"OK... What happened after we walked out of the study?" Su Tong replied, frowned, and guessed why the gentle Mr. Xu became so angry. Thinking of it, he walked towards Zhao Po.

Seeing this, Zhao Po looked at Su Tong and shook his head. Then he turned back, went to hold Su Tong's hand, and gave him a stare, "Don't think about it. Let's go quickly."

Meanwhile, he held Su Tong's hand and walked out.

"Hey... Hey, hold me lightly." Su Tong's hand ached, so he shouted.

Zheng Qiu walked to the field to find Li Ming and told him about it. Li Ming nodded and said to him, "Wait for a minute."

"OK." Zheng Qiu said and walked into the field following Li Ming.

Walking into the middle of the field, Li Ming said in a high voice, "Everyone, please stop what you are doing temporarily."

Hearing this, they all stood up and looked at Li Ming.

Seeing them all raise their heads, Li Ming continued, "Please listen to what I say. Mr. Xu has something to bother you for some time. Gather in front of the mansion of officials."

"Mr. Li, what Mr. Xu would like us to do?" The man close to him walked towards Li Ming and asked.

Li Ming replied with a smile, "His Excellency didn't tell us about it. Let's go, and you will know the reason."

"OK. OK. We will go there as fast as possible."

Meanwhile, he put down the hoe in his hand and turned back to signal to other people, "Hurry up! Let's go there as fast as possible."

They put down what was in their hands and walked to the mansion together.

Someone saw Zheng Qiu and asked with puzzlement, "Mr. Zheng, didn't you go to Suizhou and sell potatoes? Why do you come back now?"

"The potatoes are sold out, so I come back." Zheng Qiu said to them with a smile.

The man asked with doubt, "Really, Mr. Zheng? Just after a few days, so many potatoes are sold out?"

"Yes, potatoes are popular in Suizhou. Just after half a day, they are sold out." Zheng Qiu continued.

Hearing this, the man next to Zheng Qiu smiled and said with tears in his eyes, "Good news. Good news. Our life will be better later."

"Mr. Zheng, could you tell us how you sold the potatoes so quickly? There are ten carriages of potatoes." Another man asked.

Zheng Qiu looked at them with a smile and said, "Do you want to know the reason?"

They all looked at him and nodded.

"OK. Let me tell you on the way." Zheng Qiu said and walked to the mansion.

On the way, Zheng Qiu told them how potatoes were sold out and how much money was earned. When the potatoes were sold out, many people were queuing up to buy potatoes but they didn’t buy any potatoes. He let them not worry about it and this year they could survive the winter.

At the gate of the mansion of officials, all the local people gradually gathered there.

The local people at the gate of the mansion were excited because they didn't feel worried anymore after hearing what Zheng Qiu said on the way.

They never thought potatoes would be so popular.

Seeing people all come here, Zheng Qiu walked into the mansion.

In the study, Xu Qing's expression was still very solemn. Zheng Qiu knew the reason. He walked in and said with hands cupped, "Your Excellency, almost all the local people have come here."

"Yes, I see. I will go out right now." Xu Qing nodded, stood up to tidy up his clothes, and then walked out.

Zheng Qiu followed him.

When he walked to the gate, Xu Qing stopped to calm down and walked out.

Seeing Xu Qing come out, the local people greeted him, "Your Excellency."

Xu Qing nodded to them and continued, "You have come here. Today I will say something to you."

"Please, Your Excellency." One of the elderly men said.

The local people all looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing nodded slightly, "OK. I want to ask you a few questions. Do you remember what Marquis Shuo has done for us, for Jiandu?"

"Marquis Shuo came to deal with the dead bodies with his followers when Jiandu was hit by the plague."

"Besides this, he also went to invite the master Liang Cheng to help us build the dam."

"When Marquis Shuo came to Jiandu, he also helped us repair our house and taught us how to grow potatoes."

...

"OK. Since you have remembered what Marquis Shuo has done for us, whether we need to try our best to help him when he faces difficulties?" Hearing this, Xu Qing nodded for their response and continued.

Hearing this, all the local people felt amazed and discussed it face to face, "What problems does Marquis Shuo face? How can we ordinary people help him?"

"Yes, we are utterly destitute after the flood. How could we help him?"

