Since Yu Wei took charge of Chengshui, Jiang Wanwen felt her pressure had significantly reduced.
Yu Wei had proven his capability through actions—every task Jiang Wanwen assigned was completed excellently, leaving her only responsible for providing funds.
This allowed Headman Ma and Zhong Yuancheng to focus entirely on purchasing grain.
The Cheng Laoda from Huaizhou, whom Headman Ma knew, was indeed quite capable. In just about a month, Zhong Chengyuan and Ma Liu had bought 200,000 jin of grain.
Mixed with some other supplies, it was enough to feed the nearly 1,000 people on the estate for a year. As for the following year, Jiang Wanwen believed that once these 40,000 mu of land were cultivated, there would be plenty to feed everyone.
With enough grain stored for the estate’s residents, Jiang Wanwen assigned Headman Ma alone to continue the grain purchasing.
Meanwhile, all of Zhong Yuancheng’s men had arrived, mostly without major incidents, though many arrived in rough shape.
Only one man, traveling with his family, lost a child to illness during the arduous journey.
Both Zhong Yuancheng and Jiang Wanwen felt relieved at such a low casualty rate.
With more men under his command, Zhong Yuancheng could accomplish much more.
Not only did he set up defenses around the estate, but he also led daily expeditions to clear wild animals from the outskirts of the two nearby mountains.
The estate was now filled daily with the aroma of various meats. Even the hired laborers building houses—who weren’t provided meals—each received a small piece of meat to take home.
Most of these laborers were honest folk. Seeing such good treatment, they valued their work opportunities here even more.
Word spread, attracting more commoners. Jiang Wanwen’s policy was to accept all who came willing to work diligently.
In just half a year, not only were all the buildings Jiang Wanwen had planned completed, but two grain storage warehouses were also built—one above ground and one underground in the mountains.
The surrounding walls and the moat within them were fully constructed as well.
Impressed by their speed, Jiang Wanwen had them build irrigation channels across the fields to make future watering easier.
She initially considered having them pave the estate’s roads with crushed stone for easier travel during rainy days.
But the very next day after she proposed this idea, Steward Ding led the estate’s farmers to start road paving voluntarily. Everyone worked enthusiastically, striving to save their master this expense.
They were deeply grateful to their master for providing shelter, full bellies, and even allocating each family one mu of land to grow vegetables and grain—all without requiring taxes or tribute.
With all necessary constructions finished, Zhong Yuancheng, Fu Xuanming, and Fu Xuanchen had all visibly grown sturdier. More noticeably, their spirits were significantly higher.
In his free time, Fu Xuanming became inseparable from military strategy books, studying them constantly. Setting aside his status, he trained and hunted in the mountains daily alongside his sworn brother like an ordinary guard.
Fu Xuanchen initially struggled to discard his status, but after months of following his second brother, he found himself wandering the estate alone for several days with no one paying him attention. Left with no choice, he eventually set aside his pride and joined his second brother.
The reason nobody paid him heed was simply because everyone was too busy.
After Jiang Wanwen had fully staffed the estate with farmers, she began directing them to soak wheat seeds, compost, and transplant sweet potato vines. Once planting was completed, she had to manage watering, weeding, and fertilizing.
She also personally supervised her experimental fields for improved wheat varieties. Sometimes Jiang Wanwen wished she could clone herself to handle everything.
Meanwhile, Fu Xuanzhao used the silver given by Jiang Wanwen to open a grain shop in Chengshui County. When grain was available, they sold grain; when it wasn’t, they sold vegetables and wild herbs—essentially selling whatever they had in stock.
The grain supply came from Cheng Laoda in Huaizhou, whom they sent people to purchase from, while the vegetables and wild herbs were sourced from their own estate.
Jiang Ping’an had been sent by Jiang Wanwen to study with Magistrate Yu’s grandson at the magistrate’s residence, returning to the estate only once every half month.
The only relatively idle person was the two-year-old Fu Zhuoxu, though he now spent his days with his aunt Fu Xuanzhao.
Thus, it was perfectly normal that no one paid much attention to Fu Xuanchen.
Since returning from the estate, Xiao Jiaru had written to Fu Xuanrui and learned that his father and grandfather had crashed to their deaths at the palace gates to prove their innocence. His grandmother and mother had followed them in death.
The family’s nobility had been revoked, and his two elder brothers with their wives and children were all under house arrest, living in constant fear.
Xiao Jiaru secretly resented her mother-in-law and never inquired about her affairs again. She now fervently wished her mother-in-law’s party would starve to death on the estate.
Why should her own parents be dead while Jiang Wanwen and the others lived comfortably?
Xiao Jiaru also avoided seeing Fu Zhuoxu, believing that if she didn’t see him, she wouldn’t recall how she had never intended to send letters to Shengyang’s relatives. Nor would she have to bear responsibility for the deaths of his grandfather and others.
She knew her misplaced anger was unreasonable, but blaming others was easier than blaming herself. She only wanted to ease her own conscience.
Fu Xuanrui, far away in Yuanzhou, had assumed that after sending the letter to Xiao Jiaru, she would handle matters concerning his mother and the others. Feeling justified, he hadn’t bothered to follow up.
Only when Fu Xuanrui stabilized Yuanzhou and returned to Yongning Wangfu with his guards in early July did he discover his mother and the others had never returned to the estate.
Fu Xuanrui’s face immediately darkened. He released Xiao Jiaru’s hand, which he had been holding, and glared at her angrily:
“You didn’t bring Mother and the others back?”
Xiao Jiaru showed no fear at his changed expression. Over these months in Yongning, she had gathered substantial grain supplies. She knew her husband’s mind too well—with this grain reserve, Fu Xuanrui couldn’t possibly punish her.
Still, confident as she was, she knew to preserve her husband’s dignity. She hadn’t worked so hard only to let another woman reap the benefits:
“This humble wife received Your Majesty’s letter and immediately took silver and grain to the estate to fetch Mother. I merely argued with Mother about how she left Shengyang without notifying my parents, and she threw me and Xu Er out of the estate. Left with no choice, I could only leave Xu Er at the estate to serve Mother. After returning to Yongning, I’ve been occupied helping Your Majesty gather grain—enough to feed the frontline troops for three months. Thus, I haven’t had time to check on Mother again. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”
Xiao Jiaru gave a brief account, deliberately avoiding the key points, and immediately knelt down to plead for forgiveness.
Upon hearing that Xiao Jiaru had gathered so much grain, Fu Xuanrui smiled and helped her up at once. “You’ve worked hard, Ruer. As for Mother Empress’s matter, I will personally lead a team to fetch her after I rest for a day.”
Fu Xuanrui knew that Magistrate Yu was the backup plan his maternal grandfather had arranged for Mother Empress, and he did not believe her days in Yu County would be difficult.
He forgave Xiao Jiaru without the slightest hesitation.