Just as they were about to leave, He Yingyuan stopped them.
Seeing He Xiucai dressed in a short cotton-padded coat, Liu was still a little unaccustomed! Even when they were fleeing, He Yingyuan wore a long robe! He had the air of a refined bamboo!
"Is the scholar dressed like this to go chop wood with us?" Liu asked suspiciously, as did everyone else.
“Exactly!” He Yingyuan calmly picked up the wood-chopping knife from the wall and explained to Liu Shi with a gentle expression, “Auntie, I’m going to chop wood with you, just to get some exercise.”
"We don't need you here! Besides, it's freezing cold, it wouldn't be good if you caught a cold."
Listen to your aunt, you should go back inside and rest, or even read a book!
Their own child and Gu Qingshan's daughter, Azhi, will all need to recognize him as their teacher in the future. How can they let their teacher do such rough work? Besides, look at He Xiucai's small frame, he's really not very strong. If he catches a cold, it will be terrible and cause a lot of trouble!
Gu Qingshan also told him to go back to his studies without worry, as the few of them were enough.
He Yingyuan felt a warmth in his heart. Although there was some calculation involved in settling down with these people, everyone has a heart, and he genuinely considered them friends. He could appreciate their kindness, but he couldn't accept it without a clear conscience.
"My aunt and Brother Qingshan probably don't know, but the imperial examinations are also very physically demanding. I need to start exercising now, otherwise I won't be able to handle the exams! Chopping wood is the best form of exercise."
"Don't worry, I'll rest if I get tired." He Yingyuan's physical condition has mostly recovered, so some exercise is good. In his memory, a plague will break out in Lin'an in two years, and Jiangzhou will also be affected to some extent. At that time, bandits will run rampant, so having a good body is better than anything else! At least you can run fast!
This is why he chose to settle in Jiangzhou and move there with Qin Sanniang and others!
As for scientific expeditions? There's no rush then; it'll probably be two years from now!
"How could this be possible?!" Liu and the others had no words of objection and could only nod in agreement, telling him to rest when he was tired.
Who would have thought that taking the imperial examinations to become an official would be like this? But then again, it makes sense. What good is an official position if you don't have good health? It's not good to be constantly drinking medicine! She decided to go back and talk to her eldest daughter, and get her eldest and second children trained. Her precious grandchildren are going to take the imperial examinations someday!
The group headed to the mountain where they would chop firewood; it was the small mountain south of the homestead, the one that Qin San Niang intended to buy.
There are many stones on the mountain, and only one narrow path winds its way through the mountains, which must have been made by the villagers.
Although it is a barren mountain, the trees and shrubs are very lush, and there is even a bamboo forest on the back mountain!
As soon as Liu and the other women and children entered the mountain, they began to look for dry branches or dry grass suitable for starting a fire. Gu Qingshan chose a dry tree as thick as a bowl and cut it down directly!
He Yingyuan exclaimed in amazement, "This man's work with a single axe stroke is equivalent to what several of us did in half a day! He truly possesses superhuman strength! He's no less capable than his bodyguards in my previous life."
Thinking of his chief bodyguard, Ameng, and his servant, Luo Huan, he wondered where they were now.
In their past lives, they all died because of him. Perhaps, never seeing each other again in this life isn't such a bad thing! If they do meet again, it can only be said that heaven has given them a chance to make amends...
Big Brother and Fatty Girl wore smiles on their faces. The cold weather couldn't dampen their enthusiasm for work. They were tired of the days of fleeing, when they had to rush out the moment they opened their eyes in the morning and sleep in fear of bandits. Now, they had a big house, land, and no more worries about where their next meal would come from. It was truly a wonderful life!
...
The next day, Gu Qingshan heard that Qin Sanniang and Wu Chunhua were going to He County, so he prepared the carriage in advance as Qin Sanniang had instructed.
Xiao Hu is still young, and Liao Hongying is really worried about him, so she won't go this time. She just asked them to buy some needles and thread, and if they were buying seeds, they should buy some as well...
So, with Fatty driving again, Qin San Niang and the others set off, swaying along. The weather was cold, so Qin San Niang found an old, unused quilt and placed it in the carriage; it would at least offer some protection against the chill!
I'm so envious of Fatty! She can sweat buckets even while wearing a cotton-padded coat and holding a hand warmer! It's so great to be young, you're so energetic!
After about half an hour, the group arrived at the county town. However, the roads in the county town were narrow and not as wide as those in the prefectural city, making it difficult for the carriage to pass.
Fortunately, there was a stall near the city gate that was specifically for storing carriages and horses. So, Qin San Niang spent five large coins to ask them to take care of her carriage and feed the horses.
Although He County is small, it has everything you need. There are countless stalls selling needles, thread, snacks, and other odds and ends, as well as street performers, dog walkers, and monkey shows, adding to the lively atmosphere! However, there aren't many luxurious taverns or restaurants; instead, there are plenty of cloth shops, embroidery workshops, tea houses, grain and oil stores, and general stores…
Of course, there were also many beggars. Judging from their appearance, they were probably refugees from the north who had come here and could not settle down, so they had to beg for a living.
"Third Sister, shall we go to the grain store?" Seeing Qin San Niang stop outside the grain store, Wu Chunhua thought she wanted to go in and take a look. After all, the wasteland would be put to use after spring, so it wouldn't hurt to check on the grain seeds first!
"Let's go in and see what kinds of grains are here." With that, he stepped forward.
The grain store had only one clerk, dressed in a gray linen outfit with a cloth wrapped around his head. Seeing that Qin San Niang and her companions were dressed in decent clothes and looked neat, he leaned out from behind the counter and asked with a smile, "Madam, is there anything you need? Our store has everything you need!"
"Do you have grain seeds in your shop? What kinds do you have?" Qin San Niang asked without looking at him.
People coming here now are mostly buying grain. Due to the war in the north and reduced grain production in various places, grain prices have risen too fast recently.
Ordinary white flour is already eighteen coins a pound, and rice is sixteen coins a pound. As for coarse grains, they are cheaper. Many local natives sell their harvested rice and then buy some coarse grains, which is more cost-effective!
So, the shopkeeper was quite surprised to hear that Qin San Niang and her group wanted to buy grain seeds! It was freezing cold, not a good time to plant rice, and even vegetables were out of the question! However, the shopkeeper was quick-witted; why bother about what they were doing? It was all business, and if they succeeded and made money, their salary that month would be even higher!
Having figured out the key point, the shop assistant smiled broadly, walked around the counter to the front, and said, "Madam, you've come to the right place. Our store has high-quality seeds. What kind of seeds do you need?"
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