Huangfu Yuchen felt encouraged and swiftly carved all the radishes. He carved the large radishes into spirited horses and the small ones into rabbits or fish.
Yan Ge watched with fascination and praised him.
A crowd quickly gathered around their small stall.
“Wow, the carvings are really nice. How much are they?” someone asked.
Yan Ge replied, “The big ones are one tael each, and the small ones are five hundred coins.”
The onlookers glanced at each other and dispersed.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen looked at each other with bewilderment.
A vegetable vendor nearby chuckled and said, “Both of you have such skills. Why don’t you carve these small animals out of wood or something else and sell them? The people who come here are buying vegetables. Who would spend so much money on these things that can barely be eaten? The girl earlier was a maid from a wealthy family, and she just happened to pass by.”
Yan Ge felt embarrassed, so he used his straw hat to cover his face and whispered, “Zirui, should we leave?”
Huangfu Yuchen pretended, “No, we’re counting on them for our lunch money.”
Yan Ge felt depressed, but he couldn’t let Huangfu Yuchen laugh at him, so he acted as if he didn’t mind and said, “Alright, let’s continue selling. Buy a radish, get a small animal as a gift! Buy a radish, get a small animal as a gift!”
A large group of people crowded around.
“Oh, so they’re not real animals, but the carvings are really nice. How much are they?” someone asked.
Yan Ge said, “One coin for a radish, buy two radishes, get one small animal as a gift. You can pick any small animal you like.”
“Give me two radishes. I want the radish carved as a spirited horse!”
“I’ll take two radishes too. Give me the little white rabbit!”
…..
Within a few minutes, all the vegetables were sold.
Yan Ge made a gesture of wiping his sweat and said, “We solved it smoothly.”
Huangfu Yuchen asked, “Baby, I put effort into carving these items. Are they really worthless?”
Yan Ge quickly comforted him, “They’re valuable, priceless in my heart.”
Huangfu Yuchen felt helpless.
Yan Ge chuckled and asked, “Let’s count how much money we earned.”
Huangfu Yuchen also chuckled and the two began counting the coins.
Suddenly, several officials hurried over.
“Officers, these two are disrupting the market order! Arrest them!” an angry farmer pointed at Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.
One of the officials approached Huangfu Yuchen, his expression unfriendly. “You’re the ones selling radishes for one coin each?”
Huangfu Yuchen replied, “What’s wrong?”
The official said, “Radishes are one coin per catty today, and a radish weighs two to three catties, so it’s two to three coins per radish. Are you intentionally causing trouble by selling them for one coin each? Come on, arrest them!”
Yan Ge’s mouth twitched. “Run!”
The officials were dumbfounded. Where did they go?
“We forgot the baskets and poles!”
“Whoosh!” Huangfu Yuchen flew back, grabbed the baskets and poles, then flew away again. He didn’t have time to pick up the scattered silver and copper coins on the ground.
The officials gave chase. ”Catch them!”
“Stop! Don’t run!”
The market instantly became chaotic and lively.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen stopped in a secluded place, looked at each other, and burst into laughter.
“What’s next?” Huangfu Yuchen asked.
Yan Ge said, “Let’s go back first.”
The two left the city and walked back along the official road at a leisurely pace.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Radishes are one coin per carty. If each radish weighs three catties, then one radish is only three coins. With two baskets, we could carry a maximum of fifteen radishes, which is forty-five coins. Farmers earn only forty-five coins per trip to the market. It’s quite meager.”
Yan Ge said, “We’re even worse. We didn’t earn a single coin from the market.”
Huangfu Yuchen: “…”
“What should we eat for lunch?” Yan Ge asked.
Huangfu Yuchen rubbed his chin. “Hunting. I won’t let my beloved go hungry.”
The two of them caught two phesants on the mountain, returned to the farmer’s house, and saw Gao Feng and Gao Yun standing at the doorstep with their horses. A few villagers were standing under a nearby tree, whispering in awe about how handsome the horses were.
Since the football team resumed normal operations after the last city-wide football tournament, Gao Feng and Gao Yun had been instructed to handle things. After , they continued to follow Yan Ge and assisting him. Seeing Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen’s changed appearances and their rural attire, they doubted it was them.
“Gao Feng, Gao Yun, why are you here?” Yan Ge asked.
Gao Feng and Gao Yun finally recognized that it was Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge, and quickly knelt down to pay their respects. “Greetings, Boss, Young Master.”
“No need for formalities.” Huangfu Yuchen asked, “Is there something urgent?”
Gao Feng whispered, “In response to Boss, three merchants from the Mai kingdom want to discuss the cement business with the Young Master. We thought it was a matter of great importance, so we made inquiries and found you here.”
“Merchants from the Mai Kingdom?” Yan Ge raised an eyebrow, opened the door with the key, and the group entered the house. “The cement business is the responsibility of the imperial court. They can find out by inquiring a bit in the capital. Why are they looking for me?”
