"Miss Ye, I once ranked first in the college examination and the provincial examination. I am the best at studying and educating people. If your younger brother has not received any enlightenment, I can do it for him." His expression was serious and his words were confident. It can be seen that he is indeed very talented and has a sense of pride in his bones.
Ye Nuan was stunned and looked at her mother.
Su didn't like him at first, but after hearing what he said, her mind immediately became active: it seemed that he was indeed a gentleman who came to her door.
Ye Nuan's attitude was not so tough this time. Instead, she asked, "I don't want Xiaohu to just study hard. What else can you do?"
Chu Xuesong chuckled softly, and the down-and-out scholar regained his spirit. He confidently said, "I'm an excellent painter and sculptor. I can also fold origami and play chess. Even though I haven't practiced the art of war, I've memorized it."
Will there be so many?
Ye Nuan was satisfied, but she didn't agree immediately. Instead, she said to Gao Zangfeng, "Gao Shoucheng, please wait a moment." She returned to the small building and soon took out the letter she had just written and handed it to Gao Zangfeng, "I'd like to trouble you to take him there and give this letter to Miss Jinqiu."
"You've worked hard today. There are some roasted sweet potatoes outside. Take some back with you. Be careful on the road."
Although he didn't understand why she did this, Gao Zangfeng was not a talkative person and agreed without hesitation.
She was obviously very moved, why didn't she agree?
Chu Xuesong hadn't expected the same outcome. Although he didn't want to leave, he couldn't argue any further. He'd go to Dahuang Village and find out what was going on, but he'd be back sooner or later.
"Miss Ye, I really want to stay here...but..." His smile disappeared, and his whole body was filled with disappointment. "Miss Ye insisted, and I can't be shameless anymore, but please think about it again, Miss Ye. I'll wait for you in Dahuang Village..."
After saying that, he followed Gao Zangfeng and the others out, but he looked back every few steps, obviously not wanting to leave.
After the people had gone far away, Su asked, "A Nuan, why didn't you leave them here?"
Ye Nuan looked at their receding backs and said, "I also want to keep him, Mr. Xiaohu Que, but this person is a little strange. He looks embarrassed on the outside, but he is calm on the inside, as if he is here for a picnic." No matter what his previous identity was and how he has experienced horse bandits, it is impossible for someone who has been exiled to the wilderness to be so calm.
"I wrote to Qiu, asking her to tell the villagers not to say anything and to help keep an eye on this man to see if there's anything wrong. If everything seems normal, we can invite him over later."
"That's fine." After hearing her explanation, Su Shi felt that being cautious was always a good idea, but it was hard for her to teach the naughty boy every day. It was hard for Xiaohu to listen, and it was hard for her to explain, but in the end, there was no effect.
Gao Zangfeng sent the person to Dahuang Village as instructed, and waited for Jinqiu to come out to hand the person and the letter to him.
Jin Qiuren had lost a lot of weight, and wore a white flower in her bun. The eight-year-old girl had suddenly become much more sensible. After asking about Ye Nuan's recent situation and reading the letter, she led Chu Xuesong inside. As they walked, she said, "Sister Nuan told me that you should live in her old house first. You can help the villagers with work in exchange for food. If you need anything, you can ask me, but I may not be able to help."
It's like saying nothing.
Chu Xuesong was two steps behind Jinqiu, his white clothes still stained. He looked at the white flowers in Jinqiu's hair and asked softly, "Did an elder in Qiu's family pass away?"
A Qiu was stunned, her eyes reddened, she glared at him and said, "It's none of your business." She took him to the yard where the Ye family used to live. The yard was empty and there was nothing in it. There was only a dilapidated and crumbling house, and there was not even a bed in the inner room.
He took a look and frowned, "Miss Qiu, this..."
"You can tear down the door and use it as a bed. I'll bring you the quilt and food later, but you'll have to figure it out on your own tomorrow. You stay here. I'm leaving now."
Chu Xuesong walked her to the courtyard gate, then saw her whispering with the man next door. He twitched his ears and only heard "Sister An Nuan," "Scholar," and "Don't say that." The dark-skinned man next door glanced at him, and he smiled friendly.
He stood in the empty yard for a while and looked around. There was only a withered grape vine growing in the corner of the east wall.
Wasn’t it said that her yard was full of fruits and vegetables and surrounded by greenery? How come it’s become like this after just a few days of walking away?
Not long after he left, Ah Qiu returned with a quilt and a bowl of noodles. Seeing Chu Xuesong squatting on the ground weaving a bamboo basket, he hurried over and asked, "Have you made your bed yet?"
