"Sir..." The study door was ajar. Xu was anxious and pushed it open. She glanced around and saw that her husband was not in the outer room. Just as she was wondering, she heard an unbearable noise coming from the inner room. Her face immediately darkened. She raised her foot to take a look, but stopped in an instant. She suppressed her jealousy and coughed heavily.
“Ahem!”
Immediately, a woman's gentle exclamation was heard from the inner room, mixed with a man's disappointed sigh, and there was a rustling sound of clothes being adjusted.
After a while, Jiang Shisen came out with his robe loosened and his hands behind his back, looking dignified. He asked calmly, "Why are you so flustered? What's the matter?"
The maidservant followed the master of the house with her eyebrows lowered and her eyes submissive. Although her clothes were neat, her hair and hairpins were slightly messy. Her pretty face was flushed. She knelt respectfully and timidly called out, "Madam."
You little slut, you're already horny before it gets dark. You don't care about anything when you get the chance, and you seduce men into lying in bed with you. You have no shame, bah!
Xu still has her charm, but she has been alone in an empty room for more than a year, feeling resentful and dissatisfied. At this moment, she almost bit her teeth, but her face was dignified, virtuous and generous, and she looked like a housewife in charge.
"There is an important matter I want to discuss with you, my Lord." Xu was surrounded by pearls and emeralds, and looked graceful and plump.
After Jiang Shisen sat down at his desk, he casually pulled out a document and flipped through it. Without even looking up, he asked, "Oh? What's the important matter?"
The maidservant was respectful and kept her head down. She served tea to the master of the house first, and then to the mistress of the house. "Madam, please have some tea."
Without even raising her hand, Xu tilted her chin slightly, and the maid understood. She placed the tea on the table and said tactfully, "I'll take my leave."
Xu restrained herself and waved her hand to send the maid away, thinking to herself: Yingying, this little bitch, has become more and more unruly recently and needs to be disciplined!
But she understood her husband well, and only dared to vent her anger in private, never arguing with him, for fear that he would go out and look for other women.
Jiang Shisen was upset and asked with a frown, "What's going on?"
Xu sat down, her eyes red before she spoke. She almost groveled, clutching her handkerchief and asking, "I heard that the elders of the Pei family agreed to the marriage?"
"That's right." Jiang Shisen leaned back in his chair and said happily, "My father-in-law and I have discussed it and we'll choose an auspicious date. The two children are not young anymore, so we need to get married as soon as possible."
Xu gritted her teeth, her temples throbbing with pain. She asked suspiciously, "Hasn't Wenfeng always been unhappy? He even went to Xicang to reject the marriage proposal. It's obvious that he's unhappy with Shan'er."
"Since ancient times, marriage has been a matter of parents' orders and matchmakers' words. How can we let children do whatever they want?" Jiang Shisen refused to allow any arguments. With his head held high, he said, "In short, this marriage must be concluded. Shan'er has been spoiled by you. She's always throwing tantrums and crying. How is she like a lady from a noble family? She's nothing compared to her sister!"
"Yushan is so spoiled and willful. Instead of disciplining her, you encourage her to act like a spoiled brat. How disgraceful!"
Xu was furious that her own daughter was being disliked, but she had no time to argue. She asked anxiously, "After hearing this, Wen Feng is still unhappy, right?"
Jiang Shisen's face was long and he was extremely impatient. "I've been observing him for ten years and I've already seen for sure. Wen Feng is outstanding in talent and appearance, has a bright future, and is sensible. Whether he likes it or not, he won't treat Shan'er harshly. The Pei family is definitely not a dangerous place, so don't worry too much."
"But..." Mrs. Xu loves her own daughter very much and can't bear to see her suffer and be wronged for the rest of her life.
"No need to say more, it's settled!"
Jiang Shisen was still brooding over this. He stared at his step-wife and questioned her word by word, "Back then, Yushu was unwilling to marry into the Guo family and tried to commit suicide several times. How did you persuade her?"
"I, I..." Xu was speechless, his eyes flashing with guilt.
Jiang Shisen had no expression on his face and said indifferently: "Since you can comfort Yushu, you can probably convince Yushan as well. Hurry up and persuade Shan'er and stop embarrassing me." After speaking, he stood up and strode out of the study.
“You, you——” Xu’s face twisted, and she yelled in frustration: “Jiang Shisen, stop!”
