Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 59: The Steward’s Dispute i (2/2)

“Uncle, may I ask if Steward Yan Qi is around?”

“What do you need from Steward Yan Qi for?”

The uncle stopped his work and looked up.

“He asked me to deliver a basket of fertilizer to the tea plantation!’1

“Oh, then you’ve gone to the wrong place! It’s the hillside over there, this tea plantation is managed by the Second Steward.”

“Alright, thank you, uncle!”

Qin Niu carried the fertilizer on his back and headed towards another hillside.

The Yan Family’s territory was truly vast, all made up of their own mountains and land.

A middle-aged man in a green robe, about forty-seven or forty-eight years old, of medium height, slightly overweight, with a pair of mustache whiskers, and somewhat prominent eyes, was walking towards him. He swaggered with a strut like a ‘king fisher’ with his authoritative aura showing

A tall and thin farmer, about thirty years old, followed behind him.

“Young man, did I just hear you say you were looking for Steward Yan Qi?”

“Yes!”‘

Qin Niu knew that this middle-aged man must be one of the Yan Family’s mid- to high-level members.

Who else would wear a green robe?

Only the management level, who didn’t do the physical work and directed the farmers instead, could wear such robes.

Farmers usually wore loose-fitting coarse cloth clothes, long trousers paired with a jacket.

Is this the fertilizer Steward Yan Qi bought from you?”

“Yes!1”

Qin Niu was slightly displeased with rhe man’s tone.

“How much did it cost per basket?”

The man continued to inquire.

“For that, you’d better ask Steward Yan Qi.”

Qin Niu cautiously responded.

“Answer me honestly when you’re asked, this man is the Yan Family’s Second Steward. You should consider it a privilege passed down from your ancestors’ good karma to even speak with him.”

The tall and thin farmer glared and sternly rebuked him.

Qin Niu gave the farmer a nonchalant glance, such people, with his current strength, he could take on eight single-handedly without even breaking a sweat.

“Please forgive me, Second Steward Yan!”

Qin Niu looked at Second Steward Yan.

Second Steward Yan picked up a handful of the manure, examined it, and sniffed it beneath his nose.

“This is fertilizer from the deep mountains, you may go!”

He didn’t make things difficult for Qin Niu.

The Yan Family had a family motto that prohibited misconduct: if someone from the Yan Family transgressed, they would be punished according to family rules. If a slave, servant, or long-term laborer did the same, they would be dealt with severely and strictly.

It was precisely because of this family motto that the Yan Family had a good image among the local people.

Qin Niu didn’t go far when he heard Second Steward Yan and rhe farmer discussing.

“Steward Yan Qi buying mountain manure from a young man, I think, is just a waste of money.”

“Heh, rhe lord promoted him to the seventh steward out of turn, and many are discontent. According to seniority, he isn’t even qualified to manage. Now that the third batch of tea leaves is about to be harvested, his plantation produced poor quality in the first two batches, and it seems now he’s desperately resorting to rash solutions,” the farmer said with a sneer.

The Second Steward let out a scornful laugh.

The competition between stewards was just as fierce.

The Yan Family’s tea plantation management had only Steward Yan Qi and Steward Yan Qi.

Seeing Yan Qi buying mountain fertilizer from a youth, Second Steward Yan was secretly delighted.

“Of course, Steward Yan Qi can’t compare with you. He was outperformed by you the last two times; obviously, he’s harboring ambitions to advance. But growing tea isn’t as simple as he thinks: fertilizer, water, harvesting, varieties, pest control—all must be in place. Otherwise, it’s all in vain.”

The tall and thin farmer followed up with flattery for Second Steward Yan.

He didn’t dare speak too ill of Steward Yan Qi, though.

Fearing it would reach Yan Qi s ears and he would be dealt with later.

“Ha, by what right does he compare with me? I have you, an expert who has studied tea plantation for years. It’s easy to find top-notch farmers for growing corn or wheat, but not those skilled in tea cultivation!”

“No, no, no, any little ability I have now, it’s all thanks to you. Without your nurturing, would 1 have had the chance to fulfill my ambitions?”

The tall and thin farmer was vigorously trying to win Second Steward Van’s favor..