120 Chapter 120
◎Planning to leave◎
Cheng Mu originally lived in Zhaojia Village, but this time she moved to Songzhuang, which is larger and has more courtyards.
Only Gui'er was unhappy. She said that they were so far away that she felt like the person had come back but also like he hadn't.
Cheng Mu said that this was also for her own good. Taking care of Jiuniu was not an easy task, so her three men should live with them. It would be a good opportunity to include the house and yard left by Zhao Datian into the compound to make it a large one.
She cleared out all the stored grain on the hill behind the mountain, and took the opportunity to mix in some good seeds from the space, and asked the people in Zhaojia Village to help transfer them to Songzhuang.
The hill on the back was bought with money, and the granary was built with great effort, including the terraced fields, which were all cultivated with great effort. After all the things were moved away, those that could not be moved were disassembled and sold back to the people in Zhaojia Village.
There was no high price, and almost everyone was scrambling to buy the good things that Madam Cheng used, so they were sold out quickly.
There was no need for the stinky dog to stay there permanently. Of the five people who came to Zhaojia Village together, he was the only one who was still single. It would be a lie to say that he didn't want a woman. There were people in the village who wanted to give him a girl, but he was still Madam Cheng's man. In the final analysis, he was just a slave. The villagers had this concern, and he had no strengths and no confidence to ask for release.
Cheng Mu just bought a new maid. As soon as Chou Gou saw her, he had an idea. They were both slaves, so they were a perfect match. So he got motivated.
Cheng Mu returned the 40 mu of land to Gui'er's family, and she also planned to sell the 30 mu of land near Zheng Lizheng.
No one wanted the land before, but now it has been repaired, with a well dug and a windmill for water. Everyone wants a few more acres of land, and because Zheng Lizheng came to ask for it in person, Cheng Mi sold the land to him.
The money earned was used to pay off the debt for borrowing grain last year.
No one thought anything was wrong, but Xu Xiuying felt something was wrong.
So when she told Cheng Mu about the farming plan for the new year, she asked Cheng Mu why she wanted to sell the land when she could pay off the debt with another year's harvest.
Cheng Mei evaded the main point, saying, "Now every household has reclaimed new land. We can't find workers during the autumn harvest. We don't have anyone on our staff, so we can't plant so much land."
Xu Xiuying: "That girl Gui'er got a good deal. She hired three strong laborers. I'll hire a few more in the future, and Madam Cheng, you should hire a few more too. Are you worried that we won't be able to cultivate these fields?"
Cheng Mu: "Chou Gou has been very attentive to Huai Hua these days, but Huai Hua told me that she has no such intentions at all. How about you take Chou Gou in? I'll only charge you half of the ransom money."
Xu Xiuying laughed and clapped her hands. "Madam Cheng! How can you be so mean? I don't want it! Tell him to get lost!"
"You're well now." Cheng Mu was lost in thought. She didn't know whether to tell Xu Xiuying about her plan. "Take good care of this farm for me."
Xu Xiuying gradually stopped smiling.
She could see the reluctance to leave from Cheng Mu's face. Madam Cheng hadn't said anything to her. She had helped arrange things, manage the land, and pay the debts, but she had never asked any questions. Now she couldn't help herself, thinking this was a good time. "Madam Cheng, are you planning to leave here? Where are you going?"
Cheng Mu smiled slightly. "If I leave here and don't know where I'll end up, will you come with me?"
Xu Xiuying was stunned. Madam Cheng didn't seem like such a hopeless person. She wanted to leave but didn't know where to go. Then why did she want to leave? Wasn't life here good?
"Madam Cheng, are you serious?"
Cheng Mu lowered her head and smoothed over the paper. "I'm asking you this seriously. I'll ask Gui'er too. We're not master and servant, so you're not forced to follow my request. As the old saying goes, 'A man is worthless when he leaves his homeland.' Who would leave their homeland unless they have no other choice? You now have land and food, and you live and work in peace and contentment. I really shouldn't be asking such a question."
"I have no land and no food. All I have is yours, Madam Cheng."
Xu Xiuying's eyes were filled with tears. "Everyone here respects you. They're sowing seeds and harvesting crops in the fields. With just a word from you, everyone will put aside their own affairs and come to help. Madam Cheng, you're still young. Although you know that people are valued when they leave their hometown, you've never really left your hometown, right? Once you leave home, you'll know how difficult it is. I've never been out of Yunzhou, but we went from Songzhuang to Puyang City. Just take the two times I went to see you. The journey was difficult both ways..."
Xu Xiuying choked up and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her tears. "Madam Cheng, why don't you enjoy your good fortune and have such thoughts?"
"I was just saying it casually." Cheng Mu sighed, "I also know that it's very difficult to be away from home. Just keep it in mind and think about it. Don't tell anyone else for now."
"If you ask Gui'er, are you afraid that no one else will know?"
"I won't ask anymore. Let me tell you when I decide where to go."
Gui'er wrapped Jiuniu in a thin blanket, tied it up with a strap and hung it on her chest.
Yu chased after him with a worried look on her face. "He's only a little boy, and you're already riding with him. Even adults would fall apart, not even Jiuer can handle it!"
Gui'er went to lead the horse, nonchalantly saying, "I'm taking him to play with his brothers and sisters. Jiu'er loves him."
She could see his little face as soon as she lowered her head, and asked teasingly, "Is that so?"
Yu held her back and said, "Hold him and walk slowly. The wind is too strong on horseback. This won't work!"
"Mom, are you annoying? If I say it's okay, then it's okay. People from the Mongolian country have been riding horses since they were born, so they are all very strong."
