Chapter 318: Chapter 308 Birthday
In early October, West Continent’s population had reached 80,000, an increase of over 20,000 in just two months. Naturally, population growth brought certain benefits, and many former residents who had relocated away from West Continent now expressed a desire to return to their old homes. They had already sent people to inquire about West Continent’s current policies at the City Lord Mansion. Those willing to return were mostly impoverished common folk; wealthy gentry were few and far between among those interested in moving back.
Two wealthy landowners sent representatives to inquire about West Continent’s policies, raising objections in the process. They claimed to own over a hundred acres of land in East City, all private property, which had now been taken over by the government. They wanted to know if there would be any compensation. West Continent had already implemented an equal-field system, making the return of the land improbable. However, they were willing to accept compensation based on the land’s value.
Fengyu acted like a bandit this time. Land transactions were not permitted in West Continent, and the pricing was determined by the State Mansion. Currently, the rental rate stood at one tael of silver per acre, and compensation was also calculated according to the rental rate—one acre for one tael of silver. For one hundred acres of land, that amounted to one hundred taels of silver. The two wealthy landowners were stunned by Fengyu’s audaciousness and immediately began cursing, accusing Fengyu of being no different from West Continent bandits, engaging in rogue acts of seizing others’ land. Fengyu could understand their anger, but she remained firm in the compensation rate of one tael per acre. After all, the land had been abandoned for so many years, left untended, and many registered plots were difficult to verify. It was hardly reasonable for her to restore cultivable land only for the landowners to demand its return.
When the slander spread across the twelve provinces and eventually reached Zhongzhou and Jiangnan, Fengyu realized someone had been deliberately trying to tarnish West Continent’s reputation.
This period was filled with trivial matters that left Fengyu physically and mentally exhausted. She had no choice but to lower her pride and invite Nangong Heng to step forward once more. Though Nangong Heng had not publicly intervened during the mining rebellion, he had secretly gathered his staff and deployed provincial troops to provide rescue efforts. Fengyu deeply appreciated this kindness. Later, during West Continent’s winter farming season, he even relinquished his scholarly arrogance and helped plow the fields alongside his elderly mother. When Fengyu caught sight of him, he was so mortified that he wished for death. Whenever Fengyu came to inspect, Nangong Heng would deliberately keep his distance.
Fengyu did not admire Nangong Heng’s temperament, but he was a genuine scholar-official and not one of those sour literati writing sentimental tales of lovers. When West Continent was under bandit occupation, he had contributed nothing. However, in the aftermath of stabilization, officials like Nangong Heng were indispensable for governance. Leaving him to farm at home felt like an utter waste.
The Zhang Brothers, Zhang Hu and Zhang Meng, volunteered to learn how to govern West Continent. After much contemplation, Fengyu refrained from allowing them access to the core affairs of the City Lord Mansion. She understood that the Zhang Brothers harbored some resentment. From the moment she arrived in West Continent, the Zhang Brothers had supported her significantly, but Fengyu believed their limited education and fierce temperaments made them ill-suited for managing civic affairs.
Civic duties required clear and sober minds, without nepotistic tendencies. While Fengyu excelled in business, her administrative abilities had shortcomings, prompting her to write to Xie Jue.
Following Xie Jue’s advice, she assigned the Zhang Brothers to the urban defense construction team. However, she refrained from granting them full authority, instead promoting individuals from the former State Mansion’s defensive unit to act as a counterbalance to Zhang Hu, ensuring the stability of citywide security.
Finally, she invited Nangong Heng to return to the forefront.
Nangong Heng was genuinely stubborn and slightly pedantic. Fengyu had already sent staff to persuade him, hoping he would return to work at the State Mansion. Fengyu was simply waiting for Nangong Heng to offer her a way to save face, but to her surprise, Nangong Heng preferred to continue farming with his elderly mother. Fengyu found this both infuriating and amusing.
"Fine, I’ll yield. I’ll personally invite him!"
As a businesswoman, she didn’t concern herself with pride. Three visits to his humble residence, laden with sincerity, finally convinced Nangong Heng to return to work at Du State. This milestone marked West Continent’s gradual progress toward being on the right track, allowing Fengyu to, like Xie Jue, remain stationed at the rear, steering the direction while valuing talent over personal connections.
Fengyu’s birthday fell on October 5th. The courtyard was fragrant with Osmanthus flowers, stirring in Fengyu a deep sense of nostalgia. In past years, her birthdays were grand occasions orchestrated by Old Mrs. Feng and Feng Shu, even surpassing Feng Shu’s own birthdays in cheerfulness. The family would host banquets for guests, while shopkeepers arranged uniquely extravagant celebrations for her. She had a passion for gold, silver, and gemstones, and opening birthday gifts was always the highlight of her day.
