BDSMST -Chapter 12 Reclaiming the Vegetable Patch and Planting the First Batch of Seeds

Steward Liu’s visit was like a passing gust of wind—gone as quickly as it came, leaving little trace behind at the estate.

Jiang Suisui’s daily rhythm remained completely undisturbed. After sending the Marquis household’s people away, the first thing she did was carefully plan out the reclaimed land in greater detail.

“This section gets plenty of sunlight, and the soil is loose—perfect for sun-loving fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes and chili peppers.” She used a tree branch to draw dividing lines on the ground, explaining as she sketched.

Trailing behind her like a little tail, Gu Xuan said nothing, but his ears were perked high as he listened intently. These past days, he had grown used to these “field lessons.” Compared to the dry recitations of the Four Books and Five Classics, he found himself far more interested in knowledge that could grow into delicious food.

“That area near the water source stays moist. We can plant cucumbers and cabbages there.”

“As for your plot…” Jiang Suisui glanced at Gu Xuan’s small “private field” and pondered for a moment. “The soil still isn’t loose enough. Plant more leafy greens for now. They grow quickly and have shallow roots—they’ll help improve your soil.”

“Oh.” Gu Xuan responded gloomily. In truth, he wanted to grow those big, bright red “tomatoes.” They sounded delicious just by name.

Jiang Suisui saw right through his little thoughts and smiled. “When you can turn the soil as deep as I do, I’ll give you some tomato seeds.”

“Really?” Gu Xuan’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Really,” she nodded. “When have I ever broken my word?”

Gu Xuan thought about it. She actually hadn’t. This bad woman might be strict, but she always kept her promises. If she said no food, then no food. If she said finish the work and you’ll eat, she never went back on it.

“It’s a deal!” Gu Xuan puffed out his chest and clenched his fists as if those plump red tomatoes were already within reach. His hoe suddenly felt full of strength.

Once the land was divided, it was time to sow seeds.

Jiang Suisui selected several fast-growing, hardy varieties from her space. Besides the jade cabbages and flame peppers already started as seedlings, she took out golden-hook cucumbers, purple-skinned eggplants, and a crop called “Moonlight Potatoes.”

She sorted the seeds into several broken bowls, then began teaching Gu Xuan how to plant them.

“Look—cabbage seeds are quite small. We need to dig a shallow trench, scatter the seeds evenly inside, then cover them with a thin layer of fine soil. Not too thick, or they won’t be able to push through.”

As she spoke, she demonstrated with her own hands. Her fingers were slender, her movements practiced and precise, almost like performing a sacred ritual.

Gu Xuan tried to imitate her. But he couldn’t control his strength—his trenches were uneven, and the seeds scattered in clumps here and there.

“Clumsy,” Jiang Suisui said with mock disdain, yet she still crouched down patiently, guiding his hands. “Don’t rush. Feel it with your heart. Treat them like living little beings. They need a proper home to grow well.”

With her warm hand holding his, Gu Xuan’s small face flushed slightly, though he muttered stubbornly, “I know, I know. You talk too much.”

But his movements grew noticeably gentler. Carefully, he placed each seed into the soil he had reclaimed with his own hands.

When the last seed was buried, Gu Xuan straightened and looked at the land now sown with hope.

A sense of fulfillment he had never felt before flooded his heart.

It brought him more happiness than building the tallest and prettiest block tower he ever had in the Marquis’s residence.

After sowing came watering.

Every day, Jiang Suisui quietly added spiritual spring water into the well. By now, the well water had become clear and sweet, filled with spiritual energy. With such water for irrigation, the crops naturally grew at astonishing speed.

Gu Xuan carried a small wooden bucket specially made for him, huffing and puffing as he ran back and forth between the well and the vegetable patch. He no longer felt it was drudgery—he genuinely enjoyed it. Each time he saw the seedlings stand taller and greener after drinking their fill, he would beam with happiness for quite a while.

Chunxing often felt as though she were dreaming when she looked at the scene before her.

The young heir who once treated his stepmother as an enemy and regarded labor as humiliation now followed Madam around like a little shadow, constantly talking about “planting” and “watering.” And the once distant and aloof Madam now showed far more vivid expressions. Though still strict, there were moments when a trace of tenderness flickered in her eyes—something even she herself did not seem to notice.

This once-ruined estate no longer felt like a prison. It had become a home filled with life and hope.

Beyond tending the fields, Jiang Suisui did not idle away her time. During spare hours in the day, she brought Gu Xuan to explore the back mountain.

The mountain was a vast treasure trove.

She found wild ginger, scallions, and garlic, solving their seasoning problem. She also discovered a large patch of wild tea trees. Though the leaves were of average quality, after improving them with spiritual spring water and using her unique tea-frying technique, the brewed tea carried a surprisingly refreshing fragrance.

Gu Xuan, meanwhile, was endlessly curious about everything in the mountains. Under Jiang Suisui’s strict supervision—only gathering safe varieties—he learned to identify different mushrooms. He also learned to set simple traps for wild rabbits and pheasants.

Once, he actually managed to catch a plump wild rabbit with a trap he had set himself.

When he proudly presented the still-kicking rabbit to Jiang Suisui, his sun-darkened little face was filled with pride and delight—happier than if he had ranked first in the entire academy.

That evening, Jiang Suisui braised the rabbit into a rich, savory dish.

The meat was tender and flavorful, the aroma filling the courtyard. Gu Xuan ate with oil smeared all over his mouth, declaring repeatedly that it was the most delicious meat he had ever tasted.

Jiang Suisui looked at him and said, “Remember? You earned this too.”

Gu Xuan paused, then nodded firmly.

From that day on, he never picked at his food again. Whether it was fine rice and flour from the space or wild greens dug from the mountains, he ate everything cleanly. He had come to deeply understand the principle that “those who do not labor do not eat,” and he had tasted the joy of self-sufficiency.

Time slipped by in this full and busy rural life. The crops in the vegetable patch grew visibly day by day. The first batch of jade cabbages was already ready for harvest.

Looking at the plump, tender, glistening green cabbages, Jiang Suisui knew the time had come to visit the market.

They needed daily necessities—salt, oil, cloth, and an iron wok. They couldn’t keep cooking in that cracked clay pot forever.

More importantly, she needed to survey the market.

These vegetables, grown from space seeds and nourished by spiritual spring water, were far superior to ordinary crops of this era. They were not just their food supply—they were a gold mine.

She would turn this desolate estate into a cornucopia of wealth.

And the first step would begin at the marketplace.