56 Chapter 56
◎Return to the city to avoid disaster◎
Cheng Mu asked Zhao Datian and Sao Hu to look after the crops on the more than 100 acres of land, and told them to hire people when necessary and to keep a record of the accounts for her return.
Xu Xiuying was reluctant to let them go for so long, and Badou was also reluctant to leave.
Cheng Mu entrusted everything she needed to, "I'll leave the greenhouse to you. If you need anything, have Sao Hu and the others come to the county to find me. They know where I live."
Xu Xiuying grows every kind of vegetable that Cheng Mu grows. She knows how to grow seedlings, and the three greenhouses give her more room to display her skills.
"You still have to buy vegetables in the county, and sometimes you can't even find any. When winter comes and vegetable prices are high, have Saohu and the others deliver vegetables to you."
"No need," Cheng Mu instructed. "They just need to look after my house and farmland. There's no need to go to the county town unless there's something else going on. Autumn harvest and winter planting will be very busy and tiring for a while. Just rest when you have some free time."
On the side, Xiaoliu said to Badou, "I'll bring you something delicious and fun when I come back."
The previous oxcart carriage has been modified by Zhao Datian. Two boards can be removed, so that people can put their legs down when sitting in the carriage. A lot of things can be placed in the lower compartment, and it can also be covered with straw mats, so there is no need to worry about traveling in winter.
Replace the ox with a horse and it becomes a carriage.
Cheng Mian wanted to use two horses to pull the carriage, but considering her status, she only used one horse and let Guier ride the other.
They deliberately set out on the road with several people from Zheng Lizheng's family. Zheng Lizheng and his family went to his brother-in-law's house in the county town for a drink, so it would be better for them to take care of each other if they traveled together.
The journey was safe and sound.
After entering the county town gate, Zheng Lizheng said goodbye to Cheng Mu.
Yu asked Zheng Lizheng's wife to come to her house when she was free.
I hadn't been back to the county town for a long time. When the carriage drove into Baoqing Hutong, everyone in the shops and stalls at the entrance of the alley stretched their necks to look until they saw the carriage and horses enter the house.
"Is it that the people from that family who have returned?"
"It's been so many years since we last met..."
"The one who just went in was her child?"
The house, which had not been inhabited for many years, had lost its popularity and looked quite dilapidated. It took three or four days to clean the house.
Cheng Mu put the tomato chili sauce in small jars and asked Gui'er to distribute it to the neighbors. But after knocking on the first door, the family saw her and remembered what happened many years ago. Their faces turned pale and they closed the door without saying anything.
Got a cold reception.
Later, Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi went to deliver it.
Xiaoliu always had a smiling face, with curved eyebrows and eyes when he smiled, and he looked very pleasing. When he saw that it was his father-in-law or his wife who opened the door, he would call them "Grandpa" or "Grandma". When he saw that it was a young man who opened the door, he would call them "Sir". Then he would introduce himself and Xiaoqi, explain their home location, bow, and ask people to "take care of them".
Most families happily accepted the gifts and praised the two children for their good upbringing.
The house that was originally owned by the Jiang family is now occupied. Xiaoliu said that the family bought the house years ago and they have no idea about the previous owner. The person who sold the house to them was Liu Guanya.
Yu felt guilty towards Jiang, but because of Yu's mother and daughter, Cheng Mu did not insist on going to ask about the whereabouts of the official Jiang.
After dinner, Yu went to till the soil, but she was distracted and accidentally dug up the chives that had been growing for years. She cried out in pain and carefully planted them back.
Yu brought some water and peeked in at the door of the east wing. Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi were tidying up their desks, so she called them out to wash their hands.
While Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi were washing their hands outside, Yu came into the east wing and said to Cheng Mu, "Madam Cheng, how about I go to the official to ask about Sister Jiang's whereabouts?"
For so many years, they both tacitly agreed not to talk about Jiang.
