Chapter 427 - Chapter 427: Country Woman
Chapter 427: Country Woman
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Chu Sihai understood the logic as soon as Zhou Jia said it. He cupped his hands at Zhou Jia happily and said, “Lord Zhou, I won’t delay you from accompanying Madam to the countryside to avoid the heat. I’ll enter the palace immediately to tell His Majesty the news.”
“Alright, take care.” Zhou Jia sent Chu Sihai to the door. Seeing Chu Sihai get into the carriage happily, he turned around and returned to the backyard.
Li Yu had already asked Xing Hua to distribute the lychees. When she saw Zhou Jia return, she smiled and said, “The Head Shopkeeper sent two baskets of lychees. I asked Ji Xiang to send some to Uncle, Ah Qing, and Zhao Cai.
Everyone, try it. I also asked Zhao Cai to send one to the old residence.”
Zhou Jia nodded and smiled. “Alright, we’ll set off now. If we delay any longer, the road will be too hot.”
“Alright, let’s set off now!”
Li Yu placed the remaining lychees in the basket and placed the apricot flowers on the ice basin before walking out.
Yang Yang was walking Xiao Bai and ran over. “Mother, aren’t we setting off? I can’t wait!”
Li Yu smiled and said, “Alright, go and bring Little Loach and the others. Wait for us at the second gate.”
Yang Yang turned around and ran. “Oh! Xiao Bai, let’s go!”
Li Yu left Nanny Yang to take care of the house. Zhou Jia helped Mr. Wen into the carriage. Yangyang, Little Loach, and the others got into the car. The group got into the carriage and headed towards Hengshan Town.
After leaving the capital and arriving at Hengshan Town, Mr. Wen looked at the dark green fields on both sides of the river and smiled. “It’s still cooler in the countryside.”
Ji Xiang pointed at the river and the shallow mountains that rose and fell. “Old
Master, it’s comfortable to live in a place with mountains and water.”
Mr. Wen narrowed his eyes and leaned against the carriage. “That’s not necessarily true. Some people like liveliness, while others like peace and quiet.
Everyone has their own preferences!”
The villagers of Wang Family Village watched as a group of five carriages drove into the village. Yangyang leaned against Zhou Jia and was sleeping soundly. Li Yu leaned against the window and watched as the carriages crossed the bridge and approached the manor in front.
When they were about to reach the manor, they saw that the green corn seedlings by the road were already half a foot tall. After they arrived at the entrance of the manor, Zhou Jia helped Li Yu out of the car.
Yangyang had already run to the carriage with Little Loach and the others. When the two of them got out of the car, Xiao Bai barked at Li Yu and his wife.
Li Yu got out of the car and looked at Little Loach and the others. She smiled and said, “It’s so cool here!”
Yangyang looked at Xiao Bai, who was having fun on the road and held Li Yu’s hand with a smile. “Mother, it’s so comfortable here. I can run around. Xiao Bai doesn’t have to stay at home anymore.”
Li Yu looked at the green rice field and nodded with a smile. “Yes! Get Uncle
Xiang to send you over on your next leave.”
Yangyang pouted and said, “Oh! We can only do it next time.”
Little Loach’s eyes lit up as he pointed at the ditch beside the road. “Young
Master, look, there’s a small ditch by the roadside. Let’s go fishing.” Yang Yang nodded in agreement. “Alright! We’ll go in later and find two fish buns.”
Li Yu and the others smiled as they watched the children discuss how to fish. When they entered the courtyard, they saw the grape rack by the well. The green grapes on the rack were like green gems.
Yangyang, Little Loach, and the others went under the trellis and looked up. They looked at the bunches of grapes and swallowed their saliva. Xiao Bai spun around under the trellis.
Xing Hua, Aunt Zhang, and Ji Xiang were busy moving the luggage into the backyard. Little Loach and the others hurriedly went up to help. When Yang Yang saw this, he also ran over to help carry the luggage in.
