Feet Massage
On the first day of opening, the result was pretty good. Thinking that there would be more customers coming tomorrow, Shen Yanbei told Shen Laifu to oversee the kitchen and ensure the quality of the dishes and the speed of delivery. Shen Laifu responded and nodded one after another.
Everyone had been busy for a day, so they had to rest early.
The lights in the wing behind the restaurant were still on because Shen Yanbei was calculating today's selling account. Since today and tomorrow had special offers, he and Gu Changfeng must stay here for a while and would return to the village when the restaurant's business had been on track. Under the candlelight, a gentle and handsome young man was sitting at the table holding a pen to write on the account book and raised his head from time to time to say something to the man next to him. The candlelight seemed flared-up in the man's dark and quiet eyes, forming a vague little shadow.
After closing the account book, Shen Yanbei breathed a sigh of relief. Although the price of the meal was not high, there was no loss. After closing tomorrow, he had to make some adjustments to the restaurant's dishes according to the preferences of the people ordering.
"Finished? Now go wash and sleep?" Gu Changfeng asked, with a rare hint of urgency in his eyes.
Shen Yanbei didn't notice it. He looked at the hourglass and nodded. Gu Changfeng went out to the kitchen to get hot water in. Putting the tub on the ground, Gu Changfeng squatted down, preparing to take off Shen Yanbei's shoes and socks.
Shen Yanbei was startled, his feet shrank. "Don't!"
Gu Changfeng raised his head and looked directly at him. "The doctor said, using hot water to soak your feet every night before going to bed is good for your body."
He went to see the doctor again today. The doctor said that Shen Yanbei's cold hands and feet were due to physical weakness and the bloodstream wasn't smooth. So he had to soak his feet with hot water before going to bed and massaged the acupoints to help him sleep. Moreover, he had now recovered his internal strength, if he used his internal strength to massaging Shen Yanbei, the result was much more effective.
"I'll do it myself!" Shen Yanbei quickly took off his shoes and socks and put his feet into the water.
"Ugh!" The water was a little hot, Shen Yanbei couldn't help taking a breath.
Suddenly, broad palms with slightly thin calluses held his feet. Shen Yanbei was startled. It turned out that Gu Changfeng was about to wash his feet!
"Don't..." Shen Yanbei was so scared that he wanted to pull his feet out, but Gu Changfeng held it tightly.
"I'll do it myself!" Shen Yanbei hurriedly pressed his shoulder.
"The doctor said to massage the acupoints on the soles of the feet." Gu Changfeng said seriously and did not mean to let go.
"I..." Shen Yanbei couldn't speak properly.
Gu Changfeng lowered his head and carefully washed Shen Yanbei's feet. Because he wore shoes and socks every day, Shen Yanbei's feet were not dirty at all. His feet were white, tender, and delicate, his toes were round, and his fingernails were slightly pink. It was a bit cute.
Gu Changfeng looked attentively. He rubbed it carefully, not letting go of every span of skin.
Shen Yanbei was holding his face, his face flushed unexpectedly. He didn't think he was being insulted or embarrassed because Gu Changfeng washed his feet, but...
He got hard down here! Being touched by that big hand, his whole body became hot like a being burned, and the place under his body became restless! Shen Yanbei wailed in his heart, feeling a bit ashamed. While Lying on the same bed with his wife, he didn't get hard when he touched his favorite muscles. But now he actually got hard just because his feet were being touched by his wife! What the hell?
But Shen Yanbei no longer felt ashamed the next moment.
"Hahaha, what are you...what are you..." Shen Yanbei laughed without warning.
Gu Changfeng looked at him apologetically. "The doctor said that I have to press the acupoint hard, just bear with it.."
"It's okay, you...you continue..." Shen Yanbei smiled and said that it was okay, but he cried silently in his heart.
Went to hell! His thing down here became soft after laughing!
Gu Changfeng pressed the foot hard according to the position the old doctor said in his memory.
"Hahaha..." Shen Yanbei fell on the bed covering his mouth. There was a steady warm stream pouring in from the soles of his feet, flowing throughout his limbs, his whole body became warm and comfortable, but it was too itchy. He couldn't help himself not to laugh!
"Wife?" Shen Yanbei smiled with tears flowing out. What kind of physique was this? He got hard because of being touched on the soles of feet and laughed hard when being massaged on the acupoints?!
"Bear it again for a while," Gu Changfeng said solemnly. It took at least a quarter of an hour for each massage to be effective.
"...All right." Shen Yanbei was lying on the bed unloved.
...
When Gu Changfeng released his hand and took a cloth towel to dry the soles of Shen Yanbei's feet, Shen Yanbei was greatly relieved.
"Alright."
Gu Changfeng stood up and was about to pour the water out. But as soon as he looked up, he saw the young man with messy clothes and red eyes lying there without paying attention to his image. The young man's hair was scattered on the bed. The young man's fair and handsome face was full of healthy blushes, and the clear eyes now were misty and inexplicable. Meanwhile, the lips that always liked to kiss him...
"Wife..." Shen Yanbei shouted hoarsely, laughing lazily when he watched him. He had to admit that after being massaged by his wife, his whole body was more comfortable!
Gu Changfeng's heart jumped. He was back to his sense and immediately turned around in a flustered expression.
Shen Yanbei smirked, laid down, and waited for his wife to go back to bed.
Gu Changfeng had been out for a long time. When he came back, Shen Yanbei fought with his eyelids.
"Wife..." Shen Yanbei grabbed the person and hugged him, touching his favorite muscle before closing his eyes in peace.
Gu Changfeng didn't dare to move. Until clear breathing sounded in his ears, he turned his head to look at Shen Yanbei. The young man closed his eyes and his face was peaceful. Shen Yanbei, who was asleep, looked more childish and softer than when he was awake.
Gu Changfeng's eyes gradually softened. He carefully took out the hand that was under his shirt. Shen Yanbei slept deeply without noticing it. After covering Shen Yanbei with a quilt, Gu Changfeng opened the door without hesitation and walked into the night...
The sand in the hourglass dropped little by little, time passed by. The young man who was sleeping soundly suddenly frowned and opened his eyes reluctantly.
The doctor said that he lacked blood causing his body to become weak, so he had to make it up. His good chef, Shen Laifu, showed his concern and stewed an old hen soup for him. Besides, his wife always watched him so he had to eat two full bowls!
Shen Yanbei, who was still asleep, almost couldn't open his eyes. Every he waked up, he usually reached his hand next to him...
Empty!
Shen Yanbei suddenly widened his eyes. He looked sideways just to find that his wife was gone!
But when he touched the bed, there was no temperature at all!
Shen Yanbei was fully awake. Where did his wife go?
When Gu Changfeng was finally back, the room was still silent. The young man still slept and breathed smoothly. The stone in his heart fell to the ground, Gu Changfeng used his internal strength to release the cold on his body. After that, he gently climbed onto the bed. But as soon as he laid down, an arm stretched out beside him, and suddenly he was trapped by two arms on his every side.
"Where did you go?"
In the quiet night, Shen Yanbei's soft words suddenly sounded in his ears. Gu Changfeng was surprised, his whole body stiff like iron.
Shen Yanbei's eyes were soft as usual, but Gu Changfeng didn't dare to look at him.
"I'm very worried about you." Shen Yanbei touched the man's face. There was no light in the room, so he only vaguely saw the man's lips tightly pressed.
Shen Yanbei's gentle voice soothed the flustered heart. Gu Changfeng's eyelashes trembled before slowly raising his eyes.
