Qin Ke chatted idly with the village chief for a while before bringing it up as if by chance. "Recently, my wife has been teaching me to read, and I've learned to recognize a few characters. I happened to come across a miscellaneous book on plant cultivation. Actually, back when I bought seeds from those foreign merchants, I also picked up several other varieties out of curiosity. This year, I decided to experiment and planted those watermelons. I never expected such a pleasant surprise, so next I'm thinking of setting up some vegetable greenhouses this winter."
"Vegetable greenhouses?" The village chief stroked his beard, puzzled.
"Yes. Winter is too cold for most plants to survive, so I was thinking of building a structure with insulation to allow vegetables to grow out of season. That way, we could still eat fresh vegetables during the winter."
The village chief's expression turned serious. He asked repeatedly, "What you're saying—can it really be done?"
With his years of experience, he immediately grasped the immense commercial value of what Qin Ke was proposing. If vegetables could be grown in winter, they would become a prized commodity that officials and wealthy merchants would scramble for. After all, eating fresh vegetables in the dead of winter was no easy matter.
"I already have some plans. It should be feasible," Qin Ke nodded, deliberately keeping his words modest.
"Then what you mean is…"
The village chief had already vaguely guessed why Qin Ke had come to discuss this with him. These were matters Qin Ke could have handled on his own, yet he had deliberately come to consult him.
Meeting the village chief's sharp, understanding gaze, Qin Ke curled his lips slightly and said, "Building greenhouses will require a lot of manpower. During winter, the villagers have nothing much to do anyway, so they could come work for me. I certainly wouldn't treat them poorly. And if the experiment succeeds, I'd like to promote it throughout the village. Beyond that, I have other plans—but those will have to be done step by step."
Unfortunately, the village chief was a genuine ancient-era man and did not understand the modern leadership skill of "painting a pie."
That's right—painting a pie. Aside from the greenhouse idea, everything else Qin Ke said was essentially painting a grand vision. His purpose was simple: to make the village chief their backing in the village and help guard against those with covetous intentions.
"Good lad! You've got ambition!" The village chief could not resist the temptation. He burst out laughing, even standing up excitedly to clap Qin Ke on the shoulder. He paced back and forth a few times to calm himself before sitting down again.
"Qin Ke," he said with a sigh, "the past few years have been hard. Drought ruined the harvests, and just when things started improving, the court raised taxes because of the war. Life for ordinary folk is difficult. If you can truly help the villagers, everyone in Qinghe Village will be grateful to you."
Qin Ke smiled and agreed, inwardly marveling at the old fox. Even now, the village chief finished with an emotional appeal—a subtle moral bind.
After Qin Ke took his leave, Madam Wu peeked in, carrying a plate of sliced watermelon. "Old man, what did Qin Ke talk to you about? I haven't seen you this happy in ages."
"You woman," the village chief scolded lightly, smiling all the same. "Something this expensive, and you sliced it without waiting for the children to come back."
"Oh, please. I know you too well—your eyes were glued to it," Madam Wu said, handing him a piece. "Don't worry, I saved some for the kids. Go on, try it."
She herself had been craving the watermelon for a long time. The bright red flesh still carried a sweet fragrance. When she cut it, juice spilled onto the board, and she couldn't bear to waste it—one taste had instantly sweetened her heart.
The village chief stopped pretending restraint and dug in. He finished a slice in just a few bites and nearly reached for another before remembering the price and pulling his hand back.
They had lived frugally their whole lives. Even good things were eaten sparingly.
"You still haven't told me," Madam Wu pressed. "What did you talk about that made you so happy?"
At the mention of it, the village chief's smile returned. "That boy Qin Ke is remarkable now. Who knows—he might even change Qinghe Village."
No matter how much Madam Wu pressed after that, he only smiled mysteriously and refused to say more.
She didn't insist, merely sighing, "Who would've thought? That troublemaker—fighting, gambling—he's suddenly become sensible and polite. You know, he's famous in the village now for doting on his wife. Every evening, people see him holding her hand while they stroll around the village."
The village chief might not pay much attention to gossip, but Madam Wu certainly did.
Whenever she went to the river to wash clothes, she often heard village women chatting. Qin Ke and his wife had become a hot topic lately.
Who would have imagined that just a few months ago, Qin Ke had been the village wastrel everyone avoided, and now he had become the standard by which unmarried girls judged potential husbands?
Meanwhile, Qin Ke wandered home leisurely. As soon as he entered, he slumped onto the table and complained, "Dealing with people like that today cost me way too many brain cells. Tonight I want dessert made by my wife."
"You're saying strange things again," Lu Youqing scolded gently, putting down her book.
Qin Ke was always tossing out words she had never heard before. She was already used to it.
"You've hinted things to the village chief?"
"Yes. Just like we discussed. I even painted him a lot of 'pies.' Judging by his reaction, he'll support us. We need to give them some benefits—otherwise, over time, others in the village will feel it's unfair."
Since ancient times, people feared inequality more than scarcity. Once villagers saw Qin Ke making a fortune, jealousy would inevitably arise, and those with ill intentions might cause trouble.
So it was better to bring them along, share some benefits, and bind everyone together.
"That way, when villagers start earning money through you, they'll naturally side with you. If the Qin family comes to cause trouble again, they'll help you."
"By the way, do you know who exposed our watermelon business?" Qin Ke suddenly straightened up, his tone sharp with irritation.
Lu Youqing raised her brows, guessing from his expression. "Song Yaozu?"
It wasn't hard to guess. He was the only one in the village who frequented the West Market, and Qin Ke's reaction confirmed it.
"That's right—it was him! The village chief let it slip during our chat."
That remark had been made just as Qin Ke was about to leave—a gesture of goodwill and a warning.
"It's fine. People like that are impossible to guard against completely," Lu Youqing said calmly. She had grown up around such people and was long accustomed to them. Seeing Qin Ke's frustration, she smiled softly. "Alright. I'll make you the dessert you want. There's no need to be angry over someone like that."
Although cooking was not a primary skill for a noblewoman, most learned a few dishes for their future husbands. Lu Youqing had only learned to make pastries. Recently, she had acquired some osmanthus honey and made osmanthus cakes for Qin Ke.
Unexpectedly, after one taste, Qin Ke couldn't stop thinking about them—even though store-bought ones tasted better.
When she brought the plate of osmanthus cakes to the table, Qin Ke selfishly pulled it all to himself, refusing to share with Li Nanqiao or Han Qi. Watching him guard the food like a possessive little wolf, Lu Youqing couldn't help but smile.
Knowing he was in a bad mood, Li Nanqiao and Han Qi naturally didn't argue.
"Starting tonight, someone must stay in the watermelon fields every night," Qin Ke said seriously after eating his fill. "Xiao Qi, Nanqiao—we'll take turns patrolling."
"Master, are you worried about—"
"Yes. Better to be cautious," Qin Ke replied.
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Currently at chapter 166 for advance chapters
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