At the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The largest and most luxurious restaurant in Yanmen Pass.
The owner watched the Northern Frontier Army soldiers file in one after another, followed by excited commoners, and his legs nearly gave out from fear.
The moment he heard that the leader was the Northern King of the North, he hurriedly cleared out the finest private room and even added several extra tables outside.
“His Highness has arrived! Quick! Bring out the best wine and dishes!”
The owner shouted himself hoarse as he directed the servants to run faster.
The atmosphere at the banquet was lively.
It was the first time Fatty, Dongzi, and the others had ever eaten in a place like this.
They didn’t even know where to put their hands and feet.
Fatty rubbed his palms nervously against his pants before daring to touch the smooth edge of the table.
His eyes darted across the exquisite porcelain dishes, everything seeming fresh and fascinating.
Young Master Qiao and Second Young Master Qiao sat on either side of Feng Zexuan, composed and elegant.
“Come! This king offers everyone a toast!”
Feng Zexuan raised her wine cup with a smile.
“Today, we joined forces to get rid of that scourge. Satisfying! Bottoms up!”
“To His Highness!”
The Qiao brothers and all the followers stood up excitedly and returned the toast.
After drinking, Second Young Master Qiao spoke with heartfelt gratitude:
“Your Highness’s kindness today, my brother and I truly—”
Feng Zexuan waved him off directly.
“No need for formalities. Zhang Jian committed endless evil. Anyone who encountered him would’ve dealt with him. I merely did it along the way.”
For a moment, the private room was filled with the sound of clinking cups.
Three rounds of wine later, and five flavors of dishes passed.
Everyone’s faces were flushed red from drinking as they laughed and joked loudly.
Releasing emotions that had been suppressed for far too long.
Yet amidst the noise, Feng Zexuan remained unusually clear-headed.
Holding her cup, she quietly swept her gaze across the crowd.
The Qiao brothers sat upright, drinking with restraint.
Fatty was already tipsy, loudly bragging about how he had helped carry people for the prince.
The old man who had received silver carefully wrapped up a piece of meat he couldn’t bear to eat in a lotus leaf and tucked it into his robe, planning to bring it home for his little grandson to taste.
“Host, you invited Big Qiao and Little Qiao too… don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to their looks?”
The system started gossiping again.
“Get lost.”
Feng Zexuan cursed inwardly.
“You think I invited them just for a meal?”
“Then what for?”
“Yanmen Pass is too poor.”
Feng Zexuan looked at the men wolfing down food and sighed inwardly.
“Today, if I give them ten taels of silver, they’ll be happy for five years.”
“But what about after five years? Once the money’s gone, the land still won’t grow enough grain. They’ll still starve.”
“So?”
“So I’m going to give them hope that they’ll never go hungry again.”
A spark ignited in Feng Zexuan’s eyes.
“I’m going to launch an agricultural revolution here!”
She set down her wine cup and cleared her throat.
The private room instantly fell silent as everyone looked toward her.
Feng Zexuan didn’t immediately take anything out. Instead, she asked a question first.
“Everyone, today was certainly satisfying.”
“But have you thought about how you’ll live from now on?”
The crowd froze, and the smiles on their faces slowly faded.
That’s right.
How would they live from now on?
Young Master Qiao cupped his hands respectfully.
“Your Highness speaks the truth. The land around Yanmen Pass is barren, and the climate harsh. The people labor all year long merely to scrape by.”
“And in years of disaster… sigh.”
The old man clutching the wrapped meat also sighed.
“Your Highness, you may not know this. The soil here is terrible. Even in a good year, one mu of millet only yields two or three hundred jin.”
“Nine years out of ten bring drought. Being able to fill our stomachs already feels like Heaven showing mercy.”
The atmosphere grew heavy.
This was exactly the effect Feng Zexuan wanted.
Unhurriedly, she pulled something from her sleeve and placed it onto the table.
The object was round and golden-brown, rolling twice across the tabletop before stopping.
“What’s this thing?”
Everyone widened their eyes curiously.
“This,” Feng Zexuan said clearly and firmly, “is called a potato.”
“It is a miraculous crop I obtained by fortunate chance.”
“It can solve every problem we just talked about.”
“This thing?”