Chu Xuesong nodded and led the person into the house. Jin Qiu put the quilt down and the noodles aside. Just as he was about to leave, a lotus-shaped bamboo lantern was handed to him.
Jin Qiu was stunned: "What is this?"
Chu Xuesong said softly, "This is a Buddha lamp. Ah Qiu puts a candle in it and lights it in the middle of the night to guide the souls of the deceased relatives to heaven early."
Ah Qiu's fingertips trembled as she took the delicately woven lotus lantern. Her tears, as big as beans, fell on the lamp. She quickly wiped her eyes, looked at Chu Xuesong, and said to him softly, "Next time you go to Yunjian Farm, can you take me with you?"
"Yeah." Chu Xuesong nodded calmly, with his eyes slightly curved.
It seems that Ye Nuan has decided to let him teach Ye Xiaohu. He came here just to make sure that he is harmless. Since that is the case, he will stay here and do what he should do according to the rules.
The stars hung low in the sky, and Gao Zangfeng and his group didn't arrive in Luomu City until midnight. He asked the others to go back first, and he took the agreement to the city lord's study. Qi Wuze was still awake, obviously waiting for him.
"City Lord, Miss Ye asked me to inquire about the windmill and farm tools. She also said that someone could go digging ditches tomorrow."
Qi Wuze asked as he read the agreement: "Didn't you dig a ditch before?"
Gao Zangfeng scratched his forehead. "She said that the drainage ditches should be filled with bamboo tubes that spray water. Oh... Anyway, I don't know. Why don't you go and ask them yourself tomorrow?"
Qi Wuze said without raising his head: "I've been busy recently. Aya is also having a headache, and Pavilion Master Jiang is also having a headache."
Ah Ya is probably talking about studying again! Gao Zangfeng said casually: "If it were me, he should be hired as a teacher. Miss Ye has a white and clean teacher. I heard that he is a scholar. He can paint and carve. He is easy to talk to and eats chili peppers very well."
Qi Wuze's men paused for a moment, then finally looked up at him, frowning and asking, "Fair-skinned sir? When did it happen? Tell me more specifically!"
Gao Zangfeng felt that his city lord's expression was a little serious, and he was very worried that he would be kicked again. However, he was not the type to beat around the bush, so he had to tell him everything that happened during the day. He added: "Look, Xiaohu likes him very much, and Miss Ye is even chatting and laughing with him."
Qi Wuze's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. "What's the name of this scholar? How old is he? Where did he come from?"
Gao Zangfeng was so busy eating the roast goose that he forgot to ask.
Qi Wuze kicked the man away and cursed: "I'm not going to kill you, but you're calling me a brother just because I ate chili peppers. You don't know anything, so why don't you go check it out?"
Gao Zangfeng knew it would be like this. He was always the unlucky one.
The study was dim, the small candle flame flickering in the wind. Qi Wuze took out the agreement again and looked at it. In the lower left corner was her name - Ye Nuan.
The handwriting was crooked and not very good. Could it be that she wanted to invite the master herself?
He gritted his teeth secretly, thinking, greedy for money and lustful, it's fine if he's greedy for money, but why be lustful?
Is there any man in this wasteland who is more handsome and strong than me?
Do people inside the Great Wall prefer the handsome scholars there?
No, she has been eyeing the beauty of this city lord for a long time. Could it be that she is too aloof and feels hopeless and plans to give up?
City Lord Qi, who always had a good sleep, suffered from insomnia for the first time. The next morning, he actually went to Yunjian Farm in person.
The farm, a mile in radius, was planted with saplings. The eastern pasture was lush and green. The cattle, sheep, and foals, which had just been delivered yesterday, were kept in wooden pens. A dozen chickens ran happily in front of the gate, and the clucking of hens could be heard as they laid eggs.
Near the pond, twenty or so large white geese lined up in a row, clucking. Qi Wuze dismounted with a group of men and spotted Ye Nuan digging a hole outside from a distance, Ye Xiaohu following behind her, wielding a shovel. Qi Wuze asked someone to wait nearby while he walked towards them.
The geese, which had been strolling peacefully, suddenly surrounded him, pecking at his shoes and the hems of his clothes. He chased them away twice, but the geese, unfazed, spread their wings and swooped down fiercely. As a city lord, he couldn't afford to bother with a few geese. He quickly jumped over, but the geese relentlessly chased him all the way.