He had a deep inner strength, seeing things at night was not a problem. He could clearly see Shen Yanbei's worried eyes. He felt guilt.
"It's getting late, let's sleep." Shen Yanbei hugged the person and yawned. Suddenly felt the heat on his lips, it was Gu Changfeng who lowered his head and kissed him awkwardly.
The man's kiss was cautious and flattering, he even stuck out his tongue to tease him.
Shen Yanbei's eyes narrowed slightly. His wife, who was so restrained and shy, seldom took the initiative to do such a thing, unless...
Shen Yanbei didn't ask, he just laid there enjoying his wife's kiss. But Gu Changfeng finally couldn't bear it and spoke first.
"I... I went outside to frighten those two people..."
"It was the people who humiliated you this day."
"After Li Juren left in a carriage, I finally had a chance to start. In the alley, I put the one named Li Sheng into a cloth bag. The rest of the man was scared and fainted..."
He learned from the shopkeeper Liu that Li Sheng loved to go to the flower house for fun, and he often was picked by his servant when he was there until late. Since Wang Cheng was his partner in crime, he must be in there too. When he and Shen Yanbei were going to see the doctor in the afternoon, he happened to see Li Sheng leaning back on the second floor playing with a woman. Thinking of what the shopkeeper Liu said, he investigated where Li Sheng usually passed by to go home. So after Shen Yanbei fell asleep, he went out to intercept him. Things went smoothly unexpectedly, but he didn't expect that Shen Yanbei really waited for him!
"These people are acting so arrogantly. They will definitely make trouble in the restaurant in the future. Since you left the restaurant, I don't want any mistakes, so..."
The man's voice was faint and full of apologies. Shen Yanbei's heart softened and felt dumbfounded. "Have you hit someone?"
"No." Gu Changfeng whispered. "Practicing martial arts is to strengthen the body and protect the home and the country, not to bully the weak. But I'm still so angry..."
Your uncle, why was his wife so cute! Shen Yanbei only felt that his heart was about to melt.
"Husband, I was wrong." Gu Changfeng was like a child who had done something wrong and was waiting for the sentence and seemed willing to be punished.
Shen Yanbei was very distressed and hurriedly kissed his lips. "I'm not angry."
Hearing this, Gu Changfeng's eyes suddenly lit up.
"If it wasn't for my weak body and have no martial arts skills, I would have long wanted to beat them in a sack!"
Gu Changfeng opened his mouth, trying to say something, but at last, he only said "um".
Shen Yanbei smiled and said, "Okay, then! You have to tell me what you are going to do next time, or I will be worried and uncomfortable!"
"Alright."
The room was back to be silent, Shen Yanbei hugged the person contentedly and fell asleep quickly. While Gu Changfeng couldn't calm down for a long time.
Didn't his husband pamper him too much?
Put the Duck
On the second day of the restaurant's opening, as expected by Shen Yanbei, they had more guests than yesterday. It was because many people took advantage of the last day of the special offer to try the breakfast menu in this restaurant after listening to the others saying that the dishes were indeed so delicious.
Shen Yanbei and Gu Changfeng did not sit in the private room upstairs this time but chose to sit in a corner. With a pot of hot porridge and a few baskets of dim sum, the two ate their breakfast slowly, listening to the chatter of the customers next to them.
"Hey, have you heard?" The man in the front seat spoke with full joy. "The eldest son of Li Yuanwai, Li Sheng, and his friend Wang Cheng ran into a ghost last night!"
"Hit a ghost? Hit a female ghost?" The middle-aged man opposite him laughed teasingly. "Which woman who had been bullied by him before turned into a ghost coming to him for revenge?"
"What are you talking about? It's still early!" The thin man beside the middle-aged man said unsatisfied.
The old man slowly ate the porridge and said, "If they didn't hit the female ghost, probably 80% of the reason is that they have committed too many crimes."
"This makes sense!" The middle-aged man took it seriously and stuffed a shrimp dumpling in his mouth with a very enjoyable expression.
"Hey, stop guessing and listen to me!" The man who provoked the topic was busy talking and forgot to eat. He hurriedly stretched out his chopsticks to put the last piece of steamed ribs in his bowl.
"Then speak!" The thin man glared at him and stretched out his chopsticks to clamp the meatballs.
"When Huang lǎo-gē was patrolling the street last night, he saw two people lying on the ground in the alley. It scared him! He courageously stepped forward to take a look and found that it was Li Sheng and Wang Cheng! And they are still breathing!" The man spoke in measured tones. The rich expressions and exaggerated gestures on his face resembled an experienced storyteller.
The guests at the other table looked at them curiously and their ears pricked up.
"Huang lǎo-gē heaved a sigh of relief. After smelling the heavy alcohol on the two of them, he thought that those two must have had a happy life in Flower House!" The man paused and continued, "Huang lǎo-gē was afraid that if these two people slept in this deep alley, something might happen. So he kindly woke them up. And Guess what?"
The man spoke happily. The place where he paused very hung their appetite.
"What will happen then? Hurry up!" others urged.
Seeing everyone staring at him eagerly, the man said with satisfaction, "Suddenly Li Sheng knelt on the ground while pulling Huang lǎo-gē's trousers, wailed like ghosts and howled like wolves: Hero spare my life! Huang lǎo-gē was shocked by this sound which even overstepped the sound of the night watches* and wooden clappers!"
* In the old days, playing clappers or gongs to watch the night and announce the time
"And when Wang Cheng woke up, he yelled for help and hurriedly got up from the ground and ran away as if being chased by a dog. As a result, he didn't look well around and his head hit the wall!" The man "hissed" and raised his eyebrows. "So he fainted again! "
The crowd laughed loudly. The man was very proud and glanced at everyone. "This situation confused Huang lǎo-gē. He hurriedly called two people. Li Sheng was very scared, always muttering that someone was going to kill him. He wanted to report it to the local government. After Wang Cheng woke up again, with a look of horror on his face, he said that there was someone who stood behind him and intended to kill him. Also clamoring to report to the official.
"But this is strange!" The man asked everyone, "If they are really gonna be killed, why are they still alive?"
"That's true!"
"It must be because they have done many bad things, so there is a ghost in their heart!"
The man nodded with deep approval. "Li Yuanwai* must think so in his heart. He immediately reprimanded those two not to mess around anymore, saying that their clothes were intact and there were no signs of injuries on their bodies. It must be because they drank so much. Also, they are not allowed to talk about this anymore."
*an address for a rich landowner, etc., somewhat similar to esquire.
"Li Sheng and Wang Cheng were helpless and could only go back to each house. Li's Family invited a doctor over this morning, Wang's Family also did the same. But Hey... The two of them fell ill together!"
"They deserve it!"
Good things did not go out, bad things spread thousands of miles. This county was not big and there were only a few that have fame and prestige. Every time a sour wind blew* through, everyone would know it fast. In a blink of an eye, people started to talk about it.
*fēngchuīcǎodòng: a sign of disturbance or trouble.
Shen Yanbei took a sip of tea and looked up at Gu Changfeng on the opposite side, who looked a little embarrassed. He chuckled lightly. "It seems that these two people have done many bad things to commit public anger. What you did could be regarded as a sigh of relief for everyone."
Gu Changfeng didn't speak, his face turned red.
"They deserve it!" Someone snorted suddenly.
Shen Yanbei followed the source of the sound and found that it was the round-faced young servant who was speaking on the street yesterday. Now he was standing in front of him.
