Jian Yong Delivers the Betrothal Gifts, Liu Bei Takes a Concubine

In the summer, the Cao Army returned to Xu Province. Liu Bei led his troops to rescue Tancheng, and the people of Xiaopei were like startled birds. They shut their doors and hid from the ravages of war, missing the summer harvest. Only after the Cao soldiers withdrew in July did they dare come out to reap the crops.

As far as the eye could see, the villages outside Xiaopei City were covered in lush green and golden hues.

Harvesting grain was even more exhausting than planting it. There was no machinery in those days, and everything had to be done by hand. Though the harvest season brought joy, the sweat it demanded was several times greater than usual.

First, the cut millet stalks had to be threshed by hand. Then the grain was gathered in a spacious area in the village to dry in the sun. Finally, it was hulled and loaded into measures before it could be eaten.

The leftover millet stalks could not simply be discarded. They had to be gathered and bundled or piled up. Some were handed over as fodder for warhorses, some were used as firewood for cooking, and some were returned to the fields as fertilizer.

Gan Ji's entire family set to work harvesting millet. Lan Tian's ten mu of land had indeed reached a whole new level. The millet ears were enormous, and every grain was plump.

With the harvest season upon them, Liu Bei also returned from Tancheng. Setting aside his military affairs, he came with Guan Yu to the outskirts of Xiaopei. In ancient times, wise rulers personally visited the fields to encourage farmers in their agricultural work.

Liu Bei also took this opportunity to inspect the harvest from lands cultivated by household retainers, such as those in Wang Family Village. Grain and provisions were the foundation for waging war and expanding territory.

"Guanzhong has suffered a severe drought this year, and the local people have been displaced. Fortunately, Xu Province has enjoyed favorable weather. And Cao Cao left in such a hurry that he had no time to seize the grain. It seems our food-supply problem may be eased somewhat." Liu Bei sighed as he looked over the endless millet fields.

"Most of the military farms around Xiaopei are worked by newly recruited retainers. I fear the millet yield may not be impressive. Whether they can even pay their rent and taxes in full is still hard to say." Guan Yu looked concerned.

Liu Bei nodded. "We must still ensure that the retainers and commoners have food to eat. If necessary, I can only swallow my pride and ask Governor Tao for grain."

"I fear Tao Gongzu is short of grain as well. I hear that Xiapi Chancellor Zuo Rong oversees grain transport, but that man has greatly increased the taxes of the three commanderies of Xiapi, Pengcheng, and Guangling to build Stupa Temple, gilding Buddhist statues and dressing them in brocade." Guan Yu shook his head.

"Governor Tao failed to judge men properly. No wonder he lost Pengcheng to Cao Mengde last year." Liu Bei sighed regretfully.

Just then, Liu Bei noticed that the millet in a nearby field stood several inches taller than the rest. Filled with curiosity, he rode over.

"Did you plant this millet?" Liu Bei asked Gan Ji.

Gan Ji's family was harvesting Lan Tian's ten mu of land. Looking up and seeing that their lord had arrived, he hurriedly cupped his hands. "Yes, General."

Ordinary commoners did not dare look directly at officials, but Lan Tian had no such burden. After Gan Ji rose, he too lifted his head to observe the visitors.

One look at the pair's attire told him that Liu Bei and Guan Yu had arrived. Liu Bei's ears were indeed larger than those of ordinary people, but they definitely did not hang down to his shoulders as exaggerated in legend. By comparison, the long-bearded Guan Yu truly looked imposing and extraordinary.

"Not bad!"

After speaking, Liu Bei plucked an ear of millet and said in surprise, "The grains are plump. With such a harvest this year, can you pay this season's rent and taxes?"

Gan Ji hesitated at first, then nodded. He had diligently tended his seventy mu, weeding and caring for it, and had produced one hundred ninety shi—just barely enough to cover the rent and taxes. It was slightly below the average yield per mu in this era, but that was already no easy feat.

The harvest from Lan Tian's ten mu would cover the shortfall in rent and taxes, while what remained would be food for the Gan family over the coming months. If the farm commander were a little more ruthless and deducted the seeds and the food rations advanced to them, they might still have to borrow grain to repay their debt.

Gan Ji regretted it deeply. Had he known earlier, he would have planted everything according to Lan Tian's methods. Then they surely would have had a bumper harvest.

Liu Bei had once woven mats and sold sandals, so he understood the hardships of common folk very well. However, the army's expenditures were enormous, so the rent and tax rate had been set relatively high.

Just as he was about to leave, Liu Bei caught sight of Gan Qian's profile and was taken aback. There is such a beauty in this countryside?

While walking along the road, Liu Bei said to Guan Yu, "Second Brother, tell Gongyou later that we must not be too harsh on the farmers when collecting rent and taxes this season. If they truly cannot pay, let them owe it until next season."

"Understood, Eldest Brother."

