spend time

Song Yuan thought that he was indeed a smart man, and said with a smile: "As an uncle, it is natural to raise a nephew. Moreover, he is smart and capable. He drew the blueprint for the new plow presented to the court, and then the craftsmen made it. Nanyang County planted two new crops, corn and sweet potatoes, and his contribution was unique."

Cui Ping's face showed pride and satisfaction: "My father was very happy to know this. The Cui family has many outstanding younger generations, but none of them can compare to Cui Du."

Actually, Cui Du just happened to have the last name Cui, and Song Yuan happened to have an aunt who married into the Bo Ling Cui family, so Cui Du became a descendant of the Bo Ling Cui family. Cui Ping seemed to have completely forgotten this.

Song Yuan glanced at Cui Ping and said with a double meaning, "Cui Du has already settled down in Nanyang County and has become an official of the Nanyang Palace. Now the princess is asking for merit for him, and because of him, she will also offer a large amount of military rations to the court."

Cui Ping thought, let's see what I'm going to do. Cui Du has a bright future in Nanyang County, and the Cui family is eager to have him! The Cui family is not stupid enough to compete with the princess for Cui Du.

On the contrary, the Cui family only hoped that Cui Du could go one step further and become an indispensable person by the princess' side. In this way, the relationship between the Cui family and the princess would naturally become closer.

Cui Ping smiled gently and said, "The Cui family will remember your grace, Princess. If there is a suitable opportunity or a need for the Cui family in the future, the Cui family will certainly do their best to help."

As the future head of the Cui family, Cui Ping's words certainly carry great weight.

Song Yuan's expression relaxed and he smiled: "A journey of a thousand miles tells a horse's strength, and a person's heart is revealed over time. The Cui family has this intention, and we in the Nanyang Palace will all appreciate it."

After a short rest, they set out again, and finally arrived at the farm when it was pitch dark.

Cui Du was having dinner with Lu Cong and others. When he heard that Song Yuan and his party had arrived, he hurriedly put down his chopsticks and came out to greet them.

Two servants were in front, each holding a lantern. The soft light drove away the darkness and illuminated Cui Du's handsome face.

Cui Ping took a quick look and felt secretly satisfied.

This Cui Du is very handsome, with clear and bright eyes. The only regret is that his face is not white enough... Of course, for someone with such ability, it doesn't matter if his face is whiter or darker.

Cui Du had received a message from the palace and knew that this group of people were from the Cui family, that is, his clan. He didn't like the hypocritical courtesy of people coming and going, but he would pretend occasionally.

Song Yuan smiled and said, "Cui Du, come and meet your uncle."

Cui Ping, the eldest uncle who lived several rooms away, looked at him with a gentle and loving gaze. Cui Du immediately bowed his hands in courtesy of a younger generation: "Cui Du greets the eldest uncle."

Cui Ping smiled and reached out to help Cui Du up, his tone full of pity: "Good boy, get up quickly. When you were still in your cradle, I held you in my arms. In the blink of an eye, you have grown up so big. You have done so many things, you are worthy of being a son of the Cui family."

"I am ashamed to say that you left Boling County alone back then, and I, as your uncle, had no idea about it. It was only after Commander Song wrote to me that I found out."

"Uncle is really ashamed of you."

Cui Ping's eyes became red when he spoke of his feelings.

Cui Du thought to himself that this was really a first-rate acting. You and I have never met each other and I am just a descendant of the Cui family. Why are you so emotional? Are you trying to plot against me?

Cui Du blinked hard, but he couldn't make his eyes red, so he had to give up helplessly. His tone was very sincere: "I am living very well in Nanyang County. I will not go anywhere else in the future. I will stay in Nanyang County forever."

Cui Ping: "..." This Cui Du has a frank and upright character.

Cui Ping twitched his lips slightly, and a gratified smile appeared on his face: "The princess has been very kind to you, you should really serve well to repay the princess' kindness."

Then he personally introduced the tribesmen who came with him to Cui Du. Cui Du was very cooperative and greeted them one by one. At the end, Cui Ping solemnly introduced the boy who was about 16 or 17 years old beside him: "This is Cui Wang, my eldest son, you can just call him cousin."

Cui Du smiled and bowed: "Hello, cousin."

Cui Wang was tall and handsome, and his every move was like that of a young man from an aristocratic family. "My cousin, please don't be polite. I am a few years older than you, but I have accomplished nothing and am far inferior to you. I will need to ask you for advice in the future, and I hope you will be willing to give me some pointers."

Cui Wang was sincere, so Cui Du should be honest as well: "I am neither good at literature nor martial arts, I can only cultivate crops and farm. If you want to learn, I can teach you."

Cui Wang: “…”

This cousin doesn't speak or act according to common sense.

Cui Wang muttered to himself, then smiled and replied, "Agriculture is the foundation of a country and a top priority. Cousin, you have grown new crops, which has saved countless people's lives. This is a great merit that will be recorded in history. As for studying and practicing martial arts, it is never too late to learn. If you want to learn, I will teach you when I have free time."

After some greetings, everyone entered the farm together.

Song Yuan, Cui Ping and his companions had been traveling for half a day and had not yet had dinner. The kitchen prepared a meal as quickly as possible and sent it over.

It was winter now, so of course there were radishes and cabbages, but a table full of fresh vegetables was really rare. Cui Ping asked curiously, and Song Yuan smiled and said, "There are many white greenhouses in the farm, and vegetables and fruits can be grown in winter. Moreover, Cui Du has been improving the varieties, and the vegetables in our farm not only have a high yield, but also taste very good."

Cui Ping looked at Cui Du as if he were looking at a treasure in the world, and he praised him endlessly: "Great! Great! The people of Nanyang County are truly blessed."

Cui Dufu was touched and said with a smile: "Since my uncle has come to the farm, I will show you the greenhouse tomorrow. If you want to learn, I can teach you. After you learn, you can return to Boling County and pass on the technology of growing vegetables in greenhouses to ordinary people."

Cui Ping was a cautious person and did not agree immediately. He glanced at Song Yuan first.

Song Yuan understood and smiled faintly, "After Nanyang County planted new grain, the princess wrote a memorial to present the new grain to the court. Unfortunately, there were villains in the court who rejected the princess's memorial. Afterwards, the princess asked the Tang family to open a grain store in the north and bring corn and sweet potato seeds to the north."

"With your broad mind and courage, why would you care about spreading the word about greenhouse vegetable cultivation? Even in our Nanyang County, we are slowly promoting the cultivation. You just need to learn."

Cui Ping was cheered up and hurriedly bowed to express his gratitude.

After dinner, Cui Ping and others went to settle down and rest.

Song Yuan came to Cui Du's room and whispered, "So many people from the Cui family came here to formally recognize you as a descendant of the Cui family. In the future, even if you face Young Master Zheng and Fourth Master Wang, you will be able to hold your head high."

Cui Du said as a matter of course: "I have never been afraid of them." (End of this chapter)