Chapter 89 Retreating to Advance

The trusted maidservant looked at her with disdain.

"After all these years, you still don't understand her? She rarely even leaves her house, how could she possibly get any information from her?"

Sun couldn't help but sneer, recalling Song Yi's usual tearful and foolish manner.

"That's right, I was so confused that I actually tried to imitate a fool. With that money from buying grain, I might as well wait and buy some new grain later."

"The Second Young Mistress is wise."

On the other side.

Li Nanke and Song Yi arrived in Chixian smoothly.

Chixian was a county under the jurisdiction of Bianjing, and it was only fifty li away from Bianjing city.

The terrain here is flat and the land is fertile. Many high-ranking officials and nobles in Bianjing (Kaifeng) have set up estates or clan ancestral lands in the red county.

Song Yi's hundred mu of land was contiguous, but it was divided in two by the Zhang family, forcibly splitting it into two farms.

Half of it was given to Song Yi as part of her dowry under the guise of her purchase, while the other half naturally went to Song Hui.

When Song Yi arrived, the two village heads were waiting at the edge of the field.

There was a farm manager surnamed Cui who had been managing Song Yi's farm for seven or eight years. He was honest and kind and a skilled farmer.

The other village head, surnamed Zhao, was originally from Song Huiyuan, and had exceptionally lively eyes.

Song Yi didn't delay and immediately gave instructions to the two of them.

"Uncle Cui, Headman Zhao, immediately lead everyone in the village to start collecting grain. Collect all the grain, fruits, and vegetables that can be collected."

Cui Zhuangtou's expression changed.

"Harvest now? The melons and fruits in the fields are ripe, and the vegetables can be harvested, but the millet, soybeans, and red beans we planted will not ripen for another half month."

Harvesting now would halve the yield, what a waste! If we had held on for another half month, they would have been ripe, Your Highness.

Song Yi shook her head. Although she didn't directly mention the impending rainstorm, she did hint at it.

"The heat has been unusually intense these past two days. I have a bad feeling about this. Uncle Cui, do as I say and collect as much as you can."

"The harvest must be completed by the morning of the day after tomorrow at the latest. Everyone who participates in the harvest will be rewarded with one tael of silver."

Cui Zhuangtou subconsciously looked up at the sky.

It was midday, the sun was blazing and scorching, baking the earth, and there wasn't a breath of wind in the fields.

Although the weather was nice, it was also extremely hot and humid.

Cui Zhuangtou had been farming for many years and knew that such sweltering heat was not necessarily a good thing.

He immediately rubbed his hands together and got up, saying, "I'll gather everyone on the estate to start working right away."

After Cui Zhuangtou left, Zhao Zhuangtou remained standing there, dawdling without moving.

Song Yi asked, "Is there anything else, Head of Zhao Village?"

Zhao Zhuangtou glanced at the blazing sun overhead, his eyes darting around, and said, "Since the young master's wife has given her orders, I naturally dare not disobey."

"But everyone's taking their lunch break right now. Waking everyone up to work under this scorching sun is risky; if they get heatstroke..."

"What does Zhao Zhuangtou mean?"

Zhao Zhuangtou chuckled.

"Why don't you give some money for tea first, Lady Heir? Everyone will be grateful to you and more willing to work hard, won't they?"

Song Yi frowned, puzzled by people who asked for rewards before even doing any work.

Just as she was about to refuse outright, Li Nanke tugged at her sleeve and said with a smile, "Mother, I think what Zhao Zhuangtou said makes sense."

Song Yi turned her head and met her daughter's cunning and lively eyes.

That little rascal, he's up to something again.

"How much do you think we should pay for the tea, Ke'er?"

Li Nanke asked Zhao Zhuangtou, "How many people live in the village?"

Zhao Zhuangtou was secretly pleased, "There are probably forty or fifty people."

Li Nanke said, "Mother, just give me fifty taels of silver for tea, don't be biased. Send fifty taels to Cui Zhuangtou as well."

Song Yi nodded and looked at Zi Lan.

Zilan understood and took a plain purse from the carriage and gave it to Zhao Zhuangtou.

Zhao Zhuangtou weighed the item in his hand, then walked away with a broad smile.

