Hua Erniang still had so doubts as she glanced at ng Yuhuai, "Big Brother ng, can this land really be purchased?"
"It can be purchased," ng Yuhuai nodded again and smiled at her lightly.
"In that case, I won’t say any more!" Hua Erniang felt reassured, waved her hand, and then said to Zheng Yakuai, "Thank you for running around these past few days on our behalf. Please co to our house again tonight. In front of Taihe, we’ll do what needs to be done. If you have the ti, please speak to the elders again. Just tell them I am truly sincere in wanting to purchase this land and ask if they would be willing to cut down the price a little more, make it cheaper."
"Alright!" Zheng Yakuai readily agreed, tucked the booklet under his arm, smiled at ng Yuhuai again, and then turned to leave.
It wasn’t until then that Hua Xiaomai found a mont to turn her head and look at the horse behind ng Yuhuai and the blue cloth bundle on his shoulder. She bit her lower lip and said with a smile, "Big Brother ng, are you heading back to the County?"
"Didn’t I tell you that I’ve already stayed at ho for quite a while? It’s about ti I return to the Escort Agency. If I laze around any more, I’m afraid all my bones will start to soften," said ng Yuhuai with a slight curve of his lips, looking down at her.
"Yes, that’s true," Hua Xiaomai also replied with a smile, "After you go back, please pass on my regards to Uncle Ke, Sister-in-law Zuo, and Big Brother Da Zhong, and tell them that if I find the ti, I will definitely visit them at the Escort Agency. If there’s anything they want to eat, just let know, and I’ll cook it and send it over."
"Sure," said ng Yuhuai, taking another look at her but finding nothing else to say. After pondering for a while, he reached out to untie the horse’s rope, "Then, I’ll take my leave now. If there’s anything, have Taihe co find at the Escort Agency."
Hua Xiaomai said "Alright," and he led the horse up the village path, stepping off the field ridge. After walking a couple of steps, he suddenly leaped onto the horse. With a squeeze of his legs, the big black horse imdiately sprinted away like a bolt of lightning.
Hua Xiaomai really wanted to shout after him "Be careful not to bump into anyone," but after hesitating for a long ti, she still remained silent. Turning her head, she saw Hua Erniang staring straight at her, which made her pause in confusion, "What are you looking at for?"
Hua Erniang rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Nothing, can’t I just look at you? You were born with a face for people to look at, and do I, your own sister, need your permission to look at you twice? Let’s go, go ho, this damned weather is really going to roast soone alive!"
With that said, she grabbed Hua Xiaomai and headed towards the west side of the village. Hua Xiaomai was suddenly pulled forward and stumbled a few steps, but managed to regain her balance and followed Hua Erniang back ho.
...
That evening, after dinner, Zheng Yakuai visited the Jing Family’s courtyard once again. At that ti, Hua Xiaomai had already gone with Luo Yuejiao to set up a stall by the river, and only Jing Taihe and Hua Erniang were at ho.
Zheng Yakuai claid that after much talking, he had finally convinced the elders to lower the price a bit more. For the price of five strings of cash per mu, he sold the two adjoining mu of land to the Jing Family. He was very experienced with the procedures, which were quickly completed after just a few trips between the families. He also helped to exchange the white deed for a red deed at the Governnt office, delivering it neatly into Hua Erniang’s hands.
From then on, Hua Erniang had resolved a big worry. Feeling relieved, she couldn’t wait and went to buy vegetable seeds that very day. Compelling Jing Taihe to take a day off, the couple thoroughly turned over the two mu of land, planting cabbages, string beans, and others. They burned the wheat straw on the ridges into fertilizer and spread it in the fields.
It was nearly July, and the weather was still unbearably hot. Working in the fields under the fierce sun indeed required a lot of perseverance. Hua Erniang, who had suffered hardships in her early years, found strength throughout her whole body at the thought that the land belonged to her and that selling chili in the future would earn her a good amount of money. She didn’t feel tired at all. Hua Xiaomai, when not busy, often followed her into the fields, but could not last very long before Hua Erniang would send her off to rest.
"Your hands, soaking in water all day and smoked by the stove, are already rough enough. Don’t wear them out further. This little bit of work, I can finish neatly on my own in half a day. Where would I need your help?" she would say, with an unyielding attitude.
Unable to persuade her, Hua Xiaomai had to spend more ti at ho, preparing more soups to cool off and delivering them to the fields now and then, always encouraging Hua Erniang to take a break to avoid overworking herself.
On this particular day, Hua Erniang went to the fields early as usual. In the fierce afternoon sun, Hua Xiaomai cooked a pot of pumpkin and mung bean soup at ho, planning to take it to Hua Erniang to quench her thirst. Just as she stepped out of the yard, she saw a carriage stopping at the door.
Down from the carriage stepped a woman gracefully, and upon closer look, Hua Xiaomai realized it was Song Jingxi.
"I heard that soone has been using the na of my Taoyuan House to settle their own affairs!" Song Jingxi spotted Hua Xiaomai holding the pot at the door and walked up to her with a light smile.
Hua Xiaomai was taken aback, knowing she was most likely referring to the dispute with Antai Garden, and imdiately felt uneasy.
After all, Shopkeeper Zhu had indeed changed his deanor from angry to pleased when he heard she was going to be the chef at Taoyuan House, smoothing over the incident and avoiding endless bickering. Although it was true, they hadn’t finalized the agreent yet, and she felt sowhat improper for having borrowed soone else’s na to resolve her own troubles so readily.
She pursed her lips and quickly looked up at Song Jingxi, opening her mouth to apologize. But Song Jingxi wore a smile on her lips, and in a mont, she had approached, saying in a friendly manner, "Don’t panic; I was just joking with you. I’ve heard about the matter between you and Antai Garden. They were the ones being unreasonable in their dealings. I am happy that I could help you."
After pausing, she continued, "However, regarding what I ntioned to you over a month ago, I wonder how you have considered it?" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to cast recomndation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian [qidian]. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.)
Reviews
All reviews (0)