Although Yu's life was now happy, she still had a knot in her heart. "Back then, I was the one who harmed Sister Jiang's family. Now they've sold their houses, and I don't know how they're doing. If times are tough..."
She now has the ability to help out a little, although she knows that Jiang may not accept her help, she just wants to seek peace of mind and understanding.
At the time, hatred blinded everything. They didn't think about the future, let alone whether it would implicate others.
Cheng Mu closed the book in her hand. "The incident happened suddenly back then, and the city was locked down. I haven't heard from Aunt Jiang in the countryside in these years. Now that I have some clues, it won't hurt to find out the truth."
Yu bowed solemnly to Cheng Mu.
Cheng Mu went to find Liu Guanya in person.
Liu Guanya is still the same Liu Guanya, the only difference is that he has grown a beard.
"Madam Cheng, long time no see."
"Manager Liu. I've been back to my parents' home for a few years now. After the current emperor ascended to the throne, my parents moved to the capital. I didn't want to go back, so I came back."
Liu Guanya was very perceptive and had heard it before. "Madam Cheng, do you want to buy or sell a house now?"
"Has my uncle's house in the alley where I live now ever been sold?"
"You mean—Captain Lin?"
"He's no longer Captain Lin. When His Majesty entered the capital, he was in the vanguard. Now he's General Lin. His Majesty personally appointed him General Xuanwei."
Liu Guanya was surprised, but in his surprise, he also felt that this was commonplace. "Many people in the city are no longer the same as they used to be. Many of them have risen to prominence."
Cheng Mu thought of someone and asked, "Did the Zhou family from Tianshui Street also go to Beijing?"
Zhou Mao's father worked in the former Prince Yanyun's Palace.
"Lord Zhou Zhongping?" Seeing Cheng Mu nod, Liu Guanya said, "This lord is truly remarkable. He is now a Tongzheng Lord. He is a fourth-rank official."
Zhou Mao's father was also in charge of paperwork in the Prince of Yanyun's Palace. Now that he has ascended to heaven, he is still an official in the Tongzhengshisi who receives and examines internal and external memorials and appeal documents. It can't be considered a promotion.
Cheng Mu was still thinking about how to ask him about Jiang's affairs when she heard Liu Guanya say, "The family that owned the house you originally lived in in Baoqing Hutong has gone with Lord Zhou's family."
"Aunt Jiang?" Cheng Mu recalled her husband's name. "Chen Da and his family? The ones who used to guard the farm for the Yang family?"
Liu Guanya nodded, "It's the family whose tenants killed Young Master Yang." Liu Guanya looked at Gui'er, who was selecting items from a stall with Xiaoliu in the distance, "Madam Cheng should be very clear about this matter."
"When I lived there, Aunt Jiang and Aunt Yu took good care of me. But since that incident, I haven't heard from Aunt Jiang, and I don't know where they went. When I came back this time, I learned that they sold the house before the New Year, and I had been thinking of asking you today."
Cheng Mu was also very puzzled as to why Jiang went to Zhou's house. When she went there to beg for money, Jiang was not familiar with the Zhou family at all.
"Madam Cheng is thoughtful." Liu Guanya didn't comment. After finishing his tea, Cheng Mu quickly refilled it for him. Liu Guanya turned the conversation around and asked, "Madam Cheng asked about General Lin's house. Do you want to buy it or help him sell it?"
"To be honest, my uncle is currently traveling south with General Lin to quell the rebellion. I don't know if the house belongs to General Lin or not. If it doesn't, I'll buy it for him. If it does, I'll keep it for him. When his master and apprentice return home one day, General Lin will have a place to stay."
Cheng Mu could probably guess that since the house had been closed for so many years since General Lin left, it was likely purchased by General Lin. She had already learned what she wanted to know today, so the next step was to chat casually.
When she came back this time, she didn't expect that Yu and Gui'er were still intimidating in Puyang City. Others were trying to avoid them and couldn't help her go out to do things. Many things needed to be done by Cheng Mu herself.
