Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 298: Young Students
One was using a sickle as a saw, and the other was scrabbling over a bunch of wheat stalks. Ji Jiu was better, swinging his sickle with a cold gleam, but wherever he went, the wheat stubble was left very high, with sharp stalks sticking up like javelins pointing to the sky, making the three people behind him even more afraid to move forward rashly. Looking back and seeing this scene, Zhang Shou was immediately angry and amused.
If Zhu Ying had not subsidized the tenant farmers a lot, they really would not have come here to help the farmers today, but to cause trouble... To be honest, he himself was also causing trouble. Let's retreat quickly after cutting this ridge!
Zhang Shou was distracted when he saw Zhu Ying gesticulating and ordering several tenant farmers who were watching the fun nearby to come down and help. So he shouted, "Forget it, Ji Jiu, you guys just help bundle the wheat and put down the sickle, don't cut your hands!"
Ji Jiu saw Zhang Shou turn around and slashed a few times before catching up with him, and he actually looked quite capable. He thought of how he had sighed about his bad luck in the past. Otherwise, he would not only be a general but also a prime minister. He would definitely be able to command the army on horseback and govern the people on foot. He could learn anything he saw. Looking at the sickle in his hand, he could not help but sigh.
Well, the fact that you can learn anything by watching should not include farm work. How can he compare with Zhang Shou, who grew up in the countryside outside Beijing?
But when he returned the sickle to the farmer who had caught up with him, and was "courteously invited" to the back to learn how to bundle wheat clumsily, and was so busy that his back and waist ached but he still didn't do it well, Ji Jiu couldn't help but look up at Zhang Shou in the distance, and suddenly a ridiculous but practical idea came to his mind.
Although Zhang Shou grew up in the countryside, it is said that he was supported by Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing since he was a child, so even if he did not have luxurious clothes and food, he definitely had enough food and clothing. And it is said that he was in poor health when he was a child, so he missed the opportunity to be the imperial teacher Ge Yong. Later, he met him again by chance. If so, how did Zhang Shou go to the fields? Where did he learn these farming skills?
Zhang Shou, who was being questioned as to how he could do farm work, immediately handed over his sickle after finishing the first ridge, went to the ridge beside the field, took off his gloves and pounded his waist to catch his breath. If Zhu Ying hadn't been looking at him from the opposite side, he would have sat down without caring about his manners, because he felt that his waist was about to break.
Therefore, seeing Ji Jiu and others struggling to bundle wheat with their buttocks sticking out, and then seeing the farmers behind them quickly carrying away the bundles of wheat, and the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince impatiently jumping down to the ground and starting to pick up wheat ears with baskets, he pounded his waist twice again and could not help but smile.
Just pretending... that's better than not doing it. Just like the emperor personally farming and the empress personally raising silkworms, even if it's just a formality, it's at least a sign that the emperor values agriculture and sericulture. However , it's said that the emperor personally ploughs the fields once every one or two years, but the empress hasn't been raising silkworms for a long time. As for the reason... the empress would faint when she saw any crawling insects, that's the reason.
People who would scream when they see a bug might include many daughters of wealthy families, noble ladies, and even quite a few frail nobles, but they definitely did not include the Third and Fourth Princes, who were in their prime youth, nor did they include Zhu Ying.
At this moment, the third and fourth princes, who had come down from the fields, were carrying a large basket each, throwing wheat ears into it as they walked. After a while, they picked up a large black bug and started shouting and yelling, so Zhu Ying had to jump off her horse and get down to the fields with her skirt tucked in. Seeing their curious yet cautious look, she snorted.
"What's so scary about a dead bug? You know, last time I was in your teacher's village, I saw a spider as big as a palm, and each leg was at least as long as a finger..."
"Sister Yingying? Are you trying to scare us? How can there be such a big spider? Isn't that a spider spirit? Could it be like in Journey to the West, where seven spider spirits set up webs to harm people?"
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince was only joking, but the two young men of noble rank, who were almost exhausted from bundling wheat in front, took a break from their busy schedule to look at each other, then laughed inwardly.
Other rich young ladies would scream when seeing such a scary insect, but Zhu Ying described it so lightly. Perhaps only someone like Zhang Shou could afford to tolerate this young lady!
