stingy landlady

Chapter 229 Gui Xiang's New Life (1)

Xu Hong smiled, his brows relaxing, and said:

"Miss! Then I'll go choose a place to build a nursery! I'll have the carpenters prepare the timber and planks, and make custom-made cribs for the babies."

"Miss! Our lives will get better and better! I think the Prince will understand us!"

Xu Hong said things that even he himself didn't believe, and went to see the nursery site!

Guizhi shook her head. In today's society, officials have two mouths; whoever is in the highest position has the final say! Guizhi sighed, hoping that her fifth uncle, Wang Yiyun, could pass the provincial examination and become a Jinshi.

Passing the exam isn't enough; you need to return to the prefectural city or county town to become a local official before you can truly be in charge!

Sigh! Just wait it out! Even if Wang Yiyun isn't an ungrateful person, she still has many years of experience to endure! Life is short, and Guizhi doesn't know when she'll finally be able to stop suffering.

Alas! Life is inherently filled with troubles, why create more trouble for oneself? Wang Yiyun was also troubled; he didn't know when he had gained the favor of the Prince of Zhenbei. Ever since arriving in the prefectural city, people had been paying attention to him, and using the Prince of Zhenbei's name to care for and help him!

Wang Yiyun was a scholar; once he passed the imperial examinations, he would become a protégé of the emperor. He was most wary of becoming involved with local or other princes or dukes of different surnames!

This unexpected entanglement caught Wang Yiyun completely off guard. He had also subtly inquired with other students, but none of them had experienced anything like his.

Other students thought that gaining the prince's favor would be a great help to those living in the area! Wang Yiyun also hoped to gain the prince's favor, but that was only if he had real talent and ability.

But now, his reputation in the prefectural city is obscure, clearly not due to academic achievement. It's for some other unknown reason, and Wang Yiyun is somewhat afraid. What if the prince's men have made a mistake? The joke would be far too great!

To allow Wang Yiyun to focus on her studies, Guizhi specifically instructed Lin Qian to take Wang Yiyun to the artisan workshop in the prefectural city. This was also Guizhi's shop, and she hoped Wang Yiyun would feel a sense of belonging there.

Wang Yiyun saw in the craftsmen's workshop that they were making assistive devices for the disabled. Deeply moved, he lived up to Guizhi's expectations and personally wrote:

Even if a person is disabled, if they have a strong will and a kind heart, they will surely do good deeds. With kind thoughts and good deeds, Heaven will surely bless them.

This shows that people's hearts are inclined towards goodness, which is also what Wang Yiyun aspires to!

Guizhi certainly hoped that Wang Yiyun would be kind and grateful! Who would want to support an ungrateful person?

Lin Xiaoyun somehow learned that Wang Yiyun was studying in the prefectural city, and sent Zhou Xing to check on Wang Yiyun several times. This dispelled Wang Yiyun's suspicions; it turned out that Lin Xiaoyun was the heir apparent.

No wonder she always felt uneasy. After learning the truth, Wang Yiyun finally slept soundly! She no longer worried about mistaking someone for someone else or having her face trampled underfoot!

But Wang Yiyun had his own pride. Rather than being taken care of and losing his freedom, he preferred to strive for success and not be looked down upon by others!

Gui Hong was also holding her breath. She had always been strong-willed, and she never imagined that after her engagement, she would be looked down upon by her future in-laws because of her social status. Although she didn't say it, she knew perfectly well what was going on in her heart!

Ever since Guizhi sent two maids over, Guihong has started paying close attention to the ladies and young women of Lirenfang! Whether it's their speech, behavior, or clothing, Guihong refuses to be looked down upon because of her appearance!

After Guixiang finished her postpartum confinement, she was initially quite depressed. However, Manager Han was all smiles and took Guixiang to her own place.

Watching the craftsmen busily building houses by the roadside, and then seeing Yu Dahai leading his younger siblings diligently clearing land in the fields, all to create small paths so that they could easily let the chickens and pigs out and then find them again later.

Manager Han took Guixiang to the county town for a stroll, mainly to check on the vegetable market he was in charge of. Because of the large volume of vegetables purchased, Manager Han's business model in the county town mainly involved both wholesale and retail.

Facing the small vendors before her, many of whom were repeat customers, she chatted and laughed, using both hands and feet to quickly pack vegetables and move baskets. Things that had previously troubled Guixiang suddenly seemed insignificant!

A small incident in a village might become a topic of conversation when people are bored, and could even be blown out of proportion. But outside the village, such trivial matters go completely unnoticed!

Life goes on in a blur of activity, days always pushing us forward. Gui Xiang found Gui Zhi and volunteered:

"Third Sister! Let me go with Steward Han to harvest and sell vegetables! These days filled with laughter and conversation are so enchanting! Third Sister! I love it!"

Guizhi looked at Guixiang, who was gradually emerging from her grief, and gently hugged her.

"Big sister! What's past is past, we have to look forward. Things will get better from now on, so let's live them to the fullest!"

Gui Xiang hugged Gui Zhi tightly before speaking seriously:

"Third Sister! Thank you! Thank you for taking me home! Thank you for helping me manage my land! Third Sister! Let me go sell vegetables? I like that kind of life."

We were so happy and carefree when we sold boxed lunches together! I want to live a carefree life from now on too!

Guizhi nodded and said:

"Alright! Big sister! I'm glad you like it! Selling vegetables isn't easy! So, as you wish, big sister! For now, you'll work with Manager Han to collect the vegetables, transport them to the county town, and then help sell them all!"

Gui Xiang also enjoyed working with Steward Han, and happily agreed.

Gui Xiang then returned to her home in Xiaoping Village with Steward Han to harvest vegetables. Gui Xiang hadn't been home in a long time; looking back felt like a lifetime had passed. Looking at her front door, she saw a bustling scene of people coming and going. Before she even entered the house, she heard someone call out:

"Hey! Gui Xiang's back! Is that Gui Xiang? Gui Xiang! You're back so early today?"

Just as Gou Sheng's mother carried a load of cucumbers to the front gate, she saw Gui Xiang and greeted her warmly.

Manager Han interjected from the side:

"Oh! This is our new manager, Manager Guixiang. She's in charge of collecting and selling vegetables, just like me!"

Dog's mother asked in surprise:

"Gui Xiang! You've stopped doing needlework? You've started a business again? Well, that makes sense! You sisters have been good at business since you were little! Congratulations, Gui Xiang, on taking charge!"

Gui Xiang said shyly:

"Auntie! I really enjoy doing business! I had to discuss it with my third sister before she agreed to let me come back!"

"That's great! Manager Han, Guixiang! I still have cucumbers to pick, so please wait a little longer. I'll hurry up and pick more cucumbers, otherwise it will be too late and I'll delay you from taking them to sell!"

Gui Xiang doesn't mince words:

"Then Auntie, go quickly!"

Manager Han asked Gui Xiang:

"Miss!"

Gui Xiang hurriedly waved her hand and said:

"No! Manager Han, please call me Guixiang from now on! I can't act like some kind of young lady!"

Manager Han thought for a moment, then smiled and said:

"Alright! I'll call you Guixiang! You'll always be the young lady! But we'll be working together every day from now on, so it's fine to be casual with how you address me!"

"How about Guixiang calls me Brother Han?"

Gui Xiang responded cheerfully:

"Brother Han!"