Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: First Arrival (2/2)

“Miss, you’ve walked quite a bit already. You should rest for a while. These things can wait, and Uncle knows your temperament. He specifically instructed me to make sure you don’t overexert yourself,” Xiao Xi persuaded Su Wenyue, who had been touring a large part of the courtyard without stopping to rest.

Su Wenyue did feel a bit tired and sat down to rest for a while before heading to the vegetable field in the back. Because it had been neglected for so long, the field was overgrown with weeds, and clearing it would require no small effort. The area of the field was indeed large, about three or four acres, with a small river nearby, perfect for irrigation and daily cultivation of vegetables.

“Miss, this is a really good place for planting vegetables! Even though it’s been abandoned now, the soil is rich. I guarantee the vegetables we plant will grow well,” Xiao Xi said with excitement, eager to get started. If it weren’t for the need to look after Su Wenyue, Xiao Xi would have rolled up her sleeves and begun right away.

“Seeing you like this, you really look like an old hand,” Su Wenyue said with a laugh, her words laced with a bit of teasing.

Xiao Xi, not the least bit modest, accepted Su Wenyue’s words: “That’s right, during the time I helped Miss with affairs at the Zhuangzi, I didn’t just hang around; I learned quite a lot. Besides, I was originally from a peasant family. When I was young, I spent a lot of time following my family in the field. Agriculture is nothing that can stump me. Miss, just wait to eat the vegetables I grow for you. I promise they’ll be even better than those from an ordinary farmer’s home.”

“Is anyone home? Is Captain Han’s wife in?” Su Wenyue and Xiao Xi had just returned to the front courtyard when they heard someone calling at the door. At first, when someone called out for Captain Han’s wife, they took a while to react, but then they remembered Han Yu’s current official rank was indeed that of an eighth-rank Captain.

Xiao Xi scurried happily to open the door and saw a woman in her twenties, dressed in autumn fragrance colored clothes, standing at the doorway holding a basket and wearing a welcoming smile.

“Who might you be?” Su Wenyue and Xiao Xi were new to the area and did not recognize anyone.

“My surname is Zhao. My Husband is Liu Cong, holding the post of Deputy Lieutenant, an eighth rank official, and a subordinate of Captain Han. The two men will be working together from now on. Since our husbands work together in the military camp, we women should also socialize and provide each other with support.” Madame Liu Zhao spoke fluently and straightforwardly, seeming like a forthright person.

“So, you’re Madame Zhao. Please, come in! As a servant new to this place, I don’t know many people. Any inadvertent discourtesy, please forgive me, Madame Zhao. Let me take you to meet our lady,” Xiao Xi, well-trained by the Su Family in manners and etiquette, didn’t panic upon hearing Madame Liu Zhao’s identity and promptly made polite gestures to usher her inside.

“Thank you,” Madame Zhao nodded to herself, noting that even the household’s servant girl was well-behaved, well-dressed, and conducted herself as if she were trained by a wealthy family. This made her look up a few notches to Su Wenyue. Initially, she had thought since Captain Han came from a farming background and perhaps had used some connection to get to his position, his wife would undoubtedly be unrefined. After all, a daughter-in-law from a peasant family wouldn’t even know a single character, let alone other skills. But it seemed that wasn’t quite the case, and she found herself somewhat eager to meet the Captain’s wife.