Chapter 1534: Chapter 1534: No Smoke Without Fire

Time flies; it feels like the autumn harvest had only just begun when, in the blink of an eye, it ended. There was no joy in the harvest this year. After paying taxes, the people were left heavy-hearted, as there had been poor yields two years in a row.

The only comforting aspect was that last year’s severe crop failure prompted half the farmlands to be planted with high-yield red sweet potatoes this year out of fear of hunger.

During the autumn harvest, Zhulan would occasionally visit the orphanage’s estate. The orphanage’s land was exempt from taxes. As the harvest was sorted and stored, the bulk of it consisted of red sweet potatoes and potatoes.

There were too many red sweet potatoes, and despite careful handling during harvesting, some inevitably turned bad. Recently, Zhulan enlisted a woman skilled at making sweet potato starch to teach the children how to process such sweet potatoes into starch, aiming to salvage as much as possible.

As the weather grew colder, Zhulan took her eldest son and his wife to the estate to check on the pigs. Zhou Shuren, the eldest son, didn’t want his mother visiting the pig pen, feeling it was too filthy. But his mother insisted on seeing the pigs personally, leaving Zhou Shuren with no choice but to relent.

At the estate, Zhou Shuren supported his mother, “Mother, be careful.”

Zhulan said, “I heard that the children clean the pig pens daily. Hmm, it doesn’t smell too bad.”

Zhou Shuren, who visited often, spoke up, “They clean daily and are most diligent during summer, disinfecting every few days. The waste is all removed.”

“So where’s the filth you mentioned?”

Zhou Shuren was momentarily speechless, “Mother, even if cleaned, a pig pen is still dirty.”

Zhulan replied, “We’re from the countryside, after all.”

Zhou Shuren muttered, “That’s not the same.”

Soon they reached the pig pen. Zhulan furrowed her brow, sighing at how the carefully raised pigs were still small—only around 130 pounds, not even reaching 150 pounds.

Zhou Shuren saw her frown and reassured her, “Mother, they’re already doing pretty well. The pigs at our estate are about the same size.”

Zhulan nodded slightly, “When the weather gets colder, slaughter half and exchange for coal. Keep the rest to butcher gradually for food. The children have worked hard all year; they need proper nutrition in winter to replenish their health.”

Zhou Shuren made a mental note, “Mother, let’s head out.”

“Alright.”

Lady Li interjected, “Now that the temperature’s dropped, are the hens still laying eggs frequently?”

The steward promptly responded, “It’s still fairly consistent; we collect around a hundred eggs a day. Every day we reserve ten eggs as backup, while the rest go into making egg-drop soup for the children.”

Zhulan nodded—in her view, a hundred eggs a day was decent. The chickens raised by the children had experienced some losses along the way, and a batch had been slaughtered during the harvest. About 200 were left now. Post-harvest, bug populations had decreased, so egg production had naturally declined.

Zhulan then led her eldest son and his wife to see the children attending classes and later visited the cellar. It was packed with stored food, the provisions meant to sustain the children in the months ahead.

On the way back to the city, Lady Li asked, “Mother, will the orphanage still need grain donations this year?”

Zhulan shook her head, “Unless the number of children increases, the food should suffice. The kids are resourceful; they dried vegetables and gathered mountain goods in spring and summer. Just the dried fish alone amounts to quite a bit. Along with the autumn harvest, they’ll not only have enough to be eight-tenths full but also have nutritious meals.”

Lady Li remarked, “Eight-tenths full is already quite impressive.”

Zhou Shuren added, “These kids have grown and changed significantly over the past year. Ever since the hens started laying, egg consumption hasn’t stopped. The boys have shot up in height, and the girls have become stronger.”

Zhulan smiled, “They’re all good kids, and they study diligently as well.”

Inwardly, she decided to open the storage room later and re-stuff some of the donated old blankets to make additional bedding for the children. The weather was particularly cold this year.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was surprised when Ning Xu sought him out. “Mr. Hou, why have you come?”

