Ugly girl only wants to farm

Zhang Yueniang was a little embarrassed: "How can that be?"

Seeing that she was a little reserved, Xu Chaoyan told her to relax: "We all live in the same courtyard and have such a good relationship. It's just a mosquito net. Why can't you take it? It's not something valuable."

"By the way, what new business opportunity did you discover? Are you planning to brew wine and sell it?"

Xu Chaoyan was amused by her idea: "Your idea is not bad, but I don't have the skills. Besides, to do business in alcohol, I have to report to the government and apply for permission. I also need to buy yeast from them. Who knows when all that will take? There are so many mosquitoes in the city. They bite people and cause red bumps. I'm planning to make a kind of floral water."

Zhang Yueniang looked at her with surprise: "Sister Xu, how come you have so many strange things in your head? What is this floral water? What is it used for?"

Xu Chaoyan pointed to the jar of strong liquor in her hand: "Look, this will come in handy later. I've been observing these days, and everyone uses mugwort or sachets to repel mosquitoes, but they still can't avoid getting red bumps from the bites. Some people don't like the smell of mugwort. This floral water is not only cooling and relieves itching, but it can also refresh the mind, which is especially suitable for these students. In the sweltering summer heat, everyone is drowsy, so this will help them wake up and stay alert."

She suddenly had a brilliant idea: why not make some herbal ointment? That would be more convenient to carry.

They had only been here a short time, but had already been plagued by mosquitoes for quite some time. Especially at night, when Meng Jiu wanted to review her lessons or practice her calligraphy, the mosquitoes buzzed around incessantly, and they had almost used up all the mugwort leaves they had dried earlier.

Meng Jiuxia also complained several times that the mosquitoes kept sneaking in through the gaps in the mosquito net.

Xu Chaoyan then thought of making some floral water and adding a couple of drops when she took a bath. It would have a cooling and anti-itch effect and leave her with a faint minty scent.

The two women struggled to carry the two jars of wine back to their lodgings. Yangliu Lane was rather remote, and they were drenched in sweat as if they had been pulled out of the water.

Xu Chaoyan raised her sleeve to wipe the sweat rolling down her forehead. She licked her dry lips and spoke weakly.

"Sister, I really overestimated myself. I should have brought a cart. Look how tired you are today, both of us are soaking wet. I'll make you some refreshing rice cake when we get back."

Zhang Yueniang wasn't much better off; she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Don't mention things like cold rice cakes or jelly, just give me your saliva right now, I'm not picky."

They happened to pass by a small stall selling drinks. Xu Chaoyan couldn't move her feet. She excitedly said, "Sister, let's go! I'll treat you to an iced drink, and we can rest our feet."

Even the cheapest bowl of chilled drink costs one coin. Zhang Yueniang looked up and saw that there were still about two alleys to go before home. She held back and said, "Sister, why don't we just wait a little longer? We can have a drink of water when we get back. The expenses in this prefectural city are so high. Let's save as much as we can."

Xu Chaoyan didn't listen to her for long. She pulled her over and sat her down on the stool, pointing to a somewhat familiar figure in front of her: "Sister, don't worry, let's rest for a while. Do you think that person in front of us is Qi Yu?"

Zhang Yueniang was also a little surprised: "Shouldn't Qi Yu be in the academy at this hour? Why is he on the street? The direction he's walking seems to be towards the city gate. Why isn't he staying in the academy? What is he doing out here? I'll bring him some water after I finish bringing him some water."

As he was about to get up and chase after her, Xu Chaoyan stopped him.

“I saw Qi Yuyu heading towards the city gate, probably to see if Aunt Qi has come or to ask about the caravan in the county town. You shouldn’t go. His mother and he have always depended on each other and have never been separated for this long. I think he’s been behaving quite normally these past few days. Your going will only distract him.”

As Yue Niang watched the figure gradually disappear into the distance, she still felt somewhat worried.

