That Little Harbinger of Doom Is Back

Just as Zhou Wanwan was about to get up, she saw several people walk back and kneel down when they saw her.

Zhou Wanwan said helplessly, "Grand Tutor, there's no need to kneel. It's filthy here."

Zhao Muyuan waved his hand and said, "You've finally decided to come back. Shall we start the morning court session tomorrow?"

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "Yes, yes, we have to. This is even harder than going to work."

I usually start work at 8 a. m., so I have to get up at 4 a. m., which is unbearable.

She sleeps until she naturally wakes up every day in Zhou Family Village!

However, the atmosphere in the mountain stronghold was truly wonderful; wherever she went, the people there would respectfully kowtow.

Zhou Wanwan was also quite helpless, but these were the rules set by Grand Tutor Zhao, and there was nothing she could do about it.

To paraphrase Grand Tutor Zhao, this place is exactly the same as the imperial palace. Just because we haven't entered the palace yet doesn't mean we can break the rules.

If we end up in the palace, wouldn't we become a laughingstock?

Zhou Wanwan didn't understand. If she entered the palace and became the emperor, who would dare to laugh at her?

The next morning at court, the ministers were all as energetic as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

Grand Tutor Zhao stepped forward and spoke first:

"Your Majesty, the town is in chaos now, and the price of grain has increased more than tenfold."

The weather is getting hotter every day. If this continues, how will the people survive?

What should we do now?

Zhou Wanwan said:

"Don't we have stored grain and water? We're not in a hurry for now."

The outsiders don't know the details, so here's what you do: send someone out to deliver a message.

This famine is likely to last for several years, so people should stock up on food as soon as possible.

One minister stood up, frowning in opposition:

"Your Majesty, I believe this matter is inappropriate."

If the people knew that the famine would last for several years, they would only become more panicked.

"At that time, there will only be more people looting grain and causing trouble, making the situation even more difficult to control."

However, many ministers echoed this sentiment, "If we keep it a secret now, it will only lead to greater chaos and more deaths when the truth becomes out!"

The crowd argued endlessly.

Zhou Wanwan suddenly spoke up:

"Stop arguing, we still have plenty of sweet potatoes, don't we?"

The order was issued to all the people in the territory to plant sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes have a high yield and are drought-resistant. Once they are grown, even if there is a severe drought, people will still have something to eat, and life will be much better.

Grand Tutor Zhao looked at her and said, "But sweet potatoes are also a staple food for us now. If they're all used for planting, what will we eat?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Grand Tutor Zhao, all you need to grow sweet potatoes is the vines. Quickly send all the sweet potato vines to the people."

Grand Tutor Zhao nodded. "Yes!"

There were so many sweet potato vines that Grand Tutor Zhao brought ten horse-drawn carts to deliver them directly to the Yunxi County.

Shen Yu'an was overjoyed to see ten carriages Manman people. "Master, I will definitely make sure all the people plant sweet potatoes."

Grand Tutor Zhao nodded and said, "I still need to go find the other county magistrates!"

However, he approached more than ten county magistrates, but only two were willing to give it a try; the rest all refused.

They looked at the Yunxi County and said:

"Shen Yu'an, if you believe what this old man says, then go ahead and plant it!"

"At that time, I'm afraid your county will have no harvest at all."

"What sweet potatoes? Have you even heard of sweet potatoes? There's a drought going on right now. What if we don't have enough to eat if we plant these?"

"I don't believe this old man's nonsense. I don't know where he came from; he might be a fraud."

Shen Yu'an shouted, "He's not a fraud! He's my mentor, and he once held the high-ranking position of Grand Tutor!"

Suddenly someone exclaimed, "Oh my! He... he really does seem to be the Grand Tutor!"

"Bah! Zhao Muyuan should be exiled to Ningguta by now, how could he possibly be here with us?"

"That's right. That's why some people said that Grand Tutor Zhao was already dead. Is this... a case of him coming back to life?"

Zhao Muyuan looked at them calmly and said:

"These sweet potato vines can yield 3,000 to 4,000 catties per mu (approximately 0.16 acres), and the harvest will be even better if there is water."

It's a famine year now, and most other crops will fail, but sweet potatoes are different; they can fill our stomachs and save our lives.

I advise you to try planting it on a small scale for one season first.

Once you've tried it, you'll know whether it's worth planting or not.

Cheng Xiao couldn't help but frown and said, "If something this good really exists, why aren't you reporting it?"

Zhao Muyuan looked at him and said:

"This has already been reported, but it will take some time."

The sweet potato vines are practically free; anyone who's interested can give them a try.

Six county magistrates nodded and said, "Thank you, Mr. Zhao. We are willing to give it a try."

Zhao Muyuan gave each of them a cartload of sweet potato vines.

That wasn't enough. Zhou Wanwan took the sweet potato vines to the prefectural government office.

As soon as she arrived, she heard the yamen runner at the gate say, "Your Excellency, that little devil is here again."

Prefect Fang frowned and asked, "What is she doing here again?"

Zhou Wanwan walked in and said, "Wow! So many people are here!"

Not only was Prefect Fang, but he was also accompanied by several officials of the same rank, including Assistant Prefect and Sub-Prefect.

There were also county magistrates and assistant magistrates from the county, all dressed in official robes and looking very solemn.

There were also several officials standing there, who were from the Jiangnan. Judging from their clothes and accents, they were clearly from out of town.

Before Prefect Fang could speak, the officials from Jiangnan couldn't help but ask, "Whose child is this? How can he be so ill-mannered?"

Prefect Fang coughed and said, "This is... this is Zhou Wanwan from our Yunxi County."

The official from Jiangnan looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"Oh, it's that child! I was just looking for her!"

I am Shen Wanjun's uncle. I heard you won over 100 million taels of silver from Shen Wanjun.

Zhou Wanwan quickly replied, "It's 108.4 million taels of silver. Lord Shen, are you here to repay the money? When and how will you repay it?"

Lord Shen said coldly:

"Pay back the money? What kind of dream are you having?"

How exactly did you ruin Shen Wanjun's life? He never gambles, how could he have lost so much?

You little brat, you're such a liar! You actually tricked my Shen Wanjun into signing that kind of agreement.

Are you trying to drive him to his death?

Zhou Wanwan hadn't expected that Lord Shen was so adept at using moral blackmail.

She smiled and said:

What are you saying, Lord Shen?

Back then, it was all in black and white that Shen Wanjun signed; he's not a three-year-old child.

He's fifteen years old this year. Doesn't he dare to admit his mistake? And he even told his parents?

Call him out here; I want to confront him properly.

Lord Shen glared at her and said:

"Nonsense! You little brat need to be locked up for a few days before you'll learn your lesson."

Guards, drag her into the woodshed and lock her up for three days to reflect on her actions.

Prefect Fang quickly said:

"Lord Shen, please calm down. This is probably not quite appropriate."

This child is different from other children.

Lord Shen was furious and said:

"Different? How are they different? Isn't it just one nose and two eyes?"

If she's not punished, she won't even know who she is anymore.