Chapter 287 Time Flies

Chen Dafu's eyes lit up. "That place is not far from our village. It is convenient to go there, but..."

He said unconfidently, "I have only ever farmed in my life and have never taken care of anything outside my home."

"I would like to do more for my boss, but I'm afraid I don't have the ability to do it."

Gu Xixi smiled, but said seriously, "Uncle Chen is underestimating me by saying this."

"Now you know each of these hired brothers, their difficulties, and their strengths. When they work every day, if anyone does something wrong, you will carefully help them correct it, so you always do more work that is not originally yours."

"Over the past year, everyone has respected you from the bottom of their hearts. Whenever there is something, they will consult you first."

"And last time, I needed to make a batch of cloth bags. Thanks to you for helping me find those people, there was no problem from the division of labor to the payment of wages."

"Uncle Chen, do you still think you only know how to farm?"

Chen Dafu's face turned red, and he scratched his head, saying, "These are just ordinary ways of dealing with people. I feel embarrassed that the boss is praising me so seriously."

He raised his head, cleared his throat solemnly and said, "However, since the boss thinks I am suitable for this job, then I will do it."

"You are the one who takes on the responsibility. That's right." Gu Xixi said with satisfaction, "The village still needs to find someone to replace you. You can take your time to choose the person."

Chen Dafu grinned and regained his usual cheerfulness, "Okay! If there's nothing else, I'll go back first."

Time flies, autumn goes and winter comes.

In Huachidu Village, a mule-pulled flatbed cart was moving through the early snow.

Aunt Zhang had already looked back and forth outside her house several times. When she saw her mule, she waved happily and ran over in small steps.

"I saw snow when I woke up this morning. I thought you were staying at the farm and not coming back!"

Gu Xixi pulled the reins to slow down, "Run slower, the ground is slippery, be careful not to fall!"

But Aunt Zhang ran up to her regardless, followed the car back, and looked up at Gu Xixi with a smile, as if she was looking at a living baby.

"You must be cold on the road, come in and warm up on the kang! I heated up the kang early in the morning and made a pot of hot mutton soup, just waiting for you to come in, so I can make some noodles for you and have a bite of hot food!"

Gu Xixi smiled and muttered, "You said you thought I wouldn't come back, but you still prepared everything good, didn't you?"

As he was talking, he stopped the car at the door, unloaded the car and led the mule into the yard.

The wooden shed where the mules live was upgraded in the fall, with a circle of baffles added to the outside to prevent wind and keep warm.

Gu Xixi personally put the grass mixed with beans and added warm water into the sink.

She patted the mule's back and said, "You've worked hard this year. After pulling wheat, you've pulled corn. Eat more and drink more in the winter to gain weight."

Lai Fu seemed to understand. He snorted, lowered his neck and ate the grass in big mouthfuls.

Gu Xixi came out and locked the door.

Aunt Zhang had already unloaded all the things on the car floor and asked with a smile, "You came back from the farm, why did you go to the city to buy so many things?"

Gu Xixi said, "Mrs. Wu is taking care of the farm, so I don't have to go there these days."

"I thought it would be inconvenient to go out to buy food when it snowed, so I bought some more meat and froze it in the yard so it could be eaten for a long time."

"There's not much oil or salt left at home, as well as the snacks and candies we usually eat."

"And that basket of tangerines, which come from the south, are rare to come across."

The two of them moved their things into the house while talking.

When I pushed open the door of the main hall, I saw two layers of thick cotton curtains hanging on the wall. As soon as I lifted the curtains, I felt the warmth blowing towards me.

Gu Xixi couldn't help but blurt out, "It's still the most comfortable at home."

She untied her cloak and saw Xiaohua curled up comfortably in the corner of the heated kang, so she asked, "Where is Shitou?"

Aunt Zhang said, "Old Mrs. Zhou at the west end of the village is seriously ill, and her family came to ask Old Jiang to help. I saw it was snowing, so I asked Shitou to go with me and support her on the way."

Gu Xixi nodded and said, "That's right, Master is old and can't fall down."

Aunt Zhang asked Gu Xixi to lie on the kang and rest while she went to the kitchen to cook noodles.

Soon, a bowl of steaming mutton soup and pulled noodles was served on the kang table.

Smelling the fragrance, the lazy cat woke up, stretched himself and walked to the table.

Aunt Zhang tapped the cat's head with amusement, "When I was stewing the meat, I cut some minced meat into your cat food. Don't be greedy now."

Xiaohua raised her head and meowed, seeming a little unhappy, but she still didn't lie down on the table. She just lay down next to Gu Xixi.

Aunt Zhang sat on the edge of the kang, picked up a half-finished shoe sole, and said with some regret, "It's been seven or eight days since Jinglan left our house. I don't know if she has returned home yet."

"If you haven't reached home yet, maybe it snowed on the way."

Gu Xixi took a sip of the hot soup first, then said with a relaxed expression, "Her carriage is fast. Even if she hasn't arrived yet, it will only take two or three days at most."

When He Jinglan left, He Jinghui personally sent someone to pick her up.

In late autumn, the Northwest Army arrived in the capital, and all officials in the city opened the city gates to welcome them.

Three days later, the new emperor ascended the throne and restored order to the government, ending the chaotic situation in which the young emperor was in power controlled by his relatives.

Huo Jiang, the Great General of the Northwest Army, was rewarded based on his military merits and was also given the title of General Dingyuan, which was inherited by three generations.

As the chief meritorious civil official of the He family, He Jinghui was naturally promoted three levels and became a third-rank official.

The rest of the people were rewarded according to their merits, so there is no need to go into details.

Only one person was conferred the title, shocking the whole world.

The new emperor actually personally appointed a man named Mu as regent and granted him a mansion to live in.

This was not only the first regent of the Daye Dynasty, but also the first king of a different surname.

There are many different opinions among the people, and even various plays and vernacular scripts have been created for this purpose.

It is said that the new emperor was not favored when he was young, and was not even given the title of prince. It was thanks to the regent who had a keen eye for talent and supported him all the way.

Some say that the new emperor was already chosen by the late emperor, and only the regent knew about this. The late emperor knew that he would not live long, so he discussed with the regent, a close minister at the time, that in order to protect the new emperor, he deliberately created the illusion that the sixth prince was out of favor.

It was said that the new emperor and the regent had known each other since childhood and had long been close friends, but others were unaware of it.

Some people also say that the regent has great power and might be the next queen mother...

These bizarre or legendary discussions were so popular on the streets that even the small village of Huachidu heard of them.

Aunt Zhang stopped sewing and asked, "When Jinglan left, I realized that she was truly a lady from a wealthy family."

"Since her family is an official, how high-ranking is he? Is he higher than a county magistrate?"

Gu Xixi paused while slurping noodles, leaning on her chopsticks and thinking, "Just like the sesame seeds on the pastry, compared to this pastry, they are so much bigger."

Aunt Zhang widened her eyes in surprise. "Such a high-ranking official, and in the capital, can I meet the Regent?"

Gu Xixi choked on a mouthful of soup, "Poof!"

She hurriedly took out a handkerchief to cover her mouth, coughed a few times, and her face turned red.