Chapter 150 The Sickly Villain in a Female-dominated World 21
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, festive lanterns were hung throughout the Lin residence, and the chefs in the big and small kitchens had been busy since early morning, preparing for tonight's dinner.
The village was also filled with joy. Mr. Lin had sent someone to deliver the prepared holiday gifts to the Chen family long beforehand. Lin Qing also took advantage of the cool weather to ride in a carriage with her husband and friends to the county town to gather.
As a noble lady, Zhao Zijun was always accompanied by a group of servants. Even when she later refused to get married and went to practice Taoism, she became a disciple of the most famous Taoist Xuanqing in Qingmen Mountain, and was accompanied by two Taoist children.
Such a bustling and noisy scene is relatively rare.
"Talking and laughing like a scholar, and associating with everyone but ordinary people" is what the noble families pursue.
Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival and there is no curfew in the county town. Farmers from nearby villages, all carrying money saved from the summer harvest, carrying young children on their shoulders and followed by their husbands, have gathered in this small town, their faces tanned by the scorching sun filled with smiles.
For a moment, the laughter of children, the shouts of vendors, and the angry cries of adults filled the entire street.
"It's so lively today!" several people sitting in the teahouse exclaimed.
This teahouse was opened by the Lin family. Three years ago, the original owner often came here to relax when he was studying at the county school.
"Let's take a break first, and then we'll go for a walk in the front street." Lin Qing took a sip of hot tea. The bustling street scene outside the window aroused her interest.
"I didn't expect this small town to have a unique charm."
While they were talking, there was a knock on the door of the private room. When the door was opened, several girls wearing square scarves and blue shirts bowed and said they wanted to visit Brother Zhao.
Ever since Zhao Zijun stepped into Qingchi County, undercurrents have been surging in this peaceful little city. The Zhao family of Qingzhou has produced imperial tutors for three consecutive years, an existence that ordinary scholars in this city will never be able to encounter in their lifetime. If they can gain the appreciation of this female monarch, they will rise to prominence in the future.
Zhao Zijun frowned. She knew this, so when she went out, she would either stay at a noble family where she had relatives, or choose to live in a Taoist temple.
Thinking of this, she nodded calmly with a cold face, a hint of arrogance in her expression.
Not everyone can catch her eye.
Seeing no response, the few people were not embarrassed. One of the tall women looked at Lin Qing with a smile and said, "It's been many years since we last met. How are you, Mr. Lin? I have also read the article you wrote a few days ago. It is indeed a good work of enlightenment."
A masterpiece of enlightenment?
Lin Qing narrowed his eyes. This was interesting. It seemed that this article was only suitable for young children.
Before she could say anything, a mocking voice came from outside the door: "An enlightenment work? How come you have studied hard for many years and you can't even write a manuscript to enlighten children?"
As the crowd dispersed, Cheng Yuyun, dressed in a red brocade dress, rushed in like a ball of fire, and the tassels on the jade hairpin were dazzling in the sunlight.
"Lin Qing, why didn't you tell me you were coming to the city today? If Yu Huo hadn't seen your carriage, I wouldn't have known about it." She looked at the people standing at the door, "This guy is really a bully who only bullies the weak and fears the strong. Why is he bullying a sickly person so much?"
These words were very weird, but really pleasing to the heart. Zhao Zijun couldn't help but burst out laughing. She secretly looked at this spirited girl and thought that the people that Lin Jun was friends with were indeed extraordinary.
His friend's fighting ability was off the charts. Lin Qing put away the 40-meter-long sword that he was about to swing. He watched his friend ridicule several people. In the end, they were so angry that they could no longer maintain the smile on their faces and walked away unhappily.
This is more refreshing than eating an ice bowl on a hot day!
The annoying mosquitoes and flies had dispersed, Lin Qing introduced the two to each other with a smile, and then they, along with their attendants, had a pleasant stroll in the front street.
