"Go to the capital?" Little Xi Tian blinked her big eyes.
She was full of the unknown and curious about that place.
As the capital of the Daliang Kingdom, it must be very lively and fun there.
Although she longed for it in her heart, Little Xi Tian didn't want to go yet.
There were four dogs at home waiting for her to take care of them...
Yun Erman was also reluctant to let his sister leave and was about to refuse when Little Xi Tian shook her little head.
"It's too far, I'm not going!~"
Prefect Chen heard this and smiled slightly.
"Alright, if you're not going, you're not going. I was too impatient. Regarding the waterwheel, I must first inform the Provincial Governor!~"
He couldn't report to the court above his rank.
In Shuo'an City, and even in Dashui Village, the person with the most say was Provincial Governor Qin.
Yun Erman stroked the agarwood in his arms and began to talk about the second matter.
"Prefect Chen, we discovered an agarwood forest deep in Tuofeng Mountain."
"This is a matter of great importance, so we are specifically reporting to you, sir..."
Xiao Jinheng's lips curved almost imperceptibly.
It was good that they had discovered it.
He was very satisfied with this outcome.
Long before this, Xiao Jinheng had sent Kong Xingzhu into the mountains to find that agarwood forest.
He just hadn't mentioned it to Prefect Chen yet.
"You... What did you say?" Prefect Chen's eyes widened. "Agar... agarwood?"
There were agarwood trees growing on the mountain in Dashui Village.
This was even more surprising than snow falling in July.
Prefect Chen had traveled extensively and had been all over the Daliang Kingdom.
Of course, he knew that agarwood trees liked to grow in warm and humid regions.
But Dashui Village had distinct seasons; it was so hot in summer that people felt dizzy, and so cold in winter that they couldn't even extend their hands.
How could agarwood trees grow in such a place?
It was too unbelievable.
Prefect Chen glanced at Little Xi Tian, and a guess popped into his mind...
"Good! Excellent!~" Prefect Chen clapped his hands excitedly.
"Today, all the news I've heard is good news! How much silver would that agarwood forest be worth if it were exploited! Haha!"
The county yamen was currently as poor as a church mouse, and the court refused to allocate funds.
The surrounding villages had suffered from drought, and he had developed painful mouth sores from worrying these past few days.
"This matter also needs to be reported to the Provincial Governor," Prefect Chen murmured.
It would be best if Provincial Governor Qin could come in person to see how to exploit that forest.
Xiao Jinheng glanced at him and said lightly, "Prefect Chen, you must consider the consequences before acting. That agarwood forest is a forest of the Daliang Kingdom; how can it be easily felled?"
Prefect Chen's heart skipped a beat, and the smile on his face froze instantly.
"Yes, yes, Young Master Xiao is right."
If the young prince hadn't spoken, how could he dare to cut down trees so openly?
Wouldn't that be asking for trouble!~
Left Advisor came in with washed melons.
Prefect Chen picked the two largest ones and gave one to Xiao Jinheng and one to Little Xi Tian.
"These are melons my wife grew herself; they taste very sweet!~" Prefect Chen said with a smile.
Ever since Madam Huang visited Dashui Village, she had cultivated a small vegetable garden upon returning home.
She planted vegetables like eggplants, beans, and peppers, and also planted a few melon vines.
She hadn't expected them to actually bear fruit and grow so well...
"Erman, your family has made consecutive contributions, and I don't know how to thank you enough."
Prefect Chen rubbed his hands, his smile beaming. "Don't worry, I will definitely recommend you for merit to the court!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
And then send a red flower and two bolts of cloth?
Xiao Jinheng nodded slightly, "This matter deserves a great reward!~"
Just the waterwheel invented by the little village girl alone was worth a thousand taels of silver.
She hadn't just saved Dashui Village, but tens of thousands of mu of fertile land in the Daliang Kingdom.
"Prefect Chen!" Yun Erman took out the two pieces of agarwood from his arms.
He handed them to Prefect Chen and said, "This is agarwood picked up by my sister, and now it's being submitted to the county yamen."
Little Xi Tian was a little surprised.
Didn't her mother keep that for her dowry?
Why was it being handed over to the public?
Xiao Jinheng also looked at the agarwood with surprise.
So the little village girl had found this thing long ago.
Prefect Chen was slightly stunned and took the agarwood to examine it closely.
"Oh my, this thing is comparable to gold and silver!~"
With Xiao Jinheng watching, he naturally wouldn't dare to pocket the agarwood.
Instead, he returned the items to Yun Erman and said with a smile, "Since it was picked up by Sweet Baby, these two pieces of agarwood should rightfully belong to you."
After speaking, Prefect Chen glanced at Xiao Jinheng.
As if asking, "Am I doing the right thing?"
Xiao Jinheng finished eating his melon, took out a handkerchief, and wiped his small hands. "Prefect Chen is right, the agarwood should belong to the little village girl."
Yun Erman: "..."
What was going on?
Why did he feel like Prefect Chen was very obedient to Young Master Xiao!
What was this kid's background!
"Left Advisor, quickly serve tea to Young Master Xiao and Sweet Baby. I will write a letter to the Provincial Governor right away!~"
Prefect Chen walked to the desk with a smile, picked up his brush, and wrote a letter.
The letter detailed the discovery of the agarwood forest in Tuofeng Mountain and Little Xi Tian's invention of the waterwheel.
He requested Provincial Governor Qin to come to Heyang County to guide the work.
"Left Advisor, send someone to deliver this letter immediately. Do not delay!~"
"Yes!"
"Wait a moment!" Prefect Chen called out to him, his eyes darting as he looked at Yun Erman.
How could he forget that if Erman handled this matter, it would show how much he valued him.
"Erman, why don't you go to Shuo'an City yourself and deliver the letter and the drawings to the Provincial Governor!~"
Prefect Chen's attitude was very respectful; if Yun Erman was unwilling to go, he wouldn't force him.
"Your subordinate is willing to go!" Yun Erman was overjoyed.
This was the first task he had received since starting his job at the county yamen.
Prefect Chen patted his shoulder. "Don't keep saying 'your subordinate.' Work hard at the county yamen in the future, and I won't treat you unfairly."
"Okay!~"
"Left Advisor, quickly get a fast horse for Erman. Bring some dry food and water, and set off now!~"
This matter was urgent, and not a moment could be wasted...
"Yes!" The Left Advisor responded and scurried out.
Yun Erman looked at his sister with some concern. "But my sister..."
"Don't worry, Brother Erman, this young master will send her back to the village!" Xiao Jinheng stood up.
Little Xi Tian also said with a smile, "Brother Erman, don't worry about me. With Brother Kong protecting us, we'll be fine!~"
Shuo'an City was a long way from Heyang County, and it would take at least two or three days to reach it even by fast horse.
Therefore, Yun Erman had to set off immediately.
"Alright, then I'll trouble Young Master Xiao!" Yun Erman cupped his hands and turned to leave.
Chen Xiaoran saw that the matter was settled and took Little Xi Tian's hand, looking at Prefect Chen. "Daddy, can I take Sister Xi Tian shopping?"
There were many delicious things in the county town.
Chen Xiaoran planned to take Little Xi Tian to try them.
Prefect Chen nodded. "Go ahead! Jasmine, take good care of them!"
"Understood, Master!~"