Yunshui Town Martial Arts Hall.
Huang Qingzhou looked somewhat restrained at Su Jingshan who was savoring tea in front of him.
In two days, it would be the annual festival, and for Su Jingshan to have traveled all the way to Yunshui Town at this time, there must be something on his mind!
He had already sent someone to fetch his elder brother.
"Brother Qingzhou, this martial arts hall has indeed cultivated many talents for Anyang County."
Su Jingshan set down his teacup, speaking with a half-smile.
Huang Qingzhou slightly cupped his hands, "County Magistrate Su jests. They're just rural kids learning some techniques—hardly what one would call talents."
"No need for such modesty..." Su Jingshan chuckled, "I heard your martial arts hall recently has some promising candidates who might become Postnatal Martial Artists."
"Brother Qingzhou, when the time comes, do let me know so that I can recommend them for positions in the army."
"They are, after all, citizens of Anyang County, and I must think of their future."
"This..." Huang Qingzhou's face slightly changed, then he gave a dry laugh as he cupped his hands, "Certainly, certainly."
"Oh yes, Brother Qingzhou, if I'm not mistaken, your daughter is about to reach her coming-of-age, isn't she?" Su Jingshan suddenly inquired, his tone casual, but his gaze was fixed intently on Qingzhou's reaction.
Huang Qingzhou was momentarily at a loss for words.
Su Jingshan's question was clearly aimed at understanding the status of the marriage arrangement.
Huang Lingxiu would turn thirteen after the annual festival and was indeed approaching her coming-of-age, but Qingzhou had already decided to annul the marriage agreement with the Su family.
"County Magistrate Su—"
"What wind brought you here?"
Just as Huang Qingzhou was struggling to respond, the side room's door was pushed open, and Huang Yunxiao walked in with a smile.
His sudden appearance broke the tense atmosphere, and Su Jingshan withdrew his gaze, smiling as he cupped his hands, "Brother Yunxiao."
After exchanging pleasantries, Huang Yunxiao sat down.
"Brother Yunxiao arrived just in time; my intention in coming here was to discuss the two families' marriage arrangement. My mother at home has been longing to see grandchildren soon, haha..."
Judging by Huang Qingzhou's previous reaction, he had already discerned the Huang family's decision to break off the engagement, choosing not to mention it outright out of consideration for him.
"Brother Yunxiao is about to assume the position of County Captain; by then, as in-laws and colleagues, we will jointly govern Anyang County, surely meeting the emperor's grace faithfully and serving the people well."
Huang Yunxiao, not naive, could clearly interpret the layers of meaning within those words.
However, with his mind made up, he would not easily alter his decision.
Moreover, Huang Lingxiu is his brother's daughter, and for the sake of family, he had no right to unilaterally decide to marry his niece off to someone like Su Chang.
"Brother Su, indeed in earlier years, our families verbally agreed to an engagement, and Young Nephew Su Chang has spent much time with Lingxiu in Yunshui Town over the years."
"Yet today's youth have their own minds, and in matters of marriage, mutual affection is paramount; as elders, we should not force our will."
"Otherwise, it's just chaos and discord, and we would still have to worry about the aftermath, wouldn't we?"
"Besides, even if not related by marriage, Yunxiao would naturally cooperate fully with County Magistrate Su in governing Anyang County under the emperor's grace."
The teacup at Su Jingshan's lips paused slightly, a fleeting smile appearing on his face.
"Indeed, indeed!"
"Alas!"
"As Patriarch of the Su family and parental official of Anyang County, I've been preoccupied with duties and have poorly supervised my own. Chang'er, being Jinghong's only child, has been doted on excessively."
"This child's obstinate yet not malevolent."
"As the sage said, 'One at twenty is like a sapling, yet can reach the clouds well.'
Placing his teacup on the table, Su Jingshan slowly rose, cupping his hands towards the two: "Pardon today's disturbance. I shall return home and ensure that Jinghong applies strict discipline; the matter of the marriage can be discussed another day."
The two promptly rose and cupped their hands, escorting Su Jingshan to the door.