Like Gan Ji's family, the others had benefited from good weather, but their millet yields generally failed to meet the required standard. Most households in Wang Family Village and all the military farms around Xiaopei could barely pay their rent and taxes. To avoid starving, they still had to borrow grain from the camp.

Lan Tian's ten mu were an exception. Even on relatively poor land, the average yield reached 3.2 shi per mu. After making up the ten shi needed for rent and taxes, the remaining twenty-two shi amounted to around seven hundred jin of millet by modern weight standards. The harvest here was measured in small shi, with each small shi weighing roughly thirty-three jin.

When the farm commander of Wang Family Village collected the grain, he was astonished. Gan Ji's household was actually the only one in the entire village that did not owe rent or taxes.

Gan Ji went into the city to sell some millet, then bought pork and a few liang of wine. Finally, Gan Qian prepared a table full of food for a Harvest Feast, and the family ate in warmth and happiness.

Lan Tian had been transported here for five months. After living every day on bland, watery food, he had nearly forgotten the taste of meat. Gan Qian's cooking was exceedingly simple, and there were hardly any seasonings in this era, yet it tasted incomparably wonderful.

It was truly delicious.

Less than ten days after the harvest, a new round of autumn planting began. Only then did Lan Tian realize that farmers truly had very little time to rest in a year if they wanted to survive.

When the Gan family began turning over their fields, nearly every farmer in Wang Family Village came by. After the farm commander spread news of the Gan family's harvest, it flew everywhere as if it had grown wings.

Harassed by his neighbors until he had no choice, Gan Ji could only reveal that his adopted son knew how to farm.

Looking at their eager eyes, Lan Tian was once again filled with respect for the late Old Yuan from his original world.

At that moment, he deeply understood just how appealing a full stomach was to ordinary people.

Lan Tian knew that his Scientific Planting had become famous.

Every day, neighbors came to the village seeking instruction. These enthusiastic people even took turns helping the Gan family farm, their main purpose being to secretly learn a few techniques themselves. Hands-on practice was important, after all.

Once the people of Wang Family Village had their enthusiasm ignited, not only did Lan Tian become a hands-off boss for a while, but even Gan Ji found himself with nothing to do. Is this the beginning of becoming a landlord?

In the blink of an eye, year's end arrived. Under Lan Tian's guidance, every household in Wang Family Village achieved a bumper harvest. Not only could they pay their rent and taxes in full, but they could also store away some surplus grain. Life finally began to feel hopeful.

In the ninth month of the first year of Xingping, Lan Tian was cooling off outside his home when a group of soldiers carrying shoulder poles arrived in Wang Family Village. The man at their head was a middle-aged scholar.

Ordinary people were always terrified when they saw officials, but Lan Tian did not think much of the visitor at all. Seeing how calm he was, the middle-aged man found it quite remarkable.

"May I ask, young man, is this Old Gan's home?" the man asked with a raised hand.

"And you are?"

"I am Jian Yong, under General Liu's command. I have come especially to visit Gan Ji, for I have a piece of good news to tell him."

Good news? Seeing the loads of objects wrapped in red cloth behind him, Lan Tian felt a faint sense of foreboding.

"Tian'er, who is talking outside?"

Gan Ji had been taking a midday nap. Hearing movement outside, he came out waving a palm-leaf fan. The visitor was dressed like an official, so he carefully sized Jian Yong up.

Jian Yong cupped his hands in salute. "I am Jian Yong, under Governor Liu's command. I have come today to pay a visit to the master of the Gan household."

"That would be this old man." Startled, Gan Ji hurriedly returned the salute, then invited Jian Yong inside.

With surplus grain at home, the Gan family's life had gradually improved. Though they had no tea or wine prepared for guests, they could at least offer a bowl of water.

When Jian Yong saw Gan Qian serving the water, he thought, My lord's eye for beauty is indeed not lacking.

Before long, laughter drifted out from within the house.

After Jian Yong left the betrothal gifts and departed, Lan Tian learned that Liu Bei had come to propose marriage. Seeing how delighted Gan Ji was, he could not bring himself to say anything. After all, he was still an outsider to the Gan family.

Lan Tian did not have much romantic feeling toward Gan Qian. What he felt was more gratitude for the meal she had given him, along with affection like that between siblings. He only felt that this beautiful girl had been wronged.

"Sister Qian, are you willing to marry him?" Lan Tian secretly asked Gan Qian that afternoon. Liu Bei was already well over thirty, and she would only be his concubine. He had no idea what she herself thought of it.

Gan Qian was quite surprised. "Marriage is decided by one's parents and arranged through a matchmaker. How could I disobey my father? Besides, Liu Xuande has long enjoyed a reputation for virtue, and he is now the lord of Xiaopei. Your sister should be able to enjoy a good life with him."

Lan Tian fell silent. Liu Bei's early life was full of wandering and hardship. I fear that good life will not be easy to enjoy.