Together what?
Wash together?
Jiang Yushu, who was walking out, was startled and froze for a moment, like a wooden sculpture.
Guo Honglei put the letter into his arms, picked up the candlestick with one hand, and looked up to see his wife's stunned back. He looked closer and looked down at her, "What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to take a bath?"
"Ah, yes."
Guo Honglei bent down slightly, looked at her intently, and asked in a deep and rich voice in surprise: "Why is your face so red? Is it hot? Or are you sick?" As he spoke, he held the candlestick and moved closer to take a look.
"Hey!" Jiang Yushu shyly moved away, her face burning, perhaps from the heat or the candle flame. She touched her cheek and said, "Be careful! The candle flame almost singed my hair."
Guo Honglei quickly moved the candlestick further away and asked apologetically, "Where did it burn? Did it burn your face? Let me take a look." Worried, he quickly removed his wife's hand from her face and gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips. He sighed, "Burned hair will grow back, but a burn on the face is hard to say. If it leaves a scar, wouldn't it be my fault?"
The fingertips of a martial artist are rough and calloused, warm and powerful. He is tall and handsome, with broad shoulders and long legs. His palms can almost cover his wife's face.
"I'm fine, I just almost got my hair burned." Jiang Yushu was enveloped by the other person's breath. She didn't dare to move for a moment and held her breath.
The delicate woman's skin was fair and tender. Guo Honglei's eyes were deep. He carefully lowered his strength and touched her slowly, comforting her: "That's right, don't worry, you're not burned at all. It's getting late, let's go and take a shower together--"
Jiang Yushu took two steps back, lowered her head, turned around, and stepped out of the doorway in the dim candlelight. Feeling awkward, she interrupted and said vaguely, "What are you talking about? Although there are no elders watching, the rules still apply."
It was quiet at night, and Guo Honglei could hear it clearly. He was stunned and thought for a while before he closed the door behind him. He hurried to catch up and explained uncomfortably, "I'm sorry, I was careless just now and said the wrong thing. I originally wanted to find water to wash together. Don't take it to heart."
I'm in mourning right now, so I guess you couldn't have done it on purpose! Jiang Yushu cleared her throat, waved her hand, and said nonchalantly, "You're injured, so you shouldn't work hard. I'll go ask the kitchen and get you some hot water first."
Seeing that the other party didn't mind, Guo Honglei finally felt relieved and shook his head and replied, "No need. It's a hot day. I don't need hot water. You can use it yourself."
"It's not like there isn't any, so why not? Wait, I'll go ask."
In the darkness of the night, two people stood one in front and one behind, their shadows overlapping. Although Heqin was dilapidated, the county government office was spacious and had many houses. A garden was planted with gardenias, and the flowers were fragrant.
When the wind blows, the petals are blown away.
Jiang Yushu looked calm, with her head held high and her chest puffed out; Guo Honglei held a candlestick, lighting up the bluestone road.
In fact, they both felt a little embarrassed, and they returned to their room in silence, enjoying the fragrant breeze.
In a moment, two servants heard the noise and came over. The leader was named Lin Qin, a son of the Marquis's family, who had been with Guo Honglei for nearly ten years. He trotted over, took the candlestick, and asked with a smile:
"Are you done, sir? You'll need to apply the medicine later."
Guo Honglei nodded, took out the letter and handed it over, instructing, "Lin Qin, Changxing, and Changrong will leave tomorrow morning. Zou Gui, you and the others will stay behind to investigate the situation in the city and find a postman to deliver this letter to Changping's old lady."
"Yes!" After receiving the order, the two servants bowed and called out, "Young Madam."
Jiang Yushu smiled and nodded, praising: "You are so tired from the journey, it's hard for you to wait so long."
"This is the duty of a villain."
"Yes, it's what I should do!" Lin Qin grinned, and Zou Gui scratched his head.
The next moment, Nanny Pan and Xiao Tao rushed over following the sound. Nanny Pan came closer and asked with concern, "Are you finally done?"
"Yes." Facing the wet nurse, Guo Honglei's expression softened as he instructed, "There's nothing to do right now, so you can rest early. Leave the work to Changxing and the others."
Nanny Pan stood by with her hands hanging down, her round, kind face beaming with a smile as she explained, "You don't know, but older people sleep less. Resting is boring, and being busy is more interesting."
