Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 83 Suspicious Person

The morning sunlight shone through the thin mist and onto the ridges of the fields in Feng'an Village.

Yang Can walked at the front, with Leopard Third Master Yu Xiaobao beside him.

Behind him were Yu Rui, the young master of Dailai City, Tuoba Junxie, the Xianbei leader, and Balimo, as well as Zhang Xieli, who followed closely behind.

The group walked through the dew towards the stream where the waterwheel was located.

The damp scent of earth wafted over him, and Yang Can took a deep breath, then suddenly paused, startled.

This scene seems familiar.

Yang Can subconsciously turned around and met Zhang Yunyi's thoughtful gaze.

Their eyes met in mid-air, and they both read the same sentiment in each other's eyes—

Once upon a time, Zhang Yunyi also led Yang Can on inspection tours in the same way.

At that time, the fields in Feng'an had not yet been cultivated, but now the seedlings are thriving and the land is lush and green.

Zhang Yunyi lagged behind the group, quietly watching Yang Can's tall and straight back.

The sunlight outlined the young man's resolute features, making him feel as if he were seeing his former self.

"The me of yesterday has become the you of today."

Zhang Yunyi silently recited this in his heart, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

"But what will it be like for you, Yang Can, when the millet ripens?"

His gaze subtly shifted to Yu Xiaobao, a mixture of amusement and anticipation in his eyes.

"Wow---"

The waterwheels, propelled by the river, slowly turned, lifting clear water into the irrigation canal and flowing along the field ridges into the distance.

Leopard Third Master Yu Xiaobao stared at the waterwheel for a long time, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He curled his lip and deliberately raised his voice: "When I first heard about it, I thought it was some kind of miraculous thing, but after seeing it today, it's nothing special."

He stroked his beard, looking unconvinced. "This thing wasn't difficult to make. It was just something I created on a whim."

Upon hearing this, Yang Can simply smiled slightly, his gaze still following the turning waterwheel.

His calm demeanor suggested that he hadn't heard the derogatory remarks at all.

Yu Xiaobao's face immediately turned ugly.

When someone intentionally belittles another person, and the other person doesn't even bother to refute them, this kind of disregard is the most hurtful.

Just as the atmosphere became awkward, Yu Rui spoke up at the right moment: "Third Uncle is right. Not only the waterwheel, but also the improvement of the plow was indeed just a flash of inspiration."

He strolled over to the waterwheel, reached out and scooped up a handful of water. "To be honest, it's not difficult to make, but..."

He turned to look at everyone, his smile gentle: "Just these two things, hundreds of years ago. What they looked like in ancient times is what they look like now. Has anyone had a flash of inspiration?"

He turned his gaze to Yang Can, his expression filled with sincere admiration: "So, in my opinion, this flash of inspiration is of great use, it is of immeasurable merit, it is worth a fortune."

"Ziming, you're just like your father, you've got a silver tongue."

Third Master Leopard glared at him with displeasure: "You are the young master of Dailai City, and you will take over your father's position in the future. You are in charge of military and political affairs."

Whether it's a waterwheel or a plow, it's ultimately just a minor technique; does it deserve such high praise?

"I cannot agree with what you have said, Uncle."

Yu Rui responded neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Without skills like those of Deacon Yang, any 'Great Way' is nothing but a rootless duckweed."

As he said this, his gaze swept over Yang Can almost imperceptibly.

He did indeed come with the intention of recruiting them.

He had prepared the money and chosen the beauty, but he guessed that, given Yang Can's age, what he cared about most was his career and future prospects.

He was willing to give up his position as an external affairs officer as long as Yang Can was willing to submit.

But he was in no hurry to reveal his purpose.

Although Yang Can had spoken up for his father at Mingde Hall on Phoenix Mountain, it is still difficult to determine whether this goodwill stemmed from his desire to align himself with Dailai City or simply from his dislike of the Suo family.

Moreover, Yang Can's reputation has soared, and his importance in his uncle's heart is no longer what it used to be.

