Chapter 275: That’s Also Because Your Wife Is Clever
In the end, Xun Feng had to make two trips, hauling the duck eggs back first before driving the carriage back to pick them up.
On the way back, Old Madam Luo showered non-stop praise on Ruyun for a job well done, encouraging her to keep operating just like this from now on.
“Remember this: you are the one paying the money, so don’t be afraid of them. If anyone steps out of line, just turn them away. I can tell you have a gentle, soft-hearted nature, but with certain matters, soft-heartedness simply won’t do. If they manage to fool you once, they’ll come back to fool you a second time,” Old Madam Luo advised Ruyun earnestly.
In the past, she herself had suffered far too many losses precisely because of her soft heart, forcing her to arm herself with thorns until she became someone no one dared to mess with.
Ruyun nodded repeatedly, overflowing with gratitude toward Old Madam Luo: “Grandma Luo, rest assured, I will definitely work hard!”
“I will definitely work hard”—the universal catchphrase of the working class.
When Wen Xiuyi and Ma Qiang returned, the first thing they spotted was the pile of duck eggs sitting under the courtyard veranda.
“You folks sure had a bountiful harvest today,” Wen Xiuyi teased.
Ma Qiang, meanwhile, sprinted right over to his wife to ask how her day had gone.
Ruyun whispered the details to him, her small face flushing with excitement, while Ma Qiang listened along, letting out silly, happy chuckles.
Once he caught sight of Old Madam Luo, he formally offered her a solemn bow: “Grandma Luo, I truly cannot thank you enough. Thank you so much for teaching my Ruyun how to do business.”
Old Madam Luo smiled gently. “That’s also because your wife is clever.”
“Hehe.” Ma Qiang scratched his head bashfully. Only then did the couple call over little Hutou, preparing to head home.
“You’re not staying for dinner? It’s already this late—it’ll be a hassle to cook when you get back, so just stay and share a simple bite with us,” Old Madam Luo invited.
Ma Qiang politely declined over and over. They had already brought so much trouble to the Wen family; they couldn’t possibly keep freeloading meals off them.
“Grandma Luo, we won’t impose on you any further. We’ll just scrape together a quick bite at home. Hehe, we’ll be taking our leave now.” With that, Ma Qiang scooped up his son, and the couple walked out.
Old Madam Luo and Wen Xiuyi saw them at the door, watching them drive away in their carriage. As for today’s duck eggs, they would have to be carried back when they made their own return trip.
“I gave Little Ma’s wife twenty taels of silver as a deposit. I can see the young couple doesn’t have it easy,” Old Madam Luo said, before turning to look at Wen Xiuyi. “What about you? How did your inspection go today?”
Old Madam Luo knew that right now, these matters were the only things weighing on her son’s mind.
Wen Xiuyi’s expression was far from relaxed as he said, “A few households are still quite unwilling to listen to advice. They feel that what I’m talking about is completely unfounded and don’t trust me. Sigh.“
Sometimes Wen Xiuyi felt utterly helpless, yet he also understood that it wasn’t easy for them to accept new concepts. He could only take it slow and make gradual progress.
Seeing her son like this, Old Madam Luo sighed inwardly. Reaching out, she patted the dust off his clothes and offered comfort: “People’s mindsets aren’t something that can be turned around overnight. Look at our own village—didn’t every household say our family was messing around back then? And what about now? Look at who among them isn’t learning from our family!
“So, with these things, you simply have to let them see the actual benefits first. Once they see the benefits, they’ll believe what you say. Take it step by step—farming isn’t something that can be rushed.”
Wen Xiuyi nodded. “I know, Mom. Now that your business arrangements are set, have Yao Yao accompany you to enjoy yourselves in the prefectural city over the next couple of days. I still want to head out to check on a few other places.”
Old Madam Luo knitted her brows slightly. “The Emperor didn’t even order you to manage this much—why do you have an endless supply of worries?”
Wen Xiuyi grinned. “Ah, Mom, isn’t it just because we’re already here? Since we’ve made the trip anyway, I’ll just go take a look and won’t do anything else.”