Gao Feng said, “Subordinates don’t know.”
“That is indeed strange.” Huangfu Yuchen handed the phesants to Gao Yun. “Clean them up.”
“Yes.”
“Gao Feng, you go back immediately and have someone closely monitor those three men.” Huangfu Yuchen added.
“Yes.”
Yan Ge asked Huangfu Yuchen, “Do you think there’s something fishy about those three? Let’s go back after we finish eating the roasted chicken.”
“That’s not necessary,” Huangfu Yuchen scooped water from the water tank and handed him a wet handkerchief to wipe his face. “Since you like it here, let’s stay for two more days.”
Yan Ge said, “You know very well why I wanted to come here.”
“Do I?” Huangfu Yuchen pretended not to know.
“Forget it, if you don’t know,” Yan Ge replied.
“I really don’t know. Tell me,” Huangfu Yuchen leaned closer.
Yan Ge pushed his face away. “Figure it out yourself.”
Gao Yun squatted in the corner, cleaning the phesants, trying to minimize his presence. After finishing the cleaning, he retreated to the yard.
When the roasted chicken was ready, Yan Ge called him in and gave him half a chicken.
Gao Yun felt secretly delighted. He had better luck than Gao Feng. He had heard that the roasted chicken made by the Emperor was extraordinary, and today he had the good fortune to taste it. He took the roasted chicken, expressed his gratitude, and went outside to eat.
“Baby, can we discuss state affairs today?” Huangfu Yuchen asked seriously.
Yan Ge took a bite of the roasted chicken and glanced at him helplessly. “Who said you couldn’t discuss it?”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Since the rapid development of the economy in the capital, almost all the merchants there are making huge profits. Although the court officials don’t say it, I can tell that they envy them. So, I plan to increase the commercial tax revenue. Part of it can be used to subsidize agriculture, and the rest can be used to raise officials’ salaries. What do you think?”
Yan Ge nodded thoughtfully. There were reasons why ancient Chinese rulers often adopted a policy of focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce. The policy of focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce was a natural product of the feudal natural economy. The economic policies implemented by a country or regime are ultimately determined by its economic foundation and the interests of the ruling class. In feudal society, the economic foundation was a self-sufficient natural economy, and for the people, owning land was the best way to accumulate wealth. Stable rental income was the means to become rich. At the same time, for a feudal state, the development of agriculture could provide people with a stable life, promote population growth, and ensure a full treasury and granary. It could prevent internal famine, unrest, and external invasion. The current Great Han was just like that. Considering the current national situation, focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce was a necessary transitional measure.
“I think it’s feasible,” Yan Ge said. “However, the development of agriculture cannot rely solely on suppressing commerce. Efforts should be made in agriculture itself. But the development of agriculture needs to proceed slowly. Currently, the most important thing is to develop the capital city, and other cities can take the capital city as a reference. The increase in commercial tax revenue you mentioned should be done gradually. If the successful merchants start to complain, it will cause trouble.”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded. “I understand.”
After finishing the roasted chicken, the three of them returned to the residence. Yan Ge placed a silver ingot weighing five taels under the farmer’s pillow as compensation for their delayed work.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen rode Gao Yun’s horse, walking at a leisurely pace. Gao Yun walked a few steps behind.
Huangfu Yuchen felt much more relaxed on the way back.
Yan Ge intentionally said, “Yuchen, today’s task wasn’t completed. When will you make up for it?”
Huangfu Yuchen stiffened.
Yan Ge burst into laughter and Huangfu Yuchen bit his neck.
Yan Ge quickly stopped laughing. “I won’t laugh anymore. Here, take this.” He took out two pages of paper from his pocket and handed them to Huangfu Yuchen.
“What is this?” Huangfu Yuchen took the paper and glanced over it, understanding. “It turns out that you had already written it. Divide the official road into sections, and the merchants who contribute money can personally name the section of the road they have repaired. If several people pool their resources, they can erect a monument at the roadside and leave their names on it. What a great idea! Baby, your idea is truly marvelous!”
Yan Ge humbly said, “It’s just an ordinary idea. The merchants who can afford to contribute money for road repairs are certainly wealthy. They are pursuing not only wealth but also fame and reputation. If they can spend some money to buy a good reputation that will be passed down to future generations, why wouldn’t they do it?”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Once this news spreads, those merchants will undoubtedly be eager for it.”
Yan Ge said, “I’ve thought about it. When the time comes, I’ll also contribute money to repair a section and name it ‘Yan Ge Road.’”
“Let’s call it ‘Yu Ge Road’,” Huangfu Yuchen suggested.
“Yan Ge Road.”
“Yu Ge Road.”
Yan Ge raised an eyebrow. “Can’t I name it if I’m the one contributing money?”
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled. “Well, I can’t argue with that. A wife should follow her husband after marriage.”
The two bantered all the way into the city.
Gao Yun, who was walking behind them, endured the sourness in his cheeks from holding back his laughter.