He needed to figure out Yang Can's stance first.

When Yang Can heard Yu Rui speak up for him, he couldn't help but feel moved.

He glanced at Yu Rui gratefully and smiled, "I am deeply grateful for your appreciation, young master. However, Third Master's teachings are indeed very reasonable."

He turned to Yu Xiaobao and said humbly, "I am a subject of the Yu family, and I am only using 'tactics'. As long as I do 'tactics' well, I will be worthy of my lord. I wonder if Third Master agrees?"

Yu Xiaobao said with a half-smile, "Has your 'skill' been done very well?"

He shook his head vigorously: "You don't think that making some improvements means you've done your job well, do you?"

These six farms and three pastures—we won't know their true worth until the autumn harvest. It seems premature to say anything now, doesn't it?

"Third Master is right. It's too early to say anything now," Yang Can replied with a smile.

Yu Xiaobao carefully considered the meaning behind these words, and his expression immediately changed.

This bastard is using words to confuse me, as if he's trapping me inside!
Just as he was about to explode, Yu Rui grabbed him and said, "Hey? That plow over there used to clear the wasteland, isn't that the 'Yang Can Plow'? Uncle, come on, let's go take a look."

Without saying a word, he had already pulled Yu Xiaobao away.

Taking advantage of the moment, Kang Zhengyang quickly approached Yang Can and reported in a low voice: "Master, someone from the village has sent a message. Tuoba Junxie and Bali Mo have sent people who are now searching around, specifically inquiring about what happened in Canglang Gorge that day."

As Yang Can chased after Yu Rui and Yu Xiaobao, he casually asked, "Are Zhuang Zhong's troops reliable?"

"Of course people can be relied on, I'm just afraid someone might be clumsy with words and let something slip."

Yang Can nodded gently: "Don't panic. They're selling mountain goods, so logically, I can represent the Yu family to hold them accountable."

They're just taking advantage of the fact that Feng'an Village is easily harassed and they won't go too far against them.

Presumably, they wouldn't dare to go too far.

But he didn't dare to place too much hope in the other party's rationality. After a moment's thought, he said, "Tell our men to stay home as much as possible and look out for each other. As long as the chieftain sends people to investigate the smuggling of mountain goods, these two groups of Xianbei will not be able to stay here."

"But when will the lord send someone? If it's too late..."

"Let's wait two more days. If the clan leader still hasn't sent anyone by then..."

Yang Can's gaze fell on the arrogant Third Master Leopard and the smiling Young Master Yu beside him. "I'll use this unexpected Third Master Leopard and our Young Master Yu from Dailai City to make a story."

He patted Kang Zhengyang on the shoulder and then chased after Yu Rui.

At the back of the group, Tuoba Junxie and Balimo walked side by side, clearly showing little interest in the farming activities before them.

Ba Limo sighed, "Lord Bald Hair, the only people connected to your shipment, besides the herdsmen who died in my tribe, are the retainers of Feng'an Village."

He gave Yang Can a cold look and said, "I have a feeling that what this Master Yang said yesterday was not entirely true, and he is highly suspicious."

Bald Falcon Evil has decided to take the blame for the Bali tribe.

He can't delay much longer; his elder brother is eagerly awaiting those armored warriors.

As long as he can help his elder brother annex the Bali tribe at a relatively low cost, even if the armor cannot be found, his elder brother will not kill him.

What he needs to do now is to keep Balimo here until his elder brother succeeds.

Therefore, his attitude towards Ba Limo was not as bad as before; he just gave a cold laugh with a sullen face.

"Yang Can? Of course I don't believe his nonsense! But I don't believe you, Ba Limo, either!"

You say he's highly suspicious, then you have to give me some evidence.

Otherwise, if my goods were lost on your territory and your people were found there, I would have no choice but to hold you accountable.

Faced with such unreasonable words, Ba Limo could only smile bitterly.

