The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

Chapter 413 Support

I have to say that Qian Youyi’s method is very good.

The next morning, Xu and Zhang Laoer asked their servants to drive the cart to the farm and never mentioned moving back to their old house again.

When Zhang Ping'an came back from school, the old couple had just walked in, their faces red from the wind.

"Dad, Mom, your intention to help is good, but you must not overwork yourself. Besides, today is Laba Festival, and the north wind feels like a knife on my face. You have to take care of your health!" Zhang Pingan said with some concern.

"Son, it's okay. I know you feel sorry for your mother and me, but we are all used to working. It's good to move our bodies around. Besides, we have servants around, so we won't be too tired!" Zhang Laoer replied with a smile. He rarely said a few more words today, and it was obvious that he was really happy.

Xu was also very happy. When she went to the farm today and saw the more than 200 acres of land connected together, she felt happy.

Farmers' obsession with the land is ingrained in their bones!

"Husband, our parents will definitely know their limits. I will also ask the servants to remind you more often. Don't worry!" Qian Youyi advised softly.

Seeing that the atmosphere was good and everyone in the family was present, Xu hesitated and said, "But, daughter-in-law, there is something I want to discuss with you."

"Mom, just say it," Qian Youyi looked over in confusion.

"Your father and I noticed that the land on the farm didn't seem to be turned thoroughly. Some of the taro and radishes fell to the ground. Today, I brought the driver to dig out a lot of them. These are all food. Even if we don't eat these crooked melons and jujubes ourselves, we can share some with our relatives. And the lotus roots in the lotus pond have to be dug, otherwise they won't taste the same and will rot easily. It's a pity. Lotus roots are very expensive in winter!" Xu said this not just for the money, but mainly because she felt sorry for the food.

Qian Youyi said directly, "Mother, you are right. Most of the tenants on the farm have worked for our Qian family for generations. We are a family of good deeds and have always treated these tenants well. Over time, these people will inevitably become lazy. Now that we have handed them over to you, you will naturally listen to your parents. You don't need to worry about me, just do as you plan."

Seeing their daughter-in-law being so understanding, Zhang Laoer and Xu immediately relaxed their brows and responded, "Okay, okay, I'm relieved to hear you say that. It's really a blessing from his previous life that we were able to marry you safely!"

Qian Youyi pursed his lips and smiled.

Several people went to the dining room to have dinner together.

With her daughter-in-law's support, Xu spoke more freely and complained, "The people on the farm say they are tenants, but I think they are more like termites. They can't stand any hardship. When they are asked to plow the land, they say the soil is frozen. When they are asked to dig lotus roots, they say they are not feeling well. I think they are just being treated too well!"

"Mother, calm down. Farming is what I am least good at. When I looked at the income in the account books, there was not much difference compared with previous years, so I didn't take it seriously. I didn't know that these tenants dared to be so sneaky and cunning. It's time to teach them a lesson. If they don't listen anymore, come home and tell me, and I will punish them," Qian Youyi said slowly.

She actually said this entirely to cooperate with her mother-in-law, Xu. After all, the Qian family had many businesses, and the rest of the shops and land in her dowry were even more numerous, so it was difficult for them to pay attention to these trivial matters.

Besides, when the water is too clear, there will be no fish. As long as you don’t go too far, basically no one will care.

Zhang Pingan listened from the side and couldn't help but feel a little more favorable towards his daughter-in-law.

As the saying goes, "The seventh and eighth days of the twelfth lunar month, beggars will freeze to death."

At night, it was indeed very cold.

The kitchen cooked some fragrant Laba porridge. Zhang Laoer and Xu ate two big bowls of it. After that, they went to wash up and go to bed.

Zhang Ping'an is doing his homework in the study.

Fortunately, the charcoal brazier was lit. In previous years, on days like this, his hands would often become numb from the cold from writing. This year, it was much better than before.

Early the next morning, Xu excitedly followed Zhang Laoer to the farm.

The old couple came back later than Zhang Pingan at night, but their faces were not very good, and they even looked a little angry.

