Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 69 He Raises the Whip, Harshly Approaching Guangren

When Li Xian went out again, it was already noon. The weather was fine, with the sun shining directly overhead, making one forget the bitter cold of winter.

Liu Jianjun was talking to Changxin in the courtyard.

Upon seeing himself, Liu Jianjun even joked, "Well done, son! You're still got it even in broad daylight!"

Li Xian glared at him sheepishly and asked, "Did you need something from me?"

"I need to speak with you. Are there any places in Chang'an that hire people?"

"Hiring people?"

"Well, you saw the plot of land in my backyard, right? I plan to have the servants in the manor dig a canal towards Zhongnan Mountain. But as you know, the people in our manor also have things to do on weekdays, and the canal digging is progressing too slowly. Spring plowing is just around the corner, so I was thinking of hiring some more people to speed things up."

Liu Jianjun thought for a moment and then said, "Let's also put some pressure on Guangshun and the others."

Li Xian didn't quite understand what digging the irrigation ditch had to do with Guangshun and the others. He asked curiously, "You still haven't said what you plan to plant on that land? Are you going to plant winter melon or millet?"

“We’re not going to plant that. We have money now, why would we plant that stuff? Just because it’s big?” Liu Jianjun slapped Changxin on the back of the head: “Go play with your mother.”

Then he added, "Let's talk about hiring people first; I'm busy digging this irrigation ditch!"

Li Xian watched Changxin obediently leave, then smiled and said, "These servants in the palace are not good at farming. If you plan to hire people to dig the land, then we might as well just buy some strong servants."

"Tsk tsk, you're really rich and powerful," Liu Jianjun scoffed, then added, "That's fine too, anyway, we plan to keep farming that land in the future... By the way, buying some slaves to farm doesn't count as keeping a private army, right?"

Li Xian replied, "The servants in the Prince's mansion were all bestowed by the Emperor and are not included in the quota. According to the quota, the Prince of Pei's mansion can recruit twenty people."

Liu Jianjun seemed somewhat surprised: "You, a prince, can only recruit twenty slaves?"

But after thinking for a moment, he said, "Twenty is enough. Where can we buy them?"

Li Xian smiled and said, "That depends on whether you're planning to make do or strive for perfection."

Liu Jianjun answered without hesitation: "There are only twenty spots in total, so we definitely have to be extremely selective!"

"Then let's go to the West Market and buy the best Kunlun slaves."

"Kunlun slave!" Liu Jianjun's eyes lit up.

"Have you heard of the Kunlun Slave?"

“Black people, huh!” Liu Jianjun chuckled after saying that, “If you’re talking about Black people, then they really are a perfect match! I’m planning to grow cotton on that piece of land!”

Li Xian was stunned.

Liu Jianjun is a man who loves to be easily startled.

What is the connection between Kunlun slaves and cotton?
"Why are you thinking of playing with flowers and plants? If you like ornamental things, we might as well go to Ci'en Temple and ask for some top-quality peonies." Li Xian was a little curious and said, "Didn't you say you wanted to act like a spoiled brat? Let's go ask the Empress Dowager for some. She has some exquisite double-headed peonies."

"Well, Xianzi, you've finally learned to use your brain?" Liu Jianjun teased. "But right now, it's best if your mother doesn't pay attention to us. Instead, you're jumping on her face like that?"

Li Xian was not convinced.

Liu Jianjun added, "Our image has already been established in your mother's heart, so going again would be going too far."

"Besides, she's currently vying for power with Xianzi, busy with grand schemes like plotting to conquer the world. If you go to her now and ask for peonies, I don't know if you'll establish your image as a spoiled brat, but you'll definitely get a good scolding from her!"

Li Xian thought about it and felt a chill run down his spine.

"Alright, I don't grow cotton for ornamental purposes. When are we going to the West Market?" Liu Jianjun steered the conversation back on track.

"I'm afraid it won't work today, it's getting late, let's do it tomorrow."

The Prince of Pei's residence is twenty li away from the West Market, so a round trip would definitely not take enough time.

Liu Jianjun thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "That's fine then. Come on, I'll take you to see your sons!"

Li Xian was taken aback: "They've changed?" "Yes!"

……

When Li Xian followed Liu Jianjun to the land in the South Courtyard, Liu Jianjun was hiding furtively behind a big tree.

"Hide it, don't let them see you."

Li Xian subconsciously followed behind Liu Jianjun and then looked toward the irrigation ditch.

None of his three sons were digging in the irrigation ditch. Guangshun and Guangyi were sitting in the corner of the field as usual. Guangshun seemed to be talking to Guangyi about something, and he looked very excited, but Guangyi had a blank look in his eyes, as if he was in a daze.

At this moment, Liu Jianjun also said, "Your eldest son is a chatterbox. As long as there are people around, he can talk on and on all day long, regardless of whether others pay attention to him or not. Your third son, on the other hand, is a bit introverted and shy. Just look at his little eyes."

Li Xian followed Liu Jianjun's finger and looked in that direction.

Guangshun was still excitedly talking to Guangyi, but the whole conversation was done by Guangshun alone, while Guangyi remained dazed, as if he were questioning the meaning of life.

"He's probably thinking about telling Li Guangshun to shut up right now, but he's too embarrassed to say it."

Li Xian thought Liu Jianjun was absolutely right, and then asked, "What about Guangren?"

“That kid is the most mischievous, but he’s good at heart. He didn’t want to disobey or talk back to his older brother, and he didn’t want to listen to his nagging, so he ran off by himself. Look, over there!” Liu Jianjun pointed to the fields in the southeast.

Li Xian saw that Li Guangren was fighting with a servant who was digging the ground over a hoe. The servant kept begging for mercy, but Li Guangren seemed to have discovered a new toy, raising the hoe high and seemingly saying something.

Li Xian thought to himself that his three children had always been like this, and he hadn't seen any changes in them.

Liu Jianjun then said, "You said you wanted to teach these three kids about social etiquette, right?"

Li Xian nodded.

Liu Jianjun continued, "Of these three kids, the eldest has the fewest problems. He just needs to learn when to shut up. Next is the second one. This kid is just a bit unruly, but we can't ignore him. He's fine when he's young, but once he grows up and realizes he has power beyond that of ordinary people, he'll go astray the fastest and the worst."

"But the third brother is too quiet and weak-willed. He'll cause big problems if he encounters even the slightest setback!"

Li Xian looked completely bewildered.

To be honest, he thought the third child was the most well-behaved.

But he trusted Liu Jianjun's judgment, so he asked, "Then... shall we just stay here and watch?"

"What are you looking at? Have you forgotten what I said?"

Li Xian was stunned.

"Don't let these brats bully or order around the servants here in any way. If they dare to do it, beat them up. We've caught them red-handed, what are you hesitating for!" Liu Jianjun gestured towards Li Guangren.

Li Xian hesitated for a moment.

It wasn't that I was reluctant to beat the second son, but I just thought Liu Jianjun's method was too absurd.

The second son of the Wang family gets beaten up for ordering around a servant.

But Li Xian still decided to trust Liu Jianjun.

He looked around, searching for something that would be useful.

At this moment, Liu Jianjun handed over a thin bamboo stick and said, "Use this, make a fierce expression, and whip the buttocks. Don't hurt the child. Do it in front of the servants so that they know that even if it's your son, you can't disturb them while they're working!"

Li Xian nodded, took the bamboo strip, and walked menacingly toward Li Guangren.

……

(End of this chapter)