"Why is he here at this hour? Did something happen? Or was he bullied at the academy? Have you heard that your scholar Meng is back? Xu Yang is as tight-lipped as a clam. I've asked him several times about what's going on at the academy, and he always says nothing's wrong."

Xu Chaoyan pushed the bowl of chilled drink in front of her: "Sister, have some water and rest for a bit. Look at your lips, they're all chapped. When your husband comes back later, I'll try to get some information out of you."

Zhang Yueniang was finally relieved.

After the two returned to the courtyard, Xu Chaoyan was too lazy to move a finger and just wanted to lie down on her bed and rest.

Smelling the stench of sweat, she had no choice but to drag her limp body to her feet. She fetched some water and washed herself briefly. Only then did she lie down on the bed, feeling refreshed, for a midday nap.

She slept until evening, when Meng Jiu and the others returned from school.

Xu Chaoyan felt a tickle on the tip of her nose and couldn't help but sneeze. Then she slowly opened her eyes and saw Meng Jiu sitting on the edge of the bed. He gently pinched her nose.

Her sneeze was so sudden that it startled Meng Jiu. She thought she had used too much force and her hand was still in mid-air, maintaining the same position.

"You're back."

He had just woken up, and his voice was still a little sleepy. Seeing her sleepy face, Meng Jiu couldn't help but gently pinch her cheek.

"I happened to pass by the market on my way back and saw that some people were still selling fresh bamboo shoots. We had almost finished eating them in the mountains in the county, and I guess the climate here in the prefectural city is a bit different. I bought some to bring back because you like braised pork with fresh bamboo shoots the most."

Xu Chaoyan noticed that his forehead was covered in a dense layer of sweat. She raised her sleeve and wiped it away for him.

"Okay, I'll make you this fresh bamboo shoot topping tonight, and I'll also roll out some hand-pulled noodles."

Seeing that she beamed with joy when she talked about food, Meng Jiuhe couldn't help but gently pinch her cheek again.

Xu Chaoyan brushed his hand away and said with some dissatisfaction, "Can you please stop pinching my face? You're making my face uneven."

Then, Meng took out a packet of candied fruit from his pocket and stuffed it into her hand, saying somewhat awkwardly, "I saw those young ladies coming out of the shop carrying a packet. It must taste pretty good, you should try it. By the way, this was all that was left when I went there, so don't tell my little sister that I'll buy her another one next time."

Xu Chaoyan picked up a piece and stuffed it into his mouth. Meng Jiuhe was caught off guard by her feeding him, and his lips even touched a warm fingertip. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times.

Xu Chaoyan then asked from the side, "How is it? Is it delicious?"

He nodded casually, "Yeah, it's delicious. You should try some too." Then his ears involuntarily turned red.

While stuffing food into her mouth, Xu Chaoyan began to probe him for information: "Are you all settling in well at the academy? Has anyone been bullying you?"

"Hmm. It's the same everywhere?"

Xu Chaoyan, a person who speaks with impeccable tact, changed her question in another way.

"I've noticed Qi Yu acting strangely these past few days. Have you noticed anything unusual?"

Meng Jiuhe suddenly heard her mention Qi Yu and blurted out before she could even think: "Nothing happened, nothing has happened."

"Is nothing really happening?"

Xu Chaoyan turned him around and looked him in the eye: "Are you sure nothing happened?"

Feeling a little guilty under her gaze, Meng Jiuhe spoke softly, "There was a little unpleasantness, but don't tell my sister that these small things can be resolved."

Seeing that she looked like she wouldn't let him leave unless he told her, Meng Jiuhe could only slowly begin to explain.

"You know Qi Yu failed the exam once before, but this time he met some people at the prefectural school. Those people were a bunch of spoiled brats. After seeing him, they started to ridicule him, saying that he was just a country bumpkin, and no matter how hard he studied, it was useless. He might as well go back to the countryside and farm with his mother. Originally, there was nothing wrong with that, but then someone said something like, 'He's a bastard without a father.' So he got into an argument with that person."