Volume 5, Chapter 13: Who is the Mastermind? Latter Part (2/2)
THAT FOOLISH SON! IM CAPTURED AND WHAT IS HE DOING!
Rahan told her to not mind it, but it seems that its a huge problem for the elderly man.
Isnt the time to tend the morning glories() now? Rahan said as he looked out the window. He opened the bamboo blind; the morning sun was starting to rise.
Lady Pai turned her face away; it was too bright for her who sat next to the window.
Tend the flowers! DONT BULLSHIT ME! WHY ARE YOU ONLY LETTING HIM HAVE THAT MUCH FREEDOM!
(Hey, hey, hey.)
Shouldnt it be wont anyone come save me if I get caught? Maomao sat on a chair as she had that question. There was mooncake on the table so she picked up it. Rahans older brother watched her resentfully, but she paid no heed to it.
(Oh.)
The mooncake stuffing seemed like out-of-season chestnut. However, it was the most delicious chestnut she had ever tasted. It was sweet and didnt have the sensation of being dried. No, was it chestnut? The texture also resembled beans that had been carefully strained. Even for Maomao who didnt really like sweet food, it was a mooncake with quite a nice flavour. Even confectionary shops in the capital rarely release such flavours.
While she was interested, the elderly man moved his mouth.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! GOOD FOR NOTHINGS! A DISGRACE TO THE CLAN!
The elderly man stamped his feet. It sounded like the floor was going to break apart.
TO THINK THAT I HAVE AN ELDEST SON WHO CANT TELL FACES APART LIKE A NORMAL PERSON AND A SECOND SON WHO PLAYS FARMER. BOTH WOMBS I SOWED WERE BAD! I HAVE TO GO MAKE ANOTHER ONE, A PROPER ONE!
The elderly man continued to swear. Everyone around him squinted at his words.
Maomao ate the mooncake without paying attention. Its actually different to chestnut, she chewed as she wondered what could be inside. Since her throat was parched, she helped herself to some tea.
EVEN RUOMEN WHO, ON TOP OF NOT EVEN HOLDING A SWORD LIKE A DECENT PERSON, GOT HIMSELF CASTRATED, I DONT HAVE ANY DECENT PEOPLE AROUND ME!
Maomaos hand stopped moving.
She gulped down everything in her mouth and stood up with the teapot in hand.
Maomao went to stand before the elderly man. Then spilt all the tea onto the elderly mans feet.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING!
Nothing. I just spilt some tea, Maomao said in a serene voice.
WERENT YOU STAYING OUT OF IT!
Yes, I decided to stop. Since I also have a reason. Ill say it once, but if you slander my adoptive father anymore, I prepare boiling water immediately. So please, shut up for a bit.
WHATS WITH YOUR TONE! WHO DO YOU THINK I AM!?
A noisy old man whos tied to a chair. A measly old man who cant even avoid tea water, Maomao said with a smile.
The elderly mans face stiffened. Rahans mother and brothers faces paled.
Maomao, no more. Stand down. Its fine. Dont say anymore. Even if my adoptive father is quiet now, if you are annoyed, the talks wont proceed, right? Rahan said.
Rikuson also nodded at the back.
Ukyou pushed Maomaos shoulders and sat her down. He was carrying a basket with something shes never seen before inside. The thing that looked like a flattened dried daikon was releasing white powder.
I dunno what this is, but its quite delish.
After saying that, Ukyou put that enigmatic object into Maomaos mouth. Sweet. And when she chewed it, it got sticky. It was stringy but didnt have a bad texture.
(The stuffing of the mooncake is this, huh.)
Maomao scrutinized the object. It was sweet but didnt taste like it used sugar or honey.
Could it be dried fruit? What kind of fruit is it? She scrutinised it when the door to the entrance opened.
A gentle middle-aged man with a towel draped over his neck came in. It was Rahans father. She was told that he was tending the morning glories, but he was holding onto some plant stems.
dear, youre doing such a filthy thing again, Rahans mother said.
RAKOU! DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, QUICKLY! the elderly man yelled.
FATHER! Rahans brother also yelled.
Rahans father set the bundle of stems on the table as he rubbed his face with the towel. She observed it intently. It looked to be some stalk, but she didnt know what they were.
