After returning home, Qin Ke settled Han Qi in their old house next door, which was convenient for everyone.
The most urgent matter, however, was to have him bathe and change clothes first. Qin Ke truly couldn't endure the smell clinging to him any longer.
It was already June, and the weather was gradually growing hotter. Qin Ke gave him a set of old clothes, thought for a moment, and then asked Li Nanqiao to take him to the river to wash.
"Here—this is Han Qi's indenture contract. Madam, please keep it safe."
In most households, money and important documents such as land deeds were kept in the study, and Lu Youqing was usually the one in charge of managing them.
After Han Qi finished washing and changed into clean clothes, his original appearance became clear. His features were neat and pleasant, though he was a bit too thin. Standing up, he was even a head shorter than Li Nanqiao.
"All right, let's eat first. You haven't had a proper meal in days. Don't eat too much all at once, or your stomach won't handle it," Qin Ke said as he sat down first, addressing Han Qi, who stood stiffly to the side.
"Oh, just sit when you're told to sit," Li Nanqiao said, giving him a slap on the shoulder and pressing him down into his seat. "The master and madam are very good people. You'll come to know that in time."
At first, Han Qi ate hesitantly, only picking at the dishes in front of him. But he must have been starving—before long, he was eating faster and faster, nearly burying his face in his bowl.
Since the weather had turned hot, Lu Youqing's appetite hadn't been very good. She put down her chopsticks after only a few bites.
Qin Ke thought about it. There were no air conditioners or electric fans in ancient times. Wealthy families used ice to cool off in summer, but ordinary people had no such means.
People would cut and store ice in the depths of winter for use the following summer, but ice storage was difficult and limited. As a result, ice was extremely expensive in summer.
He knew the method of making ice using saltpeter. Saltpeter was sometimes used as medicine and was inexpensive and easy to obtain.
Qin Ke's interest was immediately piqued. Wasn't this another way to make money? He promptly gave Li Nanqiao some money and asked her to buy saltpeter to try it out.
Lu Youqing looked at him in confusion. Qin Ke smiled and raised an eyebrow at her, deliberately mysterious. "I'll give you a surprise later."
Hearing that, Lu Youqing knew he was about to do something unusual again, so she simply let him be.
Although saltpeter was available, its supply was limited. Li Nanqiao drove the donkey cart all over the town before finally managing to buy a whole basket of it. Qin Ke took some for himself and told her to store the rest in the storeroom.
He shut himself inside the study and wouldn't let anyone in.
"Madam Lu, what is the master doing?" Li Nanqiao asked, equally puzzled.
Lu Youqing remained calm. "We'll know soon enough."
Qin Ke found two copper basins of different sizes. He filled the larger one with water, then placed the smaller basin inside it. Once the water in the large basin submerged the smaller one, Qin Ke poured the saltpeter into the large basin while continuously stirring.
As the saltpeter absorbed heat from the water, the temperature gradually dropped, and before long, the water in the smaller basin froze into ice.
Seeing that the experiment had succeeded, Qin Ke grinned and pushed the door open, eager to surprise Lu Youqing.
"Madam, come quickly!" He rushed over to where Lu Youqing was sitting under the pavilion and grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward the study.
Lu Youqing rose helplessly, following his pull obediently, curious to see what he had done this time—his delight and excitement written all over his face.
The moment she stepped into the study, a wave of cool air washed over her, sharply contrasting with the heat outside.
"Ice?" Lu Youqing looked at the basin of ice placed in the center of the room. Using ice in summer required winter storage, something their household simply couldn't manage. Thinking of the saltpeter Qin Ke had asked Li Nanqiao to buy, she formed a guess. "Saltpeter?"
"My clever madam—exactly," Qin Ke said, leading her over to the basin and explaining, "Saltpeter absorbs heat when dissolved in water, which lowers the temperature and turns the water into ice."
Though Lu Youqing didn't fully understand the chemical principles behind it, she immediately sensed a business opportunity. Saltpeter was cheap, and during the height of summer, ice was in high demand. The profit margin could be considerable.
Seeing her deep in thought, Qin Ke smiled faintly and squeezed her hand. "What is my madam thinking about?"
Lu Youqing came back to herself and shot him a look. "Selling ice in summer is feasible, but this method must remain secret."
"However, saltpeter production is limited. Li Nanqiao said she already bought all the saltpeter in town. If we want to make ice this way, we'll need a large supply."
"Then we'll buy it in Jincheng," Lu Youqing said decisively. "Jincheng is one of the most prosperous cities. There must be enough saltpeter there. Have Nanqiao take Han Qi along and buy as much as they can."
Although Li Nanqiao was still somewhat confused, she knew what to ask and what not to ask. The next day, she packed up and set off for Jincheng with Han Qi.
The house suddenly felt much emptier. After dinner that evening, Qin Ke took Lu Youqing for a walk around the village to help digest the meal. The villagers of Qinghe often saw the two of them strolling hand in hand.
After realizing his feelings, Qin Ke began seizing every opportunity to grow closer to her—whether it was taking walks or clinging to her while she taught him to write. Whenever he had free time, he wanted nothing more than to stay by her side.
Moreover, ever since her bout of menstrual pain, Qin Ke had clearly noticed that Lu Youqing no longer resisted his closeness or affectionate gestures. At times, she even took the initiative to draw near to him.
Walking together had almost become a fixed routine for them. The countryside was peaceful and serene, and Qin Ke deeply enjoyed this life. Sometimes, during their walks, they would detour to inspect the fields, watching the seeds they had sown sprout, grow, and bear fruit. It gave him a satisfaction that was hard to put into words.
"Are these almost ripe?" Lu Youqing lifted her skirts and crouched down, looking at the lush green watermelons. When Qin Ke had described them to her before, she'd had trouble imagining them. Now, those descriptions had taken tangible form before her eyes.
Qin Ke crouched beside her and tapped the watermelon rind with his knuckles. The sound was crisp.
"Almost. In about seven days, they'll be ready to eat. If we put them in an ice chest, they'll be cool and refreshing." According to the planting guide provided by the system, they needed about another week to mature.
Qin Ke tightly held Lu Youqing's hand as they slowly stood up together, gazing at the vast, boundless expanse of emerald-green watermelon vines before them. A gentle breeze passed through, bringing a hint of coolness, and the leaves on the vines swayed softly with the wind.
The watermelon field stretched out like a green ocean, vibrant and full of life, rustling softly as the breeze swept across it.
Lu Youqing turned her head to look at Qin Ke and saw him gazing at her with gentle, focused eyes. She smiled slightly, her brows and eyes curving with warmth.
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Currently at chapter 144 for advance chapters
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