After calculating the exact amount of silver needed, Zhao Jiaqi directly took out her own share to make the preliminary budget.
The foreman and the hired hands worked in an orderly fashion. After staying for a few days and finding nothing else requiring their attention, they returned to Nancha Prefecture.
In the separate courtyard, the experimental room.
The seedlings had already grown tall and were in excellent condition, which made Zhao Jiaqi very excited. After inspecting them thoroughly and finding no issues, she decided to transplant them to the paddy fields.
This time, Zhao Jiaqi personally instructed the skilled farmers sent by the Emperor on how to operate, how to transplant seedlings, and what to pay attention to. She crouched in the paddy field and taught them very diligently.
These people also learned very seriously, meticulously recording everything in their small notebooks. This scene filled Duan Yao and Helian Zhicheng with gratitude.
Since they arrived, this couple had been moved countless times. However, this scene held a different meaning in Baili Kaine's eyes.
With the planting of a small experimental paddy field and the successful transplanting of seedlings, further developments would depend on the growth of these seedlings.
For three consecutive days, Zhao Jiaqi stayed by the paddy field. Watching the seedlings turn yellow and then sprout lush green leaves again, her days of anxiety finally eased.
"Judging by the trend, these seedlings have recovered. Record everything that happened these past few days for future observation and practice!"
These people were indeed obedient. They meticulously recorded the entire process from transplanting seedlings, to them turning yellow, and then sprouting again. They even recorded the exact timings, which showed how dedicated they were.
With the seawater rice planted, the remaining matters were easily resolved. She could finally relax and get a good night's sleep after eating.
As she lay down, her mind was still pondering whether to first cultivate some crops in the greenhouse or directly plant some fruits.
Lost in thought, her mind grew heavy, her eyelids grew tired, and with a tilt of her neck, she fell asleep.
At that time, Helian Zhicheng pulled Fan Zehao to the seafood deep processing workshop, which was currently bustling with activity.
In the study, he sorted out the accounts for the past period and discovered that the initial investment had already been recouped, with a small profit to boot, which made him overjoyed.
It wasn't that he hadn't seen silver before, but the excitement of earning it through their own efforts was a different feeling altogether.
He prepared the silver notes in advance and handed them to Fan Zehao: "Brother, here is the silver that was initially invested. It has now been earned back. Let's collect this silver first. The remaining silver is enough to keep things running here. From now on, this workshop will be entirely profitable!"
Fan Zehao checked the amount of the silver notes and found it to be the same as the initial investment. He smiled and put the silver notes into his embrace.
Regarding the next step, Fan Zehao said, "Once this place earns more silver, set aside enough for our needs, and invest this silver into the next workshop. This current workshop is working day and night and can't keep up with the outgoing goods. There's a large backlog of orders, so opening branches is a must!"
Helian Zhicheng understood Fan Zehao's intention. He gave him a thumbs-up for his proposal to open branches with the profits. This method was excellent, befitting his younger brother who had been in business for many years.
"Alright, let's have the people below handle this!" Helian Zhicheng looked at the workshop below and remarked with emotion, "The two of us, one the Emperor and the other a powerful Regent, are both working hard for a few taels of silver!"
Fan Zehao smiled, "Aren't people living for these yellow and white objects? With these yellow and white objects, one can laugh happily. But happy laughter cannot be sold for silver!"
What he said made sense. Helian Zhicheng could only sigh that he, as the Son of Heaven, still had to bend for silver. It had to be said that silver truly could make the devil turn the millstone!
The two of them, happy and chatting, spent the time quickly. After another tour of the workshop, they returned to the separate courtyard.
When Duan Yao saw the two of them return without Zhao Jiaqi, she smiled and asked, "Where did sister-in-law go?"
Fan Zehao pointed to the courtyard where he was temporarily staying, "She's been exhausted these past few days. She's sleeping in her room. You guys eat first tonight, and I'll wait for her to wake up before we eat together!"
"Ah? Sleeping in her room? Didn't she go to the workshop with you?" Duan Yao asked, a little surprised, at the two men.
She had gone to check her sister-in-law's room; it was empty, but the quilt on the bed was scattered. At the time, she thought she had gone to the workshop with them and didn't pay much attention.
Little Mi had thought the same, but now it seemed things were not as she had imagined!
Hearing her words, Fan Zehao and Helian Zhicheng were both a little bewildered. They both shook their heads simultaneously. Helian Zhicheng said immediately, "How is that possible? If we had gone together, we would have at least notified you!"
This time, Duan Yao became uneasy. She stood up from her chair, her expression becoming increasingly displeased, "But the room is empty, and there's only a quilt left on the bed!"
Fan Zehao, who was already feeling suspicious, rushed out the door the moment he heard her words. He ran back to her room at the fastest speed he had ever used. Apart from the empty room, not even a single strand of hair was found, let alone a person.
He searched around; her clothes, luggage, and silver notes were all there. Where could this person have gone?
Helian Zhicheng arrived, panting. Seeing that everything was in place, he breathed a sigh of relief, "Brother, sister-in-law might have gone out. Perhaps she was worried about the seawater rice and went to the fields!"
Duan Yao also chimed in, "Yes, yes, that's right. I'll send people to search now. Don't worry, a living person can't just disappear. We are very safe here!"
After speaking, she immediately sent people to search the entire Nancha Prefecture, having the servants look in all the likely places. She even sent someone on horseback to the greenhouse area.
In the main hall, all the guards, servants, and maids knelt on the ground. Outside, there were also people kneeling. When asked if anyone had seen the Princess leave, everyone shook their heads in unison.
"This subordinate did not see the Princess leave the separate courtyard!"
Hearing this resolute statement, Helian Zhicheng became enraged. He slammed his palm on the table, making it creak loudly, "She didn't leave, so how could such a living person vanish into thin air within this courtyard?"
"Does she have earth-elemental shield or invisibility, or is her martial arts skill superior to yours?"
"A weak woman has disappeared right under your noses. What use are you all, you bunch of useless people!"
Helian Zhicheng was extremely angry. If the person was not found, who knew what consequences they would face!
Looking at the useless people on the ground, he, in his rage, pointed outside with a trembling finger, "Turn this separate courtyard upside down, even if you have to dig three feet deep, find her for me!"
Duan Yao also found it very strange. As the servants went out, she called out to one of them, "Also, were there any unusual things today? Think back and tell me everything. Let's ponder it together!"
How could a living person disappear right before everyone's eyes?