By dusk, the maids' hands were filled with rouge, powder, pens, ink, paper, and various exquisite gadgets. Because they bought so many things, Cheng Yuyun even called a carriage to take them back.
When I returned to the village, smoke was rising from every household. The tempting aroma of food mixed with the subtle fragrance of osmanthus, and I didn't know which one was more intoxicating.
The candles in the colored lanterns of the Lin Mansion had already been lit. Servants were already waiting at the door. When they saw the carriage coming, they immediately went inside to deliver a message.
All the affairs of the mansion had been arranged. Mrs. Lin listened to the report from the servants and looked out anxiously. She was relieved when she saw her daughter's rosy face from afar.
Seeing the group returning, Lord Lin smiled and asked the servants to serve the dishes. Hearing the noise in the front yard, the steward in the back kitchen hurriedly asked the servants to bring the warm dishes on the pot to the main hall. The chefs lit the stove and made a few stir-fried seasonal vegetables before all the dishes were served.
The table was filled with dishes such as braised pork feet with soybeans, tofu brewed with wine, braised river shrimps, braised chicken, braised beef with radish, goose stewed in an iron pot, braised fish, boiled meatballs, and finally stir-fried eggplant, stir-fried cabbage, scrambled eggs with green onions, and mixed tofu.
Holding the white porcelain wine glass and taking a sip of sake, Zhao Zijun was also infected by the lively atmosphere, and even the cold moon in the sky seemed to soften.
The moonlight in the wine glass rippled with the shaking movement. She couldn't help but gulp down sip after sip. Before the party was over, she was already drunk and unconscious.
The next day, Zhao Zijun, who had a splitting headache, got dressed and rushed to apologize for his misconduct yesterday.
"Qingniang, I lost my composure yesterday. I really ruined your fun." She pursed her lips in embarrassment.
"It's okay. I'm sure Mr. Zhao must be feeling something. Are you missing your family?"
"Just call me Zijun." Zhao Zijun frowned slightly, as if hesitating: "Qingniang, I was really touched when I saw the happy atmosphere at the banquet yesterday."
"I became a Taoist practitioner not necessarily to avoid conflict with my family. As a daughter of an aristocratic family, I have no control over many things. The relationships between husband and wife, friends, and even between sisters and brothers, I have seen since I was a child that everything is tied to interests."
"If it is in the family's best interest, even a bone-deep hatred can be abandoned; if it is against the family's best interest, even blood ties can be abandoned."
"I didn't want to be part of the profit chain, so I refused the marriage and became a shameful shirker, but in the end I still couldn't escape the influence of the Qingzhou Zhao family."
"Among my peers, I seem to be the only one who has such a ridiculous idea."
"Seeing how affectionate Qingniang's family is, I'm really jealous."
Having said this, she sighed deeply. This was the first time she shared these thoughts with others.
Lin Qing was a little surprised and a little helpless. The world is bustling with people all because of profit, and the world is bustling with people all because of profit. This is an eternal mystery that has never been solved.
Looking at Zhao Zijun's dry lips, she handed him a glass of water and said, "Everything that happened yesterday is like yesterday's death, and everything that happens today is like today's birth. Although Zijun has entered the Taoist sect, it is a pity that his talent is wasted. I wonder if you have ever thought about putting what you have learned into practice, so that flowers can bloom in the mud and bamboos can stand among the rocks."
"What does Qingniang mean?" Zhao Zijun was a little confused.
"Zijun, are you willing to sign a five-year agreement with me to make this place a paradise surrounded by mountains and rivers? That will not disappoint you." Lin Qing knocked on the window frame with a smile. Alas, the infrastructural soul of a flower grower was burning.
"Five-year agreement?" Zhao Zijun was stunned, staring at the bright smile on her lips, a feeling of excitement spreading through his body, "Okay, then it will be five years."
It is known in history as the Five-Year Agreement.
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