return trip
Who's outside?
With a shout from Zhu Ling, the curtain was quickly lifted by a pair of rough hands, and a trembling person walked in.
Ge was flustered and looked extremely panicked.
Looking through the curtain fluttering in the wind, one could see broken pieces of a porcelain basin on the ground in the courtyard, as well as steaming chicken soup with oil and dirt mixed together.
Knowing she had made a mistake, Ge immediately knelt down, her face ashen, stammering:
"Madam, I didn't mean to... This basin was just too hot to handle... It's all my fault for spoiling your fun..."
Ge's face was full of regret and self-reproach as she lowered her head and pleaded repeatedly. However, Lin Xu noticed, by the candlelight on the table, that there were faint tears glistening in her eyes.
Ge heard what Zhou Laosan was saying inside the house when she brought the chicken soup.
Lin Xu's voice softened slightly as she asked, "Was this chicken soup meant for me?"
Ms. Ge nodded with deep remorse.
Lin Xu then said, "It's alright, it was just a mistake. Since you went to the trouble of making chicken soup, I should be thanking you. Please don't be so polite."
After saying this, he reached out and helped Madam Ge up.
Madam Ge was even more terrified and didn't know what to do. Standing there, she was caught in a dilemma, so she prepared to take her leave and go clean up the mess in the courtyard.
As I turned around, I heard Lin Xu's gentle voice softly ring out:
"Does Aunt Ge also work on the estate? I was just having a disagreement with Steward Zhou. I wonder what Aunt Ge thinks of the current 50% rent collection rate on the estates? Is it too heavy?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Ge was clearly taken aback, but she kept her head down, anxiously twisting her calloused fingers, and dared not speak.
Zhu Ling saw this and knew that Madam Ge had some concerns, so she said:
“Aunt Ge, don’t be afraid. Our lady is very understanding and considerate of the workers. Just tell us your opinion.”
With trembling steps, Madam Ge finally raised her head. She hunched her shoulders, seemingly gathering all her courage, and finally managed to speak:
"Reporting to Madam, the people on the estate all feel the rent is too high, and they're almost starving... because, because Brother Zhou has been charging us 70% of the rent, claiming it's the landlord's order..."
Before he finished speaking, Zhou Laosan's expression immediately changed, and he sneered at Ge Shi:
"You traitor! You've framed me in front of the master, haven't you!"
Zhou Laosan gritted his teeth and lunged at Ge Shi as he spoke. Ge Shi retreated repeatedly, and Zhu Ling cried out in alarm.
Tian Ying was the first to react, and he quickly used his broad body to shield his wife, Ge Shi, blocking Zhou Laosan who was rushing towards him.
The commotion drew the attention of the guards, including Jiang, who were stationed in the courtyard. They rushed over with their knives. Tian Ying, a burly man, was no match for Zhou Laosan, who struggled but was pinned to the ground.
Lin Xu glanced at Zhou Laosan, who was lying on the ground with his ears red, and coldly said to Guard Jiang:
“This man deceived his superiors and subordinates, and oppressed farmers for many years. He was truly ruthless. So we dragged him down, beat him with dozens of sticks, and threw him into the fields as a warning to others.”
Zhou Laosan had been the steward of the Liang family in Qingyang for many years, always arrogant and haughty. He had never been so humiliated. Even though he still tried to resist, how could he compare to the guards? He was immediately dragged away.
The piercing howls didn't stop until late into the night.
After dealing with all this, Lin Xu calmly finished his tea, then had Guard Jiang send people to clean up the courtyard. After washing up, he rested.
Having gone through this ordeal, Qingyang should be peaceful for a while now. She closed her eyes in the stillness and thought quietly.
.
The next day, before dawn, a loud rooster crowed in the courtyard.
Lin Xu got up early, and although the room was simple, she slept soundly.
Zhu Ling fetched some water and helped her with a quick wash. Ge Shi had already placed the prepared meal on the square table in front of the door.
There was millet porridge sprinkled with sesame seeds, steaming hot cornbread, and some side dishes such as shredded radish and pickled cucumber. There was also a plate of egg pancakes sprinkled with scallions, all emitting a fragrant aroma. These farm-style dishes were all neatly arranged.
Zhu Ling served Lin Xu food, and their luggage was already packed. Guard Jiang was feeding the horses and giving them water outside the farmhouse. They were just waiting for the two of them to finish their meal before they could set off.
Seeing Lin Xu eating calmly, Zhu Ling poured him a cup of coarse tea, but then looked thoughtfully at Ge Shi's busy figure with a broom outside the window.
Lin Xu saw this and smiled:
"What's wrong? You had a good appetite yesterday, but why do you seem preoccupied today?"
Zhu Ling seemed hesitant for a moment, then lowered her voice:
"It's nothing. It's just that I thought about it carefully last night and felt that the timing of Ge's arrival last night was a bit too coincidental."
Lin Xu picked up her spoon and finished the last mouthful of the golden millet porridge in her bowl, slowly raising the corners of her lips. Her gaze towards Zhu Ling held a hint of satisfaction, as if she were quite pleased with Zhu Ling's growth and intelligence.
Why?
Zhu Ling then said:
"...You see, although Steward Tian and Old Man Zhou used to be in charge of the estate together, Old Man Zhou always had the upper hand. Now that Old Man Zhou has been driven out, Steward Tian is the rightful steward...Moreover, the two of them seem honest and simple, but they just happened to let you get rid of Old Man Zhou, so you can't be considered unwise."
Lin Xu smiled, seemingly having anticipated this, and was not surprised at all:
"You are becoming more and more intelligent now. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
Zhu Ling was surprised that Lin Xu was so calm: "Does Madam really feel comfortable handing over the entire farm to these two?"