Jiang Shisen didn't even turn his head. After arguing with his step-wife for the past two years, he became more and more disgusted with her and was too lazy to say a word to her.
It rains a lot in Xicang in July.
After a light rain, the mountain village was muddy everywhere and the morning breeze was cool.
Jiang Yushu and Zhuang Song reported their difficulties together. After discussion, the county magistrate finally approved their proposal and allowed an additional tax exemption for fifty households in Liu Village.
"I've taught you everything I know." Jiang Yushu stood on the steps, facing the fifty villagers. Her voice was sonorous and forceful, as she solemnly instructed: "From now on, all of you experienced farmers will serve as officials. According to yesterday's arrangement, you will go to the villages you are responsible for and instruct the local villagers in potato cultivation. After the autumn harvest, your duties will be completed!"
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Oh, the police!
The villagers, carrying their bags, were all excited. Eight or nine out of ten had only been to the town and had never been to the county seat. Their ancestors had worked tirelessly for generations, facing the loess and backs to the sky. They discussed enthusiastically:
"Listen, officer!"
"Hehehe, I've lived half my life, and I never thought I'd be able to become an official."
"It's a pity that the government didn't give me clothes or swords. Otherwise, I would look so majestic in them!"
"Come on, stop dreaming. We're just on a short errand. We're neither constables nor officials, so forget about clothes or swords."
"My eldest brother also wants to take this job, but his family has too much land and too few people to spare the time."
…
Zhuang Song held his head high, raised his hand to stop the discussion, and spoke slowly in an official tone, "The government is short of manpower. You all have outstanding qualities to stand out in the village. Each of you is an expert in tending the crops, which is why you have been entrusted with such an important task. From now on, you must do your best to perform your duties and do not let the county down."
The villagers nodded quickly, full of enthusiasm.
Jiang Yushu continued, instructing, "We've already given instructions. Your accommodation and meals will be taken care of by the villagers you're responsible for. You'll be busy during the busy farming season, but if you feel homesick during the slack season, you can visit your relatives. But please prioritize your work and don't be negligent."
"Remember, we have an agreement. If the harvest in autumn is far lower than that of other villages, there is no hope of tax exemption. But those who rank among the top three in harvest will not only be exempted from taxes, but also receive additional rewards from the government!" Zhuang Song said majestically.
The villagers' eyes lit up, and they all asked in unison, "What's the reward?"
Zhuang Song was unfathomable. "Why rush? We'll know when the time comes. If you work diligently, the government will not treat you unfairly."
Jiang Yushu looked up at the sky and urged, "It's getting late, let's get going to avoid traveling at night. This time, we'll be escorted by officials, and each village will send people to meet us, so we should be safe. If there are any accidents, please report them immediately and we will handle them."
"Let's go!" Zhuang Song waved his hand, and everyone in the yard set off. Several officials with swords came on horseback to escort them, while the villagers wore hatchets and sickles on their waists, and went away in a mighty procession along the winding village road.
On the hill, Zhuang Song fanned himself as he watched them go. He wiped his sweat off his face and murmured, "Oh, I hope they can do their job with all their heart."
Jiang Yushu wasn't worried. She consoled him, "If the harvest is too bad, the government won't exempt us from taxes. Wouldn't all our hard work be in vain? Don't worry, they'll do their best!"
After a brief discussion, she put on her veil and said cheerfully, "Finally, the big problem has been solved! You're busy, I should go to the fields and check on the progress of the farming."
"Are you alright?"
Jiang Yushu recuperated for a few days, and the pregnancy stabilized. She smiled and replied, "It's all right now. It's okay."
"Be careful." Zhuang Song changed the subject and asked tentatively, "This year, your family not only planted potatoes, but also sweet potatoes and a lot of medicinal herbs—well, when you make ginger paste in time, can you give me some?"
Jiang Yushu was stunned. "Huh?"
"I took all the money I got last time home when I returned to the county government office to report, just in case. But then my friends and family thought it was useful and gave it away." Zhuang Song didn't beat around the bush and asked expectantly, "Can you give me some more?"
Cuimei and Zougui, carrying farm tools and bamboo baskets, gathered around curiously. Jiang Yushu thought for a moment and apologized, "To be honest, my family doesn't grow many gingers. We have to go up the mountain to dig up the seedlings. It took us a year to plant only half an acre."