After what Xu Qing said, the local people chatted with each other.

One man asked Xu Qing, "Mr. Xu, what problems does Marquis Shuo face? I am willing to try my best to help Marquis Shuo as long as he needs us."

"Your Excellency, tell us. I am willing to try my best, too. We are saved by Marquis Shuo. Without Marquis Shuo, we would not stand here and chat with you."

All the people asked him.

Xu Qing held out his hands to signal all the people to calm down. And he nodded and said, "We need you to donate some potatoes."

"Potatoes? What happened to Marquis Shuo, Your Excellency?" One of the elderly men asked.

Xu Qing wore a serious expression and said, "Before Xiling declared war on the border, our army was defeated because of Xiling's unknown tricks. At this time, soldiers on the border face a big challenge, the shortage of food."

"We all know that army provisions on the border were provided by Jiandu in the past years. This year Jiandu was flooded, so there was no food sent to the border. Marquis Shuo was sent to the border by His Majesty. Even if Marquis Shuo has strong martial skills, how could our soldiers fight against Xiling army without army provisions?" Xu Qing said.

After Xu Qing said, people chatted with each other in a low voice.

Xu Qing knew what the local people worried about. These potatoes were their hope and potatoes sold well. If potatoes continued to sell well, every family would have a good new year.

Seeing this, Xu Qing said in a high voice, "Marquis Shuo has come to fight against Xiling. If soldiers fight against enemies with hunger, we could imagine the outcome. If the border was taken by Xiling army, Emperor Xiling must continue to attack to the east. Then Marquis Shuo's life will be threatened, let alone our ordinary people. Please consider about it."

Then it was silent at the gate of the mansion.

One voice came from outside, "Your Excellency, I am willing to send my potatoes to the border, and soldiers on the border will be energetic to fight against the enemies."

"What Erhu said is right. Marquis Shuo treats Jiandu well, so we should agree with it. Now potatoes are in a good harvest. There will be lots of potatoes left even if we send some to the border. Mr. Zheng said potatoes sell well. Later we might as well eat less every day." Another elderly man looked at Erhu and said.

Then another man said, "I agree. Marquis Shuo is brave and skillful in battle. If we can help him with army provisions, we will win the war. We can minus one meal every day later until next spring."

All the people at the gate of the mansion heard this and nodded, "Your Excellency, we agree."

"Me, too."

...

Xu Qing saw this and there were tears in his eyes. He never thought the local people would agree with it so quickly. He knew the feeling of hunger, so he felt satisfied that the local people would agree with his proposal so quickly.

Xu Qing nodded with a smile, "Thank you very much. I want to extend many thanks to you for the soldiers on the border. Don't worry. No matter what happens, I guarantee that you will have a good winter this year."

"Your Excellency, you don't need to thank us. Without Marquis Shuo, we would not know how to plant potatoes. Now Marquis Shuo has built the dam for us. We don't worry about the following life. Right?" One of the elderly men said and turned to ask the men at his back.

"Yes, we rest assured with Your Excellency."

The local people shouted together.

Xu Qing couldn't help nodding with a smile and held out his hand to signal them to stop. He continued, "OK. I will arrange for people to make preparations as soon as possible. You can go back to do your business."

They all replied and scattered in all directions.

Xu Qing turned back and said to Zheng Qiu, "The task of going to the border should be given to you. Go to check whether potatoes are put on the carriage."

"Yes, Your Excellency." Zheng Qiu agreed with his hands cupped and turned back.

Li Ming walked forward, "Your Excellency, it is far away to go to the border. How about I go there with him? We can look after each other."

"OK. Go ahead." Hearing this, Xu Qing thought for a while and said.

It would not be that smooth on the way to the border. With one more person, he would be more relieved.

Li Ming nodded and walked to where Zheng Qiu left.

Potatoes on the carriage had been moved here.

Zhao Po was arranging for people to put potatoes on the carriage, and Su Tong sat on one side of the carriage and looked at them. During these two days they went to Suizhou, the local people dug lots of potatoes and there were three carriages more than before.

He was considering why His Excellency let them pack up potatoes in such a hurry. Potatoes sold well. The time they returned home, he hadn't drunk tea and was asked to pack up potatoes. He truly didn't know the reason.