Chen Qingshan asked in confusion, "Dad, when did you say you were going to clean up the vacant house near the school? How come I didn't know?"
Chen Gui chuckled and said, "Can't we clean now? How long will it take? An hour is enough..."
"Quickly find some idle women in the village and tell them it was my arrangement. Anyone who can work hard will be rewarded."
"Isn't this too hasty?"
"Be hasty, that's what we have to do. Otherwise we really won't be able to keep them, and all our efforts will be wasted."
Chen Qingshan was speechless. It still had to be yours, huh? That's really ruthless.
"What about the straw hats you mentioned? There's no time to re-weave them. Why didn't Dad say so sooner? These things are troublesome to make; we've only managed to weave a few so far."
Chen Gui chuckled and said, "I forgot, but it doesn't matter. Just find some women in the village, grab some willow twigs, weave them into a circle, and stick wheat straw on top. That should do it, right?"
Chen Qingshan: "Dad, you're too good at fooling people, aren't you?"
Chen Gui said arrogantly, "I never said it was the same as what's sold in town. The final interpretation is in my hands."
Of course, it was Xian Ge'er who taught him that last sentence.
Finally, he frowned and said, "I reckon those young masters and nobles don't want to come out because they think the sun is too strong. We don't need too many fishing rods, about ten will be enough."
"Mmm... I'll listen to Dad."
Before long, the village women began to bustle about as if they were in a battle, their eyes burning with a kind of hope.
Erzhuzi, accompanied by a pair of peasant women, watched in amazement as they busily cleaned houses, wove straw hats and hemp ropes, and worked with a large handful of sewing needles. "The people in this village are so hardworking!" he remarked. "Under the blazing sun, they shouldn't be resting indoors..."
As the time of Shenshi (3-5 PM) approached, students began to gather in groups under the banyan tree.
Lu Chengfeng took out a few coins and rested at Old Man Li's house in the village.
The page asked, "Young master, everyone else has gone fishing, are you going?"
Lu Chengfan turned on the fan and said irritably, "It's so hot, who wants to go to sleep!"
The pageboy craned his neck.
"If you want to go, then go."
"No, no, if the young master isn't going, I won't go either."
The banyan tree has only a dozen or so students.
Everyone else paid to rest at the villagers' homes, leaving only a few students who were reluctant to pay to lie down and rest in the shade.
"Brother Shi, it's unbearably hot... don't go."
"Duan Erlang, it's so hot, don't go, really. Get some rest. In the evening, let's eat some fish from the village, watch a play, and stroll along the riverbank to cool off. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Xia Xuezheng and Xu Jiaoyu rested in the courtyard next to the school, each occupying a room.
Instructor He greeted him, "Xia Xuezheng, just wait here, we'll have fish soup together tonight."
Xia Xuezheng chuckled, "Alright, alright, Instructor He, there's no need to force it. It's hot, and if you really can't catch anything, you can come back and rest. We can have some tea and chat together. I brought a few books with me and we're just about to discuss them."
"Alright, I'm off."
This instructor, Mr. He, is like a child.
Instructor Xu said irritably, "The weather is dry, what kind of fish can you catch? It's just that they're trying to trick the students and squeeze some money out of us."
The entire village reeked of the rotten stench of money.
Xia Xuezheng frowned. "Instructor Xu, the farmers' harvest was poor, and they didn't force anyone to buy or sell; it was all voluntary. How can that be called deception?"
She ignored him and went back to her room to read.
Village entrance.
Old Li is starting to hand out straw hats.
Duan Zhujun and Shi Jingxing were somewhat dumbfounded.
Then I looked at the emerald green bamboo pole and the bright, bent pin. Could this have just been made?
It feels like you're treating us like fools.
Chen Gui chuckled and said, "The conditions are limited, please bear with me."
Lu Yunchuan, however, holding the fishing rod, said to Chen Gui, "I don't need the straw hat, this is fine with me."
He chuckled dryly, "I just want to know if I can finish fishing first and then pay?"
Chen Gui said confidently, "No problem."
The boy casually tore off a branch from under the banyan tree, twirled it a couple of times, and made a straw hat.
He put it on his head and strode away.
The students looked at the straw hats in their hands, then at the straw hat on the head of the boy surnamed Lü, and scolded, "Isn't that too dark?"
Chen Gui rubbed his hands together, "Hehehe... limited resources..."
A group of about ten people traveled together.
Lu Yunchuan sat cross-legged in a shady spot under a tree, casting his fishing rod with a relaxed air.
Duan Zhujun looked at him and imitated him.
Before the appointed time, Lü Yunchuan opened his business.
One fish after another was put on the plate.
Before long, about three or two fish came up from the wooden basin.
The sight made all the students' eyes well up with tears.
Duan Zhujun said confidently, "It seems there are quite a few fish in this river."
Shi Jingxing simply said, "I also need to work hard."
Half an hour passed quickly.
Lu Yunchuan's wooden basin was piled high with fish, more than twenty large ones, all lively and delightful.
After weighing the pros and cons, he looked at his classmates and chuckled, "Brother Duan, Brother Shi, would you like me to help you?"
Duan Erlang smiled confidently, "No need, fishing is all about patience and meticulousness..."
Shi Jingxing calmly replied, "That's right, you only feel a sense of accomplishment when you catch it yourself."
Lu Yunchuan looked at the others and smiled憨厚ly, "It's too hot, I'll leave first."
Chen Gui, who was waiting outside, asked curiously, "Young man, isn't it time yet?"
The boy laughed and said, "That's enough, it's too hot. The sun is making me feel uneasy and uncomfortable."
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