Chapter Twenty-Three: The Wasteland South of the City

Regarding the wasteland in the southern part of the city, the wet nurse had sent a reply to Wei Ruo, informing her that the land was unclaimed and, according to the law, belonged to the government. If commoners wished to cultivate it, they would first need the authorities’ approval.

In the past, the magistrate of Xingshan County had not been particularly strict about letting people reclaim ordinary wasteland, and the barren land south of the city was so undesirable that no one cared to contest it. If someone was willing to brave hardship and risk, attempting to plant crops in soil so poor that nothing would grow, there was little reason for the authorities to refuse.

Yet these were unusual times. The pirates were rampant. Although the southern outskirts of the city were less threatened due to the advantageous terrain, far safer than the east, there remained some risk. Because of this, the authorities were reluctant to let ordinary people exit through the southern city gate.

For commoners, acquiring that land was out of the question—the authorities would not allow it.

But if ordinary folk could not obtain the land, might the Commandant’s Office have a chance?

Though Wei Ruo was reluctant to become entangled with the Commandant’s Office, she could not shake the image of the emaciated beggar she had seen on the street that day.

She also thought of what she had learned about the county’s situation in recent days—natural disasters, human suffering. While such hardships might not impact the Commandant’s Office, the common people at the bottom were already struggling desperately.

She knew that if she succeeded, she could help some people within her limited power. It might not be everyone, but saving even one life was worth it—each one was a living, breathing soul.

Moreover, she was eager to complete her own experiment on improving saline-alkali soil.

After much consideration, Wei Ruo went to Cangyun Courtyard, where Lady Yun lived.

Lady Yun had just finished checking last month’s accounts with the shopkeeper.

No sooner had the shopkeeper left than Wei Ruo stepped inside.

“Ruo’er, what brings you here? Wait a moment, let me finish handling these accounts,” Lady Yun said. She did not make a point to avoid Wei Ruo, whether because Wei Ruo was her daughter or because she thought Wei Ruo would not understand the accounts.

Wei Ruo was not impatient and watched Lady Yun as she worked through the account books.

After only a few pages, Wei Ruo realized that the shop was operating at a loss.

Clearly, the Wei family’s finances had been struggling in recent years; not only was the harvest from their estate poor, but even the shop’s profits were lackluster.

After a while, Lady Yun finished with the books, set them aside, and led Wei Ruo to sit with her on a nearby couch.

“Did you come to see me for something, Ruo’er?” Lady Yun asked.

Wei Ruo had been back in the Wei household for more than a month and had only come to see her mother once before—when she wanted to visit the estate north of the city.

So, Lady Yun could deduce that Wei Ruo had come with a request.

“Mother, I heard that the harvest from our estate hasn’t been good these past two years and that the grain produced is not even enough for our own household,” Wei Ruo inquired.

Lady Yun was visibly startled; she had not expected Wei Ruo to bring this up.

With a sigh, she replied, “This isn’t something you ought to worry about. I don’t know which servant was so loose-tongued. I’ll see to it they’re properly disciplined.”

“It wasn’t the servants. I saw it for myself when I visited the northern estate,” Wei Ruo explained.

“Oh, that’s true. You would understand these things,” Lady Yun said. After all, Wei Ruo had grown up in the countryside, learning about farming every day, so it was only natural that she understood more than most young ladies raised in seclusion.

Lady Yun went on, “It’s not just us—harvests across Xingshan County, even throughout Taizhou Prefecture, have been poor these last two years. Our estate is no exception.”

“But you needn’t worry too much. Our family is not in dire straits—your father’s salary and our savings are enough, though things are tighter than before. The ones truly suffering are the common folk. The pirates have made life hard for years now, and with poor harvests, it’s only gotten worse. Life gets harder every day.”

Once the topic was prepared, Wei Ruo brought up the matter of the saline-alkali wasteland.

“Mother, the wasteland south of the city is still unused. If it could be cultivated, it might solve the food problem for many.”

Lady Yun smiled and shook her head. “It’s good that you’re thinking for the family, but that land is so barren that even weeds barely grow. The soil is simply too poor—nothing survives there.”

“While I was at the Mo family’s stockade, an old woman taught me how to grow crops in barren soil. Perhaps her methods could work on the southern wasteland.”

“Each patch of poor soil is different. Xingshan is near the sea—everyone knows that coastal soil simply won’t produce crops. It’s not the same as what you saw at the Mo family’s place.”

“But what if it works? If we could grow crops on barren land, we could feed more people, and that would be a real achievement—very beneficial for Father’s career as well.”

At the mention of Wei Mingting’s career, Lady Yun’s expression changed.

Still, after thinking it through, she felt the likelihood was low.

“Ruo’er, your idea is excellent, but this matter truly isn’t so simple...”

“It isn’t simple, Mother, but even if we fail, we lose nothing. People will still see that our Wei family is trying to help them eat, and that is also a kind of gain.” Wei Ruo laid out the pros and cons for her mother.

Lady Yun thought carefully. Indeed, reputation was vital for the Wei family. If they could win the people’s support, it would greatly help her husband’s advancement.

Moreover, the court had grown dissatisfied with the local officers due to slow progress in suppressing the pirates, and there were even rumors that many officials in Xingshan would soon be dismissed.

This was why her husband had not come home for days, working day and night to find a solution.

Lady Yun was swayed.

After careful consideration, Lady Yun said to Wei Ruo, “This is not something I can decide. When your father returns, I’ll discuss it with him and let him make the decision.”

“Alright.” Wei Ruo knew that for this plan to proceed, it would ultimately require Wei Mingting’s approval.

That evening, Wei Mingting still did not appear for dinner; he had not joined the family table for ten days now.

Since her arrival, Wei Ruo had only seen her father four times, and their conversations had always been brief.

She had not expected to discuss the matter of the southern wasteland with Wei Mingting that day. Yet, before she went to bed, Cuiping brought word from Lady Yun, summoning her to Cangyun Courtyard—her father wished to see her.

Wei Ruo dressed properly and went to Cangyun Courtyard, where she saw Wei Mingting, whom she had not seen in some time.

He looked as stern and cold as ever, though now there was an added weariness, and his arm bore a wound wrapped in white cloth—it looked as if it had been there for several days.

“I just heard from your mother that you have a way to grow crops on the southern wasteland. Is this true?” Wei Mingting asked.