Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 287 - 287 286 Day of Receiving Praise

Chapter 287: Chapter 286 Day of Receiving Praise Chapter 287: Chapter 286 Day of Receiving Praise Bean sprouts and garlic chives, these could be said to be among the few vegetables that could be consumed even during the cold ice age.

With just a little prompting from Russell, Mrs. Sharby had distributed bean sprouts and garlic chives, and then extended their cultivation throughout the entire Wuyao Snake Manor, and even began spreading it to the entire Glowing Valley.

Life on the estate during the ice age was tough.

The serfs could only eat some pickled vegetables and sauces, never getting a taste of fresh vegetables.

However, the nobles didn’t have to worry, they could always use metals and gems to build greenhouses to grow vegetables. Even if their castles didn’t have greenhouses, they could transport fresh vegetables from the Volcanic Oasis, where it was perennially spring.

So no noble Lord had ever thought about trying to let the serfs eat fresh vegetables during the ice age.

Having some pickled vegetables and sauces, if they didn’t freeze to death during the ice age, that was considered merciful enough.

“Sir, all our serfs knelt and kowtowed on the ground, praising you when they got to eat bean sprouts and garlic chives!” Mrs. Sharby said happily, “And the last time, when they ate tofu, they voluntarily kowtowed to you as well!”

For serfs, tofu, bean sprouts, and garlic chives might seem like ordinary things, but they added a great deal of warmth to their lives.

Russell smiled faintly and said, “As a Lord, I naturally have to consider my subjects. I must ensure that you eat well, not just enough.”

“Praise be to you, Sir, you truly are the embodiment of kindness and generosity!” Mrs. Sharby said sincerely.

“How are the new serfs settling in the hamlet? Have there been any conflicts with the locals?” Russell inquired.

Mrs. Sharby replied, “There have been a few conflicts, but they were dispersed and couldn’t gather strength. Many have either married local daughters or wedded local sons… They’re mostly living together in harmony.”

The population of Wuyao Snake Manor had now surpassed five thousand three hundred people.

Luckily, there was plenty of uncultivated land, and the new serfs could open up new fields with gusto. There was no fear of running out of land to till.

Artisans like carpenters and stonemasons need not worry about work either, as the manor was under major construction with too many jobs available—so far, the estate’s public offices weren’t fully staffed yet, and just the work at Cigar Courtyard was enough to keep the subjects busy.

After inspecting his territory.

Russell returned to Cigar Courtyard, planning to rest for a while before starting his evening study session, a Knight’s diligent routine.

But before he could finish a cup of tea, the two Grand Scholars, Alexis and Robert, came looking for him.

“Lord Russell.”

“Lord Alexis, Lord Robert, what can I do for you?”

“We have meticulously examined the Retting Fertilization Skill and it certainly seems as promising as we expected. It’s definitely a great technological invention,” Robert said enthusiastically, “You will be promoted to Grand Scholar for this, without doubt!”

“I am just doing my part for the nation,” said Russell modestly.

“We have quite a few ideas we’d like to discuss with you. Your health officer, Catherine, she can’t clarify many aspects,” Alexis remarked, as Catherine was simply of Cavern Free People origin and had too shallow an education.

“Very well, please take a seat. Whatever you wish to discuss, go ahead and ask,” he said.

The two Grand Scholars certainly didn’t hesitate, repeatedly asking about the many details of the Retting Fertilization Skill, such as the principles of manure fermentation, the reasons for fresh manure burning roots, construction of cesspits, methods of manure collection…

Russell answered patiently whatever he could, but he only knew so much about retting, after all, it was just how things were done back on Earth.

So for many questions he couldn’t answer, he simply let the Grand Scholars explore on their own.

When evening came, he simply invited the two Grand Scholars to dine with him at Cigar Courtyard where tofu, bean sprouts, and garlic chives at dinner once again opened their eyes to new possibilities and made them keenly aware of their value.

Different from the nobles who were out of touch with reality and belonged to a different class than the serfs,

Alexis and Robert both came from the commoner class, and hence could understand the value of these things to the serf class even better.

“Beans are the hardest to eat, who would have thought tofu made from them could be so delicious!” Robert exclaimed repeatedly, “And bean sprouts and garlic chives that can germinate during the ice age, not only are they a tasty delicacy, but they are also excellent vegetables for the ice age!”