Whether from family, friends, or shopkeepers, gifts of jewelry and ornaments would pour in. Manager Wen consistently carved a luxurious jewelry set for her each year with exceptional care.
This birthday, however, felt comparatively subdued. With West Continent still in ruins, extravagance would be inappropriate. Fengyu strictly instructed Qiuxiang and Chunlu not to disclose her birthday to others.
Manager Wen had arrived in West Continent and was gradually establishing its commercial landscape. Businesses involving restaurants, fabric shops, tea leaves, and tools had already taken off, leveraging the numerous vacant properties in West Continent. Former inns and restaurants sat unused, and with some minor renovations, they could be immediately operational. Many townspeople had recognized this business opportunity early on and had secured premises to start their ventures.
On Fengyu’s birthday, Manager Wen presented her with a pair of sapphire earrings. Fengyu was enamored with them; the gemstones were polished to an extraordinary level of clarity and brilliance. In the current market, jewelry makers rarely used gemstones, at least not as primary materials. Due to technological limitations, gemstones were challenging to polish, and artisans found it difficult to craft pieces that radiated transparency.
Society tended to favor gold, jade, kingfisher feathers, and other materials instead.
Gemstone-crafted jewelry often appeared cloudy and lacked clarity. However, the sapphire earrings gifted by Manager Wen were uniquely different—crystalline and transparent, capable of refracting light beautifully when held in sunlight.
"How was this made?"
Manager Wen chuckled. "Dugu Jing left behind a gemstone accessory at Lady Thirteen’s place. Its polished texture and luster were remarkable. Lady Thirteen found it intriguing and gave it to me. It seems Beiman’s craftsmanship surpasses ours; they can create such exquisite pieces. I gathered over ten artisans to study it and sacrificed numerous gemstones, finally managing to polish two small blue gemstones, perfect for the earrings I’ve gifted to you."
Fengyu held the earrings in sunlight. The gemstones had been polished into numerous facets, refracting a kaleidoscope of colors. Though she had grown up surrounded by an array of gemstones, Fengyu found herself utterly captivated.
"Do you like them?"
Fengyu gazed at the earrings in awe. "Beiman is rich in minerals, and their artisans are years ahead of ours in skill. If we could master this technique, we could surely empty the purses of noblewomen and aristocrats alike."
Manager Wen fell silent. "..."
She excitedly asked, "Can the craftsmen master this technique?"
Manager Wen shook his head. "It partly depends on the gemstone’s quality, and notably, the process is time-consuming. These earrings required more than ten artisans working day and night. Producing them in large quantities is impossible for now."
Fengyu felt a twinge of disappointment, but Manager Wen assured her, "I’ll find a solution."
"Very well!"
Although Fengyu chose not to host a banquet on her birthday, the mansion was still lively. Su Mengwei also sent her a set of outrageously valuable jewelry, hoping she could overlook past grievances and allow him to continue managing the Su Family’s Trading House.
After the mining rebellion, Su Mengwei had been confined by Fengyu in the mansion. Initially, Su Mengwei assumed Fengyu wouldn’t take any severe action against him, as he wasn’t the mastermind. Twelve provinces needed someone with his experience as a Store Manager to handle affairs, and given Fengyu’s aim of governing West Continent, he thought she couldn’t overlook him.
He considered himself the best candidate. Yet, when Manager Wen arrived in West Continent, Su Mengwei realized he had been discarded. Left with no choice, he began to show signs of weakness. Nevertheless, Fengyu remained resolute. Whether he appealed to their shared legacy of service or their familial ties, she dismissed him wholeheartedly.
"Send it back!" Fengyu refused Su Mengwei’s gift. "Keep an eye on him; ensure he and his family do not leave the twelve provinces."
She had already written to her maternal grandfather and would not release Su Mengwei until she received his reply.
As the sun set, Fengyu had no desire to celebrate her birthday with her maids. She was preparing to exchange the Soul Suppressing Pearl with Xie Xun when Nuanyang burst in with excitement. "Gongniang, Master has sent someone with a birthday gift for you!"
Qiuxiang and Chunlu whispered secretly, "Sister Wen gifted something so stunning; what could the Prince possibly offer to make Gongniang happy?"
"No matter what the Prince sends, Gongniang will be delighted!" Chunlu said with a slightly raised chin. Fengyu, lifting her skirt, went personally to welcome the gift.