Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Bian Yushu obeyed His Majesty's orders and escorted Yan Mingli out of the teahouse.

After Yan Mingli bowed to him in farewell, he was about to leave when Bian Yushu took out a drawing from his sleeve and handed it to him.

Yan Mingli was taken aback. He took the blueprints, glanced at them briefly, and said with slight surprise, "A curved plow?"

Before Bian Yushu could nod in confirmation, Yan Mingli noticed the differences in the curved plow on the blueprint. His gaze lingered on the alterations, and his expression hardened slightly: "Improved?"

He came from a poor family and knew very little about government buildings, but he still needed to help his family in the fields during busy farming seasons, so he was quite familiar with farm tools.

Although he couldn't fully understand the ingenuity behind the few changes on the blueprints, he could vaguely glimpse the significance behind them based on his past farming experience.

He solemnly held the blueprints, looking at Bian Yushu: "Is this for Zewu?"

Bian Yushu quickly gave him an affirmative answer, explaining with a confident expression, "This spring, His Majesty has already ordered people to try planting it in fields and slopes outside the capital. Although it's not yet autumn harvest time, the planting efficiency has improved, and the crops are growing well. Lord Yan is going to take up a post in Zewu County, and His Majesty has ordered me to give you the blueprints."

Improving agricultural tools is a major undertaking that benefits the country and its people. Judging from what this young master said, the project has already been tested this year with good results, so it is clear that the court will soon try to promote it.

However, Zewu County is located in a remote area and is isolated from news. It would take an unknown number of years for the message to be disseminated from the capital to the local area. His Majesty summoned me today, inquired about the situation in Zewu County, and even ordered someone to give me this map in advance. This shows that His Majesty cares about the people in such a remote and impoverished place as Zewu County.

Yan Mingli carefully put away the blueprints, his future direction as an official becoming clearer. He bowed deeply to Bian Yushu and said, "On behalf of the people of Zewu, I thank Your Majesty and you, young master. Please convey to Your Majesty that I will not fail Your Majesty's expectations and will do my utmost to govern Zewu well and be a good official who serves the people of this land."

Bian Yushu nodded, turned around and went back to the private room, where he relayed Yan Mingli's words to Qin Ji.

Seeing his eldest disciple beaming with excitement, Qin Ji raised an eyebrow and said, "Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the one going to Zewu County to take up your post."

Bian Yushu smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Yushu can also help His Majesty and the people of Zewu!"

Looking at Bian Yushu's eyes, which were filled with joy, Qin Ji's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile: "Hmm, impressive."

Bian Yushu was completely disoriented.

After briefly inquiring about the progress of Bian Yushu's gift, Qin Ji casually bought two packs of snacks at the market. He gave one pack to Bian Yushu and kept the other for himself. Then he sent Bian Yushu back to the workshop and told him to go about his business.

When Bian Yushu alighted from the carriage, Qin Ji gave him a wooden box.

Bian Yushu opened the box and found a piece of paper rolled into a thin strip, tied with a red string, so that its contents could not be seen.

Bian Yushu knew that this was the "sincere sentiment" His Majesty wanted to put into the gift, and he couldn't help but feel a little curious. His Adam's apple bobbed as he asked, "What if the string accidentally breaks while putting it in, and I accidentally see it..."

Under His Majesty's gaze, Bian Yushu's voice grew softer and softer.

Qin Ji glanced at him sideways and sneered, "Your head will probably fall off your neck by accident soon. You can try it."

Bian Yushu immediately shut his mouth like a docile quail. As soon as he jumped off the carriage, the wheels spun forward, spraying dust all over his face.

Bian Yushu, covered in dust and dirt, scurried into the workshop, clutching the box as if it were a bomb.

...

The carriage stopped in front of the Jiang residence. Qin Ji swaggered in, fanning himself with a folding fan in one hand and holding candied fruit in the other.

As soon as I entered the yard, I saw Jiang Jibai standing under the grape trellis, pruning the branches and leaves with scissors.

Qin Ji unceremoniously plopped down on the rattan chair next to him, crossed his legs, and started eating the candied fruit he had just bought while fanning himself with a folding fan and directing Jiang Jibai to do his work.

"This side, this side is a bit too long, no, no, it's been overcut!"

"That area is too sparse and ugly. Move two vines over there."

Jiang Jibai ignored his junior disciple's nonsensical instructions and continued pruning the grapevines methodically, glancing at the extremely relaxed young man in the wicker chair: "No errands to run today?"

Qin Ji chewed on a candied fruit: "The errand went smoothly today, I finished it ahead of schedule, and just happened to stop by to take a look around."

With Jiang Jibai's birthday drawing ever closer, Qin Ji felt uncertain. He thought he should try to spend as much time as possible with Jiang Jibai, since every day they spent together was precious, and no one knew if they would have such days again.

Jiang Jibai glanced at the candied fruit: "Didn't you say it wasn't good, that it was too salty?"

Qin Ji smacked his lips, savoring the explosive sweetness, and said with disdain, "It's really cloying."

After saying that, he picked up another grain.

Jiang Jibai continued pruning the flower branches: "Why buy it if you don't like it?"

Qin Ji didn't respond, but instead abruptly brought up, "Your birthday is coming soon."

Jiang Jibai glanced at him upon hearing this: "Didn't you say you might forget? It's been half a year, and you still remember?"

Qin Ji snorted lightly, "Just something I suddenly remembered."

A smile flickered in Jiang Jibai's eyes. He put down the scissors in his hand, walked to the boy's side, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Filial piety."

"Did you wash your hands after touching the grapevines?" Qin Ji dusted off the spot Jiang Jibai had patted, muttering, "I didn't say I was going to give you a gift."

Jiang Jibai smiled and said, "The emperor's favorite has remembered his teacher's birthday despite his busy schedule. He is very filial."

Seeing Jiang Jibai's smiling gaze, Qin Ji moved his lips, but ultimately, as if annoyed by the trouble, asked, "Is there anything you like?"

"Didn't you say you weren't planning to give me a gift?" Jiang Jibai asked with a half-smile.

Seeing that his youngest disciple was about to throw a tantrum, Jiang Jibai quickly said something to coax him: "Anything your youngest disciple gave me, I like."

Qin Ji snorted, quite pleased with those words, but deliberately said, "I was just asking casually; I wasn't planning on giving you anything you liked."

Jiang Jibai smiled and took a sip of tea before continuing to prune the grapevines, casually asking, "Did you go to East Street the other day?"

...

The update is a little late, but today's update is here.

I was originally going to update twice, but now I owe everyone 6 chapters. *facepalm*