Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 220 - 218

The weather was getting hotter and hotter, the sun was already gruellingly warm once it rose.

The imperial edict of the Shen Chengyao family’s reward has been issued. Shen Chengyao will go to the Imperial Capital to express his gratitude and take up his post during the Longevity Festival.

Therefore, the household of Xiao’er has become busier.

Every day, Xiao’er would leave early in the morning and return late at night. She needs to explain the technical issues at the bridge repair site from time to time, and she also needs to teach the villagers about mushroom cultivation. Unfortunately, very few people were willing to learn. Only five families in total were interested, and the family of Xiao Shanzi was one of them.

However, some villagers also expressed that if these few families could really cultivate mushrooms, they would also follow suit.

Xiao’er didn’t mind, smiling and agreeing that Xiao Shanzi could teach them when the time came.

But only these few families signed contracts with her supermarket. The supermarket will prioritize purchasing the fresh mushrooms from these families, and only if the quality is poor or insufficient will they consider other suppliers.

The contract also clearly stated that only quality mushrooms would be accepted.

Later, those who followed suit regretted deeply when they had to carry their baskets of mushrooms all over the place to sell them.

The supermarket and restaurants of Xiao’er’s family required a large quantity, and they even sent carriages to collect the produce right at the door. These families could earn their silver without stepping out, working less and earning more than the others.

But opportunities to get rich have always been available to those who dare to try first.

Opportunities are fleeting.

On top of that, Xiao’er also has to find time every day to train the bartenders in her bar. This is not an easy task as she often feels like vomiting because of the daily wine tasting.

Shen Chengyao was also busy. He was responsible for everything in the prefecture city like the wine list, supermarket, and the opening of the inn. The furniture shop and the iron shop were set to open branches in the prefecture city and Imperial Capital. Besides, there were a lot of preparations to be done before heading to the Imperial Capital.

After all, once they leave, they will settle down in the Imperial Capital. They might only return once every half a year, and they might not return for several years.

During these days, Xiao’er was always accompanied by someone when she was out and about.

By the time Xiao’er realized that someone seemed too idle, Shangguan Xuanyi had been by Xiao’er’s side for more than a month.

On a rare day off, Xiao’er asked while she sat on the balcony of the hillside villa, eating a chilled watermelon and enjoying the mountain breeze, "Brother Shangguan, why are you so idle?"

"I finished up the busy period at the beginning of the year." Shangguan Xuanyi sat in a chair on the other side and picked out the seeds from a piece of watermelon. After doing so, he passed it to Xiao’er.

This miss loves to eat watermelons, but she’s too lazy to spit out the seeds. She always complains about forgetting to cultivate seedless watermelons.

"I remember Brother Di telling me once that you travel all around every year. Where have you been? Are the sceneries of those places beautiful?" Xiao’er’s tone was filled with envy and longing.

With the transportation technology of this era being so primitive, she didn’t know if she would have the chance to visit all the famous mountains and rivers of the world.

In her previous life, she had the opportunity to travel all around the world, but she didn’t have the time to sit down and enjoy the views. Now looking back, she really regrets it. If she knew that she would die so early, she would have taken the time to really enjoy life! fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"Many, most of them are beautiful." Shangguan Xuanyi picked up a ripe mango from the side and peeled it. He thought that eating too much watermelon, which is considered a cold fruit, wasn’t good.

"Have you been to all the states and counties in the Minze Dynasty?"

Xiao’er put down the watermelon rind and glanced at the watermelon on the plate. She still wanted to eat!

"Only the states." Shangguan Xuanyi handed her the mango.

Xiao’er was speechless at his brevity.

"Since most of the sceneries are very beautiful, why don’t you go now?" Staying around her all day and managing this and that seemed too stifling for him. The nation is full of beautiful places, so hero, hurry and bow to them!

Xiao’er was eating the mango with a frown. She still wanted to eat the watermelon, but she knew that this man would definitely stop her again.

"The most beautiful scenery is right by your side."

The mango was already sweet and juicy. Once she heard those words, she felt like she was choked by the sweetness.

Shangguan Xuanyi quickly helped her pat her back.

Xiao’er felt as if her lungs were coughed sideways before she could finally catch her breath.

"You need to be more careful."

When Xiao’er heard that, she almost lost her nerve. It was him who said something so startling!

She never thought that such sweet talk would come from his mouth.

However, Xiao’er didn’t say anything. Some things are best left to nature. It will happen naturally when the time is right.

Remembering the envy and longing in Xiao’er’s tone just now, Shangguan Xuanyi opened his mouth again when she finally caught her breath. "In the future, I’ll take you to see all those places."

Upon hearing that, Xiao’er instantly became happy: "It’s a deal!"

Shangguan Xuanyi remembered the Pigeon Post he received last night and said, "Fourth Prince sent a letter yesterday saying that envoys from various countries will come to congratulate the emperor on the Longevity Festival. The young ladies of the Imperial Capital will also perform to celebrate the Emperor’s longevity. He conveniently reported your name. As for what to perform, you can let him know when you get to the Imperial Capital."

Upon hearing this, Xiao’er was choked again by the mango juice. Who let that Shangguan Xuanhao meddle with so many things? When did she say she was going to perform!

With one hand, Shangguan Xuanyi helped pat Xiao’er’s back, and with the other hand, he took the mango from her hand. This miss shouldn’t eat mangoes while talking to him in the future, she choked twice while eating just one mango.

Once Xiao’er caught her breath, she quickly asked, "Can I not perform?"

Do they think she’s a deity? Whatever she wants to perform, she just has to say the word! She’s not prepared for anything! Plus, she has no interest in this kind of thing at all!

Shangguan Xuanyi shook his head. He also wished Xiao’er didn’t have to perform, but it was too late. "I believe the list is probably already on father’s desk."

The emperor already knew, and now you say you don’t want to perform, that would be disrespectful.

In fact, many girls from families below fourth-rank who weren’t particularly talented would dream of such an opportunity.

The Longevity Festival is not held every year, the founding emperor ruled that in order not to waste resources, the nationwide Longevity Festival could only be held once every five years.

So, those able to perform at the Longevity Festival were universally recognized as gifted and attractive women within the nobility of the Imperial Capital, and the performers at each festival were different.

Every time, for the performances at the Longevity Festival, countless young ladies from noble families had been preparing and practicing for two years ahead of time.

Because the woman who tops the list each time would be chosen and married by the emperor on the spot. Over the years, the chosen ones were always princes or grandsons, which has now become an unwritten tradition.

Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t say this out loud, after all, he had his own selfish desires!

Although he didn’t want this girl’s beauty to be seen by other people, and although he had other ways to get the emperor to arrange the marriage, he thought it would be better if the matter was settled sooner.

Clearly, Shangguan Xuanyi had never considered the possibility that Xiao’er wouldn’t take first place, even if she just found out that she had to perform, even if she was completely unprepared.

Xiao’er felt a headache coming on. She firmly believed that Shangguan Xuanhao was taking revenge out of personal spite!

She has always disliked being in the spotlight, although whatever she does tends to attract attention.

But anyone with a brain would know that such a performance was meant to provide a stage for those ladies kept in the depths of the boudoir, so they could do their absolute best to hook in a favorable spouse.

Xiao’er was absolutely correct in her speculation about the hidden meaning behind it all, but she had no interest in any of this!

If Shangguan Xuanhao was here right now, she was ready to strangle him on the spot!