The waiter apologized. "I'm really sorry, Dear Customer. The private room on the second floor is full, and there is no unoccupied seat downstairs. You two have to wait a bit."
Su Qingze looked around, unexpectedly meeting Shen Yanbei's gaze. Shen Yanbei smiled politely. The young man was slightly surprised. His gaze fell on Gu Changfeng, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Shen Yanbei. "..."
Su Qingze walked over quickly, his fleshy round face was full of smiles. "Dàgē, we meet again!"
Gu Changfeng was also a little surprised. He nodded to him.
Su Qingze smiled brightly. "Can we sit here with you two?"
When Ming'an saw this, he knew that his old habit started again. He hurriedly persuaded. "This might not be good. Young Master, how about we just pack the dim sum to take home!"
Su Qingze ignored him. He only looked at Gu Changfeng.
Gu Changfeng and Shen Yanbei looked at each other. Shen Yanbei smiled and said, "We've finished our breakfast. So you can take it."
After speaking, they both got up and gave their positions. The waiter hurriedly cleared the table.
Su Qingze was a little disappointed. He looked at Gu Changfeng eagerly. Ming'an was afraid that he would ask again, so he quickly thanked Shen Yanbei.
Shen Yanbei smiled slightly and pulled Gu Changfeng. The scorching sight to Gu Changfeng didn't disappear until he walked out of the lobby.
"Why does he want to be like me?" Gu Changfeng couldn't understand Su Qingze's thoughts.
"Because you look good!" Shen Yanbei stared at him and smiled. People relied on clothes, horses, and saddles. Gu Changfeng now wore a tailored indigo gown with powerful arms and a thin waist. It was tall and mighty. So handsome!
Gu Changfeng's ears were hot and gave a soft "um".
Shen Yanbei was stunned. Although he was still shy, his eyes were calm. He obviously no longer cared about his body look. Shen Yanbei was secretly overjoyed and smiled more comfortably.
On the third day of the restaurant's opening, the passenger flow was significantly smaller. The workers breathed a sigh of relief and cheered up to greet the guests. The shopkeeper had told them early that the customers who come to the door today were probably the ones who would come frequently in the future. So they must not treat them with cold-shoulders. It was a decent thing to work in the Tongfu restaurant, and the owner was also generous. They also hoped to work here for a long time, so everyone worked hard.
A few days later, the restaurant business gradually got on the right track. Shen Yanbei settled the selling accounts, excluding the capital sum and labor, he earned about two to three hundred taels of silver in a month. Consumption in small counties was not high, so this income was already very good. With a stable income, Shen Yanbei breathed a sigh of relief. He let the shopkeeper handled the restaurant and returned to Shenjia Village with Gu Changfeng.
"Shīfu, Gōngzǐ, you are back!" Zhou Yu said in surprise when he saw the two.
Since becoming Shen Yanbei's book boy, Zhou Yu took the initiative to change his call towards Shen Yanbei. Suddenly divided into classes, Shen Yanbei still was not used to it. But everyone acted naturally and right about this matter. Besides that, he was not good at expressing his opinions.
"Thanks for your hard work." It had been several days since they went out, Zhou Yu had been taking care of everything at home.
Zhou Yu scratched his head. "It's no big deal." Whether he was Gu Changfeng's apprentice or Shen Yanbei's book boy, he took care of everything for granted. Since a kid like him couldn't do anything to earn money, so most of them usually helped their family. But he was different because Shen Yanbei gave him monthly money!
No need to pay tuition and still got subsidies, which he couldn't even dare to imagine!
"Did you practice your basic skills well these few days?" Gu Changfeng asked.
Zhou Yu hurriedly replied, "Yes Shīfu. I always do an hour's horse step every day!"
Apart from Zhou Yu and Shen Laifu, only the village chief knew about his restaurant in the county seat. Since they weren't at home these few days, if someone asked about them, they didn't know what Zhou You said to them.
The fields were thriving and the crops were growing well. The seedlings had grown to a height of half a meter, and the fish seeds in the fields had grown a finger thick.
Gu Changfeng nodded. Shen Yanbei smiled and said, "Well, since we are all back, let the kid take some rest." After saying that, he gave the snacks that he brought back from the restaurant to Zhou Yu. "Let Yu Po* taste it. You can come back tomorrow."
*old woman.
"Thank you, Gōngzǐ!" Zhou Yu took the snack, his eyes were astringent. Yu Po was getting older, and her health was getting worse. So her appetite was not good. But last time he took home the dim sum that Shen Yanbei gave, Yu Po liked it very much. She said that he was a filial kid and always left the delicious ones to her.
"Go." Shen Yanbei patted him on the shoulder.
When the young kid had left, Shen Yanbei hugged Changfeng and said, "We're finally home. I feel most comfortable when we're at home!" At least the bed at home was big and wide enough for the two big men to roll over!
Gu Changfeng responded in agreement. The county was indeed busier than the village, but this was their home.
After tidying up things a bit, the two went to the fields to take a look. They met some people in the village on the road, they all laughed and teased Shen Yanbei: You all are back? The playful eyes made Shen Yanbei a little confused, but he still responded with a smile.
It was time to let the ducklings live in the field, so Shen Yanbei asked to send the ducklings he ordered. Since There were a lot of ducks for the eight-mu paddy field, the duck sellers placed them in four big baskets and walked into Shenjia Village. The furry and cute ducklings caused the children in the village to scream and laugh all the way to Shen Yanbei's house to watch the fun. They heard that Shen Yanbei bought them, so many people came to watch.
"Shen Yan, why are you buying so many ducklings?" Aunt Li asked the doubts in her heart for everyone.
"To raise ducks." Shen Yanbei carefully inspected the ducks he ordered. After being satisfied with the goods, he completed the payment. These little ducks were big and sturdy. All of them were shouting vigorously.
"To raise ducks?" Aunt Li was taken aback. She glanced at the yard of Shen Yanbei's house. "With so many ducks, where will you keep it?"
Shen Yanbei smiled and said, "Not here. I'll put them on the field." If so many ducks were kept in the backyard, it would be so noisy. Even if it wasn't about the noise, you would be smoked to death by the smell!
Aunt Li's eyes widened. Thinking she had misheard, she couldn't help raising her voice. "Put it in your fields?"
Shen Yanbei nodded. What he was doing now was fish, paddy, and duck symbiosis ecological breeding. His paddy fields were at the very edge, and he had also built some wooden sheds on the side. So the ducks were kept in the paddy field during the day and stayed in the shed at night.
Hearing that, Aunt Li's expression was weird. She looked at Shen Yanbei as if she saw a fool. "Don't you put your fish in your ricefields? If you put the ducks there, won't they eat the fish?"
Raising fish in a paddy field was an unfamiliar method that they never heard of. Everyone was waiting to see Shen Yanbei falling into the joke. Unexpectedly, now they saw another even funnier joke!
Immediately a young man sneered and said, "Shen Xiucai, do you not remember that you put fishes in your fields? Hahahaha..."
Shen Yanbei smiled without replying. Before the results came out, it would be meaningless to say more.
"Shen Yan, you're a scholar who reads honestly. What you are doing is going to spoil the seeds. Don't you feel guilty about your parents? You should rent the fields!" A voice said strangely.
Everyone saw that it was Shen Youcai who spoke. Shen Youcai looked at the little ducks and said unclearly, "This thing costs a few cents apiece. You bought so much, so it must spend a lot of money? In case of an accident, wouldn't all the money be lost?"
