208, Act on the News (3 more)
These people were all skilled workers, quick and efficient in their tasks, accustomed to inspecting and flipping roof tiles. The work was well organized: a group inspected, the second cleaned up, and the third laid the tiles, with detailed division of labor to maintain the pace.
They didn’t dare slack off for even a moment, fearing the master’s dissatisfaction could lead to withheld silver, and the prospect that Wang Liu would no longer call on them for work.
Finding work that paid sixty to seventy wen a day was not easy.
Wang Liu’s wife was very adept at handling matters. When she learned that Wang Liu had taken on a big job, she immediately brought her sisters-in-law to deliver tea and also cooked mung bean soup. Although not costly, it was immensely comforting to enjoy such a bowl when one’s mouth was dry and parched.
Xie Zhinuan and her entourage left the city, and Grey Wolf and Routuan were very happy, sitting at the driving seat, tongues stretched out long and drooling as they enjoyed the breeze, to Yuanbao’s great disdain.
Xie Zhinuan couldn’t stop smiling at this.
Her joyous laughter made Li Hengyi, watching her, smile too, his heart secretly filled with delight and pleasure.
She was indeed a carefree girl, able to laugh so heartily after only a moment’s worry when he pointed out that she possessed a unique treasure; such demeanor was indeed rare.
The journey from the county city to the manor in the suburbs was not far, and there were quite a few small villages along the way, almost all neighboring each other, and some even built large residences by the roadside, turning them into tea houses and restaurants for passing travelers to rest and enrich their pockets.
At this time of year, the millet had ripened, and the fields were golden with ripe rice, promising an imminent and plentiful harvest.
Xie Zhinuan loved such a world,
A life so different from her past fast-paced one, primitive and simple.
She, too, longed to own many fields and become a landlord.
She could even go into the fields to search for snails and catch mudfish.
Dig several large fish ponds, stock them with plenty of fish, and simply use a net to catch some whenever she fancied.
Upon arrival at the manor, Lady Lian earnestly introduced Xie Zhinuan around.
Xie Zhinuan chuckled lightly, “There’s no need. We’ll just take a look ourselves!”
She instructed Shani, along with Yin Suwen and Yin Zhe, to look around and inquire with the farmers about how the previous master treated them and whether they had enough to eat.
She, along with Lady Lian and Li Hengyi, wandered around, mainly along the clear stream, taking in its clarity and abundance of water.
Then, they proceeded to examine the back mountain where the extensive orchards lay, though they were too far away to see clearly, she suggested to Li Hengyi, “Let’s go up and take a look!”
“Alright!”
The two started their slow ascent towards the back mountain; Lady Lian wanted to follow, but Yuanbao stopped her, inquiring about the manor.
Yuanbao’s questions were piercingly astute, repeatedly rendering Lady Lian speechless as guilt sapped her confidence, and given Yuanbao’s assertive approach, Lady Lian eventually crumbled under the pressure.
“Ha!”
Yuanbao laughed aloud.
Since those people had come to her, he felt that Xie Zhinuan would definitely accept.
After all, such a manor, with ample land, a large orchard on the mountain, and many fruit trees, not to mention the clear stream, was all Xie Zhinuan desired, and she was not likely to pass up the opportunity.
“How many other manors like this are there?” asked Yuanbao.
“There are four more, plus several shops and residences in the county city. They would sell them if Miss Xie wishes!”
“And the price?” Yuanbao continued.
“Relatively low!”
Yuanbao nodded in acknowledgment.
The manor had no issues. Those people were willing to sell, primarily because they hoped to use Xie Zhinuan to connect with the esteemed King Han.
He understood.
And he believed that Xie Zhinuan would soon grasp this as well.
As Xie Zhinuan and Li Hengyi made their way to the back mountain orchard, they came across people working there.
About the fruit trees-since they were planted, crops could also be grown beneath them: leafy greens, millet, sweet potatoes, soybeans, all in neat patches.
Chapter 209