Alexis also sighed with emotion, “Visiting Wuyao Snake Manor for an inspection was truly the right decision, Lord Russell. Allow me to offer you a toast with juice instead of wine!”

Russell accepted the compliments of the two Grand Scholars with a smile.

The meal ended to the satisfaction of all guests and the host.

However, the two Grand Scholars didn’t stay at Wuyao Snake Manor too long; they completed their inspection within three days, gathered all the information about the Retting Fertilization Skill, and left Glowing Valley with an escort of knights.

No sooner had the Grand Scholars left than Grove came to visit him with Mrs. Fanny right on their heels.

“Sir,” Grove said shyly, but he held Mrs. Fanny’s hand with a firm and steady grip.

Mrs. Fanny bowed slightly, a bit apprehensive, “Sir.”

“Congratulations to you both.” Russell scrutinized Mrs. Fanny carefully. Although her skin was somewhat dark, her facial features and figure were quite striking, especially the proportions of her chest and hips, which were impressively astonishing – clearly, Grove favored those attributes.

Turning away, Russell asked, “When do you plan to marry? I will give you a wedding gift when the time comes.”

“We’re not planning to have a wedding,” Grove said with a simple smile. “We just plan to have Fanny’s family over for a meal… and we hope you can grace the occasion as well, Sir.”

“Alright, let me know when,” Russell said with a smile.

In the evening, Butler Morris came into the study with a bottle of red wine to join Russell for a drink and to report on the recent situation at Cigar Courtyard.

Russell had two sets of expenses.

One was for Cigar Courtyard, which constituted his personal property; the other was for expenditures at Wuyao Snake Manor, belonging to the lordship’s estate. The expenses were kept separate, so as not to get mixed up, to facilitate the payment of taxes.

Even though Wuyao Snake Manor was part of Russell’s fiefdom, he still needed to pay a portion of taxes to Mr. Luo Man.

“My lord, during your absence, Lord Charles withdrew a hundred Gold Coins from his private account and transferred them into the public account,” said Butler Morris. “Therefore, there are only twenty-five Gold Coins left in the private account at the Courtyard.”

“Is that all that’s left?” Russell frowned.

“Mainly because there was too much taken from the public account,” Butler Morris sighed helplessly. Most nobles’ income comes from transferring funds from the public to the private account, but now Russell was doing the opposite, sustaining the estate personally.

He then handed an account book to Russell.

Russell glanced through it but didn’t examine the details. He trusted Butler Morris and closed the account book.

After a moment’s thought, he said, “No rush, we’ll manage for half a month. The Cigar Factory’s order will arrive soon, and I will have Fluorescent Castle advance some payment for the goods. Once there is money in the public account, ask Charles to balance the private account.”

“Yes, Sir,” came the reply.

“By the way, for Grove’s wedding, pick out a gift from my private collection for me. Send him a gem-encrusted sword,” Russell told him.

In Russell’s private collection, there were many prized items, especially since the Second Meteor Fall campaign where he met many great nobles who had given him token gifts, including a gem-encrusted sword, which had no use at home and would serve perfectly as a gift.

Butler Morris accepted the order, “As you wish, Sir.”

After a pause, he added, “Sir, April 21st, the day of the Tribute, is approaching, but the ban on feasts will still be in place for two more days. How shall I arrange it?”

April 21st was Russell’s birthday, also known as the Tribute Day, a day for subjects to praise their lord. Typically, on Tribute Day, serfs had to give eggs and bread to their lord.

However, the ban on feasts would not be lifted until April 23rd.

Russell pondered for a moment, then said, “I might spend that time on the Snowfields, so don’t bother with anything special. Just give the servants an extra meal to share the joy. As for the eggs and bread from Tribute Day, when the serfs bring them, distribute them back as a reward.”

Butler Morris immediately praised, “You are truly generous, Sir. The serfs of Wuyao Snake Manor must feel watched over by a Great Dragon.”

Ha-ha,” laughed Russell, “I don’t care to nickle and dime the serfs for such trifles. As long as the serfs have more children, providing me with potential knights, that’s enough.”