Ye Nuan looked back when she heard the sound and saw him laughing happily after being chased. He also shouted while laughing, "Don't step on the seedlings."
City Lord Qi ran behind Ye Nuan and stopped immediately, raising his voice and saying, "I'm not afraid of this stupid goose, I'm just afraid of accidentally killing it."
The geese stopped in dismay when they saw Ye Nuan, and turned around to go on the road. Ye Nuan echoed him, "Yes, yes, how could our wise and powerful city lord be afraid of a few little geese? They are just strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Next time, if you act more aggressively, they will definitely not dare to touch you."
Ye Xiaohu chuckled: "If you become my master, I will help you drive the geese. If any of them is disobedient, I will eat them for you." Ever since he had eaten the braised goose, Ye Xiaohu had been thinking about it every day. The geese ran away very fast when they saw him.
Qi Wuze gritted his teeth: "I told you I'm not afraid of this thing!"
He looked behind Ye Nuan and asked, "What are you doing?"
Ye Nuan said, "I plan to make compost so it can grow faster."
Qi Wuze was surprised: What kind of fertilizer does she need to bring back dead trees to life?
Ye Nuan saw through his thoughts and said helplessly: "I can only make the plants grow, but to completely improve the land, I still have to use the most primitive method."
"Do you need any help?" He pointed at the people outside. "Didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to dig ditches and build bamboo pipes?"
Ye Nuan nodded and asked, "Can the windmill be built?"
Qi Wuze said, "I asked a carpenter to look at it, and he said your drawing is not good enough. Can you make it more detailed?"
It seems not. She can draw simple drawings, but they are not up to the standard of engineering drawings.
Qi Wuze saw her embarrassment and changed the subject, "I'll let someone think about it. Come with me first. I have something to give you."
Ye Nuan was curious, did Qi Wuze have something to give her?
Could it be jade again?
The brother and sister followed him to the main entrance. A dozen men saw her and greeted her. Ye Nuan smiled back, her eyes fell on a long object covered by a red cloth in the middle, and asked in confusion: "What is this?" So grand?
Qi Wuze raised his eyebrows, looking quite proud, "Open it and take a look."
Ye Nuan grabbed one end of the red cloth and pulled it hard. Under the red cloth was a wooden plaque with gold thread. On the plaque were four words - Yunjian Farm. Every stroke was strong and powerful, and the carving was very steady and majestic.
It was even more majestic than the words on her Modern Farm. Ye Nuan was touched and couldn't help but reach out to touch it. She turned her head to look at Qi Wuze, "Did you carve it?"
Qi Wuze raised his eyebrows: "Just carve it casually!" God knows, he couldn't sleep last night, and found some wood from the warehouse in the middle of the night and carved these four words.
He added, "This city lord is very good at carving!"
Ye Nuan smiled with her eyes curved: "I see."
As if dissatisfied with her attitude, Qi Wuze said, "The calligraphy is also good!"
Is this asking for praise?
Ye Nuan understood and immediately said, "Well, the City Lord is extremely wealthy, heroic, talented, and righteous. He is the best person I have ever met in the wasteland."
A dozen people nearby echoed, "Our city lord still cares about the people, he's easygoing and not arrogant."
"Yes, our city lord is the best martial artist in Luomu City, has the best calligraphy, and is the man women most want to marry."
Qi Wuze tried hard to suppress the corners of his mouth, coughed lightly and looked at Ye Nuan, "So, Miss Ye, what do you think of the men in the wilderness compared to those in the interior?"
Ye Nuan: “.”
"Of course it's better here."
Lach
She is here, what can I say?
Qi Wuze was satisfied, and left a dozen people to help with the work. He said he had something else to do, and left first. Ye Nuan was a little confused, wondering what had happened to City Lord Qi that made him come here specifically to ask for praise.
Ye Nuan turned around and asked a few people who were busy working, "Is your city lord busy recently?"
How could they know about the city lord's affairs? They could only scratch their heads and say, "Maybe, Pavilion Master Jiang seems to have detained a batch of goods."
Ye Nuan said "oh" and didn't ask any more questions.
Life on the farm may seem dull, but every day brings a different surprise. For example, the vegetables in the yard are growing taller, the bamboo fence is covered with roses, the grape vines are starting to grow, and every day I can pick up a lot of chicken and goose eggs.
However, in just ten days, the farm has taken shape. The citizens of Luomu City who come to work every day are sighing: It would be great if Luomu City could also grow so much green.
