A Farm Girl: Three Acres of Fertile Land Can Be Exchanged for a Country

After leaving, Wenxin Zishixin was absent-minded and didn't speak during meals.

Upon hearing the suggestion, he didn't say anything, just nodded and stood up.

Shan ate with them, but because her hand wasn't fully healed and she couldn't hold chopsticks, a maid fed her. Hearing they were leaving, her long-suppressed excitement leaped up, and she stood up, saying, "I want to go too! Take me with you! Take me with you!"

Wutong chuckled: "You'd better stay home and recover properly, otherwise you'll suffer if you bump into something on the street."

Shan Buyi: "Take me with you, I'll be so grateful... Don't leave me behind..."

Wutong was the most soft-hearted and was swayed by her pleading, but after thinking it over carefully, she still said, "No, you can play with them at home and you're not allowed to wander around... I'll bring you some candied hawthorns when I come back later."

Shan blinked pitifully, "Is it just candied hawthorns? I also want to eat mung bean cakes..."

"Okay, I'll bring you mung bean cakes too."

"There are also hawthorn slices, cloud cakes, four-happiness dumplings, mandarin duck pastries, big white steamed buns and big meat buns, roasted lamb legs and roasted pig trotters..."

Wutong walked up to her speechlessly and poked her on the head: "You good-for-nothing, this is Chuanzhou, where am I supposed to find you sheep?"

Shan grinned and said, "Just bring back all the good food for me."

"Okay, okay, be good and don't wander off."

Wutong gave him many instructions and left Shan at the mansion before going out with Wenxin.

The prefect's residence was in an excellent location; just a short walk from his door was the most bustling main street in Chuanzhou City. A high wall and numerous residences separated the two, preventing any noise from entering, making it arguably the most livable place.

The two did not ride horses. After leaving the house, they headed east and came to the main street.

After the recent war, the people of Chuanzhou City have returned to normal life. The Eastern Qi army only damaged a small part of the city wall during the siege, which they then repaired themselves. They did not harm a single innocent civilian. In fact, since their arrival, the city's food and drink expenses have brought a lot of business to the vendors, making Chuanzhou even more bustling than before the war.

The two strolled slowly down the street. There were many people like them, who had been busy and hard all day and were taking advantage of their free time after dinner to wander around the streets and buy some trinkets.

Looking at the bustling scene on both sides of the road and smelling the delicious aroma of pastries in the air, Wutong took a deep breath and exclaimed sincerely, "This kind of life is really great."

Wenxin, still absent-minded, simply hummed in response.

She glanced up at him and noticed he seemed listless today; even the red mole between his eyebrows didn't appear as vibrant. She asked, "Would you like some sesame seed cakes?"

He shook his head.

"I'm well-trained, shall I go buy it?"

Wenxin rubbed her temples, listlessly saying, "Whatever."

Wutong took out a few copper coins from his pocket, ran to the sesame seed cake stall, asked for two sesame seed cakes, and handed one to Wenxin when he returned.

Wenxin waved her hand and said, "I'm not hungry."

Wutong said, "You can eat it. I asked the owner, and he said it's all vegetarian, without any meat at all."

Seeing how stubborn she was, Wenxin had no choice but to take it and hold the hot sesame seed cake in her hand through the outer layer of oil paper.

Wutong looked around, then stepped back onto a step and squatted down, beckoning to Wenxin: "Come here."

Wenxin walked over, and the two of them, looking like migrant workers, squatted on the steps, taking a bite each time.

He nibbled on the sesame seed cake.

Countless people from Chuanzhou passed by them, all they knew was that the Eastern Qi King was a woman, and quite pretty. But in an era without cameras or the internet, most people knew nothing about her appearance.

Before leaving, Wutong changed into ordinary clothes. Since she and Wenxin both looked like they were from the Central Plains, no one recognized them. However, some young girls would steal glances at Wenxin as they passed by, their cheeks flushed with a pretty blush.

She was particularly moved, recalling the naive monk from back then and Wenxin, who was still somewhat naive but had become incomparably handsome. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, like a parent whose son had grown up.

She quickly finished her meat-filled sesame cake, but Wenxin hadn't touched her cabbage and tofu filling, looking preoccupied with her head down.

Wutong took out a handkerchief from her bosom, wiped the oil stains off her hands, and asked him, "Can I have something to say to you?"

Wenxin glanced at her sideways, her eyes tinged with a light brown by the warm glow of the sunset, like a piece of amber exuding a faint pine scent.

"what's up?"

Wutong had been making preparations along the way, but looking at him now, she still found it difficult to speak easily.

She couldn't imagine how painful it must have been for Wenxin to learn about this.

Since Shixin has already left, perhaps she can keep this a secret and hide the jade pendant?

However, the jade pendant reflects the conscience of the person in question, and so do the parents; he has the right to know about this matter.

If she keeps the truth from him just to avoid hurting him, then she is being dishonest.

Wutong pinched her palm hard, casually clutching a handkerchief, and looked down at the bluestone slabs on the road, saying, "When my senior brother left today, he gave me something and asked me to give it to you..."

"Things?" Wenxin raised an eyebrow, her face showing surprise.

Wutong took out the jade pendant that she had been hiding in a dark pocket of her clothes and handed it to him, saying, "Take a look for yourself."

Wenxin took the jade pendant with a puzzled look, examining it with a completely unfamiliar gaze, clearly seeing it for the first time as well.

Why did he give me this?

Moreover, Shi Xin seems to be living a rather impoverished life, so why would he carry a valuable jade pendant with him?

A short pain is worse than a long one... Wutong braced herself and mustered her courage, saying as Shixin had instructed, "This jade pendant... is your mother's only keepsake."

Wenxin was instantly stunned, her eyes remaining closed for a long time, as if she had turned into a statue.

Wutong took a breath, lowered her head, and continued, "You can keep it."

The streets were bustling with activity, and the sunset had reached its peak, spreading across the vast and magnificent sky.

There were many pedestrians in front of them, and at the end of the street, there were people performing, with cheers coming from all directions.

What a prosperous day, what a bustling moment.

The two squatted in the corner, staring at each other without moving, their emotions shifting wildly.

Wutong was a little afraid to face him, so she looked away to look at the crickets on the grass. It was almost late autumn, and the crickets had turned the color of dry grass, hopping around in corners where no one was paying attention.

After an unknown amount of time, Wenxin finally glanced at the jade pendant and asked her a question, her voice trembling slightly.

"How...did he get it?"

Wutong shook her head: "I don't know either. He only told me that if you ask, I should just say that your father gave it to you."

1 = Lao Qu said