Uncle Li was quite surprised to see Butler Li; why was he back at this time?
"Father, Madam instructed me to come back on business. This is Steward Wei. Before returning to the prefectural city, he accompanied you to familiarize yourself with the affairs of the estate."
"Madam bought an estate in the prefectural city; there's a lot to do there. What about Xu Wu and his wife?"
"Is the estate very big? Xu Wu and his wife went to the melon field. In a few days, the first batch of watermelons will be ripe, so they have to keep checking on them."
Uncle Li didn't expect his wife to act so quickly; the estate had been bought in such a short time.
"The estate is very large, with more than a thousand acres of land, as well as woodlands, mountains, wasteland, and ponds."
Butler Li knew his father liked farming, so he told him the main points first.
"That's good, that's good. After we get to the prefectural city, I'll go to the estate again."
Uncle Li is happy; he's content as long as he has land to cultivate.
Butler Li didn't stop him; his father was only in his fifties and in good health. It was fine for him to stay on the estate; otherwise, being idle would make him more prone to illness.
As they talked, they arrived at their lodgings.
"Butler Li, when did you arrive?"
"Just arrived, perfect timing. I have something to tell you. Madam wants the three of you to go to the prefectural city. She's bought an estate there. Xu An and the others are familiar with it now. Once you get there, you can replace them."
After giving his instructions, Steward Li told Xu Wu and his wife to pack their things in the next couple of days, and that they would set off for the prefectural city once he returned from Jiangjia Village.
Xu Wu and his wife naturally wanted to go to the prefectural city, where the family lived closer, and more importantly, closer to their master's house.
Steward Li instructed Steward Wei to follow his father and others to familiarize himself with the affairs of the estate, while he went to find Steward Jiang and Steward Wang.
"Butler Li, you're back. Is there something you need from Shuyun and the others?"
Jiang Shuhe had just returned from the melon field and was preparing to go home in a while.
"Master and Madam instructed me to come here on business. They've also bought a estate in the prefectural city and need to go back to the village to find some manpower. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Xu are going to the prefectural city. Madam said that you and Uncle Wang have been officially promoted to managers of the estate, and you will be fully in charge from now on."
The lady said that after Xu Wu and his wife left, they put her cousin's wife in charge of the kitchen, cooking for the farmhands.
Since Jiang Shuhe and his family came with them, Mu Yi'an let the family's long-term workers cook for themselves, so that they would be at ease and it would save them from having to please everyone.
"I will try my best, Butler Li. I will do my utmost to be a good steward."
Jiang Shuhe's eyes were firm. He was able to marry, have children, and live the good life he had now all thanks to his brother Shuyun and sister-in-law, and he would always remember that.
"I trust my wife's judgment. She asked you to stay here because she believes you can do a good job."
Butler Li and Jiang Shuhe weren't actually very familiar with each other, but his father knew him quite well.
However, he knew that Jiang Shuhe's family was not well-off, and the whole family relied on the help of the old man and his wife to make a living. The fields in the village were also rented to their family.
Such a great favor will never be forgotten by anyone who isn't morally corrupt.
"Work hard," my wife said. "From now on, anyone who does anything for the family will be treated well."
Butler Li felt content with what he had. After living here for two years without the infighting in the mansion, he realized how important a stable life was.
Butler Li repeated the same words to Wang Hu, who also expressed his willingness to work hard.
Especially since his wife also got married and he was promoted to manager, their combined wages would be quite substantial.
He knew that only when Zhuangzi prospered would their lives improve.
After settling things at the estate, Steward Li ate dinner and went to bed early.
I have to go back to Jiangjia Village tomorrow. Once I've finished my business, I need to hurry back to the prefectural city. The village is short-staffed, and my wife needs to buy a shop. There's a lot to do.
The next day, Xu Wu drove the carriage to take Steward Li back to Jiangjia Village.
From afar, you can see the Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) memorial archway at the village entrance.
Dazzling and eye-catching.
At the Jiang family's old residence, Jiang's father was discussing the matter of the ancestral land with his third grandfather.
There is a lot of farmland near Jiangjia Village, and most of it is in the hands of landlords and wealthy people.
Third Grandfather didn't want to use Shuyun's name to do business, so he searched discreetly and eventually bought 20 mu of paddy fields and 60 mu of dry fields for 500 taels of silver.
The two pieces aren't together, but they're not far apart either.
The land was acquired, and the land deed was changed to a red deed. The Jiang clan now truly had its own ancestral land.
There's still grain in the fields; we need to decide what to plant in the second half of the year.
"Hoo..."
Xu Wu parked the carriage, and Steward Li got off.
"Keep an eye on the carriage, I'll go in first."
"Understood, Butler Li."
Jiang's father and third grandfather, who were in the courtyard, also heard the noise at the door and knew that someone had come.
"Butler Li, why are you back?"
Jiang's father was quite puzzled when he saw Butler Li carrying things in.
"Greetings, sir! Greetings, clan elder!"
Butler Li bowed first, and since the clan elder was also present, he handed over the master's letter first.
"Are Shuyun and the others alright?"
Jiang's father and third grandfather took the letter, opened it, and began to read it.
"All is well. The master has already started teaching at the academy, and the two young masters have also enrolled."
The house is all tidied up. My parents asked me to come and pick up my great-grandfather and grandmother to stay with them for a while.
Jiang's father didn't expect them to settle down so quickly; otherwise, he wouldn't have let them stay there for a while.
"Elder, the madam has bought an estate in the prefectural city, but there is a shortage of manpower."
The wife was thinking of the villagers and wanted to ask if anyone wanted to go to the prefectural city to work as a farmhand. She was willing to go alone, even with his wife and children.
The lady said that if anyone wanted to go, she should ask the clan elder to help vet them and select a few who were willing to endure hardship and follow orders.
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