Yu winked at Wu Yong, who was standing in the distance watching the show and didn't dare to come forward to help. Wu Yong ran into the house and took out a piece of cloth. "The wind is too strong on the horse's back. Cover Jiuer's face."
Yu was both furious and angry. She asked him to help put out the fire, but it was him who fanned the flames. He was such a useless person!
Gui'er untied the reins and jumped on the horse, "Gee!"
The horse rushed out of the barn, scaring Yu and Wu Yong into hiding.
Yu stamped her feet behind her, and Gui'er walked away cheering.
The horse ran across the fields and arrived at Songzhuang a quarter of an hour later.
I looked down at Jiuniu again and saw a bunch of white liquid spitting out from the corner of his mouth.
"Ouch, are you too full?" Gui'er wiped him with a diaper and went to find Cheng Mu.
Xu Xiuying was washing the rice seedling trays. When she saw them, she didn't go up to greet them enthusiastically. She was used to it. Anyway, ever since Madam Cheng moved in, Gui'er would come once a day.
"You have so many children to look after at home, why do you always bring him here?"
"I can't come?" Gui'er untied Jiuniu and asked where Liuqiba were. "Children should play with other children. He's happy to see them."
Xu Xiuying snorted and shook the water out of the rice seedling tray. "You can't even climb, what's the use of playing? You run away six, seven, eight days a week, who will be patient enough to help you look after the children?"
Gui Er saw someone at Cheng Mu's place and asked, "Who's in there? Who is Madam Cheng talking to?"
"An escort from Puyang City."
"Mu Yun?" Gui Er guessed, and then she saw Xu Xiuying's pursed lips. No, if it was Mu Yun, she would have said Mu Yun. It must be a bodyguard Xu Xiuying didn't know. "Who did Mu Yun send?"
Gui'er was curious and went in directly.
The people who were talking to Cheng Mu were An Cui and his men. When Gui Er saw him, her eyes widened and she asked, "Why are you here?"
An Cui stood up and greeted him, "Madam Gui."
Cheng Mu also stood up. The matter had been settled. She said, "Then let's go to Yunzhou first."
An gathered five people and came to Cheng Mu with trepidation. Cheng Mu asked him to escort the convoy and kept his word. He also had a task as soon as he arrived. The task was not difficult and he could go back and forth in one day if he worked hard from dawn to dusk. It was considered as a sweet treat for him.
An Cui also appreciated it and expressed his gratitude profusely.
Cheng Mu drafted the contract and asked An Cui to escort 200 catties of rice seeds to the Yanwang Palace under the command of Qin Guanshi, with a commission of two taels. The market price of rice seeds was one tael of silver per catty, and if any were damaged or lost, triple compensation would be paid.
An Cui has no objection after reading it.
"Wait a minute." Gui'er stopped them from signing the contract. She asked Cheng Mu, "He once tried to harm you. Do you trust him?"
Cheng Mu: "The contract clearly states that if he messes up, he has to pay six hundred taels."
Gui'er said, "He's going to run away with the goods and get two hundred taels for nothing. Do you think he wants two taels or two hundred taels?"
"Madam Gui, please be kind." An Cui couldn't hold back his pride at the malicious speculation. "I've been escorting for years, relying on righteousness. I know that connections are the key to success. How could I destroy my own job?"
Gui Er sneered, "Then you shouldn't have had such bad intentions and didn't make a good relationship with me."
An Cui's face flushed purple, but he still had some sense. He suppressed his anger and paced a few steps, "Madam Cheng——"
Cheng Mu gestured with her hand, "Master An, go get the darts first." Cheng Mu called Sao Hu and asked him to take An Cui and the others to carry the rice seeds.
She exchanged glances with Gui'er. Just as Gui'er was about to say, "Don't be fooled," Cheng Mu said, "Aren't you going to lecture a few people? If he runs away with the goods, just report him to the authorities and have him arrested. He's already left Rongchang and can't afford to pay the compensation. He'll have no choice but to sell himself. With his indenture, you can do whatever you want with him."
Gui'er was confused. Like this? Her eyes lit up, and she approached with a secretive and excited look, asking, "Madam Cheng, do you want him?"
"You can try his skills."
"Can I help you try?"
Gui'er became full of energy, took off Jiuniu, stuffed it into Cheng Xi's arms, and walked out with big strides.
After a while, Xu Xiuying came in and said, "Madam Cheng, why is Gui'er fighting with the escort? Go and take a look!"
She took the Nine Oxen from Cheng Mei's hand and went to the scene with her.
Gui'er has been very strong since she was young, and she likes to fight head-on with others. An Cui had no choice but to take it head-on. There was a sudden sound of cloth tearing, and his sleeve was torn by the kick. He caught a glimpse of Cheng Mu coming over, and he grabbed her ankle with his backhand and swung her up with all his strength. Gui'er kicked his throat directly with her other leg, forcing him to quickly withdraw his hand to defend himself. The two of them took a few steps back.
"Stop!" Saohu received Xu Xiuying's hint and shouted on behalf of Cheng Mu.
Cheng Mu scolded: "Gui'er, I hired Escort An. Don't make trouble for no reason again and again."
Gui Er said with disdain, "I don't care if you ask him to do something, just test his skills."
She still had hostility in her heart, and said meaningfully, "Then I will wait for Escort Master An to return tomorrow and report back, and then we can have another fight."
Cheng Mu asked An Cui with concern whether he was injured, and asked him to rest for a night before setting off tomorrow. She was also concerned that his clothes were damaged, and asked him to give them to the maid at home to mend them.
An Cui had already been looked down upon and provoked by Gui'er, so how could he allow Madam Cheng to look down upon him again? He suppressed his anger and said goodbye.
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