Chapter 27: Chance Encounter
She knew what "The Everyday Life of a Widow" was about at first sight. When she went to buy the book the day before yesterday, she took a special look at the contents and found that it described romantic affairs but was not vulgar. Only then did she feel at ease to buy it.
"Husband, what do you think of that book?"
Rong Zhuo opened his eyes which were originally closed and squinted slightly, "Madam loves to see these."
Chu Sishui shook her head like a drum, "I just saw that the author wrote well, so I just read it, I don't have this habit."
Rong Zhuo, "Madam, don't worry, you will never become a widow."
For the first time, Chu Sishui was choked by his words. After thinking for a long time, she didn't know what to say, so she picked up another book without giving up. This time, Rong Zhuo simply took it from her.
She looked up and wanted to faint. "My Embarrassing Daily Life with My Husband"
What books did Luhe get for her?
“This wasn’t something I chose.”
Rong Zhuo ignored him and turned a page with his slender fingers, as if he was not reading anything improper, but reviewing a memorial.
Chu Sishui also knocked on it out of curiosity, and after taking a look at it, she wished she had never seen it before. This was not a storybook at all, but a pornographic picture book with some dialogues written on it.
She closed her eyes tightly, wishing she could fall asleep right now.
But Rong Zhuo didn't allow it. He pushed it with his hand and pointed to a sentence on it and asked her to read it.
Chu Sishui's mind went blank. He was serious. It was daytime and they were still in the carriage.
She sobbed in fear. It was broad daylight, and she was in a carriage with guards everywhere outside.
But Rong Zhuo didn't have such concerns. He pulled a piece of clothing under his body and ignored everything else.
She slightly opened her eyes and looked at Rong Zhuo who had regained his indifference. He was calmly packing up the dirty clothes. When everything was done, he picked her up and put her in the trunk. After tidying up her clothes, he also sorted out his own clothes.
After everything was ready, he opened the car curtain, picked up the rice manual beside him and started reading it as if nothing had happened.
Chu Sishui wanted to stare at him to see what he looked like.
Rong Zhuo didn't even raise his head. "You can't blame anyone for buying these things."
Chu Sishui didn't want to talk to him, so she turned around and went to sleep. If the maid saw her like this, she would be the one to be laughed at. She had let it go anyway.
After arriving at the post station in the evening, Chu Sishui put on a piece of clothing and hurried to the arranged room.
This post station usually selects rooms according to the size of the official's position. Rong Zhuo is a prince, so naturally he has the best room.
Chu Sishui finished washing up and was about to go to bed when she heard someone quarreling downstairs.
"What can I do? The interest on the land I have already organized has increased by 3%. How can I survive? The man only said that I would have a three-month grace period. If I can't pay it back after three months, he will add two more floors. So there is no way to survive. I thought I could give you a place to live. Now it seems that I am no better than a farmer. At least I can keep you and your daughter from going hungry."
A middle-aged man in a long gown was holding a baby girl of a few years old, his face full of sadness.
Yin Ren was also pushing Rong Zhuo over.
"Husband, what is this?"
Yin Ren replied, "Madam, this is Wang Fu, a scholar from Qingtian County, his wife Tian Shi, and their daughter Wang Yuan. They just found out that the local county government was charging interest on the land they rented. That's why they started crying."
Chu Sishui said, "He is already a juren, but he can't support his family? What's going on with Tian Xi?"
Rong Zhuo, "Those who pass the provincial examination only have the qualifications to be officials. Not everyone will be granted an official position. Even the simplest lawyers need to see a letter of recommendation. The interest on land means that ordinary people who don't have land deeds need to rent land from local tyrants. If the harvest is 100%, they must first pay it to the local tyrant or the person who rents them the land, and then pay interest to the government."
Chu Sishui was shocked. "Collecting taxes from both ends, the common people..."
She looked at Rong Zhuo and shut up.
Rong Zhuo, "Don't be shy in front of me."
"This tax cannot be eliminated so easily, and the higher-ups may not be aware of it."
Chu Sishui nodded, knowing that these were examples of how the feudal dynasty governed the country, and that she could not change them alone.
Rong Zhuo, "Yin Ren, take the pass and go tell the people at the post station that we will pay for the food and lodging of the deputy scholar Wang."
Silver Blade said to the lady, "Yes. But if that person asks about your identity, I will say that the master is very wealthy and kind-hearted?"
Chu Sishui nodded and pushed Rong Zhuo into the room.
Perhaps because of the long journey, he fell asleep as soon as he touched the bed.
The next day, Chu Sishui looked into the hall after breakfast, but didn't see the couple from last night. She thought that the couple had a hard life, so she had some cakes to give to the little girl.
Silver Blade was already ready to go, "Madam, it's time to go."
Chu Sishui got on the carriage. Having learned from yesterday's lesson, she stayed far away today and even opened the curtains to appreciate the scenery outside.
The mountains in the distance were stacked, the sky was as blue as a gem, and all kinds of wild flowers were blooming along the way. After walking for half a day, Chu Sishui felt the simplicity of the countryside. She didn't care about what happened yesterday. "Husband, look, there are people catching fish over there."
Rong Zhuo looked in the direction where her finger pointed and saw a lot of connections.
Groups of people were gathering around a pond, with people on both sides using fishing nets to catch fish. They were watching people fishing, and the villagers were also craning their necks to look at the fleets of horse-drawn carriages.
Xiaosheng Farm is a village in Qingtian County. Although it is famous for its peach blossoms and sea bass, it is no longer the season for viewing peach blossoms. Moreover, there are not so many people coming here in such a grand scale in the past.
Wang Gui, who was casting the net, hurriedly urged, "Don't look at it, this is not something we should understand. Let's drain the water quickly, clean the fish pond, and settle the wages so that we can go home early. Deputy Wang is back today, and we are finally reunited as a family. After settling the wages, we will catch some small fish and stew crucian carp soup for my mother and niece. I don't know if Deputy Wang's talk about Tian Xi has any result. After all, he is a juren. If he can't do anything, our family will have a hard time this year.
Wang Nan at the side also quickened his pace. The two of them were originally from Xiaosheng Farm, but because the interest on the land had increased recently, they had to run to Yuanjia Village to find work.
The carriage traveled quickly all the way and finally arrived at Little Saint Farm before sunset.
There was nothing to talk about in the countryside, and the presence of several horse-drawn carriages had already attracted the attention of everyone in Wangjia Village.
Mrs. Wang looked up at the carriage parked in front of Mr. Xu's door and said, "Oh, so they are the ones who bought Mr. Xu's yard. They are really rich. I heard that this yard cost three hundred taels."
"What? Three hundred taels. Where did this person come from? He is so rich! Even if I farm for my whole life, I still don't have a hundred taels."
Wang Mazi also stretched his head and said, "Look, he's coming down. Hey, why is it a person in a wheelchair..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
