222 Rumors

A few days later, when Old Madam Liu was buying groceries, she heard the two old women in front discussing softly, “I heard that Madam Zhong went to Lord Zhou’s house to visit. She was sent out less than fifteen minutes after she entered. The county magistrate’s wife is really arrogant!”

“Isn’t that so! When my Madam went to visit his house, she only sat for a while before bidding farewell. I heard that the county magistrate’s wife treats people coldly and doesn’t smile.”

Old Madam Liu spat and thought to herself, Damn it, if you have the ability, say it in person. Aren’t you ashamed to say it behind her back? She was so angry that she didn’t even buy any vegetables. She turned around and went home. She wanted to tell Li Yu what she had heard. On second thoughts, she considered that she should not agitate Madam and decided to tell Master instead.

When Zhou Jia heard Old Madam Liu finish speaking indignantly, he smiled indifferently and said, “You did the right thing. There’s no need to tell Madam about the gossip. Besides, your Madam is a First-grade Madam Protector. Is there a need to put on airs?”

“Master is right. There’s no need for my Madam to put on airs!” Old Madam Liu smiled happily. “Master, I’m going to buy groceries.”

In the blink of an eye, Li Yu’s pregnancy was already three months old. The fetus was already stable. Zhou Jia brought the scribe and the bailiffs to the countryside to check the household register. Mr. Wen and Li Qing followed Staff General Zhong to the Green Dragon Stronghold to pick herbs.

It was time to plant and breed again. Li Yu went to the village outside the city and saw that the foundation of the school opposite the village had been built. More than ten craftsmen were busy at the construction site.

Li Yu went to the cornfield. After the seeds were planted, only a few seeds did not survive. After transplanting the corn that had been planted, they had basically all grown. In less than a month, the corn had already begun to grow. The two acres of cornfield looked green.

Li Yu came down from the slope and went to the paddy field. She saw that the long-term workers had already tidied up the paddy field and dug the ditch. The villagers of the back mountain village also came to Li Yu’s manor to learn how to choose seeds and soak them.

Li Yu taught the villagers everything she had figured out, including the technique of choosing and soaking the seeds, and the things to pay attention to. Li Yu waited at the farm until the rice seeds turned white. After scattering the wild rice seeds and home rice seeds into the field in batches, she handed the matters over to Yang Wei before driving the carriage back to the city.

Zhou Jia and Scribe Tu led a few bailiffs and busied themselves in the countryside for a few days. They calculated the population and farmland of the various villages and towns, as well as the wasteland that had yet to be developed. They also instructed the village chiefs of the various villages to encourage the villagers to reclaim land and farm. Only then did the group return to the county city from the countryside.

Zhou Jia was tidying up in the custody room. This time, he had gone to the countryside to calculate the number of fields. After reading the population count, Scribe Tu said excitedly, “Lord, I didn’t expect so many villagers to have already returned. The fields have all been plowed. I heard that many villagers are using the method Madam taught them to choose seeds and soak them. Some even plan to plant winter wheat at the end of the year!”

Zhou Jia said, “Everyone’s planting winter wheat! This is a good thing! I hope everyone can get more food and eat their fill as soon as possible.”

At this moment, a little girl walked to the door with a food box. She stood at the door and bowed. “Lord, I’m Lord Yu’s little girl. My Third Miss sent pastries to Master and asked me to send them to you to try.”

Seeing that Zhou Jia did not even look up, Scribe Tu walked over with a smile and took the pastry from the little girl’s hand. He smiled and said, “I happen to be hungry. Please thank your Miss for me.”

After the little girl bent her knees and bowed, she carried the food box and walked to Yu Yan, who was waiting at the door. She whispered, “Miss, Lord Zhou didn’t even look at it. It was the scribe who received the pastries.”

Yu Yan said coldly, “I don’t need you to tell me!”

Li Yu drove the carriage and had just walked to the house beside the county office when she saw Yu Yan next door with a maidservant. She was carrying a food box and came out of the county office with a dark expression.

Yu Yan was stunned when she saw Li Yu. She went forward and bowed. “Greetings, Madam.”

Li Yu smiled faintly and said, “There’s no need to be so polite!” As she spoke, she walked towards the door. Yu Yan looked at Li Yu’s back and opened her mouth, but she didn’t say anything.

In the escort room of the county office, Scribe Tu looked at Zhou Jia with a wicked smile. He picked up a piece of pastry and took a bite. “Oh! It’s delicious! Lord Zhou, don’t you want a piece!”

Zhou Jia glanced at Scribe Tu indifferently and threatened, “If you laugh again, fire yourself and go home!”

Scribe Tu covered his mouth with his plate and said, “I won’t laugh. I promise I won’t laugh. Lord, you’re too cautious! The little girl sent food to Lord Yu and even sent it to me and Mr. Qian. This can only mean that she’s well-mannered and polite.”

Zhou Jia rolled his eyes and thought to himself that Scribe Tu had probably never been pestered before and didn’t know how powerful it was. One can’t be polite to some women. He had to make them retreat.

“You think it’s polite to deliver food to another man? Old thing, then why are you smiling?”

Scribe Tu also imitated Zhou Jia and rolled his eyes. “How am I smiling? Am I smiling?”

The two of them were joking when County Lieutenant Yu walked in. When he saw the pastries in Scribe Tu’s hand, he smiled heartily and said, “My third girl is the best at making pastries. They taste good!”

Scribe Tu chuckled and said, “It’s just nice that I’m eating it. Lord Zhou doesn’t like sweet food. I’ve benefited.”

“It’s good that you like it. Lord Zhou is young and doesn’t like sweet things.” County Lieutenant Yu took a letter and placed it on Zhou Jia’s table. “Lord, the rich businessman, Xu Jinlong, who just moved back to Qingchuan, has some ties with me. He sent us a letter and invited us to his house for a banquet. I heard that he even invited a few singers from Qingzhou to sing!”

Scribe Tu looked at County Lieutenant Yu. “Xu Jinlong? The one behind the deserted house in the alley?”

“That’s right!” County Lieutenant Yu nodded. After taking a look at the post, the scribe smiled and said, “This old fellow sure knows how to flatter himself. Is he even appreciating poems now? Back then, when we were studying in a private school, he dozed off in class and his hands were beaten into pig claws by Sir. Later, when the bandits in the Green Dragon Stronghold became more and more violent, his entire family moved away! It seems that the news of Qingchuan’s improvement spread quite quickly! Even the Xu family came back!”

Seeing that Zhou Jia was still busy sorting out the dossiers, County Lieutenant Yu smiled and said to Zhou Jia, “Lord, tell me if you’re going or not! The steward of the Xu family is still waiting outside for our reply!”

Zhou Jia put down the dossier and waved his hand. “Old Yu, go with Mr. Tu! My wife should be back from the farm today. Look, I’m still dirty. I have to go home and wash up.”

County Lieutenant Yu pulled Zhou Jia. “Sir! That’s not good! The chief wants to invite you. What’s the point of just Mr.Tu and me going? Besides, since we can’t collect the taxes from the farmers these few years, the county will need to depend on these merchants for taxes!”

Seeing County Lieutenant Yu’s troubled expression, the clerk was afraid that there would be a barrier between the two of them. He persuaded Zhou Jia, “Sir, Xu Jinlong is quite straightforward. Aren’t you worried that the silver used to build the county school isn’t enough? Let’s mobilize this group of people to donate some money to build the county school at the banquet!”

County Lieutenant Yu also echoed, “That’s right! That’s right! These people have plenty of money. Our county school is also for the good of the entire Qingchuan County.”

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