Chu, the village chief of Lügewu, heard that a noble visitor had arrived and rushed over from the fields without even cleaning the mud off his feet.
Seeing that the visitor was a woman, Chu couldn’t hide his surprise.
For farming folks like them, meeting their landowners was a rare occurrence—they typically only saw rent collectors during the annual tax season.
What could possibly bring nobility here out of the blue?
While the arrival of distinguished guests should normally be cause for celebration, Chu’s expression remained grim.
Noble youths were notorious for tormenting commoners. Being humiliated or mocked was one thing, but if farming schedules were disrupted, their very survival would be at stake.
He’d heard stories of landowners forbidding farmers from growing grain on certain plots to cultivate ornamental plants instead. That year, the Qianshou working that land nearly starved to death.
This young noblewoman before him clearly knew nothing but luxury. Compared to her, he felt like dirt beneath her feet—his very presence seemed an offense. If she were to make some unreasonable demand, they’d be doomed whether they refused or complied.
Zhao Yuanxi asked, “Are you the one farming this land?”
Lands owned by nobility were naturally never cultivated by the landowners themselves. They typically hired local Qianshou to work the fields, collecting rents annually.
“Yes, this humble one is Chu, village chief of Lügewu.” Chu’s heart sank, and he immediately dropped to his knees.
“No need to be nervous.” Zhao Yuanxi sighed helplessly. “I’ve brought some seeds that need planting.”
Seeing his fears confirmed, Chu’s face filled with despair. Pressing his forehead to the ground, he wept, “Noble lady, this land is for growing grain! If we plant inedible things, we’ll all starve to death!”
???
It took Zhao Yuanxi a long moment to recover from her astonishment. She explained with a smile, “These are food crop seeds. If cultivated properly, they could yield ten dan per mu.”
(Qin dynasty measurements: 1 dan ≈ 29.76 kg, 1 mu ≈ 0.165 acre)
With current Qin yields averaging only about one dan per mu, the claim of ten dan made not only seasoned farmers skeptical, but even the guards and attendants following Zhao Yuanxi found it unbelievable.
If such high-yielding improved varieties truly existed, how could so many people still starve to death annually in Great Qin?
Chu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, convinced the noblewoman had been deceived by some unscrupulous merchant.
“Whether you believe me or not doesn’t matter—these seeds will be planted. But rest assured, you’ll receive full compensation of grain and money. Even if the harvest fails completely, you won’t suffer losses.”
Zhao Yuanxi didn’t know how to explain the seeds’ origins, nor could she currently prove their claimed yield. The only approach was to reassure them through other means.
With matters standing thus, Chu had no grounds for refusal. Moreover, even if he objected, these nobles wouldn’t listen to him anyway.
He could only hope this noblewoman would keep her word—that if the crops truly failed, she wouldn’t renege on her promises out of anger.
Zhao Yuanxi explained some key points for planting corn while leading Chu and his sons into the fields.
” Ideally, the land should have been plowed and turned in autumn to reduce pests and diseases, but it’s too late for that now. You’ll need to till the soil to a depth of at least five inches, break up the clods, and apply some fertilizer—”
Speaking of fertilizer, Zhao Yuanxi suddenly remembered that over two thousand years ago, there were no chemical fertilizers. Although some farmyard manure existed, it was simply applied directly to the fields without undergoing maturation.
Zhao Yuanxi had no choice but to briefly explain the method of composting manure again.
Chu listened in astonishment. Initially, he had thought this noble lady knew nothing about farming, but after their conversation, he realized she was not ignorant—in fact, she was extremely knowledgeable.
“Noble lady, is the method of composted manure you mentioned really that much better than directly applying fresh manure?”
“If you don’t believe me, try it on a small plot of land. See whether the crops grow better with direct manure application or with composted manure. Composted manure not only improves crop growth but also reduces diseases caused by fresh manure.”
Chu calculated in his heart and was already mostly convinced. His gaze toward Zhao Yuanxi now carried a hint of respect.
Not because of her status, but because Zhao Yuanxi was genuinely helping them.