Just as he was thinking this, one of the men who had been distracted suddenly felt someone tapping his shoulder. When he came to his senses, he saw a palm-sized spider that Zhu Ying had mentioned crawling on the cut haystack in front of him. The spider was completely black, but its eight legs looked a little slender. It was crawling leisurely over the haystack. He felt his scalp tingle when he saw it, and he screamed out instinctively.
His scream caused his already frightened companion to cry out for help. When Zhu Ying, who had caught up with him, saw the palm-sized spider, he immediately shouted triumphantly to the Third and Fourth Princes, "Did you see that? The one I saw before was even bigger than this one? Now you know I didn't lie to you, right?"
Although they had seen several insects of different sizes while picking wheat ears, the third and fourth princes could not help but feel weak in the knees when they saw the huge spider. The fourth prince muttered "spider spirit" while the third prince looked around for something to kill it directly, until Zhu Ying picked up the spider with a straw and released it in a harvested field next to it.
When Zhu Ying turned back, facing the two admiring faces, she clapped her hands and said with a smile: "It doesn't bother us, so let's keep it alive. Don't just stand there, get to work! If nothing else, at least finish this ridge, from beginning to end! Ji Jiu, you guys too, don't be lazy! Be a real man, how can you be so scared by a spider!"
The young man who had just screamed out of control was so ashamed and angry after being provoked by Zhu Ying that he naturally used all his strength. So, when he finally saw that the mountain of wheat stacks in front of him was finally empty, he was so exhausted that he fell to his knees. Ji Jiu stretched out his hand to pull him up but failed.
Not only them, but the others were not much better. Ji Jiu couldn't help him, so he simply took two steps forward, regardless of the filthiness, and squatted on the ridge of the field, like an old farmer who was used to it. However, the third and fourth princes, who were picking wheat ears happily and joyfully, followed the tenant farmers who were still harvesting and bundling, filled their baskets halfway, and then came back with the baskets in both hands with great effort.
At this time, the two brothers were already exhausted.
Zhang Shou, who had carried Wu on his back to the fields several times before, was not surprised by the sight of the defeated army. He moved forward and fiddled with the baskets of the third and fourth princes, then stepped forward to help lift one, saying with a smile, "Okay, we can't count how much wheat we have harvested for a while, but we can take these back first."
Zhu Ying also nodded and said, "Let the small kitchen dry, shell and grind the flour. Maybe we can even make noodles tonight."
At this point, she looked at Ji Jiu and the others who were staggering around with a smile and said, "Since you are all here, stay at Zhao Garden for one night and then go back with us tomorrow."
At this point, she paused, and then added with a half-smile, "Don't tell me any more nonsense like being scared or embarrassed. Although Sanlang and Silang are not big shots, they have a clear path to come out with us, but if you go back with a dirty face and make a scene, God knows what nonsense people in the capital will say."
Zhu Ying had said so much, what else did Ji Jiu and the others have to say? They could only agree to be guests at Zhao Garden. Although there was some coercion, everyone knew that in the past, with their status, they might have the opportunity to enter Zhao Guogong Mansion or Zhao Garden with their parents and elders, but if they were alone, it would definitely be impossible.
However, when they were returning, Ji Jiu discovered that except for the slightest wrinkles on the skirt that Zhu Ying had let down, Zhang Shou, the third prince, and the fourth prince were all wearing cloth clothes, extremely simple before. Now, the cloth clothes were dirty and torn, and their shoes were covered with mud. In comparison, they came in fine clothes and on horses, but now they looked disheveled.
Not only him, but the other three also noticed this and felt very embarrassed for a moment. Especially when they arrived at Zhao Garden, they saw the doorman they had just met coming out and was stunned when he saw their attire, which made them feel even more uncomfortable.
"Do you have spare clothes for Zhao Yuanli and Brother Zhu that are similar in size? Go find a few sets so they can change. They were supposed to go on an outing, but I sent them to learn farming instead. It's really hard for them!"
Zhang Shou saw Zhu Ying nod immediately and said yes, then sent the doorman in to ask someone to prepare it. He then asked, "By the way, is there a hot spring pool in Daoxiang Village somewhere else in the garden? They look like they can't see anyone unless they wash up."
"There are no hot springs in Haidian, but the scenery is unique, so our gardens, including Zhaoyuan, can only go to the trouble of boiling water for hot water."