After he left, Huang Qingzhou spoke with a grave face, "Elder brother, Su Jingshan is still unwilling to let this go."
"Who knows what his next move will be."
Huang Yunxiao replied with a faint smile, "We'll deal with soldiers when they come and water when it flows."
...
Jinliu Village.
These past days, Shen Yuan's heart had been troubled with worry.
Ever since Huang Qingzhou came to warn of possible retaliation from the Su family, he pondered over it again and again, realizing that the only one who might resolve this was Master Lu.
Still, he was reluctant to burden Lu Zhiyuan.
Recently, the White Jade Turtle Shell's hexagram had indicated misfortune looming over him yet also assured that calamity would turn into peace, suggesting no dire mishaps should unfold.
Additionally, the Su family hadn't made any moves lately, so for now, he had no choice but to suppress his concerns until they commenced any real aggression.
As winter passed and spring arrived, life began anew.
On this day, while taking Ah Nu to Lu Zhiyuan's home, he discovered Uncle Ya pruning two sturdy peach trees at the entrance.
He contemplated offering his help, only to be waved off by Uncle Ya.
Resigning, he stood aside, observing quietly.
As Uncle Ya meticulously organized the pruned branches, Shen Yuan curiously asked, "Are these peach branches still useful?"
Uncle Ya grinned, picking up a branch to write on the ground.
[Prepared for you, of great use]
Glancing at it, Shen Yuan was baffled.
Uncle Ya quickly wrote more: [Don't plan anything else tomorrow, we're going to the mountain]
Witnessing this, Shen Yuan guessed partially but immediately cupped his hands in response.
The next day, arriving early, Shen Yuan spotted Uncle Ya, who had already bundled the peach branches, clearly keeping them moist with water.
The two each hoisted a bundle of peach branches, bringing tools and provisions as they journeyed uphill.
By the beginning of the hour of si (9 AM), within the forest orchard.
Upon arrival, they found Fu Gui weeding the garden, and noticing Shen Yuan's arrival, hurriedly put down his hoe to greet him.
"Master, these fruit trees should bear fruit this year, right?"
Setting down the peach branches he carried, Shen Yuan nodded, "They can bear some, but Uncle Ya advised that to protect the roots, most of the fruits need removing."
"You go and rest first; Uncle Ya and I will inspect these fruit trees."
After sending Fu Gui away, Uncle Ya crouched, meticulously removing a single branch, using a sharp knife to shave off a sprouting piece of bark tissue.
Shen Yuan watched silently from the side.
It wasn't until Uncle Ya adeptly tied the branch with hemp rope and applied some mud that Shen Yuan realized!
It truly was grafting, specifically a type of budding grafting!
This grafting method he vaguely recalled learning in school, though the specific procedures completely eluded him now.
All he remembered was that budding grafting had the highest survival rate, yet demanded very stringent processes.
With practiced ease, Uncle Ya worked, and gradually, Shen Yuan began assisting where he could.
Through their collaboration, it only took two days to complete grafting all the peach trees in the orchard.
[This year's fruit trees can bear some fruit, but only one in ten should remain, to prompt quick growth]
Following labor, Uncle Ya wrote a sentence on the ground.
Shen Yuan nodded understandingly.
This principle was something he learned in school too.
If young fruit trees bear too many fruits, the nutrients all go to the fruits, stunting the growth of the tree itself.
Sitting under the cool shade, gazing over the progressing orchard, Shen Yuan finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
This year's yield might not be promising, but starting next year, with these trees laden with fruit, the burdens he carried might lessen, and days would surely become better.
Come evening, just as the pair returned from the orchard, they noticed several horses tied to the jujube tree at the courtyard entrance, with a few officials in black robes, blades at their sides, quietly seated within the yard.
Upon seeing Shen Yuan, one official slowly approached and questioned, "Are you Shen Yuan?"
Shen Yuan cupped his hands, "This commoner is Shen Yuan. Gentlemen officers, may I ask—"
The official maintained a stern face, motioning for those behind him to affix a yoke upon him, quickly escorting him out.