Chapter 071 Buying a Horse
The village chief was going to announce the voting results in the ancestral hall in the afternoon, and specially invited Yuan Ming and Ji Qingyue to go with him.
Yuan Ming did not refuse, this time for no other reason, just to see the excitement.
However, they did not squeeze into the crowd, but were arranged by the village chief to stay in the small courtyard where they stayed last time.
Yuan Ming and Ji Qingyue sat on the tea table by the window, each with a cup of hot tea in front of them. The window covered with oil paper could not completely block the view, and they could vaguely see the bustling crowd outside.
Ji Qingyue took a sip of tea, leaned against the window and said excitedly: "Why hasn't it started yet? I'm getting impatient."
Except for a few people who already knew the voting results, everyone else was eagerly waiting for the village chief's announcement. Although the village representative was not an official, it was the first time in history that the village representative was elected by the entire village, so they were all looking forward to the final result.
He and Ji Qingyue both knew the result a long time ago, and now sitting here, they inexplicably felt like watching a play.
While he was daydreaming, the voices outside gradually quieted down, and the village chief's voice rang out.
Yuan Ming and Ji Qingyue both perked up and pricked up their ears.
Knowing what everyone was concerned about, the village chief didn't say any nonsense and went straight to the point.
"According to the election results, the person who will represent Hanan Village in communicating with the town governor and reflect our demands one by one to the higher authorities in the next three years is..." The village chief paused, looked at the dark crowd, and found a figure with a smile on his old face: "Han Xiaoshuang!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd was silent at first and then quickly exploded, like a drop of water falling into a frying pan.
"Why is it her! Han Xiaoshuang is a woman! How can she be the representative of Hanan Village? If this gets out, won't people laugh at her!"
"What's wrong with a woman? If it weren't for her, you would still be deceived and ruled by those evil monks! She is much braver and smarter than you!"
"Yes, when it just started, you all praised Han Xiaoshuang and said you would report to Yongquan. How come you changed your mind the moment you turned around?"
Han Xiaoshuang herself, who was in the center of the crowd, was stunned for a moment, then quickly calmed down, her heartbeat getting faster and faster.
Han Xiaoshuang's election showed that most people in the village recognized her, even if there were some unpleasant voices at the beginning, they were slowly drowned out by the people around her.
The village chief breathed a sigh of relief and announced the disbandment.
Ji Qingyue was watching with great interest through the window, and still felt a little unsatisfied. Yuan Ming smiled helplessly and said, "It's all over outside, and we should leave too. Don't you want to eat my food? I'll cook it for you tonight."
"Oh." Ji Qingyue responded, followed Yuan Ming obediently, and walked out of the small room.
The village chief was old, and he was a little overwhelmed when faced with major events. When Yuan Ming went to say goodbye, his face was very bad, and he was powerless to keep him.
When he arrived at the entrance of the village, Yang Tao was already waiting there in a bullock cart.
Seeing them, he jumped off the cart, his face flushed with excitement: "Yuan Ming, do you know? Miss Han has been elected as the representative of Hanan Village! In the future, she will have the opportunity to talk directly with the town governor and no longer have to worry about being bullied!"
"Well, we are also very happy for her." Yuan Ming said.
Then he got on the ox cart. Through the thick wall of the cart, he could still hear Yang Tao's cheerful singing. It seemed that he was really happy for Han Xiaoshuang.
Village representatives must stay in the village and cannot marry or work outside.
Yuan Ming shook his head, wondering if Yang Tao could still laugh after knowing this.
The matter of Hanan Village was over. Yuan Ming and Ji Qingyue were completely free. They hardly saw anyone except their neighbors every day. They spent most of their time curled up on the kang reading and learning calligraphy. Their life was comfortable and fulfilling.
Time passed quickly, and it was New Year's Eve. The hot pot was cooked in the main room. The family of three and a chubby little cat sat around the stove, talking about family matters and eating hot meals. A peaceful but not lonely year passed like this.
After the New Year, the village gradually became busy. Yuan Ming and Ji Qingyue also began to pack up and go to the town.
When they left, Yang Tao saw them off again.
Yang Tao took the big bag from Yuan Ming, and put it into the car with his arm muscles bulging.
"The carport has just been dismantled, so be careful when you sit on the car board, don't fall."
