Chương 27: Arrested

Cloudwater Town Martial Arts School. Huang Qingzhou looked somewhat restrained as he watched Su Jingshan, who was sitting before him and tasting tea. Two days later would be the Year Sacrifice. For Su Jingshan to come all the way to Cloudwater Town at this time, he definitely had something to discuss! Huang Qingzhou had already sent someone to invite his elder brother over.

"Virtuous Brother Qingzhou, your martial arts school has cultivated quite a few talents for Willow County." Su Jingshan put down the teacup in his hand and spoke with a smile that was not quite a smile. Huang Qingzhou cupped his hands slightly.

"Deputy County Magistrate Su is joking. They're all rural children. Teaching them a few moves is fine, but they can hardly be called talents."

"Aren't you being modest…" Su Jingshan chuckled.

"This elder brother has heard that recently, the martial arts school has produced some promising seedlings with hope of becoming Acquired Realm martial artists."

"Virtuous Brother Qingzhou, when the time comes, you must not hide them away. You must tell this elder brother in time, so I can help recommend them to serve in the army."

"They are all people of Willow County. This elder brother must think for their sake."

"This…" Huang Qingzhou's expression changed slightly. Then he gave a dry smile and cupped his hands.

"Naturally, naturally."

"Right, Virtuous Brother Qingzhou, if this elder brother remembers correctly, your daughter is about to come of age, yes?" Su Jingshan suddenly spoke. His tone seemed casual, but his gaze had been watching Huang Qingzhou's reaction the entire time. For a moment, Huang Qingzhou did not know how to answer. Su Jingshan asking this question now was clearly because he wanted to ask about the marriage agreement. After the Year Sacrifice, Huang Lingxiu would be thirteen.

She was indeed close to coming of age, but Huang Qingzhou had already decided to reject the marriage agreement with the Su family.

"Deputy County Magistrate Su—""What wind blew you here?" Just when Huang Qingzhou did not know what to say, the door of the side room was pushed open, and Huang Yunxiao walked in with a smile. His sudden appearance broke the oppressive atmosphere. Su Jingshan also withdrew his gaze and smiled as he cupped his hands.

"Brother Yunxiao." After the two exchanged pleasantries, Huang Yunxiao sat down.

"Brother Yunxiao came just in time. This foolish elder brother came precisely to discuss the marriage agreement between our two families with you two. The old mother at home keeps talking about wanting to hold a great-grandson sooner. Haha…" From Huang Qingzhou's reaction earlier, he had already seen that the Huang family had indeed decided to break the marriage agreement. The reason they had not said it clearly was still because of him.

"Brother Yunxiao will soon take office as County Military Commandant. When the time comes, we brothers will be both in-laws and colleagues. If we govern Willow County together, we will surely not disappoint the imperial grace or the common people." Huang Yunxiao was not stupid. Naturally, he could hear the several layers of meaning in his words. But something he had already made up his mind on would not be changed easily. Besides, Huang Lingxiu was his younger brother's daughter.

Even for the sake of the family, it would not be good for him to forcefully make the decision and have his niece marry a wastrel like Su Chang.

"Brother Su, our two families indeed verbally arranged a marriage agreement in the early years. Worthy Nephew Su Chang has also spent these years in Cloudwater Town, being with Lingxiu day and night."

"But children nowadays all have their own ideas. Marriage is a major matter, and what matters is mutual affection. As elders, we cannot forcefully make decisions either." If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"If in the end their days become chaotic and unhappy, won't we still have to worry along with them?"

"Moreover, we bear imperial grace. Even if we are not in-laws, Yunxiao will naturally still cooperate fully with Deputy County Magistrate Su in governing Willow County." The teacup Su Jingshan was bringing to his lips paused slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"That is so, that is so!"

"Sigh!"

"As the head of the Su family and also a parental official of Willow County, this foolish elder brother has been busy with official affairs all these years and neglected discipline. Chang'er is also Jinghong's only son, so he has been rather spoiled in daily life."

"Although this child is stubborn and mischievous, his nature is not bad."

"The sages have said that a youth at twenty is like a young tree, still able to reach the clouds." Placing the teacup in his hand on the tea table, Su Jingshan slowly stood and cupped his hands toward the two.

"Today, I have disturbed you. After this old man returns, I will certainly urge Jinghong to discipline him strictly. As for the marriage agreement, we will discuss it later." Seeing this, the two also quickly stood and cupped their hands, seeing Su Jingshan to the door. After he left, Huang Qingzhou's expression became solemn.

