Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Peoples Sufferings ! (1/2)
Chapter 13: Chapter 13: People’s Sufferings !
Translator: 549690339
“Xiumei, go find out to which village this mountain belongs,” Wei Ruo instructed.
“Alright.”
Xiumei trotted off toward where there were people. Most of those working in the nearby fields were locals. Asking them should get the answer Wei Ruo was seeking.
Soon, Xiumei returned and informed Wei Ruo that the mountain was named Xiaoyang Mountain and belongs to a nearby village called Yueying Village. Due to the severe terrain making the cost of terracing too high, the area had been left to go wild. The locals got their firewood from this mountain.
“Did you ask if they would be willing to sell?” Wei Ruo queried.
“Of course I did.”
Having been by Wei Ruo’s side for so many years, Xiumei knew her intentions well.
“The one I asked isn’t from Yueying Village, but he said as long as the price is right, the villagers would willingly sell. These years, due to the Japanese Pirates issue, the common folks in Xingshan County are having a hard time. Yueying Village is particularly suffering, while other villages still have a few fields to cultivate, Yueying Village only has barren mountains.”
“Hmm, I see,” Wei Ruo muttered, pondering.
Madam Zhang, listening to the conversation between the master and the servant, could not help but chuckle.
“Miss, are you thinking about buying this Xiaoyang Mountain?”
“Just asking, getting acquainted with the situation,” said Wei Ruo casually.
“You can ask, but keep the idea of buying the mountain to yourself. Our Military Prefecture only bought Mantou Mountain three years after we arrived in Xingshan County. Even now, even though the people of Xingshan County are having a hard time, the cost of a mountain is still not going to be low. A price of fewer than a thousand taels of silver wouldn’t be considered.”
“A thousand taels… that is indeed a lot of silver,” Wei Ruo murmured thoughtfully.
“As long as you understand, Miss. If you miss the days in the countryside, you can visit Mantou Mountain and look at our fields. But don’t physically work on them like before. The laborers will have a good laugh if they see it!”
It’s alright to do some gardening at home, only the people in their residence know about it. It’s still embarrassing, but at least it’s contained within the family.
If she can’t restrain herself from doing the same outside, then she would become the laughing stock of the entire Xingshan County.
“Okay.”
Wei Ruo didn’t argue this time and decided to head back to Mantou Mountain.
After wandering around near the foot of the mountain for a few rounds, she returned.
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Within the Colonel’s residence, Wei Qingwan was supervising Wei Yilin copying “Xue Er.”
Wei Yilin was playful and active since young, not suited for studying.
Today, he was sent home by his tutor for causing trouble at school. Upon hearing about it, Yun was very angry and punished him by making him copy “Xue Er.” Wei Qingwan was tasked with supervising.
Wei Yilin pouted, extremely unwilling, and his eyes darted around restlessly.
“Yilin, write quickly. If you don’t finish before it gets dark, you won’t get dinner and will have to go hungry,” Wei Qingwan said with a heartache.
“Three times is too much! Sister, dear sister, help me copy, you can imitate, you can imitate my handwriting, mother won’t notice,” Wei Yilin pleaded with Wei Qingwan.
“That’s not right…” Wei Qingwan wore a troubled expression.
“Sister! My lovely sister! You’re my only lovely sister!”
Hearing the word “only,” Wei Qingwan’s heart stirred.