Song Yi looked puzzled. "I think this person is a sly and deceitful person. Why did you give him money?"

Li Nanke said, "It was precisely because he was cunning and deceitful that he was given the money. Once he took the money, he certainly wouldn't accept the grain."

"Let's take this opportunity to teach him a lesson."

Song Yi's eyes lit up. "You little rascal!"

Li Nanke stuck out his tongue. "I call this a strategic retreat. Mother, go and see Cui Zhuangtou harvest the crops. I'll take Zisu and wander around."

Song Yi took Zi Lan to the east.

Li Nanke led Zisu and several servants to the west.

She guessed correctly. Zhao Zhuangtou had taken fifty taels of silver and went to the county town to have a good time without even returning to the village.

Before leaving, he glanced in the direction of Song Yi's carriage and spat on the ground.

"Fool, why are you rushing to harvest grain on such a fine day?"

His servant asked in a low voice, "If the head of the estate doesn't give the order, what will you do if the grain can't be harvested and the young master's wife scolds you?"

Zhao Zhuangtou sneered.

"Just say that I've already given the orders, and that it's these farmers who are disobedient. Who would dare to expose me?"

He's been doing this for years.

"Let's go, having fun is the most important thing."

As soon as the two left, Li Nanke led Zisu into the manor.

After taking a stroll around the village, everyone in the village soon knew about the harvest rush by the head of the neighboring Cui village.

"The Crown Prince's wife first gave some silver as payment for tea, saying that there would be another reward after it was collected the day after tomorrow morning."

"We are now under the jurisdiction of the Crown Prince's wife, and I heard that Headman Zhao has also received silver."

"It must be that Zhao fellow who embezzled the tea money again."

The villagers gathered together and stormed into Zhao Zhuangtou's house, causing a disturbance.

Zhao Zhuangtou's wife couldn't out-argue the crowd, and a fight broke out between the two sides.

Li Nanke arrived with his men.

Upon learning that she was the eldest daughter of a marquis, the villagers all inquired about the harvest.

Li Nanke confirmed the matter and said that he had already instructed Zhao Zhuangtou.

"Mother also added money for everyone's tea."

A dark-skinned, square-faced man said indignantly, "It must be that Zhao fellow who embezzled money again and went to the county town to have a good time."

Young lady, you may not know this, but every gift our former master bestowed upon us ended up in the pockets of the Zhao family.

Zhao Zhuangtou's wife: "Bullshit!"

"Zhao family daughter-in-law, stop making excuses. Everyone's eyes are sharp."

Li Nanke's face hardened. "This is outrageous! Go to the county town immediately and report to the authorities that Zhao Zhuangtou cheated his master out of his money."

Furthermore, drive the Zhao family members off the estate immediately. From today onwards, they are no longer the heads of this estate.

Immediately, a servant ran off to report to the authorities.

Zhao's wife was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground.

The villagers had been oppressed by them for a long time and were full of resentment. Led by the square-faced man, they quickly drove the Zhao family out.

In the entire process, it took no more than an hour for the Zhao family to disappear from the village.

The square-faced man came on behalf of everyone to inquire about the harvest.

"It's not harvest time yet, isn't it too early to harvest now?"

Li Nanke took a liking to the square-faced man and asked him his surname.

"My surname is Fang."

"Uncle Fang, my mother was worried about the weather changing, so she asked everyone to pack up early. She had carefully considered the matter before making the decision, so don't worry."

Mother said that as long as the harvest is finished by the morning of the day after tomorrow, every household will receive a reward.

The group exchanged glances, their worries fading and replaced by a hint of joy.

Li Nanke: "Then let Uncle Fang lead everyone in the harvest. Uncle Fang, are you willing?"

Fang Dashu's face turned red with excitement.

Is the girl planning to promote him to be the head of the estate by having him lead the way?

He excitedly assured her, "Don't worry, young lady, I will definitely handle this matter well."

After arranging everything, Li Nanke went to find Song Yi.

Song Yi was watching everyone in the field as they harvested melons and picked beans; it was a busy scene.

Li Nanke said, "On my way here, I saw large fields and villages all around. Mother, let's send someone to tell the village heads in the neighborhood about the rainstorm."