When Zhang Ping'an saw this, he guessed that his parents must have run into trouble at the farm today.

Many servants and tenants in wealthy families are very difficult to deal with. Because they rely on their power, they often bully others and live a good life. Over time, they forget who they are.

This time, without waiting for anyone to ask, Xu blurted out everything. It was simply that the people on the farm were beyond her control.

"It's not that they openly refuse to listen, but they always have all kinds of excuses. It's really infuriating!" said Xu, obviously very angry.

"Don't be angry, mother. It's not worth it." Qian Youyi handed Xu a cup of tea and said calmly, "I'll have someone call the village head over to talk tomorrow."

After saying this, he told the housekeeper to set the table.

"Dad, Mom, let's eat first. We can talk about it tomorrow. Although I don't like to bully others, our family is in such a good position now that we will never let the tenants bully us," Zhang Ping'an comforted him, feeling a little angry.

No wonder there is an old saying that a powerful slave can bully his master!

The next day, Xu no longer went to the farm.

Qian Youyi really asked his servants to go to the village to find the head of the village.

When the village head arrived, Qian Youyi invited Zhang Laoer and Xu to go together.

The head of the village is a man in his thirties, tall and strong. He looks ruddy at first glance. Although he has dark skin like other farmers, there is no trace of bitterness on his face, which shows that he must be living a very comfortable life!

After seeing Qian Youyi, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed to greet him. In the twelfth lunar month, the kowtows made a loud noise on the ground.

Zhang Laoer and Xu had no good feelings towards the head of the village. Although he treated them politely when they were in the village, he did not do anything for them.

They have lived for most of their lives, how could they not see through it!

Qian Youyi didn't say anything, just drank tea leisurely.

He waited until the village head's forehead was bruised and bleeding before he said, "Do you know what you did wrong?"

The head of the village finally stopped as if he had been pardoned, and begged for mercy: "Second Miss, but the old master and the old lady went to the village these two days, and I didn't take good care of them? I deserve to die. I beg you to have mercy on me this time!"

Qian Youyi put the teacup back on the table with a "pa" sound, and the sound was very obvious in the quiet room.

"You know, this is not the only mistake you made. Although I am a daughter of the Qian family, I have married into the Zhang family. Now that my parents-in-law are at home, they are naturally the two elders in charge. You didn't greet them first after entering the door, which broke the rules. Do you think I can forgive you?" Qian Youyi said in a calm voice.

The village head hadn't lived in vain. Upon hearing this, he immediately turned around and kowtowed to Zhang Laoer and Xu Shi. After that, he slapped himself in the face: "Old Master and Old Madam, please forgive me! I will definitely deal with the people in the village when I return!"

Zhang Laoer and Xu Shi were not heartless, and this matter was not too serious. Seeing that the village head was so miserable, they were willing to change, so they said to Qian Youyi: "Daughter-in-law, why don't you forgive him this time!"

The head of the village also looked over.

Qian Youyi had been waiting for this sentence, and he said calmly: "Well, this time my parents-in-law helped to intercede for you, and considering that your ancestors have worked for the Qian family for eight generations, even if they have no merits, they have worked hard. I will forgive you for now. If you do it again, you will be severely punished!"

Upon hearing this, the village head immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude.

"However!" Qian Youyi changed the subject and continued, "It is a fact that the farm is poorly managed. Aside from your family, all the remaining people must be driven out. All the servants who have signed death indentures must be sold off. No one should be spared. Do you understand?"

After hearing this, the village head broke out in a cold sweat. Wasn't this a disguised way of sidelining him? He would become a bald monk. When he returned to his family for the New Year, he would be laughed at by the other servants. How could he survive in the future?!

"Second Miss," the village head wanted to plead again.

"Hmm? Any objections?" Qian Youyi glanced over.

The village head quickly changed his tone and said, "No problem, no problem, the second young lady is wise!"

Zhang Laoer and Xu were stunned by what happened, and the way they looked at their daughter-in-law changed.

I didn't expect that he, who was usually sickly and weak, would act so powerfully!