Chapter 286: Hardworking Villagers

Chapter 286: Hardworking Villagers
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Uncle Gu and the two villagers sat stiffly in the living room, thinking to themselves how amazing it was that it was actually the magistrate’s wife who came to the village to teach everyone how to farm! They felt they had not lived their lives in vain.
The three of them quickly waved their hands and said, “We’re not hungry.”
“It’s just a bowl of noodles.” Li Yu smiled at Xing Hua. “Xing Hua, bring the uncles to eat.”
Xing Hua brought the three of them to the dining room in the front yard. Li Yu instructed Ma Gui, “Hurry up and drive to the Four Seas Bank to ask if the grains have been planted.”
Ma Gui responded and went out. Uncle Gu, Ashui, and Dashan saw Gu Yu in the dining room. Uncle Gu looked at Gu Yu and complained, “Why didn’t you tell us when you came back last time that you master is a magistrate?”
Gu Yu pulled Uncle Gu to sit down and said with a smile, “Uncle, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you. Madam has instructed me not to tell you.”
Uncle Gu smiled honestly. “Silly girl, listen to Madam well in the future. Don’t be naughty.”
Gu Yu smiled and replied, “Got it.”
Li Yu brought Xing Hua into the front hall and saw Gu Yu’s uncle, Ah Shui, and Dashan sitting on chairs with reserved expressions. The big man sat in a corner of the stool. When the three of them saw Li Yu come out, they hurriedly stood up and knelt on the ground. “Greetings, Madam.”
Li Yu walked forward and said, “Please get up. There’s no need to be so polite.”
The three of them got up with red faces. Gu Yu’s uncle pointed at the mushrooms in the basket and said, “Madam, the villagers asked us to bring these for you. They’re all fresh mushrooms with heads. They taste very good. If you can’t finish them, just dry them and keep them for future use.”
“Thank you, villagers. You’re hungry, right? I’ll get Gu Yu to get someone to cook some noodles. You guys go eat first. I’ll get someone to ask if the grain has been planted.”
At this moment, Aunt Zhang and Old Madam Liu carried a tray to the dining room and placed three bowls on the table. They said with a smile, “Gu Yu, quickly treat your uncles to a meal.’
Gu Yu smiled and thanked her. “Thank you, Grandma Liu and Aunt Zhang.”
Old Madam Liu patted Gu Yu with a smile. “Silly girl, what’s there to thank me
Uncle Gu Yu, Ah Shui, and Dashan saw that there were two fried eggs and minced meat. They thought to themselves that they had only eaten such dishes when Madam visited last time.
“Thank you, Auntie and Sister-in -law.” The three of them thanked Old Madam Liu and Auntie Zhang with red faces before picking up their bowls and eating.Uncle Gu and the other two ate their fill and were brought back to the living room by Gu Yu. Li Yu asked them, “Uncle Gu Yu, how many terraces did you open?”
When Uncle Gu heard Li Yu ask about the fields, his happy face was filled with a smile. “We opened up three mountains and directed the water over according to the method Madam taught us. We wanted to plant a season of rice first. When all these fields are planted with seedlings, everyone will have a lot of food when it is time for threshing.”
Li Yu didn’t expect them to develop three mountains in such a short period of time. No wonder the three of them looked dark and thin. Since ancient times, the commoners had really bent their backs from exhaustion for food. “Have you estimated how many acres there are in the three mountains?”
“We measured it. There are about a thousand acres where we can plant seedlings.”
Li Yu thought for a moment and said, “Buy the new rice seeds for 25 copper coins a catty. I’ll help you pay for the rice seeds first. After the autumn harvest, you can return the rice to me at or pay me back the same price.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Madam.” They were overjoyed when they heard that. They stood up and were about to kneel again when Li Yu stopped them. She smiled and said, “You don’t have to do this. Just go back and live well.”
At this moment, Ma Gui returned and reported to Li Yu, “Madam, the shopkeeper said that the rice seeds arrived yesterday and will be sent to the residence later.”
Li Yu thought for a moment and instructed, “Alright, bring Uncle Gu and the two villagers to our wasteland to take a look. Also, call Ah Wei back and rent a few big mules from the cart shop to help them haul the rice seeds up the mountain. ”
When the three of them saw that Li Yu had even thought of the mule, they were so excited that they couldn’t even speak. They bowed to Li Yu excitedly and said, “Thank you, Madam.”
Li Yu smiled and waved her hand. “You don’t have to be so polite. Follow Ma Gui to the wasteland to take a look.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ma Gui led the three of them out the door.
After Zhou Jia finished his official business, he returned to the backyard. Xiaoyu, who was drying corn seeds in the backyard, smiled at him and said,
“Master, Madam went to the front yard to pick up the grains.”
Zhou Jia looked at the corn seeds in the courtyard and felt that there seemed to be a lot more. He asked in confusion, “Did we bring these corn seeds last time?” Xiaoyu nodded and said, “That’s right! We brought it over from Qingchuan last time.”
Zhou Jia thought for a moment and nodded. He went to the front yard and saw Li Yu looking at the new rice seeds. He went forward and smiled. “Yu’er, can those villagers of Daffeng Village use so many rice seeds?”
Li Yu smiled when she saw Zhou Jia. “Sigh! I didn’t have the time to tell you that Shopkeeper Chu sold us a piece of wasteland at the foot of Mount Spindle outside the west city. Some parts have already been opened. I was worried that these rice seeds wouldn’t be enough! I’m preparing to build a leisure villa in that wasteland. I even invited the Four Seas Bank to invest in it. Let’s go take a look together later.”
Zhou Jia raised his eyebrows. “Oh! A leisure villa. Then I have to take a good look! ”
At this moment, the shop assistants of the Four Seas Bank moved all the rice seeds into the storeroom in the front courtyard. Li Yu asked Gu Yu to give her money and returned to the main courtyard with Zhou Jia. After returning to the house, Li Yu said to Zhou Jia, “Xiao Xi, there are two things I have to tell you.”
Zhou Jia went forward and hugged her to sit on the couch. “Did something happen?
“Something happened. Miss Wang sent someone to…” Li Yu told Zhou Jia what had happened.
Zhou Jia held Li Yu’s hand and looked at her. “You’re just too soft-hearted. You should let Ruyi throw her and that guard into the mountain to feed the wolves.”
Li Yu leaned on his shoulder and said softly, “I’m still fine. Besides, a delicate lady like her will probably think that a peasant’s life is worse than death.”
“That’s because you have the ability to protect yourself. What if you don’t? Wouldn’t you have been kidnapped by the guard she sent?” Zhou Jia was glad that Li Yu had good martial arts again. “No wonder I felt that Wang Qinghai was a little different from when I first came. It seems that the Wang family has already suspected you.”
Li Yu said indifferently, “If he suspects me, he has to show me the evidence!
Also, Shopkeeper Chu showed me the information he found. I’ll bring it to you.”
Li Yu stood up and took out the notes from the box before handing them to
Zhou Jia. After Zhou Jia read them, he analyzed to Li Yu, “I’m guessing that
Madam Lin most likely attacked your mother for the sake of the marriage. As
long as we find out who the second son of the Wang family was engaged to back then, we’ll know why Madam Lin harmed your mother.”
Li Yu leaned into Zhou Jia’s arms. “Alright, Sir is more important. I can’t see much progress from the manor now. It’s the same if I go in a few days..”