Volume 1 In the Countryside Chapter 1: Encounter in the field
The sky was clear blue, and the golden ears of rice rose and fell like waves in the breeze.
Farmers in the fields were busy harvesting, sweating profusely. However, most people didn't even have time to take a breath or talk, let alone sing a folk song. Except for the occasional noisy bird flying by, there was only the rustling sound of harvesting.
Zhang Shou, standing on a ridge beside the official road, looked at the harvest scene with joy. He held a handful of rice ears in his hand and smiled at the farmers who gathered around him.
"The harvest the year before last was not as good as that of wheat, but last year was slightly better than in previous years. Looking at the situation this year, as long as we hurry to finish the harvest, I'm afraid we can get 60% more than the year before last. Who said rice can't be grown in the north?"
Hearing everyone around him agreeing, he couldn't help but sigh as he recalled the scene when he discovered that the water system near the village was abundant and very suitable for growing rice. Even though his mother, Mrs. Wu, hesitated and finally agreed to give it a try and dig canals to reduce the rent, the tenants were still reluctant.
Others who traveled through time all had high qualifications and a high starting point, but he, the young master of a small landlord, had a hard time making ends meet. If it weren't for the bumper harvest this year, he would have been so busy digging canals, planting rice, experimenting with cotton fields, expanding the breeding of tussah silkworms, and persuading people to take time out to let their children recite poems and learn to read with him. He would have been afraid that he would have been scolded to death behind his back by the farmers in the village.
In this day and age, landlords can seize the land, but tenants can also resist the landlords! They are an orphan and a widow, and he went through so much trouble, but in the end, nothing serious happened, and the situation in the village has steadily improved. He is really lucky!
At this moment, he, wearing a bamboo hat, caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye that on the main road a few steps away, a line of seven or eight horse-riding guards in bright clothes were surrounding a cleaning oil cart and moving slowly, showing a leisurely and unhurried look.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted high by a slender hand. Although he only glanced from the side, he could still vaguely see that it was a young girl. Knowing that the times were different from those of the past, he only glanced at her and then withdrew his gaze. He continued to discuss how to replant in the future with a few farmers with his back to the official road. Who knew that he would hear the conversation between the two people in the carriage in an instant.
"Miss, you should know what's going on in the mansion recently. The master is not doing well in the war, the eldest young master and his troops have lost contact, and many enemies in the court are sharpening their knives. In order to protect this family business, the second young master has to win over people. Now he wants to marry Minister Lu of the Ministry of War, that's..."
"To protect the family business? When he was fighting cocks and walking dogs, did he ever think about making progress? It's still unclear whether Dad is faking his defeat, and there's only no news about my eldest brother yet, and he dares to set his sights on me!"
"I know that the eldest lady despises the spoiled youngest son of Minister Lu, but can you believe the so-called engagement that the old lady said? The old master has always loved the eldest lady, so why would he betroth you to a man who grew up in the countryside and has an unknown background? What's more, the old lady has the marriage certificate, but she didn't show the text to the eldest lady and the second young master, so it's still unknown whether it's true or not."
"That idiot from the Lu family is neither good at literature nor martial arts, but he is very skilled at flirting with women. Every time he sees me, he looks so greedy that I want to kick him over and beat him up! He even wants to marry me... Bah, a toad wants to eat swan meat! Besides, I didn't promise my grandmother to marry according to her marriage certificate, I just came to take a look!"
After listening to the first half, Zhang Shou sighed secretly, thinking that such a young lady from a distinguished family would actually be forced to marry, what a miserable life she had. But after hearing the young lady's final tough speech, he couldn't help but feel that she really didn't need anyone's sympathy.
However, these two people spoke without caring about being overheard, probably because they felt that no one in this country would understand the family affairs of the nobles.
However, the next moment, he no longer had the luxury of sympathizing with others, because he suddenly discovered that the sound of horse hooves seemed to have stopped, and the man among the two people who were talking was actually making an analogy with them, the country folk!
"Even if the marriage certificate is real, the master has not mentioned it for many years. Maybe he has regretted it in his heart. The eldest lady used to be so precious in the mansion. Is it possible that she will live in this country from now on, managing a bunch of country bumpkins outside, and dealing with a group of illiterate peasant women every day?"
