The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune

Chapter 31: Chapter 30 Many Dogs Chapter 31: Chapter 30 Many Dogs Lord County Magistrate Zhang took it and opened the lotus leaf to reveal a golden-brown rolled pancake, with white strips inside that resembled bamboo shoots, as well as shredded meat.

The preparation was not refined, and even the flour used for the pancake was not white, but a mix of coarse grains, the lowest quality flour.

It was different from the white flour pancakes he had eaten before, which contained various meats and vegetables, but it looked quite good and smelled enticing too, so he didn’t hesitate at all and was about to take a bite out of it.

“My lord, how can you casually eat something of unknown origin? Who knows if it’s poisoned? What if you get diarrhea? Who can afford the consequences if something goes wrong?” A constable at Lord County Magistrate Zhang’s side urgently intervened.

He looked disdainfully at the pancake and then at the few shabbily dressed individuals,
To him, the pancake appeared filthy, just like the people presenting it, even beggars would disdain it, let alone the magistrate, but it would be rude to refuse, so he decided to do it for the magistrate!

It was precisely because of his shrewdness that he became the deputy head constable under the previous county magistrate.

Now, with the new magistrate in place, he aspired to become the head constable.

Ruo Shui snorted coldly, “If you won’t eat it, forget it!”

Even Ruo Xuan could see the disdain in their eyes, and frowned at him, “My lord, the constable beside you looks like a dog, you should replace him! It’s crucial to keep the company of the virtuous and stay away from the petty-minded.”

Head constable He was nearly livid, “You brat, what did you say?”

Was she indirectly calling him a dog?

If it weren’t for the presence of the magistrate, he would have made sure this whole family regretted it.

Just you wait!

Lord County Magistrate Zhang gave him a cold look, “Apologize!”

It was indeed time for a change, and now he had an excuse!

The reason he hadn’t made the change before was that he had just arrived and it didn’t seem right to immediately dismiss the old staff of the Governor’s Office. He had taken him by his side recently and was well aware of his character!

He had been waiting for an excuse to get rid of him, and today was the perfect opportunity!

The constable felt a sudden panic, and quickly bowed with hands folded, “It was my oversight, these are coarse grain cakes; I failed to recognize them earlier. Please don’t hold it against me, I’m truly sorry for my blindness.”

Lord County Magistrate Zhang also said, “My subordinate was impolite. Please forgive us. Xuanbao, have you been educated? Even knowing about keeping the company of the virtuous and the petty, that’s very intelligent of you!”

His own daughter was still learning the Thousand Character Classic.

“Yes, I heard it from my father and brother,” Ruo Xuan replied.

“Very intelligent! Brother Ruo, your daughter is remarkable! Truly enviable!”

Seeing his genuine praise for Xuanbao, Ruo Shui was no longer annoyed and said with pride, “Indeed! Xuanbao is particularly clever!”

Lord County Magistrate Zhang nodded in agreement, smiling. He took a bite of the pancake, chewed thoughtfully, and then his eyes lit up before he finished the Zizania roll in just a few bites!

“Delicious! Is this pancake really made with Zizania?”

Ruo Xuan held out a plump, fresh Zizania and handed it to him, “Of course! My lord, look, this is Zizania! It’s the fleshy stem of Geng Grass, once you peel off the leaves. It can be stir-fried, braised, or used in soups. This bag is for you and Qian Brother to enjoy.”

Lord County Magistrate Zhang took it, clenching it tightly as if it were a bar of gold, “Great! Haha… wonderful!”

He was excited at the thought that if Geng Grass was edible, it would be a tremendous boon for the people of Shaxi County.

After all, he had seen many wetlands covered with these wild Geng Grasses.

Lord County Magistrate Zhang said hastily, “Good! Xuanbao, your kindness is noted; I shall not refuse! This silver is for the bag of Zizania.”

After saying this, he laid ten taels of silver on the cart and instructed Head Constable He to move the large sack of Zizania to the backyard.

He wanted everyone in the Governor’s Office to try it. He would also ask the cook to experiment with other ways to prepare Zizania, as well as consult Doctor Lin on any potential medicinal properties.

Once it was confirmed that Zizania was edible, he intended to report it to the Imperial Court, and he wouldn’t neglect to secure a share of credit for Xuanbao!