"I understand Uncle Láo Youcai's worry." Shen Yanbei said with a smile, "I went to worship my parents at the Qingming Festival and told them about what I did. They said that I could do it without worry. They will watch me from the sky and bless me."
Shen Youcai's face suddenly hard to look at.
"Shen Yan, you have so many ducks, give two to your uncle?" The husband of Shen Lǎo's Second Family looked at the fluffy ducklings with enthusiasm. The ducklings that Shen Yanbei bought all had white hairs. In two months, they could be slaughtered and eaten. This growth rate was much faster than raising chickens!
Aunt Li smiled and looked at him. "This little duck is six cents apiece. It doesn't charge you for shipping costs because you're from the same village. It will be sold for you at the original price. Do you want one or two?"
These words reminded everyone of someone who asked Shen Yanbei for a pair of little chicken cubs and ducklings a few days ago. The gaze that looked at Shen Lǎo's Second Family couldn't help but be difficult to describe.
Such a cute and pitiful woman even couldn't get two ducks. As old Shuānger, where did your confidence come from that Shen Xiucai would give it to you?
Shen Lǎo's Second Family also remembered this. His old face flushed red, he gave Aunt Li a fierce gaze.
Under the gazes of everyone who took pleasure in other people's misfortune, or under optimistic and questioning eyes, Shen Yanbei only waved his hand and drove the ducks into the fields.
The ducklings that have just entered the water were swimming among the seedlings in a novel way. They quack happily, like fishes in the water.
Way of making a living
After Shen Yanbei put ducks in his own paddy field. Because of Aunt Li's bighorn, within an hour the whole village knew about it. The village chief, Shen Dezhong, rushed out when he heard the wind. He originally wanted to persuade Shen Yanbei to not being impulsive. But when he arrived at the fields, Shen Yanbei, Gu Changfeng, and Zhou Yu were sticking wooden stakes in the periphery of the paddy field and then surrounding them with fishing nets.
It seemed like this was not a joke. Shen Dezhong muttered to himself. He hurriedly walked over to take a look. Oh my heaven! A group of tender yellow ducks in the field was pecking around in the seedlings. Seeing that the fish seeds in the water were about to fall into the duck's mouth, Shen Dezhong was so distressed that he could only pat his thigh.
"Too foolish! Too foolish!"
"Uncle Zhong? Why are you here?" Shen Yanbei clapped his hands and walked over.
"Shen Yan, even if you raise fish in the fields, why do you still put the ducks in?" Shen Dezhong said angrily, "If you want to raise ducks, there are so many bamboo forests next to the village. You also are not short of that few taels of silver. It's better to buy a piece of that land and raise it there!"
Shen Yanbei was stunned. He asked Shen Dezhong, "How big is the forest? How much does it cost per mu?"
Shen Dezhong said unhappily, "It's very cheap! One or two silver an acre!"
There were so many unowned bamboo forests around the village. Villagers usually went there to dig bamboo shoots or cut bamboo. No one was stupid enough to spend money to buy a piece of bamboo land that couldn't be planted at all. That was why the price of bamboo land was very cheap.
Shen Yanbei pondered. He said with a smile, "Then I really have to buy a few acres. If Uncle Lao Zhong has time, take me there to see."
Shen Dezhong said, "There is no need for another day, I will take you there now. So you can raise the ducks there!"
Shen Yanbei shook his head. "For this bamboo grove, I have other uses. This duck is raised here."
"You kid..." Shen Dezhong was so angry that his beard was blown.
"My husband doesn't play around. So you don't need to worry, Village Chief."
The man's calm voice rang in his ears. As soon as Shen Dezhong turned his head, he met Gu Changfeng's dark eyes, which were full of trust in Shen Yanbei.
Shen Dezhong frowned, thinking of the piles and pieces that Shen Yanbei had made these days, and seeing Shen Yanbei's calm and relaxed appearance, he sighed and said, "Shen Yan, tell me, what are you going to do?"
"Nothing. Just fight for a time difference."
Shen Yanbei asked Shen Dezhong to look at the field. Those finger-thick fish seeds occasionally swam by the ducklings, and the little ducklings pecked it excitedly. But due to the big mouth of the ducks, the little ducks couldn't eat it at all.
Shen Dezhong's eyes widened slightly. He understood in an instant. He was worried that the duck would eat the fish, but these little ducks actually couldn't catch the fishes. While the ducks were growing up, the fishes were also growing...
"The water in the fields is from the Dongjiang River. So there will always be small fish, shrimps, snails, and crabs in the water. If these ducks are kept in the fields, they do not need to be fed. They can eat the pests in the fields. Also, they can help to loosen the soil for the rice. Their feces can also add fertilizer to the rice fields."
Shen Dezhong suddenly realized, but he still had doubts in his heart. "What about the paddy? The ducks can eat the rice too..." Then he stopped suddenly and laughed. "At that time the duck had grown up enough to be slaughtered!"
Shen Yanbei smiled slightly. "Yes. At that time, I'll sell the ducks. After the rice is harvested, release the water, and then fish..."
"The fish raised in this rice field is tight, heavy, and delicious, while the duck is plump and sweet. Whether it's grilled or boiled, it's a good choice!"
Shen Dezhong was completely convinced. His eyes turned to be different when he looked at Shen Yanbei.
How a scholar whose every word he said hit the nail on the head could do farming so well?
But…
It might sound exciting. But whether it would really work depended on the harvest.
At this time, a group of people slowly walked over from the ridge. The one who led looked young and gentle. He was wearing an azure long shirt with narrow sleeves. A broad-brimmed sapphire silk ribbon with auspicious cloud was tied around the waist, with a black jade tied on it. Next to the young man was a middle-aged man with a Confucian hat, a folding fan, and an ink-colored robe. The two looked around and talked as they walked. An elderly man with a respectful manner followed them, answering the young man's questions from time to time.
When the three of them arrived in the field, the old man saw Shen Dezhong at a glance and called out from a distance. "Lǎo Zhong!"
Shen Dezhong looked back. The fine lines on the corners of his eyes squeezed when he smiled. "Lǎo Guo, you are here?"
The old man said something to the young man before answering Shen Dezhong. "Just come out for a walk!"
Shen Dezhong smiled and glanced at the two people beside him. When he glanced over the middle-aged man, his eyes changed slightly. Then he looked at the cultured young man, his eyes flickered.
"Borough Chief." Shen Yanbei approached, smiled, and joined his hands together in salute. He was Guo Changmao, the head of these ten miles and eight townships. Last time, he and Shen Dezhong went to the county government to complete Gu Changfeng's household registration.
The old man stroked his beard, nodded in response, and turned to introduce him to the young man. "This is Shen Yan, a Master Xiucai of Shenjia Village." He also introduced them to Shen Yanbei and others. "This is Li Gongzi. Li Gongzi wants to appreciate the farmland scenery. So I will show him around."
The visitor was full of demeanor and prestige. Shen Yanbei smiled and gave a literati greeting by joining his hands together in salute. "Li Gōngzǐ."
Li Gōngzǐ nodded slightly. His eyes fell on the lively ducks in the fishing nets, he asked with interest, "Why are ducks put in the fields?" Upon closer inspection, there were still fish in the rice fields.
"Li Gōngzǐ, you may find it new!" Shen Dezhong smiled with a proud tone. "This method of raising fish, rice, and duck together is Shen Yan's idea!"
He immediately explained the principles of putting fish, rice, and duck in one place together. His plausible appearance seemed to have proved that this polyculture method had successfully increased production and achieved a good harvest.
