In ancient times, I just wanted to be a salted fish

Chapter 105 Baron Linon

Zhen Yu rushed back to Pingyang Prefecture with the imperial edict and a cart of rewards.

He first went to Magistrate Zhang's house to report and told him the truth.

Prefect Zhang was so happy that he immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "Your Excellency, thank you for your hard work! I sincerely thank you..."

Zhen Yu stepped forward and helped Prefect Zhang to stand up. "Sir Zhang, the emperor has conferred a title on the Chen family, and rewarded them with gold, silver, silk, and satin, as well as the emperor's calligraphy. Come with me to the Chen family to announce the decree, how about that?"

Magistrate Zhang thought that just a few words of praise and some gifts would be enough, but he didn't expect that he would be conferred a title of nobility. This was such a great joy!

Magistrate Zhang narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Master Zhen, Mr. Chen and his family are harvesting rice on the farm. We have to go to the farm to announce the decree!"

The two men brought a group of yamen runners to the farm outside the city. The Chen family members were working hard, but when they saw a group of people coming, they stopped their work.

Prefect Zhang shouted loudly: "Master Chen, receive the order!"

Old Master Chen hurriedly knelt down with his family, "We, the humble servants, accept your order!"

Zhen Yu unfolded the imperial edict and read it out.

"It is God's destiny, the emperor decreed:

Farmer Chen Jichang successively planted peppers, persimmons, watermelons and other fruit and vegetable crops. The potato yield was high and delicious. He worked tirelessly to increase rice production, benefiting the country and the people. Chen Jichang was specially conferred the title of Baron of Agriculture and a fief of 300 households.

Kudos to this!"

After hearing this, Mr. Chen was so moved that he burst into tears. "Thank you, Lord!"

Zhen Yu helped Master Chen up, "Congratulations, Master Chen, you will be the Baron from now on."

A yamen runner held a tray in both hands and handed it to Old Man Chen.

Zhen Yu said, "Master Chen, this is a baron's uniform. How about you try it on?"

Chen Ruotong supported the excited old man Chen and went into the inner room, where she immediately changed into her official uniform and put on her official hat. It was really impressive to put on this official uniform, and she immediately had the airs of an official.

Chen Ruotong looked Old Man Chen up and down. "Grandpa suddenly looks ten years younger. You are an official now. From now on, everyone will have to bow to you and call you Master Chen instead of Grandpa Chen. The difference of one word makes the status completely different. Hehehe..."

Old man Chen's eyes were red with excitement. "Yeah, thanks to my grandson, the credit should be yours!"

Chen Ruotong said, "Grandpa, you are wrong. If I am given a title, it will only be my honor. But if you are given a title, it will be the honor of our entire Chen family, and even the Chen Family Castle!"

Chen Ruotong helped old man Chen out of the house, and the tenants knelt down and called him "Master Chen".

Old man Chen was really not used to it, so he quickly asked everyone to stand up and see what the two adults would do next.

Chen Ruotong asked Zhen Yu with a smile, "Master Zhen, this baronial title can be considered as entering the aristocratic circle, right? Does it have any grades?"

Zhen Yu said loudly, "Of course I have entered the aristocratic circle, but it is only a small circle. If you want to truly enter the aristocratic circle, you must at least be an earl. I hope Master Chen will continue to work hard!

His rank is from the fifth rank, which is not a small position. Although he has no real power, he has a salary. Mr. Chen is also a person who eats the emperor's food, hahaha..."

Zhen Yu waved his hand, and the yamen runner took out a plaque from the carriage. On it was inscribed three large characters in a flamboyant style: "Zhenpin Pavilion".

Zhen Yu said, "Chen Guchuan, this is the emperor's calligraphy. If you hang it in your Zhenpin Pavilion, it will definitely attract more customers and your business will be more prosperous. This is a reward from the emperor, come and thank him!"

Chen Ruotong quickly knelt down and said, "Thank you, Lord." She took the plaque with both hands, her face frozen with smile.