Zhou Jia helped the tired Mr. Wen to the backyard.
Li Yu stood in the courtyard and saw that the melon shelf built against the courtyard wall was covered in winter melon vines and pumpkin vines. There were also a few small green pumpkins growing on it and a few half-foot-long winter melons hanging under the vines.
There were also bean-horn vines on the wall. On the vines were clusters of light purple flowers. There were also peas, green beans, cucumbers, and lentils hanging on the vines. Below them were green rapeseed, cabbage, eggplant, chili, onions, and coriander. There were also a few stalks of patchouli planted by the side.
Li Yu lowered her head and smelled it. The rich fragrance emitted by the patchouli leaves made her want to go to the river and net some carp to eat.
Ji Xiang returned from the backyard and saw Li Yu standing in front of the melon stand. He smiled and said, “Madam, these were all transplanted from Tang Yong’s family and a few other families. The small rapeseed and cabbage are the seeds of Tang Yong’s family. The Tang Yong couple are good at work. Go and take a look at the backyard. There’s a garden with pear trees and persimmon trees. There’s also a grape trellis.”
Li Yu nodded and praised, “Yes! The vegetable garden is indeed set up well. Later, send some of the sugar and food you brought to the families who sent the vegetable seedlings.”
“Got it,” Ji Xiang agreed with a smile and carried the things away.
Mr. Wen sat on a stone bench in the backyard and said to Zhou Jia with a smile, “This manor is in a good location. It’s not far from the capital. The bad thing is that there are many mosquitoes in the bamboo forest. When I get up, I’ll cut some wormwood and smoke the surroundings.”
Zhou Jia looked at Mr. Wen and felt that he was more energetic than before. He said sadly, “I’ll accompany you later. If you like this place, stay here with Xiaoyu for a few more days. We’ll return to the city when the weather cools down.”
Mr. Wen heard Zhou Jia’s worry and turned to look at him. He smiled at him and said, “Xiao Xi, don’t worry. I’m still healthy! I still have to watch Yang’er get married! However, I have to advise you. Your father has been spoiled by your grandmother. He’s a little selfish and willful. He still doesn’t have the heart to harm others. If he can change some bad habits, don’t take the past to heart. Don’t regret it.”
Zhou Jia nodded. “Sir, don’t worry. Xiaoyu has already advised me. If he can stay out of vices, I’ll do my best to support him and let him have nothing to worry about.”
“Alright, it’s good that you can think it through. People say that with a virtuous wife, the husband doesn’t have much trouble. It’s your good fortune to be able to marry Xiaoyu.” Mr. Wen looked at Zhou Jia and smiled.
Zhou Jia nodded and smiled. “Yes, it might be God’s compensation for me.”
Xing Hua led Aunt Zhang to lay out the room and hang the curtains. Ji Xiang brought Little Loach and the others to carry the firewood into the kitchen. Old Madam Lin began to boil water and wash up.
Li Yu plucked some small rapeseed and cabbage and placed them in a basket.
She also picked some peas, green beans, a few cucumbers, and chili peppers. She filled a bamboo basket with eggplant and placed it in the sink by the well.
Xing Hua came out with a Shao Winnowing Basket and a wooden basin and said to Li Yu, “Madam, Granny Lin has boiled the bath water. Go wash up and change your clothes. Leave this to me.”
“Alright, ask Old Madam Yun to stir-fry a cucumber and dry-fried green beans. Cook the pork belly and peas together. Fish out the pork belly and cook it with green peppers. Prepare an eggplant with fish fragrance and put some patchouli in it. Make soup and stir-fry the small rapeseed and cabbage. Do whatever you like.”
Xing Hua replied with a smile, “Yes, Madam! Madam, you still like to eat these home-cooked dishes. I’ve never seen you say how you want to cook the dishes in the kitchen in the capital!”
Li Yu smiled. ‘Who asked your Madam to be a country bumpkin?” Xing Hua narrowed her eyes and smiled. “You’re a good-looking country woman..”