Shen Yanbei raised his eyebrows, feeling strange in his heart. This village chief was just half-trusted, why did he boast him up now?
Li Gongzi nodded as he listened. "This method is promising!"
"No." Shen Yanbei smiled embarrassedly.
Li Gōngzǐ looked straight at Shen Yanbei. "This is a good method. But have you ever thought about how to solve so many ducks?" The duck here was small in size, and the meat was too firm, and still smelled ugly. So it wasn't delicious. That was why most local farmers preferred to raise chickens.
What the other party meant that it would be useless if they raised these ducks but couldn't sell them.
Shen Yanbei sternly said, "These ducks are selected white ducks, which are better than the domestic ducks. Also, the ducks that are raised in the rice fields have better taste and more fleshy. Besides that, they grow so fast and can lay eggs in three months. Those eggs also can be marinated."
"It means that we can sell these ducks! Even if it can't, he still can bring them to the restaurant!" Shen Dezhong added.
"Oh?" Li Gōngzǐ was a little confused.
Shen Dezhong continued, "The Tongfu restaurant in the town actually was opened by Shen Yan and his Fu Lang."
Li Gōngzǐ frowned slightly. The borough chief Guo Changmao looked at Shen Yanbei in surprise. "You run that restaurant?" In the past few days, many villagers who went to the town to do business said that there was a new restaurant in the county named Tongfu Restaurant. They described the taste exaggeratedly, which made him also want to try.
Shen Yanbei turned his head to glance at Gu Changfeng, who still put the fishing net in. He gave a reasonable explanation.
"That was for my husband. When we got married, we didn't do any ceremonies. I felt guilty about it so I wanted to compensate him."
Borough chief Guo followed his gaze and looked at Gu Changfeng, wondering in his heart. Rumors about Shen Xiucai that had changed his temperament and even her preferences had been changed were really true!
Li Gōngzǐ raised his brow, with an appreciation in his eyes. "You have a good idea." He and his wife ever came to Tongfu Restaurant for drinking tea, and the environment and food were indeed very good.
"You value me too much. I just don't want my husband to work too hard." Shen Yanbei smiled shyly.
Li Gōngzǐ wondered what kind of Fu Lang that could make Shen Yanbei so affectionate. So when Gu Changfeng walked to Shen Yanbei and talked to him, Li Gōngzǐ was stunned and couldn't help but look more at Gu Changfeng.
"It's done."
"Thank you." Shen Yanbei smiled and said to Gu Changfeng, "This is Li Gōngzǐ."
Gu Changfeng nodded lightly.
Li Gongzi didn't say a word. But the look in his eyes was a little puzzled when he saw Gu Changfeng.
Why did it feel like he had ever seen this person?
But where exactly was it?
"Why don't we go now?" Borough Chef Guo asked.
Li Gōngzǐ retracted his gaze and nodded.
When Li Gōngzǐ and others left, Shen Yanbei directly asked Shen Dezhong, "Uncle Zhong, where does Li Gōngzǐ come from?"
Shen Dezhong was surprised, "How do you know?"
Shen Yanbei smiled without saying a word. Shen Dezhong had to say, "Last time I went to the county, I saw the man next to Li Gōngzǐ at the county government office. It is said that he is a new secretary..." He praised Shen Yanbei in such a way because he hoped that Shen Yanbei could make a name in front of these nobles.
He was accompanied by Elder Li and the new private assistant. Also, his surname was Li.
"The new county magistrate is named Li." Shen Yanbei thought to himself. This county magistrate did unannounced visits to the civil society after he took the position. He didn't look like a corrupt official...
Li Zhiyuan, who was walking in the front, asked the assistant in a low voice. "What do you think of Shen Xiucai?"
"Clever, humble, and polite. It's just... easily be immersed in love."
Li Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head. "This is not a bad thing."
Thinking of Li Zhiyuan and his wife's ups and downs in love history, the secretary sneered and nodded hurriedly.
"Not judge people by appearance, true feelings between husband and wife, and young with ideas..." Li Zhiyuan suddenly stopped speaking.
He finally remembered! When he encountered a robber on his way to the capital to rush for the exam, a tall young man saved him!
But this village was more than a thousand miles away from the capital, also he was a Shuānger...
Perhaps they only looked similar?
Li Zhiyuan was thinking of it with emotion. It was all thanks to that young man's help, otherwise, he would not be able to catch up with the exam, nor could marry his beloved. Also, he probably couldn't be here.
Since he didn't know where the benefactor was, he couldn't thank him.
Zhou Yu stayed in the field to watch the ducks. Gu Changfeng packed up the tools and went home, while Shen Yanbei followed Shen Dezhong to see the bamboo forest.
This bamboo forest's edge couldn't be seen at a glance. The young green and dark green intertwined, tier upon tier. The wind whizzed by, and the bamboo leaves surged like a wave. Each wave pushing at the one ahead, to place faraway. The warm spring sunshine shone into the bamboo forest, the scattered leaves fell on the shoulders. Shen Yanbei raised his eyes to look around. The bamboos were vigorous and steady. Thick fallen leaves fell to the ground, which left a creaking sound when they were stepped. He looked down at the ground, there were a lot of insects in the rotten leaves, and the soil was moist and dark. When he dug it, he could see earthworms.
"Uncle Zhong, I want to buy ten acres of this bamboo land."
"Do you really want to buy?" Shen Dezhong's eyes widened. He just said it casually, but he didn't expect Shen Yanbei to be so serious.
"Of course. This bamboo forest is pretty good." Shen Yanbei said, touching a thick bamboo. It was a pity that he didn't bring a hatchet, so he couldn't make a bowl of bamboo rice for his wife to taste at noon.
Shen Dezhong looked at him doubly. "What did you buy for?"
"To raise chickens." Thinking about the tender and smooth taste of bamboo chicken, Shen Yanbei was about to start wriggling to make trouble.
"Raising chickens?" Shen Dezhong's face darkened. "Shen Yan, Enke will be opened next year. You are a scholar. Why are you always thinking about earning money instead of putting your mind on studying?"
"Uncle Zhong, pen, ink, paper, and inkstone are so expensive. If I don't have money, how can I buy all of it?" Shen Yanbei expressed helplessness.
"This..." Shen Dezhong didn't know what to say for a while. It was true that it spent a lot of money on studying. Besides that, there was no elder in his family now... But it still couldn't be acceptable if he always thought about that all the time.
Seeing that the old man's complexion was not so good, Shen Yanbei quickly comforted him. "Uncle Zhong, I understand your painstaking efforts. Don't worry, I will study hard."
"It's good if you understand." Shen Dezhong said earnestly, "Once again, don't be reluctant to tell your Uncle Zhong if you need something. The villagers are also happy to help."
"Then I won't be reluctant. If I really raise chickens, my Fu Lang will be too busy if he manages it alone. Uncle Zhong, help me find two honest villagers to help raise chickens!"
Shen Dezhong. "..."
I want to help him
"Why are you here?"
As soon as Shen Yanbei entered the door, he saw a young man with a fleshy face squatting in his yard. The young man was feeding his rabbit with a leaf of vegetables.
Smiling at Shen Yanbei, Su Qingze said without any guilty conscience. "I just happened to meet Gu Dàgē when my family and I went out for a walk. It must be because we are destined to meet each other! Gu Dàgē even invited me to drink a glass of water."
Ming'an smiled stiffly on the side. Young Master! It was obvious that you, without shame, followed someone else's Fu Lang to their home and stuck to him like glue.
