Chapter 365
Zhao Ger arrived early the next day. Zhang Quan was left behind in the village to keep an eye on the grain supplies. But when they got to the site, they found everyone was already working. From the looks of them—panting heavily, sweat beading on their brows—they seemed to have been at it for quite a while already.
Zhang Quan's expression was hard to read as he came over and said, "This bunch started working before dawn even broke."
Probably they'd been so happy from eating meat and getting paid silver yesterday that they couldn't sleep, so they got up early.
It was good that everyone was so proactive and enthusiastic about the work.
The able-bodied young men from the village had all come to dig the canal, leaving the farm work to the elders, women, and fulangs at home. Normally around this time, with food supplies tight, everyone would head up the mountain in groups to dig for wild vegetables. But now no one did that anymore—with the men not eating at home, the vegetables grown in the fields were enough to go around.
Zhao Ger saw that the wild greens on the mountain were growing well, tender and lush, so he called over Guaizai.
After Guaizai heard him out, he ran back to the village.
He went straight to find Shi Ger: "Brother Shi, do you want to earn some coppers?"
Shi Ger was honest: "Yeah, I do."
"Then come dig wild veggies with Guaizai. Dig a full basket and Guaizai will give you two copper coins. You can bring your friends too."
Two copper coins could buy eggs or big meat-stuffed buns.
So all the village children went off to dig wild vegetables.
Guaizai was back in his old trade. With over a dozen little friends tagging along, he was thrilled. The whole troop carried baskets on their arms, chattering noisily, and wherever they passed, not a single blade of grass was left standing. Guaizai was incredibly fast at digging up wild vegetables. Some of the village women who watched him were impressed, but they also half-jokingly worried that he might dig the whole mountain away.
The wild vegetables, once washed and cooked with fried lard dregs, tasted pretty good—and they were cheaper than the cabbages sold in town.
When Li Yisheng and the others went back that evening and heard Zhao Ger mention it, they followed suit.
That saved a huge chunk of silver too.
Fang Zichen hadn't been home the past few days—he'd gone to Anping County and hadn't come back at night either.
By the last ten-day of the fourth lunar month, after a month of effort, the canal that stretched across nine villages—including Anhe Village, Xiaping Village, and Fangniu Village—had basically taken shape.
The canal stretched far into the distance, winding endlessly—a truly magnificent sight to behold.
The sound of hooves came thudding from a distance. At the foot of the mountain, Guaizai was leading a group of young friends as they dug for wild greens. Over the past few days, Shi Ger had noticed that Guaizai seemed down—even his vegetable-digging was half-hearted, as if he had no energy left. Knowing how much Guaizai liked watching chickens, Shi Ger had even taken him home to see his own, but it still hadn't cheered him up.
He was hesitating, wondering whether to ask Guaizai what was wrong, when someone spoke first.
"Son—"
Guaizai shot to his feet.
Shi Ger watched him drop his meal-ticket basket, hop up and down on the spot, his face flushed red with excitement.
"Father—"
"Son—"
"Father! Father! Father!"
Guaizai called out several times and then charged forward. Fang Zichen jumped down from his horse, caught the hurtling Guaizai, and hugged him tight, planting two big kisses on him.
"My precious little heart—Father missed you so much."
Guaizai clung tightly to his neck, rubbing his cheek against him, and said in a sticky, affectionate voice: "Guaizai missed you too. Missed you the most."
Fang Zichen lifted him up and studied him for a moment: "A few days apart, and my son seems to have gotten even more handsome."
Guaizai was shy: "Father, you're spouting big truths again."
Fang Zichen laughed out loud.
The other children nearby watched enviously—their own fathers would never act like that, kissing and lifting them high.
Guaizai's father really doted on him!
Fang Zichen hadn't seen Guaizai for days and couldn't bear to let him go. Guaizai felt something lumpy, pulled open Fang Zichen's collar, and stuck his head in—and immediately caught a whiff of something.
