Those who went up the mountain to work were mostly servants. The maids and old women usually took care of their masters and looked after the courtyards. The people living on the mountain were mostly ladies and young women. That's why the servants carefully approached Liu Shi and asked her to inquire for their peace of mind.
Unexpectedly, these words that were meant to reassure them also left them speechless.
So, their old lady was actually the legendary ninth-rank Confucian scholar?!
Now, what could they possibly worry about? As long as they behaved themselves, what could those young ladies and wives from the county town do to them?!
The servants, carrying hoes, baskets, and gloves made by the maids, marched up the mountain to weed.
The servants carrying hoes were at the forefront, weeding. Those wearing gloves and those who didn't like wearing gloves pulled up the weeds that grew close to the crops, then casually tossed the hoeed grass aside into a pile. Finally, the servants carrying baskets collected the grass and carried it home in trips.
There's no way around it; we have too many poultry and livestock at home. It's not that we can't afford to feed them grain, it's just that it's unnecessary. Besides, sheep, rabbits, cows, and horses all eat grass, right? Oh, pigs eat grass too, and chickens, ducks, and geese will also take a bite.
Although they felt more confident, they were still a little nervous, and they would unconsciously look towards the courtyard, afraid that someone would suddenly come out and scold them for disturbing the ladies' rest.
Every time someone comes out from inside, their hearts skip a beat.
Fortunately, their worries did not come true. People would come out of the courtyard from time to time, but they all had things to do and no one came to cause them any trouble.
Meanwhile, Yue Jiuyue, who gave them confidence, was secretly eating an ice bowl in her own courtyard!
This is one of the advantages of living alone!
Slowly finishing a bowl of iced food is absolutely refreshing in this hot summer. It makes you feel light and carefree, and every pore on your body feels comfortable.
One advantage of living in the mountains over the foothills is that there's a breeze, unlike the sweltering heat down below, making life much more comfortable.
Of course, winter is a different story. However, Yue Jiuyue wasn't afraid then, because her house not only had a kang (heated brick bed) but also underfloor heating. It would just require a lot of firewood. She had already thought it through. She couldn't possibly have all the servants go logging, could she? If she prepared too little, it wouldn't be enough to burn, and if she prepared too much, the trees on the mountain would be almost destroyed. She knew what the consequences of soil erosion would be.
If that doesn't work, then when winter comes, we'll have to send someone to the county town to see if we can buy coal. If we can, then she won't have to worry too much.
Hmm, she's overthinking it; she's already worrying ahead of time.
"Grandma, what are you eating?"
Before Yue Jiuyue could even react, she had already instinctively put away the empty bowl in her hand. Then she quickly bought a bowl that was very similar to the one she used at home, and also bought some cherry tomatoes, which happened to be growing in the yard. As soon as Xiaoman ran up to her, everything was ready.
"Hey, you're eating some small persimmons, want some?"
As she spoke, Yue Jiuyue picked up a bright red cherry tomato and held it to Xiaoman'er's lips.
The little girl ate it in one gulp, then said indistinctly:
"Grandma, you eat it yourself, I'm not eating it."
Little Man doesn't like eating persimmons. One persimmon is enough to fill her mouth completely. She always accidentally takes a bite and sprays out persimmon juice, staining her clothes. She's very vain now.
She prefers large persimmons to small ones, but of course, her favorite fruit is watermelon!
Put the watermelon in the well for a while, then take it out, cut it open, and take a bite. It's cool, juicy, and sweet—it's so refreshing!
If it weren't for the adults saying that watermelon is cold in nature and shouldn't be eaten in large quantities, Xiaoman could have finished a whole watermelon by herself.
No, she could eat several watermelons every day and never get tired of them!
"oh."
Yue Jiuyue pinched a cherry tomato and popped it into her mouth. The sweet and sour juice was slowly calming her wildly beating heart.
What a mistake! This is a serious mistake!
She hadn't even heard the courtyard gate open or close. If Xiaoman'er hadn't shouted from the hanging flower gate, she probably would have been exposed today.
Sigh! It's all because there's so little good food here. Every time she eats, she can't help but immerse herself in a sea of delicious food and ignore the noise that interferes with her enjoyment of the meal.
Moreover, all ten mountains are her home, and they are all enclosed by walls, so outsiders generally cannot enter, and people from the county town would not come uninvited.
Besides, it's not good for her to keep the door closed during the day. She's the only one in the yard, why would she close the gate? It's inappropriate.
This time, she learned her lesson. Next time, she will definitely keep an eye on what's happening outside while she's eating.
Her wildly beating heart gradually calmed down, beating steadily. Yue Jiuyue coughed lightly and asked:
"Little girl, why did you come over so suddenly? Aren't you going to take a nap today?"
"I'm not sleepy anymore, I'm not sleepy anymore. My dad said I don't have to go to class this afternoon. He's going to take me to town to prepare some things. He's going to the prefectural capital tomorrow to take care of some business."
Xiaoman was naturally happy to be able to skip class.
She was young and had long forgotten the hardships of the past few years. What she remembered most vividly was last year when her parents would disappear every now and then, and later they simply vanished.
Then there was the last time she went to the prefectural city, she suddenly met her mother, and then she went through a month of hardship and suffering. Now, the bitterness has finally come to an end.
Therefore, in the little girl's memory, she had not suffered much. She always looked down on the precious learning opportunities compared to other children in the village. Although she never thought of skipping class, she would be overjoyed if she could ask for leave.
"Hmm? Your father is going to the prefectural city tomorrow? Didn't he say whether you'd be taking him?"
Yue Jiuyue was somewhat puzzled.
During this time, Lin Chaodong had been busy helping his two younger brothers, and she really hadn't realized that he was thinking of returning to the city again.
"No, no! I'm not going!"
Upon hearing Yue Jiuyue's question, Xiaoman'er's expression immediately changed. She waved her hands repeatedly, saying she wouldn't go, as if she was thinking of the bitter month she had spent in the prefecture.
She lost interest in continuing the conversation after Yue Jiuyue brought up the topic and immediately ran away.
Yue Jiuyue: (#-.-)
Is the destructive power of the state capital really that great?
Look how scared the child is.
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