Rahan had said that this father was tending the morning glories, but it seemed to be something else.
Rahans father put down the towel. His face, gentle and placid, actually resembled Ruomen in some ways.
Father, even if I return to the family head seat now, theres no place for us in the imperial court, Rahans father said in a gentle voice that resembled Ruomen. And besides, its not a good plan to be with this Fairy person.
Dear! What are you saying? Rahans mother said. Didnt Fairy-samas divination see through everything about us!
Lady Pai was in a daze; it was unknown what she was thinking about.
Youll easily know that sort of thing from looking at your brows, Rahans father unreservedly declared in a gentle voice. Their son beside them looked like he hit upon something regarding that and gave an indescribable expression.
Its not that you want to believe the divination, you just want confirmation, right? he continued. And if you break everything, well be right where we started, right?
WHAT! What everything! Tell me what is enjoyable about this countryside!? Theres no proper store, you cant buy imported goods. There are just fields. Moreover, far from vegetables, its all nonsense grass. TELL ME WHATS LEFT! Rahans mother said in a passionate voice.
Maomaos ears hurt.
While theres life, theres hope. You heard about the Shi Clan, right? The imperial court is still in chaos. I dont know what will happen if we stir up something untactful. Older brother is acknowledged by his majesty even so. What do you think will happen if we take over that person? Itll be a loss if we get crushed by everyone around us.
Then wouldnt now be the opportunity?
That was stirred up by Fairy-sama, Rahans father smiled sadly.
As if he hit the mark, Rahans mother went silent.
Its fine to feel strongly about that Fairy-sama, but if this gets out, well get beheaded along with her. More than your thinking, it would be a greater sin to shelter that person.
Thats why you got into contact with me, Dad, Rahan said.
YOU TWERP! TO DO SUCH A THING WITHOUT TELLING ME! The elderly man stamped his feet again. WERE YOU UNUSUALLY ON BOARD WITH THIS CASE BECAUSE OF THAT!
. The silence was telling. Rahans father headed towards Rahan.
The elderly man tried to yell again, but hell be interfering with the talks, so Ukyou came over and gagged him. The elderly man wasnt required in this conversation anymore.
Will we get blamed if we hand over this Fairy? Rahans father asked.
I think it will depend on when you started to shelter her. We spared a lot of personnel to find this maiden, Rahan replied.
then, what if I say that I will hand you this? Rahans father showed him the bundle of stems he was carrying.
Whats this?
A long time ago, I heard that there are some interesting morning glory, where the seedlings are sold for high prices. Its a product from the south. While it looks similar, it seems to be a different flower that it grows roots instead of seeds. Moreover, it didnt bloom flowers for some reason, so I really wanted to make this successful and widely known.
Rahans father looked out the window.
Since coming here, the fields have become considerably big. I know that flowers bloom very occasionally only when certain conditions are met, but I ended up with a strange by-product.
After saying that, Rahans father picked up the enigmatic foodstuff that Ukyou had brought in.
Its a root vegetable called sweet potato. Its sweeter than chestnut and can grow even on barren soil. Its likely that its not just me thats cultivating this in this country. I have distributed a small number of seed potatoes to our neighbours who have helped us, but it looks like everyone ate it without growing them. As an item for sale, itll all be ripened by the time they are sent around.
It looks like the enigmatic foodstuff was a dried version of that potato.
Could they have employed thugs with money that came from there?
Rahans dad mentioned that and reflected upon it. Aside from increasing the number of roots, there are also ways to increase the use of this stem. Its already the end of planting season, but if you do it as soon as possible, you might still be able to make it.
Maomao blinked. Rahan did the same. However, his eyes were shining brightly.
Rahan did say it, right? That theres nothing that can be used as a countermeasure for the locust plague. Besides, you said that at this point in time, you wanted to get your hands on something useful thats relatively easy to obtain.
When was it when Maomao proposed the idea of tobacco to Jinshi? Jinshi should have gotten proactive in cultivating it. Rahan had seen that, so it would mean that he was occasionally keeping in touch with his father.
(Ill have to revoke it, the fact that he resembles dad. )
So Rahans father is really Rahans father, huh.
Maomao looked at the gentle-faced mastermind and had an indescribable feeling. Lets just say that she got a pleasant miscalculation on the sweet potatoes.