Shen Yanbei didn't break it and went straight into the house.
Gu Changfeng was sitting in the kitchen choosing vegetables. Shen Yanbei washed his hands and took a small chair to sit next to him.
"How can they be here?" He understood so well that his wife would not let a stranger coming to their house casually, even if the other party used both hard and soft tactics.
Gu Changfeng's dark eyes were full of seriousness. "I actually want to help him." Although it might be impossible to have a body like him, that young boy was different.
When he met Su Qingze on the way home, that boy was flushed and sweaty but he insisted on walking forward. His little servant was so anxious that he almost cried and repeatedly advised him to take a rest and went back home. But the young man said that if he even couldn't stand these few steps, what else could he talk about to develop a strong physique?
He watched from a distance. The boy was exhausted to the point that he couldn't lift his feet, but the boy showed no resentment. His clear eyes were filled with determination.
His wife was not a passionate and active person, even the acceptance of Zhou Yu as a disciple was Shen Yanbei's initiative. It must be that his wife could say such things because of empathy, but Shen Yanbei felt that it wasn't a good idea.
"Are you trying to help him because he's suffering since people look down on his figure? But if you really like someone, you don't care whether he is tall, short, or thin."
For example, he originally indeed was attracted to his wife because of his figures. Besides that, so many people had a figure that could make people's blood boil. But, there was only one who could make someone's soul be so attracted. Even if his wife was not macho and manly, it didn't mean that he would say he didn't like his wife and be interested in others.
"He is not me." Gu Changfeng's eyes were serious. He might be fortunate enough to meet Shen Yanbei, but Su Qingze might not have such luck.
Understanding the hidden meaning in his eyes, Shen Yanbei threw the vegetables into the basket and turned to stare at him. "Of course he is not you. But even if he was you, I won't like him."
"I only like you." Meeting Gu Changfeng was the greatest luck in his life!
His face was slightly hot, Gu Changfeng lowered his eyes and made a soft "um" sound.
Shen Yanbei couldn't help smiling and said, "I don't mind if you want to help him. But if it's for losing weight, I can simply teach him how!" They didn't know the other party's background, and he didn't want to let others know that his wife had martial arts skills. As for how to lose weight, he had seen a lot in the gym, so there would be always a set of methods suitable for someone to practice.
In the yard, Ming'an was crying. "Young Master, let's go home!" He regretted it! He shouldn't suggest him to follow Guye to go to the countryside when he saw his young master unhappy! If they didn't go, they wouldn't meet this Shuānger. If they didn't meet this Shuānger, the young master wouldn't be so obsessed by asking others to teach him how to exercise!
If Young Master really wanted to have a figure like that...
Ming'an imagined Su Qingze who finally had a strong body with bulge muscles, hips as strong as a bear's, and a back as supple as a tiger's, but had exquisite eyes and brows. He couldn't hold sweating hard.
My goodness, Laoye and Furen would be angry to death at him!
"Why such a hurry?" Su Qingze touched the rabbit, his face flushed with excitement.
He just wanted to go out to relax, who knew that he would meet Gu Dàgē! It was very coincidental that Gu Dàgē's husband was also not with him! So how could he let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Although Gu Dàgē didn't talk much, he was generally very friendly. He said that he was exhausted so he wanted to find a place to take a rest. When he asked Gu Dàgē if he could go to his house to drink a glass of water, Gu Dàgē agreed!
He turned his head to look at the blue brick house, Su Qingze almost wanted to scream. With such close contact, he could see what Gu Dàgē usually did then he could finally develop such a strong physique!
Shen Yanbei brought the tea and cakes to the table under the tree. He beckoned Su Qingze to come and sit. At first, Su Qingze still refrained himself, but the tea was sweet and the pastries were crisp and delicious, so he couldn't stop eating.
"Is it delicious?" Shen Yanbei asked with a smile.
Su Qingze nodded hard. Delicious! Why was there such a delicious dim sum in this village?
"Then you eat more. In the future, you only can watch it.."
"Uhuk... Uhuk...What... What do you mean?" Su Qingze quickly swallowed his snack.
"You want to be like my Fu Lang, right?" Shen Yanbei chuckled. "You have to control your mouth first to make yourself thin."
Su Qingze was taken aback. He first nodded and then shook his head. "I want to. But it doesn't mean I can't eat." You might lose weight without eating, but you would get hungry and as a result, get sick.
Ming'an hurriedly interjected, "Yes, yes! You can't be hungry! This may be too dangerous. Young Master, you should not try!"
Su Qingze ignored him but stared at Shen Yanbei.
"What I said is that you aren't allowed to eat whatever you want." Shen Yanbei said sternly. "Just trust me and do what I say. If you don't believe me, please go home. And please don't show up in front of my Fu Lang again in the future."
"Haha..." Ming'an laughed dryly. "We have to not make fun of our own body. Young Master, let's..."
Su Qingze's eyes flashed frantically. "Will I really become like him?"
"Yes." Shen Yanbei frowned. "But I'm afraid you won't be able to hold on." His wife had beautiful muscles, mostly because of his martial arts training since he was young. This young boy who had fine skin and tender meat, at first glance, you could know that he never encountered bitterness. He was afraid, this young man would be faint after 3 minutes standing under a scorching sun.
"I can!" Su Qingze's eyes burst with dazzling light, eagerly looking at Shen Yanbei. "As long as I have food to eat, no matter how hard and tired, I can stand it!" Having such a perfect body was his big dream since he was a child!
Ming'an became anxious when he heard this. "Young Master, you should not mess around!" Then he spoke to Shen Yanbei, "This Gōngzǐ, my young master is just on a whim. Thank you for your kindness!"
Shen Yanbei smiled and said, "Don't thank me too much, I just moved my lips." The implication was that I only helped, but it was you who worked hard. Whether you succeed or not halfway had nothing to do with me.
"Haha..." Ming'an said with a smile, "Master, Guye is probably waiting for us. Let's go back!"
"Shut up!" Su Qingze glared at him. Ming'an might not understand this, but he did.
"Please tell me what to do?"
The young man looked sincere, his eyes were serious. Ming'an secretly said it was bad. His young master had a wide heart and fat body*. He always looked cheerful, but once he became stubborn, anyone couldn't persuade him...
*xīn kuān tǐ pán: originally, people have an open mind and a peaceful appearance. Later used to refer to a happy mood and nothing to worry about, so that people also get fat.
No! Actually there was someone who could persuade him! But his young master's letter had been sent...
Ming'an couldn't help being depressed.
"Don't decide in such a hurry. You better go back first and think about it." Shen Yanbei said to Su Qingze when he sent people out.
The young man nodded, pulling Ming'an in high spirit.
Shen Yanbei turned around to look at the vegetables that were planted in the yard. After more than half a month, the seedlings sprouted and grew into small vegetables gratifyingly. It was late spring, and the farmer's work in the fields was all finished. He had to start preparing for his crown ceremony.
Shen Yanbei had a headache. The village chief said, as the only Xiucai in the village, he was the face of Shenjia Village. So his ceremonial ceremony couldn't be so simple. But no one in the village had done it before, even the village chief himself didn't know how to do it. Li Yi, a villager of Lijia Village, had done it before. But based on the bad relationship between the two villages, the other side would verbally insult him. So it even would be impossible for him to ask the people of Lijia Village.
