Looking at the boundless fields before her, Daohua took a deep breath.
Daoxiang Village had always been part of her plan ever since she bought it; she was ready to make it into Xiliang’s seed cultivation base.
Daohua handed over the sweet potato seeds to Yan Shouhou, asking him to have the tenant farmers cultivate them, while she led some of the farmers herself to plant the drought-resistant rice.
Drought-resistant rice, also known as upland rice, is tolerant to drought and suitable for dryland farming; this variety was something she bred after arriving in Xiliang.
Xiliang had a shortage of water, with few fields suitable for planting rice, so the staple food for the locals was mainly wheat. Some people in Xiliang could hardly taste rice in their lifetime.
If drought-resistant rice could be widely promoted, it would alleviate the difficulty of the locals in obtaining rice.
As Daohua was leading people to plant the drought-resistant rice, Daozi had already started to play with the children of the tenant farmers.
Daozi was about to turn three and enjoyed playing with children his own age.
In the Prince Residence, there were only two children including Daozi and the wet nurse’s daughter, Qiao. When Daozi went outside and saw so many kids about his age, he was thrilled.
"Mother!"
In the late afternoon, Daozi led a group of children to the field to find Daohua, showing her his new gifts: "Mother, look at the gifts they gave me."
Daohua looked at the fluffy yellow ducklings following her son and smiled. She walked over and asked, "They gave you gifts, but have you given them something in return?"
Daozi paused for a moment, tilted his head to look at Daohua, then turned and ran towards the manor. After a few steps, he turned back and called the other children to follow, reminding them to bring his ducklings.
Daozi led the group of kids rushing over, and then they hurried away again.
Watching her son’s radiant smile, Daohua shook her head with a smile and turned back to continue watching the tenant farmers planting drought-resistant rice.
Meanwhile, Daozi found Guyu in the manor with a group of children: "I want pastries." He then pointed to the children who followed, "As gifts for them."
Guyu also saw the ducklings and smiled, "They gave Little Prince ducklings, and now the Little Prince wants to give them pastries in return?"
Daozi nodded vigorously with a smile.
Guyu chuckled, "Little Prince, please wait a moment, this servant will go fetch them for you."
Soon after, Guyu led two maid servants with several plates of pastries to Daozi. They placed them directly in front of him without interfering in how he planned to distribute them.
Daozi handed out one pastry to each child, and after giving out one round, he noticed there were some left. He continued for a second round until all the pastries that Guyu had brought were distributed completely before he stopped.
"Eat, it’s very tasty."
Daozi had set aside one piece for himself. After playing all day, he was tired, and while eating, he also told Guyu, "I want milk."
Guyu laughed and complied, instructed someone to boil a pot of cow’s milk, and didn’t forget to ask, "Should the milk be shared with them?"
Daozi looked at his newly made friends and generously said, "Give, one bowl each."
When Daohua returned from outside, she found Daozi sitting with his little friends, all in a row drinking cow’s milk.
"Mother!"
Daohua squatted down and wiped her son’s mouth that was smeared with milk: "Are you having fun?"
Daozi grinned and said, "Happy, I want to play again tomorrow."
Daohua stayed with her son for two days in Daoxiang Village, and once the drought-resistant rice and sweet potatoes were all planted, she took a reluctant Daozi back to the Prince Residence.
On the way back, Daozi nestled in his mother’s arms, glancing back at Daoxiang Village with longing: "Mother, I want to come play again next time."
Daohua knew her son had been wildly enjoying himself the past few days, and she kissed her son’s cheek: "Alright, I’ll bring you again next year."
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