For example, go to the headman’s house.
After not being home for many years, I naturally have to pay my respects to the boss when I come back, and also ask Xiaoqi about the private school, and also have to ask the village chief for a way out.
This time, the headman showed more respect for Cheng Mu.
Because he saw that the clerks from the yamen came to her house the next day after she came back.
Cheng Mu did not tell him that it was Zheng Lizheng's brother-in-law and Liu Zandian, who had accompanied Huang Xiancheng to the countryside. They came to visit purely because of her ability to grow good seeds, and to ask for good seeds for their own family and relatives.
The headman asked about her family background, but he also wanted to find out more about her current situation.
Cheng Mu was vague and spoke half-heartedly, and winning the respect of the headman made it easier for her to do things.
Cheng Mu brought Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi with her, and Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi greeted the village head. The village head liked Xiaoqi very much. When he heard that they were asking about the private school, he specially tested Xiaoqi with a couplet.
Xiaoqi answered well, and the headman praised him highly, saying that he could recommend him to Zhujia Charity School.
Then Cheng Mu went to Li Xiucai's home to visit Li Xiucai's parents and took some gifts. She learned that Li Xiucai had no news after he went away to study. After asking around, his family members were afraid that he had met with an accident. Finally, they had to accept the reality and built a cenotaph for him.
After crying with his family, he inquired about the private school where Li Xiucai attended elementary school.
It was Cheng Mu who took Xiaoqi to the private school for an interview.
They chose the private school founded by Master Zhuang, where Li Xiucai had studied.
Yu had already prepared a new set of clothes for Xiao Qi to wear to school. Early in the morning, when she wanted to change Xiao Qi into them, Xiao Qi twisted her body to avoid her and said, "Grandma Yu, I'm just going to an interview today."
"You have to make a good impression during the interview. Dress neatly and cleanly. The teacher will like you when you see him."
Xiao Qi frowned, "The teacher tests the basics, not the attire."
"Just listen to grandma, you can't go wrong wearing this dress."
"Mom——" Xiao Qi called all the way to find Cheng Mu.
Seeing that he was reluctant, Cheng Mu advised Yu, "Today is not the official school day. Since Xiaoqi doesn't want to wear it, you can wear it next time."
Cheng Mu bent down and straightened Xiao Qi's old clothes. She smiled and asked him, "Shall we go?"
Xiao Qi held Cheng Mu's hand and nodded, "Yeah!"
Guier followed.
Xiaoliu pouted and watched from afar. Yu stroked her hair and said wistfully, "It would be great if you were reborn as a son."
It would be great if Gui'er could also be reborn as a son.
Mr. Zhuang’s private school is not far from Baoqing Hutong. Cross the main street at the entrance of the alley and walk along the alley opposite. There are four or five houses. The one with a plaque on the small door that says "Zhuang Family Bookstore" is it.
Master Zhuang was an old student. Li Xiucai was his favorite disciple because he passed the imperial examination. He had taught seventeen or eighteen scholars, but no one who had become a juren or jinshi.
The literary style is not popular in the north, so few people go to elementary school. Now that Master Zhuang is seventy years old and no longer able to do so, even fewer people come here to study.
The sound of reading aloud could be heard from the room. When the farmer's son called out to his grandfather at the door, Cheng Mu glanced inside and saw that there were only four or five students.
The man from the Zhuang family took Cheng Mu and her son to the study room and sat them down.
After a while, Master Zhuang came in. He was still in good health, not using a crutch. He was wearing a green robe, his hair and beard were already gray, and he had a square face and a broad forehead. He was an elegant old scholar.
Cheng Mu brought Xiao Qi to pay her respects, and Master Zhuang asked Xiao Qi's name.
"Cheng Tai." He stroked his tiger whiskers, nodded, and asked, "Can you recognize the characters? Have you memorized any books?"
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