Shen Yanbei sighed. The original owner had been admitted as a Tongsheng* at a young age, so he considered himself very high. He didn't want to understand his other classmates' feelings who had tried repeatedly. After being admitted as a Xiucai, he thought that he was more superior to others. No one could stand this bad temper, so much so that he didn't have any close friends after several years of studying. In the past two years when the original owner was seriously ill, no one had come to visit him. Now he had no face to find someone else to ask. And the teacher of the original owner also passed away two years earlier...
*Tong Sheng: In the imperial examination system of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, all scholars who practiced examinations, regardless of their age, were called Tong Sheng or Confucian Tong before they were qualified as students (xiucai).
In the kitchen, Gu Changfeng looked up and saw Shen Yanbei from the window. The young man stood by the vegetable field, frowning slightly. His eyes looked worried.
He also frowned lightly. Gu Changfeng walked out of the kitchen.
He heard footsteps behind him, Shen Yanbei met a pair of concerned eyes when he turned his head.
"You will be able to eat these vegetables in another half month." Shen Yanbei's worried expression was reduced, and he gave a bright smile. He planted many kinds of fruits and vegetables, so when it was summer, his yard became lively. The loofah beans were climbing on the shelf, the tomatoes were covered with bright red color, the vegetables were green, the corns were golden...
They were all-natural and pollution-free vegetables. You could pick what you want to eat!
Gu Changfeng didn't speak, he just looked at Shen Yanbei firmly. Shen Yanbei held his hand and whispered. "I want to hold the crown ceremony on my birthday, but I don't know how to do it. I want to find someone to solve the problem, but I don't know who." Both of them were big men, so there was no need to hide it. Since his wife had seen it, he would be more worried and thought more about it if he didn't tell him.
"Ask Su Qingze." Gu Changfeng looked into his eyes when he spoke.
Shen Yanbei was taken aback for a moment, then hugged him and kissed him hard. "Thank you, wife!" Those closely involved cannot see as clearly as those outsides! There is a Gōngzǐ of a wealthy and influential family in front of him, even if Su Qingze didn't know, someone in their family would clearly know!
Seeing him smiling, Gu Changfeng also softened the edges of the corners of his mouth.
The next day, a carriage with cyan curtains slowly drove into Shenjia Village. The villagers were surprised when they stared at the carriage. Just when everyone thought that there would be a graceful young woman getting off the carriage, a fleshy young man jumped out of the carriage. There was also a young servant and a middle-aged man who looked like a steward of a wealthy and influential family.
After visiting the village chief's house, the three of them walked towards Shen Yanbei's house. On the way, Ming'an was still concerned, but Su Qingze was excited.
Shen Yanbei didn't expect Su Qingze to move so fast. He went back to convince the family that day and packed his luggage the next day. He didn't even bring the maid!
The middle-aged man smiled and joined his hands in salute at Shen Yanbei: "Now our young master is under Shen Gōngzǐ's care."
"You are serious." Shen Yanbei returned the courtesy.
The middle-aged man nodded secretly in his heart and handed a stack of books. "I heard that Gōngzǐ likes to read. This is the book our Master has read in the past. Please accept it."
Shen Yanbei was flattered and hurriedly accepted. "I am grateful for the book donation, please thank your Master for me!" What was the other party's background that he acted so generously and actually gave him a book?
Seeing the two of them being polite, Su Qingze said, "Uncle Li, you can go back! I will take good care of myself and won't let my sister and my brother-in-law worry."
However, Shen Yanbei invited people to take a seat. "Those who come are guests, don't leave without a cup of tea."
The middle-aged man didn't hesitate, and said with a smile, "Sorry for disturbing you."
When Shen Yanbei went to prepare tea, he calmly looked at everything around him. He found that although the decorations in Shen Yanbei's home were simple, it was neatly organized. So he felt a little more fond of Shen Yanbei.
Shen Yanbei poured tea and asked the other side straight to the point about the matter.
Su Qingze took a sip of tea, only to feel that his mouth was full of fragrance. "Why is it so troublesome, I'll ask my brother-in-law to send you someone."
Shen Yanbei shook his head. "This is not appropriate."
The middle-aged man smiled and did not speak, but he explained the crown ceremony process to Shen Yanbei in more detail.
Shen Yanbei's heart fell to the ground. After sending people away, he went to discuss with Shen Dezhong about the guest list. Shen Dezhong frowned and sighed as he looked at him.
"What's wrong, Uncle Zhong?"
"Juren in Lijia Village will build a school in Lijia Village, and let nearby villages raise funds for it."
The tree desires stillness but the wind will not cease
People like Li Yi wanted to open a school? What a joke! Shen Yanbei couldn't help frowning.
"Uncle Zhong, what's going on actually?"
Took a sip of dry tobacco, Shen Dezhong was sullen. "This morning, I was invited to go to Lijia Village to discuss something. When I got there, the borough chief and the head village of several nearby villages were already all there. There was also Li Juren, who was sitting above and drinking tea slowly. The head of Lijia Village glanced at me and told me this matter without a smile, then asked me to talk to the villagers to collect the money!"
Shen Yanbei's expression turned to be cold. "Do all other villages agree?"
None of these villages had schools, not even private schools. Besides that, there were only three scholars with fame. The old one had passed away, and the young one was the original master and Li Yi. Since the original owner's parents died accidentally, his life was in total confusion. Moreover, he was a proud and arrogant person, so he didn't even think about running a private school. And for Li Yi, he was busy focusing on Qiuwei, so no one mentioned the matter of running the school. Unexpectedly, after Li Yi passed the test, he moved his mind to this matter.
If anyone said that he was fond of teaching others and had a tendency to sermonize people, Shen Yanbei was the first one who didn't believe it.
"No!" The more Shen Dezhong thought about it, the angrier he was. "When a man attains the Tao, even his pets ascend to heaven*! Which village does not want to please Li Juren?"
*When a man becomes powerful, those near him ride on his coattails to success-unashamed nepotism.
They said it was a discussion, but everyone had already made certain about it. Asking him to come was just to tell him! If it was not for pooling money, people didn't plan to tell him yet!
The most embarrassing thing was that you still had to grit your teeth and handed in the money!
The heads of other villages also said that running a school was a good thing for the country and the people! The school propagated doctrines, cultivated talents, and changed the destiny of the descendants of these poor people! Everyone must work together to set up the school and paved a clear road for future generations!
What else could Shen Dezhong say?
It was obvious that Shenjia Village and Lijia Village were not in harmony. If the school was set up in Lijia Village, didn't it mean that the people of Lijia Village would more bully his Shenjia Village children? Moreover, he was afraid that the school teacher would be unwilling to teach with all his heart just because he had a prejudice against the students of Shenjia Village? Or what happened if their Shenjia Village was not willing to pay to build a school for Lijia Village?
He really wanted to say this. But others would say that their people in Shenjia Village were so narrow-minded, then Lijia Village would take the lead to suppress and isolate them!
"Uncle Zhong, don't be angry. There may be room for the reversal in this matter." Shen Yanbei wrinkled his eyebrows. For running private schools, anyone who had admitted as Xiucai or Tóngshēng could be an enlightenment teacher for a child. But at this time, the requirements for the management of public schools were very strict. The school at least must be equipped with two teachers: one military and one civil.
Shen Dezhong waved his hand but had to admit it in his heart. The imperial court advocated teaching and educating, and once ever proclaimed in writing, asking the local government to support the school. Since Lijia Village dared to raise funds publicly, it seemed that they had assured about it. The biggest headache for him right now was that he didn't know how to tell the villagers so that everyone was willing to pool the money.
