BXBX NOVEL Chapter 299 - 299: Manor
Zhou Jia told Liu Yi about Li Yu wanting to run a school on the farm. He said to him, “You’re reliable, so I’ll leave the matter of finding a teacher to you. The teacher will teach the children how to read and calculate. He doesn’t have to be too knowledgeable. He just has to have an upright character.”
Liu Yi thought for a moment and remembered someone. He bowed and said, “Sir, I know a person with good character and knowledge, but he’s a little disabled. What do you think?”
Zhou Jia thought to himself that it was just teaching the child how to read and calculate. As long as his character was good, it was fine if he was disabled. “Oh!
What did he do originally?”
Liu Yi bowed and said, “Sir, his name is Liu Hanmin. He’s my nephew. He’s 19 years old this year. That child is smart and good at learning. When he was 15 years old, he obtained a scholarly title. He originally had a bright future. Speaking of which, it’s the Wang family’s fault. Three years ago, when he returned home from the academy, he saw Wang Chun teasing a girl and went up to help. Wang Chun flew into a rage out of humiliation and ordered someone to break his leg. After he recovered, he realized that his leg was crippled. Originally, someone invited him to be an accountant, but that damned Wang Chun spread the word that no one was allowed to use him. Just like that, his future was ruined. Seeing that he had no future, Brother and Sister-in-law made a fuss about splitting up the family because they were unwilling to support him. His parents were so angry that they cried. He even persuaded them.Now, he’s at home helping his parents farm and selling some vegetables to survive.”
Zhou Jia was satisfied when he heard that. The man originally had a bright future and could put down his pride to help his parents farm after he was disabled. He was an open-minded man. He praised, “Not bad. He’s a child with a good character. Bring him to the farm to find Ruyi and arrange for a good day to teach the children.”
“Thank you, sir.” Liu Yi bowed and left. When he went out, he happened to see Ruyi, who was looking for Zhou Jia. Liu Yi smiled and cupped his fists. “What a coincidence, Steward Zhou. Sir instructed me to bring someone to the manor to see you. I met you when I came out.” Liu Yi told Ruyi about Liu Hanmin. Ruyi smiled and said, “Team Leader Liu, you’re too polite. Just bring him when you have time.”
Zhou Jia and Ruyi returned to the back office and went to the front yard to look for Mr. Lu to tell him about sending the two children to the manor to stay for a
few days. They invited him to stay at the manor for a few days so that it would be easier to teach the children.
When Mr. Lu heard this, he readily agreed. He cupped his hands and smiled. “I heard from Uncle Liu and the guards a few days ago that Madam has taken in some lonely old people and children. I’ve long wanted to take a look.”
Zhou Jia smiled and nodded. “What a coincidence. The scenery at the foot of Mount Spindle is not bad. Mr. Lu, pack up first. After lunch and rest, we’ll set off.”
Mr. Lu cupped his hands and smiled. “Alright, I’ll go pack up now.”
Li Yu packed the child’s clothes. After dinner, the four carriages left the city and journeyed toward the farmstead. Li Yu saw that the seedlings in the field by the roadside had already begun to be divided. These seedlings looked a little thinner than the ones on the farmstead.
Yangyang looked curiously at the seedlings in the field and saw two children with long bamboo poles standing by the ditch. There was also a group of ducks with their fur gone.
Yangyang pointed at the ducks in the ditch and smiled happily. “Father,
Mother, look at what that is.”
Zhou Jia smiled and said, “Silly son, those are ducks. They lay the salted eggs you eat.”
Yangyang widened his eyes at the ducks and said in surprise, “Wow! They’re so powerful.”
Li Yu and Zhou Jia looked at each other and smiled. Zhou Jia said thankfully,
“It’s really not good for the child to be trapped in the backyard. Fortunately, Ruyi thought of it.”
After a while, they arrived at the turn. Li Yu realized that the abandoned house was gone. Vegetable seedlings had been planted on the original ruins. When
Zhou Jia saw the abandoned house, he realized that he had forgotten to tell Li Yu that he had bought this place. He patted his forehead. “Yu’er, look, I forgot to tell you that this house is rumored to be haunted. Ever since the owner of the house moved away, it has been abandoned. After I mentioned it to you last time, I went back to find the address of the owner and asked Ruyi to buy it from him. See what use it has?”
Li Yu looked at it for a while and said, “This place happens to be in the middle of Li City and the foot of Mount Spindle. It takes up quite a lot of space. What do you think if we cultivate it into an inn?”
Zhou Jia nodded and said, “Alright, when we reach the manor, we’ll arrange for Ruyi to hire someone to start work.” The couple taught Yangyang about the crops in the fields along the way and quickly arrived in front of the manor.
Ji Xiang was at the construction site. When he saw the Ma brothers and Ruyi driving the carriage to the manor, he went up and happened to see Zhou Jia getting out of the car with Yangyang, who was wearing a light green coat and bloomers. When Yangyang saw Ji Xiang, he reached out. “Uncle Ji Xiang,
Yangyang is here.”
Ji Xiang smiled and took Yangyang. ‘Young Master, the farm is very fun. Ji
Xiang will bring you to the mountain to pick wild fruits.”
Zhou Jia smiled and said, “Where’s Sir? Your Madam and Yang’er are going to stay in the manor for a few days. You’ll be busy.”
“Sir went to the village to treat someone.” Ji Xiang stole a glance at Gu Yu, who was following behind Li Yu. He pursed his lips and smiled. “Hehe! I’m not afraid of being busy.”
Zhou Jia saw this and smiled. “Brat.”
Ruyi and Mr. Lu, who were behind, also arrived at the entrance of the manor. Everyone carried their luggage out of the car and passed through the corridor into the courtyard. There were two rooms on the left and right of the courtyard. There were five main rooms connected by a corridor. The middle room was used as a hallway. After passing through the hallway, one would see a courtyard the same size as the first room. Further in was the main courtyard. The five main rooms were connected to two side rooms, and there were three rooms on the left and right. This courtyard was much wider. The red earth paint on the eaves and porch pillars shone brightly as they passed through the corner door beside the main room. Behind the main room was a garden. Behind the garden was the greenhouse where Li Yu had requested to plant vegetables.
Li Yu arranged for Mr. Lu to stay in the main room of the courtyard. She used the east room as a place for the children to learn. The west room was for the girls to learn needlework. She also got someone to move Mr. Wen’s luggage into the main courtyard and arranged for Ruyi’s family and Ji Xiang to stay in the second courtyard.
After making the arrangements, Zhou Jia also had to go back to the government office to do official business. Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and smiled.
“Yu’er, you and our son are outside the city. I can only run back and forth.
Remember to leave me food.”
Li Yu looked at Gu Yu and Xing Hua, who were cleaning up the house. She smiled and secretly shook his hand. “It’s been hard on you.”
“It won’t be bitter if you reward me tonight,” Zhou Jia said in her ear. He kissed her face when no one was looking before turning to leave. Li Yu looked at his back and smiled sweetly.
Ji Xiang led Seven Pounds to the main courtyard and said to Li Yu, “Madam, I’ll bring Young Master and Seven Pounds out to play with those children for a while. ”
Li Yu looked at Yangyang, who was holding hands with Seven Pounds, and smiled. “Go!”
Ji Xiang took Yangyang and Seven Pounds to the workshop and saw that none of the children were there.
Old Madam Yun came out of the kitchen and said with a smile, “Brother Ji Xiang, Old Zou and Dashui made two fish baskets. Shui Sheng brought a group of children to drive the ducks and geese to the stream to pick fish.”
“Oh! Let me see.” Ji Xiang led the two children toward the fish pond..