Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 18: Curbing the Spirit
Farming is a new thing for Tan Huaike.

She didn't quite understand this, because the Mohe people mainly made a living by raising livestock. In the early years, the country was rich and the people were safe. They had fertile land with abundant water and grass and mines that produced gems, but these were not enough for them to settle down and grow food. Most of the time they still migrated back and forth between several pastures.

Later, the Tilnu people attacked and occupied their pastures. In order to avoid being enslaved, the tribesmen moved to new places to hide every now and then. Finally, they followed the waning royal family and trekked thousands of miles to retreat to the Nashi River Valley, where they had a chance to breathe.

Most of the people in Daxuan make a living by farming. Although there are many herdsmen in the northwest border, there are still large tracts of land suitable for farming. The people of Daxuan, who pay attention to farming, will naturally not let the land go to waste, and will cultivate all the land that can be reclaimed into fertile fields.

Now that Tan Huaike owns his own land, he feels both curious and excited, and has long wanted to see it with his own eyes.

The five acres of land were in Lude County, twenty miles from the city. A round trip was time-consuming and laborious, and it was impossible to do so every day. Tan Huaike thought about it and decided to pack up his belongings with Pei'er and stay at the Shentu family's house there for a few days.

One always has to report to the head of the household before going out, so Tan Huaike went to see Madam Shentu.

The old lady, busy with her account books, raised her eyes when she heard this and said, "Going to Rude County to look at the farmland? What's so interesting about it? Those fields are usually taken care of by tenant farmers, and you don't need to cultivate them yourself, so why bother yourself with it?"

Tan Huaike brought out the excuse he had prepared long ago: "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Aunt Jun. I never had any land of my own in the Tan family before, and I didn't even contribute to my dowry. Fortunately, Aunt Jun was considerate and gave me five acres of good land. I'm really happy and want to go and claim it to see how much grain I can produce."

"Why, are you worried that the land I give you is not good?"

"Of course not, Aunt Jun!" Tan Huaike said, "Since it was given to me, I can only be grateful. How dare I be picky? Besides, I don't know anything about farming. I can't tell whether it's good or bad. I just don't want to be an idler.

"Right now, I'm still in mourning for my husband. I just want some quiet time. I can go to my country house to look after the fields and collect rent. It's also a way to help the family. It's better than just doing nothing all day and eating for free, which would also cause people to criticize me..."

The old lady frowned: "Who said you don't work and eat for free?"

Old Lady Liao, who was serving by the side, wrung her hands and dared not say a word, and could only curse in her heart.

This bride is always pretending to be pitiful, but she suddenly stabs you with a soft knife. It's really hard to guard against! No wonder she was asked to come and inform the old lady that she was going out today. It turns out she was waiting for her here!

Tan Huaike didn't complain openly, not even glancing at Old Lady Liao. He kept saying, "Don't pursue this matter, Aunt Jun. It's all because I, the new bride, haven't done enough. It's not right to just enjoy the good life without working hard. I've learned these days that everything counts if you earn it yourself. Eating someone else's leftovers won't taste good."

The old lady waved her hand and said, "Alright, go ahead if you want to. Originally, the rent for your five acres of land was collected together with the other fields in the family. Since you don't mind the trouble, you can collect it yourself from now on."

Having achieved his goal, Tan Huaike left with satisfaction: "Thank you, Aunt Jun."

Only then did the old lady look at Liao.

She knew exactly who Tan Huaike was referring to, so she scolded him, "I just asked you to watch her through the mourning period and deduct money from her. You're eating for free and giving her leftovers. You're giving her something to be assailed! Now, you're saving that little bit of food and forcing her to go to the fields and collect rent. A-Liao, are you getting senile?"

Old Lady Liao blushed and stammered, "Lord, I just wanted to dampen her spirit..."

The old lady sighed, "This bride looks docile, but in reality she's very cunning. She used to have a lot of sharpness hidden, but you've brought it all out."

Old Lady Liao said anxiously, "Lord, do you want me to go to the country house and keep an eye on her?"

The old lady was busy checking accounts and was too lazy to bother with these trivial matters. "No need. That place is just for farming. She can't do anything. She will be back in three or five days."
-
After all, I thought everything was too simple.

Having just tricked Old Lady Liao, who had been giving her a hard time, Tan Huaike encountered a problem before she could even reach the door feeling proud. There was no carriage for her to use at home.

This time, it wasn't the servants who were deliberately trying to embarrass her; it was Shentu Zhuo who had already taken the two carriages and their drivers out. After a brief inquiry, she learned that the Second Young Master was to go on an errand with the Music Officer Chi, bringing with him a dozen musicians and dancers to Dunhuang County. They were to perform local Yuefu music and collect inspiration for songwriting.

Tan Huaike was helpless. Her uncle really knew how to pick the right time. Now that there was no carriage, she couldn't just walk there.

There was no other way, so Tan Huaike grabbed his money and went to the post station in the city. He was reluctant to rent a carriage, so he asked around twice. He happened to meet a tenant farmer who was going back to Ruth County, so he took the farmer's ox cart and left.

Pei'er's back ached from the shaking of the oxcart, and he asked listlessly, "Madam, how long will it take us to get there?"

Tan Huaike was used to riding camels and various vehicles, so this little bump was nothing. She placed a soft cushion behind Pei'er for her to lean on, glanced at the sun, and said, "We'll be there by noon, just hang in there a little longer."

Judging from their attire, they were not ordinary farm girls. Seeing that they spoke kindly, the tenant farmer dared to strike up a conversation: "Um...whose master are you two ladies from?"

Tan Huaike said, "We are from the Shentu family."

"Oh, the wife of the Shentu family." The tenant farmer was obviously very familiar with the matter. "The Shentu family's land is in the village next to ours, very close. You can still make it in time for lunch when you get there."

"Uncle, how is the harvest this year?" Tan Huaike asked in a serious tone.

"It's not bad. This year is a lean year, so this kind of harvest is pretty good." The tenant farmer said with a relaxed expression, "As long as the landlord doesn't raise the rent, I won't have to worry about feeding my family."

"Who is your master then? Will they raise the rent?"

"My master is the county magistrate's eldest nephew. Have you heard of the pond music official? He is a noble man and is busy with his work. He doesn't care much about the affairs of the land. He usually collects the same rent in both big and small years."

"A good harvest is called a big year, and a poor harvest is called a small year?" Tan Huaike, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "Why are there big and small years? Is it because of bad weather?"

"Haha, it's obvious that Madam Shentu has never farmed before."

"I haven't done much farming before. I just married into the Shentu Mansion and have a few acres of land of my own. Collecting rent is secondary. I just want to see how farming is done."

"Just married..." The tenant farmer came to his senses, "Ah, you are the bride who became a widow as soon as you got married?"

After he finished speaking, he realized that he had offended her, and hurriedly looked at Tan Huaike's face, fearing that he had angered her.

Tan Huaike didn't take it seriously and said with a smile, "Yeah, am I that famous?"

The tenant farmer said awkwardly, "We were all busy with farm work a while ago, so when we met, we just chatted about these family matters... Well, Madam Shentu, did you really come into the Qinglu with a tablet?"

Tan Huaike said, "More than that, I stayed in the Qinglu with my husband's coffin for six days and six nights."

The tenant farmers were shocked: "Wow! As expected of a wealthy family, the Shentu family is really particular!"
-
　Next chapter: Farming and collecting rent.

　　Thanks to Xiaoman Xiaoan, Jiangjiangjiangjianghan, Universe Group Pet, Xia Xi Chanming, and Book Friend 8574 for their recommendation votes~

(End of this chapter)