Unable to win the argument, Old Madam Luo could only let him have his way.
After dinner, the group sat together to discuss what to do with the duck eggs. In the end, they decided to have Xun Feng haul the duck eggs back to the village first, handing them over to the younger Old Madam Luo to begin pickling. The younger Old Madam Luo had been present when Yao Yao made them that day. As for Old Madam Luo and Wen Yao, since they weren’t going out over the next few days anyway, they would stay in the city for a few days to wait for Wen Xiuyi, while also waiting for Xun Feng to come back and pick them up.
Leaning lazily against a pillar, Xun Feng spoke up in an offhand manner: “No need for me to go—someone will be arriving tomorrow.”
The three turned their heads toward him in unison and asked, “Who?”
Xun Feng flashed a triumphant grin. “Hehe, you’ll find out tomorrow.”
The next morning, Wen Xiuyi set out early as usual. Bored out of their minds, the grandmother and granddaughter discussed where to go out and have fun. After all, they weren’t familiar with the prefectural city, though Wen Yao had visited a few times and heard of a couple of fun spots, so they prepared to stroll around.
Before they could even step out the door, a knock sounded at the main gate. Wen Yao opened it to take a look, finding two strong, young men standing outside. Their postures were straight as pines, radiating a posture of strict righteousness.
Both carried bundles over their shoulders, along with a long, cloth-wrapped object.
Wen Yao froze. “Who are you looking for?”
Xun Feng popped out from out of nowhere again, munching on a pear. Spotting the two, he darted over in a flash.
“Yo, you’ve arrived!”
Wen Yao turned her head to look at him, her eyes silently inquiring: What’s the situation?
Swallowing the mouthful of wildly juicy pear, Xun Feng pointed at Wen Yao and said to the two, “This is Miss Wen.”
The two immediately cupped their fists in a respectful bow toward Wen Yao: “Subordinates greet Miss!”
“Huh?” Wen Yao was completely bewildered.
Xun Feng explained, “The men you asked the Heir of Prince Fu for!”
“Ah!” Realization struck Wen Yao. So the “someone” Xun Feng mentioned yesterday referred to them! Looking closely at the two, they were roughly around Xun Feng’s age—perhaps a bit older, in their mid-twenties.
“Yao Yao, who is it?” Hearing the commotion, Old Madam Luo walked out as well, calling out to her.
Wen Yao quickly snapped back to reality. “Please come inside first.”
Only then did the two, carrying their bundles, step through the doorway behind her. Xun Feng walked beside them, grinning from ear to ear, whereas the two men maintained completely stoic expressions. They merely cast disdainful side-glances at Xun Feng, ignoring his chatter entirely with utmost solemnity.
Wen Yao gave Old Madam Luo a brief explanation, which left Old Madam Luo equally slack-jawed.
It was one thing to have so many people at home already, but now two more had popped out of nowhere?
“Um, you two…”
The moment Old Madam Luo opened her mouth, the two men turned their gazes toward her in unison. The intense look in their eyes startled Old Madam Luo so much her remaining words stuck right in her throat.
Xun Feng quickly gave the two a nudge, saying, “We’re not in the capital anymore, so why are you two still standing at attention like this? Look at you, scaring Grandma Luo!”
As he spoke, Xun Feng trotted over to Old Madam Luo’s side, coaxing her softly: “Grandma Luo, don’t be scared! They’re just like this—back in the capital, the rules in the Guard Battalion were exceptionally strict, so they never dared to smile.”
Old Madam Luo let out a breath of relief, casting a glance at him before asking, “Then how come I see you smiling happily every single day?”
Xun Feng gave a sheepish chuckle. “I was just like them at first! But wasn’t I assigned to the King’s side? The King, Princess, and Heir of Prince all have easygoing personalities and treat us servants warmly, so I gradually loosened up.”
Old Madam Luo looked at the two men and asked, “What are your names?”
Once again, both cupped their fists together in unison.
“Subordinate Mu Li.”
“Subordinate Wang Zhao.”
