Time flies. With the end of the drought, time seems to have accelerated. I no longer feel sad every day. However, when the harvest season comes, I am not very happy. This year, the grain production in the whole country has decreased, but the court still issued subsidized grain.
The fleet that bought grain never stopped, but most of the grain was transported to the south. Then there was a flood in the south, but fortunately doctors from all over the country were mobilized, and there were enough herbs to prepare for a rainy day, so there was no plague breaking out in the south.
The Zhou family’s grain has been harvested. The fine grains are grown purely with water. They don’t plant much, so most of them are coarse grains. This year they have some vegetables in their harvest. Although there is still a loss, the loss has been controlled to one third, which is very good.
Zhou Laoda held up the account book with the amount of coarse grains on it, "Mom, most of the crops grown in the country this year are coarse grains, with sweet potatoes being the most abundant. Do you think we should raise some chickens, ducks, and geese in the farm?"
Zhulan closed the account book and said, "This is the advantage of having an official in the family. You don't have to worry about selling or being cheated."
Ordinary people don't dare to do this.
Boss Zhou was stunned for a moment, "Our family is where it is today, all thanks to Dad."
Zhulan smiled and pushed the account book to the eldest brother. "Just take charge of the farm's affairs. You have managed the drought well this year. Mother is very pleased."
Boss Zhou was recognized and his voice became louder, "My son is what he is today because of the good teachings of his parents."
In the past, he didn’t even dare to enter the county town, let alone manage hundreds of people, and he sometimes stuttered when talking to the shopkeeper.
Zhulan picked up the tea and took a sip. "Tomorrow is the provincial examination. I wonder how your fourth brother is doing."
Zhou Laoda said, "Didn't my fourth brother write to me a few days ago? He has already left for Pingzhou. Mother, my fourth brother's wife is here. She will definitely take good care of my fourth brother. Don't worry."
Zhulan put down her teacup, "The Changzhi County Examination is the last major event of the year. Come on, you can get busy too!"
Boss Zhou picked up the account book and said, "Mom, you take a rest then."
"Um."
In Pingzhou, Changzhi was lying in a rocking chair with a book on his head, and he fell asleep while swaying.
Su Xuan came back and gave him a gentle push, "Hurry up and get up. It's windy outside. You have to take the provincial exam tomorrow. You must not catch a cold."
Chang Zhi took the book off his head and pressed his eyebrows, "You are back from the Zhao family."
Su Xuan reached out to take the book, and then supported her husband's arm, "Well, if it weren't for Dad, I really wouldn't want to go."
Changzhi patted his wife's hand and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
What could Su Xuan do? She could only endure it. The Zhao family didn't have bad intentions, but they were a big family and there were a lot of concerns, and she was tired of dealing with them.
Chang Zhi stretched lazily and said, "We'll go back after the results come out."
Su Xuan missed her daughter and son, "Yeah."
In the capital, at the horse farm, Mingyun, Mingteng, Liu Feng, and a few others from the Ran family, seven of them came to ride horses together.
Ming Teng likes horse riding the most. There is a competition in the distance at the racecourse. Ming Teng wants to go, but unfortunately he is ruthlessly suppressed by Ming Yun.
Mingyun said coldly, "Behave yourself."
Ming Teng wilted, especially when he heard shouts from afar. Ran Xun interrupted, "Brother Zhou, are you being too cautious?"
Mingyun said calmly: "I brought them out, so I must take them back safely."
He saw it clearly just now. There were a lot of small moves in the competition. Some of them were poorly educated and very jerkish. They really dared to do it. If they really fell off the horse, the consequences would be disastrous.
Ran Xun was also a little scared of Zhou Mingyun. This man was too serious. He blinked at Ming Teng, meaning that he could not help him.
Mingrui answered, "Brother, we have been out for a long time."
Mingyun calculated the time and it was indeed two hours. "Okay, let's go home."
It was indeed getting late, and after leaving the horse farm, Mingyun and his friends separated from the Ran brothers, only taking Liu Feng with them to go back.
We went back in a horse carriage. The horse farm was a bit remote, and it took a while before it became lively, with the constant shouting of hawkers.
Ming Teng touched his purse and said, "Brother, please stop and buy some of the shortbread that my uncle and my younger brother like to eat."
Mingyun agreed with a smile in his eyes. In the family, Mingteng was the only one who treated his uncle as his younger brother. The only ones who could get money from Mingteng were his uncle and his younger brother.
The carriage stopped. Ming Teng opened the curtain and listened with a frown to the cry for help from the woman who had stopped the carriage in front. There were also a few servants who looked like thugs chasing after her from behind.
The woman was wearing a green dress and looked so panic-stricken, which really aroused people's desire to protect her.
Ming Teng was watching with great interest, lazily lying by the carriage window, his eyes full of sarcasm. Qingfeng and the servant had already guarded the carriage.
Mingyun didn't move at all. He said to the puzzled Liu Feng, "Have some tea."
Liu Feng was stunned, picked up the teacup, looked at Ming Rui who had already squeezed over to watch the show, and whispered: "Don't care?"
Mingyun raised his eyebrows and said to Mingrui, "Make room for Liufeng."
Mingrui smiled and made room for his future brother-in-law, "Liu Feng, come and sit."
When Ming Teng heard his elder brother's voice, he was actually getting impatient and yelled at the thugs, "Hey, are you guys walking like a cat? You can't catch her even when you're so close. Let me count, four thugs can't even catch a weak woman. Interesting, interesting."
When Liu Feng heard this and looked carefully, he was completely stunned. Indeed, he was not stupid. Seeing that the woman's clothes were not messy at all, he pursed his lips and his cheeks were a little cold.
The thugs obviously didn't expect this result, and they blew the whistle to arrest people. The crying girl's eyes widened.
Mingrui said to Qingfeng, "Catch them all, including that woman. This place is very close to the Dali Temple. Send them all to the Dali Temple. They forced a woman to be taken away, and they are still in the capital. They must all be arrested."
Liu Feng was the emperor's man, and later he stayed with Ming Yun. The Zhou family had many servants with good skills. When the thugs saw that something was wrong, they tried to run away quickly, but it was a pity that it was useless.
The girl in green was completely stunned and tried to break free, but was held tightly by Qingfeng.
Ming Teng jumped off the carriage. His future father-in-law was at the Dali Temple, and he wanted to send him off in person. He waved his hand and said, "Brother, you go back first. I'll be back soon."
Mingyun hummed, ignoring the discussion outside, and said to the coachman: "Let's go."
Mingrui had already sat back down to drink tea, looking at his future brother-in-law with a smile, "It's good to have more experience. My grandma said these are all petty calculations."
Liu Feng was a little confused, "Shu Ren is still talking about this?"
Mingrui nodded, "The key is my dad. My dad was plotted against several times, so my grandma broke him into pieces and gave them to us. There are too many beautiful women with vicious hearts."
Mingyun didn't take it seriously, but Liufeng was greatly shocked, especially since Mingrui wanted to broaden Liufeng's horizons and told him many tricks of beauties to prevent Liufeng from being plotted against in the future. The one who was upset was the eldest sister.
The next day, Zhou Shuren came back and asked, "Guess what was the last name of the girl Ming Teng sent yesterday?"