The Manor Lord Was Too Generous

Though it was already late, hardly anyone in Chaoyun Manor had gone to sleep. Everyone was busy in the Qinggang Stone clearing at the heart of the manor, sorting through the wild vegetables, grasses, leaves, and other things they had gathered that day.

"The drought is so severe that even wild vegetables and grasses are scarce. We gathered far too little today. Compared with some villages outside, we were too slow."

"What a pity Red Leaf Forest has too many demons and ghosts. If we could enter the forest, today's harvest would at least double."

"Compared to our lives, the wild vegetables and leaves in Red Leaf Forest are nothing. Don't dwell on it. Put more effort in tomorrow, go a little farther, and dig up more wild grasses and vegetables."

"I heard Chicken Yellow Soil can be eaten. Why don't we bring some back tomorrow and see if it really is edible?"

Other than the children, the more than one thousand tenant farmers all wore troubled expressions. Even some of the children had been affected by the people around them, their little faces filled with bewilderment.

Such a devastating drought came only once every few decades. Many tenant farmers would encounter it only once or twice in their entire lives.

The filthy wild vegetables, grasses, and leaves on the ground were enough to kill anyone's appetite at a glance, yet they were the hope of survival for the more than one thousand tenant farmers of Chaoyun Manor this year.

Even such vile food was difficult to gather. Thinking of how, back on Earth, ordinary people among the Descendants of Yan and Huang could live fairly decent lives, Song Ankang fell silent as well.

Although Song Ankang had become far more selfish and much more afraid of death after dying once, kindness still remained in his heart. Seeing his tenant farmers living in such poverty, he felt miserable too.

Fortunately, Song Ankang had already brought back hope for survival. As long as nothing went wrong, all the tenant farmers of Chaoyun Manor would not only successfully pay this year's taxes, but might even live better than ever before.

"Steward Wang, Manager Hao, come with me!"

Song Ankang called out to Wang Yuliang and Hao Jiyong, who were busy at work, then headed toward the small courtyard where he lived.

The courtyard was called Chaoyun Courtyard. It covered nearly a thousand square meters and contained flowerbeds, artificial rockeries, and a pond. It looked quite elegant and was the best residence in Chaoyun Manor, reserved solely for the manor lord.

After getting down from the carriage, Song Ankang helped Qiushi and Jiang Yunhe unload its contents. Once they had finished tidying up, Wang Yuliang and Hao Jiyong washed the dust from themselves and came to Chaoyun Courtyard.

Qiushi set several cups of tea on the stone table, then withdrew to stand behind Song Ankang.

Song Ankang placed the agreement he had signed with Huachun Hall before Wang Yuliang and Hao Jiyong. "Take a look."

As Chaoyun Manor's steward, Wang Yuliang could read and write, and his education was not lacking. Although Hao Jiyong was an ordinary tenant farmer, he was highly motivated and had taught himself to read and write. Otherwise, he could never have become such a pillar of the storehouse.

The two men were initially stunned when they saw the agreement, then carefully read it through. Yet after doing so, though joy appeared on their faces, their worries also deepened.

"Anything you want to say?" Song Ankang smiled. "Speak freely. This matter is of great importance. If mishandled, it could very well plunge Chaoyun Manor into even greater hardship."

Wang Yuliang frowned. "Although this could help Chaoyun Manor escape its current predicament, turning medicinal herbs into materials that alchemists can directly use to refine pills is no easy task. At the beginning, I fear our expenses will exceed our income. If we cannot hold on, the consequences will be worrying."

"That is what I think as well." Hao Jiyong nodded. "The several medicinal herbs the manor lord selected for further processing are indeed relatively simple, but they are still rather complicated for ordinary people. Besides, no one in our manor has ever done this before. I fear it will be difficult to succeed at the beginning."

Song Ankang smiled. "There is no need to worry about that. I would not have signed this agreement if I were not confident. Further processing these medicinal herbs is not difficult for me. I will soon become so practiced that it comes as naturally as water flowing, enough to teach others."

"We can first select some clever and dexterous people to learn from me. Once they have successfully mastered the craft, we can spread it to more tenant farmers. Chaoyun Manor has over a thousand people. Can we not find around ten who are clever and skillful?"

"Since the manor lord has already thought it through carefully, then we can give it a try," Hao Jiyong immediately said.

Wang Yuliang still looked worried, but seeing that the agreement had already been signed, he nodded nonetheless. "Then... then let us try."

Song Ankang said, "Over the next two days, I will first master the methods and techniques for processing these medicinal herbs. You will select ten dexterous people from throughout the manor to study under me. Also tell them that they will not have to compensate for any failures, but if they succeed, they may receive one-tenth of the processing fees."

"Ah..." Wang Yuliang stared in astonishment. "That is too much. I think even half a tenth would be too much. They bear no responsibility if they fail, and who would not want to earn processing fees for nothing? Besides, there is not much farm work in the manor lately. This is extra income. Giving them a little would be enough. Even if we gave them nothing, they would not dare say anything, seeing as they are Chaoyun Manor's tenant farmers."

Hao Jiyong also looked stunned. "Steward Wang is right. This share is too large. Everyone is a tenant farmer of the manor. They already have the duty to help the manor with some additional work."

"Where there is effort, there should be reward. Besides, I am already taking ninety percent." Song Ankang smiled. "Only this way can we stir everyone's enthusiasm and get more people involved in processing medicinal herbs. Then we will be able to earn even more."

"Furthermore, I am doing this to help everyone weather this crisis. Rather than distribute the profits to everyone according to my own wishes after we earn them, it would be better to set the shares from the beginning. That way, everyone will have the motivation to work."

Wang Yuliang bowed to Song Ankang. "The manor lord is benevolent. Such high processing fees—one-tenth of the profits is no small sum. What is more, the manor lord is also bearing the cost if the medicinal herbs are ruined."

"Rest assured, Manor Lord. From now on, I will keep a close watch over them and make sure they damage as little of the medicinal herbs as possible," Hao Jiyong said solemnly.

Song Ankang waved a hand. "At the beginning, everyone will be unfamiliar with the work. Damaging medicinal herbs is perfectly normal, so do not be too harsh. As long as we make a profit in the end, that will do."

"Of course, if anyone deliberately damages the medicinal herbs or refuses to work properly, revoke their qualifications and deny them this extra income."

Wang Yuliang sneered. "The manor lord is already being so generous to them. If anyone still fails to know gratitude and repay kindness, then do not blame us for driving him out of Chaoyun Manor."