"Madam, the hot water is ready." Xiao Tao approached Jiang Yushu intimately and whispered, "The maid and Cui Mei have cleaned the tub very well, please feel free to use it."
Jiang Yushu's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she said cheerfully, "Thank you for your hard work! Hey, I heard from the Second Young Master that I should personally answer you, 'No bath today'?"
Guo Honglei heard this and turned around to ask, "Why are you asking the maid? Can I still coax you?"
"What the Second Young Master said is true." Xiao Tao pursed her lips and smiled, "But I know that you must have said it wrongly in a hurry, so I didn't take it seriously and went to boil water with Cuimei."
Guo Honglei put his hands behind his back and asked seriously, "Did you hear that?"
Jiang Yushu took Xiaotao's arm, walked briskly, and said without turning her head: "I heard it. Let's go! We have to get up early tomorrow." After that, they climbed the stairs and pushed the door open to enter the house.
Then, the sound of several women chatting and laughing harmoniously came from the half-open door.
Guo Honglei couldn't help but glance at her a few times, then slowly walked to the next room and said with a stern face, "Mammy, look at her. She's not afraid of me at all."
Nanny Pan smiled and then asked, "Do you expect your wife to be respectful to you? Or do you expect her to be timid and fearful?"
"...That's not the case." Guo Honglei stepped over the threshold and sat down. The old, faded armchair creaked as he sighed, "She's a legitimate young wife, not a newly bought maid. If she's timid, how can she convince others?"
"That's right! The young lady is graceful, sensible, understanding, and knows when to advance and retreat. In just over two months, she has gained the respect of almost everyone in the mansion. This is very rare." The servant went to discuss the errand with the steward Zhou Yan and his wife. Nanny Pan was busy alone, putting clean clothes, soap and towels next to the bathtub.
Guo Honglei smiled. "She is indeed courageous and intelligent, unlike the average weak woman."
"That's right." Nanny Pan was quiet in public, but she loved to chatter with Guo Honglei in private, patiently teaching him, "It's not good for a husband and wife to be too respectful to each other; it makes them seem distant. In fact, the young lady treats you like a stranger, which is why she's so intimate and casual."
"Really?" Guo Honglei tapped the armrest absentmindedly with his fingers, thinking: Intimate? Casual?
"Of course!"
The room was cold and deserted. Guo Honglei frowned and suddenly said without thinking: "Even the servant remembered that I didn't change the medicine, but she--" He stopped, slapped the armrest with his right palm, stood up expressionlessly, walked behind the low screen, and reached out to test the hot water in the bathtub.
Nanny Pan thought about it for a moment and suddenly realized what was going on. She wanted to laugh, but she was afraid that the 17-year-old young man would lose face, so she quickly suppressed her laughter and suggested, "How about I ask the young lady to change the medicine for you?" She had made great contributions in breastfeeding the young master of the Marquis's Mansion, so she didn't need to call herself a slave on a daily basis.
Guo Honglei turned his back to the nurse and untied his belt while answering calmly, "No need. I'm going to take a bath. Ma'am, go and rest."
Just as she finished speaking, Cuimei came over with a small tray and said crisply, "Sir, our young lady, ahem, Young Madam! Young Madam asked me to make some Chinese yam and minced pork porridge. Please try it to replenish your energy and blood."
Behind the low screen, Guo Honglei stopped unbuttoning his belt and replied sternly without even turning his head, "Well, leave it there."
Cuimei added, "She also told you to rest early and take your time reading military books. Restoring your wounds is the most important thing."
"I understand." Guo Honglei tapped the bathtub with his fingers and gradually calmed down.
"I'll take my leave."
Guo Honglei waved his hand back, "Go ahead."
Nanny Pan knew what was going on and secretly felt deeply moved. She smiled and said, "You are busy. Remember to drink the porridge later."
"I know." Guo Honglei never turned back.
The next morning
At daybreak, the corner gate of the county government office opened, with Guo Honglei leading the way, followed by his wife and three servants. Among them, Lin Qin carried a basket of potatoes to convince people that there was indeed new grain.
Guo Honglei quickly clasped his fists and said, "Sir, I'm so sorry we're late and kept you waiting."
Heqin County Magistrate Liu Tong returned the greeting and replied gently, "It's okay. I just stood up."