On the morning of the eleventh day, Jinbao drove a donkey cart with Jinqiu and Chu Xuesong to the farm. The fat boy, Jinbao, had lost a lot of weight, and his profile was now more defined, making him look like a spirited young man. Chu Xuesong had changed into a light grey, coarse cloth outfit, but he was still straight and handsome. As soon as Qiu saw her, she rushed over and hugged her, crying, "Sister Annuan, I missed you so much."
Ye Nuan's gaze lingered on the white flowers in her hair for two seconds, then he touched the top of her head and said with a smile, "You can come often in the future."
Jin Qiu immediately came alive, wiped her tears and looked expectant: "Is it really possible?"
Ye Nuan nodded.
"Come in, everyone. I made braised eggplant, grilled lamb chops, vegetarian tofu, and juice."
Su was very happy to see them and pulled Jin Qiu to sit next to her. When she saw Chu Xuesong, she was much more polite than last time and even invited him to eat. Chu Xuesong was flattered and his eyes kept glancing at Ye Nuan.
Ye Nuan smiled at him and said nothing more at the dinner table. After dinner, Ye Nuan took Jin Bao and Jin Qiu to visit the farm, deliberately sending Chu Xuesong away halfway. Chu Xuesong was very obedient and turned around to play with Ye Xiaohu without saying a word.
The three of them walked on the spacious pasture lawn. Ye Nuan asked, "Has he asked you about my family in the past ten days?"
Jin Qiu shook his head. "No, he's quite hardworking. He helps other villagers with their work every day. Many people in the village like him very much, especially Hu Ya, who always hangs around him."
Hu Ya? Don’t you like Jinbao very much?
Ye Nuan asked a few more random questions, and finally asked, "Aqiu, your father...you won't blame City Lord Qi, right?"
Jin Qiu remained silent for a long moment, but Jin Bao took over and said, "How can we blame City Lord Qi? To be honest, he should blame us."
After hearing him say this, Ye Nuan felt relieved.
Jin Qiu, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly asked, "Sister A Nuan, are you going to marry City Lord Qi in the future?"
Ye Nuan was confused: "Why do you think so?"
Jin Qiu said, "Everyone in the village says that you left with him that day."
Ye Nuan reiterated, "I didn't walk with him that day. We just happened to be going the same way. But we are very good friends, and you and I are also very good friends, so I don't want any hatred between my friends."
Jinqiu said "oh".
After seeing off the Jin brothers and sisters, Ye Nuan turned around and saw Chu Xuesong standing at the entrance of the farm. Above his head was a plaque carved by Qi Wuze.
"Come with me."
Ye Nuan walked in front, Chu Xuesong silently following behind. As the sun set, the two sat facing each other on the patio in the courtyard. Ye Nuan pulled a folded piece of paper from her sleeve and pushed it in front of him, saying, "This is a contract. From today on, the Ye family hires you as Xiaohu's husband. You will be responsible for his food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Of course, you can help with farm work, and I need your help. If you need anything else, please let me know."
Chu Xuesong took the paper and looked at it carefully. It was well organized. However, this piece of paper instantly separated the relationship between the two parties, making it less human.
Chu Xuesong took the pen and ink she handed him and wrote the two words "Chu Bai" neatly next to her name.
The two people's handwriting is one crooked and the other graceful and elegant, but they are magically harmonious.
In duplicate, one copy for each person.
Ye Nuan added: "If you want to leave, you can leave at any time."
Chu Xuesong didn't answer her, but asked in a clean and gentle voice: "Can I call you Ah Nuan?"
When he smiled, dimples appeared on his cheeks, and the corners of his eyes were like hooks that could easily make people blush.
Ye Nuan was not stingy with her compliments: "You are quite good-looking. Do you look more like your father or your mother?"
Chu Xuesong was still smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Why did this woman react so differently from the others? The girls in the village were all shy and reserved when they saw him, but she was calm and composed, even discussing his appearance with him.
"More like my mother."
"No wonder, your mother must be a great beauty." She shouted to Ye Xiaohu outside the yard: "Xiaohu, come and call me Mr., from today on, you have a Mr.
Ye Xiaohu was very happy. From then on, someone would teach him how to carve wood and fold paper airplanes.
Chu Xuesong's room was the small wooden building on the left, and the bed and quilt were all new. They had known he was coming and had specially prepared the four treasures of the study and daily furniture.
The four of them sat at one table. Aside from the formalities of signing the contract, the Ye family treated him warmly and naturally. Chili peppers were always present on the Ye family's table; Ye Nuan and Ye Xiaohu even ate their rice with the chili peppers. Chu Xuesong followed their lead and filled his stomach with chili peppers.