Shen Yanbei was silent. This incident was clearly detrimental to their Shenjia Village, but they had no right to oppose and couldn't oppose it!
Shen Dezhong didn't think Shen Yanbei could give him a good solution. He was depressed so he wanted to find someone to talk about it. Thinking of the young man and the middle-aged steward who just came to the door, he curiously asked, "When did you make friends with such a wealthy young master?" The young man was white and fat, it meant that he was running happy life!
Shen Yanbei was not ashamed to say that the other party came to ask for advice on how to exercise because of his wife's figure. He smiled and said, "I met him by chance in the town, and then I met twice afterward."
Shen Dezhong got the point and said with a serious face, "The steward has handed some money to ask me to find a place for his young master stayed and to find two people to take care of his daily life. How do you manage this?"
Su Qingze is dressed richly, but he did not have the arrogant temperament of a rich child. He also did not bring a maid this time. It seemed that he was ready to endure hardship.
Shen Yanbei said, "You don't need to take care of the food. Anyway, it's not a big case to prepare two more sets of tableware. As for the residence, Uncle Zhong, you can take a look for which family in the village fits for the arrangement." Su Qingze, an unmarried Shuānger, was not suitable for staying in their home or the village chief's house. It was best to find a house with Shuānger and no males.
Shen Dezhong also thought of this. After meditated over, he said, "Okay, I'll go and ask." After finishing speaking, he looked at Shen Yanbei and said, "Have you find the solution for your crown ceremony?"
"I'm about to discuss with you." Shen Yanbei repeated what the middle-aged man had said before. Finally, he asked Uncle Zhong, "Who do I need to invite?" Because the original owner had been sick for so long, he didn't know if the older elders in the village were still alive.
Shen Dezhong frowned: "Others regardless, there is someone you have to invite."
Shen Yanbei was slightly surprised.
"Li Juren." Shen Dezhong's expression was bad. "No matter how many contradictions we have between Shenjia Village and Lijia Village, he is Juren and you are a Xiucai. So it will be unreasonable if you don't invite him."
What the hell! This class range was really sucked! Shen Yanbei cursed secretly in his heart.
Shen Dezhong didn't know that the two had already had an unpleasant affair. He added a bomb to Shen Yanbei. "You have to write this invitation by yourself."
Shen Yanbei. "..."
Why he was not allowed to just held his crown ceremony happily, so he could use his name back?
The depressed Shen Yanbei returned home. When he saw his wife, he immediately leaned over him and put his head on his shoulder.
"What's the matter?" Gu Changfeng asked in a low voice while supporting the young man who put all his weight on him.
"Wifey, I will study hard from tomorrow, and you will supervise me." Shen Yanbei said in a muffled voice.
Gu Changfeng's eyes smiled. "Okay."
"Wifey, I finally understand." Shen Yan lifted his head and met Gu Changfeng's quiet black eyes. He said solemnly, "People are good at deceiving these days, and all lay load on the willing horse*. Although I don't want to ride people, I don't want to be used as a horse rider."
*if your ears glow someone is talking of you.
Gu Changfeng's eyes were puzzled. Shen Yanbei kept continuing, "The tree wants to be quiet but the wind keeps going. I am thinking about it, I must have a good position enough so anyone can't bully us easily."
"You can do it if you work hard." The young man was expressionless when he spoke, unexpectedly the rare coldness appeared on his face. Gu Changfeng didn't know what had happened but felt that the young man was gentler than his usual, made his heart being moved.
"Gu Dàgē!"
Su Qingze's voice came from far away. Shen Yanbei remembered the book that Su Qingze's family had given him, so he hurriedly looked through it.
After took a look, Shen Yanbei was stunned. Someone brought pillows when he was about to fall asleep! What the other party gave him was not a miscellaneous book but a book related to Qiuwei, with the owner's notes and personal opinions on it.
What did the other party mean by sending him this book? Was it really just for asking him to take care of Su Qingze? Shen Yanbei deeply doubted it.
In the side room next to the master bedroom of the county official residence, a gentle-looking woman was sitting on the couch holding a more than one-year-old baby. The baby's face was flushed, and the big black eyes were staring at the cloth tiger* in the hands of the opposite man. The chubby baby couldn't help stretching forward. "Want! Want!"
*Cloth tiger is a traditional handicraft that has been widely circulated in Chinese folk in ancient times.
Li Zhiyuan deliberately moved the cloth tiger to a higher place, and the little doll also stretched out the hand in a hurry. The woman glared at him, and directly took the cloth tiger and stuffed it into the baby.
Little doll hugged the cloth tiger and smiled happily, revealing two white teeth.
"Are you still angry?" Li Zhiyuan sat down beside the woman, and the woman snorted and moved aside.
Li Zhiyuan touched his nose and said helplessly, "Qingze is no longer a child, we have to respect his ideas."
"Respect his thoughts but leave him alone in the country to let him messing around?" The woman frowned and said coldly.
Li Zhiyuan coaxed softly, "Shen Xiucai has a lot of thoughts, maybe there is a way to make Qingze slim down."
The woman didn't speak, but her eyes were full of thoughts.
"I have ordered Ming'an to send Qingze back if something goes wrong." Li Zhiyuan added, "I also ask Shen Xiucai to take good care of Qingze."
"Ask? By using those books?" The woman laughed angrily, "Do you think people are bugs in your stomach? He can see your thought through those books?"
Li Zhiyuan smiled and said, "He's a smart man, he will understand."
"Whether he does understand or not, I don't know. I just know that you ought to sleep in your study tonight." The woman gave him an angry look and got up out of the side room holding the little doll. Lan Ling and Hong Rui hurriedly followed.
Li Zhiyuan couldn't laugh or cry. Seeing the woman went away, he smiled helplessly. "It's not that I don't worry about him, but I'm afraid he will go on like this..."
Thinking of the letter that day, Li Zhiyuan's eyes were extremely complicated.
Even if it had beautiful skin, but white as dried and withered bone. Yet people still liked things that looked beautiful. So he dared not bet!
Su Qingze, who was worried about the woman, was walking to a house with the village chief at this time.
"These small places are so rudimentary, please forgive me."
"It's okay!" Su Qingze didn't mind at all, instead, he looked at the farmhouses surrounded by fences and had large and small yards with great interest. He also didn't feel annoyed when seeing the villagers curiously looking at him on the way. With a smile on his round face, he saw the villagers were amazed.
A Shuānger in blue clothes waited at the door of the house and finally saw the village chief leading someone over. He immediately showed a warm smile. "Hello, my name is Shen Qiukui."
"Hello, my name is Su Qingze. I might disturb you in the future!" Su Qingze replied politely.
"Not disturbing, not disturbing! I'll show you the room!" Shen Qiukui smiled brighter. "Tell me if something is lacking, I'll prepare it for you!"
He actually was surprised when the head village saying that there was a young man from the county who wanted to rent his house. After asking carefully, he knew that the other party was Shen Xiucai's friend. Had Shen Xiucai, whose temperament changed so much, also befriended the son of a rich family? He was curious and it happened that there were still two unoccupied rooms at home, so he agreed. Unexpectedly, the other party was a kind Shuānger. Seeing his soft skin made him couldn't help but want to squeeze it!
The room was very tidy, and the pillows and bedding on the bed were replaced with new ones. Although the colors were a bit old-fashioned, Su Qingze didn't care at all. So he immediately moved in.
Finally already settled down, Su Qingze showed a big smile.
The next time he met Ah Heng, he would definitely be surprised!