Chapter 530: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 530: A Joyful Meeting (1)
The orchard housed over a thousand chickens, and since Mo Yan did not restrict their movement, there wasn’t a corner of the orchard untouched by these chickens or free from their droppings. Fortunately, the chickens mostly ate grass and vegetables, so their manure wasn’t too smelly, though stepping on it was somewhat unpleasant.
Seeing the scattered chicken droppings all over the ground, Yan Junyu, with only one shoe left, refused to step further into the orchard. He insisted on waiting until Mo Yan brought the fruits back to taste them. He then asked Guan Yu to fetch a spare pair of shoes from the carriage and hurriedly left the mountain.
Mo Yan didn’t push the matter and instead picked a variety of fruits, filling a bamboo basket before carrying it back home.
Yan Junyu was already waiting under the vines. He had not only changed his shoes but also donned a completely new outfit, still in purple, which made him appear even more handsome and imposing.
Seeing the vibrant and plump fruits in the basket, Yan Junyu’s eyes lit up. “It seems the feng shui here is indeed quite good. I’m tempted to build a villa here to stay regularly.”
Mo Yan thought for a moment and, while cleaning the fruits, suggested, “The feng shui is indeed favorable here, and the local people are very genuine. It would be an excellent place for cultivating oneself! If Young Master Yan builds a few exquisite villas here, it could be quite profitable.”
Yan Junyu raised his eyebrows and genuinely considered the suggestion. “Your advice is quite good. Once the winery is established, I’ll think it over.”
Mo Yan didn’t expect that a casual remark would spark his interest. Whether to praise his courage or his wealth and indulgence, it was hard to say.
Nevertheless, this was beneficial. Building villas was a substantial project, which would certainly require hiring workers from the impoverished Liu Yang Village, bringing a positive impact to the community.
After washing the fruits, Mo Yan placed the bamboo basket on the stone table, letting Yan Junyu handle them. The fruits were served unpeeled and uncut. Freshly picked, the fruit skins were juicy and sweet, so peeling them would have been a waste.
Yan Junyu washed his hands and, setting aside his usual fastidiousness, picked a glistening purple grape and ate it whole, skin and all. The delight in his eyes was evident. “Not bad, not bad! Better than the tribute from the southern barbarians! Hmph, let’s see what the officials of the Agricultural Affairs Department have to say now!”
His smug expression suggested he felt he had finally one-upped the officials, as if this victory was a personal triumph.
Like apples, grapes were rare fruits, usually only enjoyed by the royal court and high officials. The Agricultural Affairs Department spent significant sums every year importing these rare seedlings from southern frontier states, but few survived and even fewer bore fruit. Last year, despite the pressure from the Agricultural Affairs Department officials, Yan Junyu managed to secure the seedlings thanks to the favor of Emperor Hui’an. If they had failed to thrive, he would have lost face before those officials.
Now, Mo Yan not only made the fruit trees thrive but also produced large and delicious fruits, earning Yan Junyu considerable prestige.
On the other hand, Yan Junyu had some worries about the upcoming construction of the winery. After tasting these fruits, those worries vanished. Even if the wine did not sell, the fruit alone could bring substantial profit. At the very least, the tens of thousands of taels invested would not be in vain.
Perhaps feeling he had been too expressive, Yan Junyu touched his nose and proudly said to Mo Yan, “When I send these fruits to the palace, you’ll definitely get some benefits! Take good care of those fruit trees. I’m counting on them to make those old fellows in the Agricultural Affairs Department lose face every year!”
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