Upon learning that a ball was to be held at the castle and that she would need to attend, Dolores became extremely nervous, so much so that she couldn't concentrate during her lessons. Wei Wei, of course, noticed this and thought it wasn't good for the young girl to remain so anxious. She decided to find something for Dolores to do to distract her.
Coincidentally, the tailor Felix had hired arrived to take their measurements for the ball gowns. After the measurements were taken, Wei Wei purchased a batch of fabric and decided to teach Dolores how to make clothes.
Of course, considering the young girl's age, starting with full-sized garments wasn't appropriate, so Wei Wei opted to teach her how to make doll clothes.
What little girl doesn't love playing dress-up with dolls?
This turned out to be an excellent way to distract Dolores. Once Wei Wei started making the cloth doll, Dolores completely forgot about the upcoming ball.
The doll Wei Wei made wasn't the chubby, traditional kind but rather resembled a Barbie doll, with a slender, human-like body, long limbs, and a round head. The facial features were drawn on with a pen, featuring large, anime-style eyes and a smiling mouth—adorable enough to melt hearts.
When Dolores saw the round head Wei Wei had made, she eagerly offered to help sew the limbs, wanting to see the finished product as soon as possible.
Wei Wei was more than happy to let her help. Dolores's embroidery skills had improved recently, and she was perfectly capable of sewing the doll's limbs.
Wei Wei took on the more challenging task of creating the doll's hair, using dyed wool yarn to give the doll long hair. This way, Dolores could later style the doll's hair into braids.
There was some truth to Felix's observation that Wei Wei preferred Dolores over him. As someone who appreciated beauty, Wei Wei had a particular fondness for women's looks, especially those of little girls!
Wei Wei, who was destined to become a doting aunt, made a blonde, blue-eyed doll that resembled Dolores.
The finished doll was about sixty centimeters tall and stuffed with cotton, giving it sturdy limbs that could even stand against a wall. Considering it was a dress-up doll for a young girl, Wei Wei sewed on a little vest and shorts that couldn't be removed, ensuring the doll wouldn't be indecent.
Dolores clung to the doll, reluctant to let go, and declared in a voice much more cheerful and lively than usual, "I'm going to call her Amy! She's my dearest Amy!"
Amy, meaning "beloved," was a name quite different from Dolores's.
Wei Wei was momentarily stunned, then smiled gently and patted Dolores's head. "Alright, she's your Amy now. How about we make some clothes for her?"
"Okay!"
Dolores was skilled at embroidery but didn't know how to draft patterns or cut fabric. As the daughter of an earl, no one thought she needed to learn these skills. She only needed to embroider pretty patterns on handkerchiefs and ribbons.
This was the perfect opportunity for Wei Wei to teach her how to draft patterns and cut fabric.
Wei Wei quickly sketched several common doll clothing designs on paper and let Dolores choose which ones she wanted to make.
Dolores, who had never seen such beautiful, full-skirted dresses before, couldn't decide which one to pick. She tugged at Wei Wei's sleeve and pleaded, "Can I make all of them? Please! Amy can't just wear one outfit. I can take my time and make them all!"
Wei Wei, completely unable to resist the little girl's pleading, agreed in a daze.
After drawing the patterns on the fabric, Wei Wei explained the steps while Dolores cut them out with scissors. Then, they could start sewing.
Dolores was already accustomed to Wei Wei's teaching style. After cutting out the pieces, she tried sewing them together according to the patterns on the parchment, only asking for help when she got stuck.
Wei Wei had drawn five or six sets of doll clothes, enough to keep Dolores busy for the next two weeks.
The castle was bustling with preparations for the ball. With not enough hands on deck, even their maids were called in to help. Wei Wei initially thought she wouldn't be involved, but the butler seemed to have singled her out, constantly coming to her for decisions, which inadvertently kept her busy as well.
(Butler Barton: Since you're the future lady of the house, you should be in charge of organizing the ball.)
The castle underwent a thorough cleaning. Since Butler Barton kept consulting her on various matters, Wei Wei finally had the chance to request that the castle's cesspit be cleaned out!
Yes, there was a massive cesspit beneath Sardinson Castle, dug out when the castle was first built. So, initially, the castle's inhabitants didn't directly dump waste into the moat.