"Big Brother, this Su Jingshan still doesn't want to give up."

"I wonder what he plans to do next." Huang Yunxiao smiled faintly.

"When soldiers come, block them. When water comes, cover it with earth." … Golden Willow Village. Jiang Huanyu had been worried these past few days. Ever since Huang Qingzhou came to him and told him that the Su family might retaliate, after thinking about it over and over, among all his relationships, the only one who seemed able to resolve this matter was Teacher Lu. But he truly did not want to trouble Lu Zhiyuan.

A few days ago, the system gave a divination prompt, also saying that he had bad luck hanging over him recently, but that he would turn misfortune into fortune. It seemed that nothing too serious would happen. Adding the fact that the Su family had indeed made no moves recently, he could only temporarily press this matter to the bottom of his heart and prepare to consider it when the Su family truly made trouble. Winter left and spring came. All things revived.

That day, when he sent Anu to Lu Zhiyuan's house, he discovered that Uncle Ya was pruning the branches of the two thick peach trees at the entrance. When Jiang Huanyu wanted to go help, Uncle Ya stopped him. Helpless, he could only stand at the side and quietly watch. Seeing Uncle Ya carefully sort out the cut branches and place them together, Jiang Huanyu curiously asked, "Do these peach branches still have a use?" Uncle Ya smiled, picked up a stick, and wrote on the ground. [They were prepared for you. They have great use.] Jiang Huanyu looked at it and was very puzzled. Uncle Ya then quickly wrote on the ground: [Do not arrange anything else tomorrow. We will go up the mountain.] Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu vaguely had some guesses, so he immediately cupped his hands and agreed. The next day, Jiang Huanyu arrived early. Uncle Ya had already bundled those peach branches together. Clearly, they had also been sprinkled with water to keep them moist.

The two each carried a bundle of peach branches on their backs, brought tools and dry rations, and rushed toward the mountain. At the beginning of the Snake hour, in the mountain orchard. When the two arrived, Xi Fu was weeding in the orchard. Seeing Jiang Huanyu, he hurriedly put down his hoe and came forward.

"Master, these fruit trees should be able to bear fruit this year, right?" After Jiang Huanyu put down the peach branches on his back, he nodded and said, "They can bear some, but Uncle Ya said that in order not to damage their foundation, most of the fruit must be removed."

"You go rest first. Uncle Ya and I will look at these fruit trees." After sending Xi Fu away, Uncle Ya squatted down, carefully took out one of the peach branches, and used a sharp small knife to cut a piece of bark tissue with a bud from the branch. Jiang Huanyu quietly watched from the side. Only after Uncle Ya used hemp rope to tie that branch tightly and then smeared some mud over it did he suddenly understand! It really was grafting, and it was even a kind of patch-bud grafting method!

He had only learned this grafting method when he was in school, and he had already forgotten most of the specific steps. He only remembered that patch-bud grafting was the method with the highest survival rate, but its requirements were also extremely strict. Uncle Ya's movements were very practiced. Gradually, Jiang Huanyu was also able to help as an assistant. With the two of them cooperating, it only took two days to finish grafting all the peach trees in the orchard. [The fruit trees can bear fruit this year. Remove nine and keep one. Let the fruit trees grow as quickly as possible.] After the busy work was done, Uncle Ya wrote a sentence on the ground. Jiang Huanyu nodded. He understood this point. He had also learned it in school. When fruit trees were too young, if they carried too many fruits, all the nutrients would be absorbed by the fruit, affecting the growth of the trees themselves. Inside the cool shed, looking at the orchard that had already entered the proper track, Jiang Huanyu slightly let out a breath.

This year probably could not be relied on, but starting from next year, once these fruit trees were full of fruit, the burden on his shoulders should lighten somewhat, and life should become a little easier. At evening, just as the two returned from the orchard, they discovered several horses tied to the jujube tree at the courtyard gate. Inside the courtyard, there were also several constables dressed in black official clothing, with plain sabers hanging at their waists, sitting quietly.

Seeing Jiang Huanyu, one of the constables slowly walked over and questioned him.

"You are Jiang Huanyu?" Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands.

"This commoner is Jiang Huanyu. Officers, this is…" That constable kept a stern face and waved his hand, ordering the people behind him to directly put a cangue on Jiang Huanyu and escort him outside.