Of course, he didn’t voice this thought; after all, he didn’t know whether The Emperor could give any reward or if there was even any merit to acknowledge.

Lord Zhang hurried back to the backyard with the sack of Zizania shoots.

At this moment, Ruo He also came out and just happened to see Lord County Magistrate’s guard carrying away a sack of Zizania shoots and said, “Sent a sack of Zizania shoots to the lord?”

“It was meant as a gift, but the lord gave silver!” Ruo Xuan raised the ten taels of silver in her hand, “Dad, let’s go! We’re heading to Brother Xuanyuan’s place, I want to bring him Zizania shoots.”

The Divine Lord Xuanyuan must have never tasted these Zizania shoots.

Ruo He hadn’t expected the new County Magistrate to be so generous; it seemed he didn’t want to take even the smallest advantage from the common people, and he couldn’t help but say, “This new County Magistrate seems to be a good one.”

Ruo Shui responded, “Hopefully!”

Whether a County Magistrate was good or not couldn’t be concluded so quickly, but the previous one, with his various exorbitant taxes and levies, was truly detestable.

Ruo He then said, “I’ll go to the Tooth Market first to see if there’s any work, and then go back to let mother know, so she won’t worry.”

The house he had helped to build yesterday was now finished, and since he had nothing to do today, he needed to find the next job.

“Alright.” And so the two brothers walked some distance before parting ways.

~
When Ruo Shui pushed his cart towards the Xuanyuan residence, he happened to pass by the bookstore that they had visited earlier.

The shopkeeper of the bookstore saw him passing by, immediately ran out, and called to him, “Ruo Shui, wait, don’t go!”

Ruo Shui stopped the cart, “What is it, Shopkeeper?”

The Shopkeeper, holding on to Ruo Shui’s arm and not letting go, said, “Ruo Shui, are you still copying books? I’ll give you 100 copper coins per book.”

The rate had previously been 50 copper coins per book, so a direct increase to 100 copper coins surprised Ruo Shui.

However, he still hadn’t had time to copy the books he took from another bookstore, and with the family now selling Zizania shoots, and considering the last incident, he didn’t like this shopkeeper, so Ruo Shui declined, “No, I’m quite busy lately, no time to copy.”

The Shopkeeper hurriedly offered more upon hearing this, “150 copper coins, 150 copper coins per book.”

Ruo Shui was even more astounded. What was going on with the shopkeeper?

Numerous poor scholars frequented the bookstore; surely they weren’t lacking people to copy books?

The Shopkeeper cleared his throat, “We’ve recently landed a big deal at the bookstore, and we’ve known each other for years. Help me out, how about 150 copper coins per book?”

The so-called big deal was obviously fictitious; for some unknown reason, the books copied by the Ruo siblings had sold out instantly the day before yesterday, then yesterday those scholars came back looking for books copied by Ruo Shui to buy and even brought along many classmates, insisting on purchasing only the copies by the Ruo siblings, whilst refusing all others. It was indeed a strange and curious matter!

Ruo Shui found it strange and curious too, but he still refused, “Sorry, I really can’t, I have other things to tend to. Farewell!”

He then moved on, pushing the cart away.

The shopkeeper became angry, “Ruo Shui, think carefully! Once you pass this village, there won’t be this shop. 150 copper coins per book is already a sky-high price. Could other bookstores offer you this rate? If you refuse now, don’t come to me when you’re out of silver next time, as I will never again take the books you copy.”

Ruo Xuan declared, “I’ve decided! 150 copper coins are too cheap, I won’t copy!”

Hearing this the shopkeeper scoffed in disbelief, “Pah, do you really think you are some great writer? That your copied books are worth a thousand gold per word? You find 150 copper coins too cheap? If you don’t copy this time, the next time I take your books, I’ll be a dog!”

It was just a few scholars looking for books; he didn’t believe that without the books copied by the Ruo siblings, his bookstore’s books wouldn’t sell.

The tail raises after earning two hundred taels? Pray to gods and Buddhas that those two hundred taels will see him through this life!

The shopkeeper, with a flick of his sleeve, returned to the bookstore.

Ruo Xuan waved her hand, “Farewell, woof woof.”

The shopkeeper stumbled and fell!