The greatest wish of farmers like them was to grow more grain. If what the noble lady had told him today truly worked, their harvest could at least double.
Unable to contain himself, Chu bowed solemnly to Zhao Yuanxi. “May I ask how I should address you, noble lady?”
“My surname is Zhao. You may call me Lady Zhao.”
Unconsciously, they had already reached the vicinity of the village.
The sun was setting in the west, wisps of cooking smoke rose, and wild geese flew toward the distant forest. It was time to return home.
Perhaps because they had conversed so pleasantly, Chu impulsively said, “Would you like to stay for a meal before leaving, my lady?”
Zhao Yuanxi casually agreed, “Sure!”
In the past, when she went to the countryside to provide farming guidance, villagers would often invite her to eat with them. It was even common for her to share steamed buns with them in the fields. At that moment, she didn’t find anything unusual about it.
Gao Sheng, who had been following behind, stared wide-eyed at the Empress Dowager.
After all, nobles of any status were ashamed to associate with commoners, let alone the current Empress Dowager!
Aside from the King, she was the most esteemed person in the Qin State!
Not only had she chatted so happily with those commoners, but she had also agreed to dine at one of their homes!
Gao Sheng couldn’t make sense of the world. Was he going mad, or was the Empress Dowager?
Zhao Yuanxi finally came to her senses.
She was no longer a technician accompanying villagers to rural areas; she was the Empress Dowager of Qin.
She had two attendants and eight guards following her. With eleven mouths to feed, a single meal would likely consume half a month’s rations for Chu’s family.
Regretting her thoughtless words, Zhao Yuanxi had no choice but to instruct Gao Sheng to buy some food from nearby farmers.
It was fine to join them for a meal, but she couldn’t let them go broke because of it!
After Chu led Zhao Yuanxi and the others into the courtyard, the large crowd startled his wife and children.
Chu’s wife was named He. She was petite but full of energy. The children behind her were neatly dressed, and the half-grown youngsters hid behind their mother, staring nervously and fearfully at Zhao Yuanxi and her entourage.
Chu lowered his head and explained the situation to his wife, He.
He nodded nervously, showing no dissatisfaction, but her eyes filled with heartache when she glanced at the children behind her.
In Lügewu, Chu’s family was considered relatively well-off; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to serve as the village head. Even so, providing for several children remained a great struggle for him.
He carefully prepared a lavish dinner. In addition to the usual bean rice and bean soup that farmers typically ate, there was a chicken and several eggs placed before Zhao Yuanxi.
The chicken without seasoning actually tasted quite plain, and Zhao Yuanxi had little appetite. When she looked up, however, she saw several children standing behind He, staring eagerly at her food.
Having spoken recklessly earlier and caused so much trouble, Zhao Yuanxi felt somewhat embarrassed.
She beckoned to the children and distributed the meat and eggs among them.
Chu attempted to stop her, but Zhao Yuanxi intercepted him first, saying, “I’ve already eaten my fill. Let them have it.”
“These ignorant children are being disrespectful. I beg your forgiveness, Madam!”
“I’m the one who gave it to them. How is that disrespectful?” Zhao Yuanxi waved her hand dismissively with a smile, her gaze falling on the stone mill in the courtyard.
An idea occurred to her—perhaps she could help this family live a better life.
“Did you make this stone mill?”
“My elder brother made it. He is skilled with his hands and creates small tools for household use.”
Only then did Zhao Yuanxi notice that in Chu’s courtyard, there was not only a stone mill but also a water drawing device strikingly similar to the waterwheel used in modern rural areas.
The State of Qin was located in the northwest, where the water table was deep. Typically, a shaduf was used for drawing water, while the waterwheel was more common in southern regions.
However, the waterwheel in Chu’s courtyard had been enhanced with a crank and pulley, making it not only capable of drawing water from deep wells but also more labor-efficient.
A workman must first sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well.
Zhao Yuanxi had originally intended to improve the farming tools used for plowing to increase efficiency. Now that such a specialized technical talent had presented himself, how could she possibly let him go?