As a lord, I was forced to farm

Chapter 875 New Year

After regaining his footing, Ah Feng spent a long time mentally preparing himself before his legs stopped trembling. He then shamelessly asked, "May I ask Your Highness, how much funding does our 'Chasing Clouds Chronicle' have available?"

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow, and then, as if thinking of something, said with a hint of amusement, "I originally had 500,000 spirit crystals, but you just invited me to act in a 15-minute spirit shadow play, so I just used them all up."

"W-what?!"

Ah Feng was shocked. "The flowers...they're all gone?"

He tentatively looked at the prince's expression, trying to see if the other was teasing him. However, the prince's face remained as calm as ever, and he didn't seem to be joking. His heart sank. "How could this be?!"

Jiang Ran's tone rose slightly, revealing a hint of danger, "Oh, writer A-Feng, do you think my time isn't worth this price?"

"No, no, no, no." Ah Feng hurriedly waved his hand, almost leaving a blur. "Your Highness is so busy with state affairs and makes a fortune every day, this humble subject naturally does not think so."

His reaction was quite amusing. Jiang Ran didn't show it on her face, but she chuckled inwardly.

Ah Feng, dejected, pleaded, "Then, what should we do next? Your Highness, could you please provide some more funds..."

“Da Su has many places where money is needed now. Ministers of all departments are cutting back on spending. I’ve given you 500,000 spirit crystals and spent several million spirit crystals to create these four Starry Illusion Boxes for the ‘Chasing Clouds’. This is the limit that the county can do.”

"I believe you can overcome the difficulties for Da Su." Perhaps afraid that Ah Feng would be discouraged and refuse to continue, Jiang Ran's tone softened.

When someone who is usually indifferent suddenly does this, most people can't resist. The people of Dasu already have a very strong bias towards Jiang Ran, and the flowery language used to describe Lord Jiang Zhi Ran in "Chasing Clouds" shows that they want to pile all the good things on her, which shows how much mysterious respect Afeng has for Jiang Ran.

Upon hearing Jiang Ran's words, Ah Feng was deeply moved.

Unexpectedly, the prince placed such high hopes on him.

It turns out that Da Su has already spent so many spirit crystals to film "Chasing Clouds," so it's really going too far for him to ask His Highness for more spirit crystals.

Then, Ah Feng, still half-asleep, patted his chest and said, "It was Ah Feng who was ignorant and didn't know the difficulties Your Highness and the ministers were facing. Your Highness, don't worry! I still have the money I saved from writing books. I'll borrow some more from my friends, and I'm sure I can win the bid smoothly."

Li Fusheng nodded with satisfaction. Indeed, the person who could write such a wonderful book was not the kind of person who sought fame and fortune, but rather someone with a grand vision.

He turned to Jiang Ran and congratulated her, saying, "Your Highness, with a minister like Afeng who understands the big picture and shares your burdens, how can Da Su not become strong and prosperous?"

Hearing Li Fusheng's praise, Ah Feng felt even more that his actions were righteous, and he stood up even straighter.

Jiang Ran: ...

This Starry Illusion Box cost a lot of spirit crystals, but it wasn't made specifically for "Chasing Clouds". The 500,000 spirit crystals were just something Jiang Ran mentioned casually, and none of them were given to A Feng.

Jiang Ran still had some conscience. She didn't actually let A Feng put in all his effort to write the script and spend all his money to film the Ghost Shadow drama without receiving a penny. Instead, she made an agreement with him that she would give him half of the profits after the broadcast of "Chasing Clouds".

Perhaps due to excessive brainwashing, the other party declared with righteous indignation, "Money is just an external thing. Now that I have already received the honor of being the head of the first Spirit Shadow Drama in the Cangmiao Continent, I cannot accept this money anymore."

Jiang Ran, who felt that taking only half the profit was already a bit unfair, said: "...You should still take it. If it really turns out to be profitable, consider this a reward for you."

...With a heart full of enthusiasm, Ah Feng busied himself, urgently gathering like-minded people from all over Da Su to film "Chasing Clouds".

Meanwhile, the other people in the Ministry of Rites were also racking their brains trying to figure out the three scripts.

Another month passed, and it was the 28th year of the Great Su Dynasty. This was also the seventh year that Jiang Ran had been in this world. Not too long had passed, but she had experienced too many things, and her previous life felt somewhat like a dream.

Snowflakes floated in the halo, like wisps of cloud torn apart. Soft snow fell on the gnarled branches of old trees, and soon the brownish-yellow ground, the dark green eaves, and the distant green mountains were all covered with a layer of white.

Dasu dozed off in the first snow of January. The people of Dasu, who had been busy all year, were taking a quiet rest under the eaves because of this snow.

"This year is a good year."

Sipping hot tea, Jiang Nancheng looked at the fine snow being whipped up by the wind outside and squinted at Jiang Ran, saying, "After it snows, spring won't be dry, and this winter doesn't seem to be that cold."

Jiang Ran's gaze shifted from a script to the windowsill, where a vase held several vibrant red plum blossoms. Fei Xuan paused among the plum blossoms, as a few scattered snowflakes landed on her wings.

She looked at Fei Xuan for a while, a faint smile appearing on her lips, as she replied to Hu Lian, "Yes, thanks to the cotton seeds you brought back from Mingxiao, Nancheng, the people will be able to have more clothes this year and won't have to suffer from the cold in winter."

Although Da Su has a Sacred Pattern Cotton Tree and a Sacred Pattern Cotton Spirit Insect, those things are too precious and rare, and have little to do with ordinary people.

Fortunately, Hu Lian planted some cotton in Lingyuan and brought back some cotton seeds for the people to plant, so Dasu produced some cotton this year.

However, cotton prefers warm temperatures and requires ample sunlight. Dasu is located near the sea and is rainy, and there are no cotton-producing insects, so it is not very suitable for growing cotton, resulting in low yields.

The cotton-growing families could barely make ends meet and had no surplus cotton to sell, so Dasu also needed to buy cotton from other places.

Besides trading with various merchants in Mingxiao City, Da Su has also become acquainted with several territories.

Among them, Yanluo County, which has been purchasing bamboo deer bows and arrows and spirit deer bows and arrows from Dasu, has several cotton spirits and is famous for its cotton production.

One-third of the cotton in Dasu County is imported from Yanluo County.

However, if the sandstorms in Xiangling Secret Realm can be controlled, the sparsely populated area with abundant sunshine is quite suitable for growing cotton and fruits.

"Sister, brother, what are you talking about?"

A crisp voice burst in.

Jiang Xiaowen had just returned from a cold, snowy day. She hadn't even used an umbrella and had left Xiangcao behind her, but instead of getting wet, she brought a warm feeling as she entered the room.

Her mouth was a little dry. She glanced at a glass of water on the table, picked it up without thinking, and took a sip.

Jiang Nancheng was speechless. "Can't you wait a while and pour yourself some water if you're thirsty? The cup you drank was mine."

"It's okay, I don't mind." Jiang Xiaowen waved her hand dismissively.

Jiang Nancheng: But I kind of dislike you...