Chapter 218 - 218 Yu County Lieutenant’s Family

218 Yu County Lieutenant’s Family

Yang Wei brought a few long-term workers to the slope. Li Yu dug out a row and said to them, “Everyone, dig pits according to the spacing I dug. Remember to dig the pits a little deeper and widen the distance between each row. Put two seeds in each pit, understand?”

“Remember it well.”

After the long-term workers saw the pit that Li Yu had dug, they began to dig. The woman began to plant the seeds. Zhou Jia and Li Yu took the bamboo basket that Yang Wei had brought, filled it with some corn seeds, and started to plant them. Yang Wei took the hoe and dug the soil to plant them.

Li Yu said to Zhou Jia, “In the ridges of the cornfield, we can also add bean leaves to make the soil more fertile.”

Zhou Jia clumsily counted the corn kernels and planted them. Seeing how familiar Li Yu was with the steps, he said, “Yu’er, it’s true that there are specializations in every field. I never knew that farming required methods. I thought that it was enough to let the long-term workers watch and water the seeds with some fertilizer so that they would grow well!”

Li Yu agreed. “How can that do? You reap what you sow. You have to pay attention to methods when farming. Just like how you study, you can’t read about theories blindly. You have to learn to apply them flexibly. If you work hard, you will gain more than others.”

Zhou Jia cupped his hands and smiled. “Thank you for your guidance, wife.” Zhou Jia looked at the agile Li Yu with a burning gaze and thought to himself, This is my wife. She’s cultured and skilled in martial arts. She also knows how to farm and breed!

Li Yu felt Zhou Jia’s gaze. She picked up a piece of mud with a red face and threw it at Zhou Jia. She rebuked, “Hurry up and work. Otherwise, you won’t have anything to eat tonight.”

Zhou Jia made a face and cupped his hands. “Madam, please spare me. I’ll work immediately.”

The long-term worker at the side was dumbfounded. Was this really the dignified and awe-inspiring county magistrate? Was it really good for him to be willing to pander to his wife? How were they supposed to live?

The long-term worker’s wife glared at her man and thought to herself that as the county magistrate, only was Lord Zhou good-looking, but he also knew how to please his wife! She wished her husband would open his eyes and look at Lord Zhou as a model husband.

At this moment, Xu Chun ran to the slope and reported to Zhou Jia, “Sir, someone from the Qingzhou Prefecture has arrived. One of them is said to be a newly appointed county lieutenant and has brought two constables with him. He has already arrived at the county office.”

Li Yu said to Zhou Jia, “Xiao Xi, go back with Master Xu first. I’ll return later.”

Zhou Jia shook his head and said, “Wait for me here. I’ll go back and take a look before picking you up!”

“Alright! Go back! Don’t let them wait too long.” Zhou Jia nodded and took the horsewhip from Xu Chun before riding into the city.

Zhou Jia saw four carriages parked at the entrance of the government office. Scribe Tu was standing at the door and chatting with a tall man. There were also servants standing in front of the carriage. It seemed that the family of the new county lieutenant had also come.

Scribe Tu pointed at Zhou Jia and smiled at the man. “Lord Yu, County Lord Zhou is back.”

County Lieutenant Yu looked over and saw a handsome young man riding a horse towards the county office. When Zhou Jia arrived at the entrance of the county office, he got off the horse and handed the reins to the bailiff, Wang Cheng.

There were two carriages parked at the entrance of the county office. The two women sitting in the carriage behind secretly lifted a corner of the curtain and hid behind it to peek at Zhou Jia as they discussed softly.

In the carriage in front, a middle-aged woman with fair skin and a round, plain face, looked at Zhou Jia and thought to herself that she didn’t expect County Magistrate Qingchuan to be a beautiful man. Such a man was rare! She wondered if he came from an elite family

Beside the woman sat two refined and pretty girls. They looked at Zhou Jia, who had dismounted from his horse and cupped his fists. The woman turned around and said in a low voice, “Hui’er, Xin’er, remember, girls have to have dignity first so that others won’t look down on you.”

“Mother, we understand,” the two girls replied in unison.

County Lieutenant Yu took a step forward and bowed to Zhou Jia. “Greetings, County Lord!”

Zhou Jia cupped his hands and smiled at County Lieutenant Yu, who had bowed to him. “County Lieutenant Yu, I didn’t know your arrival date in Qingchuan. Sorry for not welcoming you!”

County Lieutenant Yu said politely, “Sir, you’re busy with work, so I don’t dare to trouble you.”

Zhou Jia said to Scribe Tu, “Mr. Tu, please bring County Lieutenant Yu to the courtyard beside the county office. We’ll welcome Lord Yu after we settle down!”

Scribe Tu smiled and said to the county lieutenant, “Lord Yu, please. Lord Zhou only hired people to build the county office and residence a year ago. Every house and courtyard has a furnace. It’s warm in winter and spacious and comfortable in summer.”

County Lieutenant Yu cupped his fists politely and smiled. “Thank you, Lord. Thank you for leading the way, Mr. Tu.”

Scribe Tu brought County Lieutenant Yu to the courtyard separated from the county office by an alley. He took out the key and handed it to County Lieutenant Yu. “Lord Yu, please help yourself. I’ll take my leave.”

County Lieutenant Yu greeted him and sent him off. The long-faced woman got out of the car with the two girls.

Immediately after, an enchanting woman with an oval face, willowy eyebrows, and a small red mole at the corner of her eye led an eight-year-old boy and a teenage girl who looked very like her out of the cart. She stood there and looked at County Lieutenant Yu. Seeing that County Lieutenant Yu did not look at the mother and children, the woman quietly pushed the boy’s back.

The boy ran to Lord Yu and held his hand. He smiled sweetly and called out, “Father.” County Lieutenant Yu smiled and patted the boy’s head. “Chengyi, this will be our home from now on.”

Then, he turned to the long-faced woman and said with a smile, “Madam, you were still worried that you wouldn’t have a residence in Qingchuan. Look, the new courtyard is spacious and neat. You can rest assured now!”

Madam Qin nodded and said with a smile, “When we were coming to Qingchuan, the elders in the clan told us that although the bandits in Qingchuan had been wiped out, Qingchuan City was dilapidated. The streets were dirty and filled with the feces of livestock. The county officials didn’t even have a decent residence. After entering the city, I realized that it was completely different from what the elders said. Just now, when I heard Official Tu talking to you at the entrance of the county office, I realized that it was a street that had been newly paved before the new year. There was also the county office and residence. It seems that Lord Zhou is capable.”

County Lieutenant Yu laughed and said, “Madam, you might not know this, but even the city wall was repaired by Lord Zhou. I think Lord Zhou is easy to get along with. In a few days, the garrison officer Zhong Chuan sent by the Imperial Court will come. In the future, you have to build a good relationship with Lord Zhou’s wife and Senior General Zhong’s wife, understand?”

Madam Qin bowed and said, “Master, don’t worry. I’ll build a good relationship with their wives.”

The enchanting woman’s eyes darkened for a moment. She looked up and smiled. “Master, don’t worry. I’ll help Sister greet the women of the two lords!”

County Lieutenant Yu looked at her appreciatively. “I know you’re the most sensible. Leave these things to Madam.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll help Madam.” Madam Qin watched the two of them exchange glances and turned to leave with the two ladies. “Hui’er, Xin’er, let’s clean up the house.”

County Lieutenant Yu looked at the mother and children who turned around and left. He touched his nose in embarrassment.