Back at the manor, Zhao Gang had already arranged for several side courtyards to be tidied up.
The construction of the research institute would not be completed overnight, so for the time being, they could work in the side courtyards.
Song Yingxing returned to his old profession, and Fang Er had Hua Niang's son, Ma Yu, called over.
Due to the low winter temperatures in Shenyang, they only planted one crop a year. The sweet potatoes had already been planted, and the boy spent his days in the fields.
When he was called back, he was as dirty as a little mud monkey.
"Mountain Lord, you were looking for me?" Ma Yu, with his skin tanned dark and blinking his large eyes, asked.
Fang Er reached out and ruffled his hair twice. "Go back, have your mother properly clean you up, change into clean clothes. I'll take you to apprentice tonight.
"Don't you like planting things? The teacher I found for you this time is a grandmaster in this field!"
"Is he better than the Mountain Lord?" Ma Yu asked with some confusion.
"High-yield wheat, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, potatoes – these things that fill the bellies of the Great Tang's people were all created by the Mountain Lord. Is there anyone more amazing than the Mountain Lord?"
"Hahaha," Fang Er said, not considering it self-deprecation. "In the art of farming, compared to you and your teacher, the Mountain Lord is but a babbling infant." This was an objective fact.
Upon hearing this, Ma Yu was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I'll go back now!"
With that, he ran directly towards the small courtyard where Hua Niang and Zhuzi lived.
That evening, in the front hall, Fang Er had Li Baoju prepare a lavish spread of food and wine.
Fang Er invited Song Yingxing to take the main seat, with Fang Yizhi and Sun Yunqiu seated on either side.
Today's main purpose was for Ma Yu and Wu Mei to apprentice, so they naturally deserved these seats.
As everyone took their seats, Zhuzi and Wu Shixiao appeared at the entrance with their respective children.
Fang Er stood up, walked over, and pulled Ma Yu to Song Yingxing's side to introduce him.
"Master Song, this young lad is named Ma Yu. He is most fond of farming, and I will trouble you to guide him well in the future."
Zhuzi gently pushed Ma Yu's shoulder. The clever boy knelt before Song Yingxing and immediately kowtowed three times.
"Disciple Ma Yu greets Master!"
Song Yingxing was somewhat taken aback, having had no psychological preparation for being forcibly apprenticed.
After a while, he reacted and asked Ma Yu, "Why do you love farming?"
Ma Yu remained kneeling, respectfully answering with his head held high.
"When I was young, there were years of famine, and many people died in the village.
Since the Mountain Lord went to the village, he brought back many new crops, allowing the elders in the village to fill their stomachs. My grandfather said this was a great virtue."
"Therefore, since that time, disciple made a vow to let the people of the world fill their stomachs!"
"No more scenes of starving corpses littering the land!"
Song Yingxing was touched by his sincere gaze. Indeed, had he not felt the same way, unable to bear seeing the people starve to death, when he made his own vow?
He asked again, "The path of agriculture offers no high office or rich rewards, no overflowing coffers of gold and silver, only the sun overhead and mud on your feet. Can you persevere?"
Fang Yu answered without the slightest hesitation, his reply firm.
"The prosperity of the people after they are filled is my affirmation.
The overflowing granaries of wheat and grain are comparable to gold and silver!"
Hearing these words from young Ma Yu, Song Yingxing was overjoyed and laughed heartily.
"Hahaha, well said, well said! From today onwards, this old man accepts you as his disciple. I hope you will achieve your aspirations and not betray your original intent!"
With that, he pulled Ma Yu up from the ground and handed him a cloth-wrapped package from his怀.
"Your master has nothing else to offer. This item was given to me by an old farmer, and I present it to you today. I hope you will study diligently in the future and achieve success in your studies!"
Ma Yu took the cloth package and opened it. Inside was a wood carving. The carving was crude, but it was still discernible that it depicted Song Yingxing himself, holding a hoe.
"Thank you, Master!"
He re-wrapped the wood carving, carefully put it in his怀, and then stood aside.
His matter was concluded, and the remaining was Wu Mei.
Fang Er walked over, pulled Wu Mei to the front of everyone, and said with a smile, "This is my daughter-in-law, named Wu Mei!
My praise for her talent is unnecessary. She will study under all of you from now on. Are you all willing to take her as a disciple?"
Everyone was stunned. Fang Yizhi quickly calculated in his mind, knowing that it was now the fifth year of Zhenguan. He reckoned the birth and death of Empress Wu would make her a child of six or seven years old.
He looked at Fang Er in shock and asked, "Is it that Wu Mei?"
Fang Er smiled and nodded. "That's right, it's the Wu Mei you're thinking of!"
"Hiss~~~"
Fang Yizhi gasped. "You dare to take her as your daughter-in-law? And without even changing her name?"
Song Yingxing, Sun Yunqiu, and the others reacted similarly. This man dared to poach from Li Shimin, it was simply unbelievable!
Furthermore, Wu Mei at this age should have been called Wu Er Niang; she had no given name. The character "Mei" was bestowed by Li Shimin after she entered the palace.
These events were all recorded in the Tang histories. When returning to the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin had brought back a pile of Tang histories.
This Duke of Anguo dared to openly call her Wu Mei. Wasn't he afraid of Emperor Taizong coming to confront him?
Wu Shixiao was even more bewildered. He looked at his daughter, seeing no difference in Er Niang, and wondered why she couldn't be the Duke of Anguo's daughter-in-law.
Fang Er replied with a smile, "What's wrong with that? There's always a matter of 'first come, first served,' isn't there?
Don't you have confidence in teaching her?"
While it was unknown what Wu Mei would become after being taken as Fang Er's daughter-in-law, she was Wu Mei!
To teach a future empress, Wu Zetian, what an immense honor that was!
Moreover, everyone was also curious about how Li Shimin would react if he learned of this.
"Hahaha, Duke of Anguo, you underestimate us a bit!"
Fang Yizhi laughed heartily and then turned to seek the opinions of others.
"Everyone, shall we accept Wu Mei?
Even if there are any complications later, the Duke of Anguo is not afraid, so why should we bother with so many concerns?"
Sun Yunqiu pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement. "Agreed, then let us take this disciple!"
Song Yingxing also had no objections. Just as Fang Yizhi said, even if Li Shimin came looking for trouble, that would be Fang Er's concern, not theirs.
"In-law, what do they mean by all this?" Wu Shixiao couldn't help but ask, expressing his confusion.
"Brother Wu, you don't need to worry about so much. It's better for you not to know some things!"
Fang Er smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
Ma Yu and Wu Mei, together, offered tea to the three masters, and they in turn presented Wu Mei with a meeting gift. The matter of apprenticeship thus concluded.