Chapter 338: 338_1


    “Greetings, Seventh Prince.” Wei Ruo curtsied.


    She thought, ’Isn’t this Military Governor too free? Weren’t there recent reports of movements from the Japanese Pirates? How can he still have leisure time to meddle in side businesses instead of focusing on his main duties?


    “Miss Wei has been working hard.” Chu Lan said.


    “It’s my duty as amoner, I dare not im it to be hard work.” Wei Ruo replied.


    Chu Lan looked at Wei Ruo’s submissive appearance, with a smirk appearing on his face. His gaze then fell on Wei Jinyi, who was dressed as an attendant


    behind Wei Ruo.


    Somehow, Chu Lan felt this attendant was unusually distinctive.


    “Who is this person behind Miss Wei?” Chu Lan asked.


    “This is my family’s Guard. My elder brother recently had an ident, so my house feared for my safety and sent two Guards to apany me.” Wei Ruo


    exined.


    “I see.” Chu Lan took his gaze off Wei Jinyi.


    He then asked Wei Ruo, “How’s the progress now?”


    “Everything is within the n, my prince, there’s enough time for nting winter wheat.” Wei Ruo replied.


    “I trust in Miss Wei.” With that, Chu Lan grinned at Wei Ruo.


    Wei Ruo felt ufortable under his gaze. She disliked conversing with him. Every conversation felt tedious, always feeling like he wasying a trap for her.


    “Does Miss Wei know why I am here to monitornd reformation progress when there’s a risk of a Japanese Pirate invasion?” Chu Lan asked Wei Ruo.


    “I wouldn’t know.”


    Wei Ruo thought to herself, ‘who knows what you’re thinking, if you want to


    say it, then say it, I’m fine if you don’t.’


    “It’s because the military grain supplies promised by the imperial court have


    not been delivered yet.” Chu Lan told her.


    Hearing this, Wei Ruo lifted her head to look directly at Chu Lan.


    Chu Lan found this amusing, “It seems Miss Wei still deeply cares about the soldiers battling on the frontline.”


    “Why has the military grain supply been dyed?” Wei Ruo asked.


    “Over the past two years, you must have heard about the continuous disasters across thends, the state treasury is currently facing a food shortage and refugees are on the rise, making the transportation process extremely difficult.” Chu Lan exined.


    So first, there is a food shortage, and second, there is a problem with transportation.


    “However, the soldiers stand guard for the nation, they should neverck


    food.” Wei Ruo stated.


    “Does Miss Wei have any good suggestions on how to resolve this current issue?” Chu Lan asked Wei Ruo.


    ” My prince, you overestimate this humblemoner. If the problems the imperial court couldn’t solve, how could I know how to?”


    “I don’t think so. Isn’t the current method of aid through work your idea?


    “Aid through work is a long-term n. Theck of food in the army is an imminent problem that needs to be solved immediately. They are different.”


    Wei Ruo exined.


    “Indeed.” Chu Lan turned around, looking at therge newly reformednd in front of him, “If thisnd could really grow crops on time, even if it can’t resolve the urgent need, at least it can give people some hope.”


    Wei Ruo didn’t respond, she had an idea but didn’t n to negotiate with Chu


    Lan on this issue.


    Seeing Wei Ruo keep silent, Chu Lan didn’t continue to ask about this issue, instead, he extended an invitation: “Miss Wei came to inspect the progress of thend reformation, shall I apany you?”


    “I’m afraid, my prince, just me and my maid and Guards here should be enough, I don’t wish to bother Prince any further, you are of high nobility and you must be extremely busy, it isn’t right to lose your time for me.”


    “The work Miss Wei is doing is for the people of Taizhou prefecture, it’s the most urgent matter at present, how could it be considered a waste of time?”


    Ten thousand wild horses galloped through Wei Ruo’s heart.


    After cursing in her heart, she still had to pretend to be honored and terrified and to agree to it.


    “Then I’m grateful for your apanying, my prince.”


    “Mm.”


    “Where does Miss Wei n to go now?” Chu Lan asked.


    “I n to walk along the river.” Wei Ruo nned to inspect the situation upstream and downstream of the river.


    She was considering constructing a reservoir because although it rained frequently in Taizhou prefecture, the rainfall was uneven throughout the year. Periods of droughts when it was dry, floods when it rained, both of these affected crop growth and agricultural development negatively.


    Building a reservoir could effectively bnce these conditions, providing a healthier environment for crop growth.


    “Alright.” Chu Lan agreed, then led Wei Ruo along the river downstream.


    Chu Lan walked ahead, with Wei Ruo following behind.


    With Chu Lan’s presence, Wei Ruo became more reserved.


    She tried to keep a distance from Chu Lan, walking together with Wei Jinyi and diverted her attention to inspecting the remation progress, doing her best to ignore Chu Lan’s presence.


    After walking for a while, the surroundings started to appear deste, with wild grass and scattered stones everywhere.


    This area was close to the river, but the terrain wasplex with intermittent hills and shallow soil-covered mountains, making it unsuitable for farming.


    So, Wei Ruo initially abandoned this area in her n, waiting until other nned regions were sessfully reimed before considering the development of these hilly regions.


    “Be careful.” Wei Jinyi warned Wei Ruo.


    They were walking on the hill on the riverside with no clear path, the loose stones could easily cause one to slip, and one side was a cliff eroded by the


    river.


    “Hmm.” Wei Ruo nodded.


    Though this terrain isn’t suitable for farming, it was perfect for the construction of a reservoir. Simply erecting a dam at gaps between several hills might suffice in building a reservoir.


    As they were walking, a giant snake suddenly sprung out from the wild grass towards Wei Ruo.


    At the same time, both Chu Lan and Wei Jinyi reacted.


    The two of them moved almost simultaneously, but Chu Lan was a beat slower, as Wei Jinyi grabbed the snake at its vital point.


    Without waiting for the snake to struggle, Wei Jinyi broke its bones with a jolt of Inch Power.


    Chu Lan’s expression changed after witnessing this scene, his gaze switched between Wei Jinyi and the snake.


    He and the Guard from the Military Prefecture were at about the same distance from Wei Ruo, and they had both acted at the same time. However, he had been slower than the other man.


    This kind of skill was something he had seen only once in over twenty years. He was certain that this man possessed highly advanced martial arts skills.


    This made Chu Lan think of the highly skilled man who had attacked him some time ago.


    Such high-level martial artists were indeed rare, yet he had encountered two in the small Taizhou Prefecture. Could it really be just a coincidence?


    After Wei Jinyi killed the snake, he was about to throw it away, but Wei Ruo hurriedly stopped him: “Don’t throw it, this is a Qi snake, it’s a valuable asset! Whether it’s cooked or used as medicine, it’s excellent! This one’s so big, it could be made into arge pot!” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Wei Ruo looked at therge Qi snake in Wei Jinyi’s hand, already contemted how she would cook it.


    “Hm.” Wei Jinyi didn’t find Wei Ruo’s reaction surprising.


    In fact, in these times of food shortages, mice in fields would be eaten, so naturally snakes were a food source too.


    Xiumei quickly took out a cloth bag, allowing Wei Jinyi to put the dead Qi snake in.


    This snake was indeed big,rger than Xiumei’s arm. It could be used to make arge pot of snake soup.


    Chu Lan looked at Wei Jinyi and asked, “This Guard’s martial arts skills are exceptional.. May I ask where he learned such skills?”