"This is County Magistrate Liu, in charge of grain and horses," Guo Honglei said, turning around and saying, "He will lead us to inspect Heqin's crops and fields."
Jiang Yushu was full of energy. She bowed gracefully and said politely, "Greetings, sir. Thank you for taking the time to guide us. Otherwise, we would be completely in the dark and wouldn't know where to start."
Liu Tong, a man over forty, thin and refined, raised his hand and said, "No need to be so polite. As the county magistrate, it's my job to manage the grain and horses, but you're really taking the trouble." He then asked curiously, showing considerable interest, "I heard from the county magistrate that you've tasted potatoes in the capital?"
"yes."
Liu Tong asked again: "Then, have you ever planted it yourself?"
Jiang Yushu almost nodded, but then she warned herself: I absolutely mustn't nod! If I admitted to planting it, how would I cover up the lie? Her mind raced, and she gritted her teeth and answered, "Although I didn't plant it myself, I remembered the advice the foreign merchants passed on."
What?
So, Jiang had never planted anything before? She couldn't even talk about it on paper, but only heard it from others?
Words alone are not enough to prove anything, and one side's words cannot be trusted completely. Perhaps all the "hearsay" she said was a lie.
Tsk, I wonder what kind of magic potion Jiang had given the county magistrate to convince him that Lord Pan was convinced and ordered me to help with the arrangements… For a moment, Liu Tong almost showed displeasure, but in the end, he held back because he was concerned about the influence of Guo’s relatives and friends. He said calmly, “Just remember it. You can try planting it when the time comes.”
Jiang Yushu was acutely aware of the other party's dissatisfaction and suspicion, but she couldn't express it frankly, feeling frustrated. She feigned ignorance and asked seriously, "Sir, I would like to know the arable land in Liangang, Raoan, Ganqiao, and Yuehu towns within four days. Is this possible?"
"Hurry up and get going, it should be possible." Considering that he would have to lead the way all the way, Liu Tong thought for a moment and reminded: "Actually, there are several towns in Heqin County with flat terrain and fertile soil. Why don't you choose them?"
Jiang Yushu shook her head and explained, "I've carefully read the Heqin County Chronicles and asked a number of locals last night. I learned that the towns you mentioned are located in a valley, low in elevation, and hot and humid. Potatoes prefer cool temperatures and require loose, breathable, cool, and moist soil. They shouldn't be planted in the heat of summer."
"Then you still—" Liu Tong became more and more annoyed as he listened, and laughed in anger. With difficulty, he asked, "Since this crop is not suitable for planting in summer, why did you ask Master Pan to arrange for the farmland, farm tools, and manpower?"
Jiang Yushu was calm and just turned her head. Guo Honglei understood and took the basket from the servant and handed it to her.
"There are reasons for rushing to plant the seeds." Jiang Yushu picked a potato from the basket and held it up, saying, "Sir, please see the bulge in this slightly sunken spot. If we delay for a few more days, it will probably sprout. It would be a shame if 20,000 kilograms of grain seeds were to be wasted in the cellar."
"This..." Liu Tong examined it with a headache, "It's called a bean, but it looks like a potato."
"It does look a bit like it," Jiang Yushu said patiently, "even though it's summer now, we've been traveling all the way from the city, climbing up and down hills frequently. We know that the terrain in Xicang is lower in the south and higher in the north, and Heqin is much cooler than the city. In my humble opinion, if we look carefully, we might find some suitable farmland."
"It may or may not be impossible." Liu Tong frowned and thought.
Guo Honglei held back and advised loudly, "Sir, Heqin has no other seeds at the moment. Rather than letting the fields lie idle, why not try some new seeds?"
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Liu Tong hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Forget it. The imperial court has issued an order, and the provincial government has issued an order. Heqin has to plant. I can't worry about the harvest right now, so I'll just take a chance and give it a try! So, let's set off and pick a piece of land as soon as possible. Follow the magistrate's order and plant the seeds within ten days." He was the first to board the carriage, bent down, and sat inside. He lifted the curtain and urged,
"Hurry up, I'll take you to Liangang Town first!"
Jiang Yushu bowed again and said, "Thank you for your help, sir."
"Get on and sit tight." Guo Honglei helped his wife up, then stuffed the grain seeds into the cart before getting on. Three servants drove the cart together.
