Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 45 - 45 046 Im Here to Collect Debts_1

?Chapter 45: Chapter 046 I’m Here to Collect Debts_1 Chapter 45: Chapter 046 I’m Here to Collect Debts_1 The men at the same table felt nauseated just by looking at her, and their impression of Nanny Zhang only worsened.

After having the meal to kick off the work, the laborers immediately set off to start working.

Muniang and Mrs. Du were about to clean up the mess, but they saw Nanny Zhang still there, holding several large bowls, energetically scavenging the leftovers of various tables, packing all the valuable meat to take away. Muniang was speechless but too lazy to interfere. “Let her be,” she thought, “I don’t want to eat other people’s leftovers anyway!”

Mrs. Du, however, couldn’t stand it and whispered to Muniang, “How shameless is this Nanny Zhang? What business does she have with the meal for starting work? It’s bad enough she came to eat, but she also disgusted a whole table of people, and now she’s busy packing up!”

Muniang swept a glance at Nanny Zhang and said dispassionately, “Let it go, it’s not like it’s anything of value. If she treasures it, by all means, let her have it. Paying attention to such a person is a sheer waste of emotion.”

“Oh, where’s Qinghe?” Muniang suddenly realized someone was missing.

“Her? She left just a moment ago, seemed in a hurry. I wonder what she’s up to,” Mrs. Du replied.

Muniang didn’t have the time to ponder and quickly cleaned up the site. She still had to go up the mountain to check on things.

“Muniang, you folks are really undertaking a big project here,” Old Man Xue said with a smile as he entered the yard.

Muniang quickly responded with a smile, “Why have you come? Please, have a seat.”

“I’m here to collect a debt. You, girl, have you completely forgotten about your promise to teach me how to catch fish?” Old Man Xue pretended to be stern.

Muniang had indeed forgotten; she had been too busy with many things lately and had become muddled. She smiled apologetically, “Look at my memory, I’m afraid I’m still busy today. The fish pond has just started, and there are many aspects I need to oversee. I can’t leave. I promise I’ll visit you in a few days to teach you.”

Old Man Xue shook his head with a smile, “You’re usually so sharp, but you’re a bit dull today. Did you think I was serious about that? I was just looking at you digging a fish pond, wondering if you needed this old man to lend a hand.”

Muniang then remembered that Grandpa Xue had a lifetime of experience with fish, and his expertise in building fish ponds could be even richer than hers.

“Then I really must thank you, Grandpa Xue!” Muniang said without any hesitation, smiling sweetly.

Old Man Xue said with emotion, “I’ve fished all my life, always dreaming of having my own fish pond, but somehow I never managed to achieve it. You’re so young and have already accomplished this; I truly envy you.”

Muniang smiled, “Then how about Grandpa Xue helps manage the fish pond? I’m an outsider when it comes to this, and I fear I might waste it. With your rich experience, I’d like you to manage it. I’ll pay you ten pieces of silver a month.”

“No, no, that’s too much! I don’t mind helping out, but the pay doesn’t need to be that high!” Old Man Xue waved his hands repeatedly.

Muniang insisted, “Whether you deserve this salary is up to you and how well you manage the fish pond. Don’t worry about how much it is, just take good care of it as if it were your own. When we start making silver from it, I won’t forget about you.”

After cleaning up, Muniang went up the mountain with Old Man Xue. He gave plenty of valuable advice, and she took it all very seriously, noting everything down.

Having Old Man Xue, an experienced person, supervising the construction of the fish pond was a relief for Muniang.

After checking around the worksite and feeling reassured, she left.

Since she also needed to prepare for grafting fruit trees, Muniang had already asked someone to buy a batch of saplings, but she hadn’t prepared the branches for grafting, so she decided to go up the mountain to check for herself.

“My lady, are you tired?”

Er Liang looked at Muniang bustling in and out all day, his heart aching with concern.

Since no one else was around, Muniang simply hooked her arm in Er Liang’s, smiling cheerfully, “I’m pretty tired, but it’s okay when you’re with me.”

Er Liang felt a great sense of accomplishment and laughed heartily, “Then I’ll always be with you.”

Yet Muniang suddenly thought of Qinghe and asked, “Did you see when Qinghe left? I was too busy to notice, and Chengzi also said he didn’t know.”

Er Liang thought for a moment before responding, “Oh, Xiangcai’s son, Pang, came looking for Qinghe, and then she hurriedly left with him. I didn’t quite understand why.”

“I see, let’s not worry about it then. Dear, please hurry and chop down those branches, they look really good.”

Muniang’s attention was immediately drawn to several sturdy branches, and she pointed them out for Er Liang to chop down. Er Liang, nimble as he was, climbed up the tree in a few bounds and started cutting with his sickle.

Muniang didn’t want to hire villagers as laborers for grafting, thinking that if others learned the skill, how could she make money? After thinking it over, she decided to hire a few bonded long-term workers; trusting only her own people was the safest bet, and they could later help with the management of the orchards as well.

“Dear, why don’t we go to town tomorrow? We should find a human trafficker and buy some long-term workers since we can’t handle all these fruit trees by ourselves.”

As Er Liang chopped branches, he suggested, “Then let’s go to Manager Fang. He knows so many people; he is sure to know a reliable human trafficker.”

“Right! I can also inquire if there’s a suitable buyer for that tiger skin,” Muniang said with a smile.

“Qiao Yuanzhen, did you want to see me?”

Qinghe’s face still carried a tinge of blush, and her voice was barely audible.

Qiao Yuanzhen nodded, “Qinghe, there’s a poetry contest in town, with the Governor himself attending. If you can make a good impression on the Governor, your chances for the upcoming official exam would be better. I want to give it a try, but no one at home is available to accompany me. Would you come with me?”

Qinghe nodded with joy, “Yes, I can help you with your ink and brush.” As soon as she finished speaking, she blushed again and lowered her head, feeling she had perhaps been too eager.

“Perhaps I should first let my brother know, otherwise he’ll worry if he can’t find me.”

“No need, we’ll be back by the afternoon, surely before your brother returns home. We can’t afford to miss the poetry contest now, it’s about to start.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Qinghe nodded again.

Mandarin Duck Building, the largest teahouse in Chatu Town, beloved by sons and daughters of noble families.

In an elegant private room, Qian Yuan lounged lazily on a plush couch, being pampered with shoulder massages by two pretty maids.

“When will Qiao Yuanzhen arrive?”

The servant by his side nodded eagerly, assuring, “Very soon, in about the time it takes an incense stick to burn. You will surely have your beauty in your arms then.”

“Is Qiao Yuanzhen really going to bring Li Qinghe?” Qian Yuan was doubtful since he’d desired Li Qinghe for so long but struggled to lure her out.

“Don’t worry about it. What’s Qiao Yuanzhen compared to you? Would he dare to play you? If he promised you, he will surely obediently bring that girl to your bed,” the servant assured.