However, a castle with a large population and over a century of history had a cesspit that had essentially never been cleaned. Combined with blockages caused by years of neglect, it was easy to imagine the state it was in.
The foul smell Wei Wei had noticed when she first entered the castle had wafted up from there. She had initially blamed the moat, but in reality, the sewer leading to the moat had been blocked for who knows how many years.
However, the waste accumulated over a century in a cesspit that had long been out of use could probably be used as fertilizer, right?
The only issue was that this was a labor-intensive and somewhat dangerous task, requiring not just manpower but a lot of it.
Felix had no objections to Wei Wei's suggestion of cleaning out the cesspit. He was delighted that she was finally willing to take charge of castle affairs. Not only did he agree to assign serfs to the task, but he also postponed the ball, originally scheduled for two weeks later, to mid-June to give them enough time to clean the castle.
By then, the winter wheat planted last year would be nearing harvest, and regardless of whether the cleaning was complete, the serfs would need to return to their fields. This would prevent the awkward situation of guests arriving while serfs were still hauling waste in and out of the castle.
Wei Wei had no objections, but she repeatedly reminded the steward in charge that no flames should be brought near the cesspit during cleaning, as it could cause an explosion.
Felix, who was listening, nodded to the steward. "Listen to her. A similar explosion happened in the capital, and people died because of it."
This wasn't an exaggeration. There had been cases where someone brought a torch into a poorly ventilated toilet, resulting in tragedy.
Fortunately, such incidents weren't unique to this era. When the castle was built, the designers had included ventilation for the communal toilets used by the servants at the bottom. So, if they were to clean the cesspit, they could open the holes in the long wooden boxes to see inside.
They could start cleaning from here, as clearing the blocked sewer first might cause the waste to clog the moat outside.
As for where to dispose of the waste, Wei Wei instructed them to take it directly to the fields to enrich the fallow land. Since nothing was planted there now and it would remain empty until next year, there was no risk of damaging any crops.
In the meantime, she met with merchants Pierre had found and purchased reasonably priced building materials. One of the merchants happened to sell gypsum, so she ordered a batch, which could be used for construction, medicine, and even making tofu.
Steward George had already gathered the necessary manpower. Once the merchants delivered the materials, construction could begin.
Wei Wei patted her purse. Although spending a large sum of money all at once was painful, thinking about the future house made the pain bearable.
As the ball drew nearer, Wei Wei's corn finally entered the milk stage after pollination, with corn cobs forming inside their green husks. Though the kernels weren't visible yet, the cobs were nearly fully grown.
Wei Wei estimated the timing and selected one ear of corn to peel back the husk, revealing the tender yellow kernels. When pressed with a fingernail, a milky liquid oozed out. In another month, it would be fully mature.
After confirming the corn had entered the milk stage, Wei Wei stripped the leaves below the ear on all the cornstalks, leaving only the leaf closest to the ear. This made the cornfield look bare and well-ventilated from below.
This practice not only increased light and airflow in the cornfield but also boosted yields by at least 15%.
As for the ear of corn she had selected, it was naturally harvested and taken to the kitchen to be turned into a delicious dish.
That evening, a pot of pork rib and corn soup appeared on the dining table.
The tender corn was so fresh it seemed to drip with juice. The single ear of corn was cut into four pieces and simmered in a clay pot with pork ribs and carrot chunks until the ribs were tender. The soup was fragrant with a hint of sweetness from the corn, a dish Wei Wei had always loved. She particularly enjoyed the sweet, soft corn in the soup, which was so tender it felt like even the cob could be eaten. Unfortunately, the remaining corn would likely be saved for seeds, making this the only time she'd get to taste it this year.
This was also the first time she had eaten food produced by the system. The corn was sticky and fragrant, a waxy variety not as sweet as sugar corn, but in an era when most people couldn't afford sugar, its sweetness was already a delightful surprise.
Moreover, likely due to the system's optimization, its texture was exceptional, better than any corn Wei Wei had ever tasted. The first bite left her utterly amazed.
It was so delicious!!!
If even Wei Wei was blown away by the corn's flavor, it was no surprise that the other three, who had never tasted corn before, were equally stunned.
