Chapter Forty-Nine: The Grand Plan Begins (Part Three)

Strictly speaking, Dong Village was not originally called Dong Village; it bore a whimsical name—Binger Village. The origin of this name was, in fact, connected to Li Xian. This estate was once an imperial manor, registered as Manor B-2. In the third year of the Xianqing era, the Emperor Gaozong bestowed it upon Li Xian. Naturally, it should have been up to Li Xian to give it an illustrious name. However, at that time, Li Xian was still a playful child and paid no heed to such matters. Thus, the manor never received a formal title. People continued to use the old designation, which, through repeated mispronunciation, gradually morphed into the homophonous and catchy “Binger Village.” Yet, what truly made Binger Village renowned for miles around was not its amusing name, but rather a remarkable individual living there—a man who, despite the modest size of the manor, managed to produce far greater yields than others. This man was Deng Cheng, the steward of the manor.

Deng Cheng was barely past thirty, yet he appeared older than his years. His complexion was deeply tanned, his face weathered and careworn, and his perpetually solemn expression added to the impression of age. However, his eyes were full of life. Even when facing his master, Li Xian, Deng Cheng displayed not the slightest hint of nervousness. His salute was respectful enough, but his demeanor and bearing remained composed and unhurried. This quietly fascinated Li Xian, who found himself growing quickly fond of the man.

“Steward Deng, you may dispense with formalities. My visit is rather sudden—if I've caused any inconvenience, I hope you won’t mind.”

Li Xian, impressed by Deng Cheng’s poise, spoke with marked politeness, his manner warm and amiable. He seemed less a master issuing orders than a guest calling upon his host.

“I would not dare, Your Highness. Please command me as you wish, and I shall carry out your orders without fail.”

Deng Cheng did not react with flustered gratitude at Li Xian’s graciousness. Instead, he rose with an easy composure, bowing with cupped hands as he replied.

“Very well, then. Steward Deng, please show me around the manor at your leisure.”

Though Li Xian held Deng Cheng in higher esteem, he had no intention of revealing his true purpose just yet. Nor was he in a hurry to probe Deng Cheng’s skills in commerce. Instead, he smiled and waved his hand, making a simple request.

“As you wish, Your Highness. Please, this way.”

Deng Cheng could not divine Li Xian’s intentions for this visit, nor did he understand the reason behind the request for a tour. Though he harbored suspicions, he did not inquire further. Instead, he respectfully stepped back half a pace, turning slightly to the side and gesturing politely for Li Xian to proceed.

Li Xian nodded with a smile and set off, observing everything as he walked. He asked questions from time to time, as though filled with curiosity about all he saw. Fortunately, Deng Cheng was thoroughly versed in the manor’s affairs and answered each query fluently and appropriately, often explaining matters clearly in just a few words.

Hearing alone is illusory; seeing is believing. Li Xian was genuinely astonished by what he observed—unaccustomed though he was to hardship, he was not ignorant of agriculture. In his previous life, he had begun his official career in rural administration, overseeing agricultural affairs and spending much time in the fields. Though not claiming to be an expert, he was certainly no layman. Indeed, the emergence of “ecological farms” around Xi’an had been a hallmark achievement of his. What lay before his eyes now was precisely the system he had once championed—albeit with minor variations, the overall structure was nearly identical: orchards, vegetable patches, rice paddies, pigsties, and poultry yards were all arranged in sequence around a central fish pond. Rotten vegetable leaves and straw served as fodder; after passing through the bellies of livestock and poultry, they became manure, which in turn fertilized the fields. The fish pond provided water for irrigation, but also supported fish, ducks, and lotus roots. Most crucially, the returning of manure to the land ensured that the soil remained fertile without the need for fallowing. Thus, it was no wonder that the manor’s yields far surpassed those of comparable estates.

At first glance, an “ecological farm” might seem unremarkable, but its brilliance lay in its cycle of reuse. Such a concept was not something an ordinary person could devise, and even if conceived, was not easily realized. Should any link in the chain fail, the entire system would collapse. Li Xian knew this from experience and understood its difficulty well. Yet for Deng Cheng, it seemed effortless. Under his stewardship, “Binger Village” was orderly and efficient. Each tenant household had its own responsibilities, the division of labor was clear, and collaboration was seamless—an exemplary model of modern management.

