bayedsolid Chapter 73 The Trouble Caused by Helping Outsiders
Chapter 73 The Trouble Caused by Helping Outsiders
"Miss, this is the wine that was just put into the cellar this year. Manager Du came to the estate to take a look a while ago... As you instructed, the new grain has been put into the granary, and the old grain has been taken to the county town to sell," Wu, the estate manager, led Wen Yuxia to the cellar and explained in detail the estate's various sources of income.
Previously, besides the servants' share, Master He would have the surplus grain from the farm sold off every year.
After Wen Yuxia took over the farm, she harvested new grain and sold old grain every year. She always kept a year's harvest in the granary to ensure that there was food to eat during years of famine and war.
"We will strictly follow the plan regarding matters on the estate. If there are any special circumstances, please inform me immediately," Wen Yuxia said with a faint smile, standing by the sweet potato field.
Wu Zhuangtou bowed and scraped, saying, "Miss, rest assured, I will inform you immediately if anything happens. Knowing you were coming, Madam Qin has already sent chickens, ducks, eggs, and vegetables to the main courtyard."
After Wen Yuxia took over the farm, she changed the profit-sharing arrangement between the farm servants and herself from 30/70 to 40/60. She also dug a well in the servants' living area and distributed bolts of cloth and cotton to them free of charge every year. The servants' quality of life reached an unprecedented level.
In the past, it was common to see men working in the fields in tattered clothes and women washing clothes by the river in the cold wind. Now, you can't see a single piece of clothing with more than five patches in the entire village.
The servants were very grateful for Wen Yuxia's contributions. Every time Wen Yuxia came to the estate, they would spontaneously bring vegetables, chickens, ducks and eggs from their homes to the main courtyard.
Just as Wen Yuxia was about to turn and leave the sweet potato field, she suddenly heard a commotion. She saw several servants rushing towards her, escorting a man who was struggling and shouting that he was innocent.
Wu Zhuangtou hurriedly stepped forward to inquire. It turned out that they had caught a stranger stealing vegetables outside the village. Wen Yuxia approached and looked at the ragged man, asking, "Why did you steal?"
The man began to weep, explaining that he came from a poor family and had fled famine to this place. He only had two dilapidated thatched huts for shelter, and this year's harvest was poor. After paying rent, his family had very little food left.
His family had not had enough to eat for many days, so when he saw the unattended vegetables outside the village, he couldn't resist taking them.
Wen Yuxia sighed, "They're all pitiful people. Let him go. Give him some vegetables to take back, and have Wu Zhuangtou get him ten catties of sweet potatoes from the warehouse."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked astonished. The outsider, who had been weeping, even forgot his tirade, staring wide-eyed at Wen Yuxia.
Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Wen Yuxia said calmly, "The vegetables outside the village are meant to feed the chickens and ducks; they're dispensable to us. But for him, they can save his entire family's lives."
The stranger left after expressing his gratitude profusely. After word spread, the poor families in the surrounding area all knew that the farm owner was kind-hearted. Those who couldn't afford food often came to the farm to beg for alms.
After being thoroughly annoyed, Wen Yuxia ordered the three village heads to stop providing assistance to anyone. Of course, that's a story for later.
A few days later, Wen Yuxia was checking the account books in the courtyard when Wu Zhuangtou came to report that the outsider who had been released earlier was requesting an audience at the village gate, carrying several bamboo baskets he had woven himself.
"He's probably here to express his gratitude. Accept the bamboo basket, prepare a return gift for him, and send him on his way," Wen Yuxia said helplessly.
During this period, people came to the gate of the village almost every day to ask to see her, either to borrow grain or silver. Wen Yuxia was terrified of these people, and she would get a headache whenever she heard someone asking to see her.
The apple and pear trees grafted two years ago have already begun to bear fruit. Wen Yuxia led Bei Yi towards the orchard.
"Miss, Senior Brother Nan Yi said he wants to stay by Young Master's side and serve him personally," Bei Yi said softly.
During Wen Yuxia's stay at Lingdong Farm, Bei Yi and Bei Er stayed by her side, serving her. Wen Yuxia planned to take them with her when she returned to the city; from then on, they would be her personal maids.
When Nan Yi heard that Wen Yuxia was going to take Bei Yi and Bei Er back to the city, he pestered Bei Yi, asking him to put in a good word for him with Wen Yuxia, as he also wanted to stay by his master's side.
Wen Yuxia pondered for a moment and then said, "Hong'er is still missing a page. Nan Yi can accompany Hong'er; he can run errands for him and act as a bodyguard in case of trouble."
Bei Yi chuckled and said, "Young Master's martial arts are far superior to Nan Yi's. How could Nan Yi possibly protect Young Master?"
She and Bei Er followed Wen Yuxia, only doing chores within their capabilities. If something serious were to happen, it was hard to say who would protect whom.
Gu Jiusi had fought Wen Yuxia before, and was defeated in less than thirty moves. Although Wen Yunhong rarely displayed his martial arts skills in front of outsiders, Bei Yi knew that no one in the guard team was a match for him.
"Only by keeping the enemy in the open and ourselves in the dark can we achieve a surprise victory. Hong'er cannot easily reveal her skills in front of others, and neither can I. Therefore, when danger comes, I will have to trouble you and Bei Er to protect me," Wen Yuxia had always planned to develop her skills discreetly, how could she possibly display her martial arts prowess in public?
“Miss, please rest assured, this servant and Bei Er will definitely protect you and help you achieve your goal,” Bei Yi said solemnly.
Wen Yuxia nodded in satisfaction, and the two quickly arrived at the orchard. Looking at the apple and pear trees laden with unripe fruit, she was filled with joy.
"Grafting pear branches onto an apple tree produces an apple-pear fruit, and grafting apple branches onto a pear tree produces a pear-apple fruit..." Wen Yuxia patiently explained grafting techniques to Bei Yi.
Just then, a peasant woman came running from afar, panting, and said, "Miss, another group of villagers have come to see you, saying they have nothing to eat at home."
Wen Yuxia frowned, feeling utterly helpless. Ever since she gave some sweet potatoes to the outsiders, villagers from the surrounding villages had been coming to the village every few days to beg for money.
"Bei Yi, have someone distribute porridge at the manor gate? At the same time, post a notice at the manor gate informing everyone that Lingyuan Manor, Lingdong Manor, and Lingtong Manor will all be distributing porridge for three days. After three days, no matter who comes to the manor for help, they will no longer be given any assistance."
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Wen Yuxia walked out of the village and faced a group of villagers in tattered clothes. She said loudly, "Gentlemen, relying on relief is not a long-term solution. You should focus your efforts on farming."
After hearing this, the villagers discussed it amongst themselves, and finally agreed with Wen Yuxia's suggestion. After drinking a bowl of millet porridge, the villagers left the farm in twos and threes.
As they were leaving, many villagers said they wouldn't come back to the farm for free porridge the next day.
After seeing off the villagers, Wen Yuxia took Bei Yi and Bei Er back to Lingyuan Village, then called Nan Yi and drove the mule cart to Xinchuan County.