Chapter 278

Considering he was after all a brother and Xu Ran needed to show Xiao Qingyun some respect,  Xu Ran did not continue after he cried. Instead, he went to console Liu Tong.

King Yan didn’t even want to lay his eyes on Zhao Huan anymore. He turned to Lu Qi and said, “Throw him out. Don’t let him step into the Prince Residence again. If he enters without my permission, whoever allows him in should get out of the residence together with him.”

King Yan said these words without any mercy, and in a cold tone, so Xiao Qingyun naturally did not plead for him.

As for Zhao Huan, he was in disbelief after hearing what King Yan said. He wanted to say something but failed to do it.

Lu Qi following King Yan’s orders, carried sobbing Zhao Huan and went out.

Zhao Huan was really thrown out by Lu Qi. Many people were around the entrance of the Prince Residence all the time. Among them, some were pleasure-seekers, some were vendors, and some were just passers-by.

Lu Qi clapped his hands after finishing his throwing job. “Everyone, listen up. This person who I threw out is called Zhao Huan. This person claimed to be the distant cousin of the lord and came to stay in the Prince Residence from time to time. He also claimed that he was the concubine of the prince. Today, he boasted of a lot of groundless things shamelessly in the Residence. Even I can’t stand him anymore, and that’s why he was thrown out.”

“Everyone, remember this! In the future, if you see this person getting close to the gate of the Residence, make sure to stop him. Don’t let him ruin the relationship between the prince and the lord. The prince has already said that he will never take a concubine. This guy with such a wishful thinking will never be allowed into the Residence anymore in his life by the prince. Lu Qi is asking the favor from everybody here.”

With a solemn look, Lu Qi cupped his hands together to salute.

Lu Qi was a very popular person in Yanzhou. Naturally, nobody would refuse such a solemn request from him. More importantly, he had introduced in details the misdeeds of Zhao Huan. As long as one had heard them would know what kind of person Zhao Huan was. Hence, needless for him to make any further explanation, everyone already had a decision in their minds–the favor asked by Lu Qi would naturally be fulfilled.

Many people even exclaimed to chase Zhao Huan out of Yanzhou. For an instance, miscellaneous things were cast on him.

Lu Qi just looked on without any sympathy for him, not to mention saving him.

After Zhao Huan ran away from the crowd awkwardly, Lu Qi turned around and walked into the yard. Then he saw Du Xin who was waiting for him at the door, was staring at each other with Xiao Ling.

Just as Lu Qi was about to say that Du Xin was considerate, he saw four people inside were talking, two to two.

Du Xin stood at the door only because he couldn’t cut in. Lu Qi swallowed the words that had been on his lips.

However, he didn’t disturb the people inside. They had been at the door for a while and they had heard Zhao Huan’s words. While Liu Tong and Xiao Qingyun were in need of comfort, it was time for them to stay away, so Lu Qi left with Du XIn.

Before leaving, he did not forget to remind Xiao Ling to inform King Yan that the trouble had been solved.

At this, Xiao Ling was most pleased.

As to the four people inside, although Xu Ran and King Yan were only saying comforting words, which were nothing but the belittling ones upon Zhao Huan, it was very pleasing to Liu Tong and Xiao Qingyun’s ears.

The two who usually disdained to say something like that. In order to cheer up their husbands, they indeed put in some efforts.

After comforting the two, Xu Ran turned to ask King Yan, “Your Highness, could that Zhao Huan be thrown out like that? Could there be any other trouble?”

King Yan said, “Never mind. I believe that Lu Qi will handle this matter well. He used to abuse his power taking advantage of his identity as Qingyun’s cousin. However, today as Lu Qi threw him out of the Prince Residence, the people of Yanzhou should know what was going on. He has offended many people before, and his days won’t be smooth without our interfering.”

When Xu Ran heard him say this, he was relieved and nodded. “That’s good then. Settle it once and for all, to avoid trouble in the future. I don’t want to be harassed anywhere or anytime.”

King Yan understood Xu Ran’s meaning, and he felt that it was necessary to give Lu Qi another order to watch Zhao Huan closely.

Zhao Huan, judged from the name, could not be a good person. King Yan and Xu Ran thought about it at the same time.

