The Slender Waist-Chapter 39 - 32 Tianzhuang Landlord_2

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Feng Yun rose early the next day and brought a group of servant girls, miscellaneous workers, and personal retainers, along with Lin E, Huan Jiao, Shao Xueqing, and more than ten other concubines, to the Feng Family’s Tianzhuang.

The estate was near Jieqiu Mountain in a village called Huaxi.

Besides the Feng Family, there were other large estates and farmlands nearby. However, all those large householders had fled with their families before the conflict. Under the new policies of the Northern Yong Army, these would become unclaimed lands to be redistributed to the common folk.

And she would be the largest landowner in Huaxi...

This time of year should have seen the harvest and preparations for autumn planting, but war had disrupted the farming cycle. In recent years, a large amount of farmland lay fallow, the crops turned to wild grass, presenting a desolate scene.

The Feng’s homestead was a two-courtyard residence made of blue bricks and tiles, which looked much better than the peasants’ thatched mud houses. However, it had not been inhabited for a long time. Weeds grew all around, the drainage ditches were full of debris, and at first glance, it resembled a haunted village house.

But this was Feng Yun’s way out.

The General Residence wasn’t her property, but the estate was.

Especially when she saw the pond outside the estate blooming with lotuses, her heart was further elated.

These were the snow lotuses that Feng Jingteng had brought from the south, originally tribute goods. But as they weren’t planted on a large scale and common people hardly recognized them, and the pond’s mud was very deep, they had survived.

The smile returned to Feng Yun’s eyes, "Alou, make sure they clean thoroughly. Once the estate is tidied up, we’ll be living here frequently."

She then excitedly instructed to take down the plaque over the main gate, insisting on naming it Changmen again.

Alou was somewhat startled, "Isn’t Shi’er Niang residing in the General Residence?"

Feng Yun said, "The General Residence belongs to the General, I’m merely staying there temporarily."

Alou seemed to half-understand and was about to say something else when he was silenced by a stern look from Granny Han, who cheerfully arranged for people to clean inside and out.

"Shi’er Niang," Granny Han saw Feng Yun standing in the draft, looking out with concern, "These good days we’re having are all thanks to the General’s kindness. If you sever ties with the General, it won’t be a wise path..."

Feng Yun smiled and looked at the few concubines in the courtyard who were resentfully dissatisfied, "Does Granny wish for me to be like them, trapped in that mansion, fighting viciously for the favor of the same man?"

Granny Han said, "How could you be like them? The General holds you dear..."

Feng Yun laughed softly, "Remember when you told me how Feng Jingteng loved and valued my mother dearly at first? But what happened later? He had an affair with a widow, secretly fathered children, and as soon as my mother passed away, he remarried...taking a new wife immediately."

Her gaze then became sharp.

"Granny, I don’t want such fickle love."

As soon as Lu Sanniang was mentioned, Granny Han’s eyes reddened immediately, "Your father truly was a heartless beast. Before her, he was all sweet and tender; had she not brought Lady Chen and her daughters back, we never would have learned that he already had someone else outside..."

Feng Yun did not wish to discuss this any further and stepped out of the room, calling for Xing Bing.

"Take your men and first plow the fields around the homestead. I want to plant a batch of green vegetables before fall to store for winter use, and then clear the land to plant winter wheat..."

She added, "With limited agricultural tools, these next few days will be hard on everyone. I will think of a way to procure a batch of farming tools, and then the work will be easier."

Iron was precious at the moment, and iron farming tools weren’t cheap. Most of the original tools from the estate had been plundered, and the ones they had now were exchanged for by Feng Yun with grain.

But Xing Bing couldn’t imagine what kind of farming tools she might obtain that would make the work easier.

"My lady, leave it to us brothers, we’ll make sure the furrows are neat and the soil is soft."

Before coming to the estate, Xing Bing thought the lady might not understand, so he brought along his own wife, Mrs. Xu.

Who knew, the girl understood farming matters even better than the Xu family, smiling as she assigned her a new task, supervising the inner courtyard, responsible for managing the daily affairs of the consorts...

Seeing his wife become the manager and beaming with joy, Xing Bing was truly happy, his face dripping with sweat, yet he still refused to rest.

Cleaning the house did not require that many people, so Xing Bing divided the work efficiently. The soldiers and menial workers were accustomed to strenuous labor and enjoyed freedom at Tianzhuang, but it was tough for Lin E and Huan Jiao along with several other consorts.

"We are the consorts of the Great General, not Feng Twelve’s servants..."

"Feng Twelve humiliates us, wait until the General returns to the Residence, we will report her misdeeds..."

Lin E was filled with hatred.

But apart from cursing in private, there were no other options.

Whether the General would pity them seemed very distant. Today’s hardships were real and enough to give them a tough time. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Alou, look at my skin, has it become rougher?"

"The palms of my hands have also developed calluses, and my face has become tanned."

"Detestable!"

Everyone complained loudly, eager to express their grievances first.

"I have heard of many tactics used by women in the back house to vie for affection, but never heard of Feng Twelve being so vicious..."

Lin E threw the rag in her hand, her eyes red with anger looking at Huan Jiao.

"Lady Huan, we can’t continue to let Feng Twelve disrespect us."

She spread her hands and touched her face, almost in tears, "Now all we can rely on is our appearance. If even this bit of beauty is ruined by Feng Twelve, what future do we have? Better to be dead than to live a lifetime under Feng Twelve’s thumb, dependent on her mood for my sustenance..."

"Hush!"

Huan Jiao, more timid than her, had learned from a few setbacks and dared not provoke trouble lightly.

The feeling of hunger was hard to bear, and just thinking about it made Huan Jiao disheartened.

"We can’t defeat Feng Twelve, let it be, Alou..."

Lin E pulled her along, "Have you lost your mind?"

She pinched Huan Jiao’s cheek, "Look at yourself, born with a face that can beguile, how are you less than Feng Twelve? Lady Huan, are you content with this?"

Huan Jiao looked down and shook her head, "What does it matter if I am content or not? Alou, look, we thought Wen Hui was foolish, but it turns out she is the smartest of us all. Look at her... she’s now the chief manager under Yutangchun."

Had Lin E not mentioned Wen Hui, it would have been better, but on hearing her name, Lin E’s teeth clenched tight.

"That wretched Wen Hui, she will not die a good death. Lady Huan, do you still remember that Eunuch Fang?"

Huan Jiao was startled, "What of it if I remember?"

Lin E said: "Originally, we were almost sent by the General to Central Capital to become slaves, but it was Eunuch Fang who rescued us, and then we were sent back to the General Residence by order of the Empress Dowager... have you forgotten? We belong to the Empress Dowager, not Feng Twelve’s slaves!"

Huan Jiao’s brows furrowed slightly, "Alou, what are you planning to do?"

Lin E replied: "If others can’t deal with her, the Empress Dowager can!"