Yuan Ming noticed that there was a dark spot under his eyes, and his face was not very good, as if he had not slept well.
Yang Tao had feelings for Han Xiaoshuang and wanted to marry her. Han Xiaoshuang also had feelings for him, but it was obvious that she would not give up her future for Yang Tao.
The relationship between the two was at a stalemate.
Yuan Ming thought for a moment and said, "Miss Han has only one daughter in her family. It is impossible for the two elderly people to have children. If Brother Yang does not mind the bribe, things may turn around."
Yang Tao was stunned for a moment, and when he came to his senses, Yuan Ming had already stepped onto the cart. When
he arrived in the town, the first thing Yuan Ming did was to go to Qingshan Bookstore.
Shopkeeper Zhao had been waiting for him for a long time, looking forward to seeing him at the door.
When he saw him, his eyes lit up suddenly, and he took his arm and walked into the lounge.
Under the burning gaze of Shopkeeper Zhao, Yuan Ming took out a thick stack of manuscripts.
This stack of manuscripts was much thicker than before, and Shopkeeper Zhao smiled from ear to ear, and his dissatisfaction with Yuan Ming's delay in submitting the manuscripts disappeared at once.
But Yuan Ming's next words froze his smile.
Manager Zhao couldn't believe his ears: "Mr. Yuan, are you kidding? You said there will be no manuscripts in the short term? At least half a year?"
Yuan Ming nodded: "March is the Tongsheng exam, I have to concentrate on preparing for the exam, and it just so happens that "Dangerous Guard" has been completed. When the time comes, I will write a letter to the readers on the Ten Days Easy Reading. I believe they will understand me."
Manager Zhao walked back and forth twice and sighed helplessly.
"The imperial examination is a big deal and cannot be delayed. Since Master Yuan has made all the arrangements, I can't say anything. I wish you good luck in the exam and success in the exam."
Yuan Ming raised his eyebrows and said, "Thank you, Manager Zhao."
After coming out of Qingshan Bookstore, Yuan Ming was holding a few books and a few large-denomination banknotes.
When he got home, he found that Ji Qingyue had already gone to the workshop, bending over to carefully clean his incense-making machine. He hadn't seen those things for more than half a month, which really made him miss them.
Ji Qingyue heard the noise, poked her head out, and asked, "Did my husband buy all the books?"
Yuan Ming raised the book in his hand and gestured to him: "I went early and bought everything."
Ji Qingyue responded, walked out from behind the machine, and wiped his hands with a rag: "Are you going to buy a carriage now?"
Yuan Ming nodded.
The school was about to start classes every day, and the homework was very tight due to the upcoming imperial examinations. The only time he had completely free time was this afternoon.
The two came to the largest market in Shifang Town. Everything was sold here. The animal shed had a strange smell, so it was set up at the back.
The snow had melted not long ago, and the ground was a little wet, so the two had a hard time walking.
Ji Qingyue lifted up his trouser legs and tried to land his shoes on the clean ground, but there were too few such places, and soon many mud spots splashed on the surface of his shoes.
Yuan Ming took his hand and comforted him, "I'll buy you a few more pairs of shoes after we go out."
Ji Qingyue pouted and nodded.
As a strange odor appeared in the air, Yuan Ming knew they had arrived.
It was just after the New Year, and there were not many owners and customers in the livestock shed. Only a few people were taking a nap by the roadside with cattle and sheep.
Yuan Ming and Ji Qingyue passed by them, and they opened their eyelids to take a look and quickly closed them again.
Looking at their temperament, it was clear that they were not here to buy cattle and sheep, but mostly for the carriage. Sure enough, they were seen walking to the innermost stable.
Horses are even more valuable, and not many people need them in small places. There is only one horse shop in Shifang Town, so there is no comparison and it saves a lot of trouble.
Going around a broken wall, you can see a series of separated stables. The horses inside stretched their necks to eat the grass outside, and people outside can see the condition of the horses at a glance.
The waiter was hiding in a small house next to him and was immediately alert when he heard someone shouting.
"Two guests, do you want to buy horses?" The waiter asked attentively with a smile on his face.
Ji Qingyue sat in the freshly baked carriage, touching and looking around, feeling a little reluctant to let it go.
It took less than a quarter of an hour from entering the horse shop to taking the carriage away, and most of the time was spent by the waiter writing the deed.