BDSMST -Chapter 145 The Blonde, Blue-Eyed “Foreign Student”

Spring passed and autumn came, and now it was winter again.

A month after Arthur departed, carrying the first batch of seeds home, he left with hope and a promise behind.

In the months that followed, Woniu Village’s estate underwent many changes. On an open plot to the east of the manor, several rows of brand-new blue-brick houses rose from the ground. There were no ornate carvings or elaborate decorations—everything was designed for practicality. One row housed spacious, bright classrooms with neatly arranged desks and blackboards; another row served as clean, orderly dormitories.

This was the prototype of the future Woniu Village Agricultural Technology Academy.

Beyond building the school, Jiang Suisui had Bai Yutang send people to gather seeds of all kinds of crops from across the land. From southern rice to northern millet, anything available in this era was collected. Her ambition went far beyond just corn and tomatoes; she wanted to create a comprehensive agricultural base integrating research, improvement, and teaching.

On a sunny winter day, Jiang Suisui was in the newly built greenhouse, checking the winter growth of the first batch of chili peppers with several of the old farmers. These peppers, grown from seeds from her space, had adapted well to the external environment and were thriving.

At that moment, Steward Wang hurried in, a mix of curiosity and excitement on his face.

“Madam, news has come from Jinling Harbor—the ships from the Frank Kingdom have returned!”

Jiang Suisui straightened up, quickly calculating the timing—it was just right.

“And where are they?”

“They’re on their way! The messenger said that this time a young noble from their country is coming with a dozen attendants, saying that he is here… to ‘study.’” Steward Wang’s tone shifted slightly when he said “study,” looking somewhat puzzled. In all his years, he had never heard of blonde, blue-eyed foreigners coming to this remote countryside to learn farming.

Two days later, a dusty, weary caravan arrived at Woniu Village.

The villagers, lounging in the sun and chatting, curiously gathered to see the newcomers. At the front rode a young man of about twenty. His hair was a brilliant golden blonde, brighter than the sun, his skin fair, nose high and defined. His sky-blue eyes carried both the curiosity of a newcomer and an unavoidable hint of pride.

He wore a luxurious velvet coat, a jewel-encrusted short sword at his waist, and polished riding boots. From any angle, he looked like a prince stepped out of a medieval painting, completely out of place in the humble, rustic atmosphere of Woniu Village.

This young man was the first “foreign student” sent by the Frank royal family mentioned in Arthur’s letters—Leo de Valois.

Leo rode in, taking in the legendary village with mixed feelings. Before coming, Uncle Arthur had painted the place as almost magical, claiming the land flowed with honey and the lady of the manor possessed godlike wisdom and kindness.

But what he saw was an ordinary village. Mud-brick walls, smoke rising from rooftops, villagers in coarse cloth curiously pointing and whispering. It was far from the lush land of “divine vegetables” he had imagined.

The only difference was that the villagers looked remarkably healthy. Though simply dressed, they had rosy faces and lively spirits, unlike the labor-worn serfs he had seen before, whose faces were always pale and weary.

The caravan drove through the village and into the manor. The scale of the estate surprised Leo. The layout was orderly, the roads clean, with workshops, warehouses, and residential areas neatly arranged, giving off an air of efficiency and discipline.

At the manor gate, Leo met his hosts.

Gu Yan stood tall in a sleek black uniform, radiating calm authority. Leo could sense that this was a true soldier, his aura of discipline far different from the knights he had known in the kingdom.

Beside him stood the legendary Madam Gu—Jiang Suisui.

Leo’s blue eyes widened with undeniable surprise. The “female lord” he had imagined was supposed to be a stern middle-aged noblewoman, but the woman before him looked even younger. She wore a simple, elegant teal dress; her long hair was pinned up with a wooden hairpin; her face was free of makeup, clear and graceful, her demeanor gentle and refined.

Could this really be the mysterious lady who had impressed even Uncle Arthur?

“Welcome to Woniu Village, Mr. Leo,” Jiang Suisui said with a smile, her voice like a spring breeze—soft and comforting.

“Greetings, esteemed Madam Gu,” Leo said as he dismounted, performing a standard noble’s bow. His posture was graceful, though his words lacked Arthur’s humble tone, carrying the self-assured reserve of a young aristocrat.

After brief pleasantries, Jiang Suisui didn’t arrange any welcome banquet. She immediately led Leo toward the fields.

“Mr. Leo, since you are here to learn, your first lesson begins with understanding our land.”

When Leo saw the fields still lush and green in winter, he was genuinely astonished. He noticed peppers and plump tomatoes hanging in fields covered by special “glass houses” (greenhouses). On another side, mounds of freshly dug, massive potatoes and sweet potatoes were stacked like small hills.

Far on the slopes, he saw a patch of unfamiliar shrubs with white blossoms. An old farmer told him it was “cotton,” which could be spun into cloth softer and more comfortable than wool.

Everything he saw shattered his previous understanding of agriculture. Only now did he begin to understand why Uncle Arthur had been so excited.

Standing on the field ridge, Jiang Suisui pointed to the newly built school buildings and said to Leo, “From today, that will be your dormitory and classroom. Tomorrow, you’ll receive your farming tools and textbooks. Welcome, Leo, as the first student of the Woniu Village Agricultural Technology Academy.”

Leo looked at the “principal,” far too young for his expectations, then at the modest “academy,” and finally at his own fine clothes. A swirl of emotions filled his heart.

He had a sense that the coming year of his life would be nothing like he had imagined.