Zhuang Song hurriedly explained, "I'm not greedy. Three or five bottles will make me satisfied."
Jiang Yushu breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, don't worry, three or five bottles are fine! It's not that my family is stingy, but the army is in short supply. They've already asked for it. Once the ointment is made, most of it will be sent to the army, and only a few will be left for emergency use."
"That's great!" Zhuang Song beamed upon hearing the other party's agreement, praising him highly. "The soldiers fought to defend their country, and the Guo family generously donated good medicine. They truly understand the greater good. Very good, very good!"
Jiang Yushu waved her hand and said, "You're too kind. There's only half an acre of medicinal herbs, and it's not difficult to take care of them. I won't be able to use much of them myself, so instead of letting them go to waste, it's better to send them out to treat others." After she finished speaking, she said goodbye to her companions and left.
As the sun rose above the treetops, Cuimei and Xiaotao supported each other, whispering, "When I heard it just now, I misunderstood. I thought Zhuang Zhubu wanted a hundred or eighty bottles to give to relatives and friends."
Zou Gui grinned and agreed, "I misunderstood too."
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Jiang Yushu walked down the slope slowly. "Fortunately, he didn't mean that. Otherwise, it would have been awkward if I had refused."
The group chatted and laughed, turned into the main road, got on the carriage, and drove to the fields.
That evening, the army sent a team to take the wounded back to the camp.
Jiang Yushu had just returned home from the fields, so she stood outside the courtyard gate to see them off, saying gently, "Their injuries haven't healed yet, so be careful on the road and drive slowly."
The leading general nodded and said politely, "We have taken the injured away. We will trouble your family for more than half a month. We apologize for the inconvenience."
Jiang Yushu was also polite. "The four of them have been taken care of by Zhuzi and Xiaoshu. We haven't been able to help much."
"I will never forget your life-saving grace. When my injuries are healed, I will come to thank you!" Cao Da was seriously injured and has been recuperating until now. He is still unable to walk and was helped into the carriage by his comrades.
The other three wounded were also grateful and expressed their gratitude profusely.
Jiang Yushu answered them one by one, and finally waved and said, "Goodbye."
After spending more than half a month together, the Guo family members came to see him off and told him, "Be careful in the future, take care of yourself, and wish him a safe and triumphant return."
The two sides said goodbye, and the general whipped his horse whip and shouted, "Go!" He led his men to pick up the wounded as ordered.
Although Jiang Yushu tried her best to avoid the summer planting season, she still went out several times and even stayed in Liangang Town for half a month, running around until thousands of acres of potatoes had successfully sprouted. Only then did she feel relieved and rushed back to Liu Village to rest.
In August, the sweet-scented osmanthus is fragrant.
In a blink of an eye, it is the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The busy farming season is over, the farmers have some free time, and every household is preparing for the festival.
In the east room of the Guo family, the sound of the piano is melodious.
In her rare free time, Jiang Yushu sat by the window, her head bowed as she played the zither. Nearly four months pregnant, her clothes concealed her pregnancy, yet it remained hidden. Due to her daily toil, she hadn't gained an ounce of weight and remained tall and slender.
When the song was over, Xiao Tao and Cui Mei gathered around the piano, clapping their hands and cheering. Xiao Tao said enviously, "Oh, that's really beautiful."
Cuimei was proud of it. "Of course, our girl has been studying hard since she was young. She is proficient in everything!"
Jiang Yushu couldn't help laughing. "Stop praising me. I don't consider myself 'proficient'."
"You're being modest again." Xiao Tao bent down, carefully reached out her hand, and curiously plucked the strings. "You play so beautifully, yet you're still modest."
At that moment, clapping suddenly sounded at the door. The three turned their heads in surprise, only to see Guo Honglei striding over. He looked handsome and said happily, "It's really nice! I heard it as soon as I entered the courtyard. It's a real treat for my ears."
Jiang Yushu was pleasantly surprised and stood up to greet him. "Are you back for Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Guo Honglei nodded. He was so happy to be reunited after such a long separation that he didn't care about the people around him. He hugged his wife affectionately and said loudly:
"Come on, I'll take you to see a few things. You're sure to like one of them!"
The author has something to say:
Dai Mu wants to please his wife~
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