He's not a reasonable person, but what can he do when someone more powerful than him is unreasonable?
Ba Limo suppressed his anger and said, "Lord Baldman, please rest assured. Feng'an Village mobilized several hundred men that day. With so many people, it was impossible to keep the secret."

He stared at Yang Can's retreating figure again, his eyes narrowing unconsciously. "If it was him who did it, I'll definitely get something on him!"

……

Inside the Yang residence, preparations for the Dragon Boat Festival banquet have entered their final stage.

After busying herself for half a day, Qingmei returned to the flower hall and sat down. She had just taken a sip of hot tea when Rena gracefully walked in.

"Qingmei Girl".

Upon seeing Rena, Xiao Qingmei unconsciously straightened her back.

Rena's full breasts, wrapped in Terminalia chebula, seemed ready to burst out at any moment, which made Qingmei feel inexplicably pressured.

"Why is she the only size? It's outrageous!"

Little Green Plum cursed inwardly, but forced herself to remain calm: "What is it?"

Rena said excitedly, "Master said that from now on I will only be responsible for managing business matters."

In the master's room, I will need to trouble you, Qingmei, to arrange some maids and servants to attend to him.

"Oh? Oh! I see..."

Qingmei was stunned for a moment, and only after Rena turned and left did she suddenly come to her senses.

"Why would someone surnamed Yang suddenly make such an arrangement? If so, wouldn't she just be a manager in the fort?"
In just a few days, she transformed from a lowly female slave into a manager!
She also wields financial power, making her a veritable head steward; her fortunes have changed faster than flipping through a book!

The sourness in Qingmei's chest surged up like a rising tide.

Watching Rena's disappearing figure, her voluptuous waist and hips swaying in a captivating arc, her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"Could it be that this old woman won his favor and got promoted because of her... thing?"

This thought immediately made Qingmei feel uneasy, as if it were a toy she had just gotten her hands on, which hadn't even been played with yet, but had been snatched away and played with to her heart's content by another child.

She was sitting there sulking when Little Nun Jingyao arrived again, stepping onto the lotus-shaped path.

"My dear Qingmei."

"Oh? Sister Jingyao, is something the matter?"

Upon seeing Jingyao, Qingmei immediately recalled what Granny Zhuo had told her that morning:

"The old woman came out of the master's room and left not long after, Miss Jingyao went in and stayed there for quite a while..."

Jingyao explained her purpose: she wanted to follow Qingmei's original suggestion to leave the Yang family mansion and find a quiet place in the fortress to convert into a nunnery.

She felt a little scared to stay in the Yang residence any longer.

Although Yang Can still acts like a human being now, what if he suddenly becomes a beast?
However, if Yang Can didn't agree to let her stay at Manshu Temple on Maijishan Mountain, she wouldn't be able to go.

The Buddhist community is vast, yet it does not save those who are not destined to receive it.

How can you expect to secure a stable job without paying a price?

If Yang Canruo didn't pay a considerable sum of money for her incense offerings, the abbess would never have taken her in.

After much deliberation, she decided that leaving the Yang residence would give her a little more sense of security.

However, she couldn't bring herself to say the reason, so she could only use the excuse that it was beneficial to her spiritual practice to deal with Qingmei.

Unfortunately, Qingmei was on high alert at that moment and wasn't so easily convinced.

She immediately realized that Jingyao was currently living in the innermost part of the secondary courtyard, which was quite quiet. The maids and servants in the same courtyard all lived on the outer side, so how could they disturb her quiet cultivation?

"Oh no, something's not right!"

Qingmei's expression gradually changed: "She wants to move out and live alone. Could it be so that... Yang Can can go to her place?"

Are all of them thinking of raiding our base?

Ha, little master, you're putting on such an innocent and pure act!
Rena, that old woman, was even better at putting on an act; she told me she would rather die than submit.

As a result, this is it?
In private, you two little vixens both want to climb into my master's bed!
Xiao Qingmei was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth, and a strong sense of crisis arose in her heart.

(End of this chapter)