The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2113 - 2088: Departure

The young maid led them around the main courtyard to the back. Just as they reached the courtyard of the study, they encountered a young lady turning around with a look of disappointment. Upon seeing Zhou Man and the other two, she stopped in her tracks. "Xiuhong, who are these three?"

Xiuhong smiled and stopped, "Cousin Miss, these are the guests of the eldest master."

She hesitated for a moment and then introduced Zhou Man and the others, "This is the cousin miss of our residence."

Seeing that she seemed a bit older than herself, Manbao smiled and paid her respects first, "So it’s the Cousin Miss."

The Cousin Miss saw her perform the Confucian salute, hesitated for a moment, and then crouched down to perform her own, but seeing Xiuhong didn’t intend to introduce them, she felt a bit awkward.

Manbao glanced at Xiuhong, then smiled and introduced herself, "My name is Zhou Man, and these are my two junior brothers."

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang also saluted, and then stopped awkwardly, looking at each other.

Xiuhong, seeing that they seemed out of words, reminded them, "Miss Man, Young Master Bai, my master is still waiting."

The three nodded to the Cousin Miss, then smiled and followed Xiuhong into the courtyard.

Xiuhong only escorted them to the gate of the courtyard, where someone inside came out to receive them.

Once inside the study, the three exhaled a sigh of relief, exchanged glances, and couldn’t help but laugh.

County Magistrate Tang was sitting by the stove adding tea. Seeing them, he asked, "What amusing thing happened? Share with us too."

"Nothing," Bai Shan naturally wouldn’t criticize the host’s servant in front of the host, especially since it wasn’t a big deal. He pulled Manbao and sat on a low stool by the stove, smiling, "Why is there only tea and nothing to eat?"

Tang He turned his head to Yang Heshu and said, "A trip to Xiazhou, and have you all become such gluttons upon your return?"

Yang Heshu chuckled, "Previously, Xiazhou lacked both meat and vegetables, so returning to the capital, naturally we wanted to indulge a little."

Tang He asked, "Will it be difficult for you now that you’ve taken over Xiazhou?"

Yang Heshu smiled lightly, "The most difficult times have been overcome. Can anything that comes be harder than those four months of illegitimacy?"

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, who had experienced Xiazhou, nodded in agreement. Indeed, what could be harder than the rampant epidemic?

County Magistrate Tang asked, "The people of Xiazhou are hostile towards you..."

"Soon, Niu Kang will be released," he said, "He did not maliciously introduce smallpox, so the law cannot charge him. With him around, and given the Niu Jia family’s presence, diverting the resentment off me isn’t difficult."

Tang He then reminded, "Know when to stop."

Yang Heshu replied, "Once I’m in Xiazhou, I’ll persuade the Niu Jia family to leave Xiazhou and return to their hometown."

Governor Niu certainly cannot return. His dereliction of duty was serious, probably constituting a grave crime, likely leading to a sentence, perhaps even exile.

Originally, Niu Jia had relatives in Xiazhou, and Governor Niu had been managing there for many years. Even if he were to retire, the family could continue their operations in Xiazhou. But given Niu Jia’s current reputation, staying in Xiazhou would not yield good outcomes.

In fact, the public sentiment in Xiazhou had been guided by someone previously, and Yang Heshu was well aware. However, at that time, the entire city was grieving, and he knew everyone needed an outlet. If he had clashed with them at that moment, not only would it have harmed the survivors and desecrated those who died, but he might not have won.

But now he has left Xiazhou; even his wife and children have retreated to the suburb estates. At this time, public discussion becomes more advantageous than problematic for him.

People naturally tend to favor the underdog, especially when he hasn’t committed a grave wrongdoing; everything remains within the grand narrative.

In front of the four, he didn’t hide his cunning and even taught the still naive Bai Shan, "Sometimes, appearing weak can yield greater rewards."

County Magistrate Tang clicked his tongue, "Your teaching is not at all gentlemanly. Be careful, Mr. Zhuang might come to settle the score with you for corrupting them."

Yang Heshu laughed heartily and happily said, "You’re right."

So they didn’t discuss the matter further.

Bai Shan and his companions felt a bit disappointed.

Manbao had to meet Doctor Xiao in the afternoon and wasn’t very free. She came today because she was concerned about Yang Heshu.

Therefore, after having lunch at the Yang Residence, they bid farewell and left.

The meal was taken in the study, and Yang Heshu didn’t have them pay respects to the elders of the household. He directly escorted the four to the side courtyard, watched them board the carriage, and nodded as they departed.

Once the two carriages had driven away, the smile on his face faded. He turned slightly toward the servant by his side and said, "Go ask Wantian, this morning, who guided Miss Man and her companions to the study, and whether they encountered any people or events on the way?"

The servant complied and waited until the young master returned to the study before heading to find Wantian.

Within two quarters of an hour, Wantian returned and recounted everything from when Zhou Man and her companions alighted from the carriage to their arrival at the study, leaving out no detail.

Yang Heshu was calmly practicing calligraphy.

Wantian then said, "Master, should we inform the housekeeper nanny? That maid was quite unruly, making Miss Man and her companions introduce themselves."

Yang Heshu replied, "She’s just not clever enough. Zhou Man and her companions didn’t take it to heart, so why should we make a fuss? However, the maids in the residence now aren’t as good as they used to be."

They hadn’t even been properly trained.

Wantian lowered his eyes, thinking: It’s not merely that they’re not what they used to be, they don’t even compare to the little maids around the young madam. Who knows how the Marquess manages the household...

Looking at the words he’d written, Yang Heshu frowned slightly and said, "Pack up. I’m a bit under the weather, and the recent bustle at home isn’t conducive to recuperation. Let’s stay at the countryside estate for a few days, and we’ll leave once the Ministry of Personnel’s documents arrive."

Wantian was momentarily surprised and then asked, "Master isn’t also curious whether Miss Man and her companions will go to the Western Regions?"

"Manbao said His Majesty has sent a letter to Anxi, and the back-and-forth will take a considerable amount of time. I fear there won’t be any immediate outcome. Let’s head back to Xiazhou and wait. If they’re going to the Western Regions, they’ll pass through Xiazhou anyway."

Wantian, recognizing the wisdom in this, turned to start packing.

They’d only been home for two days, and with the little luggage they brought, packing was minimal — they could leave at a moment’s notice.

With Marquis Yang not home, by the time he returned in the afternoon to discover that his son had left for the countryside estate, the steward was sweating, saying, "Master is noticeably ailing. Soaking at the hot springs would be beneficial, especially since it’s merely February and the chill from the north pierces to the bone."

Marquis Yang shot him a sidelong glance, "No need to sugarcoat it. He clearly dislikes how the guests are disrupting him at home."

Initially upset, Marquis Yang found it absurd that his son would choose to stay at a suburban villa immediately upon returning, and without notifying him.

Yet after the anger, seeing his son so emaciated, he felt heartache. Waving his hand, he said, "Let it be. If he wants to go, let him. Make sure to send him some supplies. Xiazhou is desolate, lacking many nice things. Since he’s in the capital now, he should seize the chance to replenish himself."

Look how gaunt he’s become. Even back when he went to Luojiang County as the county magistrate, he wasn’t this bad off. Xiazhou is still a prefectural city, after all, hmph.