"What is this?" Felix, sitting at the head of the table, lit up upon tasting the corn. Though it was his first time trying it, he instinctively recognized it as a filling food.
Young Dolores was also captivated by the sweet flavor, and even Father Matthew showed curiosity. This was a food they had never encountered before, but its taste was undeniably excellent.
Wei Wei explained, "It's corn. I planted it in the garden—the tall stalks, remember?"
Mentioning the name alone might not have jogged their memory, as Wei Wei had planted many unfamiliar plants in the garden. Most people didn't pay much attention to why she grew them, but as one of the independent crops, the corn had left a strong impression.
Unlike Dolores, who simply enjoyed the taste, the two men at the table realized something astonishing upon recalling the cornfield.
They hadn't seen the actual corn cobs hidden within the husks—until now—but they knew the overall size of the corn plants in the field. Comparing that to the size of the corn pieces in their soup bowls and the obvious cut marks on the edges, Felix was the first to deduce that they must have come from the same ear of corn.
This realization made Felix's hand tremble, nearly dropping the corn.
But he steadied himself, avoiding the foolish act of wasting such precious food.
"Dear Wei Wei, are we eating pieces from the same ear of corn? I mean, they grew together, right?"
"Yes, these four pieces are from the same ear," Wei Wei replied, setting down her finished corn cob with a hint of regret. "It tastes good, doesn't it? Unfortunately, the rest will be saved for seeds. We'll have to wait until next year's harvest to taste it again."
At this point, Wei Wei suddenly remembered that in northern China, corn was often planted after the winter wheat harvest to increase yields.
However, she didn't have the conditions for that now. By the time her corn was harvested and dried into viable seeds, it would be August, and Sardinson County would be planting winter wheat again in September. A single month wasn't enough for corn to grow.
Felix, suppressing his excitement, looked at the half-eaten corn in his hand and asked, "Are the kernels on this the seeds? What's the germination rate? And the yield?"
Hearing this, Wei Wei understood why he was so excited.
In this era, a wheat yield of 200 pounds per acre (not an English acre) was considered a good harvest. Other crops yielded slightly more but not by much.
However, the germination rate of seeds at this time was far lower than in modern times. The international standard for seed germination is above 85%, but in this era, that was unattainable.
From historical records Wei Wei had read, in 700 AD during the Frankish period, it was documented that sowing one bushel of seeds yielded only two bushels of harvest.
Of course, by now in Sardinson County, that ratio had improved to 1:10. While still far from modern standards, it was a significant increase.
But were crops that low-yielding five hundred years ago?
Not necessarily. The germination rate of seeds back then was abysmally low, and the crops themselves weren't as good, leading to the unbelievable 1:2 ratio.
In comparison, the current 1:10 was quite impressive.
However, a wheat ear at this time typically yielded about fifteen grains, yet the ratio was only 1:10. The low germination rate of seeds was the main reason for this discrepancy.
In modern times, sowing 10 to 20 pounds of seeds per acre could yield 500 pounds of wheat, which was considered average. Here, sowing about 25 pounds of seeds yielded only 200 pounds of wheat, and often even that wasn't guaranteed.
The same logic applied to other crops.
In such an environment, the sudden appearance of corn, where one seed could produce hundreds of grains, naturally excited Felix.
Realizing this, Wei Wei explained seriously, "Yes, these can all be saved as seeds. The germination rate is above 85%, and under proper care, one acre can yield at least 6,000 pounds. With good care, it can reach 7,000 to 8,000 pounds..."
*Thud*
The sudden sound startled Wei Wei. She turned to see Father Matthew accidentally dropping his cutlery onto the table, hitting a plate.
But the priest wasn't concerned about his breach of etiquette at the moment. He was trembling as if suffering from Parkinson's, muttering something that sounded like "six thousand... seven to eight thousand..."
The yield Wei Wei mentioned had shocked the usually composed old man.
Not just him—Felix and the servants nearby were equally stunned. If not for their training, which kept them silent, more than just Father Matthew and Felix would have lost their composure. When Wei Wei mentioned the numbers, everyone who understood agricultural yields gasped in unison.
