CHAPTER 175: CHAPTER 175: GREENHOUSE (PART 2)

Half of the greenhouse is nurturing new seedlings, while the other half is planted with various vegetables and fruits. The vegetables are nothing special, just some common varieties with extraordinarily large and lush leaves. The fruits, however, are different, as they even have watermelons that are typically only seen in summer.

Jiang Shaohua bent down, looked around carefully, and picked one: "This watermelon looks particularly nice."

After all, she is the Commandery Princess, even choosing watermelons, they must be extra round.

Mr. Cui immediately said, "Commandery Princess, please wait a moment, I’ll pick it."

The watermelons grown in the greenhouse have green skins and red flesh, a bite bursting with juice.

One watermelon wasn’t enough for everyone to eat, so Mr. Cui picked seven or eight, washed them clean, and cut them up. The trusted aides, who had been walking all half-day, found eating a slice of watermelon to be an incomparable delight.

Even so, Mr. Cui was regretful: "This watermelon isn’t very sweet. In a year or two, when I cultivate a new variety of watermelon, the Commandery Princess will taste truly delicious ones."

Jiang Shaohua sincerely praised, "I think what we ate today is already great."

Mr. Cui grinned: "The flavor is just average."

Rarely did he feel a sense of seasoned pride and self-assurance in front of the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Mr. Cui with a smile: "Alright, then I’ll wait for you to grow more delicious things." She continued with some lament: "Twenty taels of silver may not be too much, but it’s still quite a bit. The wealthy and official families can afford it, but ordinary people can’t build it."

Mr. Cui also felt a bit regretful: "Yes, the wood isn’t expensive, but the coarse cloth and oiled paper for the roof are."

For such coarse cloth, ordinary people need only three to five feet to make a new garment. Now, building a greenhouse requires staggering amounts of coarse cloth, which ordinary people genuinely can’t afford.

Jiang Shaohua seemed to talk to herself: "One day, I’ll make sure that all the people of Nanyang County can have a good life where they can afford to build greenhouses and eat fruits."

The Commandery Princess constantly thought of the people.

Such a benevolent Commandery Princess deserved everyone’s love and respect.

Mr. Cui felt a warm feeling in his heart and replied softly: "That day will come."

Jiang Shaohua laughed, and Mr. Cui also followed with a smile.

Chen Jinyu suddenly felt that he was somewhat redundant, standing aside. The housekeeper Ma shared the same sentiment. The two exchanged a glance and slowed their steps tacitly.

A pair of young boys and girls ahead walked side by side unknowingly, with a peculiar harmony.

"Oh? Is this an eggplant?"

"Yes, over there is green pepper."

"And these are chives?"

"Mm, this whole area is chives. Chives, once cut once, can grow again, easy to grow and delicious. Some people are used to growing some in their small yards, ready to be cut for when they want to eat. What I grow in this greenhouse are selected superior seeds, with sufficient fertilizer applied, growing exceptionally well. If the Commandery Princess stays at the field manor tonight, I’ll personally make chive pies for you!"

"Are chive pies delicious?"

"You’ll know once you try them, Commandery Princess."

That evening, Jiang Shaohua tasted the chive pies that Mr. Cui made himself.

Jiang Shaohua grew up in luxury, with eight chefs in the Prince Mansion, knowledgeable in all cuisines. There was even a chef specializing in pastries, having eaten all kinds of rare delicacies.

This simple folk food, chive pie, which hasn’t graced elegant halls, was Jiang Shaohua’s first time eating it. With a bite, the crust was crisp, and the filling savory and fragrant.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes lit up: "Indeed delicious."

Mr. Cui raised his eyebrows proudly: "My chive pies have a secret. Regular folks make them with pure chives as filling. I specially use lean and fat meat, fry it in oil, chop it into minced meat, and mix it with chives to make the filling. It makes them especially fragrant."

With enough oil, they indeed taste more fragrant.

Moreover, for this pot of chive pies, he was meticulous from kneading the dough, mixing the filling, rolling and shaping, to carefully cooking them in the pan. His meticulous focus on the cooking fire was no less than his concentration when writing a thesis. With such attentiveness, how could the chive pies not taste good?

He also specially picked a few cucumbers, seasoned them with salt and smashed garlic, stir-fried a dish of tender greens, and paired it with a bowl of braised pork.

Jiang Shaohua smiled gently, no longer speaking, and focused on eating half a pot of chive pies.

At first, Mr. Cui grinned broadly, but gradually became a little concerned: "Commandery Princess, can you still eat more? If the Commandery Princess enjoys it, I can make it again in the future. Just don’t overeat."

"My appetite is much larger than ordinary people, I won’t overeat." Jiang Shaohua casually laughed: "How about it? Have you ever seen a girl as capable of eating as me?"

Mr. Cui, being straightforward, said: "Indeed, I’ve never seen before."

And never seen such a beautiful, intelligent, capable, and formidable girl!

And never seen such a generous and gracious girl with the people’s well-being in mind.

Heaven and earth, the Commandery Princess is unmatched!

Jiang Shaohua seemed not to grasp Mr. Cui’s implied meaning, smiling with curving eyebrows: "Tonight, I ate very happily, I must reward you handsomely! Tell me, what reward do you wish for?"

Mr. Cui hurriedly declined: "The Commandery Princess has already given twenty thousand taels of silver for me to build a thousand greenhouses, I’m completely satisfied. How could I ask for more rewards from the Commandery Princess... "

"So many greenhouses require manpower to look after. I’ll select a hundred nimble ones from the personal aides’ families to come to the field manor, following your directions to work. How about that?"

Mr. Cui’s eyes lit up, and he immediately changed his tune: "Thank you, Commandery Princess!"

The reality proves that no one can escape the truth of "it really is delicious."

Jiang Shaohua smiled beautifully.

...

Chief Historian Chen and the others also ate chive pies tonight.

Their pies were made by a chef, and the taste was quite fresh. Paired with a few small dishes, some cups of wine, and the autumn evening breeze, the feeling was indescribably wonderful.

Chen Jinyu peeked out from time to time.

Chief Historian Chen glanced at his granddaughter: "The Commandery Princess and Mr. Cui have important matters to discuss, stay here and wait patiently."

Chen Jinyu reluctantly pulled her gaze back and muttered softly: "A man and a woman alone, in a suggestive setting, I’m afraid it might harm the Commandery Princess’s reputation if it gets out."

Chief Historian Chen said blandly: "The Commandery Princess is the sovereign, and we are the subjects. To the sovereign in the eyes of a subject, there is no distinction between male and female. The Commandery Princess often summons me to discuss matters alone."

How is that the same at all!

Grandfather is of an age to be a grandfather to the Commandery Princess. But Mr. Cui is of the same age as the Commandery Princess.

Chen Jinyu silently added a note in her heart.

The chive pies were indeed delicious, quickly silencing her.

After dinner, the Commandery Princess didn’t idle, strolling through the field manor in Mr. Cui’s company.

Chen Jinyu wanted to follow, but Ma Yaosong coughed and laughed: "Busy all day, the housekeeper Chen surely is tired, go rest first! With Guard Qin and Guard Meng following the Commandery Princess, nothing will happen."

Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao were not the slightest bit foolish, following from afar. The remaining ten or so personal soldiers also scattered far away, not interfering with the leisure of the Commandery Princess and Mr. Cui.

"The moon is particularly round tonight," Jiang Shaohua stopped walking: "Mr. Cui, are you accustomed to living here? Do you miss home?"