"drive!"
So, two carriages carried Liu Tong and the Guo family respectively, and seven or eight officials with swords on horseback escorted them and hurried out of the city.
The carriage was simple and small, without doors or curtains. The morning breeze streamed in through the open doors and windows, bringing a pleasant coolness. The horses' hooves clunked on the cobblestones as they passed through the county town's streets.
Jiang Yushu leaned against a corner of the carriage, holding a potato, turning it over and over, examining it. She gave a wry smile and sighed, "Alas, I guess Lord Liu thinks I'm a liar! It's no wonder, after all, I've never grown anything, yet I dared to take on such a big job. It's simply ridiculous."
"It's okay. Once you grow it, no one will question it anymore," Guo Honglei consoled him. The carriage was narrow, and once he sat down, he took up most of the space.
As the carriage bumped along, the two were sometimes close to each other and sometimes separated.
Jiang Yushu was so engrossed in her task that she had no time to think about anything else. She asked quietly, "Do you think I can grow it? Frankly speaking, I'm a little unsure."
Time and space have changed, the frontier is unfamiliar, the season is wrong, and there is no sign of the right time, place, or people... She pondered over it, and the more she thought, the more uneasy she became.
Guo Honglei was silent for a few breaths, then he took out the grain from her hand and interrupted her by asking, "How does this grain taste?"
Jiang Yushu's eyes lit up immediately, a mixture of excitement and anticipation. She happily replied, "Potatoes can be used as a staple food, and they can also be used in cooking. As a staple food, they can be steamed, baked, or made into long-lasting vermicelli noodles." She went on and on, "As for cooking, there are so many ways to make them! You can fry them, stir-fry them, stew them, and so on. There's always something you'll like."
"Well, that sounds great." Guo Honglei said politely, "I'll wait and see."
Jiang Yushu sympathetically said, "A place like Xicang, which is not suitable for growing rice and is often plagued by war, should consider a variety of crops instead of just focusing on wheat and corn. In fact, potatoes are quite good, with high yields and easy to care for."
As he listened, Guo Honglei asked casually, "Did the barbarians tell you all this?"
"...Yes!" Jiang Yushu nodded heavily and swallowed her unfinished sigh.
Guo Honglei praised: "It's been so many years, it's amazing that you still remember it so clearly."
Jiang Yushu felt uneasy, smiled, and said modestly, "It's just a coincidence."
Afternoon. Liangang Town
A group of people walked on the path in the field under the scorching sun, sweating profusely and their clothes half wet.
The corn along the way has been picked and even the straw has been harvested, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Liu Tong walked with his hands behind his back and asked sternly, "Have you harvested all the crops?"
The villager was smiling and answering respectfully, "Your Excellency, we have collected them all."
“How’s the harvest this year?”
The village head immediately frowned, "It's still the same."
Liu Tong ordered, "Tell the people in your village to prepare the summer tax and submit it to the government on time."
"Yes." The headman nodded and bowed, and together with the villagers who accompanied him, he cursed the court, the government and the officials who collected taxes in his heart.
The other side
Jiang Yushu squatted down and grabbed a handful of soil to examine it carefully.
"How's it going?" Guo Honglei pointed casually, and the servant clumsily wielded his hoe, digging a shallow hole. He also grabbed a handful of soil and, imitating his wife's example, rubbed it and sniffed it, muttering, "Judging from the villagers' expressions, they should have a good harvest this year."
Jiang Yushu took out the pen, ink, paper, and oil-paper bag she had prepared in advance, filled a handful of soil, and buried her head in writing. She said firmly: "So, although this place is suitable for trial planting potatoes, it's a pity that the villagers will not agree." @Infinite good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
"Because they don't lack seeds." Guo Honglei threw away the soil, stood up and clapped his hands.
really!
When Jiang Yushu asked the servant to show the potatoes to the villagers, before she could say a few words, the village head shook his head repeatedly, waved his hands in panic, and said with a bitter face: "This is a new thing. No one in our village has ever grown it, and no one dares to try it. Please, sir, please assign it to another village."
Liu Tong's eyes widened, and he raised his head and said, "What are you afraid of? The government knows that you don't understand, so they have specially invited capable people from the capital to teach you. You don't need to worry about it, just follow their orders."