After dinner, Ye Xiaohu pestered Chu Xuesong to play, and Ye Nuan watched from the side. When the time was almost up, she forcibly pulled him away.
In the middle of the night, she heard a noise downstairs. She got up, opened the window and looked out. There was a faint candlelight in the kitchen and a swaying figure.
What did he do when he got up in the middle of the night?
Ye Nuan got up, put on her clothes, went downstairs and walked into the kitchen. Standing at the door and looking inside, she saw Chu Xuesong squatting by the water tank drinking water frantically. His handsome face was flushed and his eyes were wet. It was obvious that he was very spicy.
"If you can't eat spicy food, then don't eat it. Why make things difficult for yourself?"
She suddenly spoke, which was particularly abrupt in the silent night. Chu Xuesong, who had been secretly drinking water, was startled. He covered his stomach and stood up awkwardly, saying nervously, "I, I see that you can all eat spicy food. If I don't eat it, you will dislike it. I want to stay."
"I was trembling with fear all the way here, like I was walking on thin ice. I couldn't sleep well in Dahuang Village either. But that night, I felt very comfortable being locked outside. You treated me very well, very kindly, and it felt like home. You like spicy food, so I will eat spicy food too in the future."
His eyes were sincere, yet somewhat fragile, and the circles around his eyes were red from the spiciness.
This handsome young man has a beautiful face that no girl has, which is really charming.
Ye Nuan remembered that he said his parents died early and the family property was taken away by his uncles and aunts. It seemed that he had not lived a happy life these years.
She sighed, walked into the kitchen, poured a cup of hot water and handed it to him, comforting him: "You don't have to be like this, don't try to please others, just be yourself. Drink the hot water and go to bed early. If you still feel uncomfortable tomorrow, rest. It's okay to teach Xiaohu a day later."
After she finished speaking, she turned around and went back to the small wooden building. Chu Xuesong held the cup of hot water, and the fragility and flattery in his eyes faded away, leaving only cunning.
Who says she isn't soft? She's as soft and fluffy as a cloud!
After being bored for so long, I feel a little excited now. I seem to be more interested in her!
He drank the water gulp by gulp, rubbed his stomach which didn't hurt at all, and went back to his room to sleep.
Moonlight enveloped the entire Yunjian Farm. The lotus leaves in the pond stretched out, dewdrops rolling on them. Roosters flew to the roof and crowed, and the foals in the pasture pawed their hooves and snorted.
When Ye Nuan woke up, Chu Xuesong was already sitting in the yard chopping wood. Ye Xiaohu stood beside him, gesturing back and forth: "Chop it like this, yes, just like this."
The frail scholar obviously couldn't split it in one go, and his handsome face flushed red with embarrassment. Seeing Ye Nuan, he immediately turned around and greeted her. Ye Nuan remembered that he had a stomachache from the spicy food yesterday, and hurriedly said, "Why don't you peel some sweet potatoes for me? I'll make sweet potato porridge this morning."
"Okay." Chu Xuesong put down the axe and walked into the kitchen.
Ye Nuan taught him how to peel one first, then handed him the knife: "Just peel off the skin like this."
He was clumsy and dropped the sweet potato on the ground while peeling it. He quickly picked it up, his handsome face slightly red, and said to Ye Nuan, "Sorry, I'm not very good at it. It will be done soon."
"It's okay, take your time. Anyway, we have to wait until the porridge is cooked before adding it."
After peeling two in a row, he finally got the hang of it. Ye Nuan smiled and said, "You can carve, so why can't you peel sweet potatoes?"
Chu Xuesong put the peeled sweet potato on the chopping board and said, "It feels different. Look, I'm peeling it very well now." His fingers were slender and well-proportioned, and even though he was clumsy, he had an indescribable beauty.
At this moment, these hands were cut by a knife with a small cut, and blood oozed out, swaying back and forth in front of Ye Nuan, the red and white were extremely bright.
"Your hand..." Ye Nuan pointed, "Go get it bandaged."
Chu Xuesong shook his head: "It's okay, it will be fine soon." The hands continued to wave in front of Ye Nuan.
Ye Nuan finally couldn't help it and frowned, "Let's bandage it. There's a lot of dirt in the blood. Don't let it drip onto the sweet potatoes. It'll be all over the chopping board. You don't want to eat your own blood, do you?"
Chu Xuesong: "."
This woman!
Don’t his hands look good?
How come such a beautiful woman has a mouth!
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