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He didn’t dare to move and waited in silence, noticing no movement inside the room. He slowly turned his head to the side. The bed was neatly made with no sign of Qiao Mai.

Yuan Jiaqi let out a relieved sigh, sat up slowly, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and checked his clothes.

He was disappointed to see that his inner clothes were in perfect order.

Why didn’t she ravage him? It was such a waste. If she had, he would have belonged to her, and he would have had a reason to claim her later.

What should he do now? He was intact.

He smacked his face suddenly as if to clear his mind. What was he thinking? He quickly got up, dressed, and went out.

There was no one in the backyard. Yuan Jiaqi habitually looked at the sky before heading straight to the martial arts field.

Qiao Mai was teaching the children martial arts. She supervised them, correcting their movements as they practiced seriously.

When he arrived, none of the children paid any attention to him, and he awkwardly sat to the side.

He was not cut out for martial arts, so he could only follow along with the movements, although he wasn’t very good at it.

After a while, Qiao Mai walked over, drenched in sweat. Yuan Jiaqi quickly poured her a glass of water.

“Did my snoring last night bother you?”

Yuan Jiaqi blushed. Qiao Mai finished the glass of water.

“I wonder if the princess went to Lord Wang or back to the capital to report?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just focus on being the county governor.” “Why don’t you come with me to She County for a while?”

“No. You can return yourself.”

“Why not? It’s so close to home, and you can come home anytime you want.” “Why should I go there?”

“The land is infertile there. I was hoping you could help me think of solutions. Maybe we could diversify the economy a bit. People can’t rely on one season’s harvest a year. We can’t leave them starving.”

“This problem isn’t unique to She County. The whole Wei City is facing it.”

“Do you have any good ideas?”

“Plant trees. Transform the barren lands into forests.

“Really?”

“Planting trees may face some challenges. There’s a saying: ‘If you want to get rich, first plant trees.’ The roots can reduce soil erosion and change soil desertification.

“So, what kind of trees should we plant?”

“Pine and fir trees that can withstand the cold are essential. They can grow even at temperatures as low as minus fifty degrees in winter. Once they mature, they can be used to make furniture and fuel. The pine cones can be roasted and sold. Pine nuts have a great flavor and can be used in dishes or snacks. This can also create an additional source of income for the people.”

“Pine nuts?”

“Yes, I’ve observed that the Ming Dynasty has not recognized this yet. No one is eating pine nuts.”

“Have we tried them?” “Not yet, but I can let you taste them in advance.” “Can I taste them now?”

“Of course, let’s go. The kids can practice here.”

In the backyard, Qiao Mai asked him to sit while she went inside to change her clothes. She retrieved a pinecone from her space and brought a bag of roasted pine nuts.

She placed them on a tray and brought it to the table.

“Take a look.”

“Is this the pinecone?”

“Yes, the bag next to it contains pine nuts. Try some. Roasted pine nuts taste great. ”

Yuan Jiaqi opened the paper bag and saw golden kernels with a seam in the middle.

“Are these ripe?”

“No, those seams are pre-scored for easy shelling.”

He picked a nut, placed it in his mouth, and chewed. “Yum, it’s delicious. It tastes somewhat like…”

“There’s nothing to compare it to; its flavor is unique.”

“If I plant these trees, how many years until they mature?”

“Pine nuts will start to grow in four to five years. As the pine trees get older, the amount of nuts will increase. The main benefit is that planting these trees will help prevent further desertification of the land, retain moisture in the soil, and reduce drought in your region. Moreover, you can set up a small paper mill. Pine trees and even waste wood and branches can be used to make paper.

You can even use grass.”

Yuan Jiaqi was left utterly stunned by this revelation. “Papermaking is a technology controlled by powerful families. How could you know about them, Wife?”

“In this world, there’s nothing that can’t be conquered if one sets their heart on it. This challenge is no match for me.”

“But running such an operation does come with risks.”

“That’s why you should start by focusing on planting trees. Take it slow, and remember that growing trees requires labor, resources, and financial investment. Even just the saplings will cost quite a bit, not to mention the cost of planting them.”

“Wife, can you help me?”

“I’ll provide you with the seedlings and some silver. Everything else is up to you.”

“Sure, from now on, apart from handling legal cases and disputes, I’ll also take people to plant trees. We’ll post notices to inform the people. Anyone who dares to cut down trees on fallow land will face a month in jail and a fine of ten taels of silver.’

“That’s your business. I’m not going to manage it. Remember, one person’s power is limited. You need to learn how to manage people.”

“Yes, Wife.’

At this point, Yuan Jiaqi had forgotten what happened in their bedroom and his earlier shyness.

He stood up and said, “Wife, I have to go now.”

“Take your guards with you.”

Yuan Jiagi suddenly remembered something and hesitated. “I’ll come back in a few days.”

Qiao Mai took several silver notes from her sleeve and handed them to him. “Use these for now. If it’s not enough, I’ll give you more. Don’t use the county treasury’s silver. Make sure to keep accounts; you’ll need to clarify later.”

“I’ve hired an accountant and a steward. All the officials in the court are newly appointed and have signed written agreements. I don’t think they dare to engage in corrupt practices.”

“Go on and get busy. The tree seedlings should be delivered to our home every ten days. Each time, I’ll give you a thousand saplings.”

“You’re amazing, Wife!” “I support you in doing the right thing.”

“All right, I’ll be on my way.”

Yuan Jiaqi put away the silver notes and looked at her deeply before taking a step forward and hugging her.

“When I’ve achieved something, can we… Can we have our own child?” Qiao Mai was momentarily surprised. “Are you prepared for that?”

“Not yet. I’m waiting for you to make the first move. I’m too nervous and dare not take any initiative.”

After saying that, Yuan Jiaqi let her go and rushed to the courtyard. He was too embarrassed.

Qiao Mai looked at the courtyard gate. At that moment, a maid entered.

“Mistress, Old Mistress Wang would like to see you.”

Qiao Mai followed her into the courtyard and saw that they were having breakfast. The old lady waved her over.

“Girl, come and have breakfast with us. I have something to ask you.”

“Okay.”

She wiped her hands, sat beside the old lady, and was served a bowl of porridge. Old Mistress Wang handed her a thin pancake.

“Go on and eat. Where’s Jiaqi?

“He went back to the court.”

“Is it true that you plan to become a real couple now?”

“Yes, he told me he can’t live without me. I’m not a prudish person, so I agreed.”

“Are you not planning to hold a ceremony or anything?”

“I don’t think it’s necessary. We’re married and have children. Moving in together is enough.”

Old Mistress Wang glanced at her with a smile. “Is the issue with the princess resolved?”

“Yes, I took care of it. There’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Old Master Wang dismissed the servants and asked in a low voice, “Did you kill