Country Maiden: Fields and Fortune

34, Unsuccessful

“Hmm,” Li Hengyi muttered softly.

There was a touch of indifference.

There was still a dull ache in his chest, and the distance to Leng Zhuxiang seemed even farther now.

“My lord, the woman who made this tofu dish is very beautiful,” Yuanbao said cautiously.

“…”

Li Hengyi looked up at Yuanbao, “Handle it as you see fit.”

Yuanbao nodded.

He went down to find Yuan Cheng and inquired about Xie Zhinuan’s background.

Yuan Cheng didn’t know about Xie Zhinuan’s past and gave a rough account of the story, allowing Yuanbao to understand the situation.

Returning to report to Li Hengyi, he remained silent.

Without instructing anything else, he sat for a moment before rising and leaving back to the posthouse.

On the way,

Yuanbao couldn’t resist asking, “My lord, should we ask Miss Xie to prepare some other dishes?”

“?”

Li Hengyi said nothing.

After a pause he finally said, “No need!”

Xie Zhinuan had gone to bed early.

She had noticed that since her arrival through time, her sleep had been excellent; she would fall asleep and wake up on schedule, feeling quite refreshed.

In a corner, Routuan slept within a bamboo basket, whimpering a bit, seemingly missing its mother. Xie Zhinuan decided to pull the basket closer to her, reaching in to touch it whenever it whined. After a few times, it settled down.@@novelbin@@

Dawn was barely breaking when Xie Zhinuan got up. Everything was already packed, and accompanied by Azhu and Donghua, she went to eat wontons. The mule cart had already arrived.

But this was not a mule cart; it seemed to be pulled by a mule.

Mules, offspring of a donkey and a horse, run faster than donkeys and are also stronger.

Yuan Cheng was talking to the mule cart driver, asking him to be cautious on the road while also instructing Donghua to take good care of Xie Zhinuan during the journey.

Yuan Cheng’s wife spoke to Xie Zhinuan, showing a hint of impatience.

She was annoyed by her husband’s excessive enthusiasm for Xie Zhinuan, as he was not even that meticulous with her own relatives. Seeing her eldest son staring at Xie Zhinuan, her heart tightened. She quickly said, “Get on the cart now so we don’t arrive at Xiaohe Village after dark!”

Xie Zhinuan nodded.

Before leaving, she said to Yuan Cheng, “Uncle, I’m leaving now!”

The mule cart was loaded with quite a few items, but fortunately, she was the only one sitting in it, otherwise it would have been a bit cramped.

As the mule cart started moving, Xie Zhinuan held Routuan in her arms, gently kneading its body.

At noon, she had a bowl of noodles at the tea house. Donghua paid for it, adding meat slices and eggs to the dish. Xie Zhinuan, with her small appetite, asked for an empty bowl and served herself some. The leftovers were shared between Donghua and the mule cart driver.

Xiaohe Village

Old Mrs. Ni sat at the entrance to the village with a few other women, knitting shoe soles, while some children played nearby.

During this time of the year, those with strength went to work, leaving the elderly at home to look after the children and cook for the family.

Mainly, Old Mrs. Ni was waiting for Xie Zhinuan at the village entrance.

On the way back, Old Man Yuan had told her that it’s likely Xie Zhinuan hadn’t lost her memory at all; instead, she had been hurt and didn’t wish to bring it up. He also mentioned that Xie Zhinuan was a very capable young lady, not to be underestimated.

Old Mrs. Ni thought about it and felt it made sense.

Considering how Xie Zhinuan spoke and behaved with ease and without hurry, not greedy for money nor withholding towards others,

it seemed her background must have been quite good.

Some were curious and asked, “What about the girl your old man rescued?”

“She has good culinary skills and has been teaching the chefs at a restaurant in the county town. She should be back in a couple of days!” replied Old Mrs. Ni softly.

“I heard she is extremely beautiful. Don’t you want to keep her for your grandson?”

“…”

Old Mrs. Ni paused.

That was something she couldn’t decide on her own.

Her eldest daughter-in-law came from a good family, and her father was a scholar. It was far beyond what a poor farming family like hers could match. Her eldest grandson was now a scholar too, and once he passed the imperial examination, his marriage would need to be carefully considered. Xie Zhinuan was good, but without family, it was not to be.

Chapter 36