Astonishing—truly astonishing. Could this man, too, have come from another world? After touring the manor, Li Xian, though delighted by what he saw, could not help but grow suspicious. In this era, peasants only knew how to coax whatever they could from the soil by brute force; the notion of circular reuse was utterly foreign. To be honest, even in the highly industrialized modern era, most farmers remained unenlightened, and anyone who grasped the concept of “ecological cycles” was certainly an elite. Now, to see such advanced thinking at work in his own manor—how could Li Xian not be suspicious? Yet, skilled in the art of concealment, he did not rush to interrogate Deng Cheng. He kept his doubts to himself and continued his tour, only addressing the matter after they returned to the main residence and dismissed all attendants, leaving only Deng Cheng.

“Steward Deng, you have managed this manor exceptionally well—it pleases me greatly. You have worked hard.”

Li Xian, well-practiced in “heart-to-heart” talks with his subordinates in his former official life, knew how to probe for information without seeming to. He did not press for the truth immediately, but adopted a casual tone, praising Deng Cheng with a smile. Of course, his words were not empty courtesy; the current state of “Binger Village” was impressive. Were Li Xian himself in charge, he might only have added methane utilization; otherwise, there was little he could have improved.

“Your Highness flatters me. I am merely doing my duty.”

Deng Cheng did not believe that Li Xian had come simply to inspect the manor. But since Li Xian did not say more, he dared not ask. When praised, he quickly bowed and responded with humility.

“Even so, capable service deserves reward. I am no miser; since you serve me faithfully, I shall not let you go unrewarded. I’ll order a reward of thirty strings of cash and double your monthly stipend. Are you satisfied, Steward Deng?”

Clearly pleased with Deng Cheng’s attitude, Li Xian smiled and nodded, bestowing a generous reward.

“This… I am unworthy of such favor. Please, Your Highness, rescind your order…”

The reward Li Xian offered was substantial, but instead of rejoicing, Deng Cheng grew anxious and tried to decline it.

“No need to refuse, Steward Deng. I never take back my word—so it is decided!”

Li Xian laughed heartily, waving away Deng Cheng’s objections with a flourish.

“Your servant thanks Your Highness for your graciousness!”

Hearing this, Deng Cheng could no longer contain himself. He bowed deeply, his face flushed with emotion, and his words trembled with gratitude.

“That’s more like it. You may rise; there’s no need for such formality in my presence. I dislike empty ceremony,” Li Xian said, smiling as he gestured for Deng Cheng to stand. Then, regarding Deng Cheng with easy familiarity, he asked, “I hear you hail from Taiyuan. Do you still have family at home?”

“Your Highness, my father passed away early. My aged mother remains, and my wife and three sons all reside here on the manor,” Deng Cheng replied respectfully, collecting himself as he answered.

“Ah, that’s good. To live together as a family is a blessing.” Li Xian commented with a smile, then shifted the topic back to the “ecological farm.” “I see you manage the manor most skillfully—far beyond what most could achieve. I wonder, Steward Deng, where did you learn these methods? I am quite curious.”

“Your Highness, all of this is described in ‘Essential Techniques for the Common People.’ It is not my own invention. Though I did not succeed at the imperial examinations, I have read many miscellaneous books. I memorized this in childhood, and later, finding it suited to the manor’s circumstances, I tried it out—and was fortunate to succeed. I dare not claim credit for myself.”

Deng Cheng did not conceal the truth when asked about the manor’s operations, answering with humility.

“‘Essential Techniques for the Common People’?”

Li Xian, naturally, knew this was a renowned agricultural treatise by Jia Sixie of the Northern Wei. He had glanced through it before, but never studied it closely and did not recall its contents in detail. Hearing Deng Cheng’s words, he was taken aback.

“Your servant would not dare deceive Your Highness. These methods are frequently mentioned in the text, though not in a dedicated chapter. Without careful reading, they are easily overlooked. I merely summarized what was written; I do not presume to claim the achievements of my predecessors.”

Seeing Li Xian’s confusion, Deng Cheng hastened to explain.

“I see. It seems I was the ignorant one. You have an eye for the subtle, Steward Deng; I cannot compare.” Li Xian, sensing Deng Cheng was not lying, believed him somewhat, but still felt a lingering doubt. He nodded thoughtfully, pretending to ponder, then mused aloud, “Hmm, if only we could utilize methane as well, it would be perfect.”

“Methane?”

Now it was Deng Cheng’s turn to be bewildered. He had no idea what Li Xian meant and stood dumbfounded, frowning as he pondered.

“Oh? Hahahaha…”

Watching Deng Cheng puzzle over his words, Li Xian suddenly burst out laughing. Deng Cheng stared at him in confusion, unable to make heads or tails of the matter, his lips working as if to ask but not daring to. This only made Li Xian laugh all the harder.

“Your Highness, I… I…”

Utterly at a loss, Deng Cheng tried to speak, but could not find the words. Embarrassment flushed his face scarlet…