I thought: The little emperor is really nice. With the emperor's calligraphy as an advertisement, Zhenpin Pavilion will be popular again. The backer is the emperor, no one dares to offend him, hahahaha...

This unexpected wealth is a great thing that brings honor to the Chen family, and we must celebrate it properly.

Old man Chen ordered his servants to slaughter pigs and sheep, prepare a banquet, and invite the two adults and the tenant farmers on the farm to the feast.

During the banquet, Old Man Chen asked Zhen Yu in a shy tone, "Master Zhen, I don't understand what the term 300 households means?"

Zhen Yu said, "Old man, the 300 households under your jurisdiction pay you taxes and grain to support your Chen family. And the grain produced by all the farms of the Chen family no longer needs to pay taxes to the court. So, this is the benefit of being an official!"

Old man Chen's eyes lit up and he became more excited. "In that case, it's almost the same as passing the imperial examination. Hahahaha..."

Zhen Yu said, "You can say that, but the status is much higher than that of a scholar, and the treatment is much better!"

Old man Chen had another question, "Master Zhen, what does the Linong in Baron Linong mean?"

Zhen Yu explained, "In our Liang Dynasty, ordinary people who have made outstanding contributions also have the right to be conferred titles. But there are very few such commoners, and you are an exception. So the emperor has not thought about conferring you a baronship, but your contribution is beneficial to farming, so the emperor temporarily thought of a name related to farming, "Li Nong", and just like that, he conferred you the title of Baron Linong."

Old Man Chen nodded and said, "So that's how it is. I understand now. Hahahaha..."

Old Man Chen said excitedly, "I never thought that I could become an official in this life. This is all thanks to Xiao Si, as well as the strong support of Lord Zhang and the sincere recommendation of Lord Zhen! Old man, let me toast to the two lords!"

The dinner was a great success, and the whole Chen family was filled with joy, even more lively than during the Chinese New Year.

After dinner, just as Zhen Yu and Magistrate Zhang were about to leave, Chen Ruotong drove over in a carriage loaded with a bunch of fruits and vegetables.

Zhen Yu waved his hand and said, "Fourth Young Master, these are all your first year's experimental products. The emperor meant that we should try not to waste them and make them into good varieties. Next year, we will grow more fruits and vegetables, which will be distributed as seeds to various prefectures and counties for promotion. Your Chen family has a long way to go!"

Chen Ruotong said, "There aren't many fruits and vegetables on this truck. I'm just letting you two taste some. It won't make a big difference. I still have a lot of fruits and vegetables in my cellar. There will be a bumper harvest next year. I will then promote these fruits and vegetables to all parts of the country to benefit the people."

Zhen Yu and Magistrate Zhang left the farm, and the bailiffs drove the carriage full of vegetables and fruits back to the city.

After the leaders had left, Old Man Chen and his family displayed a large box of gold, silver, jewellery and a large box of silks and satins bestowed by the Emperor for their enjoyment.

Old man Chen laughed until tears started streaming down his face as he said, "Now we have the betrothal gifts for my three grandchildren. The emperor is really generous and thinks highly of our Chen family! He has given us so many rewards. Our Chen family will be reborn from now on. We can finally live up to our ancestors. Woo woo woo woo..."

Old Lady Chen said, "Look at your achievements, why are you crying? This is a good thing and you should laugh. With our grandson's ability, he may be given a higher title in the future, right, grandson?"

Chen Ruotong nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, grandma is really bold! Hahahaha..."

The whole family laughed together.

The family discussed and decided to set up a three-day buffet at Chen's house in the city tomorrow, and send someone to notify the three relatives to attend the banquet.

The noble merchants in the city, without any invitations, brought gifts, whether they knew each other or not, to celebrate, drink and talk about interpersonal relationships.

The Chen family was originally the in-laws of Magistrate Zhang, and now they are favored by the emperor and are conferred the title of baron. With the rank they have, they must come to show their support. This opportunity to make friends with them must be seized!

For a time, the Chen family was in the limelight and became a prominent family in Pingyang Prefecture.