Jiang Yushu, the "capital expert," had already estimated the situation and sternly informed him, "Don't worry, old man. There are only 20,000 kilograms of new grain, which will take up at most 70 mu of land. The government will test-plant it for one season. If it takes off naturally, that's great. If it doesn't adapt to the local climate and soil, the land will be returned to its original owner and we won't occupy it!"
Liu Tong nodded and chimed in, "That's right. What are you worried about? When has the government ever taken over the common people's farmland? Humph, I've been running around in the scorching sun, all just to give you some new crops to grow."
"Yes, yes. My Lord, you love the people like your own children. You have worked so hard." The village head was respectful, even servile, but in reality he was not at all reluctant. He said frustratedly, "But you also know that the people in our village have always been accustomed to growing corn. If we suddenly change to growing beans, who will plant them? Where will they plant them? Besides, the villagers are already plowing the soil and even have the seeds ready. They will be sowing soon!"
Liu Tong snorted with a half-smile.
The village head's face was filled with embarrassment. He spoke cautiously and continued to plead, "At this critical juncture, we simply cannot spare the farmland or manpower. Sir, please be merciful and allow our village to plant one more season of corn. After the autumn harvest, I will definitely find a way to free up 70 mu of land for the government to try!"
"It's only seventy acres. Can't you really move it now?" Liu Tong took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face.
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The village head, fearing his village would become a testing ground for grain harvested by the government, bowed and replied, "Alas, we really can't move it right now."
Jiang Yushu smiled helplessly, listening to the servant behind her mutter, "No matter what, he just won't do it. I guess he heard there's only enough new grain for one trial season, so he wants to delay it for half a year and pass it on to another village."
Guo Honglei glanced at him and the servant immediately fell silent.
After talking for two cups of tea without any results, Liu Tong told everyone to leave and head to the next town.
"Forget it." Liu Tong explained, "Liangang is a town with a good harvest in the county. Let them continue to grow corn. Let's go to the areas with poor harvests."
Jiang Yushu could only agree, "Okay."
Because the soil in Raoan and Ganqiao Town was not suitable, the group continued on their way.
On the fourth day, we arrived at Yuehu Town, which had the poorest harvest in the county.
Guo Honglei stood in the field, slowly scanning his surroundings. Staring at the ashes of the burning straw, he asked in a deep voice, "Sir, were these crops burned by the Northern Anglers?"
"Yes." Liu Tong sighed and said regretfully, "If we collect them, they would weigh tens of thousands of pounds."
Jiang Yushu looked at the burned crops covering a radius of several miles, feeling extremely distressed. She said with pity, "We've worked so hard for months, and now the harvest is almost ready, only to have it burned down. The Northern Ape are truly despicable!"
Compared to other places, the head of Liujia Village is exceptionally young, barely thirty. He uttered with deep disgust, "More than half a month ago, bandits from the northern tribes sneaked into the village late at night and secretly set fire to the crops. We discovered them in time, but the wind was too strong that night, and 'distant water can't quench a nearby fire,' so we were completely helpless. We watched the fire unfold, the whole village anxious and weeping. Alas!"
When Jiang Yushu heard this, she looked around and asked hurriedly, "I heard this is the northernmost point of Xicang, is that right?"
Liu Tong shook off his ash-stained shoes, raised his hand and pointed north, and replied solemnly: "Five or six miles ahead is the Mu River, and on the other side of the Mu River is Yongzhou."
The village head said sadly, "Yongzhou has been occupied by the Northern Qiang. Now there are many enemy soldiers living in the city. These beasts sneak into the village every now and then, killing, burning, raping, looting, and committing all kinds of evil."
"As far as I know, the Heqin Guards are stationed in your Yuehu Town." Guo Honglei asked doubtfully, "Aren't the enemy soldiers afraid?"
The village head replied helplessly, "Beasts often attack by surprise, commit crimes and then flee. By the time reinforcements arrive, they've already disappeared without a trace."
Liu Tong smiled bitterly, pointed at his fellow officer and said, "To be honest, that's why I brought a few more guards, because I was afraid that—" He didn't finish his words. Jiang Yushu, who was looking towards the north, had a changed expression and asked anxiously:
"Look, are those people on horseback one of ours?"
Everyone looked closely, and the village head shouted in horror, "Oh no! Those aren't our people, they're from the Northern Qi Dynasty!"
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