Farming and reading family

The identity of a scholar is often a pass, and even if you meet a robber on the road, you can still say a few words to him.

Gao E heard from Tao Meiyu that there were many bandits in Xiangzhou, and she couldn't spare anyone with martial arts skills to protect them, so she planned to let Hu Zhe go there.

"It would have been nice if we had said this earlier." Hu Zhexing rubbed his hands. "When do we leave?"

Seeing Hu Zhexing like this, Gao E felt that he was not suitable to be an official. With his greed for money, it would be very dangerous for him to be an official.

Gao E had thought of opening Huanxizhu in Xiangzhou when she planned to open a chain. According to Tao Meiyu's description, the place was indeed more suitable for opening a hot pot restaurant.

Gao E prepared the things they were to take with them and asked Chen Jie to ask Jin Gusheng some questions about going out.

Even though Chen Jie is smart and capable, it is his first time traveling far away and he has not experienced many things. It is better for others to talk to him first.

"Why don't you let Ji Wuyang accompany them out?" Lu Qingluo was a little confused.

"If he can run around, why does he need to hide in the mountains?" Gao E also wanted Ji Wuyang to go, but his situation did not allow it.

"But we can't let him sit idle either." Lu Qingluo said with some disgust.

"We still have to train some people ourselves." Gao E said solemnly.

Poor in literature and rich in martial arts.

The cost of practicing martial arts is too high, and just feeding them is a burden for ordinary families, so they still have to support some people themselves.

This reminded Gao E of the murder of Yu Zhao's men, and she decided to hold the prince responsible for another black account.

After Chen Jie and his men were ready, they set off. Lei stood at the intersection and watched for a long time without going back.

"I didn't realize you were so sad about the separation." Gao E patted Lei's shoulder.

Lei's face was filled with sorrow. "Don't be fooled by the third brother's cleverness. He has never seen much of the world, and he has never been far away."

"It's really hard for him." Gao E felt a little sorry.

"Hmm!" Lei forced a laugh. "This is what he has always wanted to do. He is willing to go out and suffer."

The two sisters-in-law walked back while talking.

This year, more peppers are planted in the village, and peppercorns are also planted in areas where there is no land to grow crops.

There were also several kinds of spices that Gao E needed to use, and Chen Qing also planted them according to the appropriate method.

There are also chestnut trees, jujube trees, and walnut trees, which can all be harvested for food.

That day, Chen Qing came to Gao E to discuss planting trees on both sides of the road.

Now most of the land in this area belongs to Gao E, and we have to discuss with Gao E before we build canals and pave roads.

"We can plant trees on both sides of the road from our village to He County, but we'll have to wait." Gao E also thought about planting trees. "If we have more money, we'll repair this road."

"You want to build a road?" Chen Qing was surprised.

"Nowadays, many people from our village go to He County. When the academy starts to have students, the road will not be good enough. We might as well repair it together." Gao E suggested.

Chen Qing thought about it and said: "Then I will grow the seedlings first."

"Brother, what kind of trees do you think should be planted on both sides of the road?" Gao E was still undecided.

"Let's plant walnuts. They have large crowns and can provide shade when they grow." Chen Qing has already thought it through.

"Okay." Gao E nodded.

The two of them discussed it and Chen Qing went to prepare.

In the past, people didn’t understand why Gao E bought so much beach land. Now Peng Can has raised a lot of sheep and goes to the beach to graze them every day. Others think Gao E is foresighted.

That night, Gao E had just finished looking at the account book and was planning to go to the silkworm room the next day when there was a hurried knock on the door.

By the time Gao E arrived at the main hall, He had already brought Hu Zhexing in.

Hu Zhexing had disheveled hair, a dirty face, and several wounds on his body. He entered the main room and lay directly on the ground.

"Why are you back?" Gao E knew something had happened when she saw Hu Zhexing like this.

Hu Zhexing took a deep breath before saying, "We encountered bandits, and they asked me to come back for the ransom."

Gao E's heart skipped a beat; the thing she feared most had happened.

After Hu Zhexing recovered, he told them what had happened. The bandits gave them ten days to pay a ransom of 100 taels of silver, otherwise they would throw them into the mountains to feed the tigers.

The bandit also wrote a ransom document for them and took it into the mountains.

Gao E looked at it carefully and asked, "Are you sure this was written to you by a bandit?"

"Is the handwriting good?" Hu Zhexing also found that "it's better than mine."

Gao E indeed thought so.

Moreover, the document said that we were staying in the No. 1 room at Hutoushan and the room fee was one hundred taels.

"So bandits are not scary. What is scary is that bandits are educated. If they rob us, the government may not be able to do anything about it." Hu Zhexing said with a sad face.

Gao E thought for a moment and looked at Lu Qingluo and Ji Wuyang: "You have to go for this matter."

Ji Wuyang nodded, and Gao E handed the ransom documents and money to Ji Wuyang.

Hu Zhexing said he would not go out no matter what: "I think these bandits are against the imperial court. They don't care even though they know I'm a scholar."

"How come Mr. Du came back so smoothly? We are both scholars, why is there such a big difference between us?" Gao E heard Hu Zhexing say this, thinking that he probably wanted benefits.

"How can it be the same?" He said this with a lack of confidence. "At least I went out and came back to report the news. This salary..."

"Three taels." Gao E said directly.

Hu Zhexing thought about it and decided that three or two is better than nothing.

Ji Wuyang and Lu Qingluo rode to Hutou Mountain. It was already dusk when they arrived. The other party was quite particular and sent someone to pick them up. After confirming the ransom documents, they brought Chen Jie and the others over and released them after paying the money.

Chen Jie and his friends were fine, but their belongings were gone.

"Take them away first." Ji Wuyang ordered Lu Qingluo.

Lu Qingluo nodded.

Both of them are here, and it would be embarrassing if we just take them back.

Lu Qingluo led his men away, and Ji Wuyang checked the traces left on the road and followed them.

When they arrived at Hutou Village, Ji Wuyang also felt that these people were not simple. The village was built so that one man could block a thousand men from entering, and it was not easy for him to get in quietly.

He simply walked straight to the main entrance.

"What do you do?" The person at the door immediately shouted at Ji Wuyang when he saw him.

"Come and see your boss." Ji Wuyang said directly.

"You can't just see our boss whenever you want." The bandit guarding the gate was arrogant.

"Just say I have a big deal to discuss with him." Ji Wuyang said directly.

The two bandits looked at each other and didn't dare to delay. They shouted to the village and asked them to call the boss.

Soon, Xiashanhu Youwei brought his men over. He was carrying a large iron-ringed sword on his back, and the sword made clanging sounds as he walked, frightening others so that they dared not approach.

"Boss, that's him." The bandit pointed at Ji Wuyang outside the village gate.

"Where did this rat come from? He doesn't dare to show his true face, yet he says he wants to negotiate business with me." You Wei looked at Ji Wuyang.

He saw that although the man was thin, he was definitely a martial artist, otherwise he wouldn't be able to stand there with such imposing aura.

"Do I need to know who I am to negotiate business with a bunch of bandits like you?" Ji Wuyang sneered.

You Wei was angry: "What if you are a minion of the imperial court and come to deceive me?"