Good heavens, at least 6,000 pounds, and up to 7,000 or 8,000 pounds? Was this a crop from God's fields? How could such an astonishing yield exist?
In comparison, the yields they had known before—over 1,200 pounds per acre—paled in comparison.
Wei Wei found their reactions amusing, imagining a comic strip where everyone's eyes would pop out of their heads.
She wondered what would happen if she told them that corn wasn't even the highest-yielding crop. Potatoes could average 18,000 pounds per acre, and sweet potatoes could yield at least 36,000 pounds. Would they faint on the spot?
Well, to avoid any accidents, she decided not to mention it. They could discover that little surprise for themselves when the potatoes and sweet potatoes matured. After all, the potatoes she had planted were an early-maturing variety with a growth cycle of about three months, while sweet potatoes took four to five months. So, even though the potatoes were planted later than the sweet potatoes, they would mature earlier, likely in mid-to-late July.
That was only about a month away. By then, they could harvest the corn first, followed by the potatoes and sweet potatoes, with one pleasant surprise after another. It would surely make them very happy.
Wei Wei mischievously imagined everyone's reactions a month from now, feeling quite pleased. She turned to Father Matthew, who was still trembling, and asked with concern, "Father, are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine, Miss Wei Wei."
Under her concern, Father Matthew finally regained his composure, though his gaze toward Wei Wei became intensely eager.
He looks like he wants to convert me! Wei Wei grew wary. She was familiar with this look—it was the same one senior students used when recruiting freshmen for clubs during university.
Fortunately, Father Matthew still had some sense. He knew this wasn't the right time to say anything. After taking a few deep breaths, he finally lowered his head and continued eating. However, it was clear that no one could focus on the meal anymore.
For the rest of the dinner, everyone seemed distracted. Felix had many questions for Wei Wei, but he didn't ask them at the table. Father Matthew's reaction made him think of many issues, especially concerning the Church.
Felix wasn't particularly fond of the Church, likely due to his upbringing. His knight mentor, as well as the king and queen he served, all harbored some resentment toward the Church, which had subtly influenced him to feel a vague hostility toward it.
Although Father Matthew had been the priest in Sardinson County for five years, Felix hadn't interacted with him much. While he could trust him to some extent due to his father's relationship with the priest, that trust wasn't unconditional.
He now regretted asking Wei Wei about the corn yield. If he hadn't, Father Matthew wouldn't have heard those staggering numbers, and the others, under his orders, would have kept the secret.
It wasn't just about profits; Felix was worried that Father Matthew might report this to the Church, drawing unwanted attention to Wei Wei and causing unnecessary trouble.
While such a secret couldn't be kept forever, Felix hoped to keep it under wraps until he and Wei Wei had established their relationship. That way, he could rightfully take her under his wing and protect her.
He admitted that Wei Wei's contributions had significantly increased her value. If this became public, many would want to marry her. But he could honestly say that his desire to marry her wasn't solely based on that—though it certainly didn't hurt. He could admit that even without those external factors, Wei Wei's inherent qualities would have made him fall for her. However, it was her appearance and demeanor that had initially captivated him.
If she hadn't looked the way she did, would Felix have fallen for her?
He pondered this. Perhaps he would have, because now, beyond her looks, he was more drawn to her unique qualities—traits completely unlike those of other noble girls.
Or perhaps he wouldn't have, because without her striking appearance, given how busy he was at the time, he might not have spent much time with her. Wei Wei might not have given him the chance, and by the time he finished his tasks, she might have already moved out of the castle, and their paths would never have crossed again.
So, both possibilities existed, and he was grateful that Wei Wei's appearance perfectly matched his aesthetic preferences.
That was why he had fallen for her at first sight, taken the initiative to approach her, and, over time, finally grasped the thread of love.
The more he thought about it, the more he believed they were truly a pair blessed by the god of love.
Felix was convinced that Wei Wei must be the rib God had taken from his chest, only to accidentally leave her in the distant, mysterious East. But fate had brought her through countless trials, safely returning her to his side.
Felix smiled tenderly at Wei Wei, who was focused on her meal, but his gaze toward Father Matthew turned cold.
No matter what, he would protect her.