When Zhu Ying said this, she glanced at Ji Jiu and the others meaningfully and said, "We didn't expect so many people to come, so we only opened the bathhouses in Daoxiang Village, Nuanxiangwu and Qiushuangzhai. Don't be so particular, just let them all go to Daoxiang Village."
Ji Jiu quickly understood what the so-called “Let’s all go to Daoxiang Village” meant.
Under the stares of the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince who had stripped naked and entered the water earlier, he slipped into the bathtub quickly, almost embarrassed. Soon after, his three companions who were full of resistance were thrown in one by one by Ah Liu. There was a huge sound of water when they fell into the water, which splashed hot water all over them and almost made him unable to open his eyes.
Although the hot spring pool was large enough to accommodate more than 20 people, and the water temperature was just right, the three people who entered the water still couldn't help shivering. Not only that, after struggling to get up, their teeth were still chattering, including the big guy with the same surname Zhang. After hearing what the third and fourth princes said, he lost even the last bit of revenge.
"Sixth Brother is a person that the Emperor admires very much, so I heard that he was assigned to teach Sister Yingying's second brother martial arts. Do you remember that Second Brother Zhu got bruised and battered several times? It was because of Sixth Brother! So, don't go against him!"
Zhang Dakuo was so frustrated that his face turned red. He was a 8-foot-tall man, and no one in the entire Imperial College was taller than him. He was thrown in without any resistance. This was a great shame!
However, seeing Ah Liu quietly leaving, he didn't dare to say a word. It was not until he heard voices from the next room that he complained angrily: "Is there no rule at all? How can so many people bathe together like this?"
Although they usually hang out outside, they also have enough food and drink, and after satisfying their desires, they book a large bathhouse to take a good soak and relax, but they are all acquaintances! Now they are naked facing each other, and there are two princes, what is this!
"I think it's great." The fourth prince didn't care. "Today we are all harvesting together and getting close to farm work. Since we have suffered together, it is only right that we enjoy happiness together now. Besides, we are not outsiders. We are all classmates of Banshan Hall. What's the big deal about taking a bath together!"
Damn classmates... When they thought that the two tiny princes in front of them were indeed classmates, and classmates whose performance evaluations were always above their heads, Zhang Dakuai and the other two students could not help but feel powerless. However, thinking about the purpose of meeting Zhang Shou this time, and seeing Ji Jiu was actually in a daze, Zhang Dakuai sorted out his emotions and showed a self-proclaimed friendly smile.
"Third Prince, Fourth Prince, since you two said that we are all classmates, there is something I would like to ask you to say in front of the teacher."
Zhang the big guy briefly told the story of Xu Heizi's questioning. Just as he was about to explain the pros and cons earnestly, he heard the Third Prince exclaim, "Xu Jiancheng asked the questions? That seems to be a cover, right? It should be Father who asked the questions, right? "
At that moment, whether it was Ji Jiu who had just come back to life, Zhang Dakuai, or the remaining two people, they were all stunned. In the end, it was Zhang Dakuai who stammered, "It's... How could it be the emperor?"
"How is it impossible?" The Third Prince looked at Ji Jiu seriously and said word by word, "Father reads my and my fourth brother's notes every day. I heard that he even sent someone to take notes for Father to read. Father said that everyone has their own specialties. Even if the children of officials cannot pass the imperial examinations to become scholars, if they are unwilling to learn even the most basic common sense, then there is no hope for them."
As he spoke, he said seriously: "So, I heard it with my own ears. Father said that he would set the questions himself."
Oh no, oh no, oh no... If I hadn't made this trip, I would have almost been fooled by the so-called sleight of hand set by Xu Heizi!
Zhang stood up without hesitation, not caring about being soaked, or about the marks on his body being seen by others, and rushed outside to dry himself and change into clean clothes. As for staying in Zhao Garden for a night, he had already completely rejected it. Time was tight, how could he have the time?
It turns out that what Zhang Shou said before about the division of the examination being approved by the emperor was true... It turns out that the emperor is really not satisfied with these useless people who just eat and eat! If he can't get into any of the three halls, he doesn't want to be thrown into the army and beaten every day... He can even save the word "refining"!
He didn't see at all that while the other two companions hurriedly got out of the water and Ji Jiu also stood up, the Third Prince suddenly turned around and leaned over the edge of the bath, trying hard not to laugh out loud. It was the first time in his life that he scared someone, and he didn't expect it to actually work!
