticks, and felt as if she had hit the pause button: “Ridiculous! How could the general’s family have beggar relatives? Did they provide their names?”