“Am I interrupting Marquis Zhou’s work?”

“Not at all, just surprised you’d come.”

Ning Xu’s thoughts were predominantly centered on Xiaxia’s health, yet he’d managed to divert some attention to this, leaving Zhou Shuren mildly flattered.

Ning Xu cleared his throat, “I’ve come to see you about a private matter.”

“Please speak.”

Ning Xu hesitated briefly before gathering his thoughts, “Well, it’s about my frail nephew. He’s been pleading with me for days, and I couldn’t bear it anymore—that’s why I’ve thickened my skin to come here.”

Zhou Shuren already anticipated the subject and replied indifferently, “Since you acknowledge thickening your skin, why not enjoy some tea and leave this matter unspoken?”

Ning Xu felt momentarily stifled but pressed on, “Come now, although I’m shameless for showing up, I won’t leave without saying a few words.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t even lift his eyelids, focusing instead on brewing tea. With the colder weather, hot tea was the best way to warm oneself.

Ning Xu sighed inwardly—it wasn’t that he wanted to meddle, but with the Ning family lacking other capable seniors, he had no choice. “My nephew’s wife is overly calculating, and her scheming has burned through her blessings. According to the Imperial Physician, she doesn’t have long to live. Poor Ning Ming, the boy’s fate is pitiful.”

Zhou Shuren raised an arm, “If Ning Ming’s plight is pitiful, then there’s nobody in the world who isn’t.”

Ning Xu twitched his mouth, “Fine, fine, let’s not say he’s pitiful. But speaking as a mother, while Yu Shi has been awful in ten thousand ways, her love for her child is genuine. At death’s door, her words were sincere, and her greatest concern is Ning Ming’s marriage prospects. Frankly, if Yu Shi weren’t dying, she wouldn’t dare think of pairing Ning Ming with your granddaughter. But now that she’s about to pass, she can’t hold back her daughter-in-law. Yu Wen would be managing the household, wielding the greatest authority.”

Ning Xu knew exactly what might sway Marquis Zhou’s opinion.

Zhou Shuren remained silent. Unfortunately, his granddaughter Yu Wen was notoriously lazy. Smart as she was, she seemed utterly disinterested in household matters. Even now, she remained languid, unmoved.

Ning Xu continued, “Ning Ming is a good young man, loyal and responsible. He’s been managing his household affairs since childhood—a capable boy indeed.”

If the boy weren’t so promising, Ning Zhixiang wouldn’t care even if heaven and earth were promised. Of his two nephews, the eldest, Ning Zhiqi, was the priority.

Zhou Shuren pushed over the brewed tea, “Have some tea.”

Ning Xu frowned briefly but soon relaxed, “Good tea.”

“It’s from the Crown Prince.”

“The Crown Prince?”

“Yes.”

The Crown Prince had been seeking Zhou Shuren’s advice, offering gifts as bribes. Lately, Zhou Shuren had accumulated a small fortune from the Crown Prince and had handed everything over to his youngest son.

Ning Xu’s expression shifted as he silently drank his tea. When the tea was finished, the timing signaled his departure. “Marquis Zhou, may I have an answer?”

Zhou Shuren smiled faintly, “If I’ve given you an answer just because you came once, wouldn’t that set a precedent? It’ll depend on the children—let them decide their own fate.”

He wasn’t about to let an external party dictate his granddaughter’s future. No family could simply secure a marriage alliance based on desire.

Ning Xu had anticipated the slim chances, “Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Take care.”

On the way home from the government office, Zhou Shuren shared Ning Xu’s proposal with Zhulan. Zhulan commented, “Yu Shi is certainly persistent.”

“She’s schemed herself into ruin.”

“Indeed. By the way, I’ve heard that the Empress is ill—is it true?”

Zhou Shuren frowned, “I’ve been staying in the palace after court sessions lately and haven’t heard such news. The Emperor looks fine, so it’s likely just a rumor.”

“Rumors don’t appear without cause.”