Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 888 - 886_1

"There’s no need to wait until tomorrow, I’ll go find the village chief now." After hearing Xiao’er’s words, Huzi’s father was a bit restless. How could he let such an excellent opportunity slip by?

In recent years, the Imperial Court had been trying every means possible to help the impoverished people lead better lives, and he always heard from Wei Zhuang, who frequently went north to do business, about the wealth coming into different counties, towns, and villages. The villagers ate meat every day and made new clothes each season.

Upon hearing these stories, he was filled with envy, always wondering when such good fortune would befall their own village.

Upon hearing this, Huzi’s mother rolled her eyes at him, "If you go now, can your foot even walk?"

Huzi’s father’s face turned red after hearing this and said, "I was too eager, I almost forgot about the foot injury. Let Wei Zhuang speak to the village chief about this matter after he returns."

Having explained everything, Xiao’er excused herself, "Please think this through properly, and you can give us your response tomorrow. We’ve taken up a lot of your time, so we’ll take our leave now."

After Xiao’er finished speaking, they all stood up.

"So soon? Why don’t you stay for dinner?" Huzi’s mother also stood up.

Even Huzi’s father also stood up on one foot.

"Thank you, but we just disembarked and need to find an inn before night falls. Perhaps next time." Xiao’er politely declined. Xiao’er’s family already had a hotel in the prefecture where they could stay whenever they wanted, so there was no need for them to find an inn.

Huzi’s mother glanced at her small home with its three rooms and two porches and felt somewhat apologetic.

If it weren’t for the lack of space, she definitely would have invited them to stay.

There was one vacant room, which was cleared out for her mother’s occasional visits.

However, there were six of them, and the small room would not be able to accommodate them all.

She had heard from her older brother that there was a great garden hotel in the county, but the prices were astonishingly high.

However, Xiao’er and her companions didn’t seem to lack money, so she suggested, "There’s a tall building in the city with a garden hotel. I’ve heard it’s beautiful and very clean."

"We plan to stay there. After you have asked the villagers for their opinion, you can come let us know, and we can come back."

"Alright,"

"Then, we’ll take our leave."

Huzi’s mother brought out a large basket of fruit that Huzi’s father had plucked, including a string of pink bananas, a bag of dried squid, a bag of dried scallops, a bag of baby abalone and handed them to Xiao’er, "Here are some fruits we grew at home. Please take them back and enjoy."

"I love fruits the most, so I won’t decline." Knowing that this was their heartfelt gesture, Xiao’er did not reject the gifts. After expressing her gratitude, she asked Zhao Yong and Yang Mei to each carry a share.

Seeing that Xiao’er didn’t refuse, Huzi’s mother felt relieved and delighted.

. Lifesaving benefactor

Not long after Xiao’er and her group left, Wei Zhuang returned. freewebnσvel.cøm

Huzi’s father explained Xiao’er’s proposal to him, intending for him to find the village chief and gather the villagers’ opinions.

Wei Zhuang was stunned upon hearing this. Such a great opportunity had actually come to them.

Having traveled extensively for many years, he knew that the people who came today were either rich or noble. However, he could not think of what they would gain from this situation.

Although it was stipulated that after the fruits were harvested, they were to sell them to them first. It was only when they didn’t need them that they were allowed to sell to others, and if they breached this agreement, they would have to pay liquidated damages.

However, Wei Zhuang felt that this condition was quite reasonable. After all, the fruit seedlings were provided by them for free, and they also explained the planting method.

Moreover, they did not absolutely forbid the sale of the fruits; only when they had enough stock and didn’t need more, were the leftovers allowed to be sold to others.

"This proposal is feasible, but after all, we’ve only met them once and they are not locals. I don’t know if the villagers would be willing to take the risk."

After all, they had to grow fruits on their land. Although fruits were valuable, everyone was unsure if they could grow and bear fruit since no one had experience growing them before.

Now, whether it’s rice, corn, or sweet potatoes, the yield is very high. Other than families with no farmland who are still starving, everyone has enough to eat.

Moreover, Xiao’er, and the others are not locals. What if the fruits are ripe and no one comes to collect them?

"I always feel that Young Master Shangguan and Young Master Shen are not simple. There should be officials in their families, and those who can jump into the river to save people in such circumstances are definitely kind-hearted. Therefore, they will not cheat us with this." Huzi’s father was unaware that Shangguan Xuanyi and Jingrui, one was a prince, and the other was the youngest magistrate in the entire Minze dynasty.

Wei Zhuang naturally guessed that they were the children of the officials, but what was the relationship between Young Master Shangguan and Young Master Shen?

Shangguan is a noble surname, and Shen — certainly the Marquis Shengping wasn’t surnamed Shen!

Wei Zhuang finally understood why he found their faces familiar and as if he had seen them somewhere before!

He barely contained his excitement: "Do you know the relationship between Young Master Shangguan and Young Master Shen?"

"Young Master Shangguan should be Young Master Shen’s brother-in-law! I heard Lady Xiao’er call Young Master Shen as elder brother."

"Then it’s correct." Prince Rui, the former Sixth Prince, was indeed married to Marquis Shengping’s eldest daughter.

A few years ago, when the Marquis Shengping and his family were accused of being unfilial, Wei Zhuang was among the crowd outside the Government Office, where he had caught a glimpse of them.

At that time, the children of Marquis Shengping were still quite young. Although they’ve grown up now, one could still vaguely see their appearance from back then.

As for Young Master Shangguan, his appearance hadn’t changed much; however, he seemed more mature and steady. The most significant point was that he remembered the young Sixth Prince was a rather frosty figure. However, it felt as though the iciness had melted; he still looked cold but because his eyes were always filled with tenderness when they landed on Rui’an, the young lady of Rui’an county, he appeared softer in comparison, that’s why Wei Zhuang failed to recognize him.

"But what is correct?" Huzi’s father didn’t understand Wei Zhuang’s reaction, hence he asked in confusion.

"I’ll tell you this, but don’t leak this out. I guess Young Master Shangguan would be Prince Rui, and the lady is Marquis Shengping’s eldest daughter, Rui’an, and Young Master Shen is the eldest son of Marquis Shengping." Wei Zhuang glanced outside the house and then said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Huzi’s father was so astonished that his mouth could fit a whole goose egg.

So — the lifesaver was the son of the Prince and the Marquis?!

He had always felt that their identities were noble, but he hadn’t expected them to be that high-ranking!

Wei Zhuang waved his hand in front of his eyes: "What’s wrong, are you scared?"

"Could this be a mistake?" Huzi’s father barely found his voice after a while.

"I didn’t remember wrong. I saw them in the capital when I was standing outside the Government Office back then. Prince Rui, except for becoming a bit more mature and approachable, looks pretty much the same. In this case, we must encourage the villagers to plant the yellow dragon fruit! With Prince Rui’s support, we’re surely on the road to wealth! Brother, Huzi falling into the river this time surely was a blessing in disguise!"

Huzi’s father felt as if he was floating on air, with a somewhat unreal feeling still persisting.