Because of this unpleasant incident, Xu Xu Ran and the rest did not have dinner at the Residence at noon. Instead, they went to the Red House, along with King Yan and the others.

This was an episode for them. As long as Zhao Huan would not reappear in the future, they were not affected much. The only person who was influenced was Xiao Qingyun. Every time Xiao Qingyun went out, he could embrace a lot of sympathetic gaze. As for the reason, he knew it well. As it had happened so many times that he had been used to it, and the spreading of this kind of thing would not last for long. With time passing, people would naturally forget about it.

The potatoes and corn had begun to be planted on the mountain. Nothing unusual was detected in the group of outlanders, who finished the planting job quickly.

After that, they quickly joined the factory-building group. The factory needed to be built before winter arrived.

The business in the Red House was still booming. From time to time, Xu Ran could come up with some novel dishes to attract people.

Liu Tong had made all the uniforms for the staff of the Red House, which became a unique scenery in the Red House. The uniforms gave people a relaxing feeling, and were divided into winter version and summer one. The former was embroidered with a hotpot in the front, and two words ‘Red House’ in the back; while the latter differed in the front–the hotpot was replaced by a china cup with a tube in it, which could be understood at once by the frequenters of the Red House. Thus, they had become the walking signs for the Red House.

Tangtang and Guoguo went home and stayed for two or three days every two months. The family had dinner together and shared feelings, and Xu Ran occasionally imparted them some knowledge that they didn’t know.

Xu Ran set the time of military camping drilling for a year. They were 14 years old this year, and they would be 15 next year. The triennial imperial examination was close, Tangtang would definitely participate in it. As to Guoguo, Xu Ran expected that he would at least get a title of Certified Student. Of course, the Second-degree Scholar would be best.

He told Tangtang and Guoguo his expectations, and the two kids had no objection. After all, Tangtang, accompanying Guoguo had stayed in the military camp for a year, and Guoguo, accompanying Tangtang, would participate in the autumn imperial examination, which was pretty fair.

The peaceful and uneventful days elapsed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was September and it got chill in Yanzhou.

One might still wear summer clothes the previous day, but the next day he had to change into a thick winter gown. The temperature changed too quickly for one to react.

The most fortunate thing for Xu Ran and the rest was that the Honeycomb Factory was finally completed. In this winter it could officially start production, and there was no need to worry about this winter’s coldness.

Another unlucky thing was that the corn was still not reaped.

As Xu Ran said, corn and potatoes were successfully planted. The potatoes had been reaped a few days ago and there were many in each pit. The worst part was that they were not big, but were suitable to be used as seeds.

A bumper harvest. All of the seeds were stored in the Residence, waiting to be sown the next year. On the day when all the potatoes were collected, Xu Ran personally cooked an all-potato feast, which was for all the participants of the labor.

King Yan was the happiest because just as Xu Ran said, potatoes could be eaten, and had the high production. What’s more, the seeds for the next year were all ready, and they could be planted in a large amount. If that was the case, the people of Yanzhou would be able to plant them in the year after next.

Even if the harvest was not good, the masses would not be starved, and there would still be surplus after paying taxes to the court.

They all could accept the taste of the potatoes. Xu Ran had intended to sell potato dishes in the Red House, but there were not enough of them, so he had to wait for another year.

Unknowingly, he had planned several years’ life in Yanzhou in advance. It was also at this time that Xu Ran realized that their family had to live in Yanzhou for a long time, and the date of returning to Xu Village was postponed indefinitely.

However, this was also good now. He could stay in Yanzhou and take root. After returning to Xu Village, he could still come to Yanzhou from time to time for a visit.

Then again, after the potatoes were collected, they could harvest corn. The growth of the corn was better than that of potatoes. It was either because of the suitable climate or some other reasons, all the corn was big and plump. Putting aside the seeds for next year, there was still a lot left to eat for this year.

However, none of them expected that the weather would change so quickly. In the previous day, the sun was bright and warm; in the next one, the cold wind was blowing, and the frost rendered the ground all white in the morning.

Therefore, Xu Ran could only hurriedly find King Yan to organize people to move back the corn on the mountain.