After dinner, they chatted for a while before retiring to their respective rooms for the night. Since they had caused a commotion during the day, Ye Zi’an did not bother her any further, and she slept peacefully through the night, waking up feeling refreshed and invigorated.
"I don’t need to put on makeup today. We’re not going anywhere, and it’s uncomfortable to be wearing makeup all day." She quickly spoke as she saw Ye Zi’an ready with an eyebrow pencil in his hand.
"Really? You look very nice with light makeup."
"So you mean I don’t look good without makeup?" Yang Chuxia raised her eyebrow and asked.
Ye Zi’an hurriedly put down the eyebrow pencil and laughed, "You look good in any way. Without makeup, you have a refreshing look, and with makeup, you have a refined look." He continued, "Since you’re not wearing makeup today, let me comb your hair first."
"Alright!" Combing her hair was no easy task for her. Initially, when she didn’t have a maid, she would simply tie her hair with a ribbon. Occasionally, Ms. Wang would help her with it. Later, when she got her own maids, they would help her with her hair. After their marriage, Ye Zi’an took over this task.
Ye Zi’an seemed to be getting better at it, and soon he finished a round bun. After inserting two hairpins made of hibiscus jade, she looked even more radiant.
"You look so beautiful!"
"You look great too!" They saw the deep affection in each other’s eyes through the bronze mirror.
After breakfast, Ye Zi’an went to the study, followed by Mu Shaoling.
Yang Chuxia did not plan to disturb the two, and as she recalled that it was now August 24th, the family’s sugarcane harvest would be in a few days. So, she called Xiu’er and Mingcui and Ming Liu, her maids.
"Ming Liu, stay at home. If the young master asks, just tell him I went to the sugarcane field. Mingcui and Xiu’er, come with me."
Hearing about going to the sugarcane field, Xiu’er brought a sickle and a basket.
Yang Chuxia laughed when she saw this, "It’s good to bring them along. I guess we can eat some by this time."
"That’s what I thought. In previous years, the sugarcane would ripen in September. Now it’s just a few days away from September, so it should be edible."
Then, she said to Yang Chuxia, "Ma’am, later, chop a few more stalks for the young master. Sugarcane is sectioned like bamboo, and it carries the same auspicious meaning."
Upon hearing this, Yang Chuxia realized that it was true. Bamboo represented promotions in rank, which was a good omen. Although she didn’t believe in it, as long as it involved Ye Zi’an, she was willing to believe it.
"You’re becoming smarter, you know. I never thought of that myself." Yang Chuxia laughed, "When the young master succeeds in his exam, I’ll reward you handsomely."
So, the group chatted and laughed on their way to the sugarcane field.
Today, they began to plant sugarcane in the entire field, as they finally had enough seeds. They’d eat a little each year and save the rest for planting in the following years. It took about two or three years before they had enough seeds to plant one or two acres. At the beginning of the year, Mu Shaofeng, their boss from the neighboring town, sent someone to the south to bring back more seeds for Yang Chuxia.
Now, the Yang Family had planted two acres, and Ye Zi’an had planted another two acres.
Since sugarcane was not native to Funan, it was a rare novelty, which is why the Yang Family had assigned two young men to watch over the field day and night.
Upon seeing Yang Chuxia coming, they hurriedly greeted her.
"Don’t mind us. We’re just taking a look." Yang Chuxia waved her hand at the two, then led Xiu’er and Mingcui to walk around the sugarcane field, examining it carefully.
The sugarcane had grown quite tall by now, and the leaves at the bottom had been stripped clean, revealing the purple skin inside, section by section.