His eyes lit up, and he got excited: "Father—"
Fang Zichen lowered his voice: "Shh. We'll sneak up the mountain later and eat it." He pulled out a bag of candies: "Here, share these with your little friends."
"Okay!"
Zhao Ger was also happy to see him. Fang Zichen didn't care that there were people around—he pulled Zhao Ger in and gave him a kiss first.
"Brother Zhao, I missed you so much. Did you miss me?"
The men pretended not to see. But a few of the women and fulangs nearby chuckled—the prefect really did cherish his fulang, so eagerly.
Zhao Ger's ears burned red, but he still reached for Fang Zichen's hand and answered honestly: "I missed you too, husband."
Fang Zichen's features and bearing were bold and sharp. At first, when people didn't know his identity, they were curious about what he did for a living—what kind of family could produce a young man with such a look? Now that they knew, they were even more curious.
This was their new prefect!
So young!
And with such a—such a—
At first, Fang Zichen had come and gone on horseback, patrolling along the field edges of the village. Everyone had assumed he was some noble and, afraid of offending him, hadn't dared get too close. Now that they were up close, they realized the man was almost ridiculously handsome.
Some people sneaked a peek at him and immediately flushed bright red.
---
Fang Zichen had left Anping County early that morning. Entering Anhe County, he deliberately took a longer route, patrolling all the way from Fangniu Village. He was satisfied to see everyone working in good order, in high spirits, and with great enthusiasm—and the canal was nearly done.
He'd come back just in time!
The blasting would happen soon, and in a few days, the breach should be blown open. He knew perfectly well that none of the common folk believed he could actually bring water here. The news had spread to the surrounding counties, and those good-for-nothings had submitted memorials urging him to "think thrice before acting."
Not only that—they were privately laughing at him for not knowing his limits, for busying himself in vain. They thought he believed the water would just flow in on its own once the canal was dug. They said: Young people these days, they haven't eaten enough salt in their lives—always chasing one wild idea after another, never listening to advice. They'll learn their lesson soon enough. What a waste of manpower and money, throwing all that silver down the drain.
The gossip ran rampant, and it even reached Fang Zichen's ears. He did things quickly, not as if he'd deliberated for a long time, but more like a whim. Everyone was waiting to see him make a fool of himself—but he was determined not to give them that satisfaction.
Before, the common folk had been hostile toward him. When he came down for field inspections, he hadn't dared give his real name, fearing that open spears were easier to dodge than hidden arrows. But now, with food and silver in their hands, no one thought of hitting him. Instead, they looked at him with kindly, pitying eyes—The prefect is a good man, but young and foolish as can be. Pitiful, so pitiful.
From Fangniu Village all the way along, the elderly folks had been looking at him that way, and it had made him furious.
Fang Zichen needed to go up the mountain at Xiaping Village for one last inspection and confirmation. Guaizai hadn't seen him for days and clung to him desperately. Zhao Ger left Zhang Quan to watch over things and eagerly followed Fang Zichen up the mountain as well.
Fang Zichen pulled out the chicken he'd bought that morning in Anping County: "Son, here you go."
Guaizai was overjoyed: "Thank you, Father. Guaizai loves you."
Zhao Ger shot a glance at him but said nothing, though his face carried clear anticipation. When Fang Zichen made no further move and just kept looking seriously at the path ahead, Zhao Ger frowned and gave him a nudge with his elbow. A little annoyed, he called out, "Husband."
"What?"
Zhao Ger didn't speak, just stared at him steadily.
Fang Zichen saw his face puff up rounder with irritation and let out a low chuckle. Zhao Ger's heart started thumping—he reached out and, sure enough, felt a wrapped bundle at Fang Zichen's waist.
Dried fruit.
Fang Zichen took his hand and kissed it, saying softly: "I didn't forget you. You're my big treasure, you know."
Zhao Ger's heart felt sweet, warmth spreading across his brows and the corners of his eyes.
Guaizai was gnawing on half a chicken, his whole little face shiny with oil. Fang Zichen found it hilarious.
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