Fatty couldn’t help poking it. It was hard as a rock.
Feng Zexuan curled her lips into a smile and dropped a bombshell.
“With this, one mu of land can produce three thousand jin.”
Bang!
The wine cup in Second Young Master Qiao’s hand slipped and crashed onto the table, wine splashing everywhere—yet he didn’t even notice.
The entire room fell silent.
“Y-Your Highness…”
The old man’s trembling voice was the first to break the silence.
“You… you just said… how much?”
“Three thousand jin.”
Feng Zexuan repeated calmly.
“No! Impossible!”
The old man shot to his feet emotionally, his wrinkled face flushed red.
“I’ve farmed my whole life! Even the best rice paddies in the world only produce five or six hundred jin per mu at most!”
“And you say this thing can yield three thousand jin? T-That’s something only immortals could grow!”
“Exactly, Your Highness, surely you’re joking?”
“Three thousand jin! Our entire village’s yearly harvest doesn’t add up to that much!”
The room erupted into discussion, everyone’s faces filled with shock and disbelief.
Feng Zexuan had expected their reaction.
She beckoned toward the door.
Soon, a waiter entered carrying a white jade plate.
On the plate sat a dish of stir-fried golden potato shreds, fragrant and steaming.
“This is…?”
Young Master Qiao asked curiously.
“Shredded potatoes.”
Feng Zexuan picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and chewed leisurely.
“Everyone, try it.”
The crowd looked at one another, none daring to move their chopsticks first.
Fatty swallowed nervously.
“Your Highness… this isn’t poisonous, right?”
“I already ate it. What do you think?”
Feng Zexuan laughed at his reaction.
Young Master Qiao was the first to pick up his chopsticks and take a small portion.
He chewed once.
Then suddenly paused.
His eyes lit up instantly.
“Delicious! Crisp and tender, with a lingering fragrance! This texture… I’ve never tasted anything like it before!”
With his example, everyone else immediately began eating too.
“Heavens! This tastes incredible!”
“It’s a hundred times better than shredded radish!”
“And after eating it, my stomach feels warm and full—it really satisfies hunger!”
The entire plate of shredded potatoes vanished like a whirlwind.
Everyone licked their lips, still wanting more.
Watching their reactions, Feng Zexuan pressed onward.
“This crop isn’t picky about soil. Dry land, sandy land, poor land—it can grow anywhere.”
“It withstands cold and drought. Even during disaster years, it can still produce harvests.”
“And most importantly, it can be eaten both as a vegetable and as a staple food!”
Feng Zexuan stood up.
Her gaze swept across every single person in the room as her tone turned solemn.
“After spring arrives, I plan to begin trial planting here in Yanmen Pass. I will provide the seeds and teach you how to grow them. You provide the manpower and land.”
“I promise you—the first year’s harvest will belong entirely to you.”
“If this succeeds, then no one in Yanmen Pass will ever go hungry again! And all of you…”
She paused before speaking each word deliberately.
“…will become the heroes who pioneered this achievement for generations to come! Your names entering history will be no empty boast!”
Boom!
Everyone’s minds exploded.
An achievement lasting through the ages!
Names recorded in history!
Second Young Master Qiao abruptly stood up.
“Your Highness! If this is true, then this is a great undertaking that will benefit countless people! My brother and I are willing to devote all our strength to assisting Your Highness!”
“Your Highness, count me in! I’m good at farming!”
“We want to join too!”
The young followers all raised their hands excitedly, their eyes shining brightly.
“Excellent!”
Feng Zexuan nodded in satisfaction and raised her cup.
“Then Young Master Qiao and Second Young Master Qiao shall oversee this matter together!”
“Today, we celebrate not only the elimination of evil, but also the brand-new future of Yanmen Pass. Cheers!”
Everyone’s blood boiled with excitement as they raised their cups together.
“To His Highness! To Yanmen Pass!”
Outside the window, the night was deep and dark.
Inside the room, a flame called “hope” had been completely ignited.
“Host, this really is one enormous pie you’ve painted.”
The system spoke faintly.
Feng Zexuan gazed into the wine in her cup, where the smiling faces of the hall were reflected.
The corners of her lips lifted slightly.
“No. I’ve planted a future.”
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