The village chief went home to get some things, and when he returned, he saw that there were people all over the Li family's courtyard.
Even though they couldn't help much, everyone was willing to squat by the wall and sweat profusely in the sun.
He couldn't help but shout, "Why are you all crowding here? Be careful you don't get sunburned!"
The villagers smiled憨厚ly and replied, "Village chief, we just wanted to join in the fun. It's rare for so many people to come back to the old house."
The village chief smiled and waved his hand, reassuring everyone.
"Don't worry, the princess will be staying here permanently from now on. Think about it, how could the place be deserted with the princess around? The Earl, Mr. Wen, the Seventh Young Master, and the Third Master will definitely be coming back often too!"
"That's true!" Everyone was pleased to hear this and finally felt relieved, their smiles becoming more genuine.
As night fell and the sun set, the earth, which had been scorched all day, finally cooled down.
The cool breeze of the evening made the mischievous boys take off their jackets and run around, constantly getting bitten by mosquitoes and howling in pain.
But that didn't stop them from having fun. They would dart over here for a sip of soup, run over there to grab a steamed bun, and occasionally shamelessly sneak over to the table to snag a chicken leg to satisfy their cravings.
The villagers, young and old, filled seven or eight tables. They broke the clay seals on the wine jars and, before even eating any other dishes, would have a bowl to soothe their throats.
Li Lao Er, Mr. Wen, Liu Zhiheng, and others have never been arrogant in Suijintan. They chat with the elderly about everyday matters and trivial things in the fields, showing exceptional kindness and friendliness.
In the second courtyard, three more tables were added.
Jiayin accompanied Aunt Wu, Xiaocui, and other women of all ages, chatting and gossiping about everything under the sun, never worrying about running out of topics.
Jiayin took this opportunity to make up for the favors she had owed people over the past period.
For example, if a family has a new baby, they might give a longevity lock and two bolts of fine cloth as a gift.
For example, if a family has a son who has married off or a daughter who has married off, they would also buy two bolts of fine material and a pair of silver bracelets.
The items themselves aren't expensive; what's precious is the sentiment behind them.
All the women who received gifts beamed with joy and were overjoyed.
Even those who didn't receive a gift warmly invited her, saying, "Princess, my son is getting married after autumn. You must come and drink some wine at his wedding!"
"Of course! When the time comes, Auntie, just remind me, and I'll have Baiyun make a batch of wedding cakes to add some joy to the family." Jiayin agreed readily, without the slightest impatience.
Everyone couldn't help but sigh.
"I was worried that if the princess stayed in the palace for too long, she wouldn't like our village anymore. Everyone says the palace is like a heavenly palace, so beautiful, with gold inlaid on the walls!"
"Yes, I've heard that too. They say the roads in the palace are all made of white jade! That's such a waste of good things. Such fine jade would be perfect for making bracelets, why are they being trampled on?"
Everyone chattered away, making Jiayin laugh nonstop.
In truth, no matter how bustling the world is, nothing brings as much peace of mind as one's own home.
However, she wouldn't spout any grand principles at this moment, lest it ruin the atmosphere.
Everyone was just curious and wanted to make a few comments to liven things up...
After a night of excitement, the courtyard was inevitably a mess when morning arrived.
Jiayin got up early, ate breakfast, and came out of the backyard, where she saw Granny He leading the maids and boys in busy work.
Fearing her mistress might find it distasteful, Granny He quickly stepped forward and said with a smile, "Princess, the eldest young mistress sent over two large dogs earlier, they looked extremely majestic. You haven't seen them yet, have you?"
"Why don't we take them out for a walk now and let them feel the breeze? Once the sun comes up, it will be too hot outside, and we won't be able to walk even if we want to."
"Okay!" Jiayin agreed, and Shuiling immediately ran to the front yard and brought out two big dogs.
The big dog had been fed at home for a while and had long since lost its thin appearance; its fur was now smooth, like the finest satin.
Perhaps due to their clever nature, they were remarkably clear about who would be their source of food and drink in the future.
Almost as soon as they were led to Jiayin, they wagged their tails rapidly and rubbed their big heads against Jiayin's skirt.
Since Jiayin didn't have anything good to eat at the moment, she used her handbag as a cover to take out a few small fish cakes from her spatial storage.
The two big dogs' eyes lit up instantly, and after they finished eating the fish cake with their tongues, their tails wagged even more vigorously...
Jiayin petted the furry kids for a while, then took them on a leash and began to patrol her territory like a spoiled tyrant.
It's a pity that they couldn't bully men and women; it was a real waste of all that pomp and grandeur.
The villagers who were drinking and chatting, arm in arm, and slurring their words about enjoying life last night are now out in the fields working.
It hasn't rained for a while, and lately it's been getting incredibly hot.
So everyone changed their routine and started getting up before dawn and working until the sun was high in the sky.
Even so, every single man in the village had his back tanned and peeling.
The saying "Every grain of rice on your plate is the result of hard work" is absolutely true.
When the village chief saw Jiayin leading two large dogs from afar, he came out of the field with a smile and called out, "Dahei and Erhei are so intelligent, they know who their master is. They've only just met, and they're already protecting their master as they walk around."
Jiayin patted the two dogs' heads and laughed, "Are Dahei and Erhei the names the village chief gave them? They're so fitting! We were tidying up the yard when Granny He asked me to come out for a walk."
The village chief nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then, seeing that no one else was around, asked in a low voice, "Princess, I heard last night... that... young Gu is actually a big shot? Will he not be coming back? Will that affect our Broken Gold Beach..."
Jiayin understood the old man's concerns and quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, Grandpa Village Chief, nothing will happen."
"Manager Gu was brought from Suijintan by Mr. Jiang. Over the years, even if we haven't taken extra care of him, we haven't mistreated him in any way, so there's no need to worry. We have a clear conscience."
"In addition, Steward Gu's status is different now, and many people probably want to curry favor with him, but they don't have the connections or clues, so they might turn their attention to us."
"Therefore, Grandpa Village Chief needs to help me keep the villagers in check. They must not talk about it to outsiders or in private. Only by being careful and cautious can we live a peaceful life."
"Okay, okay!" the village chief replied repeatedly. "Don't worry, Princess, I was just thinking of asking because I was concerned about that. I will definitely tell everyone in the village to keep their mouths shut and not cause any trouble for the village."
"Manager Gu is a good lad, but his status is different now, so we certainly can't cause him any trouble."
He lowered his voice further, with a hint of emotion and trepidation, and said, "Even a beggar on the street who becomes a landlord doesn't want people to talk about his past, let alone a prince who will become emperor. We must not expose his shortcomings."
"When I first arrived at Broken Gold Beach, Steward Gu was as thin as a bean sprout. Who would have thought that this child would actually be..."
Jiayin, matching his demeanor, also lowered her voice and gently reminded him, "Grandpa Village Chief, didn't we say we wouldn't talk about other people's past? Why did you bring it up yourself..."
"Oh dear, I forgot!" The village chief jumped up in fright, slapping his head hard. "I'm getting old, I forget things as I'm talking about them!"
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