Lin Xu picked up a handkerchief and wiped his mouth, but remained completely calm and composed.
"It's true that she had some ulterior motives, but it's also a fact that Zhou Laosan has been scheming for so many years, secretly profiting and oppressing the farmers by taking advantage of his position. Ge Shi was just playing dumb to save herself and her husband. If she wants to control the estate in the future, she naturally needs to deal with interests every day. If she doesn't have some tricks up her sleeve, how can she get along with the people below her?"
Zhu Ling hadn't expected Lin Xu to be so unconcerned about being used, and couldn't help but ask:
"Does Madam intend to give this couple an important position?"
"Tian Ying is more honest than Zhou Laosan and has many years of experience, so he can be used."
Lin Xu turned around and looked leisurely at the courtyard, which Ge Shi had quickly cleaned up and made spotless.
Several layers of deep meaning surfaced in his already deep eyes.
“I don’t mind if a woman shows ambition, nor do I mind if she plots against me. As long as this Ge woman has some ability to control the wealth and benefits she will gain in the future, that’s fine. On the contrary, I think that Ge woman’s methods and audacity yesterday may make her an unreliable person in the future.”
"...Moreover, given Zhou Laosan's example, I doubt they'll have the guts to do that again."
After the master and servant finished speaking, they soon boarded the carriage they had come in, preparing to return to Laining.
When they left, Ge and Tian Ying specially brought a group of farmers to see them off. Everyone was very happy to learn that Zhou Laosan had been kicked out by his master last night and that his years of bullying had finally been discovered. They even brought a lot of local specialties with them.
Lin Xu refused, but Madam Ge waved her hand, urging Lin Xu to accept it.
Although Ge's smile was still shy, her wrinkled eyes showed a noticeable increase in composure compared to yesterday.
"Madam saved us from dire straits, and it is only natural that we are grateful. Please accept this token of our appreciation."
Lin Xu then stopped refusing. He watched as the empty carriage was quickly filled with things brought by the villagers: basket after basket of farm eggs tied with straw rope, freshly dried sweet potatoes, pickled vegetables, dried lotus seeds and dried fruits, freshly steamed rice cakes... all of which were products produced by the farmers in the village.
She then said to Madam Ge and Mr. and Mrs. Tian Ying:
"From now on, you two will be in charge of these estates. Manager Tian is experienced, and Ge is meticulous, so it shouldn't be difficult. However, under my supervision, you must work carefully and never have any disloyalty. This year's harvest is not as good as last year's, so let's reduce the rent by another 10%. The people should not suffer."
Upon hearing this, the farmers, who had already suffered from Zhou Laosan's oppression for many years, became even happier. Some of the older farmers, who were over fifty years old, instantly had tears in their eyes and tremblingly came forward to express their gratitude.
Lin Xu couldn't bear to watch this, so he simply waved his hand and ordered the driver to set off.
Everyone stood on both sides of the road, watching them leave.
Sitting in the lead carriage, Guard Jiang watched the cheering crowds lining the streets. He recalled Lin Xu's usual kind smile and the unwavering certainty in his eyes when he ordered him to return immediately. It was a stark contrast to his usual demeanor, yet he remained calm and composed, subtly revealing an air of confidence.
He suddenly understood why Dou Yanxun had repeatedly told him before he left to make sure Lin Xu was safe.
At that time, he thought that this Madam Dou was just a woman who was pampered by the county magistrate and never lifted a finger.
Now, having witnessed her composure and calm in the face of danger, and her ruthless and effortless methods of eliminating traitors, he couldn't help but admire her.
This magistrate's wife was certainly no ordinary woman confined to the inner quarters.
.
On the way back, the sky was still clear and sunny.
Lin Xu squinted at the sky and clouds outside the window. As the matter of the farm was resolved, the faint worry in her heart gradually became harder to suppress.
A whole day has passed, and I wonder if anything has happened in Laining. I also wonder if Dou Yanxun is safe and sound.
Soon they arrived at the border of the village they had passed through on the way there. Lin Xu looked at the simple teahouse, her usually cool eyes darkening slightly. She whispered:
"Let's stop here for a while and go have a cup of tea."
Zhu Ling still remembered the bag of pear blossom soft dumplings she had taken from the shop when she left. They were so delicious, with a light and delicate flavor, that she was very happy.
The two got out of the car, with Guard Jiang following closely behind. Lin Xu smiled and said, "It's hot today, why don't we all come in and have some tea together?"
The three or four guards who remained were all tall and strong. They parked the carriage in the shade, and as soon as the group entered the shop, they attracted a lot of attention.
Inside the shop, there were still only a few tables occupied by customers. The tea lady had changed into a light gray linen dress, and her hair was neatly tied back. When she saw Lin Xu, she smiled and walked towards them.
Lin Xu and Zhu Ling chose a small table to sit at, while Guard Jiang and his group sat at a large table next to them. The tea lady was very polite.
"Madam is here again. What kind of tea would you like to drink today?"
Lin Xu ordered two plates of peanuts and baked flatbread for the guards, and also ordered the specialty tea that she had tried here last time for each of the two tables.
The subtle aroma of herbs and glutinous rice blend together, creating a unique flavor that cannot be found in ordinary teahouses.
The tea lady nodded and withdrew. Soon she brought over a variety of tea snacks.
Since it was the return journey, the guards were in a more relaxed mood than when they arrived. They each took a bite of the freshly baked, soft, and fragrant flatbread and praised it highly.
Lin Xu noticed that Guard Jiang was still sitting upright, his eagle eyes calmly scanning the surroundings. He was slowly sipping his tea with his right hand, while his left hand rested under the table on the hilt of his sword, showing no sign of letting his guard down.
Lin Xu couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips:
"Brother Jiang, there's no need to be so tense. Why don't you relax and have some tea?"
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