When Zhang Shou was angry, the man pointed the finger directly at him.
"Look at this young farm boy, who grew up in the countryside and is illiterate. He knows nothing about poetry or songs. He hangs out with farmers and peddlers all day long. He is content to have enough food and clothing, and will never leave the fields. He is a farm boy, his son is also a farm boy, and his grandson is also a farm boy. How can he not be mediocre when he grows up among such farm boys?"
Even though Zhang Shou was too lazy to argue with a stranger, he couldn't bear it anymore.
Without even turning his head, he said, "Farmers have no permanent property and really can't afford to go to school, so most of them can only be illiterate. They hoe the fields every day under the scorching sun, sweating under the soil, and are satisfied with just enough food and clothing. But some people eat the food on the plate, not knowing that every grain of rice is the result of hard work, and they look down on farmers. Have you ever heard that those who eat meat are vulgar and cannot plan for the future?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a crisp laugh. He was slightly startled, then took off his hat and turned around.
This time, he finally saw clearly that there was a girl of about fifteen or sixteen sitting on his side of the carriage.
She was dressed in a bright red crepe dress with colorful embroidery, and her black and shiny hair was trembling with her laughter. Butterflies made of gold leaves seemed to be playing among the golden flowers, chasing the glittering South China Sea pearl at the end of her hairpin.
A pair of red jade bracelets on her wrists made her fair skin look as white as cream.
Complementing this gorgeous outfit and beautiful accessories is her radiant face.
When their eyes met, he saw that the girl suddenly stopped laughing and stared at him intently, so he smiled back at her. After he smiled, the other party was obviously stunned.
Zhu Ying really couldn't help being in a daze. When she was in the capital, she had been to the inner palace, the mansions of the rich and powerful, and even brothels, where she had dressed up as a man. She was also used to riding a horse on the streets, and could be considered to have seen countless people. She could guarantee that even if all the boys of the right age she had seen were added together, she couldn't pick out one as outstanding as the country boy in front of her.
He was clearly wearing just an ordinary blue cloth shirt and a pair of black cloth shoes that were even stained with mud, but he had clear features, and was handsome and elegant. At first glance, she felt that he was unparalleled in his elegance!
And it just happened to be what Zhu Gongquan was trying to persuade him to do, which choked him back!
I remember that my father often recalled the good old days and said that his ancestors came from the fields!
She came back to her senses, smiled and said, "My dear, I'm sorry for what happened just now. It was Mr. Zhu in my family who offended you carelessly. If you recite "Big Rat, Big Rat , he will find a crack in the ground to crawl into!"
Zhang Shou knew that the girl in the carriage came from a wealthy family, and when she spoke to him, it was obvious that she was helping him. He knew without thinking that it might be because of what she said, but more likely it was because of his current face!
He had seen this kind of scene many times in the past three years and had gotten used to it, so he smiled and said nothing, just nodded slightly.
As an aide of the same surname as Zhu Jing, Duke of Zhao, who stayed in the capital to assist in handling internal and external affairs, today he accompanied Zhu Ying to the countryside to visit her so-called fiancé's home. Zhu Gongquan never thought that he would be laughed at for not reading when he just made an analogy with a farmer's boy. In addition, Zhu Ying actually leaned out to help others, which made him angry and embarrassed.
If this farmer's boy didn't have such a good-looking face, he wouldn't be so unlucky... Zhu Ying has always loved looking at beautiful women!
A beautiful child, a graceful young man, a handsome uncle, a handsome old man... and of course, beautiful women with a straightforward personality. In short, as long as she is a beauty, she will be treated kindly from the beginning by the willful girl.
Her motto is, a handsome man is a good match for a lady.
As for what to do when she gets old if she marries a handsome man, her answer is also very simple - a true gentleman is gentle and elegant, and his appearance and character are consistent. Even if the years pass, he is still a handsome uncle or a handsome man... If you can't do that, then you are not worthy of the word gentleman! Besides, women know how to take care of themselves, so why can't men take good care of their faces?
But it was easy for him to avenge this arrow, as long as he could prove that the peasant boy had bad character and bad temperament. After all, the eldest lady's temperament was well-known, and there were many lechers who relied on their face to have improper thoughts, and eventually got exposed and suffered misfortune!
